by B. T. Narro
They finally turned into an alley. I used some barrels to climb onto a roof, then crawled across the edge and waited, listening to determine how far they’d gone.
“Let’s see it,” the thief said, his voice coming from two houses down. I carefully made my way there, jumping over the gaps between roofs.
“What was that?” Tyree was startled by the noise I’d made.
“Some animal. You’re always jumpy. Not a good quality for a thief, little goat.” His tone was snide, making the nickname sound instead like an insult.
“At least I know how to use the word ‘wore.’ M’gods, Bagger, will you ever learn how to speak?”
“Of course I know ‘wore.’ I was distracting him, and it worked didn’t it? Now let’s see it.”
I was flat on my stomach when I risked a look over the edge.
“You should get at least five silver for that one,” Bagger said. “I expect three when you sell it.”
“Two.”
Bagger shoved Tyree. The child fell but jumped up quickly. He didn’t look familiar with a confrontation like this and backed up into the wall just beneath me.
“Don’t try that with me.” Bagger shook a finger in his face. “You want to keep this, this…”
“Arrangement?”
“Shut up! If you want to keep this, what we got, you do as I tell you.” Bagger leaned over him, sticking his face near Tyree’s. The child looked down and tried to back up farther, only to be stopped by the wall. “Say you understand.” Bagger cuffed the side of his head.
“I understand!”
“Now take this one, too. Sell it, and give me half. I’ll know if you lie.”
“You said you’d tell me who you took that dalion from if I helped you take the first timepiece.”
“He’s dead and pitless. So it doesn’t matter, now does it?”
Dead? Oh, he thought I was dead because of the flying spider attack. Good, maybe it would give me an advantage.
Tyree shoved both timepieces in his pocket. He started to walk away, only to look back after a few steps. “We should go to Glaine. I’ve heard there are even richer people there. And they don’t fairith.”
“They are richer in Glaine, but they’ll also take more than a finger if you’re caught.”
“I never get caught.”
“So far. You want to lose a hand when you do?”
Tyree looked at his right hand.
“Thought so. Now go. Meet at the spot tomorrow.”
Tyree ran off. My wish had come true; they weren’t father and son, and I had Bagger alone now. As the idea of hurting him came to mind, pity fought against it. What had brought these two together? Maybe it was loss, just like it was with Shara and me.
But unlike us, they had turned to thieving and even seemed to enjoy it. At least Bagger did. He was whistling now as he walked down the alley. Only a despicable man takes without need and without guilt. He had my dalion, so why was he still stealing? My adrenaline kicked in as I realized it was time to act.
Without needing precision, I gathered py over his head. When a small cloud of it was ready, I brought it down onto his face, then pulled back with as much force as I could. His knees bent, and for a startling moment I thought he was going to stay on his feet. Then they were plucked out from beneath him, and he fell hard on his back. Now screaming, he started swiping a dagger at where he figured his attacker’s arm must be. I was surprised by this reflex—so ready to cut a man just for grabbing his face.
Feeling nothing from his swipes, he tried to grab the hand holding his face and keeping his back pressed to the ground. Of course, there was no hand, so he found my py energy instead.
“What is this!” He tried to get his hands around it so that he could pull it off, but my mind easily overpowered the strength of his arms. I’d never felt someone tugging on the py I was controlling before. If I hadn’t seen him trying to pull it off his forehead, I would’ve thought the extra resistance was just my body’s urge to relax. The feeling wasn’t much different than spending the day lifting planks of wood and then finding that one of the same weight seemed twice as heavy. It was uncomfortable, but I gritted my teeth and forced the energy to stay still.
Bagger growled. “Get off me!”
While his shouts hadn’t drawn attention so far, I didn’t want to wait until they did. I spread the energy so that it covered his mouth and nose, pushing down with enough force to cause terrible pain. But pain wasn’t his concern, of course. Breathing was. His arms and legs began flailing.
“Stay quiet and you’ll live,” I told him. As quickly and carefully as I could, I swung my legs over the roof and jumped.
I landed too hard to stay on my feet, falling forward onto my hands. I almost lost complete control of the energy in that moment, but I regained focus enough to grab it before it dispersed. It had risen off his face, and I noticed him struggling to stand just as I pushed it back down, muffling his mouth and nose again. He clawed at it, desperate to get it off.
“Scream and you’ll die,” I said, letting the energy up slightly.
His eyes went wide with recognition when his head spun toward me. Aggression flooded his face. He tried to sit up, so I slammed him back to the ground.
“Don’t move. Don’t say anything.”
He became still…except for his tightening grip around his dagger. Gods, please don’t make me kill you. I was somewhat surprised by this thought. I’d wanted him dead immediately after he’d taken my dalion, but I just didn’t have it in me. This man didn’t compare to the red priest, who I’d kill again if I had the chance. This man was full of evil but of a different kind, subdued in comparison. He wasn’t taking lives. He’d even spared mine.
“Take out your money pouch,” I demanded. He didn’t move. “Now.” I pressed the cluster of py down onto his throat slightly. He gasped.
“All right!” he choked out.
