Stalking Darkness - Chapter Nine
Jul. 27th, 2023 08:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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i_read_whatSo last time, Alec got over his virginity in a way that seemed dubiously consensual at best, while Thero and Nysander still seemed to be having issues. #TeamThero, by the way.
Alec's our viewpoint character this time around. He'd apparently been hoping their stay at Wheel Street, and thus their cover as noblemen, would be brief. Unfortunately, Seregil apparently has "daylight business" to attend to, so the weeks have now stretched into a month or so.
Unfortunately, though understandably, this means going to the Cockerel is off limits. They can't risk a connection between Seregil's two identities. Alec isn't terribly interested in the business side of things, but he does get to watch Seregil at work:
Despite his affectations, he had the common touch that invited confidence and respect. He also had a reputation for openhandedness in certain matters; tradesmen were happy enough to pass on whatever rumors were current and there was little going on, legal or otherwise, which Seregil didn’t soon hear of.
There are also a lot of "evening salons" - basically social events a plenty. Seregil is a social butterfly and gets a lot of invitations. This leads to intrigue and job opportunities, so they're important. But not really Alec's cup of tea.
Apparently there are a lot of rumors about Alec himself: some are that he's Seregil's ward or even son. But most tend toward "less altruistic possibilities" - this mortifies Alec, who is still pretty prudish. Seregil reassures him that the gossip will pass and in a month or two they'll be so used to Alec that they'll forget about the rumors and believe he's been around for years.
They visit a lot of theatres and gambling halls. Alec really likes drama: it's an extension of the ballads and tavern tales that he grew up on. Even when he doesn't understand the story, (and there's an oddly snarky aside that he frequently doesn't), he likes the pageantry.
So...Seregil doesn't explain the story after? Aw.
But to be fair, his education continues. Not just lock work and swordmanship, but etiquette, lineage, history and disguise. All fun sorts of things that a spy should know. Yay.
So the actual events of the chapter begin when Alec gets a note from Beka, inviting him to a ride. He asks Seregil if he's needed in the afternoon and is given the okay to go hang out.
Their reunion is cute, and shows nicely how they both have been growing into their roles:
Arriving at the Harvest Market well before the appointed time, Alec found Beka already waiting for him by the city gate. The way she sat her horse, reins held casually in one hand, her other elbow cocked out at a jaunty angle beneath her green cloak, spoke volumes; she looked born to soldiering.
“Aren’t you still the fine young dandy?” she called as he maneuvered Windrunner through the market crowd.
“Seregil’s making a gentleman of me, after all.” He struck a haughty pose. “Soon I’ll be too good to hang about with the likes of you.”
Aww. So they get to go riding along the cliffs. Beka's got a new saddle - one meant to accustom her horse to the feel of armor. She fills him in on how military life is going:
“We all start as riders, although those of us with commissions are actually officers from the start. I’ll be a lieutenant when we ride off to the war. Right now all the new riders are divided up into training decuria. I’m in the first turma under Captain Myrhini. Lieutenants lead three decuriae, but it’s the captain more often than not who leads the drills—“
“Hold on!” Alec interjected, reining in. “You soldiers speak a different language. What’s a turma?”
“I’m still getting it all straight myself,” she admitted. “Let’s see, now—ten riders make a decuria, which is led by a sergeant. Three decuriae to a turma, commanded by a lieutenant; three turmae to a troop and four troops to a squadron; two squadrons to the regiment. What with officers, sutlers and the like, there’s about eight hundred of us altogether. Captain Myrhini has command of First Troop of the Lion Squadron under Commander Klia. Commander Perns commands the Wolf Squadron. And the Queen’s oldest son, Prince Korathan, is the regimental commander.”
It sounds all very complicated, but it's probably good for Alec to learn this too. At any rate, it's a pretty elite group. They have to provide their own mounts and already have training with riding and shooting, so they tend to be from wealthy or noble families. Beka only got her commission with Seregil's help. Even so, apparently some of the blue bloods are still clumsy with certain maneuvers. Beka is glad for her dad's specialized teaching and is likely to get a pretty good command position when training is done.
