Shotput of Power

by Drae Box

  “What in Newer?” muttered a deep voice on the other side of the ice.

  Raneth smiled as he heard the pursuer knock his knuckles against the ice.

  “What? Ice!” murmured the man again, his voice low but irritated.

  Content that he had blocked the potential stalker, at least for a few minutes, Raneth strode down the alleyway, reclaimed Aldora’s hand and aimed them towards his chosen destination again.

  Almost an hour later, the Bayre stepped through the open gates of the city’s nearest park and rolled his shoulders. For safety reasons the park had been lit when he had been here last, and it appeared that decision was still in place. Though there’s not as many lights as there used to be, he noted, strolling at a more leisurely place now that he could see for several metres in any direction. Aldora followed, her right hand resting against the pommel of the Dagger, her left hand no longer holding onto Raneth’s. As they stalked deeper into the park, Raneth observed that under some of the lights, men and women stood huddled together, items changing hands with speed. Picking one huddle in particular, where two candlelit lampposts lit the Newers, as well as two handheld gas lamps by their feet, Raneth approached.

  “Hey,” he said, once he was near enough to be heard.

  “Well, well, well. As I live and breathe. An old face that’s still younger than mine.”

  Raneth smiled at the greeting and joined the huddle, noticing a small hesitation from Aldora before she stood at his side. There were three people other than the Giftens. The two Newer women eyed Raneth suspiciously, but the third was a broad man with black hair peppered with grey, and a toothy smile that would make a snarling wolf jealous.

  “I see you’re going grey,” said Raneth.

  “I am, Ice. I am.” The man shrugged and looked up at the royal official, grinning. “I never expected to see you back here.”

  “I thought you and all your buddies would be dead by now,” admitted Raneth. He peeked at Aldora. She doesn’t look too sure about this, he noted.

  “There’s been a few attempts on my life, certainly, but ultimately I hold the cards and as a result, this lovely spot of light in the sea of the night. Why are you here? Last time it was to help our army.”

  “I’m on assignment, Stonefist,” replied Raneth, choosing to use the Newer’s criminal name instead of his real name or old army rank. “Don’t suppose you know anything about Lodema?”

  “That crazy bat? I’ve heard whispers she’s living here somewhere and some of my guys have seen her the past four days. She’s messing with our work.” Stonefist pulled off a pair of glasses and wiped their rounded lenses against his shirt.

  Raneth frowned, glancing briefly at the two women, whom Stonefist then shooed away. “What else?” he asked, knowing Stonefist didn’t run a violent group of thieves and smugglers. They avoided their more dangerous counterparts.

  “I’m not sure. Her being here is new,” said Stonefist as he perched his glasses back on his nose and shrugged. “And one of my pickpockets died yesterday. Weirdest thing ever. Found him before the snatchers. His hands were burned but I couldn’t tell what killed him.”

  Sounds promising, decided the royal official. “Can we see his body?” Raneth felt Aldora grasp his elbow. She must think the same. He glanced briefly at Aldora then refocused his attention onto his old friend.

  “No, I,” Stonefist toed the earth, reddening. “Past few days have been bad business, Ice. After we found him and took what he’d got in his pockets, we sold him to the body snatchers. One of my lookouts has seen a woman using fire near the inspectors’ university. Might be someone with the Common Gift of Fire.”

  Useful.

  “You should check the attic of the tower in the inspectors’ university. Last place anyone would think someone like her would be, and if I was causing trouble in that district, that’s exactly where I’d make my bolthole. Ice?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Be careful against her. She tends to find things out before she should, if you know what I mean. Reggie found that out the hard way. A few of the others we served with too.”

  Raneth nodded. “Thanks.”

  Stonefist shrugged. “If I think you need to know anything else or I hear something else about her, I’ll send word. You’re not living on the streets while you’re here, are you? They’ve upped the kill on the homeless and apparent-homeless.”

