02.07.08

12: Tarnach’s Tip

Posted in Pages at 5:32 am by Alexandra Erin

“The girl, I mean,” Tarnach said. “The fine feathered female. You won’t find her locked up in the harbor master’s office.”

The man was suspended upside down from the overhanging eaves, his legs tucked up beneath—or rather, above—him and his feet hooked under a rafter. Somehow, his floppy brimmed hat remained in place. Jace wondered if it was all of a piece with his mask.

“You,” Jace said.

A feeling of loathing he’d never felt for any other living person filled him. Part of this was the central role Tarnach had played in the illicit slave auction, but some of it seemed to simply radiate off the strange man like heat from a fire.

“I,” Tarnach agreed. “Me.”

“You work for them,” Jace said. “For Montaldo and the other one… Striggs.”

“Yes, well, it certainly is true that I did some work for them, but unless I miss my guess, our association has come to an end at some earlier point this evening,” Tarnach said. He gave his legs a little flex, releasing his grip on the eaves and tumbling gracefully down to land on his feet. “So, I see absolutely no conflict in helping you on your merry little way.”

“And what way would that be?” Jace asked, trying to affect more confidence than he felt. He felt certain Tarnach had spotted him on top of the roof during the auction, and he’d somehow divined Jace’s purpose in coming to the wharves. Well, Jace wasn’t about to give anything else away.

“Why, the way to rescuing that rather unusually alluring slave girl,” Tarnach said. “And then running off with her, no doubt, though where you’ll run to on an island this size is a whole separate question.”

“She’s not a slave,” Jace said, drawing himself up to his full height. It was sort of a futile gesture, as Tarnach was still taller than he was, even stooping a bit to fit beneath the eaves. “She’s a princess.”

“What makes you so sure of that?” the gangly man asked.

“I think I know a princess when I see one,” Jace said.

“Aye, and I’m sure you think you know a villain when you see one, as well,” Tarnach said. “Such are the eyes of youth. Well, for what it’s worth, I’d trust that, if I were you. What you won’t know on sight, though, is Montaldo’s ship… yes?”

“And you’re going to show me which one that is?” Jace asked. “Just like that?”

“I certainly will,” Tarnach said. “I don’t suppose you’ll have any problem getting to it. I’ve seen fur like yours before… you’re a swimmer, I have no doubt.”

“She’s still on board?” Jace asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Oh, yes,” Tarnach said. “Both sides will be leery of a double cross, I should think. Montaldo and his associate are guests of the governor tonight. They’ll arrange an exchange in the morning, just before Montaldo leaves on the tide.”

“What did the governor’s man mean when he asked for her effects?” Jace asked.

“Well, now, you’d have to ask the governor that, I suppose,” Tarnach said.

“So, which ship is it?” Jace asked.

“Montaldo is a pompous little peacock,” Tarnach said. “He paints the hulls of his ships green and the deck rails gold. I don’t suppose you’d be able to miss it if you tried. You’ll have to swim out away from the wharves… it’ll be among the ships anchored nearest the mouth of the harbor.”

“Thanks,” Jace said, trying to sound sincere. He did not trust Tarnach. Him popping up out of nowhere and telling Jace what he needed to know to find Montaldo’s ship had not exactly restored the boy’s faith that destiny was on his side.

“One more thing, boy: do try your best to not get caught,” Tarnach said. “Things will be far more interesting if you get away. In the long term, that is. I’m sure they’ll be quite interesting for you in the short term if you don’t, but I can’t for the life of me see how I’d benefit from that.”

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