CHAPTER SIX
Dawn broke with brilliant sunshine and a cool breeze sweeping in off the ocean. Ran woke and found Tanka already dressed.
“Going to check the falks and see if they’ve brought word back yet.”
Ran swung his legs out of the bed. “I’ll head down to the harbor and see about talking to the caravan master.”
Tanka pointed to the dining area. “Left you some food there for your meal. Tea should still be nice and hot.”
“Thanks.”
Tanka left and Ran quickly downed the food. He was eager to see what Yasseh would say when he informed him of the plot to attack the caravan and rob them of their possessions. He took his time belting on his weapons, making sure the senban were properly positioned along with the length of kusari. When he stuck his two swords into his belt, he headed out of the apartment and into the streets of Chulal.
Crowds already bustled along the main thoroughfares. Pushcarts filled with exotic fruits and baked goods clambered along, stopping frequently as patrons came to buy. Ran sidestepped a number of them on his way toward the harbor. Ahead of him, he spotted a contingent of the city guard on patrol. Ran waited as they marched by and then resumed his journey to the waterfront. He inhaled deeply, feeling invigorated after a good night’s sleep. The salt air tasted good, and while he might not like traveling on boats, Ran had always enjoyed being near the ocean.
Around the corner, he caught a glimpse of one of the merchant vessels under oars rowing out of the harbor. As she passed around the jetty of stones and the pair of watchtowers guarding the harbor entrance, her sails unfurled and immediately blossomed as they caught the wind. Off on another adventure, thought Ran. He hoped he’d be off soon for one as well.
He found his way to the same location where he’d met Yasseh the evening before and found Gunj busy loading several pack mules. Gunj nodded at him as he approached and came over.
“You need something?”
Ran smiled. “I was hoping to talk to Yasseh. I have some information he needs to hear about.”
“What sort of information?”
“I’d prefer to tell him directly, if it’s all the same to you.” Ran said this with a smile still on his face so Gunj didn’t take it the wrong way.
But the smaller man merely shrugged. “He’s out right now, but he should be back in an hour or so.” Gunj walked back toward the pack mules.
“I’ll wait then,” said Ran.
Again Gunj only shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me. You’re part of the company now. You can do what you wish.”
Ran watched him lace up straps on another mule. “How go preparations for tomorrow’s departure?”
“We’ll be ready to leave as soon as dawn breaks. That’s about how you know things are prepared.” Gunj eyed him. “Have you ever ridden with a caravan before?”
Ran shook his head. “Nope. I’m afraid I’m brand new to the experience.”
“But you’ve done a lot of fighting in the past. That much is obvious.” Gunj turned back to the mules. “And someone trained you very well.”
“My father was Murai. Do you know of them?”
Gunj grunted. “I know what the Murai are. They are exceptional warriors.” He glanced at Ran. “But you do not fight like a Murai warrior.”
Ran tried to laugh it off. “That’s very true. Much to the consternation of my father. He always wanted me to be like him, and I guess I failed at it. Never had a head for memorizing complicated technical movements and the like. I guess I just preferred to think about fighting in another way.”
Gunj cocked an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
Something about how the little man asked unnerved Ran a bit. Gunj was a worldly guy. He had no doubt seen his share of fighters over the years. Was it possible that he also knew about the shadow warriors? Ran guessed that it was entirely possible. Maybe even likely. But the question was, did he suspect Ran of being one? Or had his fighting style simply confused the smaller man? Either way, Ran would have to be sure to disguise himself as much as possible in his mannerisms and actions.
Ran wandered around the warehouse and looked inside, spotting huge pallets of merchandise. He found Gunj again. “Are we taking all of that with us?”
Gunj nodded. “Not to worry, we have the transportation to handle it.”
“And the security to protect it?”
Gunj laughed. “Well, that’s what you’re here for, isn’t it?” He moved off, humming a song to himself.
