At Large

by Andrew Seiple

  “I could check that,” Cagna said. “Wouldn’t be hard to run down in the morning.”

  “If that’s the case...” Renny said and floated up in midair to poke one plush paw at Maddalena Verde. “If that’s the case, then they will want to check through her stuff.”

  “And she’s throwing a party tomorrow night,” Chase said. She grinned, in that wide, wide way that was disconcerting to humans. “The werewolves won’t miss this opportunity to look for the skin, even if it’s an obvious trap for them. Fortunately we’re invited, thanks to Giuseppe and his...dwarven... mistress...” Chase’s voice slowed as pieces snapped into place, mind blazing with fire, as she saw the full scope of it.

  “Tollen Wheadle. The halven werewolf is Tollen Wheadle! And that means I just figured out a very important thing,” Chase whispered.

  Portraits whumped into view on the tackboard, and everyone gasped, as they stared at it.

  “No way,” Cagna whispered. “Clever, clever girl.”

  CHAPTER 19: PARTY PLANNER

  The carriage rattled through the cold streets, past the mobs gathered in the deepening twilight. Past broken glass windows, past charred buildings, past the guard patrols that watched every intersection.

  Arretzi was at its breaking point. It had gone over last night but recovered... another one like that and it might be lost forever. Desperate and under siege, the mood was... murdery, Chase thought. It had had enough of werewolves.

  She couldn’t blame them. She was hitting her breaking point there, too.

  Tonight, she told herself. Tonight this will all be over. One way or another.

  The carriage slowed, and Bastien tensed. Renny squirmed around her neck, where he was playing the part of a fox-fur stole, thanks to some creative sewing and a minor illusion. Chase’s hand slid down to the silvered cards in her pocket... the few remaining now, after the showdown last night.

  Then three knocks resounded on the door, followed by two quick taps. They relaxed, as Cagna opened the carriage door and took a seat. She wore a loose robe that covered her from head to foot and wrappings over her muzzle.

  It was dangerous to look canine tonight.

  “Good news and bad,” Cagna said.

  “Good news first,” Chase said. The mood of the city had infected her, and this could be the medicine she needed to find her heart again.

  “The guard knows where the explosives came from and has figured out how they got into the tower. An alchemist’s guild laboratory was robbed after the casino blew up, and they think just about everything the werewolves took went into the old tower’s detonation.” She pulled her muzzle free of the bandages. “Along with some stuff that wasn’t explosives at all. Apparently they just piled everything they got up in there and set it on fire.”

  “How did they get past the guards?” Bastien asked. “That was good security, last night.”

  “See, the old tower used to have tunnels that connected to the other fortifications that were around it. Those fortifications are gone, but there were some tunnels still intact, evidently. And since we know that the Alpha... the male Alpha... is a top-tier Burglar, that’s something he could have found and gotten into. Walked them right back to the tower.” She snorted. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Sangue had left a few of them open as escape routes. Sealed his own fate with his paranoia.”

  “Fate’s more flexible than people think,” Chase said, checking over her props and tools. “The visions showed me that.”

  She’d spent the day binging visions and trying the cards, but nothing had been certain. The critical success of her initial Short Vision hadn’t been repeated. She’d gain some skill levels out of it, but the future was still troubled. “There are just too many ways that things could fall out, here.” Chase said, into the silence of the carriage. “I’ve got two, maybe three linchpins identified. Three things I really need to try at this party. Beyond that, we’ll see how everyone else reacts and adapt on the fly.” Chase nodded, more to herself than anyone else. “Okay. You had bad news as well?”

  “The guard can’t give us any backing,” Cagna said. “The second I brought up players, the chief shut me down and told me to stop talking about that.”

  “I was afraid of that,” Chase said. “It is a conspiracy.”

  “Yeah. He said that it’s being worked at higher levels and if I got involved it would end my career, or worse. He also told me that it’s taking everything they have to hold the city together. And that’s with the Doge’s personal guard and household backing them up.”

  “This is a chance to end the problem at the source, and he can’t help?” Chase asked. She’d expected something like this, but it had cost nothing to ask, and there had been the possibility that they might get support.

