Poisonous Blood

[Zen]

Sometime during the 2nd Turn of the Pass.

Treyjen was half way back to his ship after drinking and gambling at Kagan’s tavern for a few hours when a man fell into step beside him, “Captain, if I could have a moment?”

Even half drunk, Treyjen recognized the beginning of a sales pitch when he heard it. He eyed the man briefly, but he didn’t look familiar, “Who’re you?”

“Vashemin. A pleasure to meet you,” the shorter man offered, seeming rather overly polite in Treyjen’s opinion.

“Seems I’ve no need t’introduce myself,” he replied, returning his attention to the way he was going, “What d’you want?”

“If this is a bad time I’d be happy to find you tomorrow instead?” the other man offered.

Treyjen waved his hand dismissively, “I’d as soon hear what you’ve got t’say now, so spit it out.” He didn’t feel entirely inclined to be polite back. From this Vashemin’s manner, it was readily apparent that the other man wanted something from him, so he had no need to play nice. The name struck him as familiar then, and would have sooner if he hadn’t had quite so much to drink. He’d been hearing the name more and more lately. He paused to really look at the man then, which seemed to surprise Vashemin momentarily, “Mm… you’re the one trying t’displace Karigol.”

A pleased smile spread over the man’s face at being recognized, “I am. Is it alright if I return with you to your ship? I would like to speak with you in private, if possible.”

He was more interested now. What sort of man would Vashemin turn out to be, really, and would he be preferable to Karigol? There was little enough about the man’s past going around. All Treyjen had heard was that he’d come to Mavros with his family several months after the founding and if asked simply claimed he was looking for a new start, which could mean any number of things. Treyjen started walking again, taking a less gruff tone with the man, “Very well then.”

Vashemin kept up small talk all the way there, but once they were in his quarters he seemed willing enough to get to business. “I know what you really are,” the man stated, though there didn’t seem to be any particular judgment in it.

Treyjen’s gaze narrowed, “And what might that be?”

“Pirates, from what I’ve gathered… and I’ve heard you deal in some interesting products as well… the Weyrleader sure seems to visit you every chance he gets,” Vashemin offered.

Treyjen studied the man, wondering just where he was going with this, “So… is this a threat?”

“Oh, Faranth, no…,” Vashemin held up his hands quickly, “I wouldn’t be so foolish as to follow you back to the privacy of your own ship only to threaten you, captain.”

“Then what exactly was the point in bringing it up?” Treyjen wasn’t sure he trusted the man’s words.

“Well, I’m sure it would be a problem if Karigol found out-”

“This isn’t sounding any less like a threat,” he cut the man off, his tone warning.

“Please, captain… just let me finish. I promise, I’m making no threats. I do value my life,” he laughed lightly, seeming remarkably at ease, which had Treyjen warily relaxing to let the man finish speaking. “I would be more than happy to look the other way, should I win the position of Holder Elect, for certain… favors? The main one being your assistance in removing Karigol as a contender.”

Treyjen considered the other man for a long moment, wishing he hadn’t drunk quite so much before this conversation as he was hardly at his sharpest, “Just what d’you mean by that? Removing Karigol. If you think I’m going t’kill for you-”

“Oh, no, no… not exactly. I don’t want the man dead… that would be suspicious, don’t you think? But he’s older, you know… if his health took a sudden turn for the worse, it wouldn’t be so surprising, would it?” Vashemin paused to let the idea sink in and continued when Treyjen only raised a brow at him, clearly still giving him a chance to finish, “If you can supply me with something… a certain slow acting poison, perhaps… I can see the man removed as an obstacle without drawing any suspicion at all. And then you and I would be free to deal openly with each other. Wouldn’t that be ideal?”

Running a hand over his face, Treyjen laughed softly and shook his head, “You’re a bold man, Vashemin… speaking so openly of these plans of yours t’someone you just met. I could turn you in for your scheming.”

“The threat is mutual then, isn’t it?” Treyjen dropped his hand at Vashemin’s words and the man continued, “Honestly, captain, there is a reason I waited until you were drunk. Quite publicly, I might add.”

Treyjen laughed again, sharper this time, and leaned back against the table in the middle of his quarters to consider Vashemin again. “What other favors would I be agreeing to, exactly?” Karigol was a decent man but that was the problem.

“Little things, here and there, mostly… I’m sure you’ve noticed the wine selection at Mavros is sorely lacking,” Vashemin suggested.

