"I still don't like it," objected Tedi. "It is too risky."
"Would you let someone else do it to rescue me?" asked Natia.
"Of course," replied Tedi. "I love you, and I never want to lose you."
"And Bin-lu loves Rut-ki," retorted Natia. "He may not have said so, but you can see it in his eyes when he talks about her. Am I right?"
Bin-lu was shocked by Natia's statement. He had never consciously considered Rut-ki in that light, but now that he was confronted with the question, he did not know how to answer.
"Let's go," Natia said as she stood up. "The night is wasting away and it may take some time to find Rut-ki. I also think you should collect me well before dawn so we can break Rut-ki out."
Bin-lu looked at Tedi, and the gypsy prince nodded worriedly.
"If they harm her," warned Tedi, "I will expect you to help me tear that building down."
"They will not harm her," Bin-lu said with more conviction than he truly felt. "Meet me at the stables in five minutes. I must change into my uniform."
Bin-lu raced back to the Lotus Blossom Inn and changed into his uniform. He slipped out the rear door of the inn and met Tedi and Natia at the stables of their inn. He took a short section of rope and tied Natia's hands behind her back before leading her towards the administration building. A patrol saw Bin-lu and the woman approaching and watched them mount the steps to the building. Tedi stood nervously in an alley across the street, gripping his staff tightly.
There were two guards on duty when they entered the building. Both of them became alert as the officer entered with his prisoner.
"I need a cell for the night," declared Bin-lu. "I trust you have one available?"
"We have plenty of room," smirked one of the guards as he came around to collect the prisoner.
"Then lead the way," commanded Bin-lu.
"I will take her from here," offered the guard.
"I do not think so," Bin-lu replied firmly. "This prisoner is my personal responsibility. She is not to be molested under penalty of death. Lead the way."
Both guards appeared shocked by the officer's attitude, but neither was about to argue. One of the guards grabbed a ring of keys and led the way up the stairs to the second floor. As the guard stopped in front of the first cell, Bin-lu frowned.
"Is this the women's section?" asked Bin-lu as he tried to peer into the nearby cells. "I do not see any other prisoners."
"This is the women's section," assured the guard. "It just happens that we have no other female prisoners tonight."
"None?" Bin-lu asked in surprise.
"Haven't had one in months," the guard shook his head as he opened the cell door.
Natia walked into the cell, and the guard locked the door.
"I only require a few hours of sleep," declared Bin-lu. "I will be back for her well before dawn."
The guard nodded and led the way back to the first floor. Bin-lu exited the building and returned to Tedi's room.
"They say that they have no other female prisoners," frowned Bin-lu. "How can this be?"
"Would they lie to an officer?" asked Tedi.
"It would be a very serious offense," answered Bin-lu, "but it is possible."
"Is it possible they already sent her on to Ongchi?" asked Tedi.
"No," answered Bin-lu. "They said that there have been no female prisoners in months."
"What made you think she was in jail?" asked Tedi.
"Wei-ra received a letter from Chi-Chan," replied Bin-lu. "It informed him that they had captured a spy and that he needed to come right away."
"Could it have been a male spy that was captured and not Rut-ki?" questioned Tedi.
"She did not send her weekly letter," Bin-lu shook his head. "That alone tells me that she was unable to. Only death or capture would prohibit her from sending one."
"Do you know where she lived?" asked Tedi. "Maybe we can trace her movements from there?"
"I have the address," nodded Bin-lu. "She worked at a bakery and lived above it. We cannot go there tonight, and I dare not be seen on the streets tomorrow without my uniform."
"You think the guards would recognize you?" asked Tedi.
"Yes," replied Bin-lu. "I treated them harshly so that Natia would not be harmed. I cannot wear my uniform when Wei-ra is in town. If he finds me here, my spying days are over."
"Given the restrictions," shrugged Tedi, "I say we wake up the baker."
"That would arouse great notice," Bin-lu warned. "I should be invisible while I am here."
"Then I will wake the baker," offered Tedi. "I will say that Rut-ki is an old friend, and I am just passing through with no time to visit."
