Steam and Shadow: Birds Of A Feather Book 1: Chapter 8
The backstreets of Qeloura.
“Storyteller’s Cloak, woman! What is wrong with you?!”
“She was not trustworthy! Let go of my arm!”
“So you decided to blow up the city?!”
“It was not that big of an explosion! Your city is fine!”
“Yes, except for the part that’s on fire!”
“It’s only partially on fire, and-”
“Partially on fire?!” Gavin stopped running and turned to stare at her.
“Yes, and anyway, you should thank me-”
“Thank you?!” Gavin felt lost for words. What had he been thinking, helping this madwoman!
“You’re welcome.” Suleeta ignored his incredulous tone and carried on. “She was looking for a woman named Branwen McMurrough, whom I assume is some relation of yours, and I suspect she may have been contracted to kill her, as she is clearly a mercenary or bounty hunter, and carries a sniper rifle.”
“She asked you about my mother? What did she say?”
“Only that she was looking for her. She-”
“Yes! Stop interrupting me!”
“Sorry.” Gavin let go of her arm, watching her carefully in case she was upset enough to set him on fire too. “I’m sorry she involved you, she must've seen us traveling together. I could've sworn I'd lost her.”
“Lost her? You mean you knew a mercenary was following you? And why aren't you worried about your mother?”
“My mother's a bounty hunter, she can take care of herself. Although it is worrying that someone hired a sniper to follow her.”
“Your mother is a bounty hunter?!”
“Oh come on, you set fires everywhere you go, and you're going to judge? Anyway, what were you doing near the tavern?”
“I was going to ask for your help finding someone. Now I'm not so sure.”
Gavin laughed, leaning against a nearby wall. “Don't worry, I'm not in the business. I'm the least dangerous member of my family. Who were you looking for?”
“A bookbinder. He and his family would've lived here some years ago…” She trailed off, caught off guard by the arrested look on his face. “Gavin?”
“A bookbinder. In Qeloura.” His easy smile returned, but didn't quite reach his eyes. “I'm afraid there isn't one anymore.”
“Why are you looking for them?”
It would be dangerous to share this information, but he clearly knew something. It was her only lead now. She chose her words carefully. “Because I believe the people who murdered him also killed my parents. And I need to know why.”
Gavin’s stare seemed to penetrate her soul, as his eyes searched her face. Now he was serious, she could see he was far less stupid than she’d first thought him.
“I’ll tell you what I know if you tell me how that led you to break into a Nasimani mapmaker’s home.”
“I was there because I was following my mother’s trail. You didn’t even know her until today. And I know you’re not a thief. So what were you after.”
“I’m going to need more than that.”
“Fire take you! Fine! If you tell anyone-”
“You’ll set me on fire. Got it.” He held out his hand.
“You’re supposed to shake it.”
“I know what a handshake is, I just don’t trust you!”
“Hey, I’m not the one wearing explosives here. And you still have my dagger.”
“Fine,” she shook his hand, “but you go first.”
“The bookbinder’s name was Gaelbhan. Gaelbhan McMurrough. He was my father.” Gavin leaned against the wall once more, folding his arms. “About 22 years ago now. We were spending the day by the beach, and my father was supposed to meet us there after he finished with a customer. He never showed up, and mother went to see what was keeping him. My brother and I stayed by the shore until sunset, but neither of them returned. We came home to find the house torn apart, and our father lying in a pool of blood and ink. There was no sign of our mother. I was 6. My brother and I grew up on the streets until the guild took us in. Grandparents found us a couple years later. Didn’t see our mother again for nearly 7 years, we thought she was dead too by then. Said she’d been hunting the people who killed our father, but she kept losing their trail. Given the sniper following me, and now you, I’m starting to think she’s picked it up again.” His sharp hazel eyes focused on her once more. “Your turn.”
“My parents were fire-tamers, they protect our lands-”
“I know what fire-tamers are, I’m not entirely ignorant.” He smiled at her surprise. ”I also know that the Chapawee like to start from the beginning of time whenever they tell a story, but given your impatience, and the fact people may be trying to kill us both, please feel free to skip ahead.”
