… Nowhere to go now.
Maybe he should just drown, or maybe an obliging shark might chew him up. Better that than the Zorne Police. The Correctors’ elite Inquisitors were renowned for their imaginative chastisements.
Ruffburn made for the open water, the choppiness causing him to snort and thrash. But the tide was coming in, so he felt himself being washed back to the other side of the harbor. He glimpsed a small group of men running that way to help him out of the water.
The good fellows must have sniffed the offer of reward.
Ruffburn gasped and choked as he cut the other way. The nearest boats were closing in. The fishers had their nets and tridents out. One overly enthusiastic type was whirling a weighted bola over his head.
Ruffburn ducked under water and forced his bony hide to dive as low as he could. Bolts zinged past him as he held his breath and chiseled deeper. Then he saw a shadow appear from above and spied a net sinking down. No avoiding that.
He darted sideways, but the lead-weighted net quickly closed around him like a crab claw on a minnow. The next moment, he felt his body being heaved up and trussed like a captured snapper.
Rough hands reached down and hauled him higher. As he spewed up seawater, he heard someone laugh.
A face loomed down at him: scarred, red, and ugly with half the right ear missing. Then it was replaced with another. This one wore a grin. Ruffburn took in the blond ponytail, pale ironic eyes, and the large gold earring in the left lobe.
“You could be useful, old mucker,” Ponytail said.
Ruffburn stared at him.
“Hmm . . . sure. Nowhere else to be.”
He turned his head, the only part of him that could move. There were three of them: the cheerful lazy-eyed blond, Half Ear, and a huge, lumpy fellow with a square black beard. The latter’s broad blue face seemed to be stitched together with intricate spiraling tattoos.
Ruffburn grinned at the three of them. These seemed like good lads.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
The blond grinned and looked at the giant with the tattoos. “How we doing, Stank?”
“They’re gaining. And the fucking Correctors have the entire harbor on lockdown.”
“Best get in the open water,” the blond said.
“Fishers’ll cut us off,” Half Ear grumbled.
“Not if you row harder, Scit.”
“I’m fucking pulling my arms out as it is.”
“Can you row?” The blond stared at Ruffburn.
“I’m an expert rower,” Ruffburn said.
“Good. You’ll need to be. Cut him loose, Stanky.”
“Why?” The tattooed monster glared at Ruffburn. “We can hand him over to the watch all trussed up nicely. They won’t mind none––save them the time.”
“We’re not handing this shithead over to the watch.”
“We’re not?” Both Tattoo Face and Half Ear gawped at the blond.
“You’re not,” Ruffburn added, deciding to chime in with some input.
They looked at him.
“Why?” Tattoo Face asked.
“Because this boy could be pretty useful, Stank. We’ve been watching him since he arrived in town, Slider and me. Got potential, so he has. Shame to waste that kind of talent to get a bit of reward coin.”
“I had that reward money spent in the Dozy-Eyed Mare tonight already,” Tattoo Face muttered.
“I’ll treat you,” Ruffburn said.
“Gobshite, little twat,” Half Ear said.
“Nice to meet you too.” Ruffburn grinned.
The blond ignored them as he sliced the net, allowing Ruffburn to spill out and untangle himself. He lay belly-down in the wet strakes before he shifted over and looked up at a clear blue sky. Gulls weaved and cried. Tattoo and Ear were working the oars.
Ruffburn saw soldiers on the harbor waving their spears. Others lined the far side. The docks seemed completely ringed by steel. Off to the left, three fishing vessels were clipping toward them to cut off their escape. The occupants seemed determined to seize the prisoner and get their reward. It seemed pretty hopeless, even when Ruffburn grabbed the third oar and helped.
The blond watched the fishers.
Half Ear scratched his good one. “We won’t make it, Trell. They’re closing in.”
Ponytail yawned. “I can see that, Scit. Maybe we’ll let the nearest one catch up.” He winked at Ruffburn.
“He’ll be on us in minutes,” the blond said and kicked Half Ear in the shin.
“Bollocks. What was that for?” Half Ear missed his stroke and crashed into Tattoo Face’s side. Ruffburn flailed and tried to cover.
“Make ’em think we’re panicking.” Ponytail grinned.
“We sort of are,” Ruffburn said.
The nearest ketch was quickly closing in. Ruffburn could see the greedy, filthy faces of the fishers as they leaned out from the prow. They carried nets and spears. One had a bow and was fumbling with an arrow.
The ketch crashed alongside, and the skipper yelled down. “Hand that tosser up, and you boys can bugger off. It’s not you we want.”
“Happy to help.” The blond grinned up at them. “Here lads, grab the prisoner.”
“What?” Ruffburn stared at the blond. “You said . . .”
“Sorry, mate. Plans changed.”
His companions stowed their oars and, at the blond’s command, grabbed Ruffburn by the ears. Tattoo Face heaved him up, and the skipper ordered two of his sailors to reach down.
“Help ’em, lads,” the blond said, and the other two clambered up behind Ruffburn.
“We’ve got this. Don’t need you boys up here.”
“Want to make sure the handoff is smooth,” Ponytail said, smiling as he turned and stared at Ruffburn.
“Piss off,” the skipper told the blond and turned away to yell at his men.
The words died in his throat as Ponytail rammed a curved blade into his right kidney. He pushed the dying skipper into the arms of one of the man’s startled mates. Then Tattoo Face and Half Ear leaped onto the rest of the crew, brandishing long knives, slicing and stabbing.
Ruffburn nodded, noting the efficiency of the attack. Excellent.
Within five minutes the ketch was bouncing, rudderless, with the sails hanging limp. Ponytail signaled, and the two others jumped about, readying the craft.
Ruffburn saw the other two ketches veer off, the occupants unsure about what had just transpired. He grinned with satisfaction as they slipped back toward the harbor entrance.
The blond grinned at him.
“I’m Trelaney. Welcome to the crew, old son. Time for an ale, hey lads?”
I hope you enjoyed that excerpt. Archer’s Moon will be available in three weeks. You can pre-order your copy here.
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