Melegal stepped into his path. “No, let’s wait. We’ll do what you say, but let’s be more subtle, Vee. They are bound to go secure Georgio if he’s not with the dog. We still have plenty of time to track them. McKnight and Tonio stick out like sore thumbs around here—although somehow they’ve managed to not alert anyone at Castle Almen, because you know Lord Almen would have taken action by now if he knew they were around. So, hey, it might take some coin, but we can get them quietly. But from here on out, we stick together. Agreed?”
Venir looked at his friend. “Fine, but we gotta be moving. I have to feel like I am doing something. And Brool stays out.”
With that, he put the shield and helm back inside the sack, and stuffed it into the backpack and then shouldered it on. He covered Brool’s blades and spike in a heavy cloth and slid it between the backpack and his shoulder blades. Plenty of people were armed in the City of Bone, but Brool was a menacing attention-getter and there was no need for that right now. The thief rolled his eyes and then the three of them treaded back down the stairs in hopes of catching a break and locating the boy.
CHAPTER 39
Octopus puffed up as Haze and Sis approached; Frigdah stood guard at the outer entryway. Sis stayed back while Haze tossed the cat a treat. The big cat sniffed it, reluctant to drop the boy’s finger from his mouth, then growled. Sis wanted no part of a cat scratch and nudged her sister. Haze started purring, something Sis had heard her do many times before. The cat sauntered over, rubbing along Haze’s skinny legs. Sis stepped to the steel door. It had a handle, but no lock. She pulled. It creaked but did not budge.
“Haze,” Sis said in a quiet voice. “Get Frigdah down her.”
Haze whistled, and in a moment, Frigdah’s hulking silhouette lumbered through the entryway.
“Frig,” Sis said, “I can’t open it. Fetch me somethin’ to pry it open—or knock it through with something. Be quick, though.”
Frigdah pressed her broad shoulders against the door, causing the metal to groan—but not budge at all. Sis punched Frigdah in the arm and received a funny look in return. What is she thinking now? Sis thought. Yes, Frigdah was a big woman: over six feet tall and every bit of two hundred twenty pounds. Sis had seen Frigdah’s thick forearms slam down a bigger man’s in contests before. She was the muscle of the Motley Girls among other things, but she wasn’t someone who could knock down doors.
Sis punched her again. “What are you doing? You’re not going to bust through it! So get going and find a pry bar of some kind. Time’s a wasting!”
“But—”
“Go!” Sis said.
Frigdah turned, head hanging, and walked back out. Sis ran her fingers over the edges of the door and the walls that encased it. She banged on it a couple times. They were at a dead end. She hoped her sister found something useful, and soon. She wanted to find the boy and go. She had no desire to trifle with the Royals. She would rather die.
Then Sis heard a rush of heavy footsteps coming their way. Octopus sprang away, and Haze scrambled flat against the wall. Sis turned just in time to see a large figure rushing toward them. She dove out of the way just as she heard a familiar voice yell, “Gangway!”
Sis watched as Frigdah crashed into the door, shattering the hinges and knocking it flat with a loud whump! And Frigdah kept on going into a torch-lit corridor, but then she finally stumbled and fell. As Sis rose, she saw Frigdah begin to roll downward into a spiral stone staircase. As she rushed forward, Sis heard a few ooff’s and oww’s before it sounded like Frigdah came to a full stop below.
Octopus ran past Sis, a fuzzy black streak, and disappeared down the staircase. Sis waited with Haze at the top of the stairs, then heard a groan as Frigdah crawled back up to them.
“Geez, Frig,” Haze said, “wha’cha been eating these days?”
Stumbling to her feet, Frigdah pulled a large flask out with a meaty hand and sucked it down.
“Whatever I can get my hands on, I guess?” Frigdah said. “Did I do good, Sis?”
Sis put her hands on Frigdah’s big shoulders and looked her dead in the eye.
“Yeah, Frig. But next time you better warn me before you almost trample me.”
“Sorry,” she said, smiling.
Sis slapped her on the rump.
