by Adam Dreece
Richy mulled over what, if anything, he was going to say. Everyone felt the long pause. “Well, they also tell me I’m adopted, and part of that whole Ginger Lady thing,” he mumbled.
“What?!” Elly and Tee said in unison, each of them shocked at the revelation. Mounira tried to remember what Tee had told her about the Ginger Lady.
“You were just going to skip over that part, weren’t you?” said Tee, shaking her head.
“Seriously?” said Elly.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” said Richy. “I’m tired and my head is really mixed up right now.”
Just then, Franklin found the group of friends. “Um, hello!” he said, trying to be extra friendly. “Why are you all so glum?” he asked, despite the ice-cold stares.
“Right—listen,” Franklin continued, “um—I’d like to apologize, first and foremost. Your—um—grandfather can be a bit intimidating and has made it extremely clear to me that how I behaved was… terrible, for lack of a better word.” Franklin’s discomfort with apologizing was emphasized by how he kept playing with his hands. “So, I’m sorry? I mean, I’m sorry. If it happens again, then—um—I give you full license to give me what for!” said Franklin, trying to laugh.
Mounira smiled and nudged Elly. Elly raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s what for?”
“Oh, for the love of—” said Franklin, burying his head in his hand for a second. “I’m sorry! There, I’ve said it. I can’t say any more about it without, probably, making it worse. So there you have it. Said. Done. Time to move on.”
“Not quite,” said Tee. “Mounira, what do you think?”
Mounira looked at Franklin. Something in his face reminded her of how she felt, far away from home, far away from her parents, trying to figure out the local customs and habits. “Any more remarks you care to make about girls?” she asked sarcastically.
Franklin grimaced. “Where I come from, the girls I know seem to want to be mothers, and marry a rich man. Why? I don’t know, but my mom’s like that. I suppose girls can be anything.”
“You should meet Sergeant Archambault,” said Elly.
Franklin didn’t understand. “I already met Captain Archambault. Nice man, though a bit rotund. Has that mustache like a sleeping bear.”
“No—she means Sergeant Archambault, also in the Minette guard. The captain’s daughter,” explained Tee.
Without thinking, Franklin said, “Ha! A woman guardsman.” He then realized they were serious. He kicked himself for so quickly falling back into old habits. “Really?” he added.
Richy chuckled. “Yes. Things are different here—even when you compare us with Mineau. There’s something distinct about the personality of this place.”
Tee added, “Sergeant Archambault is the best shot with a rifle that you’re ever likely to meet, and she’s the only reason my grandfather wasn’t killed months ago.”
Franklin digested all he’d just heard. “I thought you folks were just different in that some of the women didn’t wear dresses here.”
“You can wear a dress, if you want,” said Mounira, but the joke came off as more biting than funny.
Franklin glared before realizing how Mounira had meant it. “I also came here,” he said, getting to his real purpose, “because Mister Klaus wanted me to—”
“Actually, that will need to wait,” said Nikolas, surprising everyone. “Madame Kundle Maucher wants to talk with all of us—now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Maucher of Plans
Anna had been waiting at the Green Goo tavern when Nikolas, Franklin, Mounira, and the Yellow Hoods arrived. They were surprised to see it was empty except for Anna and eight guardsmen.
“Where is everyone?” asked Franklin. “A place like this should be packed at this time of day.”
“I cleared it out, including the proprietor, so we can be assured of secrecy,” said Anna.
“The what?” asked Mounira.
“Owner,” whispered Elly.
“Oh,” nodded Mounira.
Nikolas glanced at the guardsmen. Their uniforms were out of place for Minette. He didn’t approve of her decision to hire Mineau guards, but she had made it clear in their brief discussion—before he’d retrieved the kids—that she was calling the shots.
Nikolas had heard, second hand, that Anna had experience leading battles and ambushes. He assumed she must know what she was doing. While Nikolas considered himself a good planner and strategist, he’d rarely used those skills. What he didn’t know was that Anna had never actually done the things he’d heard about—rather, she’d always had someone handle such operations on her behalf—while she would end up taking the credit. This would be her first time doing everything herself.
