Fearless as the Dawn

by Katie Roman

“Ah. The drink can do that, unfortunately, and some are weaker to its influences than others.” She set the flagon aside, out of Aleka’s view. “And of course, if a rich man up on Golden Road hits a servant, well, the magistrates won’t see him punished.”

  “He killed his cook in a drunken fit. I still don’t know what made him so mad, but she couldn’t have done anything so terrible that she had to die.” Aleka’s insides knotted with the admission. She hadn’t had the opportunity to talk about her mother with anyone since running away. It was the first time she’d brought up the murder without the other person knowing Halia.

  “Bastard,” Daisy grumbled. “I used to clean rooms for a boarding house in Serenity Place. A lot of smaller shopkeepers lived there. They thought they were better than me because they could live somewhere that had a maid.” Daisy snorted. “Shit rolls downhill, and the Lane is about as downhill as it gets in this blasted city. Sometimes I wish the gods would set those rich fools ablaze.”

  Aleka reached into her belt pouch and produced her Iuhry idol. “This is the two-faced goddess. She can bring chaos or balance, depending on which side you pray to. I pray every day for her to bring chaos to Golden Road. If you want the fools set ablaze, I suggest you send a prayer or two her way.”

  Daisy took the idol, turning it over carefully. “Don’t the Narerocish also have a god of vengeance you can implore to punish this employer of yours?”

  Aleka bit into her squash and shrugged. “Yes, Paora. But I was always told I was born under Iuhry’s gaze. It seems more appropriate to ask for her assistance than Paora’s.”

  Daisy handed the idol back. “The priests and priestesses tell us not to pray to the Divine Twins or Diggery for ‘petty and selfish’ reasons. They say they won’t listen. I hope your Nareroc gods are a bit less deaf.”

  Aleka frowned. “I’m still waiting for my own prayers to be answered,” she admitted as she slipped Iuhry back into her belt purse. Wanting to change topics, she asked, “How did you end up at the Emerald Rose? I’d think a maid working at a Serenity Place boarding house would make decent wages.”

  “I was accused of stealing from a guard. He claimed I pilfered a week’s worth of wages and some fancy little ring he meant for his lady.” Daisy bit into her meat skewer again, looking off across the market wistfully.

  “And?” Aleka asked when Daisy didn’t continue the story. “Who stole the goods?”

  “Oh, I did. I fenced the ring and pocketed the wages.” She laughed mirthlessly. “The rat bastard liked to grope me; thought I was ‘less than’ just because I lived on the Lane and worked as a maid. So, I decided if he was going to treat me like a doxie, I may as well get paid like one.”

  Aleka leaned forward, no longer interested in her lunch. “Did you get taken to the lock up?”

  “Nah, I hid the coin. When the guards searched me, they didn’t find anything I wasn’t supposed to have. Of course, I had to pay my dues to the King of Thieves, but even with that bit gone, I still had a decent amount left. It’s not enough for me to live out my days in luxury, but I don’t go hungry if the Emerald doesn’t see much business for a few days. I can’t find work in ‘decent’ places anymore, but the Emerald isn’t a decent place, so I do alright.”

  “You gave some of your stolen goods to the King of Thieves? Why? You’re not part of the Guild, are you?”

  “You don’t cut a purse or break into a home in this city without giving a bit to Marcus Hunewn. He wants folk to know he’s the undisputed Lord of the Lane, and that means making a profit on every two-bit thief in Glenbard.”

  Aleka picked up a skewer of the spiced chicken, taking a small bite. The burn of a pepper seed hit her lips and she swallowed hard against the heat. She reached for the waterskin she brought, taking a quick drink to assuage the spice.

  “And what about you? A maid on the run would do well at the Angel,” Daisy said. “You would have Guild protection just being in the place.”

  “I went there and made a fool of myself.”

  “‘Queen Bitch?’” Daisy asked, though unlike most everyone else, she didn’t sound like she was about to laugh.

  “Heard about that, did you?” Heat swept up Aleka’s face.

  “Charlie has a big mouth.”

  “You know him?”

  “Somewhat. I share a room with one of the barmaids at the Angel. She and Charlie are sweet on each other.”

  “You must know Essie then, if you know Charlie and a maid there.” Aleka hadn’t really thanked Essie for her assistance.

