Fortissima

by Sara Kingsley

  I whisper his name and it echoes back at me from the damp stone walls.

  Tui slowly raises his head. He looks confused at first, his eyes darting from me into the darkness beyond and back again. Eventually his face softens as he recognizes me.

  “Raven? Is that really you?” His voice is husky, like he’s been screaming.

  I can only nod my head, trying to choke back tears. My chest hurts with the realization that Tui’s been stuck in this horrifying place, all because of me.

  He stands painfully, and gripping the wall, walks slowly over to me. When he reaches the bars I thrust my hands out to grasp his.

  “Where have you been?” he asks.

  “I’ve been here too, just down the hall.”

  “How did you get out?”

  I reach into my pocket and show him the key. “It was a gift from the Queen.”

  “You’ve seen her?”

  “Yes, and the King too.” I quickly tell him everything: about my dinner with King Araroa; about standing before the tribunal and the oath I will take. About Seraphine’s visit.

  Almost everything. I leave out the part about her giving me Leif’s address.

  He sighs. “I’m sure the tribunal will let you go.”

  “What about you? Have you stood before them?” Suddenly my heart starts pounding. I’m sure I know the answer to that already.

  Tui looks down and sighs again. “I’ve already been sentenced.”

  “Oh no. No, Tui.” The tears are flowing down my face in full force now, the dam broken by this news.

  He looks up at me suddenly, a bright, forced smile on his face. “You’ll be free, Raven. I’m sure of it. I did what I set out to do, which was to keep you safe. You’ll be able to go back to Baldachin. Please, please give my family my love.”

  I just shake my head, back and forth. No, no no. I’m screaming those words inside my head.

  Get a grip, Raven. Get ahold of yourself. Another, louder voice comes through.

  I wipe my face with my sleeve.

  I realize I could be holding the literal key to Tui’s freedom right in my hand. Of course. There’s no sense in waiting another day in this miserable place. We’ve got to go. Tonight.

  I put the key into the lock of his cell and turn it. It clicks open. His eyes grow wide, but he doesn’t say anything. I push the door shut again and lock it.

  Looking into Tui’s face, I take a deep breath. “I’ve got to get back to my cell. I’ve been gone too long already. I’ll be back tonight. Late. We’ll both go.”

  “Are you sure?” he says. But his warm brown eyes are filled with hope now.

  “Completely. I’m not leaving here without you.”

  He smiles then. One of his big, beautiful, genuine ones. “Be careful, Raven.”

  I smile back, and grasp both his hands in mine again. “Of course.”

  Finally I let go and rush back down the hallway to my own cell, locking the door before falling onto my cot.

  It’s going to be a long night.

  I have no way of knowing how late it is, and can only guess it must be around midnight. I’ll stay put for a few hours, then go back for Tui. I pull my blanket up over my fully-dressed self and wait some more.

  I wish I still had my knife. It was taken from me, of course, right after I was captured. I’ve never needed it before, but now I surely do. I have no idea what’s going to happen to us. Where will we go once we’re out of this terrible place? There’s no way I can go to Leif’s home. He’d probably just hand me right back over, and get some reward money to boot.

  Thinking about him again sends my stomach lurching. I curl my hands into fists in the hope of stopping them shaking. The sadness I felt last week is gone. Now I’m furious—that I was so gullible; that anyone could be capable of doing such a thing. If I ever see him again … well, he’ll be glad I don’t have my knife.

  The last guard check was hours ago. Usually they come through a few hours after dinner, and then don’t return until morning.

  I wait another hour, for good measure.

  I unlock my cell door again, taking the cold bowl of stew with me. I pause. Then I re-lock it, just to make them wonder.

  Tui’s waiting for me. He practically inhales the stew, murmuring thanks between bites. I realize he hasn’t been given anything to eat in days. This only fuels my determination to get us both out of here.

  I re-lock his cell door too, and then we’re quickly moving down the hall. I turn the corner to go past my cell and up the staircase, when Tui grabs my sleeve.

  “Where are you going?” he asks.