Anna was pleased as she looked over everyone assembled. She felt right in thinking the military leaders who’d served under her through the years had been incompetent. Planning is easy, she thought.
“I’m glad you are all here,” said Anna, with a smile and a hint of sincerity. Her hair, again, was perfect and done up. Her maroon blouse and silver-trimmed dress were fashionable, and expensive-looking.
She motioned everyone to gather around a large table as she unrolled a map that one of the guardsmen had just handed to her. “There’s a meeting happening, tomorrow at noon, at this location,” she said, pointing to a spot on the map. “It’s just outside of Mineau, in the Red Forest.”
Richy looked at the map. “Wouldn’t that be Bergman’s Failure?”
“What’s that?” asked Franklin.
“A broken tower with a half castle wall. Bergman was this rich guy… long story,” said Richy.
“That’s an isolated area,” Elly added, “That’s not just outside of Mineau—Mineau’s over there. This is north of Mineau, almost directly east from Minette.”
“Direct—if you could fly,” snickered Mounira.
Anna forced a smile. “You know your geography. Good. Yes, there’s a partially constructed tower, a landing and stairs to the tower, and part of what was to be the castle wall.”
“Rampart,” corrected Franklin. “According to the notes on that map, it’s two walls with a walkway in the middle. That’s called a rampart.”
“I know what it’s called,” snapped Anna.
Nikolas waited for Anna to settle and then asked, “What is this meeting, tomorrow, about?”
Anna looked at him and hesitated. She straightened herself, touched her hair, and replied, “All that I can tell you is that it is important. We can end the Fare’s activities if you all do your part properly.”
Tee wasn’t buying it. “Don’t you think you should have professionals doing this? We’re good, but we’re kids. Doesn’t that bother you?”
Nikolas kept his eyes trained on Anna—her every gesture, her every movement. He knew she was hiding something, and he detected layers to the deceit. Anna had lied to him before, under the guise of the greater good, but this time it felt different.
Anna glared at Tee. “I would use professionals, if there were such people around here, but sadly you lot are the best there is.”
Elly was stunned. “What about—?”
Nikolas cut her off with a quick smile. “Thank you, Elly. I’m sure Anna has looked at all available options.”
“Thank you, Nikolas. Listen to your betters, children,” said Anna, shaking her head in frustration and grabbing the table’s edge.
“Now, Anna, what do you expect, from all of us?” asked Nikolas, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. Nikolas could play along, if for no other reason than respect for her position within the Tub.
Anna touched her hair and surveyed the map and everyone gathered. It was her job to get them to buy into the plan; she had to accept that. They didn’t know her or her ways, and so she had to accept their rudeness, for now. “An important person from the Fare will be arriving there to meet a contact. If we seize the opportunity, we can capture him, and put an end to the hostilities—right there and the
n.”
“He must be a very important person if that can happen,” said a skeptical Franklin.
Ignoring Franklin, Anna pointed out positions on the map. “I want the Yellow Hoods up here in the tower, and I want the Watt boy—”
“I’m not a boy,” protested Franklin.
Anna bit her tongue. “—Watt, here, to the south of the wall, with a couple of the guards. The other guards will be with me, just in front of the wall, here, to the east of it.”
“What about me?” asked Mounira. She’d kept quiet during the talk of the Tub and the Fare, lacking context, but figured she could ask Tee or Anciano Klaus about it later.
Anna glared at Mounira. She hadn’t even noticed the one-armed girl until now. “To be honest,” she said sharply, “I have no use for three-quarters of a girl. Stay at home and play with dolls—whatever you wish. You have no value in this. I don’t want you there.”
Surprisingly, it was Franklin who grabbed Mounira’s hand and held her back. She squeezed his hand hard, drawing down her anger, while almost bringing Franklin to tears, but he felt he deserved it. There was something about hearing similar words to what he’d said come from a leader of the Tub that struck him as deeply wrong. He’d never forget that moment.