  “Essie Beyers? Aye, she lives in the same boarding house. I’ll bring you by some day for a visit. But come on – why the Emerald Rose?”

  “It seemed like the best available option at the time.” Daisy was nice, but Aleka didn’t want anyone else to know about her plans to meet Blackstone. She’d already made enough mistakes, she didn’t need to make more.

  Daisy laughed, slapping her knees. “Best option, indeed. Come on then, finish up your food. I’m going to help you find some clothes that fit. If I see you in another ensemble such as this,” she waved a hand at Aleka’s new skirt and tunic outfit, “I’m going to pretend I don’t know you.”

  ~*~*~

  When Aleka returned to the Emerald with a sack of old clothes from Daisy, she found Jack sitting outside, smoking a pipe. The smoke swirled around him lazily as he watched the street with no particular interest about anything.

  “Enjoying yourself?” Aleka asked. “Harassed anyone else trying to find employment?”

  He looked up, squinting against the sun. His lips remained in a tight line. “I reserve that treatment for you and you alone, Majesty.”

  Aleka rolled her eyes and huffed. She tried to move past him, but he caught hold of her skirts to stop her. “If anyone grabs you while you’re serving, don’t be afraid to hurt them. Pim will always back you.”

  Aleka pulled her skirts away from him. “Including you?”

  “I usually deserve a good smack.” A ghost of a smile danced across his face and then was gone like a leaf in the wind. “I mean it. You should learn how to actually fight these idiots. You don’t exactly throw a lot of power behind your punches.”

  This gave Aleka pause. She’d never had to learn how to fight. She lived sheltered on Golden Road, and fighting would have ruined her hands for playing violin. But it wasn’t like she was going to be playing for kings or queens now. Besides, if she wanted to face the Admiral and impress Captain Blackstone, she would need some skills in combat.

  “Can you teach me how to fight? Just enough to keep hooligans off me.”

  Jack shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll do well with it.”

  “Why not?” Aleka crossed her arms over his chest.

  “You’re a bit soft, for one thing.” She scowled at him, breathing heavily through her nose. “You’ve got spirit, I’ll grant you that, but smacking a fool away is vastly different than brawling. But don’t worry, pretty thing, I’ll protect you.” Aleka caught his smirk and kicked his leg for it.

  “Listen here, drunk, I have more than just spirit.” She thought of how satisfying it had been to hit Lord Ghilian. “I can learn whatever you can teach. And if you laugh at me again, I’ll knock all your teeth out.”

  “Queen Bitch, indeed,” he said. He didn’t laugh, but Aleka saw the corners of his mouth turn upwards. “Get me a bottle of the finest whiskey in the city, and I’ll even teach you how to use a sword. Sound fair? On your wages, you’ll be able to afford it in, oh, a few years. In the meantime, just let Daisy and me protect you, Your Majesty.”

  Aleka snarled and barged into the Emerald, where Pim was seated at a table going over the books. He looked up briefly, but quickly returned to his work.

  “Is Jack always so pleasant?” she asked, plopping down into the seat across from him.

  “Whatever you need, you’d do better coming to me or Daisy, or even Seamus.” His eyes scanned the paperwork, quill poised to make notes where needed.

  The motion
made Aleka think of the Admiral as she sat behind his desk. She shook her head to clear the image. Pim was not the Admiral. “Can you teach me to fight?”

  “Seemed like you could handle yourself against fools last night.”

  “I mean really fight. Boxing, even; something beyond punching and running.”

  Pim set aside his work and clasped his hands in front of him on the table. He looked her over without a word, taking in every inch of her face. “While I encourage everyone to know how to defend themselves, I do wonder at your motives.”

  Aleka looked away. “What do you mean?”

  “Rumors on the Lane move fast. Your honorary title of ‘Queen Bitch’ is known to me, and I know you went to the King of Thieves for assistance. I just wonder if you’re not trying to get yourself into trouble. Why else would you come here and not somewhere more lucrative? You’re obviously educated. An educated servant, even a runaway, is worth more than a few coppers a day at this dump. And your name? Kunegunda? I know my Nareroc history. What are you really after?”

  “Justice,” she paused. “Vengeance.” That was all she would say.