Is that how I sound? Suleeta pushed this thought aside. At least this would be faster. She spoke hurriedly, “They were trying to retrieve information from the mapmaker, that should have been destroyed many years ago, but they were unsuccessful, and she had shared it with other people by then. Other people were after the information as well-I don’t know who-and my parents arrived too late to save your father and were killed along with several others when they pursued his murderers. I was told this much only a few days ago.”
“Pursued them where? Give me a direction, I’m in as much danger as you if these people are at it again. Which I assume they must be if you’re here.”
“North. That’s all I can say.”
“That may just be enough. I know someone who might be able to help us. She’s in Hagsfjori. Don’t set me on fire on the way, please.” He started walking.
Suleeta laughed, following him. “You sound like my little sisters.”
“Three. Adopted technically.”
“Do they set fire to things too? Or is that just you?”
“Just me. I do it enough for all of us.”
“That I believe. So do I get my dagger back now?”
“Thanks, I feel so privileged. Hey wait, if you knew about my father before you set out, what was on that paper?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The paper you found at the mapmakers, you said-” he broke off, a grin spreading across his face. “You can’t read it either, can you?”
Suleeta stared straight ahead. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Okay, we should be far enough away from the mob for a civilized chat now. As I was saying about that jacket-hey!
Come back here! I just want to talk!” Askari raced after the shorter woman through the dark streets. “Seriously, it’s on my back, do you have any idea how hard it would be to draw and fire it in these alleyways? I just want to talk!” She rounded the corner and stopped abruptly, finding a pistol pointed at her face.
“I don’t. And my pistol has no trouble at all firing in tight spaces. Back away now, slowly.” Hard green hazel eyes stared unflinchingly at Askari.
“Over there.” The smaller woman gestured with a slight flick of her gun. As she did so, the faint light glinted off something brass on the handle. Askari’s gaze ran down the pistol as she raised her hands. Was that a tentacle? A brass tentacle running up the pistol’s handle could only mean one thing. It had to be her.
Askari backed up slowly as instructed. “As I was saying, I don’t think you stole that jacket-”
“I don’t care what you think-”
“I think you got it from my brother. Kumbakani Kipanga.” She saw a flash of recognition and surprise. Encouraged, she continued. “My name is Askari, Askari Kipanga. My brother said he lost that jacket to a Loakonian girl with green eyes. Takara, I believe.”
“Did he now?” The gun did not lower. “He say anything else?”
“Not much, just that you swam like fish. Oh, and that you were also a pirate.”
“Former. And I’m afraid I can’t let information like that float around, no matter how much I may owe your brother.”
“I’m hardly in a position to go telling anyone, am I? You know too much about my family as well. My reputation may not be hurt by those of my brothers, but knowing that a respected navy captain was related to not only a bounty hunter but also a thief? He’d lose his ship.”
“Made captain did he? Good for him. Itri doing well for himself too, I trust?”
“Yes. They’ll be pleased you asked about them. Assuming you don’t kill me of course. Our family is rather close.”
“So it would seem.” Takara lowered the gun. “What is it you want? Theirs are not the only debts I owe, and I’m on a job right now.”
“So am I. I seek a woman named Branwen McMurrough. All my leads have run dry, I was hoping you might know someone, perhaps some guild contact I don’t have access to. I’d ask Itri, but he’s running dark again, some important patron he won’t talk about. I’ve no idea where he is, and frankly, I’m running out of options.”
Takara fought to keep her face expressionless. McMurrough was Brann’s surname. Another impossible divide, with no way to win. Maybe it was a common name, and she could help them both, but somehow she doubted it. Life rarely worked out like that for her. She remembered the last time all too well. Smoke and seawater. Not again! She might be grateful to Kumbakani for talking his captain into honoring their deal-her information for safe passage to the mainland-but Brann was her friend. For years now. He’d stood up to the Circle for her, he’d found her a job, a place to stay, a new life. There were people who wanted her dead, and Brann had helped her disappear...she owed him her life. Even if she didn’t help her, this woman was a professional, she might find this ‘Branwen’ without help. She couldn’t help her, but she also couldn’t let Askari go. She’d need to keep an eye on her until she could contact Brannaghan. “I don’t have a contact here, but I may know someone. I can take you to him once I complete my job in Hagsfjori.” She hoped her smile seemed friendly.
Askari considered. “Very well. I’ll accompany you.”
“Great. It shouldn’t take long.”
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