  “Well... that’s the third problem.” Cagna sighed. “They have no jurisdiction on the Verde estate. It’s city law that the nobles take care of their own law enforcement. They can’t go breaking the law, but the polizia aren’t welcome without express permission. And since Maddalena’s obviously rigging this trap with her own forces, I don’t think we’d get it.” Cagna’s nose wrinkled. “Honestly, if I weren’t going there on my own business, rather than guard business, I’d be breaking my code of chivalry. And now is a bad time to be without defenses. Fortunately I found a loophole. I’m off duty right now. Chief approved my leave slip.”

  “I’m going to pretend to know what that means, but honestly I’m just glad you’re with us.” Chase reached across the carriage and patted Cagna’s hand. For the first time since she’d met the dog-woman, her hand was bare and gloveless. It was covered with short, dark-brown fur that made it seem bigger than the flesh beneath.

  Cagna caught Chase’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “This is my chance to get Lachina some payback. She’d want it this way.”

  “All right. Just... remember the plan. Such that it is,” Chase said, squeezing Cagna’s hand back. “We don’t want a fight here. This is not the best place to bring things to a head, not with one side trying to spring a trap, and the other side expecting a trap. The honest truth of it is...” Chase bit her lip. “The honest truth of it is that there are players on the field. The ones I dealt with had ludicrous amounts of power and weren’t afraid to use it. Even Thomasi... especially Thomasi, now that I think of it, all of them are dangerous in ways that we can’t match. And they have our number, now. They know a lot of our tricks and limitations. If it comes to a straight-up fight again, we’ll lose.”

  “So we have to make it not a fight. Not a physical fight anyway,” Renny said, keeping his voice low so he didn’t shout in her ear.

  “Right. And the best way to do that is with misdirection.” She looked over at the Muscle Wizaard, and the duffel bag he held on his lap. “You’ve got the most important part of this plan, really. If you’ve got any questions, now’s the time.”

  He shook his head, the new spectacles on his nose flashing in the light of the setting sun. “I just hope it’s worth the money we spent on these. The enchantments sure weren’t cheap! Even minor magic is expensive magic.”

  Chase shrugged. “Now that I know casinos exist all over, gold isn’t a big deal. I can get more of it.” It was a shock to admit that, but it was true. “Or I can get it some other way. Heck, one of my jobs is kind of geared toward...” she glanced over at Cagna, and caught herself. “...my job is geared toward getting us through tonight. So let’s get this straight, you’re actually a Scout?” she asked Cagna.

  “Yep. Not a bandit. Scout, Knight, and Detective are all the jobs I’ve got.” The dog-woman confirmed. “My task is to cover the Muscle Wizaard, and relay any interesting things we find with my Wind’s Whisper skill.”

  That particular Scout trick let her send silent messages to any target she chose, within range. It was how Cagna had reported back to her handler without breaking cover. Now it would help Chase coordinate the little group.

  “And you’re going to come back to where we are every half hour or more, so I
can do the same! Sort of,” Renny said. “I mean I’ll have to see you, so I can make phantasmal sounds at you. Remember that, okay?”

  “We will,” Cagna promised. Then she sighed. “I’m going to have to get changed, aren’t I.”

  “I’m afraid so,” Chase said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “You,” Cagna said, shooting the Muscle Wizaard a glare, “look away.”

  “I’d rather not; you’re quite lovely,” he smiled. “But if it makes you comfortable, of course I will! We are partners in a performance. You have nothing to fear! I’ve often changed in tight quarters as the show’s requirements demanded.”

  Cagna just stared, mouth hanging open slightly.

  “What?” Bastien asked, confused.

  “Lovely? You think so?”

  “Well, yes.”

  She snapped her mouth shut. “Just turn away.”

  Chase hid a smile. Well, well, well! Her antenna had been well-trained and calibrated for this sort of thing. She was certain the dog-woman was blushing under her fur.