It bothered Nikolas that Anna had been vague on some details, yet had been quite specific about where she wanted certain people. “And myself?” he asked, pointing out that Anna hadn’t mentioned him yet.
“Oh,” said Anna, again frustrated with her own miscalculation, “I’d like you… um… here, with me and the remainder of the guards.”
A few minutes later, as Anna rolled up the map and thanked everyone for attending, she remembered one thing. “Excuse me, Yellow Hoods, do you have your wind-up Kundle… I mean shocking sticks? I’ve heard about them, and they sound very much based on my design. I’d like to ensure they are in… perfect working order, for tomorrow.”
Before Richy reached into his yellow cloak’s hidden pocket to take his shock-sticks out, he felt Tee grab his hand. She glanced to Elly, who then looked at Anna.
“We’re not allowed to carry them when we’re not on a mission. We’re still kids, remember?” answered Elly, hoping her lie would work.
“Oh, of course,” said Anna, happy to hear that there was some sense in the world. “Never mind.”
Franklin, Mounira, and the Yellow Hoods quickly made their exit.
As Nikolas was about to leave, Anna motioned him back.
“Oh, Nikolas, one question,” said Anna. “Are Mounira and Franklin going to be staying with William and Jennifer?” She couldn’t imagine Nikolas allowing anyone to stay in his home; she certainly wouldn’t allow it, if it was her.
Nikolas stroked his short beard, pretending to be lost in thought. “Sorry? Oh—yes,” he said. “Yes. Is that everything?”
“Yes, thank you,” said Anna, smiling tightly. “I’ll see you and everyone in the morning.”
Leaving the tavern, Nikolas walked home to get one of his specially made lanterns. He wound it up, turned it on, and went for a late evening walk.
An hour later, in the middle of the forest between Minette and Mineau, Nikolas knocked on the door of a cabin he’d only visited twice before.
“Hold on—whoever you are! If you’re a thief, you might’ve had the decency to kill me in my sleep,” said a gruff voice.
The door creaked open.
“Hello, Pierre,” said Nikolas.
“Nikolas?” Pierre became distracted by Nikolas’ lantern and its clicking, moving parts. It shone a beautiful blue light, unlike any he’d ever seen. “It’s bright—but doesn’t hurt my eyes. What is it?”
“Oh—an idea. One of those things I created recently, when I couldn’t sleep,” Nikolas replied.
“You can’t be here to talk about the lantern, so come in,” said Pierre, yawning. “I’ll see if the fire is still warm and put the kettle on. So, what did you come to see me about?”
Nikolas sat in the chair Pierre offered, while Pierre sat on his bed. Nikolas looked about the sparsely decorated little cabin.
“Do you know the Cochon brothers?” he asked.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The Visitor
It was late evening. With his own plans set in motion for the morning, Nikolas walked home, struggling to make sense of Anna’s behavior. Based on what he’d heard on his own, the Fare was stepping out of the shadows, and intending to hit the Tub where it was most vulnerable.
While it was possible that a high-ranking member of the Fare would come near Mineau, Nikolas couldn’t figure out why nor how Anna would’ve come to know about it. And why was Anna so close to Mineau when she’d heard the news? He realized he didn’t so much trust Anna, as he trusted her position in the Tub. He wished he could reach either DeBoeuf or Sam, but that would take weeks if not months—time he didn’t have.
On arriving home, he checked on Mounira, who was fast asleep, and then gave Jennifer a kiss goodbye and thanked her for watching his little guest. Then, he walked into the kitchen to make some tea.
A short while later, there was an unexpected knock at the door. He pulled out his pocket watch and wondered who it could be at such a late hour.
Mounira awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of Nikolas talking with an unfamiliar woman. While she couldn’t make out what the two were saying, she could judge from the tone that they knew each other. Her curiosity wouldn’t let her go back to sleep. A couple of times, they laughed so heartily that Mounira couldn’t help but laugh herself, and she buried her face in her pillow to muffle the sound.
