The idea sounds fine by me. I could definitely use a change of scenery.
But the hours pass slow as molasses.
As evening falls, we wait for the sound of the boots. The street outside remains silent.
“Ready?” Imogen looks at Hannah and me. In response, I grab my pack and rush to join her by the front door where she’s peering out. But Imogen shakes her head, motioning to the back. “Let’s go that way. Just in case the Hunters are late.”
The three of us duck through the tiny doorway and make our way down the back alley. As before with Rosie, we weave our way through the narrow passageways, avoiding the main streets.
Suddenly Imogen stops in front of me. “Hold on, I hear something.” Sure enough, the sounds of regalia and boots reaches our ears. We press ourselves against the stone wall, hoping the darkness is enough to hide us. Down at the end of the alley, we see the purple-clad Hunters march past. They do not see us.
When they are gone, we turn in the other direction. “How much farther?” I ask.
“We’re nearly there,” Imogen replies. Hannah is silent, her face blanched with fear. I feel bad for her—still not sure why she’s coming along.
We make several more turns. It’s nearly pitch black now. The only light that of candles and lamps leaking through curtained windows.
“It’s just ahead,” Imogen says. “Only two more blo—”
“Halt!” The voice behind us interrupts her. Our heads swing in unison to take in the violet-clad man who has spotted us.
“Go, Hannah. Godspeed!” Imogen shoves our companion toward the Hunter.
I’m too stunned to move. Realizing she was only along as a sacrifice … But Imogen grabs my arm and pulls me away. I don’t know how I find the strength to run, but I do. I can hear commotion coming closer to us. I can’t tell in which direction.
“Dammit! That’s the way we need to go,” Imogen says. The passage she’s peering into is clogged with Hunters. “No matter, I know a way around.” She weaves expertly through the passageways, evading the growing number of Hunters.
Finally, she points down a narrow passage. “Run down there! Find the blue door—don’t knock—go straight in. They’ll keep you safe. I’ll keep going this way. Distract the Hunters.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to argue; she pushes me into the passage and takes off in the other direction.
I run as fast as I can. Just ahead I can make out the blue door Imogen told me to find. I’ve nearly reached it when there is a flash of violet and gold out of the corner of my eye. I try to dart away, but the Hunter is too quick. He grabs me from behind, dragging me into the nook where he was hiding. I kick at him and start to scream. He slaps his hand over my mouth, and my cries are futile. His other arm has mine pinned at my side. I try to claw them away to free my voice, to reach Fortissima’s grip. But he is too strong. His breath is in my ear, and somehow over the sound of my thrumming heart I hear his voice.
“Raven! Calm down! It’s me. Leif.”
Chapter 6
Leif drops his hand from my mouth. He eases his grip on my body, only slightly.
“What in the world are you doing here?” I ask, whirling around in his arms and grabbing him with my own. I bury my face in the rough fabric of the Hunter’s jacket. “And what the hell are you wearing?”
I ease my hold on him so I can see his face. But it’s only for a second—my eyes drift closed when Leif leans down to kiss me.
We’re both panting as he rests his forehead against mine. “Oh, I’ve missed you, Raven. But what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be resting by the sea in Nuimana. Not trapped in this hellhole.” Leif’s mouth curls into a half grin. “Although I admit I knew I’d be seeing you here. Somehow.”
“I couldn’t do it, Leif. I couldn’t stomach you here, possibly facing King Araroa alone. And, well …” I pause. I don’t know how much I should share of the visions I had when I held Fortissima. And of Miss Lilith’s warning not to come.
“What? What is it?”
“Let’s just say I had a feeling that I am needed here. Nuimana will be fine without me.”
Leif smiles. “You are needed here. No truer words ever spoken.”
“But you haven’t told me why you’re dressed like that … and what are you doing chasing innocent women down alleys, besides?”
“Ah yes, this terrible costume. It was all to—” Leif’s explanation is interrupted by the sound of footsteps very nearby. Coming toward us.