  But the Detective hid it well, trading out her robes for a ruffled red dress and orange corset arrangement, long gloves, and a thoroughly ridiculous feathered hat and a bird-like mask that covered her muzzle entirely. “This is a lot of trouble to go through for a few minutes of deception,” Cagna said when she was done. Then she pointed her beak at Bastien. “Hey! Shouldn’t you be changing, too?”

  “Of course! Call Outfit!”

  Cagna jumped in surprise, and she wasn’t the only one as Chase scooted back. Out of nowhere, a bundle of orange and yellow covered the Muscle Wizaard, resolving into a huge tunic and pantaloon set that made his legs look like drumsticks. He had a beaked mask as well, and a cape that stretched up to attach to his wrists, that suggested wings. The effect was a bit more ridiculous, but somehow he made it work. Where Cagna’s outfit looked elegant, his was entirely gaudy.

  “You can DO that?” Cagna asked.

  “Yes! It’s an easy model trick. Costs a bit of Moxie, but with something this complex it’s easier than trying to get it on without damaging it.”

  “Good, good,” Chase said. “This’ll save us some money when we return it, as well. Say, can you do that for other people?”

  “Sadly, no. Just me. But what about your own costume?” Bastien asked.

  “I’m not certain I can get what I need, here. It’s worth a shot, but I need to get confirmation before I change. And remember, we want her to be focused on YOUR costumes. Which reminds me, you have the perfume?”

  “Cologne, in my case. And yes, I do. Should I apply it now?”

  “In this enclosed carriage? No. We all want to smell different. And you’ll want to make sure to get it on your costume, not your skin, remember?”

  “I do. Gods, am I glad you’re a Tailor, too,” Cagna nodded toward Bastien. “Make sure to save some sanity for a Clean and Press.”

  “We’re here,” Renny said, as the carriage rattled to a stop.

  “Cagna?” Chase asked.

  “Let me check.” She opened the roof hatch of the carriage and peered out. “Nope. They’re not here yet.”

  “Could it be possible that they arrived early?” Bastien asked, testing the range of mobility on his feathered arms.

  “Not a chance,” Cagna said. “When I went by to scope out the villa, the servants hadn’t gotten the carriage out of storage. It takes a while to set up, then they’ll have to prepare the horses, then there’s the trip over... no. Besides, he never arrives early anywhere. He thinks it makes him seem less desperate.”

  “He could have rented a carriage for this one,” Chase pointed out.

  “Unlikely. The old man keeps... well, kept him on a tight budget. And he doesn’t know his father’s dead yet.”

  “You’re certain of that?” Bastien asked. “He might skip this party, if you’re wrong.”

  “The cards say he’s ignorant,” Chase nodded. “But it doesn’t matter. Even if he’d be tempted to give it a miss, she won’t let him. They’ll be here. It’s just a matter of time.”

  While they waited, Chase moved to the front of the carriage and slid open the window, peering past the hired driver to stare at the estate beyond.

  She’d thought Don Coltello’s villa was magnificent.

  As it turned out, that was more of a reflection on her own inexperience than it was an accurate assessment. Whereas the entirety of Bothernot could have lived in Don Coltello’s villa with room left over, the manor before her could house the entirety of Bothernot, with buildings and livestock included. The grounds around it could get a significant amount of the gardens and fields, too. And the stone outbuildings that surrounded the main manor house were all taller and much-better crafted than any her old village could boast about.

  But something niggled at her mind, and the more she stared, the more it bothered her. Finally, she realized what it was. “This is near the heart of the city, but there are no walls. The neighboring houses have walls, yes, but not this place. Not here. Why is that?”

  “Because the Verde family doesn’t need them. Security is not a problem... in most circumstances,” Cagna said.

  “Is their magic that effective?” Chase frowned. “It seems like a bad idea to put all your eggs in one basket. I know you said they were really good mages, but this is just tempting fate.”

  “Okay. Maybe I undersold them,” Cagna said, watching each carriage as it rolled past, heading to the coachhouse at the outskirts of the estate. “The three major noble houses of Arretzi each brought something to the table, back when the troubles happened, and Arretzi won its independence from the remnants of old Toothany. Without going into history TOO much, they each had their specialties. For the Bianchis, it’s war and direct combat. Their estates look like fortified keeps.”

