Nexus Point

by Jaleta Clegg

  Chapter 30

  Dogs barked as I skulked through the narrow alleys between the cottages, looking for a clothesline and someone's forgotten clothes. No one would believe I was a monk, despite Roland's optimism.

  I tripped over a girl huddled in a dark alcove. My boots tangled in her skirt. She batted at me with her fists. I grabbed her arms, pinning her to the ground. She stopped fighting. Her tear-streaked face caught the faint gleam reflected through a nearby window.

  "Oh," she said in a small voice. She glanced down at the monk's robe I wore. "Oh." Her eyes widened. "You aren't a monk!" She tried to kick me.

  I blocked her legs with my knees.

  "I'll scream," she threatened.

  The dogs barked, working themselves up. She shut her mouth.

  "I don't think you will." I rolled off her, crouching in the shadows.

  She sat, tucking her skirt around her legs. "Who are you?"

  "Who are you?"

  "Librette. If you aren't a monk, why are you dressed like one?"

  "It's a long story and I don't have time to tell you." I stood, searching the alley for something more useful than Librette.

  "You're going to burn as a heretic."

  "They already tried that. Twice."

  She gasped, staring with her mouth hanging open.

  The volume of barking increased. I muttered swear words under my breath.

  "Why are you pretending to be a monk?"

  "It was better than going naked. Besides, a monk gave me the robe." I searched for a way to rescue my half-baked plan.

  "Then that's all right." Librette stood, dusting off her skirt.

  I caught her arm. "I need your help." I couldn't see anything else that might be even a tiny bit useful.

  "I can't help you." She pushed my hand away. "I'm going to climb to the top of Bracken Falls and throw myself off the cliff. I have to hurry to be there by sunrise."

  "What?" I blinked.

  "I'm throwing myself off the cliff. It's more dramatic if you do it just as the sun rises."

  "You'll get hurt." It the only thing I could think of to say.

  "I'm hoping to die."

  "Why?"

  She gave me a look that said I was incredibly stupid. "Because. It's traditional. Besides, sunrise is when they're going to kill Chey." She paused to sob. Tears squeezed from her eyes to trickle down her cheeks.

  "Who's Chey?"

  "The love of my life, the man who has captured my heart. They're holding him prisoner in the castle. He told me they were going to execute them all in the morning." She wiped a tear from her cheek. "I have to go now. I want to die with him."

  "Wait a minute." I took her arm again. "Chey's in the castle. As a prisoner."

  She nodded. My plan might not be totally dead. Chey had to be Patrol. Why else lock him in the base? Why else would he be executed in the morning?

  "They're going to kill him at dawn."

  "Then we have to move fast."

  She gaped. It was her turn to look stupid.

  "Chey doesn't have to die, Librette. We can rescue him." I mentally crossed my fingers, desperate enough to try anything.

  She nodded, wiping away a last tear as she squared her shoulders. "There's a sword in my mother's cottage. I don't know how to use it, but if it is for Chey, I will fight."

  "I don't think we'll need swords. I have a better plan. You work in the castle, right? I saw you coming out this evening."

  "We cook the food. I thought about poisoning it, but they watch us too closely. It would mean poisoning Chey, too." Her lip trembled.

  "Can you get me inside? What time do you go in the morning?"

  "Just before dawn." Her eyes went wide. "We'll have to hurry. They're going to kill him at dawn."

  "Not if we can help him," I said, trying to convince her and myself I was telling the truth. "How many guards are in the castle?"

  "Twenty seven. The rest left yesterday morning."

  "How many prisoners are there?"

  A door opened farther down the alley. A man shouted at a barking dog. Librette grabbed my sleeve, pulling me close beside a makeshift fence.

  "Hush," she whispered. "We're going to need more help. My sister, Tisa, knows all sorts of things. The others in the village say she's going to burn for what she does at the inn. Momma hates it, but she doesn't complain when Tisa brings home extras. With poppa gone, every bit helps. Shh."

  The door closed. The dog barked a few more times. Librette pulled me along the alley to a tiny cottage. She eased the door open.

  The cottage had two rooms. I caught a glimpse of several people sleeping in the back room before Librette shut the connecting door. A single candle burned on a rickety table where a very pretty girl sat, carefully washing cosmetics off her face.

  "Momma was worried sick about you, Librette," she said in a quiet voice. "Who is this?" She shot a suspicious look my direction.

