by Drae Box
Raneth sat facing Aldora and smiled at her. “Do you have a passport and a border crossing pass?”
“Think so,” said Aldora, pulling open a glass jar of ground coffee granules. “Remind me, you take milk, right?”
Raneth nodded and watched as she made the drinks. Aldora was shorter than him; at five foot four she didn’t have to worry about how close her head was to the cupboards. Her soft brown hair was tucked into its usual ponytail at the back of her head, loose enough that it hung just under the curve of her skull, but tight enough that it didn’t wiggle much as she moved.
“Has Cray teamed us up? Prince Pedibastet said yesterday that he would be up to no good soon.”
Raneth frowned. Only if your dad agrees. He smiled as Aldora turned to face him with his coffee in one hand and a cup of tea steaming in the other. She joined him at the breakfast bar, taking the stool beside him, and held his cup out to him. With a thank you he took it and gently blew on the steaming coffee, then he placed his cup gently on the bar.
“Basically,” admitted Raneth. “Your dad has to say he’s OK with it first, though.”
“OK with what? Where are we going?” Aldora took a sip of her drink. “Raneth, I don’t understand why you’re so afraid to take a wrong step with my dad. It’s not like you’re asking for permission to marry me. That would have him saying some things you might not like.”
Raneth took a sip of his coffee. He swallowed sharply, clenching his teeth immediately to prevent his thoughts from slipping free. That’s the worst coffee I’ve ever had. He gave Aldora a slight frown. “What do you mean, he would have some things to say?”
“Well, you’ve dated me for three years now, and most of our dates have seen something happen to cut them short.”
“That last time was someone you upset as the official Dagger Bearer. It had nothing to do with me.”
“And all those times Thane Frey came by to see what we were doing and we had to run?”
“Those ones I can’t help. He’s going to be curious no matter what we’re doing.”
“Raneth, what’s going on?” asked Isadore Leoma, entering the room. Spotting the two cups by the kettle, he picked one and took a swig of tea. “Thank you, Aldora.” Close to his fifties, Isadore had a growing bald patch that had taken over a large area of his head, enough that the black hair around it could no longer be used to hide his baldness without eliciting laughs from those he might walk past on the street. His grey eyes ran over Raneth.
Don’t get too upset, thought Raneth. “I need your permission to borrow Aldora for an assignment.”
Isadore frowned as he pressed his lips together in thought; he sipped his tea. “Depends what it is. Another murderer?”
“No, Cray wants us to find the Shotput of Power,” said Raneth, grateful that Isadore hadn’t immediately said no. “There will be three others coming with us. They’ll be meeting us at the Giften–Newer border.”
“You’re taking her into that kingdom? Isn’t that a bit violent for royal officials?”
He must have done his research, realised Raneth, otherwise how would he know about how Newer inspectors react to royal officials? Or has he heard about this from Alika? That would make sense – he could get more out of her about royal officials than he’d get out of Aldora.
“It is a bit dangerous for royal officials,” replied Raneth with a nod, “but the king feels it will keep me safer for a while than continuing my usual assignments here. He’s trying to give me a break without putting me on leave. The others coming aren’t royal officials either, but I’d really appreciate Aldora coming with me, Isadore. She knows me enough to recognise when I need help in a fight, and I know her skills. Plus she has the Dagger of Protection.”
“Is Prince Pedibastet going with you?” asked Isadore.
Raneth shook his head.
“That’s something, I suppose. What do you think, Aldora?” said Isadore.
“If Raneth needs my help, I’m going to go with or without your permission, or Haethowine’s. He’s made do running the village without me before.”
Whoa, Aldora’s determined to come with me. That’s a good sign, noted Raneth, taking a quick drag of coffee. Isadore did the same and viewed Raneth over his own cup as he did. Isadore’s still not convinced, by the looks of it.
“How long is this going to take?” asked Aldora’s father as he lowered his cup, still watching Raneth.
