Soulrazor (19 page)
Authors: Steven Montano
As Danica expected, the place was largely a ghost town, since the regular inhabitants were dedicated hunters and their families. Still, as Roth and his group led the team through a makeshift steel gate guarded by a pair of flame cannon nests and a .30 caliber machinegun mounted on a short metal tower, Black was surprised to see children and unarmed women and workers, especially out in the dead of night. Harsh wind pushed smoke away from a massive bonfire at the center of Wolftown. The team saw quarries filled with stone and huts lined with wolf hide. There were piles of tools and weapons.
The air was bright inside the compound. The ground was covered in human and Stonelizard tracks, and Danica saw a number of Bactrian camels, which made her think of Cross. They hadn’t actually used a camel on a mission in quite some time, since they flew to practically all of their assignments. The ugly brutes in Wolftown were kept in their own stables, separate from the horses.
Tents and open huts contained various services needed by the wolf hunters: there were tanners and knife sharpeners, dried goods merchants and medics, clothiers and arms dealers. The giant lizards were kept in a massive pen on one side of Wolftown, where a couple of half-Doj in fatigues stood guard with cattle prods. As the team passed by, the lizard handlers tossed the reptiles chunks of frozen meat.
Black’s spirit hugged her tight. She was tempted to send him out so he could explore the rest of the camp city for her, but she’d already sensed there were a handful of mages besides Creasy, and every one of their accompanying spirits regarded she and Ash with hostile suspicion. There were, she guessed, roughly two hundred people in the ramshackle town, but only a quarter of those were hunters, at best. Sleep tents had been arranged between tall stands of hexed iron poles fixed with detection homunculi, tiny constructs who perched like miniature gargoyles to give early notice of trouble, which they could take note of easily thanks to their keen arcane sight.
Roth led them to a large cooking pit. Black smelled the mouth-watering aroma of wolf meat. A single Bloodwolf could feed dozens of people if the portions were carefully controlled, which was exactly what they’d done here. Even as juices dripped from the carcass impaled on the spit – the freshly removed hide was still being cleaned in a nearby tent – a pair of surly women hacked slices away from the flank with long knives and threw them into a large bucket filled with salt, where the meat could be dried and preserved.
“
Sit,” Roth said. “Stay as long as you like.”
Sit,” Roth said. “Stay as long as you like.”
“
That won’t be necessary…” Black began, but Kane and Grissom had already sat down on thick rugs near the fire, as much for warmth, she guessed, as for the promise of something to eat. They were rewarded with both.
That won’t be necessary…” Black began, but Kane and Grissom had already sat down on thick rugs near the fire, as much for warmth, she guessed, as for the promise of something to eat. They were rewarded with both.
Creasy, the dark-skinned mage who wore enough furs that he almost looked like a wolf himself, motioned to the blood-stained women who tended the meat, and without a word they sliced off two long strips and threw one to each of the two men.
“
Kick ass!” Grissom laughed.
Kick ass!” Grissom laughed.
“
Thank you, ladies!” Kane echoed as he dug into the fatty strip of flesh. He tore off a piece and threw it to Danica. “Eat, Skinny. Get something on those bones.”
Thank you, ladies!” Kane echoed as he dug into the fatty strip of flesh. He tore off a piece and threw it to Danica. “Eat, Skinny. Get something on those bones.”
The meat was crisp and blackened and smelled wonderful, and as much as she wanted to distrust Wolftown’s hunters, Black devoured the strip with abandon.
They all settled in. Given the time of night, it was unlikely they’d make any decent progress before morning. The temperature had dropped much more than Black expected, and in their haste she was afraid they’d run into something best not faced in the dark. Like Bloodwolves.
I’d rather not face those at
all
, if we can avoid it.
all
, if we can avoid it.
Roth was a boisterous man, and Black quickly got the impression he was the leader of the rag-tag community. Others brought him food and made space for him by the fire, hoisted blankets onto his back and handed him mugs of steaming liquor.
“
Welcome to our home. There are no rules but what we make, and no one to answer to but ourselves.”
Welcome to our home. There are no rules but what we make, and no one to answer to but ourselves.”
“
So you really hunt the Bloodwolves?” Ronan asked.
So you really hunt the Bloodwolves?” Ronan asked.
They all sat around the large fire. They were given more drink than meat, which worried Black just a bit, but she knew at least that hers and Ash’s spirits would keep
them
coherent in case any trouble arose.
them
coherent in case any trouble arose.
“
We do,” Roth answered. “It’s an art, hunting the Bloodwolves, and not one that many men can master. Many die during their first hunt. Those who live have scars.”
We do,” Roth answered. “It’s an art, hunting the Bloodwolves, and not one that many men can master. Many die during their first hunt. Those who live have scars.”
“
Wow,” Kane said from behind a mouthful of minced wolf meat. “
That
sounds like fun.”
Wow,” Kane said from behind a mouthful of minced wolf meat. “
That
sounds like fun.”
“
Much like being a mercenary, I imagine,” Roth laughed. “Neither of us is expected to live long. And neither of us answers to anyone but ourselves, and the men who buy our services.”
