In moments, the inn managed to do what it hadnt when Lucious had been the one fighting: it erupted into a full-scale brawl. Men who had been content to stand by while Thanos and his brother traded sword blows now threw punches and drew knives. One grabbed for a chair, swinging it at Thanoss head. Thanos sidestepped, hacking a lump from the wood as he redirected the swing into yet another of the patrons.
He could have stayed to fight, but the thought of the danger Ceres might be in pushed him into a run. Hed been so sure that he could stop the invasion if he only got to Lucious, and then there would be enough time to find the truth about his parentage, discover the proof he needed, and make his way back to Delos. Now, there was no time for any of it.
Thanos sprinted for the door. He dropped and skidded under the grabbing hands of a man who tried to stop him, scraping a shallow cut across his thigh. He ran out into the streets there
straight into some of the worst dust Thanos had seen since hed come to the city. He didnt slow. He just jammed his twin blades into his belt, pulled up his scarf against the dust, and pushed forward as best he could.
Behind him, Thanos could hear the sounds of men trying to follow, although how they hoped to see him well enough to catch up in this weather, he didnt know. Thanos groped his way along like a blind man, passing a merchant who was packing away his cart, then a pair of soldiers who were cursing as they huddled in a doorway against the dust.
Look at that madman! Thanos heard one of them call in Felldusts tongue.
Probably hurrying to join the invasion. I hear Fourth Stone Vexa has started to send more of a fleet, while the other three are still plotting. The First Stone has stolen a march on them.
Always does, the first replied.
Thanos was away into the dust by then though, seeking his route by the vague shapes of the buildings, watching out for the signs that hung above the streets, lit by oil lamps. There were stone carvings too, obviously intended so that the locals could find their way from the street of the carved bear to that of the knotted snakes by touch if they needed.
Thanos didnt know enough about the system to be able to use it, but even so, he pressed on through the dust.
There were others doing the same, and several times, Thanos stopped, trying to make out whether the booted feet he heard were those of pursuers or not. Once, he pressed in behind the curved iron bulk of a windbreak, his swords finding his way into his hands, certain that those following from the inn had caught up.
Instead, a team of slaves raced by, faces wrapped against the dust, carrying a palanquin from within which Thanos could hear a merchant urging them on.
Faster, you curs! Faster, or Ill have you impaled. We need to get to the harbor before we miss the spoils.
Thanos watched them, tracking along behind the palanquin on the basis that those carrying it probably knew the way better than he did. He couldnt track it too closely, because in a city like Port Leeward, everyone kept a watch for would-be robbers or killers, but even so, he managed to follow it along the length of several streets before it disappeared into the dust.
Thanos stood there for a second or two, catching his breath, and as quickly as it had come, the dust storm lifted, giving him a view out over the harbor.
What he saw there made Thanos stand and stare.
Hed thought that there were plenty of ships in the harbor before. Now, it seemed that the water was full to brimming with them, until it appeared that Thanos could have walked to the horizon on their decks.
Many of them were warships, but many more now were merchant craft or smaller vessels. With the main fleet already gone from Felldust, the harbor should have been empty, yet it seemed to Thanos that there wouldnt be enough room for another boat there. It seemed that everyone in Felldust had come there, ready to take their piece of what was to be gained in the Empire.
Thanos started to see the scale of it then, and what it meant. This wasnt just an army invading, but a whole country. Theyd seen an opportunity to take lands theyd long been denied, and they were going to acquire them by force now.
Regardless of what it meant for those already there.
Who are you? a soldier asked, coming up to him. What fleet, what captain?
Thanos thought quickly. The truth would mean another fight, and now there wasnt the welcoming veil of the dust in which to hide. He had no doubt that he was as coated with it as any of the natives, but if anyone should guess who he was, or even just that he was from the Empire, this would not end well.
He briefly wondered what they did to spies in Felldust. Whatever it was, it wouldnt be pleasant.
Whose fleet are you with? the man demanded again, this time in a harsh voice.
Fourth Stone Vexas, Thanos shot back, making his voice equally harsh. He tried to inject the sense that he had no time for such interruptions. It wasnt hard to do right then, when he had so little time to get back to help Ceres. Please tell me its not true about her fleet leaving already.