I checked behind me just to make sure no one had walked up since I’d jumped down from the roof. Panic threatened to stop my heart when I saw Tyree staring back. What would the boy do? He looked startled that I’d seen him. I heard Bagger rustle. It drew my gaze, but he was just removing his money pouch. When I looked back, Tyree was gone. Was the boy running to a guard right now? Would he tell them I’m a pyforial mage?
I snatched the pouch from Bagger’s open hand. “Stay down.” I pushed py against his chest, holding it there as I ran toward where Tyree had been.
I left Bagger and ran into the street, looking both directions for Tyree. I couldn’t find him, so I chose a direction, left, and took off that way. I didn’t know what I would do if I found him.
It didn’t matter. The street soon split, and there was no way I was going to locate him. I kept running, though, going as far as I could before I needed to stop for breath. Then I checked the money pouch.
My dalion wasn’t in it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
I counted three ruffs and sixteen pits, hardly more than I could make in a day back in Lanhine! Damn. He probably had the dalion in his shoe or a hidden pocket. Why didn’t I think of it earlier? Not only that—but that’s what I should’ve done with my dalions before he robbed me. Shara should’ve told me to do that. Why didn’t she? Probably because she’d never even held a dalion before. I was just angry and looking for someone to blame. This wasn’t her fault. Just because she was smarter than me didn’t mean my stupidity was her responsibility. Gods, I definitely was going to be late meeting her.
I ran toward the inn while I tried to understand all that I’d just done. I’d revealed to Bagger and Tyree that I was a pyforial mage. For all I knew, someone else could’ve seen me in that alley. Guards could be looking for me right now. All of this for three ruffs and sixteen pits, and now Shara was going to scream at me for making her worry. I muttered curses at myself all the way back.
I arrived outside the inn to find her with her hands on her hips and a stormy expression on her face.
“Two hells, I was so wo
rried!” she screamed. “Do you even know how late you are?”
“I know.”
“Where were you!” People were staring, so I tried to bring her off the street. When I put my hand on her arm, though, she jerked away and hit me in the chest.
“I’m trying to explain.” I grabbed her arm and moved us to the alley while she fought me.
“You don’t even look sorry!” She shoved me. I stumbled for a step, noticing too late that she was coming after me. “I thought the southern army had come from the woods!” She shoved me harder this time, nearly making me fall. “I was so panicked I could barely breathe! Then I thought you’d been arrested for failing to fairith! I started asking guards about you. Two hells, Neeko!” She was about to shove me again, but I grabbed her hands.
“Stop. Stop!” She balled her hands and struck my arms and chest. “Stop!” My words did nothing. I grabbed her hands, but her right one slipped free and caught me with a solid blow to my chin. Both of her hands flew up to cover her mouth, her eyes stricken with guilt.
I felt my bottom lip stinging. Tasting blood, I spat and wasn’t surprised to see it was red.
“I’m sorry! I’m—” She dropped her hands and cleared her throat, her face abruptly serious. “I mean, that’s what you deserve for the torture you put me through.”
I gave her a long look, then spat out more blood.
Her brow furrowed as she bit her lip. “Does it hurt?”
“I’ll be all right.”
“I’ve never punched someone before.”
“Congratulations,” I said sarcastically. “I was trying to get here as soon as I could, but I found my thief. I went looking for him…and I actually found him and Tyree.”
Just the mention of the boy’s name was enough to make Shara’s face twist with disgust. “That little runt! I hope you reported both of them to the guards.”
The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. I told her everything that I did instead, figuring she would understand letting Tyree go to focus on Bagger.
She didn’t.
“Neeko…do you realize how dangerous that was? I’m not hearing so from your voice.”
“I know it was dangerous.”
“We should leave the city in case they report you. We might be able to beat word of you reaching Glaine if we hurry. In fact, we should’ve left half an hour ago.”
“Let’s go, then.”
We fetched the horses and rode abreast, not speaking.
“I’m sorry,” I said after a bit. “I didn’t wish to worry you.”
“Of course you didn’t.” She sounded just as callous as she had the morning she looked inside my coin purse.
We fell silent again until I couldn’t stand it any longer.
“We should make it to Glaine in time, right?”
“If we stop only to rest the horses.”
I sighed, longing to get the old Shara back.
“By the way,” she said, “I spent all four silver. I’ll pay you back.”
“You don’t have to pay me back for the food.”
“Oh, I wasn’t going to.”
We laughed, and I instantly felt better. Shara’s giggle was interrupted by her gasping. “Look.” A swarm of soldiers clad in black armor quickly filled the streets before us. “Must be our army from Glaine. So many of them!”
Relief made my body tingle. “This town won’t burn like the rest.”
“Thanks to you.”
“And Eizle.”
“I hope we don’t see him in Glaine.”
But I wasn’t afraid of him like Shara clearly was. In fact, I missed him. I knew it was strange, but I couldn’t help it. I regretted the way we parted, the things I said and didn’t say.
“I wouldn’t mind speaking with him one more time.”
“Because you feel guilty?” Shara asked. “You shouldn’t.”
“I do. But I’ve felt guilty for the past eight years.”