Another soft laugh escaped Treyjen, “Your pick of certain goods, then?”

Vashemin spread his hands, “I don’t feel like it’s asking too much. I won’t be greedy about it.”

Treyjen’s fingers drummed against the table for a few heartbeats, “How did you find out about us, exactly?” They were generally careful, or so he thought, and if someone was running their mouth about it he would need to have a chat with them. If the righteous Weyrwoman discovered the truth, there would be little hope of escaping dragons.

“Oh I wouldn’t worry, captain… most people see what they want to see. I’ve been a trader and I’ve no rightful idea why any trader would come to Mavros. We’ve very little to offer. And yet you show up every couple months loaded with goods Mavros can scarcely afford. Playing at being sympathetic might work for most, but I didn’t quite buy it. I don’t really know just what you gain from continuing to come here, but I suppose that is your own business. Honestly I didn’t know for sure, I just made an educated guess from my observations… and you didn’t try to deny it.” He shrugged, as it hardly mattered to him how Treyjen procured his product so long as Mavros could benefit from it.

The man was shrewd, Treyjen would give him that. He had seemed quite confident in his declaration that he knew what they were. Treyjen was sure even if he was sober he wouldn’t have doubted that the man had solid proof somewhere, that his claim was from more than an ‘educated guess’. But if he had guessed there were likely others too. Perhaps not many, but some that must suspect. With that in mind, it seemed even more important to have the Holder Elect as a solid ally. He ran one hand over his face again, mildly annoyed that Vashemin had planned it out to have this discussion while he was drunk. “Come back tomorrow. I’ll see what I can do for you,” he finally agreed.

With another pleased smile, Vashemin dipped his head slightly, “Wonderful. I look forward to working with you, captain.”

[Zen]

Turn 2761, 12th Month
A couple days before Turn's End.

Kagan’s tavern was hardly a place Vasheera enjoyed visiting. The place reminded her far too much of the past and she was always afraid she would find her father there, find he had slipped back into old habits. She knew he did visit the place on occasion, but as far as she knew he had thus far kept a firm handle on his gambling, even if he couldn’t stay away from it completely. He couldn’t risk his image too much, after all. She did her best to ignore the leers she earned as she made her way around tables where, mostly men, gamed and drank. The clatter of dice filled the air, along with the cheers and groans of those whose bets had paid off, or not. It all made her terribly uncomfortable and she tried to make sure she kept out of arm’s reach as she passed, as the men that frequented Kagan’s were hardly the honorable sort, and drunk their hands tended to wander.

“Ey, Vasheera… have you come to entertain us?” some man called in a suggestive tone as she passed.

She only turned a pleasant smile back at him briefly, her tone light and friendly, as if she didn’t actually understand just what he was implying, “I’m afraid not. I don’t have my gitar with me!”

The man laughed, calling back as she continued on her way, “I’m sure your mouth works just fine.” She ignored that, pretended she hadn’t heard.

She was looking for someone and in asking around under the guise that she had a message from her father for him, she had heard he could be found at Kagan’s currently. She wasn’t even sure this was a good idea, but she didn’t really know where else to turn. Her father had warned her off associating with the pirate captain in order to keep her image clean, telling her once that he had apparently helped supply one of Mavros’s Weyrleaders with fellis. So it stood to reason that he dealt in more… questionable products. Her father dealt with him regularly to negotiate trade for the Hold side of the island, but he was a notorious womanizer and if she wanted to keep up an image of innocence for the Mavrosi, it was best if she stayed away from him. Now she knew why her father had been so concerned with making sure she maintained that image.

She’d met the man before, a few times if only briefly, so at least he wasn’t a complete mystery to her. She spotted him in the middle of a game of dragon poker and drew in a deep breath, preparing her act, never pausing as she headed for him, careful to keep herself in his view so he would notice her before she reached his table. And he did notice her, his brow raising in a silent question as she drew close enough to speak with, “Vasheera? Were you looking to join our game?”

The other men at the table all eyed her and she shifted, playing up her discomfort at the attention and shaking her head quickly, “No, of course not… I’m… sorry to interrupt. My father asked me to find you, captain. My mother’s nameday is coming up soon and he wanted to catch you before you left Mavros again… he was hoping I might be able to pick out a proper gift for her in his stead, as we share similar tastes. If you have time later today, or perhaps tomorrow at some point, I could meet you on your ship?”

