Rebellion

by CM Raymond

  “I figured out how we’re going to steal my dad’s blueprints,” he said.

  “Perfect!” Hannah nearly shouted. An older patron at a nearby table scowled in their direction. Hannah leaned in a whispered. “What is it?”

  Gregory grinned sheepishly. “You aren’t going to like it.”

  “Oh? It can’t be worse than fighting the remnant.”

  “I’m not so sure,” he said as he waved the envelope. “This, my dear Deborah, is an invitation.”

  A sick feeling suddenly settled in Hannah’s stomach. “An invitation to what?”

  “The annual Winter Ball. My parent’s throw one every year at their house in the Quarter. Any chance you know how to dance?”

  ****

  The walk back from The Wren to the mansion was virtually silent. Hannah was still fuming over the idea of having to go to a noble’s ball. For many of the kids growing up in Queen’s Boulevard, a fancy party with fancy food and fancy people may have been a dream come true. For Hannah, it was a nightmare. She realized that, in so many ways, she was made for the Boulevard. Before becoming one of them, Hannah despised the noble folks who had everything and didn’t realize it.

  Now that she had gotten to know them, she had considered homicide more than once.

  She had told Ezekiel that she would do anything to avenge her brother’s death, but considering the fancy dress she would have to wear, and an evening of dancing and talking shit with other shit talkers, she was starting to wonder if she had maybe met her limit.

  The house was empty when they arrived, except for Eleanor and Maddie who were sitting in the foyer.

  “He’s out back,” Eleanor said as she saw Hannah come in.

  Hannah felt flushed. She pretended to not know what she was talking about. “Who’s out back?”

  Eleanor smiled. “You’re a bad liar, dear. My son who you’ve been drooling over since you learned to walk. He’s out training with that rearick.”

  Maddie giggled. “He’s getting his ass kicked.”

  Eleanor’s eyes widened. “Language, Maddie. I thought you were supposed to be the one teaching Hannah how to speak properly.”

  Maddie shrugged. “I teach her, she teaches me.”

  Hannah smiled at her young friend. “Damn straight.”

  Gregory and Maddie laughed as a flustered Eleanor got up from her seat and shooed Hannah out the back door. “If you’re going to talk like a rearick then you might as well go train with them,” she scolded.

  “An excellent idea, Ele,” Hannah said as she turned and left the house.

  It was a cool afternoon, though still warm by Arcadian winter standards. Sal was outside waiting for her. The backyard at dusk was about the only time and place he could stretch his wings. “Don’t worry, little guy,” she said as she leaned down to scratch under his chin. “We’ll be out of this place soon enough, and I promise, I’ll find a place where you can soar to your heart’s content.” The dragon seemed to smile and nuzzled up against her leg. His strength nearly knocked her over. He wasn’t such a little guy after all. She would need to come up with a new pet name for him.

  Parker was seated on the grass with a long sword between his outstretched legs.

  “Nice weapon,” Hannah said, her eyes wide.

  “What can I say, the gods have blessed me,” Parker said with a laugh. “But thank you, my lady.”

  “I was speaking about the broad sword, not your little butter knife,” she said with a wink. “And enough of the ‘my lady’ bullshit.”

  It was already near dusk, and the magitech lights flickered on, washing the yard in a gentle blue. Hannah could now see that Parker was covered in dirt and dripping with sweat.

  She sat down next to him, and Sal laid in between.

  “It’s a damned longsword, not a broadsword,” Karl grunted. “You kids have too much to learn in too little time.” He was standing next to a row of practice weapons, looking them over. And unlike Parker, the rearick looked like he had spent the day lounging in bed.

  “Doesn’t make a damn difference what I call it, as long as I know to avoid the sharp side,” Hannah struck back. “And I thought you said we weren’t ready for the dangerous weapons. How did you put it? ‘Ye need to walk before ye can run, lass’,” Hannah said in her best Karl impression.

  Karl took a knee and leaned on his hammer. “Aye, ye can talk like me, but I’d prefer it if you could fight like me. I had hoped to take more time teaching you the basics, but it’s a luxury we don’t have, lass. War waits for no man, and if I’m taking this toddler out of the city gates, he best learn to fight… or else. A pack of rogues or even a wild boar won’t fall for his juggling tricks.”

  “I don’t know,” Parker said, still out of breath. “They worked alright on a lycanthrope once.”

  Hannah smiled. “If I remember correctly, that thing had you hiding in a tree like a cat running from a dog.”

