Red Tide Read Online Free

laughter and the pounding of fists on the table.
    The Keeper stiffened, but Eremo merely smiled. “My people have strict rules when it comes to dealing with other cultures. My friend’s job is to ensure I abide by them.”
    â€œAny of them rules say anything about turning up when you say you will?”
    Galantas had heard enough. “Please forgive my father’s ill manners,” he said to Eremo. “Sender knows the rest of us have had to long enough.” He advanced and offered his hand to the Augeran. “Galantas,” he said.
    Eremo gripped it. Galantas didn’t squeeze—that would be immature. Plus the other man could probably squeeze harder. He’d expected the Augeran’s skin to be as coarse as the granite it resembled, but it proved no more rough than Galantas’s own.
    Eremo took in Galantas’s missing arm, his sharkskin cape, his necklace of shark teeth. Something in his look suggested he hadn’t needed the introduction to know who Galantas was. “A pleasure,” he said. His gaze shifted back to Dresk. “Apologies if my arrival has caught you unprepared. The crossing proved swifter than we expected. If you prefer, I can return—”
    â€œWhat do you want?” Dresk growled.
    The scarred man, Hex, was on the move, capering toward the krels’ table. As he settled into an empty chair, those nearest to him edged back. He crossed his arms on the table, lowered his head onto them … and fell asleep. His snores reverberated around the hall.
    Eremo didn’t bat an eyelid. “You have heard, I take it, about the part we played in Dragon Day?” he said to Dresk.
    â€œNice bit of work,” the warlord replied stiffly. Stiffly, because he’d tried to do something similar eight years ago, and failed.
    â€œHow did you pull it off?” Galantas asked.
    â€œAnonymity helped,” the commander said. “At first, the Dianese governor was wary of hosting our delegation on Dragon Day. But the opportunity to impress his guests with a few stone-skinned strangers proved impossible to pass up.” He gave a half smile. “Somehow I doubt the trick will work a second time.”
    â€œSomehow I think you made your point the first. Assuming there was a point.”
    The commander regarded Galantas evenly. “You want to know why we targeted the Sabian League?”
    The Keeper bristled. “We are not in the habit of explaining—”
    Eremo raised a hand to cut him off. “Call it a preemptive strike, if you will. We had reason to believe our interests in the region would make conflict with the League inevitable.”
    Interests in the region? Galantas winced. “Sorry. I just felt a sudden pain in my pocket.”
    A lone krel banged his fist on the table in approval. Galantas would have to tip him later.
    Eremo’s tone remained affable, yet there was a tightness about his eyes that suggested his patience was already being tested. “Let’s cut to the chase. We have unfinished business in these parts, and it is business that cannot easily be conducted across an ocean. We are looking to set up a base in the Isles from which to operate.”
    â€œA military base?”
    Eremo nodded.
    â€œYou’re going to war with the League?”
    â€œDoes it matter who our target is?” The commander looked about the hall. “Are you worried we might strike at one of your allies? Oh no, wait, you don’t have any, do you?”
    Galantas said, “There’s a lot of water between not being allied with someone and being at war with them.”
    â€œWe’re not asking you to go to war. We’re asking you to help us in ours.”
    â€œA fine distinction. I hope our neighbors appreciate it.” From the bailey outside, the clang of a blacksmith’s hammer struck up. Over it Galantas said, “You see the problem we face, Commander? What happens when you lose this war?