Master of Chains - Jess Lebow [47]
"So, they could have gotten a lot of money for us," said Ryder, tugging at his torn pants, trying to make his journey just a little more comfortable. "Maybe they wanted something even more valuable than slaves."
Nazeem shook his head. "In the Pirate Isles, few things are more valuable. The merchants in Westgate know this. It's just a short trip out to the islands from their port. No, with that kind of money, Purdun could have purchased the fastest warship in the Shining Sea." Nazeem chuckled. "In some places, he could have bought himself a small castle-or an army of mercenaries."
Ryder looked at his companion. "How do you know all this?"
Nazeem smiled. "I am a criminal," he said pointing at the tattoo on his forehead. "I know this sort of thing."
Ryder pointed to his own forehead. "What does this mean?"
Nazeem rubbed the blue triangle with his index finger. "This is the mark they give you in Mezro when you break the law."
"Mezro? You are Chultan then?"
Nazeem nodded. "Born and bred."
"What were you doing all the way out in Erlkazar?"
Nazeem smiled. "I have told you this already. I was a smuggler."
Ryder chuckled. "Yes, I know. But why did you leave Chult? Why go so far from home?"
"Mezro is a peaceful city. No one there even carries a weapon. If the undying Chosen of Ubtao catch you breaking the law, they brand you with this tattoo and throw you out of the city." Nazeem's smile faded. "I had to leave the Chultan peninsula in order to survive. No one will deal with you if you have been shamed by this mark. So I decided to go someplace where nobody knew or cared what it meant."
The two men walked on for a while in silence. Then Ryder spoke up. "Nazeem?"
"Yes?"
"What was your crime?"
Nazeem seemed to think about the question for a moment. Then, "I killed a man."
Ryder thought back on all of Lord Purdun's guards he'd faced in hand to hand combat. Many of them had died by his hand. "Did he deserve it?"
Nazeem only nodded.
More or less, Nazeem's story was the same as Ryder's. He'd been thrown out of his home for committing what the baron considered to be a crime. Ryder didn't see his actions as criminal. They were necessary. They were the means of a revolutionary. If his oppressor was going to slowly kill the citizens by taking their food and taxing their wages, then he would respond by killing them back.
The caravan came to a U-shaped bend in the road. The path led up north, farther into the mountains. The south side of the curve was defined by a forest of tall, prickly trees, each standing thirty or more feet tall. A pair of Broken Spear warriors stood in front of the trees, holding back the branches and ushering people single file through to the other side.
Nazeem went first. Ryder ducked his head and followed him through the foliage. There were several rows of these trees, and their branches were covered with long, needle-sharp thorns. At each new row of trees, another pair of Broken Spear warriors stood holding back the branches. The treacherous tunnel was difficult to navigate, made doubly so by Ryder's limp, beaten body. More than once he felt his flesh tear as it caught on the thorns.
As Ryder finally came out of the trees to stand next to Nazeem, he straightened his back and found himself looking up at a huge multitiered stone palace, seemingly carved right into the side of the mountain.
"Gods," said Ryder under his breath.
"Giants," corrected a voice.
Ryder turned to see the young robed bandit leader standing beside him and Nazeem.
"Welcome to Fairhaven." The robed leader pulled down the mask that covered his head, revealing long dark hair, mocha skin, and a smooth, hairless face. The leader of the bandits wasn't a boy. "I'm Giselle."
She extended her hand in greeting.
Ryder looked at Nazeem, then back at the lithe woman standing before him. There were women in the Crimson Awl. He'd fought beside them on many occasions. But none of them looked like Giselle. She was