Winterfinding (20 page)

Moria glared at Jena, and then looked at
Jej. “When she leaves, you might as well go with her. You’re done
here.” Jej let out a slight whimper.

Jena shook her head speaking to Jej over her
shoulder, “Don’t worry. You’re not going anywhere.”

“
So now you’re telling me
how to run my house?”

“
I’m telling you to calm
down. You’re not thinking clearly.”

“
Don’t dare presume you
know what I’m thinking. I built this place up. I fought off the
sausage-fingered men with greed bubbling on their greasy lips. They
coveted what was given to me, what I made from the scraps they
threw down. You’re not the first to try to swoop in and take it
from me.”

“
Light be damned,” Jena
was wide-eyed, “you really have no idea why I’m here.”

“
You killed my husband.
You killed my sister’s husband and my sister’s child.”

“
I never said that, no one
said that.”

“
It was clear…”

“
No, you weren’t
listening. I didn’t do anything to anyone in your family. If
anything, I gave Reg the last rites he deserved.”

Moria’s eyes narrowed. “Why should I believe
you?”

“
Why are you deciding to
believe some speculative nonsense rather than what you’re being
told?”

“
Years to
experience.”

“
Addison is going to be
here soon. He’s going to confirm everything. But I need you to do
something for me. I need you to agree to something.”

“
You can’t force me to do
anything. You might be some hard ranger but my will is just
as…”

“
Stop yelling at me.” Jena
was exhausted. There was a knock at the inn door.

“
Tha’s him.” Jej looked
panicked. “Wha should I...”

“
Answer the damn door,
girl.” Jej scurried to unlock the door and let in Addison. Jena
watched her and shook her head muttering, “How does she not drive
you mad?”

“
She’s more resilient than
she looks even for all her fluttering about.” Moria’s voice wasn’t
tender but for the briefest moment, there was a hint of
pride.

Jena looked at her out of the corner of her
eye, “That almost sounded like a compliment.” She stood before
Moria could say anything back, “Addison.”

The constable stepped into the Archway. He
would have had to been blind not to see what a disaster the place
had become and even then there was little doubt he wouldn’t have
been able to sense the disquiet.

He raised an eyebrow as he looked Jej over
and slowly took in the scene of Moria haphazardly bound to a chair.
Cocking his head to one-side, he gave two long blinks and before
rubbing his face in exasperation.

“
By the Light, Jena, what
have you gotten into now?”

“
I told Moria what you
were going to find out at Reg’s.”

“
Well, that was
stupid.”

“
She didn’t take it well.”
Jej said with earnest.

“
Could you sweep up or
something?” Jena snapped. Jej nodded and disappeared into the
kitchen behind the bar. Addison came over to where Moria was bound.
He lent down and untied her, then stood beside Jena facing
Moria.

“
What did she tell you?”
He asked.

“
Tanner’s dead. Reg’s
dead. The cabin is razed. Thieves or something.” Moria stayed
sitting rubbing her wrists and staring daggers at Jena.

“
They weren’t thieves. But
they had to have been bandits. What they thought they’d get from
Reg’s place I don’t know. You said he had dropped Colm off with you
to be looked after for a while.”

“
Yes, wasn’t uncommon. The
child needed proper care. His father was all bad
habits.”

“
Did he say where he was
off to?”

“
Sell some wool in Rautia,
I think. That, and pawn off some veg on one of the pilgrim
trails.”

Addison nodded, “And Tanner took Colm back
up there not long after?”

“
You know Tanner. He was
useless here. Half my time was spent managing him. So the
opportunity to get out of my hair he took.”

“
Well, it looks like Reg
came back to find these bandits already there.”

“
How did you figure that?”
Jena asked.

“
He must have come up
casually. The barn was undamaged; the only signs of struggle were
next to the cabin.”

“
I buried the bodies I
found. They were unrecognizable except for Reg. He was a Novosar,
so I placed him in a cairn.” Jena explained.

