by Yi Zhu
So that’s how you are going to play this, huh? Emelia thought. “It at least looks a little bad that she was in your very office at one point. Not to mention her brother’s your little pet project.”
Neal’s face betrayed no emotions. He took a long, rectangular-shaped candy out of a drawer, and stuffed it in his face.
Emelia rolled her eyes.
“See? Things like this makes me stress eat,” Neal complained as he wiped the crumbs off with his sleeves.
“And sights like this are why I never married,” Emelia countered.
Neal mumbled something indistinguishable under his breath.
“What?” Emelia demanded.
Neal shrugged. “I won’t be omitting anything from the report. You said she dove into the river. Just send out a search party on the other side; you only have to cover Zones 1400 through 1450.”
“You realize how many people I would need to comb an area that large?”
“Not my problem.”
“Triton cares a whole lot about the Riftborns.”
“So what? What is he going to do to me?” Neal pointed to the Ivy Sigil pinned to his chest. “Unless I commit treason, the most he can do is send his little brother to scare me in my sleep. Actually, I would think that’s something you wouldn’t mind,” he finished with a smirk.
Emelia fired off an angry stare.
“Oh, please.” The ambassador waved his right arm. “You’ve been fawning over him ever since we were in our seventh grade.”
“The Shadow can kill even Elites and answer questions later, you realize that, right?”
“Oh please, Manus and I go way back; he loves me.” Neal smiled, and flashed his candy-stained teeth. “Save your breath, Emelia, and blame it on one of your officers, like every other Elite back in the Capital.”
Emelia stood up from the chair. “You’re still an ass, Shevat.”
Neal shrugged innocently. “Good thing for all of you I live all the way down here in the South.”
The supreme general turned around and stormed out of the office.
“I will send a bill for my chair,” the ambassador's voice trailed out from the room.
THAT FAT, STUPID, LITTLE—! Emelia steamed as she slammed the door, then stormed down the hallway, rage boiling in her head. The lone guard saluted her as she passed by. “Stop daydreaming and reading all day long!” Emelia spat out without breaking her pace.
She made her way down the stairs, her mind sifting through the report her spies had provided on the ambassador. For some reasons that Emelia couldn’t fathom, the fat man was extremely popular among the Southern provinces. One of her informants even went as far as using the word “beloved.” How is that possible?
Emelia exited the stairway to find Captain Siera waiting on the first floor, her face filled with concern.
“Everything all right?” the loyal captain inquired.
Emelia simply kept walking, and Siera fell closely behind.
When they both arrived at the exit, Emelia slowed down and turned around. “I’m sorry, it’s just that I really hate Shevat.”
“Your hatred for the ambassador is well documented, madam.” Siera smiled back. “You talk about it quite often.”
“Before we walk out into the Fye-less land, would you mind finding me a stack of paper?”
“Madam?” the captain asked, totally confused.
“I really need to burn something.” Emelia sighed.
High Ambassador Neal rested his eyes, and tried to process the situation. Part of him felt a great deal of annoyance that the Capital had sent Emelia down to the South instead of Manus. While he wasn’t exactly friends with the Shadow, Manus at least shared in the appreciation for the pure air. Occasionally, Neal could even sit down in a game of Stone War with the emperor’s brother. Those were the good days, the man recalled fondly.
“Riftborn, what was the damn chance of that?” Neal muttered to himself. He opened the drawer and pulled out a device that connected to the ground through a wire. Neal took a deep breath, and funneled some sparks into the contraption. A sharp beep signaled to him that the message had gotten through, and that his secretary would be on his way. He carefully tucked the device back into the drawer and waited.
“Jennie!” he yelled out, and three seconds later, the hallway guard walked in.
The flustered guardswoman straightened her body and saluted. “Sir!”
“Where is your book?”
The guardswoman’s cheeks flushed pink. “I … threw it away, sir, after the general reprimanded me.”
“Well, she is not your boss.”
