Big Trouble

by Andrew Seiple

  Frowning, the guard did so.

  Chase rubbed the soreness from her limbs, as best she could. “Yes, I could heal, but I’d rather help figure out how to get you out of here. My former ally, the fox, had some ideas, but he didn’t share them. You’re trapped behind a stone wall, right?”

  “Thomasi didn’t tell you about that? That’s strange,” in an instant, Speranza’s voice sharpened, and Chase froze, her mind working in overdrive.

  A misstep. This could be bad. Unless...

  “Silent Activation, Foresight,” Chase mouthed, and saw the results of speaking the first thing that came into her head. The last thing she saw was her shadow form shaking her head frantically. “Um,” Chase said instead, following it up with another “Silent Activation, Foresight,” and an “Uh,” when that one resulted in a negative, as well. She made sure to shake her head frantically, matching ghostly Chase’s actions. That helped, somewhat, but not completely. The paradox built, and with it, the pain.

  “What was that?” Speranza asked.

  Chase felt the band tighten in her chest, and kept it up, feeling the moxie drain from her, bravery fleeing bit by bit. Feeling that odd, indescribable tug as her fortune leached out of her, disappearing to Hoon or however it worked. But the fifth foresight worked, as instead of shaking her head, her ghost-version nodded.

  Your Foresight skill is now level 15!

  “Um... I really hate to admit it, but I think Mister Thomasi doesn’t think I’m competent enough to handle this yet. This is kind of a test for me. To see if I’m worthy to be his servant.”

  “Ah,” Speranza said, satisfied. “That makes sense.”

  And the band in Chase’s chest faded, as she nodded happily.

  CHA+1

  “You want to be his servant that much, then?” Speranza asked, sounding entirely too innocent. But in her voice, there was a current, that current of undecided jealousy that Chase had spent years learning to detect.

  “I do! I want to join his circus and live a life of adventure, where I can meet a rich halven man who isn’t from my stupid village and fall in love!” Chase said all in a rush, trying her best to sound like Loosy Lapin.

  “Oh girl...” Speranza definitely sounded relieved. Relieved and amused. “That’s, ah, that’s a worthy goal. Who knows, maybe you can help somehow? My Siren Charm definitely does a number on my poor guards’ attributes. And they weren’t recruited for their brains to begin with... yes. Zenobia’s stuck trying to get through several very thick gates right now, so we’ve got a little time to talk and plan, at least. How do you think you can help me?”

  Chase looked around and motioned toward a nearby stool. When the guards just stared at her, she sighed and dragged it over. “Why don’t you start by telling me what your situation is? We can go from there.”

  “Simply put, they’ve sealed me in a stone room. My food and water comes down through a dumbwaiter.”

  “A what?”

  “A box on a rope, which comes through a chimney-like passage,” Speranza sounded frustrated. “There are no other ways in or out. For a long time I was left alone. That was... a bad time. Then the others tried to escape, and they got some concessions, and so did I. Then someone installed speaker tubes in the walls, so I could at least talk to the other playas.”

  Chase wondered if she had heard that last word correctly. But all her social instincts were telling her that interrupting Speranza again for more definitions was a bad idea.

  WIS+1

  Chase took a breath. That was a good reminder of just how dangerous the situation was. For all the lady seemed pleasant and cooperative, she was still dangerous. Chase forced herself to tune back in to what Speranza was saying.

  “…no other ways out. They planned for me to die here. Unless I could shrink myself down and try the dumbwaiter or vents, or swim out through the toilet, I’m stuck.” She laughed a laugh that was barely on the happy side of sanity. “I thought perhaps the guards had shrinking potions. You know? Something labeled eat me or drink me. Like Alice! But I had them look and no, no. Nothing of that sort.”

  “Okay… do you know precisely where in the prison you are?”

  “Kind of. The Warden was obliging enough to dig out the blueprints, after I tamed him. But… they’re hard to read. Most of my poor minions don’t have the intelligence anymore. If only I were higher level!” Speranza sighed. “Or maybe if I could find an engineer… or whatever they’re called, here.”