  Silence stretched out between them. Pim’s eyes never left hers, and she refused to look away. Finally, he shook his head and went back to his work. “Keep your secrets. I think the less I know, the better for my health. But don’t go looking for trouble. It too often finds people in this city, and it’s typically not a clean end.”

  ~*~*~

  Aleka went into the Emerald for her second night wearing a cast-off of Daisy’s. Daisy was shorter than Aleka, so the skirt from the almshouse had to suffice, but she did provide a forest green blouse that, while still somewhat snug over Aleka’s chest, fit a good deal better than the tunic or stolen shirt. She had also stopped at the public baths and washed up, making her feel that everything would sort itself out as long as she kept moving forward.

  Unlike the night before, Aleka was left to tend half the tables alone. She stayed out of reach of the more flirtatious patrons, though a few did reach to pinch her bottom. She hit them with her empty tray on the wrist until enough of them learned their lessons. She also managed only to spill some of the drinks onto the tray. The evening was shaping up to be rather quiet. Aleka recognized many of the same patrons from the night before.

  “It’s the regulars who never give trouble,” Pim said as they leaned against the counter.

  Daisy chatted up a card playing table. She laughed, the sound filling the room. Aleka couldn’t believe she’d been warned away. Certainly the drunken fool from the night before was an unpleasant surprise, but no one had tried to stab her yet, and the way people talked, she had imagined it would be a nightly, imminent threat.

  Around ten o’clock, the fiddler from the night before came in. He brought with him a crowd of already sauced men and women, who sang loudly and demanded more wine. Aleka scrunched up her nose, thinking how alcohol turned people into rutting pigs. She helped Daisy, carrying her tray with both hands to keep a firmer hold on it. She worked quickly, and when all were served, Pim nodded his approval.

  As she walked through the tables, checking that the patrons were satisfied, one card player flashed a silver with a request for a few minutes in the alley. She ignored him and stayed out of his reach. Two men among the dancers got into a fight over a lady, but Seamus and Jack escorted them from the premises. When no one ordered any more drinks, she received Pim’s approval to approach the fiddler.

  “Excuse me, sir,” Aleka said to the fiddler.

  He stood near the back wall, tuning. “Yes?”

  “I play a bit myself, and I was wondering if you might let me stir up a jig for the crowd. Name’s Kunegunda.”

  “Ronald.” He shook her hand. “This crowd’s been drinking and is demanding more music. You think you can keep up with their energy?” He smirked at her, clearly disbelieving the girl in the ill-fitted clothes could play up to his standards.

  You’re sharp and couldn’t keep the beat last night, Aleka thought, but didn’t allow the words to come out. “Just one song. My fingers itch to play again.”

  Just then, the crowd Ronald brought with him began to demand music. Some danced without it, but they were in a mood for revelry, and every moment Aleka and Ronald spoke was a moment they suffered delayed gratification.

  “Honestly, I could use a break from their nonsense. They had me playing in the market for an hour before I led them here!” he exclaimed, holding out his fiddle.

  Aleka took it with all the reverence she would a religious artifact. It was very much like the replacement violin the Admiral had given her. It showed signs of age, but Ronald had obviously taken good care of it. Aleka plucked at the strings, getting a feel for it. She could feel Ronald next to her, likely still smirking.

  The din grew louder as the drunken revelers became more demanding. Aleka tuned as best she could, running through a few scales to warm up. It had only been a few days since she played, but it felt like a lifetime had passed. When the foot stomping began, Aleka drew the bow across the strings, making a sound like a cat being strangled. The crowd fell silent, all eyes turning to her.

  “Do you fine lords and ladies want to dance?” she asked playfully, receiving a chorus of enthusiastic yeses.

  Aleka lifted the fiddle under her chin and poised herself to play. She hazarded one more look at Ronald, who didn’t even try to conceal his amusement. Closing her eyes, she took up a reel she had often played at the Battered Traveler.

  Her fingers moved along the neck as the bow took on a mind of its own. There were hoots and hollers of excitement as the tempo picked up. She could hear the shuffling of feet in time with the music as those dancing moved across the wood floor.

