Read Online Spellbreaker by Blake Charlton - Free Book Online Page B

captive.
    Gradually Nicodemus’s eyes adjusted to the dim green glow shining behind him. Three sailors stood by the gunnel. Their lungi were tied high to keep the garment above the knees. Two had fresh wounds on their bare chests and were looking aft for pursuing ships. The third glared down at what appeared to be a four-foot metallic cocoon that had grown metallic tentacles and jammed them into the ribbing of the boat’s hull.
    Nicodemus recognized this as the endgame of Sir Claude’s Wounded Bird routine. As the spells animating his armor wound down, the crouching knight had edited his metallolinguistic armor into a defensive conformation that insinuated itself into the boat’s structure; this to prevent the sailors from tipping him into the river. Presently, an eye slit opened in his helmet to allow Sir Claude to watch Nicodemus attempt a conversion.
    â€œSo,” the unseen female speaker behind Nicodemus said, “what forces put the world’s only human skinmage and a Lornish knight in the company of an Ixonian river merchant smuggling opium?”
    Nicodemus turned his head to try to see his interrogator but succeeded only in getting more wet hair in his eyes. “Could I know whom I am addressing?”
    â€œThis is not that kind of conversation.”
    â€œWhat kind is it?”
    â€œThe kind where you tell me what I want to know or I find out how hard it is to fit a knife blade into your spine.”
    â€œI’ve never been good at those.”
    â€œI’ll start with your lower back so you get plenty of practice before you die. So, tell me why you and the metal man ended up in the same opium running outfit.”
    â€œAmbition, greed, maybe a dash of desperation.”
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œMy past was a bloody one; I had to leave the South. Once I made it to Chandralu, an old associate matched me with smugglers hiring spellwrights willing to protect a new opium buying expedition. Sir Iron Ass over there had similar reasons for leaving Lorn.”
    While Nicodemus was speaking, the green light shining behind him brightened. “So,” his interrogator asked, “some Southern thugs want in on the Matrunda opium run?”
    â€œThat would be a safe assumption,” Nicodemus replied. “And would it also be safe to assume that I am talking to the River Thief’s avatar? Perhaps his high priestess?”
    The woman laughed, a light sound with a note of private amusement. This bothered Nicodemus though he could not tell why. “What would make you assume that?” the woman asked.
    â€œForgive a foreigner’s ignorance. I’ve heard nothing about what the River Thief’s requisites might be; however, when you heard there might be more traffic on the Matrunda opium run, the light behind me grew brighter. If one of the River Thief’s requisites is theft, then increased smuggling on the Matrunda would offer more chances to fulfill that requisite and make the neodemon more powerful. That might produce a more luminous aura around his avatar.”
    Two of the sailors looked at Nicodemus, their expressions cold. The unseen woman spoke again. “An impressive bit of deduction, skinmage. You have dealt with neodemons before?”
    â€œThe situation I left in the South was complicated. It left me with certain skills that the River Thief might find useful.”
    â€œYou want to join us? Why should the River Thief trust a mercenary who betrays his former employer?”
    â€œI contracted to protect the ships with my life. I was the only one in the camp who discovered your caper and the only one who risked his life to stop you. In your hands, I’m as good as a dead man. Therefore, my contract is complete.”
    â€œAn honorable mercenary? I’m sure the world is just crawling with those.”
    â€œâ€˜Honorable’ exceeds my expectations. I was hoping for something as humble as ‘not worth killing just