Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 37 of 619

The sun was high when Tucker and Marco rode back up the slope. Ajax met them at the pines. Tucker swung down first and pulled a leather purse from his saddle bag. He tossed it underhand. It was heavier than the last one. "Broker paid the second half in silver," Tucker said. "Threw in a bonus to keep our mouths shut about the collar man. I took it." "And the name?" Tucker tipped his head at Marco. "Ask him. I stood at the counter and talked about weather." Marco walked his horse past Ajax without stopping. Ajax followed him to the far side of the pines, out of Tucker's hearing. Marco tied his reins to a low branch and looked at Ajax straight. "I got it," Marco said. "But not here." "Say it." Marco stepped in close. His voice dropped under the wind. He said the name once, quiet, into Ajax's ear. Then he stepped back. Ajax held the name in his mouth without speaking it. He had never heard it before. It sounded like a man, not a title. That was worse. A man could be found. "The broker knew him?" Ajax said. "Feared him. The word sat behind everything else in his head. I pulled it out clean. He won't remember I did." "Good. Say nothing to the others. Not yet." Marco nodded and went to see to his horse. Ajax walked back through the pines to the camp fire. Chalam sat on a flat stone with his satchel open across his knees. He was setting out pressed chalk and a small clay dish. His staff leaned against the stone beside him. "Marco brought a name," Ajax said. He crouched and said it low, once, to Chalam alone. Chalam's hand stopped over the chalk. He looked up. "You want him found." "I want to know what he is and where he sits. Before he knows we're asking." "A reveal working. I can do it with a name and blood from the one who wants the answer." Chalam tapped the clay dish. "A cut on the thumb. Chalk circle. One vial. It shows me a place and a shape. Not a face, always." "How long?" "An hour to set. A breath to burn." "Set it." Chalam drew the circle on the flat stone. Ajax cut his thumb with his belt knife and let three drops fall into the dish. Chalam spoke the name over it and opened a numbered vial. The chalk glowed pale and then went out. Chalam sat still a long moment. His face changed. "Stone hall," he said. "Inland. Two weeks' ride, south and east of the port. Spiral iron on every door. He sits at the center of it. He already knows one of his hunters died at the seat." "How does he know?" "Because he was watching. He is watching now." Ajax closed his fist over the cut.