“Actually, sir, technically, she is my commanding—”
Neal interrupted her with a wave. “Guard duty is tedious; do whatever you need to get through the day. Dismissed.”
With another salute, the guard took her leave. Just as she left, Neal’s secretary stumbled in.
“Sir!” the young man said respectfully.
“At ease,” Neal commanded, and noticed the young officer staring at the back of his guest chair. “Indeed, it’s quite infuriating. Put that on your agenda. Number two: replace my chair.”
“Yes, sir!” The officer pulled out a notebook and scribbled frantically.
Good help is so hard to find nowadays, but at least he writes quickly.
The secretary looked up expectantly. “What is number one on the agenda, sir?”
Neal lowered his voice. “Take several of the embassy’s force, and head to Yellow Soil Orphanage. Once there, arrest Elder Barmut.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Do not let anyone stop you; you are acting under my direct authority. Also, should they ask, tell them I plan on torturing useful information out of him. But once you have him in custody, bring him directly to my manor. Let us both hope we get to him before Emelia gets her claws on the poor old man.”
The officer let out a gasp as Neal referred to the supreme general in such an informal way. To the young man’s credit, he quickly recovered his wits. “Right away, sir!” he replied. “And on the topic of the supreme general …”
Neal’s eyebrows shot up. “What is she doing now?”
“None of us are sure, but before leaving, she set a couple of our waste bins on fire.”
“Of course she did.” Neal stood up and grabbed his coat.
“Leaving, sir? Shall I summon your envoy?”
The ambassador shook his head. “No need, I’m going on a personal visit.”
It’s time I talked to The Mother, Neal decided. I hope I can still meet Manus’s eyes the next time he comes.
Chapter 28: Tin
“Pa, look at what I found.” Tin let go of the scavenger’s sled with a satisfied grin. People always thought he was “slow,” as he rarely brought home useful things, but today, he had found something truly valuable.
The warehouse Tin called home had a high ceiling and shabby walls. Machine parts littered the floor, leaving little room to walk. The overpowering smell of concentrated Fye was the first thing anyone entering the building noticed. In the center of the room, with a vent connected to the ceiling, a large barrel with a seemingly random assortment of attachments somehow combined to make a functional condenser. Various alchemical contraptions filled the entire space, leaving only a small living area near the door for a double bunk bed and kitchen essentials. From behind a jungle of mechanical parts, a grizzled man poked his head out.
“Dada, LOOK!” Tin shouted, excitedly.
“I’d rather not; I can smell whatever it is from all the way over here,” Ray replied impatiently, then disappeared among the mountains of parts. A few moments later, his head poked out once again, this time with grease-stained goggles on. “Unless you found some Rudium?”
Tin grabbed a bucket off the wall, and began filling it from a pump. “Even… better…” the boy let out between labored breaths. “I found a body.”
A deafening crashing noise expanded outward, almost loud enough to shatter the thin blacked-out g
lass windows. The tinker uttered a string of curses, and jumped out from behind a half-completed contraption. He strode toward Tin, wiping the goggles on his apron as he moved. “Did you say a body, alive?”
Tin grabbed a rag resting on the floor, and carried the bucket next to the stretcher. “I dunno.” The boy wet the dirty cloth and gently scrubbed the face of his prize. Cleaning obviously wasn’t something the boy did often, as Tin struggled greatly.
With a heavy sigh, Ray squatted down, dipped his apron in the bucket, and began helping the boy. Half a minute later, a young girl’s face appeared beneath the pile of waste. Ray noticed that, strangely, there were no stains inside her nose.
Tin’s face lit up with delight. “She’s pretty.”
Ray ignored the boy, put a finger close to the girl’s nostrils, and waited a few moments in silence. “She’s alive, barely,” he declared finally, relieved. “And you found her where?”
Tin nodded. “I found her near the docks.”
Ray shook his head. “For the last time, my boy, you will never find metal at the docks.” He scratched his chin.