  I’m not sure at first what he means. “The way out. There’s a staircase—”

  He shakes his head in determination. “Up to the Palace? No way. There’s a tunnel this way. It’s how they brought me in. Follow me.”

  I don’t hesitate, remembering when they brought me to my cell, parading me through the square and the entrance hall in front of everyone. To make a point. Of course they wouldn’t bring Tui in this way. No chance to make him look like a hero.

  We turn down the other hallway. It’s pitch dark, and we have to feel our way along the slimy stones. The tunnel twists and turns; eventually we run into a rusty iron gate.

  I turn the handle, but it’s locked. I take the key from my pocket and fumble around to fit it in the lock. It doesn’t budge.

  “Let me try.” Tui grabs the key, pushes it in a little more, and turns it to the left. The lock clicks quietly and the door swings open with a soft groan. “It’s just a little farther on. We’re nearly there,” he says.

  He takes my hand and together we run down the tunnel. We turn a corner and see a dim light at the end.

  At first I’m startled, then I realize it’s the first light of dawn. A new day.

  Finally we’re free of that horrible dungeon. We continue on, following a stone corridor that runs along the outer perimeter of the Palace. Somehow we don’t run into anyone, though the day is getting started. We come out into a small courtyard.

  “Now where to?” I ask.

  Tui shrugs. “Not sure. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I don’t really care. Man it’s good to be out of there.”

  I think of the address Seraphine gave me. But how could we possibly go there, after what Leif did? How could I set eyes on his face without breaking down? How could I possibly trust him again?

  “What are you thinking?” Tui says, watching me.

  Damn. He’s always been able to read me like a book. “It’s nothing.”

  “You lie. You know something.”

  “No really, I don’t.”

  “C’mon, out with it, Raven.”

  I sigh. I may as well tell him. I’m sure he won’t want to see Leif, either. In fact, I’m kind of worried about what Tui will do to him if he does. “The Queen gave me an address. She said it was a safe place.”

  “Really? Where is it?”

  “I don’t think it’s far from here. But I just don’t know …”

  Tui cocks his head. “We know this person, don’t we?”

  “Yes. It’s Leif’s place. I don’t know, Tui. I don’t know if it’s really safe.”

  Tui walks in a circle, thinking. When he comes back to me his face is full of certainty. “Look, I don’t know if it’s a good idea either. But you and I both know the Queen would never send you willingly into danger. Not after all she’s done for you.”

  “That’s true.”

  What’s also true is that I’d hoped never to see Leif again. But what other option do I have? We’re going to need help finding the rest of our way to the port. And finding a ship … I have no idea where to begin. “I suppose we should go there. You’re right. If Seraphine didn’t know it was safe, I’m sure she wouldn’t send me there. But Tui—”

  “What?”

  “Go easy on Leif, will you? Well, a little bit.”

  Tui laughs, one of his deep hearty ones. Music to my ears. “I will, a little bit. Okay, where are we going?�
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  “West Market.”

  We look up at the sky, which is beginning to brighten in the east. We start in the opposite direction.

  West Market is up early. We’re quickly swallowed up in the morning bustle of the markets: sellers setting up their stalls of wilted produce; skinny chickens and kids running around, women hanging gray laundry out on balconies. King’s officers clad in gold and violet mill about, looking bored. There’s little chance they’ll notice us in the hustle and bustle. It’s perfect.

  But what if …

  I grab Tui’s arm and pull him into a narrow side alley. “I need to put my hair up, hang on a second.” It’s been hanging free all this time, and now I quickly plait it into a single braid. I’ve only seen one other person so far with hair as long and black as mine, and it would be foolish for me to openly flaunt it.

  Tui peeks out of the alley opening. “I have an idea. Wait here.” He dashes out and is gone for about a minute. When he returns he’s holding a red wool hat in one hand, a purple one in the other. “Pick one,” he says.

  “Well that will sure help me blend in,” I say, laughing and reaching for the red hat.

  He furrows his brow in mock frustration. “I only had a second to swipe ’em. Sorry I didn’t have time to get better colors.”