CHAPTER 40
In the dark and dank cell, Georgio lay curled up, sobbing. His tummy kept rumbling, and he was cold, miserable, and scared. Everything was black, thanks to the last of the torches finally dying. He could not see his own hand, but he could hear and feel plenty. Roaches crawled under and over him. The rats still nipped at his flesh and he wailed in pain. He’d never killed so many living things before, but he knew that numerous rats and bugs lay crushed on the floor all around him. He felt exhausted and he could fight no more. Still the vermin came. He was in agony.
“Vee … where are you?” he mumbled.
A few minutes later, Georgio heard what sounded like someone pounding on a door somewhere nearby. His heart thumped with fear. McKnight and Tonio were coming back. What else would they do to him? What would they cut off?
But … what if it was Vee or Melegal, coming to save him?
He listened and heard nothing. Hope faded as he cried again. Then came a loud crash. He sat up.
“Vee?” he croaked.
Georgio tried to stand but could not. He heard odd sounds and someone grunting and groaning, followed by some unfamiliar voices. Then he saw torchlight flickering through the small window in the door. It might as well have been the sun, but it brought no warmth. The rats scurried away and a sense of relief assailed him.
But something was wrong. He didn’t hear Venir. He drew himself into the corner and shivered.
Then came a loud clatch!—and the sound of metal hitting stone. The door swung open as he shielded his eyes. A blur came his way and he soon heard a squeak followed by a crunch. He blinked several times to let his eyes adjust, and then he saw that Octopus had a large rat crushed in his mouth. A few steps behind the cat, three strange, ugly women hissed at him to come with them fast, but he didn’t move. One finally came toward him and then shook him with her warm hands, but he balled up even tighter. He just kept shaking.
“Haze, give him a shirt or something,” said the woman who had shaken him.
The woman called Haze took off a heavy cotton sweater and tossed it to the other woman.
“Okay, boy, my name’s Sis,” the woman said as she leaned closer. “This is Haze, and that’s Frigdah; we’re sisters. You’re safe now. We’re going to take you home—back to your friend Venir. He’s been looking for you.”
Georgio relaxed a bit, then sat up and tried to stand.
“Vee?” he croaked through dry lips.
“Yes,” Sis said, rubbing his cold arms.
Haze stepped forward and put a canteen to his lips. The water tasted good—and cold.
The big cat crawled up onto his lap.
“Octopus,” Georgio mumbled.
He felt himself gaining strength as the water refreshed him and the big cat licked the blood off his hands. Haze and Sis stood him up and put the long sweater on him.
“Please … please get me out of here,” Georgio cried. “Take me to Vee. Please.”
Tears began to well up in all the women’s eyes. Georgio didn’t know who they were, but he figured they must be on his side.
“Okay, Georgio. We’re going. Do you want us to carry you?” Sis asked.
He raised an eyebrow.
“No, I’m … a big boy,” Georgio said. “Let’s hurry before they come back.”
Frigdah took the lead, follow by Sis, Georgio, and Haze. Frigdah and Haze each held torches as they all headed up the damp moldy stairway. They had almost reached the top of the staircase when Frigdah stopped. It was quiet for a moment, but then raspy breathing could be heard from above, along with some shuffling of feet. Georgio squeezed Sis’s hand and began trembling again. The raspy breathing was familiar to him. Terror struck his heart, and he fe
lt tears streaming down his face.
“I don’t want my fingers cut off again!” he cried.
The shuffling feet and breathing became louder as someone now approached, barring the way to freedom. Then, in the dimness atop the stairs, a man stood before them, slowly removing a tattered cloak. The women all gasped at the shirtless figure standing before them, then they stepped backward, shielding Georgio behind them. But Georgio could still see.
There Tonio was—ghastly, tall, and powerful in the flickering torchlight. One of the sisters whispered a curse. Georgio could see Tonio sneer, his split face even more terrifying in the torchlight. Georgio’s would-be rescuers drew their blades, hands shaking but still standing their ground. Georgio saw the hilt of his own sword strapped to the Tonio’s back, but the giant man didn’t draw it. He just looked at them all and smiled.
“Don’t let him get me!” Georgio said.
He turned and tried to run back down the stairs, but Sis held him tight. Tonio just waited, arms across his chest—and then he came toward them.
“Sisters!” Sis said. “Gimme those torches now. Haze, guard the boy and be ready to run.”