  "She isn't a monk, not really." Librette paused, mouth open. "What is your name? You never told me."

  "I doubt you gave her a chance." The other girl pulled a clip from her dark hair, letting it fall around her face.

  "My name is Dace. I hate to ask, but I need your help."

  "She's going to help me rescue Chey," Librette said. "Tisa, they're going to kill him in the morning."

  "Good," Tisa said flatly. "He never meant his promises, Librette. I've told you over and over not to trust him."

  "You don't believe in love." Librette stuck out her bottom lip.

  "Go wash. And find our guest some decent clothing." Tisa gave my monk's robe a disapproving frown.

  Librette flounced outside, leaving the door open.

  Tisa sighed and wiped a last smudge from her eyes. "What exactly do you want from my sister?"

  "A way into the castle, nothing more."

  Tisa cocked her head. "Why?"

  "I need to rescue the men inside. I need their help."

  "You're one of them, aren't you?"

  "One of who?"

  Tisa smiled, a cynical twist of her mouth. "The sky demons, or so the priests call them. The monks tell a different story." She flipped her hand at the brown robe I wore. "They're involved in this, aren't they?"

  "Just about everyone is involved."

  "Except my sister. She isn't part of this."

  "She wants to rescue Chey."

  "Chey is using her and she's too full of fantasies to realize it. He never intended to marry her. Librette stays here. I'll help you. It will probably curse my soul, but since most of the village is convinced I'm cursed already, it won't hurt."

  "Why?" I couldn't help asking.

  "Because of what I do at the inn. I make more money there than I could anywhere else. I was never going to marry anyway."

  "I don't understand."

  "You can't be that innocent. I sleep with the guests, when they want it."

  "So?"

  "They pay me to do wicked things with them," she said mockingly. When I didn't react, she narrowed her eyes. "Is it so different where you come from?"

  "I really don't know." The whole topic made me squirm. I'd never even been kissed.

  Tisa laughed. "You aren't any older than I am. Much younger in some ways."

  Librette returned, carrying a bundle of clothing.

  "I'll go with you," Tisa said. "Librette is going to stay here and help Momma." Her flat statement left no room for argument.

  Librette sighed and nodded.

  "Go find Miri and Veronica. It's for your own good, Librette."

  "Chey is going to marry me." Librette tossed her hair as she left.

  Tisa shook her head. "What do you need?"

  "A way in. I don't really know after that."

  "You aren't much good with plans, are you? Have a seat." She nudged a chair out from the table. "We have only a few hours."

  "Librette says the men are going to be executed at dawn." I watched Tisa. I wasn't sure how much I trusted any information that came from Librette.
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  "I doubt it's at dawn. Their leader, some witch from the south, doesn't usually stir until noon. She'd want to watch."

  "Then if we move fast enough, we can break them out before she wakes. What does she look like?"

  "Tall, slender, brown hair, very quiet, like a snake."

  "Probably Vunia." The description didn't fit Shomies. "Snake is a good description. We're going to have to be very careful."

  "The men are locked in the dungeons. I can arrange to have you take them breakfast. I can get the key from the guard."

  "We're going to need weapons." I shook out the clothes—skirt, blouse, and underdress, patched and faded but wearable.

  "Like this?" Librette hiked her skirt up to her thigh. She pulled out a nasty little blaster and set it carefully on the table between us. "A very drunk customer left it behind a few days ago."

  I picked it up, flipping the charge strip. It showed yellow, enough for three or four shots, no more. It might be enough.

  "You obviously know how to use it," Tisa said. "Go ahead and change. I've got a few friends who will help. We'll see what ideas they can add."

  When Librette came back, I hid the blaster under the skirt. Tisa pushed her into the back room, shutting the door. Hushed whispers came from the alley. Tisa said nothing as she walked outside. The whispers intensified.

  I pulled off the robe. The underdress was short, mid thigh; it was more underwear than I'd had for days. The clothes Librette brought fit well enough. I tore a strip from the robe, then used it to tie the blaster to the inside of my leg, high enough to be out of sight, but not too far out of reach.

  Tisa and her two friends came in. Tisa looked me over and nodded. "You'll need a scarf to hide your hair. We've got a plan for you."

  We didn't get any sleep. They spent the rest of the night preparing. After hearing their plan, I wondered who was crazier, them for thinking it up or me for thinking it would work.