Chapter 30
Duke nudges my shoulder, and I scratch his soft horse nose, my attention fixed on the compound doors. I don’t know how long this will take, but if Marian doesn’t walk out soon, I’m going in. Atlas is too unpredictable.
The guardsmen eye me as they go about their business, which is no different from any other time. Although, should Soren pass by, I’ll give them all something to watch.
‘Ryland!’
I glance over my shoulder and squint into the distance. ‘Levi?’
The kid is riding up the entry road, flanked by two guardsmen. He jumps down from his horse, and we greet each other with a back-slapping embrace. ‘You’re alive,’ I tease. I check behind him. ‘Where’s Samuel?’
‘He’s back there at the start of the road. They wouldn’t let his big arse in.’
Right. I take in Levi’s filthy clothes. He looks like he’s slept in a pile of dirt this whole time.
A guardsman interrupts us. ‘Ryland? The Commander’s requested to see you. Bring everything with you. Leave nothing behind.’
Levi and I share a troubled look. No way the Commander has approved Marian’s request if he’s kicking me out. Damn it all – how is Marian going to make a run for it when she can barely walk? My thoughts then go to where they probably should have gone first – our coal deal.
‘Please tell me you found coal,’ I mutter to Levi. ‘Preferably a small mountain of it, for an excellent price.’
‘Sorry, man.’ Levi rubs his dirty face. ‘The other settlements came up empty, Grimwater and a place called Ashbreak. We even tried that trading post to the south. But it’s all Notting coal.
The Commander must own them – they wouldn’t even talk about going behind his back.
They couldn’t meet our demand anyway; all we have left is the source. ’
My eyes roll skyward. That means, somehow, I have to make a deal.
Levi helps me pack up my tent, and we get it loaded on to Duke in record time. ‘I need to make one stop,’ I tell Fitzgerald, who’s taken over chaperoning us.
No one’s home at Little John’s shack, so I toss my sleeping sack in the corner; I’ve got saddle blankets for the road. It’s not the goodbye Little John deserves; I hope there are no hard feelings.
Back at the compound, more guards than ever are standing around. At least twenty now.
‘What’s going on?’ Levi mutters as we disarm so we can enter the High Command.
‘I’m not sure.’ The possibilities are vast. Any second, we might have to make a run for it. Or, what if I was wrong? What if the Commander did approve Marian’s request, and I’m walking into the best day of my life? Covertly, I slip off my grass ring. ‘Just be ready,’ I whisper to Levi.
The guard announces us to the room, and we file in, uneasy. Instantly, I find Marian standing in her usual place along the wall. She looks pale, but there’s also something undeniably hopeful on her face. She bites her lip and nods the tiniest bit.
I fail miserably at holding back my smile.
‘Ryland,’ the Commander says. He takes a loud slurp from his goblet.
‘And your friend – he’s back, I see. With nothing, am I right?
’ He grins smugly before continuing his feast. ‘Yes, well. That should make this more interesting.’ There’s a leg of a large bird in front of him, lying more on the table than the plate.
‘Let’s start with the easy part. With no other options for coal, you have to accept my trade offer, which remains at one wagon of coal for twenty head of cattle or old-world treasures of equivalent worth.
We can discuss the value of your water tower as part of that payment, if you wish.
But know that this is my final offer, and I’m all you’ve got. ’
God help us.
‘Moving on, I propose we make another deal, separate from the first. You’ve mentioned you want changes in how I run my mine, and I have an interest of my own I’d like to pursue. But instead of negotiating, let’s make this entertaining … and settle it with a competition.
I blink. ‘What sort of competition?’
‘An archery contest. You against one of my men. The winner gets their wishes.’
I resist the urge to laugh. Archery? The skill I’ve been best in class in since I was sixteen? He must not know. Still – be smart. He’s absolutely working some angle. Although, his last contest did work out, incredibly, in my favour. I could win this.
‘I’m listening. What are the terms?’
‘If you win, I’ll take into consideration your working conditions for the Dresden.’
My eyes narrow. Consideration? ‘If you’re talking about the changes I want to improve safety in the mine, yes, I have some. And everything would have to be in writing and guaranteed. But continue.’
‘Ah, good idea. Go ahead – what are they?’
I think fast, not really prepared. ‘I’d want continued mandatory use of safety lamps.
Daily structural inspections of the mine.
Shift work reduced to eight hours … but on the rare occasion, no longer than ten.
And those rare occasions can’t be more than twice a week.
’ It hits me that this will result in a loss of wages for the Dresden.
‘And … I want better compensation for the miners. From the cattle you’ll get from our coal deal, you’ll gain incredible wealth; so twenty-five per cent of our payment in animals goes to the Dresden. ’
Atlas drums his greasy fingers on the table. ‘I could agree to safety lamps and weekly inspections. No cap on working hours, but I suppose the Dresden could have twelve per cent of the cattle you give us, which will result in fewer mine hours needed to meet their obligations.’
I shake my head. ‘I thought you’d be more certain of winning.’
His eyes narrow. ‘You think I fear losing to you?’
‘I know you don’t, which is why I’m surprised your offer suggests that.’
His lip twitches.
I soften my voice. ‘You’ve always been three moves ahead, so I don’t need to tell you that aid to your people is a defensive strategy – hungry people go where they’re fed.
Protected. My terms will only benefit you.
’ I try again. ‘Daily inspections. And by trained supervisors who will shut down the mine in unsafe conditions. That’s non-negotiable.
And twenty per cent of our payment goes to the Dresden if you give them two wells for drinking water in the Dresden Circle. ’
His eyes flash dangerously. ‘Weekly inspections, but the miners can report concerns. One well in the Dresden Circle, and the Dresden get ten per cent of your payment. Keep going and my next offer will be five per cent.’
I bite my tongue.
‘Good.’ He sinks lower in his chair. ‘And if I win the contest, I want a guided tour of your settlement.’
‘No. You’re asking too much.’
He purses his lips. ‘Am I? Perhaps. I still want it, though. So if our coal-for-cattle deal is set in stone, and I won’t budge on any more changes for the Dresden or the mine, is there anything else you might want from me? Something big enough to make this contest worth it for you?’
I cast my gaze to Marian. Her eyes are wide with expectation as she gives the tiniest of nods. ‘Yes. I want to marry your daughter. Immediately, if I win.’
The Commander slowly wipes the grease off his fingers before responding. ‘Are you sure? Marriage is very serious. What happens if you change your mind?’
‘I won’t.’
He studies me. ‘I’m not just talking about a commitment. I’m talking about our deal – breaking it would be an offence punishable by death. Whoever wins must live or die by the results.’
Meaning, if he wins and I don’t take him to Kingsland, he’ll kill me.
But if I win, not only can I fix some of the terrible working conditions for the seven or eight dozen Dresden working the mine, but Marian and I are married within the hour.
She’ll be free of him. For good.
‘How does the competition work?’
He smiles, pleased. ‘Three rounds. And the arrows will be shot at targets with increasing difficulty. Do you accept?’
Something in me knows I need to be cautious. ‘I use my own bow and arrows, although I’m not limited to that.’ What else? ‘Distances are standard – we start at fifty yards and work up.’
Levi stares at me, concern leaking from his pores. He’s worried I’ll expose Kingsland.
But he’s not taking into account one crucial piece of information: that what he can do with a sword, I can do with a bow. And I’m the only one in the room who knows that.
‘I accept,’ Atlas says. ‘Do you?’
I breathe in slowly, weighing it once more. But I already know my answer. ‘I accept too.’
Atlas laughs. ‘Delightful. Let the games begin. Oh, I do love a good show.’