Sis slipped off her shabby cloak, then took the torches and rolled them up in her cloak. In the near darkness, Georgio could see that Tonio had stopped on the steps above them. Georgio held onto Haze, watching and listening.
“Wrap his legs,” Sis whispered, to Frigdah it seemed.
Then he heard Sis yell, “Let’s go!”
All three sisters battle-cried, and Georgio felt himself being jerked forward up the stairs.
Ahead of him, Georgio made out Sis lunging forward in the darkness, blade first, and taking a stab at where she no doubt hoped Tonio’s throat would be. But she missed the mark—and paid for it. Tonio’s fist crashed into her jaw, staggering her into the wall. Frigdah then grabbed onto the man’s legs and squeezed them with all her might. Tonio hammered blows downward but she didn’t budge. Haze pulled Georgio tight as they watched the horror of it all. Sis recovered, tackling Tonio while he was still off balance. The three thrashed about for several seconds as Tonio struggled to free himself from their desperate clutches. Cries of pain and anguish rang in Georgio’s ears. He could barely see what was going on.
Sis cried out, “Haze, get him out of here!”
Haze jerked on his arm, but Georgio was too scared to budge. Then he felt his hefty body being lifted up as the thin sister hoisted him over her shoulder and began running up the stairs. Georgio heard Tonio pummeling Sis and Frigdah with jarring fury. Then Georgio saw the man’s hands grab at Haze’s nimble legs. He caught her ankle and jerked, and Georgio tumbled hard onto the stairs.
Georgio watched as the big woman bit Tonio in the calf, but the big man still managed to grab him and Haze by the hair, pulling them into the fray. Tonio head-butted Frigdah with Haze’s head, knocking Haze out cold. Frigdah, though, still held onto his legs like a leech. Georgio wailed, kicking and screaming, but he was still caught amidst the battle. He watched as Tonio pulled a knife from a small scabbard on his hip and begin stabbing at the big woman clutching his legs. The blade plunged deep into her shoulder, causing her to scream. She finally lost her grip. Georgio closed his eyes as Tonio raised the blade for a killing blow. Then he heard a growl and a scream—from Tonio.
Georgio opened his eyes to see Tonio’s face and throat catching the full onslaught of thirty-two claws ripping into him like a furry black tornado. Octopus’ white claws tore deep into the man’s eyes, nose, and throat. Tonio roared in pain. He grabbed the cat by the scruff of the neck to try and pull him off with his free hand, but Octopus only tore up his face more. As Georgio kicked at the demonic man, Tonio tried to stab the cat.
Sis finally recovered and launched herself onto Tonio’s arm, pulling it down with all her might. Georgio saw an opening and never moved so fast in all of his life, flying up the twisting stairs without a glance back. He could hear the fighting below as the screams and yells echoed along with screeches of the savage cat. But he just kept running.
*****
On the stairs, Tonio’s body began to bloat from the wounds suffered by the cat’s claws. He could feel the effect spreading like poison through his system. Using both hands, he finally tore the cat from his bloodied and shredded face.
As soon as the cat hit the steps, it scurried upward. Tonio continued his onslaught on the women, soon leaving them in a battered and bloodied heap on the stairs, all unmoving. He recovered his dagger and limped up the stairs after the boy.
*****
Georgio had no idea where he was by the time he got out of the alley. The thoughts of freedom from the terrors he’d faced caused him to only try and get as far away as he could. He couldn’t have cared less where he was going, at least until he stopped after several minutes of running to catch his breath.
Looking around, he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Octopus running toward him.
“Octopus,” Georgio said, gasping for air. “Did … Did you come to find me?”
The big cat rubbed across his legs and then bounded off, only to stop a few dozen feet up the street, apparently waiting for the boy.
“Okay, I’ll follow you, but I hope you’re going home.”
The big cat cut in and out of several alleys that Georgio didn’t recognize, as he was clueless where in Bone he was. After several minutes, though, things became all too familiar as his fears of Tonio were left behind, knowing that he was nearing home.
Never in his life would he have imagined that people could do such terrible things to him, but at the same time, he was starting to get used to the fact that he had a hard time dying. He clutched at his right hand where Tonio had cut off his fingers, still in disbelief that they had grown back. He actually couldn’t wait to show Venir.
