by Aron Lewes
Wilhelm answered in a whisper, “I don't think my wife would appreciate me fulfilling any fetishes, but... you have me curious.”
“Alright, then. Follow me.”
They followed the guard down several corridors, past soiled tapestries and rusted suits of armor. Vala and Wilhelm remembered every turn they took, in case it was necessary to flee. It was dark in the fortress, so the guard lit a torch and whistled for two of his friends to follow them into the room where the slaves were held.
Vala pinched her nose as they entered, because the stench was almost unbearable. The kitsune were treated worse than caged animals. The skin on their necks was rubbed raw by the metal collars they were forced to wear, and they were forced to live with their feces. One kitsune had died three days ago, and no one had bothered to clear the corpse.
Wilhelm scanned the faces of Kylin's brethren, filthy and forlorn. There were three small boys clinging to the bars, watching with wide eyes as Wilhelm and Vala entered. He wondered if one of them was Kylin's brother.
The guard opened a creaky, thick tome and shoved it across a table. “Here's the book. In it, you'll find the names, ages and prices of each of the slaves. They've been told to identify themselves if you call out their name, but... if they don't play along, you can check the name on their collar.”
“Collars...” Vala muttered. “You treat them like pets.”
“It wasn't up to me, lady. I'm just doing my job.” The guard pressed a filthy finger against one of the pages and said, “If you find someone you'd like to buy, sign here. In the left column.”
“Thank you,” Wilhelm said, then he pulled his sister closer for a quick conference. “There are only three of them. It should be easy enough to take them down.”
“There're more guards in the hallway,” Vala whispered. “But it's not like the castle is crawling with them. I say we make a break for it. Follow my lead.”
Wilhelm gave her a nod and turned his attention back to the book. Spotting a familiar name, he asked, “Which one of you is Rai?”
One of the boys near the bars stuck up a hand. “That would be me, sir.”
“It says that you're twelve years old?” Wilhelm checked the boy's price. 340 gold. For a moment, he considered paying the money and leaving without conflict, but he didn't think Kylin would be too pleased if he left the others behind.
“I am,” the boy replied. “I'm almost thirteen, though.”
“Let me see!” Vala pushed Wilhelm away from the book and leaned over the open page. “Three hundred and forty gold? That sounds like a bargain, but... I think I'd rather have him for free.”
Vala picked up the book and slammed it into the guard's torch. The fire smashed into his face, igniting his hair and shirt collar. While he was reeling from the flame, she slipped out her hidden knife and sliced open his guts.
Wilhelm flung his hidden knife at one of the slavers, then he stole the flaming guard's sword and made a surgical slash across the third man's throat.
“See?” Wilhelm smiled at his sister, who was stealing a bow and quiver from one of the fallen guards. “Easy.”
While Vala nocked an arrow and tested her new bow's string, Wilhelm found a key ring on a dusty drawer. “We're going to free you,” he said, testing key after key on the locked door. He wasn't too worried about finding a match—Vala could pick locks. “Don't worry... we were sent by a friend.”
“You might as well tell them who that friend is,” Vala said. “Her name's Kylin.”
“Kylin?” Rai's voice squeaked. “My sister?”
Vala gave him a nod. “Aye. She's been desperate to find you. We're going to take you to her, but we need you all to be patient and follow us.”
When the cell door was open, nineteen prisoners flooded from the prison, including Rai, who grabbed a lance from one of the dead guards.
“I'll help you fight!” Kylin's brother declared, jabbing the lance at an invisible opponent.
“I think not.” Vala pried the lance from Rai's hands and tossed it to her brother. “Leave the fighting to us. It's about the only thing we do well.”
Wilhelm and Vala led the prisoners into the hall, where they immediately encountered a patrolling guard. Vala fired an arrow before he could draw his sword, then she held a finger to her lips, encouraging the prisoners to move as silently as possible.
Wilhelm moved first. He crept to the end of the hall and peeked around the corner, checking for more guards. It was clear, so he motioned for the others to come forward.
“There're other prisoners in other cells,” Rai said. “They're not kitsune, though. They're humans. Can we save them too?”
