by Jamie Davis
She had no money in her pouch. The guards had emptied the few coins she had there. They left her phone and credit chip even though those artifacts would have been worth a great deal more to the right collector.
Deciding it didn't do any good to start begging for food, Cari went about looking for her potential benefactor, Harley Denne. She figured begging would get her kicked out as soon as she started. Better to find help first.
A cursory examination of the crowd didn't reveal him to her and she opted to ask for him at the bar.
"Harley?" the barmaid said as she drew a tankard of ale from the enormous keg laying on its side at the end of the bar. "I haven't seen him yet tonight. He usually don't come in until he finishes his late shift at the western gate. Who should I say’s looking for him?"
"Just tell him it's an old family friend of his Gramps. I'll find a seat over by the musicians to wait for him."
"Can I get you a drink or some food while you wait?"
"I'm a little tapped out, I'm afraid. I recently fell on some hard times. I'll just wait, if that's alright."
"No, it's not alright, missy." The barmaid looked Cari up and down as she said it.
The response made Cari step back thinking she was going to be ejected. She was about to argue her case but stopped as the woman behind the bar continued, a broad smile appearing on her face.
"I've had my share of tough times. There's no reason we can't spare a single tankard of ale and a plate of mutton stew for you. If you're a family friend of Harley's like you said, you're good for it. His Gramps fought in the war with my grandfather right before he came back and opened this tavern. My name is Mitzi, Mitzi Berry."
The woman handed Cari the tankard she'd just filled and reached for another.
"Go and have a seat. I'll have one of the girls bring you out some food. You look like you’ve had a long day."
"Thank you, Mitzi. You have no idea how true that is."
Cari raised the tankard and took a sip while she weaved her way through the crowded establishment. She found a small table just vacated by a couple who looked like they were headed off to find a place to be alone for a while.
The ale was strong and Cari tried to pace herself on an empty stomach while she waited for the food to arrive. It wasn't long before a brown-haired waitress, close to Cari’s age, carried a tray of food over.
"Mitzi says you're hungry. Here's a big bowl of stew and I found a half loaf of bread another table didn't want to finish to add to the bounty. Let me know if that's not enough."
“Oh no, this is wonderful. Thank you.”
"Good enough. I’ll be back to check on you in a little while. Flag me down if you need anything before then."
The waitress left to deliver the rest of the food on her tray and Cari started to eat while she listened to the three musicians play on the small platform stage nearby.
There was a guy playing something like a guitar but with only five strings, a woman playing a wooden flute and a goblin boy playing a hide-covered drum. It seemed an odd combination but Cari found she liked the music they produced and soon she was tapping her foot along with one song after another while she waited.
She remembered she’d leveled up again and took this opportunity to distribute her new attribute points. She dropped them into her Charm attribute. They’d come in handy when dealing with the Duke. Cari used the single skill point to upgrade her new feint ability to level two.
The waitress dropped off a second bowl of the excellent stew when she picked up the empty one. Cari leaned over and dug in again. It was good.
A voice interrupted her in mid-bite.
"I didn't really think you were who you said you were, yet here you are," Harley said. “How'd you escape?”
The city guardsman stood across the table from her, an incredulous look spreading across his face.
"It wasn't easy and they're out looking for me all over the city."
"I know. They brought your description back to the Western Gate just in case you came that way again. I couldn't believe it at first and thought the Duke's man was joking with me."
Harley sat down at the small table's other chair and leaned forward.
"He said you killed five men all by yourself in the escape."
"They all had it coming, believe me."
Cari pushed the bowl away having suddenly lost her appetite.
"You really are her, aren't you?"
"I suppose so. To me I'm just, well - me. Nothing special."
Harley apparently didn't know what to say to that and he fell silent for a time while the two of them listened to the music.
Cari drained the last of her ale to help banish her dark thoughts. The slight buzz from the alcohol helped a little bit and she wished she had some more. That wasn’t going to help her get out of here and on her way to Morton Creek wherever that was.
"Harley, you said you could help me if I managed to escape. Well, here I am. I have to get out of the city and make my way south to the coast."
"You're not going to get out through any of the usual gates, not any time soon anyway."
"But I have to catch up with my friends. It's been at least two days already."
"I understand that, Princess, but your description has been circulated to every watchman and guard in the whole city. The Duke has put a price on your head of five hundred gold crowns. It's enough to make most people rich for life."
Cari didn't know if she should be flattered or worried by the news of a price on her head.
"What's to keep you from turning me in, Harley?"
"I told you. I'm a loyal servant of the Empress and like I said before, I believe in all the old stories. My gramps never told me a single lie as I grew up. I always knew the stories he told had to have at least a hint of truth to them. Now that I've learned who you are, I find that I believe them even more now. I'd be crazy to line up on the side against the Dix lineage in the coming fight. I'm with you."