When the front door closed, Mounira heard the sounds of the dishes being cleaned. She was about to drift off, expecting to hear Nikolas walk up the corridor from the kitchen to the bedrooms, when to her surprise, she heard him instead go down the stairs, to the landing. Then, she heard him go down more stairs. She sat up. “But… there aren’t any more stairs,” she whispered to herself.
Unable to contain her curiosity, she scampered out of bed and peeked around the corner. It sounded like Nikolas was, somehow, below her, but that was impossible—or was it?
She arrived at the kitchen, turned to her left, and went down the set of stairs to the landing. She looked back up at the stairs, and to the walls on either side. “Where did he go?” she wondered aloud.
Just as Mounira was about to go back to bed, she caught a glimpse of a blue light. Strangely, it was shining through part of the wall to the right of the stairs.
Mounira slowly shuffled her feet forward, through the “wall,” until she felt the end of the floor. “I’m in the wall?” she said to herself, wishing it were brighter. She sat down, closed her eyes, and went down the hidden steps as a small child would—on her bum.
At the bottom, she opened her eyes and looked back up. There were stairs leading up to the landing—no secret door, just simple stairs. “Hmm,” she wondered, “I bet the passageway was painted so that it doesn’t look like anything is there, just like in one of the royal castles back home. I can’t believe I never noticed before.”
She turned and continued to follow the blue light coming from a door, slightly ajar, at the end of a short corridor. She tiptoed up to it and peeked in.
The room had bookcases along the walls, a fireplace, a nice rug, a worn couch, and a decorative chair with an ottoman. Everything had an order and elegance to it—there were no piles of books—as if the room had a personality different from the rest of the house. Nikolas stood by the fireplace holding a small painting in his hands.
“She’s grown into quite a woman. You’d approve, Isabella,” he said, finishing his conversation with the painting. He kissed the top of the frame and placed it on the fireplace mantel.
Feeling something odd, Mounira scanned the room. “How is it so bright?” she whispered to herself. She could see no lamps, yet the room was properly lit, with no signs of shadows.
Nikolas walked to a bookcase near the door. Mounira curled up, closed her eyes,
and froze. She was certain she wasn’t supposed to be here and had no idea what he’d do if he discovered her.
Mounira opened her eyes again when she heard something thump on the well-worn couch. Nikolas was now at a bookcase at the other end of the room, pulling out a dark-green book just like the one he’d just dropped on the couch. He sat down with the two books.
“I guess he likes to read… two books at the same time?” said Mounira. Her one hand clung to the underside of the door, making sure it didn’t sway open.
Nikolas held the first book up, twisted its spine, and caught the small metal rod that fell from it. He did the same thing with the other book.
“What are those?” whispered Mounira, nearly poking her head into the room.
With a metal rod in each hand, Nikolas started walking toward the middle of the rug. He held his arms out in front, pushing against an invisible force.
Finally, sweat now dripping off him, Nikolas managed to get his two fists to touch the middle of the rug. The look on his face told Mounira that whatever he had been pushing against was gone.
“I need to lower the field level,” said Nikolas to himself. “I almost couldn’t do it this time. The new generator is stronger than I expected. This is good, though.”
Mounira was about to leave, thinking this was perhaps a strange exercise routine, when all of a sudden there was a series of loud clanks and clunks. She opened the door just a bit wider, ever so curious, when all of a sudden she saw the rug start lowering into the floor.
As Nikolas descended atop the rug, he noticed the open door. “Hmm—I thought I’d closed that.”
He almost saw me! Mounira thought as she scampered up the stairs and back to bed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Jammed Thoughts
Tee walked out of her room and saw the vacant blankets and pillows by the fire. She wondered where Franklin might have wandered off to. From the lingering smells of breakfast, Tee knew that her parents were already up and likely gone.