  “They’re the ones who make a lot of paladins,” Chase said.

  “Yep. They got a dose of religion along the way. Nurph and Ritaxis, mainly. The Rossis, on the other hand, are masters of intrigue and... shady business.” Cagna grimaced. “But they’re good at keeping it quiet, so we can’t do much.”

  “If they’re so good at it, then how come the famigilias got so big?” Renny asked. “From what we saw, they were running a lot of the shady business.”

  “Some of them had or have Rossi backing. Others, well... they DID get too big. The Rossis take risks, and they don’t always pan out.”

  “They’re big on gambling,” Chase said, feeling the silver cards in her pocket one more time. “Kind of ironic, the way it worked out.”

  “I suppose so. The Verdes... they don’t HAVE mages. They ARE mages. Everyone in that family gets some sort of arcane training. You don’t become a Verde adult without being an Elementalist, Enchanter, Wizard, or something like that. Rumor has it that a few of them even have Necromancer levels, but that’s something you definitely don’t want to bring up. Not here, probably not anywhere in this city or near it. So no. There are no walls here. There are probably bound guardians and invisible sentries watching us right now, looking for the first sign of hostility.”

  Chase gnawed her lip. “Renny? Do you have anything we can use to check that?”

  “No, not really. Elementalist magic isn’t big on subtle things, or detecting other magical stuff. That’s more like what Wizards and Enchanters do.”

  “Then there’s no telling what we might activate. We’ll just have to be careful and play it by ear. Like the rest of this.”

  Then a sudden motion caught her attention. She turned and almost caught Cagna’s tail in her mouth as it wagged, beating Chase in the face repeatedly. “Gah! Hey, what the heck?”

  “Sorry,” Cagna said, and her tail stilled. “Here they come.”

  “That’s our cue!” Chase knocked on the slab separating the passenger part of the carriage and the driver’s seat. “If you please, sir!”

  The driver grunted and pulled forward. He’d been paid triple his standard rates to ignore and forget their conversation, and C
hase and her friends had taken care to avoid discussing the plan in the carriage, so she didn’t think there would be trouble from that end. His job was over once he dropped them off anyway.

  Finally the carriage stopped, and the motley crew spilled out. They were ignored by the bystanders, as people with far more influence, expensive outfits, and personal retinues disembarked their own carriages and were met by the Verde servants.

  Safely protected by relative obscurity, Cagna and Muscle Wizaard adjusted their own costumes, and Chase turned her attention to her own outfit.

  No cleavage panels here. Just a good, simple dress... or it had been, before someone had sewn a few thousand sequins on it. A ‘fox stole’ hung around her neck, bangles lined her arms, and her shoes had a curve at the tips, culminating in points that suggested an exotic foreign look.

  Then she scowled at the piece de resistance... a turban, fully big again as her head, with a gaudy gem in the center of it and a feather that would add a full six inches to her height. “This is the part I’m least certain about.”

  “Don’t forget the earrings!” The Muscle Wizaard boomed, helpfully.

  “Oh. Right. Them.” Chase dug into her purse and pulled out the two orbs. As big and shiny as halven Yuletide-ornaments, they snapped onto her lobes with tiny clamps, and dragged her ears downward. It wasn’t painful, but it was definitely uncomfy.

  Then, with a sigh, she tucked her hair up and planted the turban on her head.

  “Cloak too!” Renny insisted.

  “Right, right, right...” Chase dug in the purse, pulling out a square of fabric that unfolded into a half-cloak. Emblazoned across the back of it in sequins were the words ‘Madame Mysteria!!!’

  “You put three exclamation points on here? Really?” She glared at the Muscle Wizaard.

  “It suits the overall role you’re trying to play!” Bastien said. “They’ll eat it up, trust me!”

  Chase took a long breath and let it out. I should have checked all of the costume parts before we got here, she thought to herself. Oh well. This is the least of my worries, at this point.