Much like being a mercenary, I imagine,” Roth laughed. “Neither of us is expected to live long. And neither of us answers to anyone but ourselves, and the men who buy our services.”
The inhabitants of Wolftown were mostly human, ruddy-faced and unkempt. A few half-Doj and Gol were in the mix, but they primarily manned the pack animals or sold goods to the hunters.
According to Roth, only about half of the people present in Wolftown at any given time were permanent residents. The rest were part-time hunters, merchants or traders, or others who used Wolftown as a stopping point on their way to Fane, but by the sound of things they didn’t get people actually bound for the city-state all that often.
“
Most of the folks are here to
avoid
Fane,” Roth told them.
Most of the folks are here to
avoid
Fane,” Roth told them.
The man had put away six large mugs of what Black assumed was mead, but after she tried it she thought it tasted more like some sort of licorice barley. She drank very little of the stuff, largely because she wanted to conserve her spirit’s energy in case something went wrong. The fact that she thought it tasted terrible helped refraining from drink much easier.
The team sat intermixed with Roth’s men, including the mage, Creasy. The dark man had runes cast all over his arms and face, and his eyes stared ahead like glass gems. His dark robes and fatigues were almost the same shade of brown as his skin, and he wore dark iron rings on his fingers.
“
Why?” Grissom asked. “What’s happening in Fane?”
Why?” Grissom asked. “What’s happening in Fane?”
“
They’re preparing for war,” Roth said. “At least, that’s what it seems like. They have mercenaries and monsters that protect the city. Everything, including the mines, is under full martial law.”
They’re preparing for war,” Roth said. “At least, that’s what it seems like. They have mercenaries and monsters that protect the city. Everything, including the mines, is under full martial law.”
“
That’s not unusual,” Ronan said. “The entire Southern Claw is a martial coalition.”
That’s not unusual,” Ronan said. “The entire Southern Claw is a martial coalition.”
“
You don’t understand,” Roth said. “Those merchants aren’t Southern Claw, but mercenaries. We think that Fane is seceding from the Claw.”
You don’t understand,” Roth said. “Those merchants aren’t Southern Claw, but mercenaries. We think that Fane is seceding from the Claw.”
Kane actually spat out his drink. Ronan laughed, but Black felt something go cold inside of her.
That matches the information that Pike gave us. Crap.
“
Seceding?” Kane said. “What the fuck?”
Seceding?” Kane said. “What the fuck?”
“
That’s why a lot of us are out here,” Creasy said. It was the first words Black had heard him speak. His voice was deep and melodic, with an authoritative tone that made him sound almost royal. “It’s been happening slowly for several months now. At first the people in Wolftown were out here because they preferred the wild to the city-states. Now more come, and they stay longer, because Fane moves further and further away from the Claw.”
That’s why a lot of us are out here,” Creasy said. It was the first words Black had heard him speak. His voice was deep and melodic, with an authoritative tone that made him sound almost royal. “It’s been happening slowly for several months now. At first the people in Wolftown were out here because they preferred the wild to the city-states. Now more come, and they stay longer, because Fane moves further and further away from the Claw.”
“
In what way?” Ash asked.
In what way?” Ash asked.
Roth and Creasy explained, and others joined in as well, men and women around the campfire, all manner of people, ex-soldiers and merchants, farmers and factory workers.
The Hammer and Fist had been bribing the commanders of the Southern Claw military compound in Fane, which allowed them to quietly influence decisions regarding the city’s infrastructure and security in exchange for offering more lucrative deals for weapons and supplies shipped to other city-states closer to the front lines of the war. In the meantime, Southern Claw presence in the city itself was slowly being whittled away – troops were deployed to reinforce other companies and never called back, Bloodhawks or tanks loaned out to other city-states were forgotten, and over the course of time the mercenaries hired directly by the Hammer and Fist became enumerate, exotic, and dangerous.
“
They don’t agree with the war,” Roth said. “Plain and simple.”
They don’t agree with the war,” Roth said. “Plain and simple.”
“
What the hell is there
not
to agree with?” Kane said with an angry laugh. “The vampires are trying to wipe us all out, for Christ’s sake! What do those morons think, that they just want to be neighbors?”
What the hell is there
not
to agree with?” Kane said with an angry laugh. “The vampires are trying to wipe us all out, for Christ’s sake! What do those morons think, that they just want to be neighbors?”
“
They want armistice,” Ronan growled. “God damned cowards.”
They want armistice,” Ronan growled. “God damned cowards.”
“
No,” Creasy said sternly. “That’s not what they’re about. That’s why they’re shoring their defenses. They expect the Southern Claw to react…aggressively. But they also don’t want the vampires to think they can waltz in and take control, like they did with Dirge.” He took a drink, and swallowed it bitterly. “Fane wants independence from both the Southern Claw
and
the Ebon Cities. They want to be left alone.”
No,” Creasy said sternly. “That’s not what they’re about. That’s why they’re shoring their defenses. They expect the Southern Claw to react…aggressively. But they also don’t want the vampires to think they can waltz in and take control, like they did with Dirge.” He took a drink, and swallowed it bitterly. “Fane wants independence from both the Southern Claw
and
the Ebon Cities. They want to be left alone.”