Alec shares a bit of his own training, but regrets that he can't talk about Watcher business. He gets the idea that she might know more than she says, having grown up around Micum and Seregil. It's a little thing, but I really like that. A lot of times, I feel like many authors forget that there are people who live around the main characters, who would see things and draw their own conclusions about the nonsense they get up to.
And well, Beka's about the right age for Nysander to consider recruiting her soon...
One thing we learn is that both Beka and Elsbet both speak at least some Aurenfaie (Elsbet more), and it's popular among nobility.
When Alec gets back, Seregil's got a new Rhiminee Cat job for them. A noblewoman has misplaced some compromising letters that might be found in a nobleman's study. It should be a straightforward burglary. But it doesn't take too long for them to notice that someone is watching them. There's a hint of motion in the shadows.
They decide to leave the baron for later and see what's going on. Alec picks up on the sound of of scraping over cobblestone. He'd caught that last time soon. They duck into an alleyway and then...
Undaunted, their pursuer took a step forward, weapon at the ready. “If ever you called yourself Gwethelyn, Lady of Cador Ford, and Ciris, squire of the same, then we’ve a matter of restitution to discuss.”
Oh dear! It's Captain Rhal!
Captain Rhal was the dude that ferried Seregil (then disguised as a pretty lady) and Alec for a bit. Apparently he's met with some ill fate after, and his ship is on the bottom of a river.
“What’s that to do with us?”
Rhal advanced another step, flinging his hat aside. “I’ve traveled a long way to ask you that. Two days below Torburn we put in for water at a little place called Gresher’s Ferry. A pack of swordsmen were waiting for us there, and who do you suppose they wanted?”
Alec shifted uncomfortably beside him. “I’m sure I have no idea,” Seregil replied. “Who were they looking for?”
“Two men and a boy, they claimed, but it was you they meant, sure enough. If I hadn’t caught you out of your woman’s riggings I might not have tumbled, but it was you.”
“You’re mistaken, though I suppose you set them after us anyway?”
“By the Old Sailor, I did not!” Rhal retorted angrily. “I might have saved myself the loss of a fine ship if I had.”
Aw. Maybe Rhal's not so bad.
Anyway, the discussion is interrupted by some street toughs. Interestingly, Rhal joins Alec and Seregil in fighting off the attackers. They win (with Seregil saving Rhal's life) and run for it. When they reach safety, Rhal is pretty bewildered by the series of events, but he's willing to meet up later for a conversation.
And given that the guy managed to track them to Wheel Street, Seregil thinks the conversation is a priority. Especially as they can guess who it was that asked after them.
So they complete the job - it's not plot relevant and is easy, then meeet up with Rhal and a few of his men. Rhal gives his account:
“They came asking after two men and a boy, said they’d stolen the mayor’s gold up in Wolde,” Rhal continued. “When I told ‘em I hadn’t carried any three such as they described, they pulled swords and swarmed all over my vessel, bold as you please. Then their leader—a big, black-bearded son of a whore with an accent thick as lentil porridge—he laid into me, calling me a liar and worse in front of my own crew. The more he went on, the less I liked it. By the time he stopped for breath, I’d sooner been drowned than give him satisfaction. So I kept mum and finally they rode off.
“We went on downriver and I thought that was the end of it, but that same night a fire started in the hold and burned so fierce we couldn’t even get down to douse it. Everyone got off, but my ship lies burnt and broken against the mud bank below Hullout Bend. That’s just a bit too much of a coincidence for my taste, especially since we were carrying silver and bales of vellum that voyage.”
“Not the most flammable of cargoes.” Seregil regarded Rhal impassively over the rim of his cup. “And so you came looking for us.”