  I smile at him. “It’s perfect. Great idea.” I coil the braid on top of my head then pull the hat over it.

  We dash out into the market again. I try to ignore what I see down each side street—piles of refuse and entire families huddled under filthy blankets. I focus instead on reading the faded signs. We’re almost at the end of the rows when I spot it: Milford.

  My confidence melts. It pours down into my feet and onto the road, which has started to sway beneath me. The nervousness I’ve been fighting finally overcomes me, and I grab Tui’s arm to steady myself.

  “This is it,” I manage to croak out in a whisper, my throat dry.

  Tui swallows hard too. “Let’s just go,” he says. He grabs my sweaty hand and leads me down the narrow alley.

  My legs grow more jelly-like with each step. Finally we reach number 16. We hesitate before the wooden door.

  Somehow, I reach my shaking arm up and knock.

  Seconds later a peephole opens and a green eye peers out at us. It’s familiar, but isn’t the one I know so well. Still, my heart leaps.

  There’s a voice inside, from behind. “Papa, who’s there?”

  All at once the peephole shuts, the door flies open and I’m pulled inside. The door swings shut behind us.

  “Oh, Raven, you made it!”

  Leif grabs me into his arms and I finish melting right there.

  Chapter 17

  It all comes back. Everything.

  I shove Leif away from me. Hard.

  “What were you thinking?” I hiss. “You gave me away. I could have been killed on the spot. And for what? Some idle threats?” I’m nearly yelling now.

  “Raven, calm down.” Tui tries to put his arm around me but I shake it off.

  How can I possibly calm down? This was a complete mistake. A disaster. I start to turn toward the door. But where can I go? These are the only people I know in the entire city. This fact makes me even more furious.

  Leif takes a step backward. He even has the nerve to fall to his knees.

  “What … are … you … doing?” I manage to keep my voice down this time.

  “I am so sorry, m’lady. So incredibly sorry. I regret completely what I’ve done. But they told me you would be safe.”

  “Who did?”

  “They said they were officers of the Queen. I didn’t know if I should believe them. But they told me it was for your own safety. That she would ensure you’d be well looked after if I helped bring you in. They also said if I didn’t, then they would—”

  “Leif!” his father says sternly. Then in a much softer tone, “Let’s have the lady take a seat. Would you like a cup of tea, madam? But where are my manners. My name is Nile. Nile Phineas.”

  He looks like an older replica of Leif—same height, same soft green eyes, same blond hair, but peppered with silver. He holds out his hand and I shake it. His eyes are mesmerizing and I feel myself calming immediately. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Phineas. Thank you for taking us in like this. I’d love a cup of tea, thanks.”

  “Please, call me Nile.” His voice and smile are warm.

  I glance down at Leif, still kneeling on the floor. Head down and all. It’s so pathetic I almost laugh out loud. At the same time I have to fight the urge to brush back the golden strands of hair hanging over one eye. “Leif—stand up, for goodness sake.”

  Nodding, he does as I ask and motions toward a chair by the fire. “Please, rest here, m’lady.”

  As I do so, he brings a bench over for Tui to sit on.

  “Maybe your father wouldn’t mind making the tea? We have a lot to catch up on,” I say.

  Nile bows his head in affirmation, then he throws Leif another look of warning and retreats to the kitchen. When he’s safely out of earshot I continue my questioning.

  “Is this true? You’re telling me the Queen was responsible for all this? The threats against your father? To convince you that letting me be captured would keep me safe?”

  “I know. It doesn’t sound like much of a plan, but—”

  “And you thought it was a good idea?”

  He looks up at me then. Emerald green eyes pierce straight into mine. As usual, I forget for a moment what we are talking about.

  “No,” he says. “It sounded like a terrible idea to me. It still does. But it seems she thought that if you were detained, she could keep control over the situation.”

  “She’d know exactly where I was. Just like always.”

  “Yes, I think that was the idea.”

  “Pretty brilliant, actually,” Tui says thoughtfully.