  “A Tinker?” Chase offered.

  “Yes! Those people. But even a Tinker wouldn’t be of much use unless I had a Mason. I don’t see how the blueprints are of much help.”

  “Is Dijornos a Tinker?” Chase asked.

  Speranza’s laugh was pure scorn vocalized. “He isn’t. Or he’d have found a way to save himself already. Not that it matters. If there’s one consolation I have from this mess, it’s that he’ll die, too. And he’s low. He’s almost out of tokens, I’d bet my livestream on it.”

  Chase blinked and held her tongue, though the curiosity burned within her. “Well, let me take a look at the blueprints anyway. Maybe there’s something there.”

  They took her to the Warden’s office, with Grimaldi’s name neatly printed across the door. The lamps were brighter in here than the ones in the halls, and Chase stared thoughtfully at the blueprints that were laid across the desk.

  The thoroughly incomprehensible blueprints.

  With a sigh, she rolled them up… and a hand fell on her shoulder.

  “Those aren’t yours,” the Warden ground.

  “I know of someone who might be able to use them to free your lady,” Chase said, holding his gaze. “But they can’t come here, so the blueprints will have to go to them. We’ll have to get her permission, though… unless you speak for her now?”

  “Of course not!” The Warden looked shocked. “The Lady is… she’s everything.”

  “Then let’s go ask her.”

  “Well,” Chase said, as she returned to the cathedral-like room. “The bad news is that I can’t read the blueprints. The good news is that I know someone who can. But… it’s not entirely good news.”

  “I’m listening,” Speranza confirmed.

  “The adventurer who got me in here, the fox. He’s very, very smart. And he has a list of names and jobs of people you’ve captured. That list might reveal a mason or a tinker or someone helpful.”

  “I dont have any captives!”

  “The halvens,” The Warden spoke, eyeing Chase with new suspicion.

  Chase smiled back and felt a drop of sweat roll down her brow.

  “Oh, them! Yes… I hadn’t even considered that. Good idea! Say… you’re halven. You know them, then?”

  “Yes, but I don’t know their jobs,” Chase said, lying… well, mostly lying. She didn’t know everyone’s full list of jobs, and the group was full of old people. At least one of them was fifty. So they might have jobs she didn’t know about “And given the circumstances I don’t think they’ll just tell me. And besides, if you convert one of them, even if they have something useful it might cut their skills down to the point where they can’t help you.”

  “You say the fox knows their jobs. But you’re a halven. How do you not know?”

  It was time to play a card and hope for the best. She checked it with foresight, just to be sure, and was relieved to see her ghost-self nod.

  “You may have noticed that the group was mostly men,” Chase said, sourly. “Where I come from, halven men don’t think much of women. We’re for babies and cooking and chores. So they don’t tell me anything, and I’m stuck in the kitchen whenever I can’t make up an excuse to get away. Why do you think I want to join the circus?” She threw in a vigorous nod and felt the tension ease.

  “Ah. Talk about a neckbeard’s paradise,” Speranza snorted. “I don’t blame you one bit, kid. What do you propose? How do we get the halvens working for me?”

  “The fox knows who might be able to help. Their name, anyway.
The halvens need to cooperate willingly, in order to bring their full skills and talents on the matter. But none of them have any reason to trust you. And you don’t have the time to bring them around to your point of view. That’s where I come into the picture!” Chase smiled, tucking the blueprints under her arm and spreading her hands… before she remembered that the woman couldn’t see her. “I can be your negotiator!” Chase continued, before the silence grew awkward.

  “And what do you have to gain out of the matter?” Speranza asked.

  “Thomasi’s approval! And a spot in his circus, once you’re free and this whole matter’s wrapped up—”

  BOOM.

  The room shook, the mountain itself seeming to rock with an unspeakable force. Dust rained down on Chase’s head as she dove for cover, dimly noticing with what little attention she could spare that the guards were doing the same.

  Once the rumbling and cracking noise settled, Chase poked her head up, and stared at the speaking tubes. “Speranza? Speranza?”

  “I’m here,” the woman replied. “Grimaldi? Check section B.”