As to how they found them: that was Alec's fault. Much to his chagrin. He'd asked a few crewmen how to get to Rhiminee, and they remembered. I mean, to be fair, it's not like Alec had many options and Seregil hadn't been in any state to explain. Even then, it was a big trek to make, but Rhal doesn't really have anything left besides his tools...and Gwethelyn's ring. Huh, neither Alec nor I are sure how he got that. Seregil probably knows.
Anyway, he caught a glimpse of Alec when Seregil was arrested, and just kept watching.
So anyway, Seregil decides to make them a job offer: privateering. Why? He appreciates a man with a sense of humor.
Rhal tells the others to wait outside. Then it's time to talk:
“Tell me why,” Rhal repeated, picking up the gem. “You’ve heard my story and told me nothing, yet you offer me this. What’s it really paying for?”
Seregil chuckled softly. “You’re a clever man, away from the ladies. Let’s understand one another. I’ve got secrets I prefer to keep, but there are surer ways than this to protect them, if you take my meaning. What I’m offering you, all I’m offering you, is a mutually beneficial business proposition. You find a ship, see to the crew, the provisioning, everything. I provide capital, in return for which I receive twenty percent of the take and passage wherever I say, whenever I require it, which will most likely be never. The rest of the profits are yours to be divided in whatever fashion you see fit.”
“And?” Still skeptical, Rhal put the stone back on the table.
“Information. Any document confiscated, any rumors from prisoners, any encounter that seems out of the ordinary—it all comes to me directly and not a word to anyone else.”
Rhal isn't stupid, he realizes they're spies of someone. And Seregil's not about to provide proof. He's got his own terms: ship's papers in his name, and he runs the vessel as he sees fit. He has one more term: their actual names. Seregil gives his, and after a bit Alec provides "Alec of Ivywell."
Rhal leaves, satisfied. Alec is still castigating himself though. Seregil has the same view I do, which is that between his own illness and Alec's lack of knowledge, the poor kid didn't have any real options. Things would be different now, of course.
Alec shows his age here for once, dwelling on his mistake: what if Mardus comes himself? Seregil figures that if Mardus had tracked them, they'd have heard from him by now. He'd have to be insane to hang around with the way things are now.
I'm guessing that means Mardus IS around. But that's for a later date, as here the chapter ends.
Alec's our viewpoint character this time around. He'd apparently been hoping their stay at Wheel Street, and thus their cover as noblemen, would be brief. Unfortunately, Seregil apparently has "daylight business" to attend to, so the weeks have now stretched into a month or so.
Unfortunately, though understandably, this means going to the Cockerel is off limits. They can't risk a connection between Seregil's two identities. Alec isn't terribly interested in the business side of things, but he does get to watch Seregil at work:
Despite his affectations, he had the common touch that invited confidence and respect. He also had a reputation for openhandedness in certain matters; tradesmen were happy enough to pass on whatever rumors were current and there was little going on, legal or otherwise, which Seregil didn’t soon hear of.
There are also a lot of "evening salons" - basically social events a plenty. Seregil is a social butterfly and gets a lot of invitations. This leads to intrigue and job opportunities, so they're important. But not really Alec's cup of tea.
Apparently there are a lot of rumors about Alec himself: some are that he's Seregil's ward or even son. But most tend toward "less altruistic possibilities" - this mortifies Alec, who is still pretty prudish. Seregil reassures him that the gossip will pass and in a month or two they'll be so used to Alec that they'll forget about the rumors and believe he's been around for years.
They visit a lot of theatres and gambling halls. Alec really likes drama: it's an extension of the ballads and tavern tales that he grew up on. Even when he doesn't understand the story, (and there's an oddly snarky aside that he frequently doesn't), he likes the pageantry.
So...Seregil doesn't explain the story after? Aw.
But to be fair, his education continues. Not just lock work and swordmanship, but etiquette, lineage, history and disguise. All fun sorts of things that a spy should know. Yay.
So the actual events of the chapter begin when Alec gets a note from Beka, inviting him to a ride. He asks Seregil if he's needed in the afternoon and is given the okay to go hang out.