The other man laughed in his face. Looks like youre out of luck there. What, you thought you could sit around, saying farewell to your crews favorite whore? You waste time, you waste your chance.
Damn it! Thanos said, trying to play his part. They cant all be gone. What about other ships?
That got another laugh. You can ask if you want, but if you think theres not a crew thats full right now, you havent been paying attention. Pickings like this, everyone wants a place. Half of them can barely fight. Tell you what, though, maybe I could find a place for you on one of Old Forkbeards crews. The Third Stone is taking his time. Id only ask half of any share you get.
Maybe if I cant find the lads Im supposed to be with, Thanos said. Every second he was there was a second in which he wasnt sailing back toward Delos with the one crew there who wouldnt try to kill him the moment they found out who he was.
He saw the other man shrug. Youll not get a better offer this late.
Well see, Thanos said, and set off amongst the boats.
From the outside, it must have looked as though he was looking for one of the rare boats from the fleet hed claimed, although Thanos hoped that he didnt find one. The last thing he wanted was to find himself pressed into service in Felldusts navy.
Hed do it, though, if he had to. If it meant getting back to Ceres, if it meant being able to help her, hed risk it. Hed play the part of some Felldust warrior, eager to catch up. If it had been main fleet sitting there, he might even have made it his first choice, trying to get as close to the First Stone as possible in order to kill him.
Now, though, if he drifted along with this second fleet, he wouldnt get there until it was far too late. He certainly wouldnt be able to help. So he walked the planks between the many ships, watching warriors carry on barrels of fresh water and crates of food. Thanos cut cracks in at least three casks, but no amount of petty sabotage would stop a fleet like this.
He kept looking, instead. He saw men and women honing weapons and chaining oar slaves into place. He saw dust-covered priests intoning prayers for good luck, sacrificing animals in ways that made the dust into blood-colored mud. He saw two groups of soldiers under different banners arguing over which of them got to go along a wharf first.
Thanos saw plenty that made him angry, and more that made him scared for Delos. There was only one thing he couldnt find among the chaos of the docks, and it was the one thing that hed come there to find. There were hundreds of boats there, of every shape, size, and design. There were boats filled to the brim with tough-looking warriors, and boats that looked like little more than glorified pleasure barges, there to take people to see the invasion as much as participate in it.
Thanos saw plenty that made him angry, and more that made him scared for Delos. There was only one thing he couldnt find among the chaos of the docks, and it was the one thing that hed come there to find. There were hundreds of boats there, of every shape, size, and design. There were boats filled to the brim with tough-looking warriors, and boats that looked like little more than glorified pleasure barges, there to take people to see the invasion as much as participate in it.
What he couldnt see was the boat that had brought him there. He needed to get back to Ceres, and right then, Thanos didnt know how he was going to do it.
CHAPTER FOUR
Stephania ran through the castle, pushed on by the sound of the war horns, like a hart ahead of a hunting party. If she didnt get out now, there would be no escaping. Shed done enough when it came to Ceres.
Let Felldust finish her off, Stephania said.
She retraced her steps through the castle, to the point where it connected with the tunnels beneath the city. She hoped that Elethe had kept her escape route open as Stephania had ordered. Now was a time to flee. If they were caught by the rebellion, that would be bad enough, but to be caught in the middle of a battle between it and Felldusts Five Stones would be far worse.
Except
Stephania paused, looking out of a window toward the harbor. She could see the sky dark with missiles, ships on fire as a dark ribbon of invading vessels made its way closer. Stephania ran over to a spot where she could look out over the walls, and she could see fires beyond, too.
Whichever way she ran now, it seemed that there would be enemies. She couldnt just slip out over the water, the way shed come into Delos. She couldnt risk slipping out into open countryside, because if it were her running the invasion, there would be raiding parties out to drive people back toward the city. She couldnt risk wandering Delos openly, because the rebellions forces would try to snatch her.
Yet, where were those soldiers? Stephania had passed a few guards on the way in, her disguise more than enough to let her slip by them. There hadnt been many though. The castle had the feel of a ghost ship, abandoned in the face of more pressing matters. Looking out, Stephania could see rebels moving through the streets in bright armor and patchwork stuff. There would be a few figures close by, but how many, and where?
