The Shadojak eyed the objects in the room, his gaze falling upon the chest at its centre.
“I think I may need to return here for closer inspection at some point. I dare say some of these...things, may have gone by then.”
Grendal’s lips drew tight, her face a still mask. “I dare say you’re right.” Then she embraced Elora, wrapping her long arms around her. “Goodbye Elora. I hope you get your uncle back. And if you should ever find yourself friendless; you are always welcome here.”
Elora thanked her and followed the Shadojak out of the room, wondering if she would ever see her again.
Chapter 11
Sea Witch
Bray flexed his injured arm, the ugly gash now reduced to a fine silver scar that pulled the skin tight. Rid of the knoll sap, his body healed itself quickly and he was feeling his usual self. So why was he frowning, why the tightness in his belly and why, whenever he let his concentration lapse for even a moment, his gaze drifted towards Elora? Thankfully she had gone to bed, leaving himself and Diagus alone in Norgie’s kitchen, sharing a bottle of red wine while they discussed the best course of action for the girl.
“So, you believe the beast in the North Sea is truly a leviathan?” Bray asked.
Diagus nodded. “Couldn’t be anything else. What was left of the ship was a twisted wreck, crushed flat and chewed up as if made from paper instead of thick steel.” He drained his glass and filled another. Offering the bottle to Bray. In truth, he had only sipped to swill the taste of the vile stone that Grendel gave Elora to put under his tongue. Potent little thing - left an equally potent taste.
“You think the girl’s involved?” He avoided using her name - attempting to distance himself somehow.
Diagus took a swallow, leaving a crimson stain on his grey beard. It jostled as he spoke. “I’d stake my blade on it. Five years I’ve spent here in this mother forsaken realm. Took over from old Driffen and him from Fogmell Dan Bunt. And the Shadojak before him all the ways back since the time of the Romans; hasn’t never been anything the likes of a bulworg, takwich or Minuan in all that time. Not to mention a god created sea beast like a leviathan. That pretty little girl is at the centre of it. Maybe the sensible thing to do would be to judge her now and have done. Before we see grumpkins skinning children and dragons in the sky.”
“No,” Bray disagreed, more forcefully than intended.
“No?” the Shadojak echoed, an eyebrow arching above the staring pearl. “Do I detect a fondness for the girl?” A hint of amusement in his deep voice.
“No, Master. But until we know who the girl truly is, it would be prudent to keep her safe. This Silk has clearly marked her as his and wants her badly.”
Diagus took another drink and rocked back so his chair was balancing on its back legs; his own he had crossed and placed upon the table. This was a position Bray had seen him in many a time before when mulling things over. Slouching back whilst draining a glass of wine. Something that the other seven Shadojaks would never do.
Calm, calculated discipline. Control over every action, every situation and all emotions. That was the bare bones of being a Shadojak. Diagus was different. Having become a Shadojak without ever being a Shaigun, he lacked the training and discipline. But once he had the soul blade he couldn’t give it up without forfeiting his life. But that didn’t stop other Shaiguns from trying to take it from him. The trouble was that nobody could. Even the half-god that took his eye and left an ugly scar only strengthened his ability: as the special blade of the Shadojak absorbed powers from those it slayed through the heart. This caused other Shaiguns to seek out his blade and attempt to take it from him and drive it through his heart. And for everyone that tried then died, it made Diagus stronger. As a Shadojak he went through dozens of Shaiguns. Each either quit or died within a year under his service until nobody wanted him as a master.
His reputation grew amongst the Shades that branded him the Pearly White, a living Legend and a threat on the lips of every drill sergeant and sword master in the Shades. That’s the reason he ended up on Earth. A place cut off from Thea where he was kept out of the way. Bray had been his Shaigun for three years now and thought that the Shadojak Supreme had sent him here to keep out of the way also. What better place for a half-breed?
“Maybe you’ve got the right of it boy. And quit that Master crap, you’re not a dog.”
Bray often fell into old habits. His training had been harsh as he soldiered with the Imperial army, harsher still when he became a Shade. Yet both paled in comparison to the torturous path of becoming a blades master. They broke you down to nothing before rebuilding you harder than the steel you danced with.
“It was a trap. They knew we were coming,” Bray said, absently rubbing his new scar. “Silk’s cleverer than I first thought. When I was attacked, one of the blades was laced with knoll sap. They knew I would seek out the hedge witch Grendel.”
Diagus nodded. “It would seem so. This girl Elora, whoever she is, can never slip into their hands. Even if to do so will mean killing her ourselves.”
Bray felt his gaze upon him, was he judging his loyalty to the girl? It is said that the Pearly White can stare into your soul. If that’s what he was doing now, what did he see?
“That sigil on the bulworg you described to me; eight tentacles surrounding an eye. That belongs to Neptula.”
“The Sea Witch?”
Diagus nodded. “Happens, she’s in town. In the Thames to be more precise. Do you think you can root her out?” He drained the glass and set it on the table.
“Yes,” replied Bray, “It shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Good. Get what rest you can, I want you hunting before first light. And take a jar of nip-crasters with you.”
“Nip-crasters?”
“Yep. I don’t think she’ll take too kindly when you ask her how she smuggled the leviathan over. Those little nip-crasters will help loosen her tongue.”
A jar of those little creatures could devour all the fish in the river in the time it takes the tide to go out. Ripping and tearing the flesh of anything that swims, stripping life to bones faster than piranhas yet so small a shoal will fit in a jar. Grendel would keep them for trading, he would need to visit her first thing and with plenty of coin. They weren’t cheap.
“You think the leviathan is the sea witch’s doing?”
“Could be no other.”
“Won’t you be joining me?”
“Nope. I’ll be taking the girl out of town. Happens I know someone who can read Minuan and get that journal of hers deciphered. Find out who she truly is.”
“Who?” Bray found it hard to keep the question light, masking the concern that had jolted his stomach at his master’s words.
“A Minuan, as it goes. If I can find the slippery weasel.”
Will you be bringing her back here? He wanted to ask as he calmed his thumping heart. Would he really harm her if she turned out to be something dangerous? He knew the answer to that; the Shadojak wouldn’t think twice.
Bray was about to retire to bed when Diagus spoke again.
“Be careful with Neptula, don’t take any chances. She found the last Shaigun delicious.”
“I won’t,” replied Bray, trying not to think of the Shaigun in the belly of the sea witch.