Their reunion is cute, and shows nicely how they both have been growing into their roles:
Arriving at the Harvest Market well before the appointed time, Alec found Beka already waiting for him by the city gate. The way she sat her horse, reins held casually in one hand, her other elbow cocked out at a jaunty angle beneath her green cloak, spoke volumes; she looked born to soldiering.
“Aren’t you still the fine young dandy?” she called as he maneuvered Windrunner through the market crowd.
“Seregil’s making a gentleman of me, after all.” He struck a haughty pose. “Soon I’ll be too good to hang about with the likes of you.”
Aww. So they get to go riding along the cliffs. Beka's got a new saddle - one meant to accustom her horse to the feel of armor. She fills him in on how military life is going:
“We all start as riders, although those of us with commissions are actually officers from the start. I’ll be a lieutenant when we ride off to the war. Right now all the new riders are divided up into training decuria. I’m in the first turma under Captain Myrhini. Lieutenants lead three decuriae, but it’s the captain more often than not who leads the drills—“
“Hold on!” Alec interjected, reining in. “You soldiers speak a different language. What’s a turma?”
“I’m still getting it all straight myself,” she admitted. “Let’s see, now—ten riders make a decuria, which is led by a sergeant. Three decuriae to a turma, commanded by a lieutenant; three turmae to a troop and four troops to a squadron; two squadrons to the regiment. What with officers, sutlers and the like, there’s about eight hundred of us altogether. Captain Myrhini has command of First Troop of the Lion Squadron under Commander Klia. Commander Perns commands the Wolf Squadron. And the Queen’s oldest son, Prince Korathan, is the regimental commander.”
It sounds all very complicated, but it's probably good for Alec to learn this too. At any rate, it's a pretty elite group. They have to provide their own mounts and already have training with riding and shooting, so they tend to be from wealthy or noble families. Beka only got her commission with Seregil's help. Even so, apparently some of the blue bloods are still clumsy with certain maneuvers. Beka is glad for her dad's specialized teaching and is likely to get a pretty good command position when training is done.
Alec shares a bit of his own training, but regrets that he can't talk about Watcher business. He gets the idea that she might know more than she says, having grown up around Micum and Seregil. It's a little thing, but I really like that. A lot of times, I feel like many authors forget that there are people who live around the main characters, who would see things and draw their own conclusions about the nonsense they get up to.
And well, Beka's about the right age for Nysander to consider recruiting her soon...
One thing we learn is that both Beka and Elsbet both speak at least some Aurenfaie (Elsbet more), and it's popular among nobility.
When Alec gets back, Seregil's got a new Rhiminee Cat job for them. A noblewoman has misplaced some compromising letters that might be found in a nobleman's study. It should be a straightforward burglary. But it doesn't take too long for them to notice that someone is watching them. There's a hint of motion in the shadows.
They decide to leave the baron for later and see what's going on. Alec picks up on the sound of of scraping over cobblestone. He'd caught that last time soon. They duck into an alleyway and then...
Undaunted, their pursuer took a step forward, weapon at the ready. “If ever you called yourself Gwethelyn, Lady of Cador Ford, and Ciris, squire of the same, then we’ve a matter of restitution to discuss.”
Oh dear! It's Captain Rhal!
Captain Rhal was the dude that ferried Seregil (then disguised as a pretty lady) and Alec for a bit. Apparently he's met with some ill fate after, and his ship is on the bottom of a river.
“What’s that to do with us?”
Rhal advanced another step, flinging his hat aside. “I’ve traveled a long way to ask you that. Two days below Torburn we put in for water at a little place called Gresher’s Ferry. A pack of swordsmen were waiting for us there, and who do you suppose they wanted?”
Alec shifted uncomfortably beside him. “I’m sure I have no idea,” Seregil replied. “Who were they looking for?”
“Two men and a boy, they claimed, but it was you they meant, sure enough. If I hadn’t caught you out of your woman’s riggings I might not have tumbled, but it was you.”
“You’re mistaken, though I suppose you set them after us anyway?”
