Retribution Falls - Chris Wooding [136]
Malvery raised an eyebrow. “I’d like to see you try that line of argument with the Archduke,” he said.
“What Grephen wants,” Frey told Pinn, before he could ask another question, “is that we get killed, nice and quiet, and he gets to show the bodies to everyone. Hengar’s murderers are caught, case closed. That was the idea from the start. We were supposed to die during the ambush.”
“What he doesn’t want is the Century Knights catching us and giving us a chance to tell our side of the story,” Jez continued. “He’s afraid that we know enough to make them suspicious, and that will blow his big surprise attack.”
“Which is happening in a few days, if you believe that Orkmund feller,” added Malvery.
Pinn gave up trying to figure out who was after whom and asked, “So what do we do?”
“What we do is cut a deal,” said Frey. “Talk to some people. Set up a safe rendezvous. We’ll give them the charts and the compass, let them come see Retribution Falls for themselves. Once they find the army Orkmund’s put together, they’ll believe us. We’ll offer them the big fish and, in return, we demand a pardon.”
Pinn stopped dead. The others walked on a few steps before they noticed.
“You’re selling this place out?” he said, appalled.
Frey was confused. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re going to tell the Coalition Navy where Retribution Falls is?”
“You think you could shout it a bit louder, Pinn?” Malvery cried. “I don’t think they heard you in Yortland.”
Pinn looked around furtively, suddenly remembering where he was. Thankfully, the alley they were standing in was deserted, and nobody seemed to have heard. He scuttled up closer to Frey and jabbed him in the chest with a finger.
“This place is a legend! This place was built with the sweat and tears of a generation of pirates. It’s been the hope of every freebooter since the Aerium Wars that they could one day find Retribution Falls and live out the rest of their days in pirate wonderland. It’s a yoo—a yoo—”
“Utopia,” Jez said. “Pinn, it’s a dump.”
Pinn was aghast. “It’s Retribution Falls!”
Jez studied her surroundings critically. The sagging roofs, the cracked walls and mildewed corners, the broken bottles and bloodstains. She sniffed, taking in the rank stench of the marsh.
“You know what pirates are really good at, Pinn?” she said. “Being pirates. And that’s all. In fact, if you asked me what would happen if you took a thousand pirates and asked them to build a town, I’d say it would look pretty much like this. This place was better as a legend. The real thing doesn’t work.”
“Let me put it this way, Pinn,” said Frey. “Do you want to get hanged, or don’t you?”
Pinn examined the question for a trick. “No?” he ventured.
“It’s either you or this place. Orkmund’s working for Duke Grephen, remember? And Grephen wants all of us dead. You too, Pinn.”
Pinn opened his mouth, shut it, opened it again, and then gave up trying to argue. “Lisinda would never get over it if anything happened to me,” he said.
Malvery beamed. “Think how proud she’ll be when she learns you single-handedly triumphed over an army of pirates.”
“I suppose I could dress it up a little,” Pinn mused. “Alright, spit on this place. Let’s get out of here and stab some backs!”
“That’s the spirit!” Frey said cheerily.
BACK AT THE KETTY JAY, Frey issued instructions for takeoff and made sure Slag was trapped in the mess so some unlucky volunteer—Pinn—could force a mouth filter on him during the journey back. Silo was showing Frey some superficial damage to the underwings when Olric, the dockmaster’s assistant, wandered up to them.
“Leaving, are you?”
“Just got an errand to run,” said Frey. “Orkmund says it’ll be a few days yet, so …” He shrugged.
“You gotta sign out.”
“I was about to. Be over there in a minute.”
Olric ambled away again. Frey asked Silo to fetch Crake from inside, and the daemonist came down the cargo ramp shortly after.
“You needed me?”
“You and Jez sort things out last night?” he asked.
Crake didn’t meet his eye. “As best we could.”
Frey wasn’t encouraged. “Can