“Wish that I could, lad, but... this is more than enough hero-ing for one day,” Vala said. “I feel bad, but... we should stick to savin' our own hides.”
Rai's face showed his disappointment, but he didn't protest, and the freed prisoners followed Wilhelm and Vala down two more corridors before they ran into trouble.
Wilhelm whispered to Vala, “There are two guards at the front entrance. Do you want to deal with them, or should I?”
Vala readied her bow and suggested, “Let's share the glory. You go for the one on the left, I'll get the ginger on the right.” Winking, she added, “I always did like gingers.”
The guards were facing away from them, giving the assassins a perfect opportunity to sneak up from behind. Vala raised her bow, tiptoed forward, and mouthed to her brother, “Be ready.” She loosed her arrow, landing a head shot on her assigned guard. A split second later, her brother rushed forward and lunged with his lance, running the second guard through. Wilhelm yanked the weapon from the slaver's falling body and opened the fortress' front gate.
“Go!” Vala whispered to the prisoners. “Run!”
A few arrows rained down from fortress windows as they made their escape, but no one was hit. A little girl, no older than eight or nine, stumbled and dropped to her knees. Wilhelm scooped her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way.
Vala shouted to her brother, “Are we being followed?”
He stole a glimpse over his shoulder. “No. It doesn't look like it.”
“Good. If we were followed, that'd be bad, because we'll need to make more than one trip on the rowboat. It's not big enough for everyone,” she said. “I'll stay behind with half of the prisoners. You take the rest to the ship, alright? Take the little ones first.”
“Are you sure you want to stand guard on the beach? Your job would be the dangerous one,” Wilhelm said.
“You know I'll be alright.” She pushed two of the smaller children toward the boat and added, “Besides, I like a little danger.”
Chapter Eighteen
“RAI! THANK THE GODS, you're alright!” Kylin cried. She opened her arms, inviting him into an embrace, but Rai didn't want the embarrassment of hugging his sister in front of so many people, so he kept his distance. “Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?”
Rai replied, “No. Not really.”
His melancholic voice made her skeptical, so she searched him for signs of injury. She circled him three times, checking him at every angle. “Are you sure? That looks like a bruise on your neck.”
Rai tugged on the collar of his shirt to show his sister her mistake. “Nah. It's probably just a shadow or something. I'm fine. I promise.”
Turning to the others, Kylin asked, “What about the rest of you? Are you okay? Was anyone sold?”
As he watched Kylin fuss over the children, Wilhelm felt a slight smile tugging at his lips. He had yet to collect Vala and the rest of Kylin's people, so he climbed back into the rowboat and grabbed his oars.
“Wilhelm!” Kylin called out to him. “Wilhelm, wait!”
“I'll be back in a moment,” he assured her. “I still need to collect a few people... including Vala. I won't be gone long.”
Kylin mouthed thank you, and as she watched him row away, she felt a tremble in her heart. Her brother was safe, several of her people were saved, and no one had
been sold. How could she ever repay her immense debt to Wilhelm and Vala?
Kylin asked Rai, “Are you really alright?” When she tried to touch his hair, he ducked her hand and swatted it away.
“You don't have to get all touchy!” Rai whined. “I'm glad to see you again and all, but I don't want to be cuddled! It's weird!”
“Do you mean coddled or cuddled?” she asked.
“Both!”
His sister was determined to get her hug, whether he wanted it or not. Ignoring his protest, she captured him in her arms, and he endured her affection with a very obvious groan.
Kylin knew the rowboat had returned when she heard Vala's squawking over everything else.
“We were almost heroic today. We saved a lot of people, but... we could have saved more. A real hero might've wiped out the slavers and set the fort on fire.”
“I think we did well enough,” Wilhelm replied, a bit flatly.
One by one, the rest of the rescued kitsune climbed the rope ladder from rowboat to ship. As soon as everyone was on board, Wilhelm and Vala raised anchor and set sail.
Vala stayed at Wilhelm's side as they sailed past the fort. They half-expected the slavers to fire at them, but they passed in silence. They were spared from the cannonade they were prepared to face.
