by TJ Muir
He kissed her on the cheek and ducked out to take a shower.
Back in his room, Kirrin read until his eyes began to itch. His head nodded forward and he dozed off. He woke up with a start, the moons flooding the room with soft light. He sat up, working the kink out of his neck, and then went over to the window, opening the curtains so the night breeze brought cooler air into the room. He swung one leg over the ledge and ducked out onto the roof.
Outside, he stood up and stretched, smelling the cool dampness in the air. He rolled his shoulders, then brought his hands together over his heart, fingers interlaced, palms out, then stretching upward. Fingers released, arms circling down to his sides. It was automatic now.
“Sloppy. Very sloppy,” a voice said from directly behind him.
Kirrin jumped sideways, almost slipping on the slate tiles. He recovered himself as he spun around to face the voice.
Ch’hikk was perched on the roof above his window, as though she had been expecting him. “Come.” He heard the soft sound of movement- a hint of a whisper- and she was gone. Kirrin scrambled, trying to catch up with her without making enough noise to wake the entire inn.
Kirrin followed Ch’hikk up toward the terraces- the same route he had taken earlier. Had she been following him? She broke into a slow run, weaving down side alleys, up and down narrow stairs. Kirrin kept pace easily, glad of all the workouts and chases Kip and Duffy had put him through. She remained a few paces ahead of him, as though she could sense exactly where he was. She probably could, he reminded himself. The shadow dancer had uncanny senses and awareness.
He dodged a young boy who appeared out of nowhere. His mother, or someone, scooped him up before Kirrin ran into him. What was a little kid doing out at this hour of the night? Then he realized his attention had slipped, and Ch’hikk was a little further ahead now.
By the time he reached the market square, Kirrin felt a rhythm to her pace and following her became easier. She led him down unfamiliar roads, through tiny patches of thin moonlight, but Kirrin’s eyes had adjusted and he ran half by feel, trusting the invisible path Ch’hikk left behind. It felt good.
Then she scaled a wall and the easy run turned into a moderate obstacle course. Kirrin lost the flow as he scrambled over walls and down rain spouts. Kirrin followed her up a tree, out on a branch and down onto the top of a wall, but instead of going over the wall, she ran along the top of it for a while before dropping lightly to the ground. Kirrin followed, landing with less grace, and they ran through one of the lavish private walled gardens that peppered the more exclusive areas of the city. The pond and bushes shimmered. The thin slivers of Triappa and Breshan couldn’t be causing that and he realized they must be magicked for effect. He tried to watch out of the corner of his eye, but Ch’hikk sped up slightly and disappeared around some hedges.
Every time Kirrin’s attention wandered, Ch’hikk sped up or changed direction. Finally she came to a stop in a small garden above the harbor. Kirrin bent over, hands braced against his thighs, catching his breath. He looked up, noticing that Ch’hikk didn’t even look winded. She nodded at him. The closest he was going to get to approval.
“Lie down.”
Kirrin sprawled out on the cool grass, happy to oblige that command.
“Feel heart. Like a drum. Feel energy flowing in your body.”
He definitely felt his heart pounding. As his breath evened out, he began to feel the rhythm of his heartbeat slow, thump thump thump. He paced his breathing to match, the way she had taught him. Felt his ribs expand and stomach muscles ease.
“Use breath now to relax each part of your body.” She guided him on how to do so, starting with his stomach and working down to his toes. Then slowly back up from his toes to the top of his head. By the time he was done, his body felt rested and his mind felt clear and aware. It was strange, lying there, doing nothing but feeling relaxed.
“Listen to the night.” Her voice invited him to focus his awareness. “What do you hear? Be aware.” Her voice soothed, rather than interrupted his senses, guiding him. “Open your senses. What do you smell? How does the air feel around you?”
Kirrin just laid there, drinking in the night. Sometimes his thoughts would distract him, but it was as though Ch’hikk sensed it even before it happened, and brought him back to his task with gentle guidance.
He lay there for a while, listening to the the soft rustling of leaves in the night breeze. He realized Ch’hikk hadn’t said anything in awhile. He opened his eyes, glancing around. She was gone.
SOFT BREAK
Kirrin laid in bed, listening to the sounds coming from the inn. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, felt his awareness stretch. He heard the front stairs creak as a guest made their way up to their rooms. Kirrin guessed it was the older fat man, from the sounds. He practiced visualizing the way Ch’hikk had taught him, saw the man’s hand clench the railing as though pulling himself up the stairs. When that fell silent, he stretched further, catching the sound of a branch sweeping against the upper roof in the breeze.
He felt the calm awareness, but couldn’t hold it. It was easier when Ch’hikk guided him. They had gone on several night forays, but he hadn’t seen her in a while now. He went out on his own most nights, practicing the skills she was pounding into him.
After a while of laying there he began to feel restless, even though he had worked hard all day. Always in the back of his mind was Hak’kar’s task. He still didn’t know how he was going to manage it. Should he try to get a position on the estate so he could gain access, or at least get closer? That could take longer than he wanted. He decided he was just going to have to find a way to get into the house on his own. That was going to require stealth. No, finesse, he corrected himself, using Ch’hikk’s word.
