by P. A. Wilson
“And why would he hide this stone in the warehouse rather than his room? That’s what you think right?”
“Yes. His private rooms are too obvious. And we probably won’t be able to search them anyway. The warehouse can be left empty, especially if there’s only one way in or out, and the room is probably full of crates and boxes.”
“So the stone won’t stand out,” he finished for her.
It did feel right, and if that was all they would get, feelings, they needed to follow up. That put them in a difficult position. Maynard couldn’t be with them, couldn’t be hanging around in secret either. There was no way to avoid breaking the Heart Oath if they were this close. “We need to get rid of Maynard tonight.”
Willowvine grinned. “How are we getting in?”
And there she was forgetting about anything but the one facet of the danger.
“First, how are we going to keep Maynard busy?” He wasn’t going to lecture her, but he’d find a way to teach her to look at the whole picture so she’d have a better chance of survival.
Before she could answer, Maynard slipped through the door to their room.
Chapter 21
Willowvine was convinced that Maynard Slack knew something.
When he’d found reasons to cross all but two buildings off the list to search leaving only Vitenkar’s home and a nearby warehouse, they’d tried to get him to follow up on the gaming house, or to write up a report for the guild board. He’d found a way to dodge both suggestions. That’s when she knew that it was a lost cause. He clung to them offering all the help in the world in that creepy, oily way he had.
They’d had to give up trying to put him off.
Now they were on the street with the stupid man in tow pretending they would search the warehouse. He still didn’t know where they were actually going, but that would change at the next intersection. She’d agreed to keep quiet and let Springheart figure out a plan on the walk. He was good at that and, despite the fact she’d never admit it, she was terrible at it.
“Maynard,” Springheart said as they reached the corner. “You need to stand lookout.” He tipped his head in the direction of the warehouse on Wharf Street she’d been watching yesterday. “Can you find a way to hide and still be able to cover any approaches?”
Willowvine schooled her expression. She knew that they were going to slip away, but they needed Maynard to be sure they were there long enough for them to enter and exit the warehouse, get to Vitenkar’s home, search it, and get back into the warehouse. That was a long time and if Maynard decided they were taking too long, he might come looking.
They approached the now empty cafe. The tables chained to posts, chairs having been taken inside leaving little cover, but Maynard nodded. “I’ll be at the right angle if I get behind the tables. There’s just enough room.”
Springheart checked the position and gave his approval. “You’ll be fine for a few hours. We should be done well before the sun comes up, but if not, make your getaway and wait for us in the guildhall.”
Willowvine saw some emotion cross Maynard’s face. She expected annoyance at being treated like a trainee. Without her ability to read his aura, she couldn’t be sure, but she thought he was amused. “What signal should he use?” she asked. Breaking her agreement to be silent in her impatience to start. It was going to be tight to get through this before dawn.
Maynard imitated a gull. “I’ll do that three times. It is common enough not to turn casual interest into suspicion, and loud enough to reach you no matter where you are in the building.”
If the man weren’t so creepy, he’d make a great partner.
They waited until he was settled before hurrying across the road into the shadow of the warehouse.
* * *
The diversion hadn’t taken as long as she feared. Springheart had wasted no time on elaborate measures. As soon as they entered the building, he’d pulled her through a back door and they’d raced around the city to the back of Vitenkar’s home.
Now they were waiting as the servants settled. The rest of the building was quiet, lights only showing in the top windows — Vitenkar’s private rooms. Barracks were hidden behind the kitchen and servant’s quarters, but a quick scan revealed that there were only ten scree there, and most were sleeping. If she was right, Willowvine was confident they would be back with Maynard before he became suspicious. Despite a lurking doubt deep in her mind that her inability to read Maynard’s aura was a sign that her talent was waning, she told Springheart to enter.
“When we get in there, no side trips,” Springheart cautioned. “We are going to the warehouse first.”
“I know, but if it’s not there, I want to take a peek at the rest of the house.”
Springheart tapped her shoulder and pointed. “Time to go.”
She noticed the light from the oven had gone from bright orange to a warm glow. It was banked for the night. She scanned the auras and reported, “The barracks are quiet One person upstairs, probably Vitenkar. I sense a couple of people in the front yard. No one is feeling worried, let alone on alert.”
Springheart told her to lead, so Willowvine crouched low and ran to the deep shadows near the servant’s door. She felt Springheart join her, and then used her picks to open the lock. They slipped inside without incident. Springheart tucked a wedge of thin wood under the door to stop it swinging open. The door would seem secure to a casual check.
When he was done, Willowvine ran to the top of the stairs, stepping on the edges of the treads to avoid squeaks. The doorway at the top was covered with a heavy curtain. Willowvine smiled, so many people traded security for a little quiet. The occasional slammed door near her bedroom would never make her do that. Any servant could lurk behind a curtain obtaining useful information, or paying off a debt by giving access to thieves. It worked for their purposes, a curtain allowed her to peek out discreetly in both directions — another reason she would never use one. A cracked open door was only helpful in one direction, and it couldn’t be hidden.