“You think they'll send someone after us?” Vala asked.
“Maybe. It's possible. Either way, we should remain on high alert for the next few days,” her brother suggested.
“Good idea. Also...” Vala scanned the area. Seeing no sign of Kylin, she continued, “What are we going to do with all these people? We can't feed this many. We're going to have to dump them somewhere, right?”
“Dump sounds harsh, but... yes,” he agreed. “We need to find another place for them. The ship isn't large enough to accommodate so many.”
Wilhelm left the wheel in Vala's hands and searched for Kylin. She was on the ship's deck, abandoned by her brother.
“He doesn't like to hug me,” she whispered to Wilhelm. “He's always been like that. He doesn't like affection of any kind.”
“Some people don't,” Wilhelm muttered.
“But he is really averse to it,” Kylin went on. “Oh, and... I know this is a lot to ask, but several of the children are hungry. Is there any way we can feed them... something?”
“Vala and I were just talking about that,” Wilhelm said. “We rescued nineteen people today. We could accommodate them for a night or two, but... after that, our supplies will have dwindled significantly. I know you have no home to return to, but you need to start thinking about where you'd like to go.”
“I'll have to discuss it with the others.” Kylin stared at her fidgeting hands and continued, rather quietly, “I had the terrible honor of telling everyone that our homes were destroyed, and everyone else was killed. Some of them haven't taken the news too well.”
“I can imagine. That would be rough on anyone.”
“I...” Kylin clenched her teeth and hesitated. “There... is a part of me that would like to stay on the ship. With you. But I can't abandon my people, and I could never abandon my brother, so... I shouldn't even consider it. B-besides, I'm sure you and Vala wouldn't allow it. I always annoyed you, after all. Still, I... I enjoyed my time with you, and I hope there is a small part of you that... enjoyed your time with me.”
Kylin didn't wait around to hear his reply, because hearing it would have been her heart's undoing. Before he could say a word, she flashed a false smile and hurried below deck.
Wilhelm didn't want her around, and she knew it. She was tired of pretending he could actually care about her.
Wilhelm was right. Believing he was her Chosen was nothing more than a silly fantasy, conjured up by a desperate girl. She would be forever grateful to Wilhelm and Vala for everything they did for her, but she knew they had to part—whether she wanted to or not.
VALA DECIDED TO TAKE the kitsune to the nearest town, and to provide for them in the only way she knew how: money. She gave each of the kitsune a few shiny coins and explained they were used to buy “things.” There was no currency in their culture. Only nourishment, shelter and affection had any value to them, so the shiny metals were a strange concept to grasp.
Kylin told her, “Even if you take us to a town, we'll probably settle in the woods nearby. It's what we're used to.”
“You can settle wherever you want,” Vala said. “It makes no difference to me.”
They sailed overnight, through a storm that was inadvertently caused by the turbulence in Kylin's heart. Wilhelm didn't sleep. He was afraid the slavers had followed them, and he didn't trust The Silenced to stand guard, so he stayed up all night, bolstering himself with coffees and teas. His tactic only worked for so long. When Kylin found him the next morning, he was asleep on the deck with a sack of potatoes for a pillow.
Kylin gently tapped him with her foot. “Wilhelm? Wilhelm, wake up. We've almost reached Oldgate.”
Wilhelm sat up fast, and his eyes snapped open. “I wasn't asleep,” he lied. “I was... resting.”
“You certainly looked asleep to me,” Kylin said. “Anyway, before I go, I... wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. If I hadn't met you and Vala, I don't know how I could have managed.”
“You probably would have charmed another bloke into helping you,” said Wilhelm, his knees popping as he rose. “But... now that all is said and done, I'm glad you chose me.”
Kylin said, “I never thought you were charmed in the least.”
“No, I was charmed,” he insisted. “I just had a bad way of showing it.”
