The Heart of Alchemy by James Wisher (i like reading books txt) 📗

would help no one. And taking his companions with him was hardly the honorable thing.

“So be it,” Eddred said at last. “We tried anyway.”

His smile was bitter, humorless, and directed mostly at himself.

We tried anyway. That should be their motto.

All he ever did was try and fail.

Chapter 26

Captain Hotic once more found himself summoned to the lords’ council. This time the messenger came for him before the sun had risen. Not that he’d been asleep. Reports of the undead attacks throughout the city had reached the docks and all the captains and crews were on full alert lest the ships be threatened.

None of the ghouls had come their way, thank heaven, but from what he’d heard, the rest of the city watch had been decimated trying to kill the creatures.

So he couldn’t claim the summons had surprised him. Now, he stood in a dark corner and tried to go unnoticed. Lord of the Watch had only just taken his seat and the others were staring at him.

“Explain yourself,” Lord of the Scales said, at last breaking the fragile silence. “What happened to your boasting about training to fight monsters and that human warriors would be no trouble?”

“Our training is based on manuals from the ancient times,” Lord of the Watch said, all traces of his former confidence long gone. “We followed it to the letter, but the creatures proved stronger than we ever imagined. After the bombardment, our wizards were in no shape to help. The reality of fighting undead proved far worse than I ever imagined.”

“And our losses?” Lord of the Scale asked.

“Sixty-three watchmen and over four hundred citizens. I don’t have the final number yet. As best we can tell, only nine ghouls made it into the city.”

This brought murmurs of concern from the other lords. Hotic shared that concern. If only nine of them did this much damage, what would happen if ten times that many made it into the city? He shuddered to think.

“I won’t ask how they got over the wall,” Lord of the Scale said. “I think we can all guess who the responsibility lies with. Ladies and gentlemen, I fear we must face the harsh reality. Another day and night of fighting the invaders may well be the end of our city. Though it pains me to suggest this, I fear there is no choice but to give in to their demands.”

“That will ruin our reputation,” Lord of the Earth said. “No one will trust us to do business again.”

“May I make a suggestion?”

Hotic snapped his head around at the unexpected voice. An ancient man with a thin white mustache hanging down his chest stepped out of the shadows. So still and silent had he been that Hotic hadn’t even known he was there.

“Grandfather Edge,” Lord of the Scale said. “Please, if you have anything to offer don’t hesitate to speak up. That’s why I asked you here.”

Hotic swallowed the lump in his throat. This was Grandfather Edge, the leader of the assassins guild and, some said, most favored of the Reaper himself.

“Let me go to the outlanders. I will offer to rescind the contract and never take another on them. They will be safe from my followers, which, I assume, is what they really want.”

“I have no objection,” Lord of the Scale said. He looked around at the other lords, but no one spoke. Finally, he turned to Hotic. “You will transport Grandfather to the invaders’ ship. They are familiar with you and will recognize you as a messenger.”

Hotic hoped the lord was right. He figured there was a better than fifty percent chance that they sunk his boat on sight.

Chapter 27

“Sail ho!” the lookout called from his post far above the deck.

Otto had only been up for a few minutes when the cry rang out. He tossed his half-eaten breakfast aside and sprang to his feet. His vision shot out over the water towards the sloop headed their way. It was the one that had approached them when they arrived, only this time lacking a wizard. She had probably been reassigned to the wall.

He let his vision drift over to the captain then added his voice and hearing. “State your purpose.”

The poor man nearly leapt out of his skin. When he’d recovered a modicum of composure he said, “I have a proposal from the city lords. May my ship approach so we can talk?”

Otto saw no harm in that though if they offered anything less than total capitulation, he doubted Wolfric would accept. “Very well, but behave yourself. I have no particular desire to kill you, but I won’t hesitate to do so.”

“Understood. You’ll find that none of my crew is armed.”

Otto glanced at the rest of the men on board. None of them carried so much as a belt knife. A prudent decision. Far better for everyone if there were no misunderstandings.

“Bring your ship along our right side. I’ll have someone waiting with a ladder.”

Otto returned his senses to his body. “Captain, we’re about to have visitors. Have men standing by to help them aboard.”

Once he received an affirmative reply, Otto went back below deck to fetch Wolfric.

Ten minutes later, Otto, Wolfric, Hans, Borden and a force of soldiers had gathered on deck. The messenger sloop was tied up and the captain as well as an older man climbed on board. Hotic wore a white and gold uniform that was already plastered to him with sweat. The second man dressed in all black and looked perfectly at ease surrounded by armed men. His face was a mass of wrinkles and he wore a mustache that hung down past his chin.

“You don’t think they’re going to try and negotiate again, do you?” Wolfric asked.

Otto shrugged. He had no idea what the purpose of this meeting was and didn’t care to guess. An ethereal barrier surrounded him and Wolfric just in case they tried something desperate and stupid.

Their guests stopped ten feet from Otto’s group. The captain bowed