“Why not? A lot of people throw things away into the river.”
“Because metal doesn’t float!” Ray cried out, exasperated. Tin was not very bright, but the boy had a good heart. That’s what the old tinker liked about his adopted son in the first place.
“Well, it’s not all bad.” Tin smiled brilliantly.
Ray opened his mouth, but decided not to ask.
“At least now,” the boy continued, his face beaming with pride, “I have a girlfriend.”
The tinker barely managed to choke back his laughter, and gently stroked the boy’s head. “We’ll see, boy, we’ll see.”
Tin looked up. “What’s bothering you, Papa?”
Ray shook his head. “She shouldn’t be able to survive the toxins in the Great Divide. Unless …”
Sawyn awakened to the nauseating smell of Fye, and the memories of her escape flooded back into her mind. Some part of her subconscious nagged at her, pointing out the alarming fact that she was naked under the old yet surprisingly clean sheet now covering all of her body. But such facts were of little consequence right now. She tried to move her fingers, and all she got in response was pain. At least this means I am still alive, she consoled herself.
With some concentrated effort, she managed to glance to her left. On the bedside table there was a fresh change of clothes, neatly folded and weighted down with a bowl of clear liquid. Still too weak to move about, Sawyn shifted into a more comfortable position and closed her eyes. As she lay there, breathing gently, she felt her strength slowly recovering.
I made it! Sawyn realized suddenly, and took a deep breath of the Fye-rich air.
“Hey. You. Girl,” a boy’s voice whispered. But Sawyn didn’t want to open her eyes; all she wanted to do was rest. She remained still, hoping the person would just go away. “You drink water.”
He’s right, she thought, finally noticing the dryness of her lips and the sensation of thirst that was shoved to the back of her mind. Before she could reply, she felt a metal bowl gently pushed against her lips, and a gentle tilt later, water slowly but steadily poured into her mouth. The first few swallows brought about a lot of pain, yet at the same time, refreshed her somewhat.
“Rest,” a second, deeper voice said as it reached her ears. Moments later, she heard footsteps moving away from her, and a metal door gently ground shut.
“Thank you,” Sawyn whispered, to the empty room. With her body slightly more hydrated, she allowed herself to drift off into sleep.
The night came and went without Sawyn noticing, and when she finally stirred from her slumber, her face was illuminated by the tiny rays of sunlight that leaked through small openings and bounced off of the metallic objects all around the warehouse.
Once again, she attempted to move her body. Much to her surprise, she felt completely refreshed. Slowly, she grabbed the change of clothes from the stand and got dressed. Suitably covered, Sawyn sat against the bed and observed her surroundings.
A small boy walked in holding several metal rods. Upon seeing Sawyn, he dropped everything he was carrying and ran over.
“Thank you for saving me,” Sawyn began.
The boy pointed directly at her and jumped in excitement. “You are my girlfriend!”
What?
The boy looked completely harmless, but she was terribly confused.
The commotion caused by the metal rods colliding against the hard concrete floor must have been greater than Sawyn realized, because an older man rushed in and frantically surveyed the room.
“Oh, you are awake.” The man wiped his hands off on a greasy apron. “Don’t be scared. I’m Ray, and this is my boy, Tin.”
“Where am I?” Sawyn asked while keeping a wary eye on the boy. Tin seemed quite presumptuous.
“At 1406!” Tin yelled out, eager to be helpful.
Ray rested a hand gently on the boy’s shoulder, and sent him outside. The boy’s eyes lingered on Sawyn for a few moments before he smiled broadly and finally walked out of the door.
“He meant well.” Ray smiled apologetically.
“Do you know who I am?” Sawyn inquired carefully.
Ray walked over to the door and hung up his apron. Without a word, he moved to the piles of machine parts, and pulled out a stool. After patting it twice to shake off the dirt, he sat himself down comfortably. “That you are a Riftborn? Don’t worry. I’m a Tinker,” he reassured.