She wasn’t sure he entirely believed her, the way his brows furrowed slightly as he studied her. It wasn’t like her father had ever sent her to see him before, for any reason, so she couldn’t even exactly blame him, but she held back a sigh of relief when he didn’t question it, “Come by after evening meal and I’m sure we can find something to suit your needs.”

She offered him a soft smile, “Thank you, captain. I’ll meet you then. I wish you luck in your game.” She turned to leave quickly, glad not to have to linger any longer in this horrible place.

~~~

Perhaps she had been a bit too eager, or perhaps she was just nervous, but it seemed she had arrived to Treyjen’s ship before he had. The man on deck had eyed her much as the men in the tavern had and she’d informed him she was there to see the captain. From his suggestive grin and comment, it seemed he thought it was for pleasure rather than business. It was awkward waiting there with the man watching her as though he was some predator waiting to pounce on his prey, fortunately the captain didn’t take very long to show up and she breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of him.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long, Vasheera?” he offered as he headed toward her.

“No… not long,” she cast a quick glance at the man that had been watching her, but tried to put him and his leering out of her mind.

Treyjen cast a glance at him too, clearly catching on to her discomfort, “I hope Fargrim didn’t trouble you, my lady.” There was a sort of warning in his tone that was clearly meant for this Fargrim. He gestured for her to follow him, which she did gratefully.

“No, he didn’t… not really.” All he had done was look at her and make a vaguely inappropriate comment. Did that warrant a reprimand? She didn’t know.

“I apologize if he said anything crass. My crew often lacks manners,” Treyjen told her as he led her below deck, “Now, did you have anything in mind for this… gift of yours?” He turned a curious look back at her and she couldn’t help but feel a slight challenge in that question, “Or are you going to tell me what Vashemin really sent you here for?”

She stopped walking abruptly at that, “N-no! He didn’t!” So that was what he thought? Had her father had other shady dealings with the man before for him to expect such a thing? She shook her head, it didn’t matter. Did it? She wasn’t at all sure how to proceed. At least she had the man alone now.

He turned to face her, leaning against the wall and blocking her from going any farther, “Why are you here then? It sure as shells isn’t for some gift for your mother.” His expectant gaze felt so heavy suddenly as Vasheera tried to decide just what she ought to say.

“I…,” she glanced behind her, back the way they had come, hoping they were well and truly alone, “I’ve heard you deal in… certain… products of… questionable nature?”

Treyjen studied her for a moment longer, leaning forward and lowering his voice slightly, “Why don’t you just tell me what it is your father wants, Vasheera.”

She shook her head, mildly frustrated with herself, “He doesn’t want anything. I’m… it’s me….” She hugged herself lightly, still unsure, but seeing little other option, “Talthis. Do you have any? Or… or anything… similar?”

The captain’s eyes widened just a little in surprise and he took another moment to respond, “What would you need poison for? If you’re trying to help your father maintain his position, let it go. I won’t be helping him this time.”

This time? She had no idea what he meant by that, but it hardly mattered. “You don’t understand…,” she shook her head again, “It isn’t to help him… I’m done helping him. He’s going to lose, there’s nothing anyone can do about it, and he doesn’t deserve it anyway!” It felt good to say that to someone, though it probably hadn’t been the best move on her part.

Treyjen was quiet for a short time, processing that admission, and when he spoke his voice was soft and serious, “You want to kill him?”

“I… no… I don’t want to… but I don’t know what else to do,” she ended in a whisper, looking up at him and willing him to understand.

“Has he harmed you, Vasheera?” there was an edge to his tone and his sea blue gaze seemed to bore into her.

She hugged herself a bit tighter, unsure just how to respond, “I… I’m afraid he’ll hurt my family… he threatened… if I didn’t tamper with the election, didn’t help him win… please… I can pay for it. Do you… do you have anything I can use?” Contemplating her father’s murder had been bad enough, but actually talking about it with someone else, putting a plan into motion, was making her stomach roil. What other option was there? If she could slip him something after the election was over, when it would be less suspicious, maybe she could preserve these last several turns in the minds of her family. It was more than her father deserved, to be remembered fondly, but it wasn’t for him, it was for them. Let them remember him as loving, as though he actually gave a shard about them. They would mourn and then they would move on. It was for the best. Haliya would be free. She would be free.

