Ironhelm - Douglas Niles [128]
Corporal proved his fine greyhound's instincts over and over as he darted into the brush or across a short stretch of prairie, often returning with a turkey, rabbit, and once even a monkey. With this limited supply of meat, and the many fruits offered by the jungle, they did not suffer from hunger.
But still the driving, terrifying howling greeted them at night, driving them onward, always growing closer. They spoke little, sharing a pervasive sense of fear. Only in the mornings, after the howling had ceased for the day, would they sometimes pause for rest and quiet conversation.
"Who was she?" asked Erix one morning.
Halloran knew whom she meant, but he wasn't sure how to explain how he felt about Marline. He and Erix had just collapsed in a relatively open jungle clearing several hours after dawn. Since the pursuit grew closer every night in any event, they had decided that it didn't make sense to exhaust themselves during the day.
"She was a headstrong girl. I was charged with her safety."
"Was she your… wife? Your woman?" asked Erix lensely.
Halloran looked at her in surprise. "No." Suddenly the memory of his infatuation with Martine seemed foolish and embarrassing. Her death would remain a shocking barbarity in his memory, but it was the death of an innocent victim, not the loss of a true love. He shook his head emphatically. "No. She was the daughter of our priest. He brought her along with the expedition."
He remembered all the other ways he had once hoped to describe Martine, as his lady, his lover, even his wife. But all of those images now seemed ridiculous and absurd. The woman he desired was nolhing like Marline. His woman was coolly intelligent, courageous, forgiving…
She was Erixitl. Halloran looked at her, and this time he allowed himself to fall into those deep, dark eyes. He felt Iheir warmth around him, and then he was holding her and nothing else seemed to matter.
"You frighten me, Captain Halloran," she whispered to him as they lay logelher on the soft grasses. "But I am not afraid."
Daggrande did not find Cordell until evening, when he saw the caplain-general on the shore beside the jetly, admiring the project with Domincus and Darien. Tbrches lined the pier, reflecting in the clear water of the lagoon and illuminating the work thai would proceed far inlo the night. The dwarf scowled in concentration as he remembered the treachery he had overheard upon the wall.
"Splendid work on the harbor, Captain, simply splendid!" Cordell gestured at Ihe T-shaped pier. "The earthworks are proceeding well, too. We were up there earlier."
"Thank you, General." Daggrande, stoic figure that he was, nevertheless invariably thrilled to praise from his commander. He nodded politely. "Excuse me, sir. There's a matter I need to discuss wilh you."
"Go on," urged Cordell.
"It's… well, it's a matter of some confidentiality, General." Daggrande wasn'l about to assume lhat any of Ihe caplain- general's lieutenants were definitely loyal.
"These two have my utter confidence," said Cordell. "Speak!"
"Aye, General." Daggrande cleared his throat. "I was on the wall today, inspecting the work. I overhead some scuttlebutt from the far side."
"Indeed? Our good assessor, perhaps?"
The dwarf nodded in surprise. "He talks treason, General! He seeks to recruit officers and men to steal away some of the ships and take them back to Amn-with the treasure!"
Cordell showed no reaction, except that his coal-black eyes narrowed with tension. For a long moment, he remained immobile.
"Well done, Captain. I didn't trust the little weasel, but neither did I suspect him to be this bold." The captain-general's voice was tight, clipped. "But with this warning, he can be stopped