Read Online Mystic: A Book of Underrealm by Garrett Robinson - Free Book Online Page A

mansion on the High King’s Seat.”
    Xain cleared his throat sudden and loud, throwing a glance over his shoulder at Loren, Gem, and Annis. Brimlad closed his mouth with a clack of teeth and looked at the others.
    “I see you have brought friends and guess that means you are not here to visit.”
    “You guess right. But that is a story for open water and well away from prying eyes and ears. We need transport, and an hour from now would not seem too soon.”
    Brimlad scoffed, drawing back and folding his arms. “An hour? How much trouble are ye in, boy? Even a salty dog has a reputation to uphold. Leave my clients, and I will expect to find no more upon return. I have thirty weights sitting in my pocket that will keep me here until the evening morrow. Can you match them?”
    Xain’s face fell, and he turned to the others behind him. “No, not unless at utmost need.”
    “As I thought,” said Brimlad. “And in that case, you will have to hole up somewhere until then. I would offer you a bunk below but fear I cannot take all four.”
    “I hope you can take one more upon the morrow, Captain.”
    The voice behind them nearly made Loren leap out of her skin. She whirled to the wooden dock along the stone river wall to find the slender Mystic standing beside the merchant from the family Yerrin.

nine

    LOREN TOOK A STEP TO block Annis, trying to hide her from the merchant’s view. The Mystic’s eyes darted towards her, and in them Loren saw understanding. But she made no comment, and Fortinbras said nothing, his eyes wandering to the far shore.
    Xain tensed beside her, hands forming to fists. She feared for a moment that he might unleash his magic, and then she knew they would be hard beset by the city’s constables. But before disaster struck, Brimlad stepped between them, standing at the foot of the gangway leading down to his skiff. He folded his arms and looked up at the Mystic without expression.
    “My boat is full enough already, m’lady. These four mean to secure passage as my crew, and I will be overmanned. Besides, my little bucket’s hardly the fastest passage you could find. You would be better off on one of these worthy vessels.”  
    Brimlad gestured towards the boats on either side, both looming more than twice the height of his skiff.
    “I am afraid that only this vessel will do,” the Mystic insisted, shaking her head. “After all, who could bear to travel without such interesting company?”
    Her eyes went to Xain and then to Loren. She had the uncomfortable feeling the Mystic knew exactly who they were and where they had come from. Jordel’s warnings clanged like a bell inside her mind, and Loren drew her black cloak tighter to ensure the dagger stayed concealed at her waist.  
    But if the Mystic knew anything, the merchant did not seem to share her knowledge. Still he stared idly about, as if seeking distraction. Surely, if he knew who Loren and Xain were, he would have had them taken along with Annis. As it was, the girl in her jester’s cloak must have seemed unworthy of notice, and he did not glance past her lowered cowl. Loren wondered where his retinue had gone, but she was grateful for their absence. The more eyes upon them, the more likely they would be recognized.  
    Fortinbras shrugged and turned to the Mystic. “Please, my lady, you cannot travel on this floating sieve. Let me provide you one of my ships. I have a schooner whose captain has sailed for twenty years. Let him carry you to Wavemouth, for your own safety. It would shame me greatly to lose you upon this pauper’s raft.”
    Brimlad scowled beside Loren, holding his tongue. Clearly, the captain was no more eager to bear the Mystic on her journey than Loren, though he could not share her reason.
    The woman ignored Fortinbras and focused her gaze past Loren to Annis. Her eyes lingered a moment before they returned to Xain. “An odd-looking party the four of you make. What purpose carries you to Wavemouth? The girl behind