“Paperwork says to keep looking until the end of June. If we haven’t found it by then, we’re to come home. I think it’s a waste of my skills, personally, but what Cray asks for is always in the best interest of the Three Ks. He must know something I don’t,” said Raneth.
“Does King Cray know you’re taking Aldora?”
Raneth nodded.
“She comes home sooner. She’s not staying over there for six months. Three months maximum.”
“Thank you, Isadore,” said Raneth, standing up and giving the older man a grateful smile. “I’ll keep her safe.”
“Right here,” grumbled Aldora, also standing. “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow as soon as you’re ready. Pack lightly. We may be on the move a lot once we cross the border, and we’ll be going by foot most of the time. I need to head back to the palace first and check whether Alagar has my supplies ready and the others have sent word they’re on their way to the border, then I’ll come get you.”
“I’ll take you in my carriage when you’re ready to go, Aldora,” insisted Isadore.
Drawing close to the border, Raneth raised a hand above his eyes, shielding them from the sun. The gaping hole in the large brick wall that separated the two kingdoms was heavily packed with a constant stream of people moving back and forth, intercepted by members of the Royal Giften Army and their Newer counterparts. Whilst Aldora said goodbye to her father, Raneth trained his attention onto the soldiers. The Giftens would give them no trouble crossing, but the Newers could be a different story altogether. There were small huddles of civilians by the wall on the Giften side too; many were sitting down, watching the soldiers or talking amongst themselves. Raneth frowned. Too many people being made to wait. The Newer soldiers are antsy too. They’re rushing to beat the Giftens to each group of travellers. Something’s happened… And where’s Spence? He’s always more punctual than everyone else. He’s bound to be here already, even if Gaynor and Viny aren’t. The royal official carefully observed each group of three, and when he failed to spot his friends he turned to Aldora. She was watching her father turn his carriage around for the trip home. “Aldora, I don’t see the others.”
Aldora looked at Raneth. “Are you expecting trouble? Maybe they found it before us. Wouldn’t be like us, but it could happen.” She gave Raneth a small smile.
“I’m not expecting anything passports and border crossing passes can’t handle,” said Raneth.
Aldora frowned at him, but he gave her his lopsided smile.
“Captain!” A Giften centurion had a hand raised in their direction, in a laid-back, friendly greeting that made Raneth warily glance at Aldora.
“Well, that’s us screwed already,” she muttered darkly.
“He doesn’t look like he’s about to rope us into anything,” said Raneth, watching the centurion pluck off his silver helmet and tuck it under his arm, careful not to crush the blue bristles mounted on it in a line from ear to ear. “Maybe he’s just going to personally escort us through the wall.”
Aldora folded her arms. “I doubt it. I bet he’s going to pull you into whatever’s going on because you’re the newly appointed royal official captain, and I’ll be dragged into it too as the Dagger Bearer. It’s just like one of our dates.”
Raneth failed to hide his amusement, his smile growing just as the centurion reached them. “Hi, centurion. Do we have a problem?”
“Yes and no,” replied the army official. He turned his gaze to Aldora. “It’s a great honour to meet you, Dagger Bearer.”
Aldora’s cheeks and ears r
eddened at the attention, so Raneth wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“What do you need, centurion?” he asked, pulling the centurion’s attention off her.
“We had a visitor a little while ago. He’s waiting for you both in one of the wall staterooms. I need you to follow me.” He turned his back to Raneth and Aldora, gesturing over his shoulder for them to follow.
Raneth slipped his arm from Aldora’s shoulders and took her hand as they walked behind the Giften centurion’s black cloak, which had the kingdom’s three gold rings entwined at its centre.
“Told you,” whispered Aldora. “Just like our dates, except he’s not trying to stab us.”
“As long as this isn’t Cray with new orders,” replied Raneth, “right now I don’t mind. If whatever’s going on here was that bad, he would have just briefed us right where we were and had us get to it – we weren’t near enough to any others to be overheard.”
The two friends followed the centurion to the stone wall’s outer surface, the midday sun pushing against their shoulders. Raneth was used to the wall and paid its thirty metres of height little attention, until he noticed Aldora looking up at it. “You’ll hurt your neck,” he warned her softly.