  “We’re at one of the hotels,” admitted Raneth. “The Bronze Compass.”

  “Bit smart for a royal official, that place,” muttered Stonefist. “Ah well. You be careful, Ice. Want an escort back?”

  “Nope, but thanks. We can manage,” assured Raneth, leading Aldora away and out of earshot with quick steps.

  “You didn’t think to introduce me?” asked Aldora.

  “Would have just gotten in the way. It gives us a small advantage over Stonefist if he doesn’t know who you are straight away. He can’t always be trusted.”

  Aldora tugged at the neck of her jacket. “So why are we trusting what he just said?”

  “Because he owes me.”

  Aldora rolled her eyes. “That’s reassuring.”

  Raneth shrugged.

  Their walk back to the hotel went unhindered. The Bayre strolled through the hotel’s front doors and jogged up the stairs, before walking soft-footed towards the open doors of his and Aldora’s rooms, which stood opposite one another. Raneth frowned and crept closer to them, drawing a throwing dagger.

  “Prince Pedibastet?” he called as he gripped Aldora’s doorframe and peered inside. Aldora’s room is spotless.

  “In your room, Raneth.”

  Raneth turned to face his doorway and his frown deepened. He stepped through, dodging an upended table to reach Pedibastet, who was creeping towards the royal official and the Dagger Bearer. Aldora picked up the Prince of the Cats as Raneth eyed the room warily, noting how the mattress had been flipped off the bed and how the slats holding it in place on the bed frame were wonky and out of place, suggesting they had been shuffled around. The handheld gaslight that should have been sitting on the bedside table was shattered on the floor; the bedside table lay on its side and its drawer had been yanked free. The cushions of the chairs in the eating area had been ripped free from their holdings, and the small safe that was tucked behind a bland painting was ajar. What on Giften soil happened here?

  “Thank you for coming back at last,” uttered Pedibastet, his brown cheek pressed against Aldora’s and his white paws resting on her shoulders. “I feared they would come back and find me!”

  “Who? Were they looking for you?” asked Raneth.

  With a slow swish of his tail’s tip, Pedibastet’s green eyes tracked Raneth as he drew close, stepping purposefully into the cat’s view. “No, no. At least, I don’t think so. They got in at the window using ropes. They were looking for something.”

  That explains the damage, thought Raneth, giving a small nod. “Any clues as to what they were looking for, or who they were?”

  “Don’t be absurd! I was hiding under anything and everything whilst they attacked this room like a dog bouncing a ball!” The cat’s tail flicked again. “Although, now you mention it…”

  Trying to resist the urge to sigh at the Prince of the Cats, Raneth nodded. “Yeah?”

  “The two men spoke briefly as they left. Something about how the commander wouldn’t be pleased.”

  Commander? So not Lodema or the inspectors then. Or the Newer soldiers in charge of the gates? Raneth gave the room one final glance, noting how the items on the shelves near the window had been repositioned from how they had been when he had let Pedibastet in.

  “They must have been rooting around for the Dagger or the Shotput, or the information we have on Lodema. But I’ve purposefully kept what we’ve learned of Lodema in my head, except her picture’s in my pocket, and if they were watching us, they should have realised we barely stayed long enough to get booked in.” He ran a hand through his short black hair. “I’ve not been
writing my royal official assignment report as I go, not even my usual in-field notes, because if the inspectors get hold of those they might jump to conclusions that can get us in trouble.”

  Pedibastet eased out of Aldora’s arms and settled onto a corner of the mattress. “Wise.”

  “Either way, they were looking for something,” said Aldora, gesturing to the room.

  Raneth ran his attention around the room again then exhaled heavily through his nose. “They’re not going to find anything. I’m not that dumb. Never trust Commander Algernon,” uttered Raneth. He grabbed the mattress and dragged it closer to the bed. Pedibastet grumbled in protest but stepped off, watching Raneth returning it to the bed frame the right way up.