“They’re here!” a voice barks. Before we can react, a Hunter is standing before us with more crowding the alley behind him. Leif grabs my arms, whirling me around to face the Hunter.
“I’ve got one of them, sir.” I can tell Leif is willing his voice not to waver. I can tell this was not part of his plan.
“Very good, Officer. We’ll take the girl from here.”
“No, Commander—I mean—I’ll assist.”
The commander nods. “Very well. One got away, unfortunately. But we’ve got the other Treasoner besides this one.” My heart beats faster at this, if that is even possible. I hope it’s Imogen who was able to get away. But even if it’s Hannah they’ve captured—the thought of anyone being detained by these monsters sickens me.
We move out of the alley like a violet snake, Leif holding my arms gently behind my back, both of my hands in one of his. We grip each other tight.
Our small band joins the main group of Hunters out on the street. Sure enough, they’ve got Hannah held too. One of her eyes is swollen shut, and blood drips from her split bottom lip. I have to bite my own to keep from yelling out. How dare they abuse her this way. I squeeze Leif’s hand instead. He squeezes it back.
Hannah’s good eye is glued to Leif and me as we pass. It’s not a friendly glare, but I certainly can’t blame her. This wasn’t her idea.
“I know …” He whispers so only I can hear. “We’ll get her out too.”
We begin our parade back to the Palace. Leif and another Hunter marches with Hannah and me right up front. They want to make a display of what happens to Treasoners when they are caught, it seems. Even in the dark, I spy faces watching from windows as we move past.
Little do they know this is hardly the worst of it. I know where I’m going: King Araroa’s dungeon. A den of despair and torture and starvation. The memory of it sends chills down my entire body.
I can’t go back there. I just can’t.
I keep walking, but I’m searching around, desperate for a way to escape this. Minutes later, we’re descending on West Market. If only it were morning, full of chaos. But it’s nearing the middle of the night, and the streets are empty and quiet.
We’re closing in upon a familiar passageway. I make the split-second realization that this is the only chance I’ve got. I take it.
I raise my leg and kick backward, hard. Leif grunts and doubles over, losing his grip on my hands and arms. He instinctively tries to grasp me again, but I’m too quick. I twist out of his reach and dart down Milford Lane.
The shouts that follow quickly fade from my ears. I hear Leif yelling that he’ll bring me right back, for the others to wait. A single set of footsteps follow me down the passage.
I dart inside the door to number 16, and keep running straight into the kitchen. I clamber down the ladder, into Nile’s pitch-dark spirit cellar, stepping carefully across the room. Glass crunches underfoot, and my boots slosh through the spilled liquid coating the floor.
The front door above scrapes the floor as it’s shoved closed. Footsteps overhead. Legs appear on the ladder and climb down, shutting the hatch door above us. Leif has no trouble finding me in the dark.
We hold each other tight and don’t speak, letting our ragged breathing return to normal.
“I’m really sorry about that,” I mumble into his chest.
He makes a chuckling noise. “I’ll recover, I think. Actually, I know I will. Here we are, after all.” He kisses the top of my head, then works his way down m
y cheek, to my jaw, and my neck. Finally, our mouths meet in the dark.
We eventually let go of each other so Leif can feel around for the lantern. Miraculously, he finds it unbroken, still hanging on a wall hook. He pulls a flint out of his pocket, sparks it, and lights the oil-soaked wick.
“This is worse than I remembered,” he groans, shining the lantern around us. “They must have come back after. When I first arrived and found Papa missing, our house was nothing like this.”
“I suppose they wanted to make a point. As always,” I say. Leif and I busy ourselves with clearing a corner of the cellar of glass. When that’s done, we both sink down onto the floor. Exhausted. Leif puts his arm around me, and I tuck my head against him.
“Will the other soldiers search here?” I wonder aloud.
Leif doesn’t immediately reply. “Not sure, really. That group I was with didn’t say anything about Papa. They seem only to be tasked with finding Treasoners. That’s why I was with them, after all.”