“How come you think there’s gonna be some kind of fight? I just want to get out of the city. I’m not sticking around to raise some sort of rebellion.”
“Princess, why else would you be here when someone is trying to take the throne from the Empress if it wasn’t to help fight the Duke? I’m with you. You’ll be back.”
"Alright if you're with me, then first of all, stop calling me princess. I may technically be a princess according to your rules, but I wasn't raised that way and calling me that will only draw more attention to me. Got it?"
"Yes, Pr-, I mean, yes, uh, Cari."
"Better. Now, you said I can't get out of the city by the gates. It sounds like there's another way."
"There is, but we'll need to be careful. I know some people who could help you but they're not the most trustworthy folks in the city, if you know what I mean."
"I get it, they're part of some criminal underworld, right?"
"Something like that. I can't vouch for them other than I know they smuggle things in and out of the city. I figure they should be able to smuggle a person, too."
Cari couldn't argue with the logic of the statement but she was wary of putting her trust in people of questionable moral quality when she had a price on her head. Still, she didn't have the luxury of being choosy in her options. She'd have to trust Harley and his contacts if she wanted to catch up to Rodrigo and the Prince in Morton Creek.
"When do we meet your friends, Harley?"
"We can go now. It's best to travel at night when people won't recognize you as easily by your description. I'm sure more will be out scouring the city for you tomorrow so we should get you into hiding tonight."
Cari stood as Harley got up.
"Lead on, my man. I'm kind of at your mercy here."
"No worries. I won't lead you wrong."
Together the two of them headed out of the tavern and back into the night's chill. Cari hoped this whole thing worked out. She was putting a lot of trust in a guy who decided he believed in what amounted to tall tales told
by his grandfather.
* * *
Quest accepted - Escape the city
Chapter 16
The Crystal City, grand capital of the Empire sat astride the River Mepesi. Harley led Cari through the city's streets to the part of the city called "The Banks" by the city's residents. Here the river passed through the city via a system of canals, each crossed by bridges of all shapes and sizes from simple footbridges to broad stone structures built to carry freight wagons laden with goods.
Harley brought her to this part of the city navigating through back alleys and secondary streets, keeping away from the major thoroughfares. It was a route only a city native could follow and, because it avoided the main roads, they only had to hide from a roving patrol once. Cari would have never been able to find her way using this route on her own. She was already hopelessly lost after all the twists and turns taken by her guide.
As they reached the edge of the district, Harley stopped and surveyed the expanse of the first bridge they must cross from the shadows of a nearby alley.
"Are you looking for something, Harley?" Cari asked.
"Each of these neighborhood enclaves between the canals is run by a different smuggling family. Generally, they allow free passage across the bridges and through their area of control, but if someone here knows about the reward on your head and has your description, it could mean trouble. If I were to decide to capture you, this would be the place to do it. We must be careful crossing the bridges."
"How many of these enclaves must we pass through to get to your friend?"
"Three. The last is the enclave run by the person I think can and will help you escape the city, though he might exact a price of some sort."
“That sounds ominous. I don’t have any money, Harley.”
“He’s a trader of many things, including information. I’m sure we’ll be able to come to some sort of agreement with him.”
Harley went back to scanning the sparse bridge traffic for trouble while Cari checked over her stats before they continued across the bridge. She still hadn't returned to full health, but she didn't have time to waste searching for a healer or an apothecary selling potions. Her first priority now was to get out of the city.
* * *
Name: Cari Dix
Class: Duelist
Level: 6
* * *
Attributes:
Brawn: 10 - +1
Wisdom: 8
Luck: 10 - +1
Speed: 18 - +5
Charm: 14 - +3
Health: 52/60
* * *
Skills: Two-Weapon Combat, Acrobatic Dodge — 2, Multi-Foe Tactics — 2, Feint — 2
Experience: 7,500/9,600
* * *
Cari closed the menu and turned back to Harley.
"Let's go. I feel like the longer we stay here, the sooner another patrol of the Duke’s men will come along.”
"Alright, stay close to me, Cari. If we are confronted, let me do the talking and don't draw any weapons unless they draw first."
Cari nodded and followed Harley who stepped out of the shadows in which they'd been hiding. Together they headed across the first of the three bridges they had to cross.
The first two crossings passed without incident. Only a few people were up and about at this late hour and those all kept to their own business.
On the last bridge crossing, however, two men stepped out from the shadows just as Cari and Harley passed the center of the span.
"Look, Red, I told you we should watch the bridges."
"You were right, Ritchie. You said the one the guard is looking for might try to cut through The Banks and look, there she is."
Harley held up his hands in front of him showing he held no weapons.
"I don't know who you're looking for but this is my sister. We're headed to meet a friend near here."
"Well, mister," the one called Ritchie said. "Your sister looks a lot like a woman with a price on her head. I'll tell you what. Come with us peacefully and if she's not the one they're looking for, you can go about your business."
