by Drae Box
“The Kingdom’s Guardian. All royal officials have been sentenced to death without trial for the murder of Giften citizens under the rule of Cray Apocolettio.”
Kingdom’s Guardian? That’s not a title I’ve ever heard. Aldora frowned as a thought occurred to her. It better not be that tribune Jovian. Nosy little snot rag!
“Nobody is taking Raneth away from me,” she snarled. “No matter who wants to. Raneth has been in the Newer Kingdom with me. Now, we’re going inside, so back off!”
She drew the Dagger of Protection and thought of lightning crackling around the blade. The jagged edges of the split blade lit up as the lightning did exactly as she wanted, curling around the gold blade but not striking her opponents, yet. She jabbed the blade towards them, but still didn’t let the lightning strike as she eased slowly around the black jackets. She could feel Raneth and Pedibastet behind her, trusting in her to use the Dagger to protect them. Though I bet he could knock them all to the ground if I wasn’t in the way, she thought with a wry smile. But I’d rather do it this way and make it clear that I don’t feel kidnapped at all. They stepped backwards into Wisner City, moving past the inner gate and feeling the cobbled path under their feet.
“We should run,” muttered Raneth, just low enough that Aldora caught his words.
“Yeah. To my right?” she asked, keeping her eyes on the four hostiles.
“Yeah.”
Aldora watched the black jackets carefully. Can they tell what we just decided? The woman in the black jacket was observing Aldora just as carefully, a small frown in place, but the other three were glancing at her, waiting for a signal of what they should do. We just have to get into the crowds here, decided Aldora. It’s always busy on the streets by this entrance because of the market stalls. If we can hide from them for long enough, they’ll stop looking. It’s not like they’re Thane Frey and it’s their way of life to chase us.
Aldora glanced to her right, checking that they had room to run. There were people there: a mother with two children holding her hands, and three men from the Barbaric East with their hair styled and coloured to display their kill count. Enough space but not enough people. She jerked to the right, keeping the Dagger drawn as she ran. She sped past the mother and children and dodged the Eastern Barbarians. At her side, Raneth sprinted with ease as Pedibastet rushed ahead of them and took the first side turning on the right.
Aldora followed the Prince of the Cats, grateful when she noticed that the street here was much busier, heaving with the amount of foot traffic trickling through. She squeezed past two men in suits talking as they walked side by side, and she saw Raneth swerve past a dog. Raneth rejoined her side and took her free hand in his.
“In there,” he ordered, pointing ahead at an alleyway.
Aldora glanced over her shoulder, looking for the black jackets, but she couldn’t see them. Why aren’t they following us? Or did we lose them that quickly? She rushed into the alleyway and rested her side against the brick wall on the left, gasping for breath as Raneth stood at the alleyway’s mouth, peering out into the street and looking for uniformed individuals.
“Do you see them?” asked Aldora. She looked down at their feet and spotted Pedibastet sitting by her, licking his back leg clean.
“No,” admitted Raneth. He turned his back on the street and took Aldora’s hand. “But we shouldn’t stay here. We need to keep moving.”
Pedibastet strolled towards the other end of the alleyway, where it would spit them out onto another street which was so stuffed with people that they would have to move slowly to avoid bumping into others.
“There’s a corner shop near here,” said the cat. “We should get a copy of The Giften Daily and find out what’s going on. Clearly Cray messed up whilst we three were gone.”
Aldora looked back the way they had come and frowned. “I don’t get why they’re not following us.”
“They must have more people who will recognise us inside the city,” said Raneth softly.
Aldora looked up at him. Though his chest was rising and lowering a little quicker than normal, he was showing no signs of being as out of breath as she was. She really needed to work on her stamina in the future. If she and Raneth were to get married, the last thing he needed was Thane killing her because she couldn’t run for long without tiring. She gobbled in a little more air before she asked, “What about the disused sewers here? The ones you’ve tracked criminals into before? Maybe we can hide out there until we get our bearings.”