“You have a bit of explaining to do, you know.” I grin up at him, already looking forward to hearing his tale.
“Ah yes. Where do I begin? Laundry day, I suppose. I poked around the Hunters’ quarters and waited until the washing was hung. And grabbed myself some fine new garb, as you see.” He pats the collar of his jacket, the color of dried blood in the dim light. Or an old bruise.
“I’d hoped to be able to get into the dungeons where they were keeping Papa.” He pauses.
“And? Did you?”
“He wasn’t there.”
“Really?”
“Nope, I searched all the floors.” He swallows, hard. The memory of the reek down there makes my own throat burn. “But Papa wasn’t there. I’ve got no idea where they’re keeping him.”
“We’ll find him. I’m sure of that,” I say, hoping I sound confident. I’m not feeling sure of this at all. “But how did you end up in a dark alley, at night, grabbing young women?”
Leif laughs. “I’ve spent the past week doing the rounds with the King’s Hunters. Pretending to look for Treasoners. Every chance I get, I warn any I do find, so they can get away.” His grin flashes in the lantern light. Of course he has been. “And then Imogen—who you’ve now met—sent word that you’d returned, and I knew I’d get my chance to capture you myself.” He turns, grabs me, and pretends to tackle me. I laugh as he growls and bites and kisses my neck.
There is a noise above us.
Leif stops. Stone still.
It’s footsteps—someone is inside the house. The steps grow louder as they enter the kitchen. I hold my breath, expecting the hatch to the cellar to fly open at any second. But the steps are muffled as they pass over, as if they are walking over a rug.
“Did you put the rug over the hatch?” I whisper nervously.
Leif shakes his head. His brows are furrowed with confusion.
The footsteps grow more faint as we listen to them move out into the street. They echo on the stones and quickly fade from our ears.
We don’t move for several minutes. It takes at least that long for our hearts to slow. I can feel Leif’s pounding even through the thickness of his coat.
“Well. That was close,” he says, exhaling and looking around. “And damned if they didn’t leave one bottle unbroken.”
Although our accommodations are nothing to relish, just sleeping with Leif’s arm around me is enough. We don’t hear any sounds for the rest of the night, and I sleep like a baby for hours and hours.
Leif takes a look out of the cellar and confirms it’s daylight. “We should go. It will be busy now, so we’ll blend in.”
I look pointedly at his violet garb. “In that?”
He looks down. “You’re right. I think it’s finally time to shed this awful costume. Not really my color anyway.” He shrugs the coat off and is about to throw it on the sticky floor.
“Wait! You might need that later.”
“I hope not. But you’re right.” Leif tosses the jacket onto a clean stool. He unbuttons and removes his filthy breeches and shirt, and lays those on top.
He’s down to only his drawers.
I try really hard not to stare. But I fail miserably.
“What?” He puts his hands on his hips and tilts his head to one side. Grinning. This does not help.
“I don’t think you’ll blend in wearing nothing either.”
“Hmm. You’re right about that too. I’ll see what I can find upstairs.”
I have to cover my eyes as Leif climbs the ladder. When the light floods in from the open hatch, I peek through my fingers to catch his bare, muscled legs climbing through the opening. I will myself to follow, grabbing my pack with all my precious things.
While Leif is rummaging in a trunk for clean clothes to wear, I search around for something to eat. I’m starving. I find some stale biscuits in a tin and offer one to Leif when he returns. Dressed, thankfully.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“We’d best go to Imogen’s safe house. She’s got people reporting to her, watching out all over the Bastion. Maybe she’ll know what we should do from here.”
I tighten Fortissima’s belt and smile at Leif. “Let’s go find Imogen, then.”
It’s early, and West Market is busy as usual this time of day. Leif and I make our way unnoticed through the main streets and return to Imogen’s safe house. But when we arrive, it’s empty. The people who were there yesterday are gone. The few pieces of furniture—chairs and a table—are overturned.
