by Corin, G.
After several minutes of running, the scent stopped. Frowning Ramaeka looked around, rooftops spread for miles around, but he couldn’t see any sign of his two companions. He sighed, that meant they had probably gone to ground then. He jumped lightly down onto a window sill then to the ground.
A faint whiff of Stripe immediately struck his nose before the smells of hundreds of humans and animals overwhelmed him. He winced and forged forward trying to catch Stripe’s scent over the stench of close living. He wondered how people could live like this in tiny closed off buildings without a patch of spare earth or grass, save for the street itself which was cobbled. He wandered through several streets before eventually losing the trail in a dingy unlit alley. Anxiously he walked back out into the street hopelessly lost. So much for not letting Shady get the better of him he thought darkly.
“You looking for some company there love?” a smoky voice queried from the shadows of a doorway. Ramaeka jumped, he hadn’t even smelt the person’s presence over the reek of the street itself. Now he wondered how he could have missed it as the smell of sweat, perfume and something rather sour assaulted his nose.
“Er, actually I’m lost,” he replied shyly.
A woman stumbled out of the shadows, she was dressed in very little and as she got close to Ramaeka she pulled back her shawl slightly exposing her chest.
“Well look no further sweetling,” she smirked at him. “You’ve found what you’re looking for.”
“Um,” Ramaeka backed away. “Actually I’m looking for my friends; I would really appreciate it if you could help me out.”
The woman stopped with a frown.
“Well ain’t you a polite one then.” She thought for a moment. “Alright kid, you look a bit young anyway, who you looking for?”
Ramaeka hesitated, she probably wouldn’t know Stripe and Shady if they were visitors, but Shady had said that someone was going to put them up. Who was it?
“Ma Dresden!” He grinned in relief. “I need to find Ma Dresden.”
“Oh that’s easy,” scoffed the woman. “C’mon sweetling, follow me.”
He hurried after her as she walked off down the street.
“I’m Ramaeka by the way,” he told her smiling shyly. She blinked at him in surprise then smiled back.
“I’m Makkie; it’s a pleasure to meet ya Ramaeka.”
He grinned.
“A pleasure to meet you too Makkie.”
Within minutes Makkie had led him to a large clean looking inn that had a sign reading Drunken Dragon on it. Ramaeka grinned wearily at the coincidence then followed Makkie inside.
“Oy!” yelled a strong female voice. A large tough looking woman bustled into the front room scowling ferociously at them both.
“We don’t want your lot in here, out you go then.”
She shooed at Makkie with her hands. Ramaeka placed himself firmly in front of his new companion.
“Excuse me ma’am but I was supposed to meet two friends here. I unfortunately got lost and this lady was kind enough to show me the way.”
The woman gaped at him.
“Well you’re a strange little thing aren’t you? And who was it that you we’re supposed to be meeting then?”
Ramaeka smiled endearingly at her.
“My friend’s name is Stripe,” he said.
“Oh so you’re the one they’re out looking for,” she smiled slightly, the effect softening her work roughened face.
“You just come into the kitchen then and set yourself down; I’ll send word out that you’re safe and sound.”
“Please may Makkie stay for something to eat,” he begged. “She saved my life.”
“Well,” she weakened at the pleading look on his face. “Alright just for a meal then.”
Ramaeka beamed at her and she chuckled, leading him and a shocked Makkie into the steamy kitchen. Which was where Stripe and Shady found him an hour later being fawned upon by the serving women, kitchen hands and the cook.
Ramaeka looked up as they entered the kitchen and grinned at their shocked faces.
“Hey,” he said happily. “You should try some of this apple pie stuff; it’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted.”
The cook ruffled his hair beaming at the compliment. Stripe stalked over glaring at Ramaeka.
“Are you ok?” Ramaeka asked concerned. “I was going to come and find you but Ma said to stay here.”
Stripe glared at him and whacked him lightly across the back of the head.
“Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?” he said scowling down at him.
One of the servant girls sniggered and Stripe stepped back flushing slightly.
“Never thought I’d see you going all mother hen on somebody Stripe.” Ma Dresden looked on in amusement.
“Well look at him,” Stripe blushed in embarrassment. “He’s only a little fellow; somebody has to look after him.”
Ramaeka rolled his eyes and pulled Stripe down beside him on to the bench. Really he had had enough with the little comments, he wasn’t that small.
“Never mind all that, try some of this pie stuff,” he said impatiently offering his friend a spoonful.
