Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 172 of 619

Ajax woke at first light and walked the yard. The kitchen door stood open. Smoke rose from the new hearth. He counted the crew as they came in for bread. Seven sworn, four hired, all present. He set his palm on the doorframe and let the morning run. Marco came in late from the gate. He filled a cup and sat across from Ajax. He did not eat. He watched the door instead. "Something," Ajax said. "A man on the road last night," Marco said. "Not close. Camped past the split pine with two others. I caught his thinking on the wind. He was talking about a map." Ajax set down his bread. "What map." "Treasure map. Coast marks. Three of them." Marco drank. "He thinks it points to buried gold at the tide line and at two caves in the woods. He knows the map is hidden somewhere near in an abandoned two story home with a ward around it." Ajax pushed the plate aside. "Where is he now." "Half a day south. Moving slow. Three men, one cart, no collars. I listened twice. Clean. Just greedy." "You are sure of the number." "Three," Marco said. "And a boy with the mules." Ajax thought it through. A greedy man with a map was not the Keeper. Even if he finds the house, he can’t enter because of the ward. "Can you take him on the road," Ajax said. "Quiet. No blood if you can help it." "I can walk him off the map," Marco said. "Turn him south. Make him forget he ever heard of the map. The others too." Ajax nodded. "Do it." Marco stood. He set his cup on the shelf beside the salt and steel. He paused at the door to reach out.