She grumbled. “I can’t believe I’m about to quote Herall Danmaw, but even the worst poets can get lucky from time to time: There are two types of emotions. One is as fickle as the weather, a storm, a tornado, hail. The other type is endless, and there’s nothing tangible that exists into infinity as these emotions do. Time will dismantle everything, including our bodies, before we let go of these feelings. Once they start, there’s no end to them until they’re abandoned, left behind without a look back. Among them can be love, hate, and bereavement, but none have the tenacity of guilt.”
I waited, but she seemed to be done. “Herall Danmaw wrote that?”
“I know, doesn’t even rhyme. But he’s right in this case. Your guilt is so deep that you need to abandon it.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“If people can abandon their own children, then you can abandon this guilt.” She was adamant, but she was wrong. I felt uncomfortable discussing the topic of abandonment with Shara, but I couldn’t let it go.
“Except I wouldn’t ever abandon my child. Maybe people who abandon their children also can abandon guilt, but I can’t.”
“You will eventually. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“I feel guilty about trying not to feel guilty. I’ve done terrible things. Am I really supposed to just forget them?”
“Not forget, but you’re supposed to let them go.”
Shara didn’t understand what it was like. She didn’t feel guilty about Eizle. Gods, she didn’t feel guilty about anything, and rightly so.
“I envy you,” I admitted.
This only made her frown.
We rode for two whole days without incident, stopping only at night or when Shara said our horses needed a break. As we talked, we mentioned Eizle and the thieves less and less. With the threat of battle behind us, we just had the worry of making it to the master of coin on time, and even that somehow stopped nagging at me. There was plenty of food along with the perfect mixture of sun and wind. I’d lost a dalion and quite a lot of silver since leaving, making me poorer than I’d been in years, but I just couldn’t keep up the effort to care.
Shara said Antilith was the northernmost city in Rhalon, so we’d been in Arish since the moment we crossed the river just north of the city, and the land certainly resembled this change of territories. Small forests covered the hills like hair, hardly a bald spot to be seen. Rows of groomed trees encircled small towns. Everything was greener, healthier. The grass itself nearly glowed in the sun, as if all these acres were well-managed by man. Shara told me those who lived in Arish had comfortable lives, but the lords of the land made them seem poor by comparison. Most of these lords shared a bloodline with royalty.
When we finally stopped to sleep the second night, the air was just cold enough to give us an excuse to share blankets but not too cold to make us shiver.
I woke to Shara’s rustling as she squeezed out from under my arm. We both sat up, and I started my morning routine of checking my money, then my bag…something had dragged it away from us.
It was still closed, and nothing appeared to be missing. Except my shoes, which had been right beside my bag. I ran around frantically, no order to my search.
“Where are my shoes?”
“They’re gone?”
There weren’t many places they could be, so it took only another moment for me to realize that Shara was right. “Yes!”
“Good thing you have an extra pair. Imagine if you had to walk into the castle with no shoes. They probably wouldn’t even let you in, redemption scroll or not.”
It was Shara! She’d taken them. No, she wouldn’t. Or would she? I studied her.
“What?”
I stared at her, trying to decide whether she could’ve hidden them.
“Neeko, what?”
I still didn’t answer.
“What…” Suddenly, she realized what I was thinking. “You think I took them?”
Silence.
“You think I would take them just to prove a point? Neeko, say something!”
>
I still couldn’t tell.
“I wouldn’t take your shoes!” she screamed, then jabbed her finger. “Stop looking at me like that!”
I was starting to believe her.
“Neeko, please! I would never do something like that”—her eyes fell to the grass—“to you.”
“You would to others?”
“Well, Shara has tricked some of her nasty parents to teach them to listen.” She balled her fists and dropped them down to her sides. “But I wouldn’t do that to you! We’ve come all this way with you trusting me. Why stop now?”
That turned me to her side. “You’re right.”
“So you believe me?”
“Completely.”
“Two hells, Neeko. You had your arm around me all night. How could I have taken them anyway?”
Gods, she was right. That was stupid of me. “Doesn’t matter, I believe you.”
She wagged her finger. “Oh, now it doesn’t matter! Now that Neeko says he believes Shara, what’s the point in logic coming to light, hmm? Maybe if it wasn’t so early, I would’ve thought of that right away and watched that mean glare drop off your face so fast—”
“You’re right. It was stupid of me to blame you.”
She folded her arms, seemingly waiting for me to say something else.
“What?”
“You don’t apologize often enough.”
With my father despising apologies, I’d gotten used to not speaking them. Kind of ironic how an apology was the last thing I said to the man, as I abandoned his body in our burning house.
“Sorry, Shara.”
She turned her head and tapped her cheek.
I let out a light laugh as I approached. “It’s strange how you do this, like you’re training me to be your suitor.” As I moved my lips toward her, she leaned away and put her palms up.
“I’m not trying to do that.”
“I know you’re not. I just mean it feels like that.”
“It shouldn’t.”
“I know it shouldn’t, but it does.” I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t even know why I mentioned it. I liked kissing her cheek, even if it felt strange to do so at her request. I’d be happy to kiss more than her cheek.