“I’ve never seen any of the border walls in person before,” she stated.
“You get bored of looking at them when you’re stationed at one,” stated the centurion as he paused beside a metal door in the wall that contained a small barred window at Aldora’s head height. The centurion knocked twice. “Coming in, two guests,” he said, before yanking the door open with a grunt. He pressed his back to it, gesturing for the royal official and the Dagger Bearer to enter.
Raneth stepped into the wall’s interior, shivering as the sun’s touch abandoned him to the tiny shred of warmth coming from two lit torches directly opposite the door. The interior was made of the same thick grey bricks as the outer sides of the wall. Two men sat on wooden chairs next to the torches, watching the royal official. One was a full-time member of the Royal Giften Army, a legionary, with his arms folded across his broad chest and a grumpy look on his face. His Newer counterpart, who also looked miserable, sat on the right.
“Left, first door you can open,” instructed the centurion.
Raneth nodded and prowled through the wall, passing open doorways that were lit by torches beyond. He briefly peered through each one to see if anyone was observing him, Aldora and the centurion who brought up the rear. So far, it seemed the only two on watch internally were the two men who had been watching over the entrance. A door made of dull metal greeted Raneth on his left. Knowing the staterooms had been additions to the border walls and stuck out on either side, Raneth was unfazed at the idea of stepping into one on the Giften side of the border. He pulled the door open, grateful that it didn’t seem as heavy as the one the centurion had opened. Then, seeing who was waiting for him and Aldora, Raneth uttered a profanity.
“What?” asked Aldora, stepping so close to Raneth’s side that her head rested against the side of his shoulder so she could look inside. “Pedi! What are you doing here?”
Sitting on a scarred table in the centre of the room was a tabby-and-white cat with his bushy black tail dangling off the edge. His green eyes were half closed but he sat with his back ramrod straight, his weight resting on his rump.
Just what we need – the Prince of the Cats, thought Raneth irritably. He watched Aldora step forwards and stroke the cat under his white chin, making Pedibastet close his eyes completely. Now just open your mouth, say you’re coming with us like I know you will and completely ruin any chances of a romantic date somewhere on this assignment.
“I came to supervise you two, of course. Can’t have the Giften Kingdom’s two greatest assets running around the Newer Kingdom and getting themselves killed, now, can we?”
“I would love for you to join us,” said Aldora, picking the white, brown and black cat up and holding him to her chest.
Compliments are not his normal behaviour. He’s making sure Aldora wants him with us. Why can’t he be a Southern or Newer cat that can’t talk? “I didn’t pack any chicken, tuna or fish, Your Highness,” stated Raneth as he joined Aldora and the cat in the room. The centurion wisely waited outside.
“You can use your allowance to buy me some, and I can hunt if needed,” said Pedibastet through a purr, his brown cheek with its black tear streak snuggled against the side of Aldora’s neck. “I know Cray will have given you some Newer currency, considering the royal official allowance is a bit difficult to use in Newer safely.”
“We don’t need a cat,” replied Raneth. He looked to Aldora. “I know he’s your friend, and a prince, but a talking cat attracts attention in Newer, and not the good kind.”
“I can keep quiet if we’re within earshot of other humans, or talk in your ears,” protested Pedibastet. “Don’t make me order you about, royal official captain.”
Raneth knew a veiled order when he heard one. “Yes, sir, but I refuse to carry you.”
“Good. Then let us go and get to Oreg. I had the centurion turn away your three water-loving friends so we do not need to wait for them. I don’t think they’ll be of any use.”
“You–” Raneth slowed his tongue and thought over his next words carefully. Pedibastet was the prince of Giften Kingdom’s cats, and his status in Giften society gave him a higher rank than Raneth, forcing Raneth to accept Pedibastet’s orders, no matter how much he disagreed with them. “May I ask why, Prince Pedibastet?”