They were lucky, the upper hall was empty. One lantern at the top of the stairs gave as many shadows as it illuminated. Each end of the hall terminated in a solid door. To the left was the room where Vitenkar’s aura still remained calm, to the right, an empty room. If the stone wasn’t in the warehouse, it could be in the empty room.
She let the curtain sway back into place and turned to Springheart. “We can get downstairs. There’s no one in the hall, right now, but I’m not sure that will last. You go first, I’ll keep scanning auras until we are inside the warehouse.”
Springheart slipped around her and through the curtain, reaching back to give her the okay. Dropping into a light trance, she followed. He would ensure she didn’t stumble. She didn’t trust their luck to continue, but they made it to the warehouse door with no incident. The incident waited for them at the door. It was locked and the mechanism was built to resist easy picking.
She signaled Springheart to cover her, and reached for the lock. If anyone came out into the hall, they would see her, and she couldn’t scan auras while she worked the picks.
Speed will not help.
She slid the wrench pick into the hole. The lock was a dual version. She clicked the tumblers into place for the first set, twisted the picks and went back through the tumblers on the second sequence.
The occasional shout from the barracks raised her nerves beyond the level where she could keep her hands steady. She had to stop working the lock and poise to run until convinced they were still safe. By the time she twisted the picks and felt the lock open, she was sweating. This was new for her; every entry up to now had been smooth and fast.
Pushing the door open, she reached for Springheart. When they were inside, door closed but not locked, she let out a breath and pushed the tension from her body.
“It needs to be locked,” Springheart whispered. “If he checks it, we can’t have it open. And the noise of him unlocking will give us time to hide.”
It was their only way out.
She knew he was right, but it felt like she was locking them in a prison, a dark, silent prison. Willowvine felt for a latch, but there was none. She’d have to lock it with the picks, by feel because they couldn’t risk a light this close to the door.
She felt Springheart’s presence move away while she worked. As the lock reset, Willowvine heard the dry scratch of a flint and then a dim light came from a lantern he held.
Willowvine strode calmly toward the glow, feeling her emotions settle as she put distance between herself and the door. She put aside the creeping terror of knowing they would have to leave without being sure no one was waiting.
“It’s big, and crowded,” Springheart said. “We need to split up.”
Willowvine looked around as her eyes adjusted to the dimness. There were racks filled with crates. If they had to open each one they would be here a week, and they didn’t have that time. “So, a quick survey first? Maybe the stone is sitting in the open.”
Springheart chuckled. Handing her a second lantern, he pointed to the racks on the right. “Start there and scout the five rows to the center. I’ll do the same from the back. We’ll meet here and figure out the next steps. Be fast, we only have about an hour before we need to leave or Maynard will think we’re in trouble.”
Willowvine raced along the racks. All the crates looked the same. The labels ranged from kitchen tools to jewelry. Taking a moment to prise open one at the far end of the first rack, she confirmed the contents matched the label.
Joining Springheart, she reported, “There are a few odd boxes in the far corner, but we’ll need time and tools to get them open. They are all big enough to hold the stone.”
He glanced up and said, “I found a vent in the ceiling. We can get back in through there. We’ll need ropes. What kind of tools?”
“A crowbar and a hammer, and something to muffle the hammer.” Willowvine wanted to try the crates, but she knew they didn’t have time. If they found the stone, they would still have to reseal the crate so Vitenkar wouldn’t know. “Then we come back tomorrow night,” she said.
Springheart nodded, but didn’t say anything. She felt a thrill of pride that he didn’t argue about her suggestion. He must think she’d made the right plan.
* * *
Did they think him stupid? Maynard watched the two elves disappear behind the closing door of the warehouse before slipping out of his hiding place. Brushing the dirt from his clothes, he stretched out the kink in his back that had developed in the few minutes he’d been crouched in the shadows of the tables.
They were going to the house Willowvine had stumbled into earlier. The one that had gotten her arrested. The fool. He wasn’t going to wait here like a lackey. No. He would be there waiting when they came out. Maynard Slack to the rescue if he was right about their inability to fool the scree.
He strode the streets with confidence, knowing the attitude could do more to avoid trouble than any weapon. He considered how to find the elves, it would not do to have them slip past him and then complain that he wasn’t in place when they exited the building they were supposed to be searching.
The elves were likely to be heading for the rear of the scree building. That’s where he would have gone. The front was far too occupied for them to slip in unnoticed. One thing they couldn’t know was that the majority of the warriors were in the gaming house. Perhaps if they had that information they would be using the front gate. Then again, perhaps it would make them careless to think they had fooled all of the warriors. It would give him a chance to take whatever they had found. A voice inside whispered that the elves were never careless. The girl might be reckless, but Springheart was a cautious one.