Georgio wasn’t far from the Drunken Octopus now, and once in sight of it, he ran full speed to get inside the tavern and find Venir, or even Melegal. If they weren’t there, then he would head up to the apartment where he was sure Lefty would be—that is, if Lefty wasn’t out looking for him too.
Seeing a gaping hole in the Drunken Octopus’s wall, Georgio jumped through it and found himself amidst a crowd of activity. No one gave the boy any notice as he navigated the tavern floor. But Georgio didn’t see any familiar faces. Without waiting, he headed up the stairs, floor after floor, to the top where they lived. The door was locked, so he knocked. No answer.
Over and over he knocked, then he convinced himself they all must be out looking for him. He then realized how starving and thirsty he was too. Hopefully the barkeep would let him wait for their return and feed him in the meantime, so he headed back down the stairs and crept behind the bar unnoticed. Then the smell of cooked food wafted into his nostrils from the kitchen behind the bar. Someone had some meat-and-vegetable stew brewing, along with bread in the oven. He forgot about everything that moment and ducked into the back.
A rugged woman in her sixties stood by the oven, and she saw Georgio right away. Her eyes looked over him and likely saw what a mess he was. Georgio remembered meeting her once before, but he didn’t know her name. She said nothing, but nodded toward him, then sat him down and fed him. She kept about her business and left the hungry boy to himself.
After stuffing himself full, Georgio left the kitchen, satisfied as if all his troubles had gone away. He rubbed his belly as he sauntered into the tavern. Once again, he made his way through the smoke-filled and crowded room until he reached the fireplace. The warmth on his face was welcoming and inviting, and he lost himself in the fire’s glow. He let his eyes fall shut as he relaxed and felt sleep pressing in on him. Moments passed and he opened his eyes, blinking a few times. He looked to his left and then his right—only to lock eyes with McKnight.
CHAPTER 41
The Royal families in the City of Bone often battled in the shadows when in conflict. A clever infiltration of a castle would allow one to usurp another. Assassination, blackmail, marriage, and bribery were often
the source of those insidious plights for power. Vows were broken, and families split as a result of desperate survival from oblivion or being miscast to the streets or even banished from Bone all together.
There were other ways, more forceful ways, to weaken another house from the outside rather than within. Every Royal castle had at their disposal specialized men and women that battled in the dark streets and alleys from time to time. They waited, then tracked and trapped the careless and overconfident smaller groups of exposed or weaker Royal families in the alleys, striking quick and leaving a bloody message in the streets. And they covered their tracks well.
These cadres consisted of skilled and seasoned soldiers, the most trusted guards of the Royals. They had been hardened from wars and skirmishes from all over Bish. Some had even fought at the Warfield, the most renowned battlefield in the world. Their peers respected their prowess. They lived as Royals, given creature comforts and status within the castles. They were the overseers of the training and security affairs of the family. They were called the Shadow Sentries, and they enforced fear throughout the City of Bone—but Leezir the Slerg wondered if the mighty Venir had even the smallest place in his heart for fear of these deadly fighters.
From the rooftops, Leezir watched Venir and his two companions pass by along the dark street below.
Be ready, warrior, Leezir thought.
Not long after Venir and his friends had passed by, a trio of Shadow Sentries—from Lord Almen, no doubt—slipped quietly along the street as well, their black armor blending them into the shadows almost invisibly. From above, though, Leezir had seen them. He cupped his hand behind his ear.
Bone! They’re wearing ghost armor.
The odds continued to stack against Leezir as the Almen House was apparently taking little risk. The armor was proof of that. It was rare—black-dyed braided cloth, woven with tiny rings of steel and brass by magic. It was as effective a full suit of chain mail, but light and quiet like clothing. Leezir grimaced as he saw that the Shadow Sentries brandished swords, daggers, axes, crossbows, spears, and the like. He had seen their work before: they were cunning as assassins, ferocious as panthers, and as merciless as hobgoblins. Now they sought a lone man: their mission was to hunt down and kill Venir.
The Darkslayer: Book 02 - Blades in the Night Page 19