The idea came to Stephania slowly, more as a possibility than a reality. Yet, the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like her best option. She wasnt one to dive in without thinking. In the circles of nobility, that was a way to put yourself in someone elses power, or find yourself cast out, or worse.
There were times, though, when decisive action was the answer. When a prize was there to take, hanging back could lose it as surely as overeagerness.
Stephania made her way down to Elethe, who was looking back and forth between the tunnels and the city as though she expected a horde of enemies to arrive at any moment.
Is it time to leave, my lady? Elethe said. Is Ceres dead?
Stephania shook her head. There has been a change of plan. Come with me.
To her handmaidens credit, Elethe didnt hesitate. She walked along with Stephania in spite of the worries she must have had.
Where are we going? Elethe asked.
Stephania smiled. To the dungeons. Ive decided that youre handing me over to the rebellion.
That got a shocked look from her handmaiden, although it was nothing compared to the surprise there when Stephania explained more of her plan.
Are you ready? Stephania asked, as they got closer to the dungeons.
Yes, my lady, Elethe said.
Stephania put her hands behind her back as if tied, then walked forward with what she hoped was a suitable show of fearful contrition. Elethe was doing a surprisingly good job of looking like a tough rebel with a freshly captured enemy.
There were a pair of guards near the main door, sitting behind a table with cards set out, showing how they were passing their time. Some things didnt change, regardless of who was in charge.
They looked up as Stephania approached, and Stephania was quite amused by the surprise she saw there.
Is that youve captured Lady Stephania? one asked.
How did you do it? the other said. Where did you find her?
Stephania could hear the disbelief, but also the sense that they didnt know what to do next.
She was creeping away from Ceress rooms, Elethe answered smoothly. Her handmaiden was a good liar. Can you I need to tell someone, but Im not sure who.
That was a good move. They both looked over at Elethe then, as they tried to decide what to do next. That was when Stephania brought out a needle with each of her hands, bringing it forward to strike the guards necks. They spun, but the poison was a fast-acting one, and their hearts were already pumping it through their bodies. A breath or two later, and they collapsed.
Fetch the keys, Stephania said, gesturing to one guards belt.
Elethe did so, opening up the dungeons. They were full almost to bursting, as Stephania had suspected they might be. As she hoped, at least. There werent any more guards, either. Apparently, all those with the ability to fight were on the walls.
There were men and women who were obviously soldiers and guards, torturers and simply loyal nobles. Stephania saw more than a few of her own handmaidens there, which struck her as a little foolish. The sensible move was not to insist on their loyalty, but to pretend to serve the new regime. The important thing was that they were there.
Lady Stephania? one said, as if she couldnt quite believe what she was seeing. As if she were their savior.
Stephania smiled at that. She liked the thought of people seeing her as their hero. They would probably do far more that way than simply from obedience, and she liked the idea of turning Ceress weapons against her too.
Listen to me, she said to them. Youve had a lot taken from you. You had so much, and those rebels, those peasants, dared to snatch it. I say its time to snatch it back.
Youre here to get us out? one former soldier asked.
Im here to do more than that, Stephania said. Were going to take back the castle.
She hadnt expected cheers. She wasnt some romantic who needed fools to applaud her every decision. Still, the nervous muttering amongst them was a little grating.
Are you afraid? she demanded.
There will be rebels up there! a nobleman said. Stephania knew him. High Reeve Scarel had always been quick enough to challenge others to fights when he knew he could win.
Not enough to hold this castle, Stephania said. Not now. Every rebel who can be spared is out on the walls, trying to hold back the invasion.
And what about the invasion? a noblewoman demanded. She was little better than the man who had spoken. Stephania knew secrets about what shed done before she married into wealth that would make most of the others there blush.
Oh, I see, Stephania said. Youd rather wait in a nice, safe dungeon for it all to be over. Well, what then? At best, you spend the rest of your lives in this stinking hole, if the rebels dont decide to kill you quietly once they realize how inconvenient prisoners are. If the others win do you think being in a cell will protect you? You wont be nobles to them in here, just amusements. Brief amusements.
She paused to let that sink in. She needed them to feel like cowards for even considering it.