Yasseh showed up a few minutes later with several workers in tow and hailed Ran when he saw him. “What brings you down here so early? We’re not due to leave until dawn tomorrow.”
Ran tugged on his sleeve. “Is there somewhere we can talk? Privately?”
Yasseh glanced at the men around him. “Leave us.” He waited until the men vanished and then smiled at Ran. “What’s this about? I hope you’re not reconsidering our employment arrangement?”
“Not at all,” said Ran. “However, something has come to my attention, and I felt you should know about it so we can take the appropriate steps to counter it.”
“And what would that be?”
Ran eyed him. “There’s a plan afoot to rob your caravan.”
If he’d expected Yasseh to look alarmed, Ran was sorely disappointed when the elder merchant merely let loose a hearty laugh. “Rob my caravan, is it? Is that what’s got you so worried?” Yasseh pulled out a long-stemmed pipe and started filling it with tobacco. “Let me tell you something, Ran. The nature of my business is that we are always under threat of attack. When you get as successful as I have become, the threat of robbers and brigands and the like is always with you. And we have seen more than our fair share of such things over the life of my company. It’s one reason why I take security as seriously as I do.”
“I just thought you would want to know,” said Ran.
“Indeed I do,” said Yasseh. “How did you come by this information?”
“I overheard it in a tavern.” Suddenly, it didn’t sound as reputable as it had when Ran had played this scene out in his head beforehand.
Yasseh clapped him on the back. “Listen, son, if everything that was spoken by drunks around a table in a tavern was to be believed, the world as we know it wouldn’t last a day. So many schemes and machinations have been born amid the tankards and liquid bravado that inhabits such places, yet have never seen the light of day. I’ve heard fairy tales of demons and dragons and dungeons filled with magical weapons and more gold than can be yanked from the earth itself. To this day I have never seen a demon. Nor a dragon.” He chuckled. “I may have seen a dungeon or two, but never one filled with gold or magic weapons. Pity, that.”
Ran smiled. “I guess you’re right. After all, if you weren’t, then you wouldn’t be as prosperous as you are.”
Yasseh blew out a smoke ring and sighed. “Danger comes with the territory. At my age, I don’t have to keep going out on the caravans, you know. I could easily hire someone else to oversee them. But you know why I still do it?”
“You enjoy the uncertainty,” said Ran. “The risk attracts you.”
“Aye,” said Yasseh. “What else is there in life that lets you know you’re truly alive if not for the risk of death? Only when we are close to the edge of oblivion do we fully appreciate what it is to draw a breath, see a sunrise, or lay with a woman. I’m never as happy sitting around a city some place as I am when I’m out on the roads that connect civilizations. I get to meet new people. I get to see places most never do. Even with the risk of attack, this is a fine life.”
Ran eyed him. “And if the attack is legitimate and you die in the process?”
Yasseh shrugged. “Then it is Argul’s will that such a thing happen to me.”
“Argul? Is that your god?”
Yasseh blew out another smoke ring. This one failed to float high. He frowned at it and then shook his head. “Argul was my second wife. And never has a more bitter, hate-filled woman walked the grass of this world. She cursed me to die when my proclivity for chasing skirts got the better of me. So far, I’ve kept that curse at bay.” He smiled. “But I suppose one day it will catch up with me. You can’t put that much hatred out into the universe and not expect it to manifest somehow.”
They were distracted by the sound of an approaching horse. Yasseh turned, and Ran saw a broad smile spread across his face. “Ah, my son is here at long last.”
Ran turned and nearly forgot to control himself. The man on the approaching horse was none other than Ejul the bandit. But Ran managed to keep the shock from registering with a quick series of shallow breaths.
Ejul paid him no mind anyway and smiled at Yasseh before sliding down out of the saddle. Ran could see that Ejul’s two stumps had been fitted with two metallic hooks that enabled him to ride the horse.
Yasseh embraced his son and then pulled away. “Better now?”