“That’s a good idea,” agreed Raneth. He smiled at her. “If we’re lucky, the criminals down there won’t tell on us and might trade some other clothes for me to wear. If those guys at the gates do tell their buddies we’re here, and they work anything like the law enforcement system we recognise, they’ll give clothing descriptions too.”
Aldora sheathed the Dagger of Protection. “Maybe the criminals can point us to a few other royal officials too,” she said with a smile.
“Better we don’t link up with other royal officials if we can avoid it,” he stated, peering into the busy street.
Aldora noticed that Pedibastet was sitting at her feet and looking up at her with his green eyes. She picked him up and rested him against her chest, letting him rest his back legs on her forearm as her other arm went around him to keep him close. He rested his brown cheek with the black tear track against her right cheek.
“Why?” she asked.
“The more of us there are, the harder it is to hide from people looking for us,” explained Raneth, before squeezing into the flow of foot traffic. Aldora followed. They ambled to the right, wedged between a couple speaking a fast language Aldora didn’t recognise, and a group of teenagers behind them.
Pedibastet looked over his white shoulders to see where they were going. “Next door down on the right,” he instructed, before nestling his head back against Aldora’s.
Aldora let Raneth tug her into the corner shop. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the darker confines of the shop; very little light came in from the large window beside the door due to the displays of tinned food and newspapers there. Further back in the shop, the shopkeeper stood behind his counter. He hadn’t noticed them yet. He was counting reels of black thread. She kept hold of Pedibastet as she followed Raneth to the stack of copies of The Giften Daily on one of the shelves, and huddled close to his side so she could read the front page with him.
“‘Dagger Bearer Still Missing’?” uttered Aldora.
“This explains the kidnapping charge,” murmured Raneth, pointing at a line in the article.
Aldora shook her head, disliking the clear lie that had been quoted from a Newer Kingdom citizen who served on the Giften–Newer boundary wall. “For the record, Raneth, you never dragged me over the border.”
“I know.” Raneth fell silent as they both continued to read the article. “‘Denzel Leoma, the Kingdom’s Guardian, promises a reward to anyone who gives Broken Crown information on the whereabouts of Dagger Bearer Aldora Leoma and licensed murderer Raneth Bayre.’”
Giften’s soil! Not Uncle Denzel! Warily Aldora eyed Raneth as he frowned at her. “That’s my dad’s little brother,” she admitted. “He always had a bit of a grudge against royal officials, but I never thought he’d do something like this. He’s a bookseller, for goodness sake.”
Raneth fiddled with the positioning of his sword at his waist, realigning where it sat on his belt and toying with the grip. “I don’t like it,” he finally murmured.
If Dad’s still alive, this could do him in, she thought anxiously.
“We have an observer,” warned Pedibastet, his white ears twitching as he looked towards the counter of the shop. He poured himself from Aldora’s arms and sat on the same shelf as the newspapers.
Aldora turned her gaze to the shopkeeper. He was looking down at a scrap of paper beside his till, then looking up at Raneth, then looking down at the paper again. With a frown, the man repeated the process twice more. Oh both
er. He’s recognising us. That must be a picture of Raneth he’s got there. Aldora yanked the paper from Raneth’s hands and shoved it back onto the shelf, and then dragged him outside as Pedibastet followed.
“We should head to Green City,” said Raneth as Aldora continued to tug him through the crowd, bumping and knocking into those slower than them on the street. “We have friends there who can help us get this all straightened out in our heads and figure out our next move.”
“I like that plan.” Aldora shoved a teenage boy out of the way and turned into a less crowded side street. “But I don’t think we’re going to get close to the other gate with this much foot traffic about.”
“We won’t,” confirmed Raneth. “If there were royal official footholds in the inner and outer walls, I’d suggest we use those, but Wisner doesn’t have any.” He looked over his shoulder.