  The Warden uncapped a tube and started barking questions into it, pushing his ear up against it as voices answered. And the more he heard, the grimmer his face grew.

  “Zenobia’s forces retreated from the bulkhead gates a few minutes ago. Now the gates are gone. So are your servants who were too far forward. The redoubt sees the enemy advancing through the smoke. Our forces will sell their lives dearly, ma’am.”

  “Of course they will,” Speranza said. “Well. It looks like she’s got a tinker. Or brought a lot of explosives, anyway.” There was a tension to Speranza’s voice now. “You. Halven girl. Are you still alive?”

  “I am. I’m here,” Chase said, stepping back to the tubes.

  “That time we had to discuss and plan? It’s gone now. You want to negotiate for my freedom?”

  “Yes.”

  “Done. I have nothing to lose by turning you loose. Warden, tell the other guards. This girl walks where she will and is not to be harmed. Assist her with any reasonable, safe request.”

  “I’ll need maps,” Chase said, smiling at the now-growling Warden. “This place is a maze.”

  “Give her those, too.”

  Grudgingly, the Warden barked orders, and in the space of a minute guards were tossing scrolls at her, as she caught them one by one. “It’s done, Lady,” the Warden said while the last one was still in the air.

  “Good. Go, girl. Save me and I’ll speak well of you to Thomasi!”

  “I’ll do my best!” Chase promised.

  Only when she was outside the door, did Chase relax. And even then, just for a second. She was exhausted, drained…

  …for all of five seconds, before a familiar rush of power filled her.

  You are now a level 3 Grifter!

  CHA+3

  DEX+3

  LUCK+3

  For a dim, distant second, she was upset that she hadn’t gotten an Oracle level out of it. Figuring out how to use foresight to navigate a dangerous conversation seemed pretty ingenious…

  …but only for a second.

  “I have too much to do and time is not on my side,” Chase said, reminding herself. She sat down, flipping through the maps, looking for the place she needed to be.

  CHAPTER 14: ZENOBIA’S GAZE

  Of course, they had her followed. But it was only a single guard, and Chase gained a stealth skill boost when she finally managed to shake him off. They don’t have more people to spare to watch me. Their desperation is to my advantage, she realized.

  Once she was back in the bunkroom she’d sheltered in, she rapped a pattern of knocks on the vent grille. After a couple of minutes, a black leather nose poked out from between the bars.

  It was adorable, and Chase felt her tension melt, as she pulled the grille away, and hugged Renny. He stiffened for a second, then returned the hug.

  “Sorry,” Chase said, releasing him. “It… I guess I was under more stress than I thought.”

  “It’s all right. I like hugging.” Renny said. “How did it go? Are my friends okay?”

  “I think so. It… I didn’t get everything we wanted. It’s like cards. Your friends are some of her high cards. But she really is trapped, and she thinks she needs your help to get free. I did get maps!” Chase waved the papers. “And blueprints. Hey, can you read these?” Chase peeled out the appropriate scrolls and handed them over. “We’re looking for a way to get her out of the cell.”

  “Let me see,” Renny took them, holding them up to the light. They were so big compared to his tiny form that only his tail and legs were visible, sticking out from under them. Chase stifled a giggle. She had the feeling that if she started laughing it would turn into crying and that would go on for a while. This was hard, and there was so, so much at stake.

  “Yes, I can read these,” Renny said.

  Chase grinned. “Perfect!”

  “Not so much,” Renny said, swapping the blueprints around to a new sheet and studying it. “I’m assuming her cell is the one labeled ‘dead drop.’ In which case, there’s no way to get her out of it without some serious magic.”

  “Could you do it?”

  “With my air magic? No. I’m no tinker, but it looks like they put her in there then lowered the capstone, with no way of getting it out again. Any attempt at breaking it or tunneling through it will drop the capstone and crush everything in the cell.”

  “So what kind of magic could work, here?”

  “Well…” Renny wrinkled his muzzle. “If we had a Merchant, they could make a pack of holding. We could lower it to her through this feeding shaft and she could get in, then we could pull the pack up again. Or if we had an Explorer, we could make waystones, slip her one, then she could use it to waystone to a waymark.”

