Isle of the Ape by Jason Halstead
Chapter 7
"I would get lost in this city," Alto said from his seat in the open wagon the people of Mira used for conveyance. Patrina nodded while she stared down the roads of the busy capital of Shazamir.
"You wouldn't be the first," Namitus said from his rear-facing seat in front of them. "Sooner or later, you find your way, though. That or you walk down the wrong road and you're never heard from again."
"What? In the city?" Patrina asked.
Namitus chuckled. "Brotherhoods of thieves and assassins work together here, although killing merchants and public figures is frowned upon."
"Why don't the lords do something about it?" Alto asked.
Namitus rubbed his thumb against his fingers. "Look around, my friends. We're surrounded by desert! There's nothing here but people. The Khalalid River brings life to the city and crops along its shores, but there's no true wealth here."
Alto shook his head. "I saw a lot of wealth in the palace."
"And what do you see among the common people on the street? The peasant farmer in the north has more than that man selling trinkets or that woman there, carrying a basket full of snakes."
"Snakes?" Patrina hissed.
Namitus nodded. "I know; who'd dare to carry such a thing unless the gold was good? My guess is her husband catches them and she takes them to sell them while he looks for more. And they probably fetch less than a handful of silver for the entire basket."
"So what does that have to do with the city watch ignoring thievery?"
"Bribery," Namitus explained. "Everyone wants what the nobles and fat merchants have—gold. They'll do anything for it, not realizing that once it's spent, they're back where they were. If they don't get stabbed and robbed for having it in the first place."
Patrina reached up to her silver necklace with the small jewels set in the pendant.
The rogue laughed. "You should be safe; we're surrounded by royal guards. That and your champion sits beside you. Don't think word hasn't been spread of his exploits. Few are the men willing to risk the wrath of a dragonslayer!"
Alto scowled. Patrina reached over to squeeze his hand. "It wasn't a noble fight like the legends speak of."
"And you think the fairy tales were?"
Alto stiffened and looked at his betrothed. "I never thought of that."
She patted his arm. "That's okay. You're big, handsome, and strong. That takes a lot of work. I can do the thinking for you."
Namitus snickered and earned a glare from Alto. The warrior let the playful jibe pass and said, "I don't understand why so many people are here if there's so few resources? This city alone has more men in it than all northern kingdom!"
Namitus shrugged. "When you can't afford anything else, what do people do?"
Alto looked at Patrina and found her just as lost as he was. He shrugged.
"Why do nobles have so many fewer children than commoners?" Namitus asked.
Alto's eyes narrowed. "You mean they breed the common people here like cattle?"
The rogue barked out a laugh. "No! Well, not like that, but the nobles need workers so they can build their palaces and estates. They need men willing to work cheaply, and when there are more laborers than there are jobs, they can dictate the price."
"That's wrong," Patrina said.
"What would you do, ban people from marriage? Prevent them from having children? How?" Namitus challenged.
Patrina snapped her mouth shut and frowned.
Namitus nodded. "Beneath the surface of this beautiful city is a dark and fearsome world that makes it all possible."
"And you seem to know it well," Alto pointed out.
Namitus shrugged. "I wasn't in such robust company the last time I was here."
They let their friend's claim end the topic and fell into silence while hardy mules pulled them through the city streets. Men dressed in the robes and wearing the loose-fitting layered armor of the royal guards kept beside their wagon.
"I'm looking forward to getting back home," Patrina said a moment later. "I miss it."
Alto shrugged. "I don't know, I enjoy the road. And this weather here? It's wonderful!"
"It's hot!" Patrina said.
Namitus looked up at the sheet of fabric attached to the poles at the corners of the wagon. It provided them with shade without blocking the wind like a northern coach would. "You're shaded, at least."
Patrina snorted. "I'm still recovering from the sunburn I received on the voyage down."
"We'd talked about heading east, to the Havara Mountains where Mordrim's people live. Do we still want to do that?"
"My friend, you need to leave this place," Namitus said.
Alto's brow furrowed as he looked at the worldly man. "What? Why?"
"Your sister just married a minor lord. His valuation has increased because of that. If you were to disappear for a while and be found dead, Caitlyn would be the sole inheritor of your line."
Alto laughed. "My line? I have no line. I own a farm in the kingdom with fields that aren't tended, nothing more!"
"You've been named thane of Rockwood," Patrina pointed out.
Alto scoffed again. "A city that doesn't yet exist and may never, at the rate things are going."
"And you'll one day be the heir to Holgasford," Namitus pointed out. "Kill one little dragon and the world takes notice."
Alto opened and shut his mouth. He turned and stared into the busy streets while they rolled inexorably on. "This isn't what I wanted," he said at last.
"Leave it all behind," Namitus counseled. "Wander the world, as I've done. You meet some interesting people and make great friends."
Patrina gasped and Alto shook his head.
Namitus glanced at the princess and admitted, "Well, it would help if Patrina went with you."
"What of you? Are you still wandering the world?" Alto asked the rogue.
Namitus frowned. He leaned back in his seat and gazed over the sea of unwashed and sweaty humanity. "I take each day as it comes. The truth of it is I've never met a friend like you and I can't see my life getting boring enough around you to want to move on."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Patrina stared hard at the man she'd once considered a brother.
Namitus grinned and answered, "It means you and your husband-to-be are lodestones for trouble."
Alto burst out laughing. Patrina joined him a moment later, signaling that all was well among the friends. They fell silent and enjoyed each other's company until Alto glanced ahead and saw how close to the harbor they were. "So this is it then, we just go home? It's been an eventful trip, just rather dull."
Patrina frowned as she looked at Alto. Her gaze slipped to Namitus and saw the growing grin on his face. Her eyes narrowed. "What are you two up to?" she demanded.
"I have no idea," Alto said.
"Nothing," Namitus said. Patrina's narrowing eyes prompted him to throw his hands up. "Honestly! I just heard some of the sailors at the port talking about this island and—"
Patrina scoffed and asked, "You just heard about it?"
"What island?" Alto leaned forward and asked.
Patrina let out a girlish growl and threw her hands and eyes heavenwards.
"The island of Britanly," Namitus answered him. "It was an island nation for many years but they say it's cursed now. The people died off many years ago and anyone who's dared to visit hasn't come back."
"How do they know the people are dead if nobody's come back?" Patrina said, poking a hole in Namitus's story.
The rogue tilted his head and frowned. "That's a good point," he said. "Very mysterious!"
"They might need help," Alto reasoned.
"For the love of the saints!" Patrina blurted out. "You're both terrible! You're just making up an excuse!"
Alto and Namitus locked gazes and nodded. "It's probably nothing," Alto said. "Maybe a plague swept through them."
"Pirates," Namitus said. "Killed them all and stole anything not nailed down."
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Namitus nodded and said, "They were once known for their weapons. They made fine arrows, lances, and spears. Indeed, it's said that Britanly spears are like no other."
"Britanly spears?" Patrina buried her face in her hands and shook her head.
Alto grinned. "Well, we should make sure they don't fall into the wrong hands if there are any left."
"That's what I was thinking."
Patrina groaned.