Witchbreaker by James Maxey

Author:James Maxey [Maxey, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Speculative Fiction
ISBN: 9781781080627
Publisher: Solaris
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

MAMA KNUCKLE

PORT HALLELUJAH WAS much as Sorrow remembered it. She’d been fifteen when she came here, a young witch hungry for knowledge, impatient for power. The bay was surrounded by rolling hills where white brick houses with red tile roofs stood atop one another in a chaotic jumble. It was evening, and the tropical air was thick with the haze of a thousand lit stoves as the town prepared dinner. The wind smelled like charcoal, bringing with it the sweet scent of plantains roasting and the savory aroma of oysters cooked in their shells.

The Isle of Podredumbre had been conquered by the Brightmoons two centuries ago. Everywhere she looked, Sorrow saw the spires marking places of worship for the Church of the Book. In the Silver City, grand cathedrals could welcome tens of thousands of worshippers under a single roof. Here, two hundred years of colonization hadn’t quashed the lingering tribalism of the populace; you couldn’t gather a hundred people under a roof without at least some of the members attempting to kill each other over ancient grudges. Thus the hundreds of smaller chapels, each offering services to a few families.

“We’ve got company,” Sage announced as a launch approached the Circus.

“Tax collectors,” Gale explained. “They’ll make a show of searching our ship, then slap a tax on our cargo.

“We don’t really have cargo,” said Brand.

“That won’t matter. They’ll inform us there’s a tax on the wasted space in our hold, or fine us for having excess barnacles on the hull. No ship escapes free of charge.”

“Should we be nervous that these are representatives of the king?” asked Brand. “There’s been time for word to spread to be on the look out for us.”

Gale shook her head. “The main law here is the law of the greased palm. After we make a show of protest over their fees, we’ll slip the inspectors a few moons and a bottle of rum and they’ll be on their way. There’s an art to these things.”

Sorrow interrupted their conversation and said, “While I’m certain that bribes can handle this situation, before they board I’m going to slip off the ship. I’ve got an old friend to visit.”

“You have a friend?” Brand asked. He winced as soon as he said it. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so surprised.”

Sorrow ignored the slight. “After you buy provisions, leave the city along the western road. When you arrive in the village of Two Mile Ditch, ask for Mama Knuckle. I’ll be waiting for you there.”

“Got it,” said Brand.

By now, the inspectors had pulled alongside the Circus. Sorrow slipped over the other rail, which was on the shadowed side. She’d not gone swimming yet with her new body, but instinct kicked in once she hit the water. Even weighted down with her glass armor, her powerful tail had no difficulty propelling her across the calm bay. The setting sun painted the ripples spreading out from her in colors of flame. If anyone spotted her monstrous body swimming toward the river that fed the bay, they failed to call out an alarm.

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