The Ranger of Marzanna (The Goddess War #1) - Jon Skovron Page 0,108

but we have little to go on, and it could be he has seen something.” He turned to the boy. “Tell me everything you know.”

“Yes, sir!” The boy gave him one of the sharpest, most enthusiastic salutes he’d ever seen. “I seen ’em just a few days ago in fact. Boat was so low in the water, it looked like it might sink. Bunch of guys on there, all with bows and swords and axes and things, lookin’ real tough, so I followed them along the riverbank.”

“Of course,” said Sebastian. “I was a curious boy as well. If I’d seen a group of fierce-looking men, I would have done the same.”

The boy seemed delighted by that affirmation. “Right? So I stayed low, in case they were bad guys, and followed them to a spot a little ways downriver, where it splits into the Syn and the Doch. Right at that split, there’s a big hill with a bunch of bushes along the bank. And you won’t believe what they did.”

“I can’t wait to find out,” said Sebastian.

“Well, Captain, they moved some of the bushes, and there was a cave set into the hill. They unload the boat, take all the stuff into the cave. Then some of the men stayed in the cave, and the rest went down the Doch River with the boat.”

He grinned expectantly at Sebastian.

“Luka, that was some excellent work,” said Sebastian. “Perhaps when you grow up, you can come to Gogoleth and work for imperial intelligence.”

“Really, Captain?”

“I know the head of the intelligence division personally and I’d bet he’s always looking for smart, curious young men who are willing to put forth the extra effort.” Sebastian turned and smiled at Luka’s parents. “You should be very proud of your son. He may very well have saved countless lives and helped secure the river from these dastardly bandits.”

Igor and Catherine both had tense smiles fixed to their faces.

“Yes,” said Igor. “We’re very proud.”

43

Despite Sebastian’s protests, Igor and Catherine insisted he sleep in their lumpy, straw-filled mattress bed. They laid out some furs on the ground near the stove, and assured him they would be quite comfortable. Perhaps it was Sebastian’s imagination, but it seemed that after Luka’s report, their entire tone had changed from resigned indifference that had bordered on rudeness to a tense but thoughtful generosity. Perhaps they hoped that Sebastian could help Luka get a job for the intelligence division in Gogoleth. He wasn’t certain he could, but promised himself he would mention it to Zaniolo when he returned.

That resolution made him feel a little better about taking their bed for the night, and soon he drifted off to sleep.

But he was awakened a few hours later by a shout of surprise and the sound of a struggle. The only illumination in the room was the moonlight that streamed in through the windows, but the reflection off the fresh snow outside had amplified it, so he was able to see Rykov on the floor by the door holding Igor in a loose choke hold.

“Sasha, what are you doing?” demanded Sebastian.

“He was trying to sneak out,” said Rykov.

“Why would you sneak out of your own house in the middle of the night?” Sebastian asked Igor.

Igor glared at him, but remained silent.

“To warn those bandits we were coming, I’ll bet,” said Rykov.

“And why on earth would he do that?” asked Sebastian.

“Probably because he works with them,” said Rykov. “Maybe he spots likely targets for them as they come up the river.”

“But why would…” Sebastian shook his head, then walked over and crouched next to Igor so they were on the same level. “What do you have to say for yourself? Anything?”

Igor said nothing.

“What are you doing to my daddy?” Luka was awake now. He jumped out of his little bed, but before he could come over, his mother grabbed him and yanked him close to where she still sat on the furs by the stove.

“Hush yourself,” she told him. “Don’t say another word or so help me I will slap you into next week.”

Luka’s eyes widened but he clamped his mouth shut and pressed himself against his mother’s side.

“I’m… sorry about this,” Sebastian told her. “I truly am. But he’s not giving me any choice. My mission was clear. Subdue or kill all the bandits. I’ll have to take him back to Gogoleth.”

He didn’t say what would happen after that, but the charge of banditry was quite serious and frequently led to execution. The look she gave