Wilhelm returned to the helm and sailed the ship into Oldgate's dock. Kylin, Rai, and the rest of their temporary passengers gathered near the gangplank. There were a few seasick kitsune who couldn't wait to leave, but Kylin was clearly hesitant. She inched closer and closer to Wilhelm and Vala, hoping for a final goodbye.
“I never thought I'd say this, but I'll be sad to see you go,” Vala said. “Most people bother me, which is why we've got Silenced instead of a regular crew. But you? You're a special case, girl. I actually like you.”
Vala swatted Kylin's shoulder, which was as close to affection as she could get.
“I don't know how you could like me. I caused a lot of trouble for you,” Kylin said.
“What's life without a bit of trouble, eh? Boring, that's what it is.” Vala gave her a push in Wilhelm's direction. “Now... I think my brother's got some things he'd like to say to you. And he better say what I think he wants to say, or I'll give him a smack on the head.”
Some of the kitsune were already disembarking, eager to leave the ship. Even Rai was stomping down the gangplank, making as much noise as he possibly could. There was no time for a proper farewell, so when Kylin approached him, Wilhelm grabbed and kissed her hand.
“Didn't you say that holding a hand is the same as a kiss in your culture?” he asked. “Well, now I've done both.”
Kylin felt a pleasant tingle in her hand when they touched. Her fingers squeezed tighter, desperate to hold on to him.
“I don't think I have much time, so I'm going to make this quick,” Wilhelm said. “It would be a mistake to leave your Chosen... don't you think?”
“But you...” Kylin could barely hear her own voice, so she cleared her throat and tried again. “But you never believed you were my Chosen. Have you suddenly changed your mind?”
“Possibly? I don't know. I just don't want you to go,” Wilhelm said. “Vala agrees with me. It would be a mistake to let you leave. If you can stomach my company a bit longer, I would really like you to stay.”
“But...” Kylin glanced behind her, where her brother was making thunderous footsteps up and down the wooden plank. “What about Rai?”
“He can stay too,” Wilhelm said. “The ship has a few empty rooms. I'm sure we can find a decent one for him.”
“You really want me to stay?” Kylin asked.
“Aye. We do.”
; “Are you sure?” Her eyes narrowed into slits. “Have you really thought this through? You're not going to change your mind later on?”
“No. We want you here. Both of us,” Wilhelm said. “And especially me. I can't let my potential soul mate walk out of my life, can I?”
Kylin released his hand and threw her arms around him. Rai had rejected so many of her hugs, she half-expected Wilhelm to push her away too—but he didn't. He wrapped an arm around her and cradled the back of her head
“Will you stay, then?” he asked. “I would give you some time to consider, but... your people look ready to leave.”
“I know,” Kylin whimpered. “Some of them were complaining about bellyaches overnight, so... I can't say I blame them. The sea isn't kind to everyone.”
Kylin stayed in Wilhelm's arms for more than a minute. She was surprised that he held her so long. Before it was too awkward, she broke out of his hug and smiled up at him.
“I'll stay,” she decided. “I don't want to leave everyone else, but as long as I'm with Rai... as long as I'm with you... nothing else matters.”
“Good. I'll tell Vala the good news.”
Kylin grabbed his sleeve before he could leave. “Wait! Will I ever be able to see them again?”
“Your friends? I'm sorry, but... I'm afraid you'll have to abandon them forever.” Wilhelm chuckled at the concerned creases that popped onto Kylin's forehead. Tapping her arm, he cried, “I'm teasing you! As long as you know where they put down their roots, we can take you back for a visit. And if you don't know where they are, we have ways of finding them.” He patted the wayspinner, nestled in his shirt's front pocket.
“Good. It would be almost impossible to say goodbye to everyone if I had no way back,” Kylin said.
“Believe me, if there was a way to let everyone stay, we would,” Wilhelm said. “But the ship is so small, there are a lot of mouths to feed, and—”
Kylin made herself as tall as she could and brought her lips to his. She never kissed anyone before—in fact, she didn't even know if she was doing it right, but Wilhelm was smiling against her lips, which seemed like a good sign. Behind her, Rai was booing, but she didn't care. Wilhelm had to be her Chosen, because nothing felt more right.