Sawyn looked around the room once again, and then nodded her head to show that she understood the situation. The man couldn’t exactly turn her in without getting himself implicated. “Should I leave?”
Ray pulled a tiny notebook out from his pocket. “That would be for the best.” He licked a finger and flipped through several pages. “As a scientist, could I ask you some questions first?” he asked with child-like wonder.
Chapter 29: Humanity
All of the Wolf Gang members, old and new, gathered in the courtyard. The Matriarch stood upon a small wooden stool, and waited for the few stragglers to finish settling down. Vince sat silently next to her, waiting with the rest. Though it had been only a day since he started walking around again, much of his strength had recovered.
Say what you want about the Elites' inventions, but the medications certainly worked fast.
After a few minutes of commotion, the entire gang was gathered. Amara smiled toward Vince from the back of the crowd, but he fought the urge to smile back. He couldn’t see where Isha was, but he was sure the little one would act out from jealousy.
Lucia raised her right hand and commanded silence. Immediately, every face turned toward her, and every mouth closed out of respect. Such discipline took a while to instill among the children, but by now, even the youngest had developed a healthy respect for their leader. “Our scouts have reported that a big army has gathered three zones away in the east, and they are spreading out and kicking down doors.” She began slowly to let the message sink in. “They tell me the army numbers in the thousands.”
A few of the younger children put up their fingers and tried to count.
“It’s a lot, enough to comb through several territories at the same time,” Lucia quickly added. “And they are slowly coming our way. Normally, the soldiers ignore the dirtiest, most rundown areas; that’s how most tinkers have stayed hidden. But this time, they are not cutting corners.”
Some of the scavengers knew what Lucia was about to say next, and started checking their gear. Vince, however, looked intently at his sister.
“All scavengers, be ready to loot tinker houses once they are vacated,” Lucia finished, and dismissed everyone with a single wave. The whole place erupted in activity, as everyone began assisting the scavengers with preparations.
Vince mulled over her last statement closely. He wasn’t sure if the Tryout had made him paranoid, but he could have sworn Lucia usually said “After the tinker hunt is over.” Did s
he mean to phrase it differently?
A quick look around confirmed Vince’s fear, as Lucia was nowhere to be found. Without hesitation, he took off immediately, and bolted out of the orphanage. Running made most of his body feel sore, but there wasn’t much pain today, luckily.
Oh, Sis, please don’t be a hero.
Sawyn quickly made her way north, toward the capital city. While she had appreciated the old tinker’s hospitality, they mutually agreed that her staying would be an unwise decision. Undoubtedly, there would be soldiers looking for her, and she didn’t want to bring the wrath of the Empire upon the two people kind enough to nurse her back to health. Besides, she had come to the North to see her brother again, and time was of the essence.
The Fye in the air trickled through Sawyn’s lungs, and provided her with a bountiful source of power. Ray had helped her plot out the journey, and estimated it might take her a little more than two weeks. That estimation didn’t factor in her abilities as a Riftborn, however, and in the two hours since she left, Sawyn have covered almost five times the distance expected.
Poor Tin, she mused to herself. The boy was extremely upset to see her leave, and had thrown a tremendous tantrum. Judging by the amount he was crying, one would’ve thought Sawyn was his wife. Not that either of them were old enough to marry, or that Sawyn found him attractive, of course. Thankfully, the boy wasn’t too bright, and some clever coaxing from Ray calmed him down soon after.
Brother, I am coming. She reached down into her new coat and remembered regretfully that the book she so treasured had been ruined during her escape. At least her wardrobe fit quite snugly on her body. Though her new clothes were meant for boys, Sawyn was young enough that it wasn’t a problem.
As she continued jogging, she spotted several orphans eyeballing her from corners of the streets. Tin had explained to her the way gangs worked, and though there were more rules than she had expected, it wasn’t overly complicated. Just as long as Sawyn maintained her pace, and kept her eyes from wandering too much, she should be able to pass most enforcers without incident.