Use the Spider Lady

“Great!” Grumbled Julien “What are we going to do? We’re too late and now some sick bastard has her.” The young man was as dangerous now as a cannon whose primer misfired, Brenan acted immediately to calm the man.

“It’s not as bad as it could be.” He started but Julien turned on him immediately.

“Do you have any idea how to find him!?” Julien must have realized he was pushing too hard, because when James laid a hand on his shoulder, he nodded and turned to Brenan “Sorry Captain”

Brenan met his eyes for a second, and decided that the young man meant the apology. He’d have to work on ship discipline soon, but Brenan was savvy enough to know that this was neither the time nor the place to start that discussion.

“No, I don’t” Brenan admitted calmly “But I know who does.” The look of hope in Julien’s eyes and unfeigned interest from James was inspiring and he pulled them into a quiet corner to talk. “Remember how I told you that Veer agents always follow the same procedure when they land in a new port?”

“Yeah” James answered “they always hire up as many of the local thugs as they can to use as muscle.” Brenan nodded and added:

“Not just the thugs, as many of the teens as possible to act as messengers and lookouts.” Julien was fingering the hilt of his sword impatiently, but James immediately understood the implications of what Brenan was saying.

“So we find ourselves a messenger boy and tell him that some sicko has Sasha.” Julien’s attention focused back on James as Brenan’s plan became clear. “The boy tells that Veer puppet master and she finds the kidnapper for us. Right?” Brenan nodded in approval pleased at how quickly James picked up on his plan.

“I thought we could also blame the two dead bodies we left in the alleyway on him too." Brenan added "If she thinks that he is taking out her local thugs as well it might get her to move sooner and a little less carefully.” Both brothers were nodding in approval, as Brenan added unnecessarily “Are we agreed?”

“Let’s do it!" said Julien looking out at the main drag. "I think I see someone who either works for her or could have been recruited by her.” Sure enough a youth of about twelve years in age was moving purposefully down the docks looking for someone or something. “Do you want me to grab him?” Brenan gave Julien the go ahead and watched as he moved to intercept the boy.

Julien knew what he was doing Brenan decided after seeing him time his movements until the boy and he bumped into each other ‘accidently’. Brenan saw Julien’s hand shoot out and grab the boy by the shoulder, whatever was said was lost due to the noise of the busy street but Brenan had felt the strength in Julien’s hands and was pretty sure that the boy was not going to get away.

“Can you handle this?” Brenan asked James “I’d rather not let him see me working with you two, just in case.” He was pleased with the young man’s confident response.

“Makes sense captain, don’t worry, I know what to do.” And with that Brenan slipped further down the alleyway and slipped into a doorway that hid him from view. Part of Brenan hated delegating the responsibility for this role, but the Veer knew of the brother’s involvement with Sasha already. If he could keep from being linked with her it would give them a much better chance to get away cleanly. Also someone would have to follow the boy back to wherever the Spider Lady had her lair and then watch her and her crew.

The conversation between James and the boy was too quiet for Brenan to hear the words, but it seemed to involve a combination of coin, threats and promises. After about a minute or two the boy nodded and headed back to the main throughway along the docks. Brenan moved quickly down a parallel alley and stepped casually out onto the harbor road only twenty feet behind the boy. Following him was not difficult as the boy moved directly along the docks until he approached a merchantman flying the family flag of one of the more powerful Veer merchant families.

The boy was stopped briefly by a burly sailor sitting on a barrel near the gangplank, but after just a word or two the boy was sent up the gangway onto the ship. As soon as the boy disapeared from view, Brenan moved away from the ship and soon found the brothers waiting for him.

“Well, either he is passing on your message the way you instructed him to, or selling you out to the Veer bitch.” James swallowed as the implication of the words sank in. “Either way, I’d expect to see a lot of activity soon. Listen" Brenan said "My ship is in Davy’s shipyard about twelve piers down that way. It’s the only two-masted schooner on that pier, and it is the only ship without a name. You two stay there and send either Tyler or Kyle to find me. I'll let you know as soon as I have any information." If the messenger boy did sell them out at least they would be safe for a day or two, Brenan thought with a small degree of satisfaction. It was only as the two young men disappeared that Brenan hoped that at least one of them knew what a schooner looked like.

Shrugging Brenan wandered back towards the Veer Merchantman hoping for the best.