  Karl grinned. “Maybe that’ll be yer strategy then—run and hide when the fighting starts. I’ve seen mindless remnant use weapons more gracefully than this asshat. We’ve run through all sorts of weapons: swords, axes, hammers—even a whip. None of them seemed a natural fit. I’m sure we’d get you there in time with any of them, but since we’re off tomorrow, I think we’ll put the sword to rest before you cut yer own nuts off.”

  The rearick picked up the long sword and placed it with the other weapons. Before walking back, he paused. A spear lying off to the side caught his attention. Eyeing up the weapons dimensions and build, he nodded and tossed it in Parker’s direction. Parker grabbed it out of thin air and pushed himself to his feet.

  “Hard to go wrong with a spear,” Karl said. “Maybe we’ll just stick to it for now.”

  “What’s so great about a spear?” Hannah asked.

  “First of all, it gives you reach,” Karl said. “So, the nasties can’t get in close on ya. And if they do happen to get in close, yer spinning around like a damned baboon might just keep yer ass out of trouble.”

  Parker eyed the weapon, turning it over in his hands. “And what’s the second reason?”

  “Any damned fool can thrust a spear,” Karl said. “Maybe, if we get lucky, yer opponent will trip and fall and land on the spear end.” The rearick laughed at his own joke, and it was hard for Hannah to not join in. But she could tell that Parker wasn’t in the joking mood.

  “I think it suits you,” she said, giving him an encouraging smile.

  “I’m just kidding, lad,” Karl said, giving Parker a hearty pound on the back. “You’ll be fine. And we’ll have plenty of time on the road to work on yer form. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna see if yer mom has any more of that cheese lying around.”

  Hannah smiled as the rearick left, glad to have a minute alone with Parker—or almost alone. Sal was still there after all. Before her change, the two of them spent nearly every waking minute together. Now, with her playing student and him in training, they hardly saw each other alone at all.

  “Nervous?” she asked.

  “Course not,” he said with a grin.

  “So, you’re shitting yourself then?”

  “Yeah,” Parker laughed. “Pretty much. Besides that little trip out to your ruined tower, I’ve hardly ever been outside the walls. Now, I’m going to the bloody Heights. Kind of mind blowing.”

  She nodded. “It’s beautiful. You’re going to love it. Not to mention their ale! I almost wish I was coming with you.”

  Parker cocked his head. “Don’t worry, we’ll bring a little bit of the Heights back for you. From the sounds of it, your little mystic friend will be coming back with us. I know that’s really what you want.”

  “Screw you.” She punched him on the arm. “Anyway, while you’re off taking a leisurely stroll south, I have a much more dangerous mission that I’m totally not prepared for.”

  “Is that right?” Parker grinned. “What is it?”

  She paused a moment. “I have to go to a formal ball.”

&nb
sp; Parker couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “You? At a ball? Well, shit… there goes your cover. The mission is over!”

  “Shut up,” she yelled, swinging another fist in his direction. He dodged it, and she started to chase him around the yard.

  “The fate of Irth rests in Hannah’s dancing shoes. We’re screwed,” he twirled and twisted as he evaded her attacks.

  “You’re the one who’s gonna be screwed once I catch you,” Hannah said. “I’m gonna shove that fancy new spear up your ass!”

  ****

  Gregory watched from the window as Hannah and Parker raced around the yard—with Sal almost galloping after them. He smiled as he saw Parker lose focus for just long enough for Hannah to catch up with him. She shoved him hard, and he tripped over a row of hedge bushes. Sal took his opportunity to pounce, pinning Parker to the ground.

  Gregory was happy for them; their friendship was something special, something worth fighting for. He still remembered the look on Hannah’s face when she thought Parker was dying. Gregory wondered if anyone would feel that way about him if he was in Parker’s shoes.

  The two of them were so strong, it made Gregory feel useless. Everyone had a skill, some ability or insight that let them help the team. It’s how they contributed. So far, he had offered next to nothing.

  More than once it had struck him that his family line was the only contribution he had to offer. He couldn’t fight, and he could barely do magic. He was no good at lying, or spying, or influencing people in any way. He couldn’t even cook. There must be something I can do, he thought.

  And then, as he saw Parker and Sal playing tug of war with Parker’s spear, an idea struck him.

  “Hey, Karl,” he turned and called across the room to the rearick, who was focused on lighting his after-dinner pipe.

  Karl glanced up over the cloud of smoke that was quickly forming. “Huh?” he grunted.

  “When you’re coming back from the Heights, do you think you could grab me a few pounds of amphoralds? I have some money—I’m not really sure how much they cost.”

  “Don’t you worry about it, lad. If we make it there and back, I’ll get ya whatever you need. What are ya cooking up?”