“
But you dumped my husband
in a shallow grave?”

“
I didn’t know. I did what
I could.”

“
How do we know you didn’t
kill them?”

Jena turned to Addison, “Did you find
it?”

Addison nodded reaching two fingers into a
small breast pocket, “Jena told me I’d find this in the grave she
made for Reg.” He let a silver chain dangle from his hand. “You
know what this is?”

Moria’s face softened but the anger under
her skin didn’t disappear. She looked at the chain unblinking,
“That’s my sister’s.”

“
It’s an athingani binding
chain.” Addison said matter-of-factly.

“
Reg wasn’t athingani.”
Moria said.

“
So that means that Becka
was.”

Jena watched Moria but she betrayed no
emotion. “She was. I am.”

“
There’s more to it.” Jena
added. She slipped a hand into her tunic. “I found a vellum in the
ruin of the cabin. Alongside the chain.”

“
Reg’s place, this place.
He owned them. He gave this place to me, let me run it and live off
it.”

“
I never knew your
background.” Addison said.

“
Of course you didn’t.”
Moria let out a cruel laugh. “You all hate our kind. Becka and I,
we could pass and we did for so long. Did well too. Then she
married Reg. Then Tanner got me pregnant. Becka made Reg promise to
take of me.” She looked at Addison. “Tanner was a waste. A pretty
man who was pretty useless.”

“
You know with Reg and
Tanner dead, this place is the community’s now.” Addison said
grimly.

Jena removed the old vellum, “That’s
entirely true.” She handed it to him. Addison slowly unfolded it
and read. Jena looked at Moria, “This is all Colm’s now. The boy
isn’t dead. He’s safe with a friend of mine. A good man.”

“
So you’re holding him
ransom? Trying to blackmail me?” Fury again crept into Moria’s
face. Jena held her hand out to stop her.

“
No, not it the least. I
would have told you, but you starting throwing shit at me before I
could.” She turned to Addison. “Both property are his, the boy’s,
and he’ll be back to claim them.”

“
Soon?” Addison
asked.

Jena shrugged, “I can’t say. I know he’ll be
back. She,” Jena pointed at Moria, “is the best person to care for
this place and the cab. She’ll keep it safe for the boy. And it’ll
keep a roof over your head.”

“
I’m a tenant
now?”

“
No, damn it, it’s yours.
It’s been yours; it’s going to be yours. Keep the coin you earn and
living your life. But do it knowing you’re doing it for your
blood.”

Addison handed the vellum back to Jena.
“That is binding but she can’t own this, even if I wanted her to.
Legally. An athingani can’t hold property, land.”

“
We’re the only ones who
know. And she doesn’t, officially, Colm does. She’ll pay the
alcavalas. All you need to do is keep her background to yourself
and make sure she treats Colm fairly when he returns.” Jena held
the vellum out to Moria, “Read it.”

Moria snatched it away and looked it over.
Addison watched Moria but spoke to Jena, “So this is going to be
that favor?”

Jena bit her lip and widened her eyes,
“Yeah, it’s looking like it.”

“
How do I know… No,
listen.” Moria stuttered. She looked up at Addison. “You’d protect
me? You’d let me keep on here?”

“
This place would fall
apart without you. You don’t have many friends in town but I always
thought we were.” He flick his thumb toward Jena. “This one proved
herself to me. I trust her. I’ll make sure you’re
protected.”

“
Is Colm safe?” Moria’s
voice was a whisper.

“
He’s with someone I would
give my life for.”

“
That’s not really the
answer I’m looking for.” Moria snorted and handed the old vellum
back to Jena. “You’re going to them. You’ll see Colm before I
do.”

Jena nodded, “I’d like to think so.”

“
You tell him, I was hard
on him but I do love him. He’s going to have a home here whenever
he decides to come back.”

“
I’m sorry about
everything.”

Moria waved her off. “You’re done here. I
need you to leave.” Her voice wasn’t angry or cruel. It had a sort
of bone weary quality.