  “You’re not sleeping in here,” said Aldora, stepping close and gently encircling his left wrist with her hand. “You’re sleeping in my room, even if there isn’t much time left until morning.”

  Raneth straightened at her insistence and carefully looked at her. She was looking up at him, her smile absent. Her eyes were sparkling, warning that she was tired, but there was also a hint of determination. He gave a relenting nod, turned and grabbed the bedding from the floor before holding his hand out for Aldora. She claimed it and led him into her room, Pedibastet trailing behind them.

  “I’ll take the sofa,” offered Raneth when he spotted it to the left of the door.

  “That’s not necessary,” she stated softly. “We can share the bed.”

  “No,” insisted Raneth as he dumped the bedding on the sofa. I’m not ready for that yet. “It’s best if we sleep apart.”

  “No, it isn’t,” said Aldora, frowning up at him. “If someone sneaks in here, it’s better if we’re close to each other, so if only one of us wakes up, we can wake the other without alarming the intruder.”

  Raneth took a steadying breath. She’s already mentioned having kids with me, he thought warily, watching Aldora turn her back to him and head for the bed. She slipped under the dark green covers and sat up against the dark brown headrest, patting the space next to her in the double bed and giving him a smile.

  Pedibastet claimed the centre cushion of the sofa and purred at Raneth. “Lie next to your mate,” said the cat in his soft voice, underlining his words with a purr.

  “I’m keeping my hands to myself,” stated Raneth as he strode over to the bed.

  Aldora frowned at his words, but she snuggled deeper into the covers, turning onto her side to face where Raneth would sleep.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Aldora

  In the morning, Aldora and Raneth sat at her dining table with Pedibastet curled atop it. His chin had a hint of milk dangling from the small strands of fur, and a rumbling purr came from the warm cat as he kept his eyes half-lidded in appreciation. Aldora was twirling brightly coloured fruit slices around a bowl, swirling them in orange juice. Raneth took another bite of toast smeared in blackish-brown yeast extract and butter.

  “This friend of yours,” said Pedibastet. “According to your service file back at Cray’s office, the last time you came here was in 2002. With the changes that have happened here between the criminals and inspectors, I would have thought any friends you had from then would be dead.”

  “So did I, but we looked anyway,” admitted Raneth.

  Aldora twirled her spoon through her fruit salad. “Your friend told us to check out the attic of the inspectors’ university here.” She turned to Raneth. “So is that what we’re going to do today? Find out if she’s there?” queried Aldora, before stabbing a grape and popping it into her mouth.

  Raneth nodded as she chewed the fruit. “Yeah,” he said. “She might not be there though, and even if she was, it might have been temporary.”

  “Did you find out if she has any power here?” asked Pedibastet.

  “I think fear,” admitted Raneth. “She’s not been here long enough for Stonefist to give us enough details.”

  “Stonefist? What sort of silly name is that? What about factions? This city is famous for them – is she in with any? Body snatchers, pickpockets, weapon smugglers, the cannibals?” pressed Pedibastet.

  Raneth glanced at Aldora; she gave him a smile and a slight shrug of a shoulder. “No idea,” he said. He stood up, taking the last slice of his toast. “I’m gonna go shower before we head out.”

  He doesn’t ever give us a moment to breathe. “What’s the rush?” asked Aldora, patting the seat of his chair. “Can’t we have a normal morning before we rush out? Like a normal couple?” She hadn’t meant to stress the normal but she wanted all the benefits of dating Raneth and he’d been too slow in a particular area.

  “No rush,” said Raneth, frowning at her. “Just used to needing to keep moving.”

  Is he wondering why I said normal? Her stomach flipped. I hope so. “You need to slow down a bit,” insisted Aldora. “Pedi and Cray tend to push you a lot, and don’t forget you were sent here partly for the break.”

  “It’s a pretend break,” grumbled Raneth.