  Gregory grinned. “A surprise. You’ll see.”

  “Suit yourself,” Karl said. He settled into smoking his pipe and watching the flames flicker in the Great Room’s fireplace, leaving Gregory alone to think through the logistics of his new idea.

  Hannah dropped on the couch next to him, disrupting his mental checklist. “So… about this ball.”

  “What about it?”

  She shrugged. “Everything about it, I guess. It’s not exactly something I’ve read up on.”

  “It’s an Arcadian tradition,” Gregory said. “They’ve been throwing the Winter Ball since before I was born. There are all kinds of parties, but a lot of people say that my parents host the best one in all of the city. Most of the nobles come, including Adrien and the Governor—most years at least. And then it’s a pretty standard ball.”

  Hannah forced a laugh. “Ah… a standard ball, like we had most days in the Boulevard.”

  Gregory flushed. “Right. Sorry. Everyone dresses up—most have new clothes made for the occasion. The women especially work damned hard to outdo everybody else—although, the men all strut around like peacocks, too. It’s part party, part pageant.”

  Hannah scrunched her nose. “And what do you, well… do?”

  “At the ball? Good freaking question. It’s mostly eating and dancing. A good bit of gossiping goes on. The students are the worst. They all drink a bit too much and try to hook up. I remember walking in on a pair in a back bedroom when I was just a kid. Saw more than I wanted to, that’s for sure.”

  Hannah laughed. She had never seen someone so awkward about sex as Gregory.

  “And lots of dancing,” Gregory continued. “Which is what makes it a perfect time for us to break into my father’s study. Everybody in the house is so worried about themselves and how they’re carrying on, that nobody will even notice us, let alone our absence for a few minutes. It’s a great cover. I’m not skilled enough to get past my father’s locks, but you are. The ball lets me bring you in without any suspicion, and there’ll be so many people there, my dad will not know who’s to blame.”

  “Is that how you ask out all your dates, Sir Gregory?” Hannah cooed.

  He turned a darker shade of red. “I mean, it’s not a real date. It’s just...”

  She tussled his thick dark hair. “Relax. I’d be honored to accompany you to the Winter Ball.”

  Gregory smiled. “This has got to work, Hannah. If we get caught breaking into my dad’s office, my father will kill me.”

  Hannah laughed, nearly doubling over.

  “What?” Gregory asks, embarrassed.

  “Gregory, if we get caught, your father will be the least of our worries and killing won’t be just a matter of speaking. You know we’re committing treason against Arcadia here, right? We get caught trying to take down Adrien and whatever he has planned, we’re done for.”

  His face turned grave. After a moment of silence, he nodded. “I get it. There will be no turning back then.”

  Hannah took his hand in hers. “It’s not too late, Gregory. We will understand if you can’t do this. But if you are going to leave, leave now. I can’t worry that you’ll back out in the middle of the ball.”

  Gregory considered the penalty for rebellion. Stomach turning over, he nearly lost his dinner right there in the living room. But then his mind turned to thinking about all that Hannah had told him—about her people, her brother. The distinct sense of purpose that flowed through him weeks ago returned, and he felt elated all over again.

  “No. I’m in. I’ve never had any idea what my life was for. Like I said, I’ve always felt like a bit of a waste. But with you—with this plan—my life has meaning. I’m in. Don’t worry. I will die if I have to.”

  His words inspired Hannah, and her eyes grew glassy. She nodded. “You are more meaningful than you know. And the plan will work. It’s nearly perfect.”

  “Nearly?”

  “Yeah,” she smiled. “There’s only one major flaw.”

  Gregory furrowed his brow. “What’s that?”

  She pointed to herself. “I have no freaking clue how to dance.”

  Gregory nodded toward Karl, who had fallen asleep in his chair. “Maybe he’ll teach us,” Gregory said with a smile.

  The thought of the old burly rearick dressed in formal wear and dancing at a ball was too much, and the two couldn’t contain their laughter. Finally, when they calmed down, Hannah said, “But seriously, who’s going to help me figure this out?”

  “Ahem.” They turned to see Maddie standing in the doorway. “I believe this is an area where you need my expertise, Miss Hannah.”

  “Maddie,” Hannah said. “Do you know how to dance?”

  The girl grinned. “Damn right I do, and I can teach you.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  As Karl pulled the tarpaulin over Parker in the back of the cart, he whispered, “Stay the hell down, lad.”

  He drove the mule toward Arcadia’s gate, the cart wobbling behind. The mule was a skinny old thing, nearly as old as the rearick, but it pulled hard. It seemed happy to be getting out of the city.