It was definitely going to require better skills than he currently possessed. Kirrin tossed the covers back and slipped out the window. He headed into the city in search of challenges to practice- something new. Near the market square he found a wall to scale. It was one of the few rough stone walls he could think of. He practiced getting his fingers to grip in the tiny cracks, and using his toes to find the ledges. After two slips, he made it to the top of the wall. He stood there, looking out across the city. And then he ran along the top of the wall, practicing his cat-feet, until it came to an abrupt halt against a building.
Soft light glowed dimly from a few of the windows. One window was close to where he stood. A quick examination told Kirrin he could probably use the framing around the window to make it to the roof. He got a solid grip with one hand and found a toe-hold. Moving his free hand to grab the rough stone, he let go with his other hand and reached up to grab the overhang. He had a moment of panic as he realized he was hanging on the side of a building in the middle of the night. It wouldn’t be enough of a fall to kill him, but -- he forced that thought down and focused on his destination. He lifted his foot to the next stone and hoisted himself up. The stones around the window were slightly staggered, so the going was much easier than he had expected.
“Most people would climb in the window, not over it,” said a soft voice.
Kirrin’s grip slipped.. A hand reached out and grabbed him, pulling him inside before he could fall. He landed on a on soft carpet in a room that smelled like lavender.
“Lucky I was there,” the voice said, as the hand that had dragged him inside helped pull him to his feet.
“If you weren’t, I’d not have fallen,” Kirrin said as he straightened up and sorted himself out.
“Fair enough. What were you doing out there, anyway?”
“I was just out for a walk,” Kirrin said, shrugging one shoulder, a bit annoyed someone had interrupted his challenge.
That brought a rich, full laugh from his host. “D’ya always take your walks like this?”
“What’s the fun of walking on the road? Anyone can do that. And besides, the view is better from up here.”
She pushed his arm playfully, making Kirrin
realize she had mistaken his meaning. It was then he noticed the girl was still dressed, wearing sheer layered skirts and a shirt that caught his attention, lower cut than most girls would wear out in public. But then they were in her bedroom, he realized belatedly, and not out in public. He prayed the girl didn’t have a vigilant father lurking nearby.
“So I’m not the only one awake this late,” Kirrin said, struggling to make conversation as he wondered how to extract himself before he got into serious trouble.
“Oh, there’s plenty of folks up and abouts at all hours,” she said coyly.
Kirrin glanced towards the door. At least it was closed. “I should probably be going. I wouldn’t want to get you into trouble.”
That earned him a furrowed brow. “In trouble? How would you get me in trouble?”
Kirrin shifted to his other foot and leaned against the edge of a table, knocking over a small statue of the goddess of the moon. His quick reflexes kept the statue from hitting the floor and he placed it back in its spot as he stood back up and moved away from any further potential calamities.
“Well, I suppose your parents are asleep, but I don’t think they would take kindly to finding a strange fellow in their daughter’s bedroom.”
That was met with a howl of laughter, which she stifled by turning her face against her arm.
Kirrin jumped as the door opened, ready to leap out the window and take his chances for the wall.
“Everything okay in here?” A head poked through the door. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t think you had guests.”
“I’m fine, Lilly,” she said, still trying to contain her laughter.
“Who’s your friend?” Lilly asked.
“I actually don’t know.”
“What?” Lilly sounded surprised, hearing that.
“I have no idea. He was climbing over the window.”
Lilly’s head withdrew slightly, as she eyed Kirrin for any sign of danger.
“It’s okay. I don’t think he intended any harm. He just said he was worried about waking up my parents.”
Now both girls were laughing.
Kirrin looked back and forth, trying to understand the joke.
“Laddie, been some long time since Fern left her mum and da’s,” Lilly said, shaking her head. “Just where do you think yer at, anyway?”
Kirrin blinked, started to lean against the small table again, but stopped himself before another disaster ensued. His mind raced, as he tried to figure out what he was missing, or at least come up with a clever response that hid his ignorance.
He fumbled with the statue again. Then the inner light went on. He looked up, back and forth between Lilly and Fern. “Oh.” He flushed in embarrassment as his mouth went dry.
They both looked so normal, so ordinary. Nothing like the overdressed girls down on the docks. If he had seen either of them out on the street he never would have imagined they were prostitutes.
He glanced around the room again, the scented candles, the soft curtains. Someone had gone to a lot of work to make the room feel comfortable and romantic.
Lilly barked a laugh from the doorway. “How in the nine hells could he be this clueless? Did his friends drag him here without him knowin’? Playin’ a prank on the poor git?”
Fern shook her head. “Nah, he really did fall in from the window.”
Now it was Lilly’s turn to howl with laughter.
“Shhhh,” Fern said, as Lilly stepped into the room and closed the door.