“They like water,” said the cat, moving his brown cheek away from Aldora’s and snuggling his white cheek against her other shoulder instead. “And less is more. Why do you think cats are smaller than humans? You’ll attract less attention this way.”
“Cray specifically said I was to take at least three others with me besides Aldora, because of the inspectors, Prince Pedibastet.”
“I am worth at least two humans and we are wasting daylight,” said the cat. “Move, royal official.”
Reluctantly, Raneth nodded.
Chapter Two
Aldora
Holding Raneth’s calloused hand for so long made Aldora’s clammy. Yet she kept hold of it, giving it a slight squeeze every now and then, which he returned with one of his own. They walked with Pedibastet in silence along a wide dirt road lined with trees a few metres apart from one another. The midday sun dappled them as they strolled under the overhanging branches, dodging the larger gouges in the dirt from wagons, carts, buggies and other types of horse-drawn vehicles. The white paws of Pedibastet had turned a slight yellow from the orange-brown dirt, but his tail was held high, with its slightly reddened tip swishing side to side in a relaxed manner. Relaxed, unlike Raneth, thought Aldora, observing the frown still present on his face since the cat had joined them at the border wall. “Pedi,” she said softly. “Why don’t you trust Raneth to keep us safe? Or me?”
Pedibastet looked up at the two humans, his green eyes watching them for a moment, before one ear turned to listen to something to their far left that Aldora couldn’t hear. “It is not that I do not trust you two,” he said softly. “It’s more that I do not trust Raneth is quite ready to return to active duty after his injuries. Quinn told me that Cray insisted before Raneth woke this morning that he needed to be declared fit for duty when he awoke, and he asked that I watch over you both. I didn’t realise you were both being sent out today, otherwise I would have travelled with Raneth. Then there is the fact that Newers do not consider cats a threat, but they do for royal officials, and the citizens here fear royal officials because of the propaganda they have endured. I can watch out for the two of you unnoticed.”
Aldora noticed Raneth was staying quiet. Is he still annoyed at Pedi coming with us, even after he’s explained himself? Or is it because we were supposed to be meeting those others? It sounds like the royal doctor and Pedi are just looking out for him.
“The inspectors, they’re a cross between royal officials and royal detectives, right
?” asked Aldora.
“Yes, but without the superior training of a royal official,” admitted Pedibastet. He eased to Raneth’s right side and, as Aldora watched, rubbed his side against Raneth’s shin, curling his tail around the back of Raneth’s calf.
He’s trying to apologise, she realised.
The Prince of the Cats rose briefly off his front legs and rubbed the top of his head against Raneth’s leg as the three friends continued to walk. “Royal officials are like cats in many ways, making them far superior than a Newer anyway.”
Definitely trying to apologise, noted Aldora. She watched as a tiny hint of a smile twitched at the corners of Raneth’s lips. He leaned over and stroked the top of Pedibastet’s head where black and brown stripes ran between his white ears.
“That’s Oreg,” stated Raneth an hour or so later, pointing ahead.
Aldora frowned, raising a hand to shield her eyes as she looked where he had pointed. Oreg Town had no external defence walls, leaving the buildings dangerously exposed to those who would do them harm. The Dagger Bearer’s gaze ran upwards, following the buildings, which were easily taller than almost every building in Giften, except the Giften Daily news tower and some of the older stone buildings dotted around the kingdom.
“Different from Giften towns, huh?” said Raneth.
Aldora nodded, noticing that the buildings looked to be made of brown and yellow bricks.
“We’ll be staying at a royal official safehouse here. We have a base in most of the towns and cities in Newer, thanks to Cray.”
Safehouse? I suppose that makes sense if the inspectors are likely to hurt Raneth, but I find it difficult to imagine they would. If they’re law enforcers too, and royal officials are known to be some of the best trained soldiers and law enforcement officers worldwide, why would they attack them? Aldora was used to her home kingdom’s respect for royal officials, and she tried to figure out how to ask Raneth why an inspector would hurt him. I can always watch and observe, she decided. Then I can see for myself. Besides, Pedi and I can help him out if they do try and take Raneth on.