Among the Dead and Dying

  * * *

  “Payter’s dying,” said Hammer, furious with their leader for allowing the attack to go unpunished. They were convened in the captain’s tent, where the leaders of the pack met to discuss strategy. After Ebon left, Jeth was rescued by some of his men and brought back here to rest. Payter was discovered atop the hill, convulsing and near death, his eyes rolled back and foaming at the mouth, a throwing knife lodged in his arm. Hammer and the others had been ready to chase after the stranger, willing to go to any lengths to run him down and make him pay for his crime. Jeth insisted they let the man go and instead start preparing to move north, away from Devon’s Road. “And everyone here saw what happened. They know you got attacked. That stranger came back down from the hill and stole one of our horses. You can’t expect us to let him live after that.”

  “You’re not listening to me,” said Jeth, his throat raw from inhaling the fumes on the hill. His skin burned, and his stomach churned. “That was a devil up there.”

  “I was around before the Drakes came to the plains. I’ve killed my fair share of half-deads,” said Hammer. “They don’t scare me.”

  “He wasn’t just a half-dead. He was worse than that.” Jeth stopped and coughed hard enough that he thought he might spit up blood. “He’s some sort of devil.”

  “Even better,” sad Hammer. “I’ve been meaning to put the flat end of my hammer in the devil’s head for years.”

  “No,” said Jeth, resolute. “We’re getting out of here. All of us.”

  Hammer looked over at his compatriot, Pitt, who was as stout and quiet as ever. He was standing near the entrance of the tent, his hands clasped over his massive belly, and his expression hidden by his thick black beard and long hair. Pitt just nodded to Hammer, signaling that they were in agreement.

  “We’re not going anywhere,” said Hammer.

  Jeth glared at his underling, aware suddenly that this could be a revolt. “What?”

  “You heard me. We’re staying right where we are, and when that caravan comes through we’ll deal with them.”

  “No,” said Jeth, as concerned for the safety of his friends as he was for his rule over the marauders. “You didn’t see what I…”

  “I don’t care what you saw.” Hammer’s voice boomed. “I don’t care how that half-dead put the fear of The Nine in you, but if one of those merchants has something to hide that’s worth the devil’s time, then I sure as hell want to know what it is. We’re not settling for a robber’s tax either. Don’t go looking at Pitt for help, he agrees with me.”

  “You’re fools.”

  “Maybe, but we’re going to be rich fools,” said Hammer.

  Jeth straightened his posture, aware that this revolt could lead to his death. “They won’t follow you.”

  “Who, the Marauders? Are you mad? The robber’s taxes we’ve taken these past few months have been barely enough to keep us fed. Hell, Pitt’s belly is shrinking by the second. We’re aching for a rich take.”

  “What about the pouch that devil left?” asked Jeth, frustrated by their greed. “There’s got to be thirty pel in there.”

  “And where there’s thirty, there’s bound to be more.”

  “Thirty pel will keep us fed for weeks,” said Jeth in an attempt to reason with them.

  “There’s more to life than just keeping fed. When was the last time we took the pack to the city? They deserve a few good nights at the inn, a wench and a bench at the tavern. Am I right, Pitt?”

  Pitt answered with a nod and a grunt.

  “See?” asked Hammer. “Look how excited he is.”

  Jeth didn’t respond to Hammer’s joke, and focused on the mistake he was sure they were making. “This guy wasn’t just any half-dead envoy, Hammer. He was wicked in ways I’ve never seen.”

  “He’s no devil,” said Hammer. “He’s a huckster half-dead with flash powder up his sleeve.”

  Jeth started to argue, but Hammer silenced him. “No point fighting about it, decision’s already made. We’ve got Payter in one of the wagons, ready for you to take him out to Sailor’s Rock. The rest of us are going to wait here for the caravan. After that, we’re going to head off into the plains to hide from any Swords the city sends out to investigate. We’ll meet up with you in Sailor’s Rock in a week or two, and we can talk about your role in the group then. None of us want to see you dead, but we think it’s time for someone else to step up as leader.”

  “You?” asked Jeth with contempt.

  Hammer nodded and said, “Sure, why not?”

  “You’re going to get them killed.”

  “Maybe,” said Hammer. “But we’ll die fat and happy before anyone catches up with us.”