Table Of ContentTHE HUNTSMAN’S AMULET
Also by Duncan M. Hamilton
Society of the Sword Trilogy
The Tattered Banner
Copyright © Duncan M. Hamilton 2013
All Rights Reserved
The right of Duncan M. Hamilton to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted.
All of the characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is
coincidental.
THE HUNTSMAN’S AMULET
Society of the Sword, Volume II
Duncan M. Hamilton
Chapter 27
A Sailor’s Life
T
he second offer in a day — and the third offer in as many months to become a
sailor. Even for someone who hated the sea it was attractive. Ramiro’s had been
tempting also, but Soren didn’t want to be a pirate, or be associated with pirates.
His plan had been to return to the mainland and take work as a mercenary, or
something along those lines that would allow him to practice the Gift in an
environment where killing carried less severe consequences. He could easily do
the same here, and the idea of being a pirate hunter tugged at his romantic,
adventurous urges. A foolish notion, but it fit well with his desire to get his
sword back. Then there was the matter of wanting to see Sancho Rui die. Amero
could wait a few more months. ‘How long will it take?’
‘Every pirate hunter with a ship’ll be after Rui now that there’s a bounty on
his head. As soon as I can bring him to action, I will. Any delay will let someone
else grab him. I’m going to get him, and soon.’
The only factor that made Soren reluctant to agree was that he had hated
Varrisher from the instant he first met him and this opinion had held sway up
until a few moments ago. Despite Varrisher’s newfound affability, Soren was
not entirely convinced.
‘What would my share of the bounty be?’ Soren said.
‘As a banneret you’d be entitled to the same as an officer; one and a half
shares after expenses,’ Varrisher said, clearly sensing that he had Soren on the
hook.
‘How do we go about finding him? Are the Spice Isles a big place?’
‘It only takes about five days to sail from one end to the other, but to be honest
that isn’t the difficulty. There are hundreds of islands, some no bigger than this
room and Rui could go to ground on any of them. Any information we can get
will help. You said you helped Ramiro Qai fight off Rui.’
Soren nodded.
‘If Rui tried to kill him, Qai might be willing to share anything he knows with
you. After what’s happened, I’m sure he’ll be as happy as anyone to see Rui
dead. I don’t know what we’ll get from him, but it might be useful and anything
that’ll get us to Rui sooner is worth trying.’
‘And if I agree to join you, you’ll take me anywhere I want to go when we’re
done?’
Varrisher smiled. ‘Absolutely anywhere. I’ll deliver you to the court of the
Mogul of Jahar if that’s where you want to go.’
‘I won’t need anywhere as far as that; Auracia will do,’ Soren said. ‘But I have
your word of honour on that?’
‘You do,’ Varrisher said.
‘All right then. I’ll join you.’
‘Outstanding. Now, Ramiro Qai. Will you speak with him?’
‘I’ll give it a try. He seemed grateful for my help in the jungle.’
‘Good. He keeps a house here, on the other side of town.’
Soren nodded. ‘I know where it is.’
‘His ship’s still at anchor, so that’s where we’ll find him,’ Varrisher said.
Soren finished mopping up the last scraps from his plate with a piece of bread
and stood. ‘Let’s get going then.’
They walked across the cobbled square and toward the house. There were
several tough looking men standing outside, a couple of whom had been in the
jungle the night before. They were dressed in the sailor’s uniform of baggy calf
length trousers, loose shirt and waistcoat, and they were all heavily armed. As
soon as they spotted Soren and Varrisher, they became alert and threatening.
‘Whaddya want?’ demanded one of them.
‘I’m here to see Captain Qai,’ Varrisher said.
‘I’m sure you are,’ the pirate said, ‘but he ain’t here.’
‘S’all right,’ one of the men said, pointing at Soren. ‘He’s the fella that was in
the jungle with us.’
The pirate looked him up and down. ‘Fine. I’ll check with the cap’n. Wait
here.’
He went into the house, leaving Soren and Varrisher to wait with the other
pirates outside. They looked at Soren with a curiosity that was excessive for an
ordinary visitor. Soren wondered what they had been told about the fight in the
jungle. They didn’t have to wait long. The first pirate reappeared.
‘You can go in,’ he said.
Both Soren and Varrisher made to go forward, but the pirate stopped
Varrisher.
‘No, just you,’ he said to Soren. ‘And you can leave the blade here,’ he added,
pointing to the broad bladed short-sword that Soren had picked up in the jungle
and carried strapped to his waist.
Soren looked at Varrisher, who shrugged. Soren pulled the sword from his belt
and handed it to the pirate, who took it and beckoned for Soren to follow him.
They went into the house, leaving Varrisher to the pirates’ hostile stares.
‘Ah, Banneret Soren. Have you decided to take me up on my offer?’ Ramiro
Qai said. He sat at a small table in the centre of the room, a position that
afforded him a view across the town from the single window. There was an open
bottle containing a dark amber liquid sitting on the table. It was half full and
accompanied by mismatched glasses.
‘Please sit,’ he said, gesturing to one of the other chairs.
Soren nodded and sat as Qai filled two glasses from the bottle. He slid one of
them across to Soren.
‘Ruripathian whisky,’ he said. ‘It’s very good and the last of it that we’re
likely to see for some time.’
Soren took the glass, tipped it to Qai, and took a sip. It might have been good,
it might not, but Soren wouldn’t have known one way or the other.
‘I’m not here to join you, I’m afraid.’
‘Oh. I have to admit I’m a little disappointed. A man of your talent is of great
value to a man of my profession. The question that remains is why you are here
then…’
‘I want some information on Sancho Rui,’ Soren said. ‘He has something of
mine, and I want it back.’ There was no need to mention the bounty, or
Varrisher.
‘Ah, I see,’ Qai said, leaning back in his chair. ‘I realise that you’re new to
these islands, and that you’ll not be aware of how things work here. While it
might appear to you that Sancho Rui is my enemy — and indeed, he is — there
are certain, how should I put it, acceptable and unacceptable practices. If I were
to give you any information about a brother member of the Conclave I would be
in breach of the Accords of membership of the Conclave. You are aware of what
the Conclave is?’ Qai said.
‘Yes, I am.’
‘Cenceno, my bo’sun tells me that you’re here with Captain Varrisher. Captain
Varrisher has spent the last few days here asking about Captain Rui and telling
anyone that will listen that he’s going to kill him and take his head to Shandahar.
I assume he’s made you a more attractive offer than I did. If I’m seen helping
you with this in mind, it will not reflect well on me,’ Qai said.
Soren silently cursed Varrisher. It seemed that old habits die hard and
Varrisher still tended toward courting attention wherever he could get it. ‘Our