As he arrived at the hills behind the compound where the scree lived and conducted business, he saw two slim shadows at the servant’s entrance one crouched in a stance that screamed lock picking to his experienced eyes. It was good to have confirmation even though he had no doubt where they were headed. Maynard settled down, back against a tree, ready for a long wait.
* * *
Springheart waited while Willowvine scanned the lobby for auras. She’d shown progress in learning caution with her plan to come back when they had what they needed.
“It hasn’t changed,” she said, reaching for her picks. “The barracks is still almost empty, and Vitenkar is still happily doing something in his room.”
He nodded for her to use her picks, dousing the first lantern while he waited. The risk of light bleeding outside was low compared to the risk of taking too long to get outside the room.
A tiny click announced her success.
He touched her elbow to make sure she waited for him. He signaled that he would go first before dousing the second lantern. Willowvine pulled open the door just wide enough for him to slip through. The hall was empty. He reached back and touched her wrist before slipping aside to crouch in the shadow of a table. He was only immediately visible now from the top of the stairs.
In seconds, she had the door relocked and was beside him. This was the point when they were in the most danger. If Vitenkar decided to check on his troops, or his inventory, they had nowhere to go. He tapped her knee to get Willowvine moving up the stairs and to the left of a decorative table near their exit point. When she was settled, Springheart raced to join her. Half way up, someone banged on the front door. He kept moving, hiding beside Willowvine just as the door to Vitenkar’s quarters opened.
“Who is disturbing my rest?” the scree roared.
A door banged open downstairs followed by a scuffle of feet. Vitenkar continued to march toward the noise.
“While they are focused on the front, we’ll go through,” Springheart whispered to Willowvine. “You first.”
“No. You go first, I’m smaller and faster. I can sneak better.” She elbowed him to stop his argument.
It frustrated him that there was no time to make her do as he suggested, but she would hear from him as soon as it was safe. The sound of the front door opening, spurred him through the curtain and down the stairs. She would be on his heels. He slipped through the rear door holding it open for Willowvine. They still had time to lock it and avoid rousing suspicion.
She didn’t come.
Swearing, Springheart entered and ran back, hearing a shout and a pounding of feet on the grand stairs. He glanced through the curtain to see Willowvine sprawled on the floor. His anger drowned in a wave of fear. He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away.
“You need to go. I’m caught. Figure out how to get me out of jail.”
No one had seen him so he ducked back into the stairwell and sped to escape. He didn’t bother to lock the door, it would only take time and they knew the security had been breached. He cut across the bottom of the hill and melted into the shadows.
Rounding the side of the scree’s home he was just in time to see the guard drag Willowvine through the gate, Vitenkar shouting orders as they headed toward the town guardhouse. When they passed his hiding place, Springheart slipped from the shadow, walking along the street innocently. A citizen wondering what was causing the disturbance so late at night.
At the first cross street, he saw movement in a doorway. A figure stepped out of the shadow. Springheart realized it was Maynard, lurking rather than keeping lookout. Springheart flicked his fingers to indicate Maynard should join him.
“What happened?” He asked under the cover of Willowvine’s protests. “I heard noise and came to see if it was headed toward the warehouse.”
Springheart didn’t challenge the clear lie and didn’t explain why they were outside a completely different target. “Someone called the guard.”
Could it have been Maynard? Springheart pushed away the thought. Maynard had no reason to sabotage them.
“What gave you away?”
Springheart glanced at Maynard and then pulled him into a doorway across from the guardhouse. Willowvine continued to argue and struggle against the grip of the
two guards as they pulled her into the station. “There was nothing. Someone guessed, or it is a disastrous coincidence.” He didn’t believe in coincidences, and the guards had shown up too late for someone who’d seen them enter.
“An oddly timed coincidence,” Maynard said. “Why were you there?”
“We found a tip,” Springheart said.
He wasn’t going to explain their actions when they needed to find a way to free Willowvine. And to get back into Vitenkar’s warehouse. There was no longer any doubt in his mind that the stone was there. It was just a matter of getting enough time to search properly.
Chapter 22
Springheart was outside. Willowvine knew it. He just needed time to find a way to get her released. She’d never live it; only kids tripped over loose rugs. All she could think of to explain it was she’d become complacent because there were so few scree in the house. So when the guards arrived, she was startled into stupidity.
Now it was time to try to talk her way out of the charges. “I don’t know why he was so mad. The scree invited me in for a drink.” She didn’t expect them to believe her, just to sow some seeds of doubt. If Springheart was close enough to hear, he might be able to use the lie. “He said he was sorry to make such a fuss this afternoon.”
One guard tied her hands then the others stood behind her to stop Willowvine from trying to run.
The head guard was a different man than before. At least that was in her favor. She couldn’t get the guild involved by identifying herself as a courier this time. There was no doubt that she was going to be arrested unless a miracle occurred.
The man looked down at her from his perch and tsked as he placed a blank form on the counter. “Your name?”