"They may get angry," nodded Bin-lu, "but it is worth a try."
"Then let us do it now," Tedi said as he rose off the bed. "I don't want Natia in jail any longer than necessary. Lead the way."
Bin-lu led Tedi along the city streets. He turned frequently to make sure that no one was following them and used alleys wherever he could so that few people saw him and Tedi together. An hour later they halted in an alley across from a bakery.
"I will wait here," whispered Bin-lu. "Be as discreet as possible."
Tedi nodded and eased out of the alley. He crossed the street and stopped at the door to the bakery. He knocked softly on it, but no one answered. Tedi knocked harder and still no one answered. Looking around to see if anyone had noticed him, Tedi banged on the door. He heard people moving about inside the bakery and then saw the light of a candle illuminate a doorway at the rear of the shop. A muffled voice shouted something, and Tedi waited for the door to open.
An old woman cracked the door. "What do you want?" she scowled.
"I am sorry to disturb you so late," smiled Tedi, "but I am an old friend of Rut-ki's. I am just passing through Chi-Chan and cannot stop to visit. Could you let her know that I am here so that I can pay my respects before leaving town? I would be most grateful."
The old woman opened the door fully and smiled at Tedi. She invited him into the house. Across the street, Bin-lu frowned. He wondered if it could be that she was safe after all. If so, he had made a grand mess of things trying to save her.
While Bin-lu was pondering his mistakes, he saw a man dart away from the area behind the bakery. A shiver raced up his spine, and he wondered if he should cross the street and get Tedi and Rut-ki out of town. While he was considering his next move, a group of men raced down the street. Two of them were black-cloaks. Without waiting on formalities, the group barged into the bakery. Shouts rang out from the bakery, followed by an eerie silence. Bin-lu feared the worst, but he was powerless to help.
As Bin-lu watched from the alley, two men carried the blue form of Tedi out of the bakery. Tedi was still holding his staff, but he was covered in ice, the victim of a freeze ball spell. Bin-lu cursed himself for getting his friends involved. It was now obvious that people had been waiting for someone to inquire about Rut-ki. The baker's wife was the lure, while the baker ran for help. That convinced Bin-lu that Rut-ki was not running around free. She was probably already dead.
Bin-lu stealthily followed the group of men as they carried the frozen figure of Tedi away. With the black-cloaks leading the way, the other two men carried Tedi to the Temple of Balmak. The temple was set up the same way as the one in Ongchi. The rear door was guarded by two hefty men, and only opened from the inside. What made Bin-lu tremble in his boots was the figure who opened the door for the group. It was Wei-ra. Somehow the Intelligence Officer had managed to arrive in Chi-Chan before the weekly boat.
The rear door of the temple closed, and Bin-lu silently moved away. As the Knight of Alcea moved across the city, he berated himself for endangering both of his friends. He had truly made a mess of things. He had sent Rut-ki to her death, and probably Tedi as well. Natia was in prison, and the guards may now know about Bin-lu and capture him when he goes to free the gypsy princess. Wei-ra had beaten him to Chi-Chan, and the explicit help of the baker almost assuredl
y meant that Wei-ra was in receipt of the letters Bin-lu had sent to Rut-ki. His cover was blown.
Bin-lu wondered how he could possibly recover from the calamity of Chi-Chan as he walked back to his room at the Lotus Blossom Inn. He certainly could not abandon his friends, but he held out little hope of ever seeing them again. Back in his room, Bin-lu began to strap on his weapons. He shoved knives into each of his boots and several more in his belt. He strapped on a pouch of Lanoirian stars and his sword. A garrote was fed into a compartment on his belt, and his black wristband was slid onto his left wrist and hidden under the sleeve of his uniform. When he was done, Bin-lu was prepared for war.
Bin-lu steeled his nerves as he left the Lotus Blossom Inn and headed for the administration building. He may not be able to get his friends out alive, but anyone who got in his way was going to die.
Chapter 12
Death of the Instructor
Bin-lu marched into the administration building in Chi-Chan. The two guards on duty jumped to their feet when the Intelligence Officer entered. They were the same guards that Bin-lu had seen a few hours earlier.