“Oh no, where are they? What happened?” I try to quell my growing sense of panic. Did the Hunters raid Imogen’s hideout too?
Leif shakes his head. He doesn’t look nervous. “It’s okay. They’ve only moved. Imogen says they do that every so often. Especially when the Hunters get too close. Let’s go get something to eat. I know just the place.” His mischievous grin tells me we’ll be getting more than something to eat.
Leif grabs hold of my hand and leads me down a side street. I’m worried about someone recognizing me, but no one seems to pay us any mind. I do catch a few sidelong glances, but the eyes always look quickly away. Either they have no idea who I am, or they are ignoring the fact that they do. My instinct tells me it’s the latter.
We stop in front of a small bakery. Leif holds the door open and beckons me to enter.
An older, plump woman greets us from behind the counter. “Well, hello, young man, m’lady. What can I get you today?” She winks at us—slow but sure. It’s clear she knows exactly who we are.
“We’d love a couple of your bacon-and-egg pies, ma’am,” Leif says. “And a cup or two of coffee, if you have some fresh.”
“That I can do. Why don’t you two kids have a seat over there. I’ll warm the pies for you.” She turns to the pot on the stove behind her and fills two mugs with steaming coffee.
“Thank you, kindly,” I say. Leif and I accept the mugs and move to a small table in the corner.
There’s no one in here but Leif and I. Still, I keep my voice very low. “Something tells me you and the baker know each other.”
A corner of Leif’s mouth curls into a smile. “We do. You’ll see how in a minute.”
Sure enough, the baker soon brings two plates with our heated pies. Leif offers her several coins in payment. She accepts them, handing him a small slip of paper. “Your receipt, sir.” She returns to her post behind the counter.
Leif glances down at the paper, then hands it over to me. Only a few words are scribbled onto it.
L— Bring yourself and guest to the black house on Eventide. See you there. —I
“So—this is a mail drop, as well as bakery, I take it?”
Leif winks. “You got it.” As he takes a bite of his pie, his eyes roll back into his head. I take a bite as well. It’s heavenly. In minutes, we’re both licking our fingers and gulping the last sludges of coffee down.
“So where is ‘Eventide’ anyway?”
“You wouldn’t know, not even if y
ou were from the Bastion. Imogen’s coded all the street names. In case anyone got ahold of something like this.” He holds the small slip of paper up again, setting it to light with the candle that’s on our table. It burns to his fingers, and he drops it onto the empty plate before him. Soon, there’s nothing left but a smattering of ash.
We thank the baker and step back outside. Leif claps his hat on his head and pulls it down low, so it nearly covers his eyes.
“Don’t you think somebody will recognize us, Leif?”
“Not if we hurry. Let’s go.” Leif grabs my hand again, and we practically run through the streets, still crowded with people doing their morning shopping and errands. Suddenly he turns, leading me back to a stall we’ve just passed that sells scarves and hats and other clothing. He picks up a scarf and holds it up next to my face. It is a dark blue, woven through with tiny silver strands that shimmer. He smiles and turns to the stallkeeper. “How much for this one?”
“Two coins, please.”
Leif passes the coins over, then hands me the scarf. “For you, m’lady. It reminds me of Nuimana. The night sky, like I’ve never seen anywhere else.”
I look at the scarf in my hands. He’s right: it’s the exact color of the sky right after sunset. My heart leaps with longing—all I want is to be back there with Leif, sitting in the shade on the beach. At peace.
“Here. Let me help you.” He takes the scarf back and wraps it around my head and loosely around my shoulders. I’m certain it looks better than the wool hats Tui and I wore the last time we were in the Bastion.
He takes my hand again, and we continue on.
“Where are we going?” I ask, nearly out of breath from our jogging pace.
“Over toward the southern gates. We’ve got to keep a lookout, though. We’re going to pass right through the central square.”
I stop. “Leif, there are guards everywhere over there. I barely got past them yesterday.”
He stares at me and purses his lips. Considering. Then he grins.
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