  Chase crinkled her nose. “Wait… didn’t you come into this land through those waystones your group found? If she has your friends, she has the waystones. She can use those to teleport outside!”

  Renny shook his head. “They were single-use only, they crumbled to dust after we arrived. It wasn’t even magical dust. And before you ask, none of my friends are Merchants or Explorers.”

  The halven rose to her feet and paced back and forth, thinking. “Okay. No two ways about it, then. We have to get my people involved.”

  “You have people?”

  “Yes! The ones from Bothernot that got captured? The reason I’m here?” Chase waved her arms, aggravated.

  “Right. Sorry. It’s been very stressful lately.” Renny looked down. Then he darted back to the vent and tugged Chase’s pack out. “I sewed it up for you. The seams were really a wreck. Now it shouldn’t tear as often.”

  “Thank you. Ah… can you ride inside? Maybe use an illusion to make it look like an empty pack if anyone looks inside, so they don’t see you?”

  “Sure. Oh, wait, there won’t be enough room for both me and the circus wagons.”

  “The circus—” Chase slapped her forehead. “They took them and never gave them back! Mother lumper!” Then she shut her mouth, embarrassed about swearing. “I mean… oops. I guess I had a lot on my mind.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “I still feel like we should get those back,” Chase shook her head. “We need to get this done, then go deal with Thomasi and Vaffan— the Necromancer.”

  “We’d better hurry. I’m not sure how long it’s been, but it feels like hours we’ve been in here.”

  “I know,” Chase said, and once the fox was in, she shouldered her pack and headed out into the darkened halls again.

  It was an entirely uneventful trip, up until the point she stumbled into the remnants of a massacre.

  It had been a mess hall for the guards, once. With low benches, sturdy tables, and tin eating utensils. Lamps sat gleaming in the hanging chandeliers, no doubt they had once cast a calm glow on the dining room below. But now the benches held bodies, the chandeliers were askew and guttering, and blood dripped u
nending from the tables, pooling in a gory tide that belched down a central drain gulp by obscene gulp.

  Then the smell hit Chase’s nose, and that roll she’d eaten turned in her belly, twisting and contemplating the fast and violent trip back up. She fought her gorge down, but her mind flashed back to the dead bodies in the entryway, when they’d first entered Pandora Prison, hours ago. She looked away.

  “Chase?” Renny whispered from behind her.

  “Everyone here is dead,” Chase said, faintly. “I can’t look, I’m sorry. Can you?”

  She felt her pack squirm, then open. He must have moved some of the laces so they’re accessible from the inside. Clever little golem.

  “It’s certainly a mess. All the dead guys are wearing guard uniforms, except… oh no. No, no no!” A weight left her shoulders then, and Chase looked back to see Renny run splashing through the blood, to cradle a gore-slicked form.

  Incongruously, it was wearing a wooden mask, crudely carved, with buckteeth and a fringe of spiky hair. The words “PORKEW PYNE” were cut into it.

  Chase focused on the figure, trying to ignore the rest of the dead and realized that it very definitely wasn’t human, or even halven. It had fur peeking out from its torn, ragged clothing. “What is that?” Chase whispered.

  “Who is that, you mean. It’s a he,” Renny snapped. “He’s Porkew Pyne, and he is best Raccant. Moira said so! He’s… best. He was.” Renny sagged, letting the heavy corpse ease back to the floor. Then he started poking and prodding it, searching the creature’s pockets. “Ha!” He said, straightening up and revealing a soulstone.

  “Does this mean he’s in there?” Chase asked, remembering what Renny had told her.

  “I think so. We’d need to find a necromancer to be certain. But definitely not that last guy.”

  “No, definitely not him.” Chase said, trying to breathe shallowly. “We’ll have to double back around. Take the long way to the cellblock.”

  “Why?” Renny said, looking up at her, uncaring of the blood slowly staining his plush body a deep crimson.

  “Because…” she shot the other exit a look. “Because there’s no telling how far ahead Zenobia is. And we don’t want to run into them.”