"Lead me to my prisoner," demanded Bin-lu as he tried to gauge the guards' reactions to his appearance. He was not sure if Wei-ra had alerted them, but he was prepared to strike if they refused his demand.
One of the guards separated from the other and beckoned for the officer to follow him. Bin-lu maintained a safe distance from the guard as he followed him up the stairs.
"It has only been a few hours," commented the guard as they reached the second floor. "Surely you need more rest than that."
Bin-lu did not respond as he followed the guard to Natia's cell. He was relieved to see that Natia was still there. The guard opened the cell door and Natia walked out. Nothing seemed amiss, and Bin-lu began to feel a sense of relief. As he realized that Wei-ra had not alerted the garrison to be suspicious of strangers, Bin-lu began to see the truth of what was going on in Chi-Chan. It was not the army that was corrupted, but rather the Temple of Balmak alone that was the nest of the rebels. He turned to the guard and nodded in appreciation.
"There is a band of assassins in the area," Bin-lu declared. "That is the reason for my untimely request. The assassins seem to prey on officers. At least that is what Wei-ra reported. I want to get this prisoner clear of the area before dawn."
"Ah," nodded the guard. "We were not informed of such assassins, and I do not know this Wei-ra you speak about, but your tactics are wise under the circumstances. I wish you a safe journey to Ongchi."
Bin-lu smiled and herded Natia towards the stairs. Without another word to the guards, Bin-lu took Natia out of the building and disappeared. Back in Natia's room, Bin-lu explained the situation to the gypsy princess.
"We have to free Tedi," declared Natia.
"That is without question," agreed Bin-lu. "I will require your assistance. Let me explain the plan."
* * *
The Intelligence Officer walked towards the rear door of the Temple of Balmak in Chi-Chan. Clearly visible on his left wrist was a black wristband with a golden design etched upon it. Two large guards saw the officer approach and stiffened with alertness. They held their clubs tightly and stared at the approaching man. Bin-lu was wired with tension, but he tried to appear calm and relaxed. He averted his eyes from the torch near the door so that his eyes would not be dimmed in the dark interior of the temple. As he got within a few paces of the guards, Bin-lu's left hand scratched his forehead. He sensed the guards relax a bit as one of them banged on the door.
The door opened almost immediately, and Bin-lu began counting numbers in his head. A black-cloaked mage held the door as Bin-lu stepped into the dimly lit corridor. The door closed and the mage turned to inspect Bin-lu with curiosity.
"We were not expecting anyone," the black-cloak said as he gazed at the wristband.
"I have just arrived from Ongchi with a message for Wei-ra," Bin-lu replied.
"Wait here and I will waken him," the mage said as he turned to leave.
As the black-cloak turned his back to Bin-lu, the Knight of Alcea struck. Bin-lu's left hand wrapped around the mage's head and covered his mouth. His right hand guided the knife that sliced through the mage's throat. Still counting numbers in his head, Bin-lu waited for the spasm to subside before he lowered the mage's body to the floor and dragged it out of the way. As the numbers fell, Bin-lu pictured Natia approaching the guards outside. He could almost imagine the guards stiffening and gripping their clubs.
As the numbers ran out, Bin-lu pushed the door open. The two guards turned in surprise. Bin-lu smiled thinly as his leg was thrust upward, his foot connecting with the guard's chin. Out of the corner of his eye, Bin-lu detected the reflection of light off of metal as Natia's knife sailed through the air and struck the throat of the other guard.
"Make sure they are dead," Bin-lu whispered as Natia ran to the guard and retrieved her knife.
The gypsy princess checked both bodies. She slit the throat of the guard that Bin-lu had attacked and then hurried through the door that Bin-lu was holding open. Bin-lu closed the door and waited for Natia's eyes to adjust to the darkness.
"How many people will be in here?" Natia asked.
"I have no idea," answered Bin-lu, "but none of them will be friendly. There are no innocents at this time of the night. Kill everyone you see. Be especially watchful for black-cloaks. I know there is at least one more in here somewhere."