“Want to explain that one?” Lilly asked once the door had clicked shut. “I don’ think Shorty will look kindly on guys sneakin’ in.”
Hearing that, Kirrin’s heart skipped a beat. Would some giant brute burst through the door, protecting his property? He edged closer to the window, deciding it might be time to make a polite exit.
“It’s okay. Shorty just looks after us. Makes sure no one mistreats us, and no one tries skipping out without payin.’” Fern spoke very casually about the nature of her work.
“I think ya’ve got a babe, hain’t no experience. Look at the lad blushin’, wishin’ he could just crawl into a hole ‘bout now-- and not into your nice soft bed.” Lilly added. “Ain’t that a first!”
“Shhuussshhhh you,” Fern said. Then she turned to Kirrin. “We can walk you down to the front door, if you like. What’s your name, anyway?”
“Kirrin.`
“What a pretty name. Goes with those lovely freckles.”
Kirrin didn’t know what to say, as he glanced toward the window, trying to recover himself. “That’s okay. I can manage.” Now he had decided and said it out loud, his mind focused on that-- and not the two girls who were blatantly sizing him up. He stuck his head out the window, measuring the distance back to the wall. It was a short leap he was sure he could make. He looked down, and cringed at the image he had of himself crashing to the alley below.
He stepped up onto the window ledge and hopped back to the top of the wall. Two heads popped through the dark window as he landed on his feet, going down into a crouch to use his hands for extra balance.
“Come visit again,” Fern called out, as he stood up. “Just call out before you come climbing in.”
“Or better yet,” Lilly added, “Try using the front door.”
SOFT BREAK
Kirrin shifted his weight from one hand to the other. The stone was still cool, and the breeze coming across the harbor felt nice. In a few hours the streets would be scorching. Kirrin couldn’t remember when it had ever been this hot.
“Aren’t you afraid you’ll fall?” Eben asked from where he was sitting in the shade nearby.
In response, Kirrin began walking on his hands along the stone railing. He knew he was pushing his luck, but at the worst he would fall into the water below. And as warm as it was getting, he was tempted to just take the plunge anyway. He held his handstand perfectly still and counted to twenty, then bounced down to the ground, landing with one foot slightly behind the other, perfectly balanced.
“You are all kinds of crazy, lately.” Eben said, watching him.
Kirrin laughed. “Crazy is good. I like crazy.”
Eben just shook his head.
“C’mon,” Kirrin said, pulling him to his feet.
“Where?”
“Let’s go for a run.”
“A run? In this heat? You’ve been out in the sun too long.”
“C’mon, it’ll be fun. We can head across the north bridge, just outside the city toward the Beddo camp and find a swimming hole.”
“Maybe I’ll just watch you…” Eben said, looking uncertain.
“C’mon” Kirrin coaxed, tugging on his arm. “What else you have to do? Sit around here all day?” Kirrin glanced around.
Eben sighed, but followed, breaking into a run next to Kirrin.
Kirrin led Eben the way Ch’hikk led him, setting a pace slightly ahead and letting Eben follow. Kirrin glanced back to make sure Eben was keeping up, and he picked a route the younger boy would be able to manage, avoiding scaling any walls. Before the Nibbin had risen on his second pass, they had found a perfect swimming hole, where a small river curved, creating a shallow pond. There were even overhanging trees giving shade. Kirrin stripped off his clothes and dove right in. Eben waded in behind him, leaving his shorts on.
The two splashed around for a while, washing away the heat and dust of the city. Kirrin lay back, floating in the water. Eben tried to copy him, with less success. Kirrin stared up at the sky, watching the clouds.
“I bet we could climb that tree and jump down from there,” Kirrin said, coming upright treading water
“What?” Eben asked, floundering slightly.
Kirrin nodded toward the giant tree hanging over the bank. “C’mon.” He dove under the water, coming up by the shore. By the time Eben had made his way over, Kirrin had already scouted the tree. “Look, there’s a nub right here to stand on and a branch there to grab hold of to get up to the first branch. Then hold that one, reach across to tha
t one, there,” Kirrin said, pointing, plotting out his map.
“Huh?”
Kirrin looked over at Eben who appeared both confused and petrified. “Just follow me, okay? I’ll show you and pull you across.” Kirrin climbed to each spot, and turned to help Eben, reaching out a hand to steady him or pull him up as needed. Before long the two boys were standing on a large branch jutting out over the river. Kirrin edged out further, but Eben clung closer to the trunk of the tree, gripping a branch just above their heads.
“It’s safe,” Kirrin said, trying to encourage Eben, who kept glancing down at the ground below. “Come out a little further, you can still hold the branch. You’ll be fine. I promise.” When Eben still didn’t move, Kirrin went back over and took his other hand. “You’re my best friend. I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you.”
Hearing that seemed to bolster Eben’s confidence, as he grabbed Kirrin’s hand and slowly edged out along the branch.
“Tell you what,” Kirrin said, as Eben clutched his fingers in a death grip, “let’s jump together, okay?”