  One song. She told Ronald one song, but as she drew the bow across the strings, she knew one wouldn’t be enough. Playing again for nothing more than the sheer joy of it made Aleka happy. Blissfully so. Without a pause, she moved from one song into a second.

  ~*~*~

  Aleka played four songs in a row before returning the instrument to Ronald, the dancers cheering as she took a small bow. She felt her smile widen. Happiness. She never thought she’d feel it again.

  “One song, eh?” Ronald said with a quirked eyebrow. His smirk was gone, replaced with a begrudging look of respect.

  Aleka put a hand on her hip and cocked it. “Seemed wrong to deprive them of more.”

  The crowd that had filtered in for music and dancing stomped their feet, calling for more. The smell of spilled ale, wine, and sweat filled the common room. Aleka longed to take the violin back from Ronald and play again until her fingers bled and she dropped from contented exhaustion, but she could see Pim and Daisy needed help. People were waving their mugs around, demanding ale as much as they demanded songs.

  “You should continue while I go back to my proper work.” As she turned away, Ronald took up a ballad.

  She grabbed a few mugs brimming with ale from Seamus. He poured from the barrels faster than they could get the drinks out. Aleka put as many mugs on a tray as she could manage and moved through the crowd until the mugs had all been replaced with coins. Many patrons applauded Aleka’s efforts on the violin. Some even dropped extra coin into her apron pocket with a wink and a nod. She simply nodded, but inside she was near bursting with joy. It was like playing at the Battered Traveler while Janey sang and Taki played his drums.

  At the end of the night, Aleka and Daisy wiped down the tables and swept. Seamus walked around, arranging tables and chairs from their current disarray. Aleka hummed to herself.

  “Was that part of your maid training?” Pim asked from his normal perch at the front counter. He stood, crouched over, counting out their coin for the night.

  Aleka nearly missed the question. “What?”

  “The fiddle. Where did you learn to play?”

  “I have a cousin who used to play on Uyn Struit in the islands. He taught me, and when I left the Nareroc Islands with my mother, her new employer was impressed and al
lowed me to continue playing.” It wasn’t a complete lie.

  Her cousin did teach her play while she acted as the entertainment at a tavern on the island of Uyn Struit. And Lady Ghillian, in her only real grandmotherly act, had paid for Aleka to continue her lessons.

  “It was beautiful,” Seamus said as he righted a chair that had been knocked over and moved to a darkened corner. “You don’t hear music like that ‘round here often.”

  “You were amazing,” a rough voice said from the door. Since Jack hadn’t left his guard at the door most of the night, Aleka had nearly forgotten he existed. He sounded almost mesmerized as he spoke. “If you could get a violin of your own, you could make real money in Glenbard playing like that.”

  Aleka’s face fell. “I had one, but it had to be sold,” she lied. It was too painful to talk about how the Admiral had thrown it into the fireplace.

  “Well,” Daisy said. “I saw some folk giving you a little extra. Convince Ronald to let you play a bit every night, and you can buy a new one.”

  “It’ll take years to save her pittance here for a violin,” Jack scoffed, returning to his usual tone.

  “Always so cheery, Jack,” Seamus laughed. “You really know how to let people have their dreams.”

  “If word gets around,” Pim said, “more people will start to come here. Aleka may turn us downright respectable. Imagine the Emerald as a dancing hall, instead of a gambling den where drunks occasionally dance!” He sounded almost wistful. “If Ronald allows you to play again, don’t worry about splitting your time serving drinks. Daisy and I can handle it. I heard some people say they’ll be coming back tomorrow for sure to hear you.”

  Aleka’s smile returned. “And what if Ronald doesn’t want to?”

  “Don’t worry about Ronald,” Seamus said. “He’s my cousin. If he doesn’t want to come back or let you use his fiddle again, I’ll tell his ma.” He winked at Aleka as he passed, patting her shoulder as well.

  It was like Aleka had been stumbling around in the dark for months, and suddenly she stepped back into the light. It didn’t matter that she wore ill-fitted clothing or slept in a nest of blankets on a storeroom floor. She was happy again. Her half-cocked idea of running off to join Captain Blackstone seemed foolish now. Her mother wouldn’t want her to become a criminal just to punish the Admiral anyway. Halia would want her to be happy, and that was what Aleka planned to do.