Natia nodded and indicated that she was ready to proceed. The temple was quiet in the predawn hours, and they did not encounter anyone walking about. Natia discovered a stairway and led the way down to the basement. At the bottom of the steps was another corridor. In one direction the corridor ran unhindered, but in the other direction was a sturdy door. Bin-lu touched Natia's shoulder lightly to get her attention. He pointed to her knife and then moved towards the door. Natia nodded her understanding and stood poised to attack.
Bin-lu pulled the door open, and a guard leaped to his feet. Natia's knife sliced through the air and struck the guard in the forehead. Bin-lu raced through the door and caught the falling body. He lowered the body and placed it back in the chair the guard had been sitting in.
"How did you know?" whispered Natia.
"I didn't know," shrugged Bin-lu, "but the door was blocking the corridor for a reason. It was safer to assume that someone was behind it."
Bin-lu saw a ring of keys on a peg in the wall. He reached out and took them. After only a short walk along the corridor, it became obvious that the temple had its own cells. Bin-lu used the keys to open the first door. There was no light within the cell, and the single torch in the corridor spread little light.
"Bin-lu?" came a voice from within the cell. "Is it really you?"
Bin-lu felt his body fill with joy. "Rut-ki?"
The female instructor raced to the doorway and threw her arms around Bin-lu. Bin-lu hugged the woman for a moment and then pushed her to arm's length.
"There is a Knight of Alcea also imprisoned here," Bin-lu informed Rut-ki. "We must find him and get out of here."
"We must hurry," Rut-ki responded. "K'san has sent for Wei-ra."
"Wei-ra has already arrived," Bin-lu said as he handed the keys to Natia. "K'san is here as well?"
"K'san is the name of the priest here in Chi-Chan," replied Rut-ki as Natia opened the next cell door. "He seems to be the one that everyone defers to."
"He is frozen!" Natia cried. "We will have to carry him."
Bin-lu and Rut-ki raced into the next cell. Rut-ki turned around and raced back into the corridor. She took the lone torch off the wall and carried it into the small cell. The frozen figure of Tedi was stretched out on the floor in a macabre stance in a puddle of water with his staff pointing upwards.
"Do either of you know magic?" asked Natia.
Bin-lu and Rut-ki shook their heads. Rut-ki handed the torch to Natia.
"Try to warm him with the torch," suggested Rut-ki, "but be careful not t
o burn him."
"Can't we just carry him out of here?" asked Natia as she began to melt the ice.
"It would take two of us to carry him," Bin-lu said shaking his head, "and we would be trying to run through the streets of Chi-Chan while carrying him. He cannot ride a horse the way he is. Melt his head and staff arm first. Maybe he can help us if he can use his staff."
Distant shouts suddenly drifted down the stairs, and Bin-lu raced out into the corridor. He stared at the door where the guard sat, and his brow creased with worry.
Bodies have been discovered," Bin-lu informed the others. "If they close the door in the corridor, we will be locked in here."
"We can't leave Tedi," Natia shot back.
"No," agreed Rut-ki, "but we can buy you time to thaw him."
"What are you thinking?" asked Bin-lu.
"You and I must take the fight to the enemy," answered Rut-ki. "If we are upstairs battling them, they will not come down here to check on your friend."
"Then let the fighting begin," Bin-lu nodded in agreement. "Natia, get him out of here as soon as you can. We will find a way to join you later."
Bin-lu and Rut-ki dashed through the corridor and up the stairs. They were spotted immediately. Rut-ki looked towards the front of the temple and saw two men charging towards them. Two more were charging from the rear.
"Time to split up," stated Rut-ki. "I will go forward; you head towards the rear."
Bin-lu nodded and charged off. As the two guards approached, Bin-lu leaped into the air towards them. He snapped his right foot towards the head of the trailing guard as the edge of his hand connected with the neck of the leading guard. Both guards slammed into the walls and slid to the floor. Bin-lu rose to his feet and backtracked. He twisted the neck of each of the fallen guards and then continued his drive towards the rear of the temple. When he reached the rear of the temple, Wei-ra was bent over the fallen mage. He rose to his feet and sneered at Bin-lu.
Knights of Alcea Page 15