“
How in the hell could the Southern Claw
not
have caught wind of this?” Black asked. “I mean…Fane’s loyalties are in
question
, but…”
How in the hell could the Southern Claw
not
have caught wind of this?” Black asked. “I mean…Fane’s loyalties are in
question
, but…”
“
But nothing,” Roth laughed. His accent still made it difficult to understand him completely, but Black was getting used to it. She actually found his voice kind of cute. “Fane sends the weapons without question. They’re the biggest producer of firearms used by the Alliance.”
But nothing,” Roth laughed. His accent still made it difficult to understand him completely, but Black was getting used to it. She actually found his voice kind of cute. “Fane sends the weapons without question. They’re the biggest producer of firearms used by the Alliance.”
“
Exactly,” Black said. “There’s no way the White Mother would let them just…leave.”
Exactly,” Black said. “There’s no way the White Mother would let them just…leave.”
“
If they keep producing weapons, though…” Kane pointed out. “Why would she
care
?”
If they keep producing weapons, though…” Kane pointed out. “Why would she
care
?”
“
If the Southern Claw tries to stop them from seceding,” Roth explained, “they will cease weapon production. And then there would be real trouble.”
If the Southern Claw tries to stop them from seceding,” Roth explained, “they will cease weapon production. And then there would be real trouble.”
“
Interesting,” Ash said. “So they’re going to go neutral. Truly neutral.”
Interesting,” Ash said. “So they’re going to go neutral. Truly neutral.”
“
They’re going mercantile,” Ronan said. “There’s a difference.”
They’re going mercantile,” Ronan said. “There’s a difference.”
“
Smart,” said Maur. They all looked at him. “What? Maur thinks it’s smart.”
Smart,” said Maur. They all looked at him. “What? Maur thinks it’s smart.”
“
He’s right,” Black said. “They’ll be like The Revengers. Charging fees for their services.”
He’s right,” Black said. “They’ll be like The Revengers. Charging fees for their services.”
“
And The Revengers,” Roth said, obviously growing angry, “also do work for the Suckheads!” He tossed his drink in the fire, and it blazed up. “This is why many of us are out here – we’ll have nothing to do with Fane’s treason, but we like living separate from the Southern Claw. So we choose freedom. It’s dangerous out here, but it’s the life we want.” He looked at Black. “Is this what you’re here about? To find out what’s happening in Fane?”
And The Revengers,” Roth said, obviously growing angry, “also do work for the Suckheads!” He tossed his drink in the fire, and it blazed up. “This is why many of us are out here – we’ll have nothing to do with Fane’s treason, but we like living separate from the Southern Claw. So we choose freedom. It’s dangerous out here, but it’s the life we want.” He looked at Black. “Is this what you’re here about? To find out what’s happening in Fane?”
“
Not exactly,” Black said. “We’re more interested in what’s happening
near
Fane.”
Not exactly,” Black said. “We’re more interested in what’s happening
near
Fane.”
“
The dig,” Creasy said. “You’re here about the dig.”
The dig,” Creasy said. “You’re here about the dig.”
“
What can you tell us?” Black asked him.
What can you tell us?” Black asked him.
“
I won’t
tell
you,” Creasy said. “But if you like, I can
show
you. Come first light.”
I won’t
tell
you,” Creasy said. “But if you like, I can
show
you. Come first light.”
She looks upon black seas beneath burning skies. Flames fall through rips in the cobalt clouds and boil the waters. The fire is the only light for miles.
She sees the city, and it burns. It has been torn inside out by an exploding mirror between the worlds. She sees ancient ruins of dark stone used as a resting point for soldiers from an unknown army. The molten false sun wavers, inconstant. The city streets are paused, a held breath.
She has seen this all before.
She drifts, walking, a ghost through black ruins that stand at the edge of an oily sea. This keep, this fortress on the edge of dark waters, is what lies on the other side of the sun mirror. This is the place where he sails on the ship.
She knows him. She is looking for him.
A woman stands on the shore, and she waits for the ship. Her features are cloaked in shadows so thick they cover her like armor. Her dress billows in the bone cold wind.
The waters chop and churn with violent motion. They are like an organism. They claw at the small boat as it approaches, as if angered by its transgression.
It won’t be long now. He will arrive, and the woman who waits for him will take him in her arms, and in her arms he will stay.
She is sucked back towards the city, the other city, the city that burns. She sees the mirror twist and expand. She hears a heartbeat, fading. A countdown to the final moments of her forgotten life.
Black woke, startled and exhausted. She wasn’t used to remembering her dreams. She especially wasn’t used to seeing the same thing in her dreams over and over again.
Something’s so familiar about these
, she thought.
The man in the boat, the woman…the city. God, something about the city, and that sunlight…
, she thought.
The man in the boat, the woman…the city. God, something about the city, and that sunlight…
“
Danica!” Kane shouted into the room.
Danica!” Kane shouted into the room.
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