How scared is he right now? wondered Aldora as she watched him check their six. He’s been a law enforcer almost all his life, and it’s my fault he’s a known royal official in the first place. I told everyone about him when they asked about the Quest. At least when King Cray and his tribunes sentence a criminal, they only send one or two royal officials to arrest them. The idea that everyone who’s money hungry is looking out for us, and that there could be a few hundred people looking to kill him because of some stupid idea that royal officials are murderers – that would definitely terrify me if I was him. She walked around a white cat lazing in a sunspot on the path. I’m terrified for Raneth, but he doesn’t even look scared.
“Raneth, are you OK?” she asked.
“Yep,” he said stiffly, looking at the houses either side of them. “Just figuring out where we are so I can find where the nearest sewer entrance is.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
He glanced at her. “One thing I’ve learned as a royal official and a Bayre is that even if you’re having an accident in your pants, you still move forwards. I don’t have time right now to be scared.”
“Just like it doesn’t help me to worry about my family,” realised Aldora.
“Exactly.” Raneth kissed the top of her head. “We’ll push through this, one bit at a time. We just have to keep our heads. There should be a sewer entrance in the next side street.”
Raneth insisted on being the first down into the sewer to give the all clear, so Aldora stood next to the manhole cover with Pedibastet, waiting for him to call up.
“This reminds me a lot of the Quest,” she said to Pedibastet.
“Except you didn’t have so many enemies outside of the village back then,” stated Pedibastet. “Do not worry. Raneth has been trained for this.”
Aldora frowned at the cat. Is that kind of training normal for royal officials? Has Cray been expecting this to happen for a while?
“Come on down, A,” called Raneth.
Aldora picked Pedibastet up and zipped up her jacket around him as he dug his claws into her shoulders and nestled his head next to hers. “You feel safe like that?” she asked as she took a step closer to the sewer entrance.
“Not really,” admitted Pedibastet. “But Raneth will catch you if we fall.”
Not without seriously hurting himself, noted Aldora as she stepped down onto the first rung of the ladder. She winced as Pedibastet dug his claws even harder into her, his back legs’ claws finding purchase against her skin too. She moved slowly down the ladder, grimacing as each metal rung sang out her descent to anyone close enough to hear. When she reached the ground, she opened her jacket and helped Pedibastet down. She glanced back up at the opening.
“I’ll get it,” offered Raneth, speeding up the ladder and pulling the manhole cover back into place. Then he slid down the ladder and smiled at Aldora in the gloom, his expression only visible by the small glow of three candles tucked on the other side of the ladder. “Let’s go and see how the criminal bazaar is faring with Cray’s…” He frowned and scratched at the side of his chin. “Cray’s not being here.”
Aldora watched as Raneth walked ahead of her and Pedibastet. “Do you think he’s worried about Cray?” she asked the Prince of the Cats.
“I imagine so. I am,” replied Pedibastet. “I just hope that he’s safe. Lemuela and Queen Louise too. I’m surprised he didn’t send word to us about what was going on.”
“That’s a good point,” murmured Aldora. “Even if he had very little time, he could have asked Drigoe to use his gift to materialise to us and pass on a message.” Drigoe. Why hadn’t she thought of calling Drigoe before? His gift was perfect for this. Perfect for finding out what had happened to Cray and the Kingdom’s Shield. Perfect for whisking her and Raneth away to somewhere safe. Aldora grinned then jogged up to Raneth’s side. “Raneth, what if we call Drigoe? He might be able to tell us what’s going on, take us somewhere safe and tell us if the rest of my family’s alive.”
The royal official slowed to a stop and scratched at an elbow as he mulled over her suggestion. “Good idea. Give it a go.”
She closed her eyes and concentrated on Drigoe’s face. “Drigoe, come here, please.” Aldora waited for her brother-in-law to materialise next to them. When he didn’t appear after a few blinks of her eyelashes, she decided to try again. “Drigoe?” She turned around. Not behind us either. “He must not be able to ‘hear’ us. That’s not happened before.”
The grim look Raneth gave her warned what he thought.
“I don’t think he’s dead,” she uttered. “His gift gives him the perfect escape.”
“Maybe he’s just busy and he’ll come to us later,” offered Raneth before reclaiming Aldora’s hand in his. “Until we know, we’re on our own. Come on. Let’s keep moving.”