  Leif and I look over at him, confused.

  “Well, here we are, aren’t we? Safe and sound in the Bastion. Now all we need to do is get out of here and find that boat. And quickly.”

  Leif nods his head. “Yes. The King will send searchers out when they find you two gone. But this is a good place to be.”

  “How is that?” I ask.

  “Follow me.” Leif stands and walks toward the kitchen.

  As we pass Nile preparing the tea, Leif throws him a look. A question. Nile nods his head, just once.

  Leif tosses back a small rug on the floor and grabs hold of a chipped piece of wood. He raises up a perfectly hidden door. “I’m sorry our accommodations aren’t much, but it’s only for the night. We should head out in the morning, to the port.”

  I’m about to correct him (there’s no chance he’s going with Tui and me), but my curiosity interrupts my thoughts. I peer down into the hidden cellar. It’s completely dark.

  Nile hands Leif a lighted lamp, and Leif descends down the ladder first. We follow. Leif hangs the lamp on a hook set in the ceiling, and I look around.

  What I see leaves me speechless with shock. I’m surrounded by barrels, jugs, and bottles of whiskey and rum and other spirits, hundreds of them, on the floor and on shelves all around.

  “I guess you know now that Papa trades things besides wool.” Leif picks up a bottle filled with amber liquid. It swirls like oil within the glass. Very illegal. But everyone knows it’s still around, traded and sold in strict secrecy.

  “Do you—”

  “Yes. I’ve been helping Papa since I was a lad. I’ll probably continue, when he’s unable to travel himself. It’s a good business. In fact, Papa’s known for the highest-quality drink in the Bastion.” He’s grinning with pride.

  Which I simply can’t believe he’s doing. I can’t believe my life is in the hands of smugglers. A crime punishable by death. And he’s proud of it?

  Leif hears my sigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” he says. “I was afraid of what you’d think of me and my father.”

  “Rightly so,” I reply.
r />   Tui sets down the jug he’s been peering into. “How did the Queen know about this? She must have, right? To send Raven here?”

  Leif still has that grin on his face. “She’s one of our biggest customers. The King can’t get enough of our finest vintage.” He plucks a bottle with an ornate golden label on it down from a shelf. “He doesn’t know where it comes from, of course. Only the Queen knows. That’s why you’re safe here.”

  Of course. “And you and your father have a bit of experience moving goods around without being noticed.”

  “Exactly. I wish I could have told you all this earlier, but we didn’t know if you’d have gone along with it—”

  “Stop right there.” I feel my insides starting to boil again. The thought that I was being played all this time makes me furious. They could have given me some say in the matter, at least. But then again, all my choices were stripped away months ago. Did I ever have a choice at all?

  Nile appears above, interrupting my brooding thoughts. He hands down mugs of tea and a plate of sandwiches. Leif sets them down on an empty shelf.

  I sink onto a nearby stool. My body feels utterly heavy with all this to take in.

  Leif climbs back up the ladder, into the kitchen above. His face appears in the opening once more. “I’m going to shut the hatch. Just in case.”

  “No, that’s fine. Better safe than sorry,” I reply.

  He carefully closes the door and Tui and I are alone, sitting in the pool of light from the lantern.

  “Well,” Tui says. “At least there’s plenty to drink.”

  He flinches at my glare.

  Over the next few hours, Leif and Nile fill me in on the plan for my escape from the shores of Nadir. It turns out they coordinate regular shipments out to Nuimana. In fact a ship, the Albatross, is leaving tomorrow, and not only are they planning on sending fifty gallons of their export rum overseas, but Tui and me as well. We’ll depart for the port at dawn.

  I can’t help but feel irritated, even though the plan appears to be sound. I concede to myself that Leif is the only person who can get us there in secret. I just wish somebody had asked for my input. It’s as if I’m a pawn being tossed around—but to what end? I’ll never be able to return to Nadir. There’s no chance I’d be granted autonomy now. If I ever returned and was caught, I’d certainly be put to death. That option is gone forever. This I am sure of.