Ejul held up his hooks and shrugged. “Thank you for the gift, Father. They will enable me to perform many tasks. Not as much as I would like, however.”
Yasseh turned to Ran. “You see the sort of danger that exists. My son, Ejul, here was out of town for a few days. He was attacked in a village by a crazed swordsman who hacked off both of his hands. Can you imagine such a thing?”
“The world can be a terrible place,” said Ran.
“And a wonderful one for sparing my only son,” said Yasseh. He turned to Ejul. “This is Ran. I’ve hired him on as security for the upcoming trip.”
Ejul eyed Ran for the first time, and the shadow warrior felt the man’s gaze rove over him, quietly appraising him. After a moment, Ejul frowned. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
Ran wished for nothing more than a convenient disguise at that moment. But to shrink and become shy would only confirm any suspicions Ejul might have. So instead, Ran did the opposite and opened up with a hearty laugh. “I shouldn’t think so. I’ve only recently arrived in the city. But perhaps we passed in the streets.”
“I’ve only just returned myself,” said Ejul. “Where did you come from before this?”
“Naran.”
Ejul smirked. “That place. It’s a wonder you made it out of there alive.”
“Not really a wonder,” said Yasseh. “Ran is a skilled warrior. Even Gunj says so.”
Ejul’s eyebrows creased his forehead. “Is that so? Well, you must be very special, indeed. You’re lucky to be able to wield those swords. I no longer have such luck, myself.”
“And yet you are handling this adversity as well as any man could,” said Yasseh. “I am extremely proud of you for that.”
“Most noble,” said Ran. He turned toward Yasseh. “I have a few remaining items to handle before I join you at dawn tomorrow, so I’ll take my leave now.” He nodded to Ejul. “Good to meet you. Will you be accompanying us on the caravan?”
“Me? No, I’m afraid I’d be more of a liability than an asset. If we were attacked, I’d scarcely be able to do anything, I fear. I will remain here in Chulal and see after the business. Someone has to balance the books and make sure we don’t run out of money.”
Yasseh laughed. “Ejul has a great mind for business. Once I’m tucked away in the ground somewhere, I expect he will have no trouble assuming leadership and continuing the family’s success.”
Ran bowed. “I will leave you to that, then. Good day.” He moved back down the quay toward the busier streets of Chulal, fully aware that Ejul’s eyes were still on him as he did so. What were the chances that the man he’d nearly killed a few nights ago would turn out to be the son of the man Ran now worked for? He almost grinned. He’d been told many times by the elders at the clan that the universe worked in mysterious ways. It wasn’t worth the effort trying to figure out what sort of bizarre conditions must have come into alignment to make this connection, but they had. And now Ran would be forced to deal with it. The good news, he supposed, was that Ejul was staying back here in Chulal. Of course, Ran suspected that was a convenient lie to facilitate the actual ambush.
The real question was why? Ejul seemed to have a privileged life of wealth and opportunity. How was it that he had fallen in with the likes of thugs and bandits? He only had to wait out his father’s death before he would inherit a large company that would guarantee him financial security for the rest of his life. Why would he attack his own family’s business?
It made no sense, Ran decided. But then again, so often the workings of the minds of men failed to make sense. Perhaps Ejul was impatient. Perhaps he owed large sums of money to people. Whatever the case, Ran would need to keep his wits about him during the trip. If Ejul suspected Ran was the man who had cut off his hands, then Ran’s life would be in serious jeopardy.
As a precaution, he took the long route back to Tanka’s apartments, tripling back upon his long and winding trail several times to throw off any interested pursuers. Each time he did so, he detected nothing amiss, and it was finally nearing late afternoon when he opened the door to the apartment and walked inside.
Tanka was already there. As Ran came in, he waved him over to the small table and the oil lamp that burned on it.
“The falks have returned from Gakur.”
Ran’s heart ticked over. “What is the word?”
“I’m decoding it now,” said Tanka. “Pull up a chair and help me.”