  “Only if you pretend,” said Aldora.

  “Raneth is here to do an assignment, Aldora,” reminded Pedibastet.

  Aldora sighed as Raneth stood and retreated into the bathroom. The water pipes hissed as he put the shower on to warm up the water. We’re not getting any younger. How obvious do I need to be to get him to take the next step with us?

  A plume of steam belched from the bathroom door as it swung open and Raneth rejoined Aldora. He squatted at her side and rested a hand on her knee. Now what?

  “What’s going on, A?” he asked softly. “Are we moving too slow for you?”

  Oh! Good. It’s about time he figured out that we are.

  “Raneth, you turned twenty-one before we came here, and my twentieth is in July. I do wonder why I’m still waiting for certain things. Admittedly I normally start it – at least I did with the other guys before you.”

  She watched his handsome eyes look at the bed, a small frown on his face before he cleared his throat and looked at her. “Show me what you like,” said Raneth softly.

  Aldora grinned and grabbed his hand, taking him to bed.

  A good while later, the two stepped fully clothed out of the bathroom. Aldora laughed as Raneth’s stomach growled as he prowled over to the remains of their breakfast, glancing around the room for Prince Pedibastet. “Where is he?” murmured Raneth as Aldora slipped her hand into his and gave his cheek a soft peck.

  “Pedi?”

  “The so-called balcony,” replied the prince. Aldora spotted the Prince of the Cats peering out from the small balcony, which would only just take two chairs side by side. “Are you finished?” he asked.

  “For now,” grinned Aldora. She glanced towards the bed, noticing that half of the bedding was on the floor. There’s no way what we just did is going to be a secret at the palace. Pedibastet is too much of a blurter. Then again, if that was an issue, Raneth would have stopped, wouldn’t he?

  “I need another breakfast before we go and look at the inspectors’ university,” stated her partner.

  “Can we eat out?” she asked as she slid her hands around his waist.

  Raneth nodded. “Whatever you want.” He kissed her. “Did you have something specific in mind, A?”

  “Just something you think we’ll like.”

  “Let us go then,” said Pedibastet. “You two take far too long. Cats are much faster.”

  After having a second breakfast at a small restaurant, the three friends strolled side by side, with Pedibastet’s tail tapping against the outside of Aldora’s right leg. Raneth guided them to the metal fencing around the inspectors’ university, where they paused. Aldora watched a cow chewing at a patch of grass, and a pen of chickens clucking beside it. She turned her attention to a unit of trainee inspectors jogging behind an instructor and repeating a chant.

  “Raneth,” said Aldora.

  He smiled at her, giving a willing nod.

  “Why do they have farm animals?”

  “If the
re’s ever a food shortage, the inspectors won’t go short,” replied Raneth. “At least that’s what I was told by Stonefist when I was here last.”

  “That can’t be all of the animals then, surely?”

  “Looks like they roam freely, except the chickens,” surmised Raneth. “Can you see an easy way to get in? One where we won’t be noticed straight away?”

  Why is he asking me? Is he training me again? Aldora kept her fingers entwined with Raneth’s as she looked. It’s not a bad thing if he is. My sword use has improved since we first met, thanks to him.

  The royal official joined in, inspecting along the fence, uttering in a low voice only Aldora could hear that there were a few picnic tables by the fence that would give them a step down if they climbed and vaulted over.

  “Oi!”

  Aldora glanced towards the drill instructor as he ran over, leading the trainees. And here comes trouble again, thought Aldora, noticing Raneth check on her with a sideways glance.

  “You two, don’t move!”

  Aldora stayed still as they waited for the drill instructor to reach the fence, and watched as the Newer drew a thin but long knife from his boot, pointing its blade at Raneth. As always, Pedibastet was overlooked.

  “What are you two doing? Ogling the university?”

  Aldora noticed Raneth looking at her. Don’t look at me. I don’t have a clue how to make this guy calm down, she thought.