Aldora walked at his side quietly and Pedibastet strolled behind them. I hope that’s all it is. If something happened to Drigoe because he stepped in to try and help Cray, Alika will be beyond miserable. Aldora clenched her teeth. And angry. She could do something stupid if she’s angry enough.
They stepped through a break in the sewer tunnel wall that led into a wider disused tunnel. Glancing left and right, Aldora noticed that the candles that had been lighting their way continued to be dotted along the route on their right side. They followed the candles until the tunnel opened into a large area where four wide tunnels met each other, with one large connecting dome between them. The criminal bazaar, she thought watching the mass of men and women talking and shouting over one another. Some just ate in silence, sitting on wooden crates, whilst others haggled with one another at makeshift stalls set up on crates. They all seemed too busy to notice her, Raneth and Pedibastet. Probably a good thing, she thought, even as her eyes locked with a woman. Thought too soon. But the woman didn’t immediately cry out, pointing to the royal official. She turned her back and walked away, disappearing in the sweaty-smelling gaggle of people. Aldora observed two men standing either side of a large wooden crate, discussing the weapons laid out upon it, before she swept her focus onto the others. Each person in the bazaar was buying, selling or chatting.
Aldora pointed at a man with bundles of clothing. “There.”
Raneth nodded and prowled over to the seller, his left hand settling onto the grip of his sword, ready to draw. Aldora watched the seller carefully as Raneth eyed the clothing. It was organised by type: tops, shirts, trousers, jackets, skirts, hats and dresses. She gave the seller a quick smile but he glared at her.
“We don’t want any trouble,” she said.
The seller glanced at Raneth then Aldora. “You sure?”
Aldora nodded.
Raneth plucked a grey hoodie and a darker grey beanie from two piles. “How much?” he asked.
“One of your throwing daggers will cover those,” stated the seller as he folded his arms. “Or money.”
Raneth glanced down at the weapons around his belt. I don’t like this, thought Aldora. He needs as many of his weapons as possible to defend himself. The royal official slid free one of the throwing daggers near the small of his back and held i
t out to the seller, who snatched it from his hand.
“Nice doing business with you, RO. And don’t you two worry. I’ll stay quiet about you both if you give me another one.”
“Fine,” grumbled Raneth as he hugged the new clothes to his chest with an arm. He pulled another dagger from the back of his belt and placed it into the seller’s waiting hand. Then he turned and headed back towards the tunnel they had entered through. Aldora followed, watching Raneth dump his royal official jacket onto the ground as he walked. She picked it up and hugged it to her chest.
Away from the main hub of criminal activity, Aldora rested her side against the wall of an adjoining tunnel and watched Raneth play around with the grey beanie’s position on his head. Pedibastet started to clean his fur as Aldora lowered herself onto the floor. She crossed her legs and rested her back against the wall.
“This is berserk,” she murmured. “I never expected we’d come home to this.”
Pedibastet climbed into her lap and curled up. “It could be worse. We could still be in the Newer Kingdom.”
“I think that would actually be better,” she admitted softly, glancing at Raneth as he sat down next to her, wearing the grey hoodie. “At least their queen didn’t try to vilify Raneth.”
“True,” agreed Pedibastet. “But she would happily have forced him into giving her an heir as soon as you were out of the picture.”
Raneth grunted his displeasure at the idea.
“At least now we know what Lodema was talking about when you got the Shotput of Power off her. Broken Crown,” said Pedibastet, referring to their assignment in Newer. Lodema, a Giften royal detective, had been terrified that Broken Crown had sent them to take the Shotput off her, that it hadn’t been Cray to send them to find it. She’d even thought the terrorist group had brainwashed Cray. She didn’t believe that they didn’t know anything and they’d had to kill her to save themselves.
Aldora rested her head on Raneth’s warm shoulder. “Broken Crown,” she murmured. “That explains why she thought I knew who Koyla was. It must be somebody that’s been helping my uncle.”