Jena nodded, “I thought as much. I had the
girl bring my things down.” She pocketed the old vellum and removed
the new that Garza had made. She set it on the table and spoke to
Addison, “I had it renewed. You’ll find it word for word. I’ll give
the original to the boy. He’ll present it when he returns.” She
moved passed him toward the door.

“
I’ll help ya.” He said
following her.

Moria sat in silence. Sunlight poured
through the window illuminating the shards of plate and mug that
she had smashed. The overturned chairs cast long shadows and the
strewn cutlery shimmered. Moria could hear Jej in the back
fumbling. She smiled. The smiled grew and soon she was laughing. It
was desperate sounding, almost maniacal. Jej came shuffling into
the room and stood frozen, stunned by what she was hearing and
seeing. Moria leaned on the table holding her head in her hand
covering her eyes. Her other hand crept up and grabbed the new
vellum. She balled it up in a fist, one that seemed never to want
to release.

“
A’right, madam?” Jej
asked tentatively.

Still laughing, Moria waved her off. “Yes,
Jej. Thank you.” She rubbed her eyes dry and gathered herself
together. “Leave the broom dear, I’ll clean up out here. You go get
started prepping for supper.”

“
Madam?” Jej was
confused.

“
Go on, Jej.” She said.
“And you can call me Moria from now on.”

“
You know, since you’ve
been here, things have gotten a bit out of hand.” Addison said
leading Jena into his station.

Jena threw down her rucksack and pack almost
immediately once she got inside. She walked over to chairs that
surrounded a small black stove. Sitting she slouched forward
holding her head in her hands. “Wasn’t supposed to happen this way.
Things just kept escalating.” She sighed leaning back to stare at
the ceiling. “Thank the Light, it’s done now.”

“
Well, there’s probably
just one more thing.” Addison nudged her rucksack to the side with
his foot.

Jena turned looking at him expectant,
“What’s that?”

“
When I was up at Reg’s I
found someone.” He took off his belt and scabbard setting them down
on a table opposite where Jena sat. He crossed the room to a door
where he lifted a key ring off the wall and began searching through
the keys for the correct one to open it.

“
What someone?” Jena
stood.

“
Someone you need to talk
to.” Addison opened the door and the two walked back into the
holding cells of the station. There was a bench and small cabinet
table beside it with several candles burning low, their wax pouring
over the sides of it.

“
I don’t need to talk to
anyone. I need to head north and find my friends. There’s a Spires
army gathering and they’ll need my help to survive
that.”

“
Why do you choose friends
that are in such need?” Addison muttered. They came to the last
cell in the backroom. It was nicer than the others with a proper
cot, a tiny table, and a window that was unbarred. “This fellow is
Cochrane.” A rather emaciated looking man lay on the cot. He wasn’t
asleep but didn’t look awake. His eyes just stared unblinking at
the ceiling.

“
He’s catatonic.” Jena
said.

“
Not quite,” Cochrane
said, “I’m merely thinking.” He sat up and spun himself around to
see the two better.

“
Found him on my way back.
He was rather bedraggled and desperate.”

“
They dumped me on the
beach with only a bota of water. I made due.” Cochrane shrugged.
“The Light revealed you didn’t it.”

“
Right, the Light.”
Addison looked at Jena. “He was half-starved and
filthy.”

“
Why do I care?” She
asked.

“
Because Cochrane here has
to get to The Cathedral in one piece and soon.”

“
Does she know?” Cochrane
asked Addison, who shook his head.

Addison opened the gate and stepped inside.
“Know what?” Jena asked remaining outside.

“
There is an armada of
Lappalan ships anchored just beyond The Blockade.” Cochrane
said.

“
What does that have to do
with me?”

“
They’re gigantic vessels.
Biggest ships I’ve ever seen and there’s hundreds of them.”
Cochrane continued ignoring her question. “Looming, not attacking
or trading or moving on. It’s a great dark shadow on the
sea.”