"But then we'll be late for our prior engagement," Harley said. "I'm telling you this is not a wanted criminal. She's with me. Can't you see I'm wearing the badge of the city watch?"
"Yeah, I still think we should take her in and let the Duke's guard decide if she's the right one or not. What do you think Red?"
"I think it would be better to take her in than to let her go."
"See, friend, I'm afraid your sister must come with us."
"I'll not go anywhere with you," Cari said placing her hand on the hilt of her sword. "If you want to come and try to take me, you'll be met with bare steel."
A new voice sounded, coming from the darkness to the left of the bridge.
"There'll be no blood spilled in our enclave this evening. Safe passage is guaranteed to all. That is the rule of this travelers enclave. We enforce it. We live by it and you both know that."
Red and Ritchie seemed to lose their bluster and they each took a step back from the end of the bridge.
Four hooded men in black cloaks climbed up and over the low stone rail at the far side of the bridge, close to where the two would be abductors stood. Ritchie held out his hands, palms wide in surrender as he spoke to the newcomers.
"I didn't mean no harm, Sir. My brother and I were just trying to make some money. That's all. There's a price on that woman's head. I'm sure of it. The Duke’d appreciate it if you turned her over to him."
The man at the front of the quartet, standing with his back to Cari and Harley, pointed down the street to the next bridge in the distance.
"The rite of passage is guaranteed to all who pass. That includes you. Go on your way and leave these people to their travels. If you choose to remain after you've made threats inside this enclave, we will assume your intentions are vile and must be dealt with. Go now and you may leave in peace. Remain and you'll leave in pieces, fed to the carp in the canals."
The two men backed away a few more steps then turned and ran down the street, crossing the next bridge and disappearing into the darkness of the next enclave. The man leading the group turned around and lowered his hood.
"Well, my girl," Merrick, the loan shark said. "It seems you've found your way into trouble once more."
Harley looked at Cari, a confused look on his face.
"You already know Merrick?"
Cari nodded.
"Our paths crossed a several days ago."
"When I heard the description being passed around by the Duke's guard, I wondered if it referred to you. I hoped you would find your way to escape the city. I don’t care for his Grace all that much."
"Perhaps I have found a way out of the city. That likely depends on you, I suspect. My friend Harley here seems to think you can help me get out of here.”
Merrick smiled.
"I might at that. Come let's get inside before someone else seeking easy gold spots you and decides to violate our rules of safe passage."
Merrick gestured to the side of the bridge where they'd climbed over the rail moments before. Cari walked to the edge and looked over. A large, wide barge was docked below, tied up so it rested under the bridge's eastern edge. A ladder rested on the stone railing lining the side of the bridge. That is where the four had climbed up from the barge below.
"Well, Harley, I guess we take the chance Merrick isn't going to double cross us."
"He won't. I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't trust him. He might send you on your way but he takes the right of safe passage in his enclave seriously. Come on. I'll help you climb down."
Cari swung a leg over the railing and shrugged off Harley's offered hand to assist her.
"I don't need any help. You watch out for yourself."
She sidestepped along the outside of the railing until she reached the ladder and climbed down to the barge. Merrick and his men awaited her there.
Cari hoped trusting the loan shark was the right
thing to do. She remained ready for trouble, watching for signs she was being double-crossed.
Harley climbed down beside her and Merrick gestured to the barge's cabin door.
"I have food and drink below. We can talk about what you need of me there."
"Lead on then. I'm right behind you," Cari said.
Merrick smiled and bent down to open the door and step through the low-ceilinged entry to the barge's interior. Cari followed, Harley right behind her. She spotted one of Merrick's men, as she entered the surprisingly spacious cabin. He was the one called Quint. He glared at Cari.
Merrick followed her gaze and leveled a stare at his subordinate.
Quint didn't need a verbal order. He muttered something under his breath and turned to exit through a door leading deeper into the barge's interior.
Merrick watched his man leave then turned back to Cari.
"Sit, please. I'll have the men brew some tea. It is a much more civilized beverage for negotiations than ale or even wine, don't you think?"
Cari found herself returning his smile. It was the kind of thing her mother might have said and it made her think of home. Were her parents frantically searching for her right now, thinking she'd run away or something, or had her father figured out where she'd gone? Would he find a way to come after her?"
She was still lost in her thoughts when a pot of hot water was brought and a sailor poured three cups of tea for Merrick, Cari, and Harley.
"To our mutual friend," Merrick said, raising his tea cup to Cari. "May he live to pay his debts."
Cari raised her cup and then took a sip, the warm tea felt good going down, banishing the last of the night's chill from her core. She hadn’t realized how cold she’d become walking through the dank streets at night.
"So, this is all about the money he owes you?"
"Is there anything else? I'm hoping if I help you reach him, you'll continue to watch over him and ensure he pays his debt to me."