And if she could use talthis, the same poison that had killed the Weyrwoman? If anyone found out it was poison, they could very well suspect a similar culprit, or someone from Mirran at least, where the poison originated. As her father had said, who would ever suspect her? But her resolve was wavering in the face of the reality of it and she shook her head, turning, “N-nevermind. I’m sorry, I don’t-” His hand was on her arm and she turned a wide gaze back to him, tensing, not sure just what to expect from him. Would he tell her father? Shells, this was a mistake. How could she even think of doing such a thing?

He released her just as quickly, his voice soft, almost reassuring? “Wait, Vasheera… you have every right to protect your family. If you see no other option, I will help you… but killing is no easy thing. Are you sure you can live with it?”

Her arms dropped to her sides, “I don’t know… I never imagined I… I just don’t know what else to do. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to go through with it, I just… I have to do something. If I don’t… I know... he’s going to be worse than he ever was before.”

The captain’s gaze was heavy on her again and she found she couldn’t meet his eyes, the way he was looking at her so intensely, but eventually he spoke again, “I don’t have talthis, it’s near impossible to get outside of Mirran… but I have other options.” He considered her thoughtfully, “However, I don’t believe you have it in you. You might be able to go through with it, but the guilt would eat you from the inside out. You’re too hesitant. You lack resolve. Perhaps it would be better if you found someone else to do it for you.”

She shook her head, “How is sending someone else to… to kill him any different than doing it myself? Maybe you’re right… maybe the guilt would eat me… but it would either way.” She found she was hugging herself again, but didn’t quite have it in her to relax, “Why do you suddenly want to help me? Didn’t you and my father have a decent… arrangement?”

Treyjen laughed softly, and then his tone turned hard, “Decent enough, but it won’t matter come turn’s end… and I’ve no fondness for a man that abuses his family.”

“He doesn’t-” Vasheera started to protest, to try to claim that her father didn’t abuse them. He’d only hit her the one time, for disobedience, and disobedient children should be punished, shouldn’t they? He had never struck her mother or her siblings, had never raised a hand to her again because she’d learned her lesson. But abuse could be more than physical, couldn’t it? She thought again of listening to Haliya cry every night her father didn’t come home, the pain he’d put her through without laying a finger on her. She didn’t even know why she tried to protest, to defend him in any way. He had never done anything to earn such loyalty from her, quite the contrary. She looked up at Treyjen, searching the man’s face as if she would find an answer there, one that didn’t involve murder. “What would you do?” she asked softly. She had a feeling she already knew the answer, given the man’s reputation and his piracy, and his sudden willingness to help her after finding out that Vashemin mistreated his family, but maybe hearing someone else say they would do the same thing would help her find her resolve.

His gaze narrowed, his tone was firm with conviction, “I’ve no mercy for anyone who would threaten my family. If you want to protect them, you shouldn’t entertain any either.” He studied her another moment, and then offered perhaps just what she needed to hear, “He has threatened those you love. Any action you take now is in defense of them, and you have a right to defend what is yours.” She needed to reframe it in her mind. It was not senseless murder, it was an act of self defense, and defense of those she cared about.

She closed her eyes, letting those words sink in. Was it just an excuse? Probably. But something about it made sense too. You have a right to defend what is yours. Thread falling through the sky had not harmed anyone yet either, and yet dragons still flamed it to ash. The threat was enough. Knowing what would happen if they didn’t stop it was enough. She drew in a deep breath and looked back up at the captain, giving a small nod. She knew what would happen if she didn’t stop it. The threat was enough.

Treyjen could see the resolve in her, though he couldn’t say whether it would last or if she would start second guessing herself again. That was on her to sort out, however. “I’m sure I have a wine he enjoys…,” he began, pushing off from the wall, “I’ll prepare it for you. Come back when you’re ready.”

It was really happening. She was really doing this. “How… how much…?”

He shook his head, “Don’t worry about it.” If he was right about her, she’d likely pay the price for the rest of her life. She may be resolved now, but after the deed was done he was certain it would be a heavy burden for her to bear. Even if the man deserved it.

“Are you sure…? Why… why would you…?” Why would he help her do this if there was nothing in it for him?

“When someone gives you a gift, love, you don’t question it. You just say thank you,” he told her instead of giving any real explanation, but she supposed he was right.

She dipped her head by way of apology, “Thank you, captain.”

He sighed lightly and waved his hand, “Go on then. And don’t lose your resolve, Vasheera.”