“By the Old Sailor, I did not!” Rhal retorted angrily. “I might have saved myself the loss of a fine ship if I had.”
Aw. Maybe Rhal's not so bad.
Anyway, the discussion is interrupted by some street toughs. Interestingly, Rhal joins Alec and Seregil in fighting off the attackers. They win (with Seregil saving Rhal's life) and run for it. When they reach safety, Rhal is pretty bewildered by the series of events, but he's willing to meet up later for a conversation.
And given that the guy managed to track them to Wheel Street, Seregil thinks the conversation is a priority. Especially as they can guess who it was that asked after them.
So they complete the job - it's not plot relevant and is easy, then meeet up with Rhal and a few of his men. Rhal gives his account:
“They came asking after two men and a boy, said they’d stolen the mayor’s gold up in Wolde,” Rhal continued. “When I told ‘em I hadn’t carried any three such as they described, they pulled swords and swarmed all over my vessel, bold as you please. Then their leader—a big, black-bearded son of a whore with an accent thick as lentil porridge—he laid into me, calling me a liar and worse in front of my own crew. The more he went on, the less I liked it. By the time he stopped for breath, I’d sooner been drowned than give him satisfaction. So I kept mum and finally they rode off.
“We went on downriver and I thought that was the end of it, but that same night a fire started in the hold and burned so fierce we couldn’t even get down to douse it. Everyone got off, but my ship lies burnt and broken against the mud bank below Hullout Bend. That’s just a bit too much of a coincidence for my taste, especially since we were carrying silver and bales of vellum that voyage.”
“Not the most flammable of cargoes.” Seregil regarded Rhal impassively over the rim of his cup. “And so you came looking for us.”
As to how they found them: that was Alec's fault. Much to his chagrin. He'd asked a few crewmen how to get to Rhiminee, and they remembered. I mean, to be fair, it's not like Alec had many options and Seregil hadn't been in any state to explain. Even then, it was a big trek to make, but Rhal doesn't really have anything left besides his tools...and Gwethelyn's ring. Huh, neither Alec nor I are sure how he got that. Seregil probably knows.
Anyway, he caught a glimpse of Alec when Seregil was arrested, and just kept watching.
So anyway, Seregil decides to make them a job offer: privateering. Why? He appreciates a man with a sense of humor.
Rhal tells the others to wait outside. Then it's time to talk:
“Tell me why,” Rhal repeated, picking up the gem. “You’ve heard my story and told me nothing, yet you offer me this. What’s it really paying for?”
Seregil chuckled softly. “You’re a clever man, away from the ladies. Let’s understand one another. I’ve got secrets I prefer to keep, but there are surer ways than this to protect them, if you take my meaning. What I’m offering you, all I’m offering you, is a mutually beneficial business proposition. You find a ship, see to the crew, the provisioning, everything. I provide capital, in return for which I receive twenty percent of the take and passage wherever I say, whenever I require it, which will most likely be never. The rest of the profits are yours to be divided in whatever fashion you see fit.”
“And?” Still skeptical, Rhal put the stone back on the table.
“Information. Any document confiscated, any rumors from prisoners, any encounter that seems out of the ordinary—it all comes to me directly and not a word to anyone else.”
Rhal isn't stupid, he realizes they're spies of someone. And Seregil's not about to provide proof. He's got his own terms: ship's papers in his name, and he runs the vessel as he sees fit. He has one more term: their actual names. Seregil gives his, and after a bit Alec provides "Alec of Ivywell."
Rhal leaves, satisfied. Alec is still castigating himself though. Seregil has the same view I do, which is that between his own illness and Alec's lack of knowledge, the poor kid didn't have any real options. Things would be different now, of course.
Alec shows his age here for once, dwelling on his mistake: what if Mardus comes himself? Seregil figures that if Mardus had tracked them, they'd have heard from him by now. He'd have to be insane to hang around with the way things are now.
I'm guessing that means Mardus IS around. But that's for a later date, as here the chapter ends.