“Don’t you worry about that,” Ma interrupted. “He can have his own.” She dished up platefuls of delicious stew for the two tired older boys, placing bowls of apple pie and custard nearby for dessert. She sat down herself across from Ramaeka and Stripe.
“It’s good to be able to sit for a minute,” she admitted. “We’re mighty busy at the moment. You’re lucky I had room left for you.”
“I could help you Ma,” Ramaeka offered earnestly. “I’m pretty good at washing dishes.”
She could ask him to do practically any work he thought and he’d do it willingly if she kept feeding him the way she had tonight. Humans seemed to eat barely half as much as what a growing dragon like himself ate. Not willing to look greedy he had held back while travelling with Stripe and Shady, but he was constantly hungry. Ma had taken one look at his face after his first bowl of stew and had laughingly told him she liked to see a lad with a decent appetite. It was all he could do not to jump up and hug her; she wasn’t nearly as tough as he had first thought.
She laughed in response to his offer.
“Well aren’t you just the sweetest thing, but that’s alright best not to let the staff get lazy.”
She narrowed her eyes at the kitchen staff who all immediately became deeply involved in some task. She glanced back at Stripe.
“I don’t think you’ve been feeding the poor lad enough Mother Stripe. That little thing ate five bowls of stew and three bowls of apple pie and custard.”
Shady choked on a piece of meat while Stripe stared at Ramaeka in shock.
“You really ate that much?” he asked in surprise.
Ramaeka nodded sheepishly. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten, better than yours and Shady’s cooking.”
Shady scowled looking at Ramaeka for the first time since he’d arrived. Ramaeka was unconcerned by his attitude, he’d lived with worse for the last fourteen years, though he was a little annoyed that he had tried to leave him behind.
“And who’s going to pay for it?” he demanded.
“I will,” Stripe replied firmly. “How much do I owe you Ma?” he asked turning to the inn owner.
“Not a coin,” she replied, “Ramaeka is my guest as long as he stays here.”
She stood up and nodded towards the kitchen hearth.
“You might want to wake your friend up lad; it’s about time she got going home.”
She bustled out of the kitchen.
Ramaeka immediately jumped up and walked over to the figure sitting by the fire.
“Hey Makkie,” he said gently. “Ma says it’s time for you to go home.”
He watched as the under clad woman stretched and stood up. She must be half starved too he thought, she had eaten almost as much as him before sitting by the fire to warm herself.
“Thanks k
id,” she said looking uncomfortably at where Stripe and Shady were gawking at her.
“Thank you,” he replied firmly. “I might still be lost without you.”
She smiled awkwardly then made for the door.
“Hey Makkie,” he called out. She stopped at the door and raised an eyebrow at him. He fumbled in the pockets of his breeches and pulled out the golden disc which Shady into her hand.
“Make sure you get something warm to wear and something to eat,” he told her firmly. “Take care of yourself.”
She stared at him in open shock, hand closing instinctively around the coin, before nodding jerkily and rushing away out the door.
He closed the door behind her with a smile as Shady and Stripe began to demand answers.
Chapter Four
Neither Ramaeka nor Shady mentioned what had really happened outside the wall. When Stripe asked him, Ramaeka merely told him that they had been separated in the dark. Stripe had looked at him speculatively but let the topic drop.
“I wish I could sweet talk everybody like you,” Stripe said wistfully, five days after their arrival, as one of the maids ruffled Ramaeka’s hair as she walked past.
They were finishing their breakfast in the kitchen. Shady had yet to appear downstairs.
“Well it takes a lot of skill,” Ramaeka replied wisely, licking his spoon clean.
“Teach me oh great one,” Stripe pleaded dramatically grabbing hold of his hand.
Ramaeka leant closer to his friend, glancing around mysteriously. Stripe leaned in unconsciously.
“Alright,” he whispered. “All you have to do is…”
He paused and tapped Stripe on the nose. “All you have to do is be nice.”
Stripe scowled leaning away as Ramaeka sat back, laughing as his friend rubbed his nose.
“If you two are finished playing around perhaps we could get to work?” Shady suggested sarcastically from where he leant against the door way.
“In fact it’s about time the little kid contributed to our finances,” he continued walking in and grabbing an apple from the bowl on the table.
“Really?” Ramaeka looked between the two of them hopefully, barely caring that Shady had called him little again. So far he had been lookout while the other two alternately scouted out their target while the other did the actual hit.
“He’s barely had any practice,” protested Stripe.
“Oh please let me have a go,” he begged looking up at his friend pleadingly.
“Now I see how you do it,” Stripe muttered under his breath. He melted before Ramaeka’s pleading wide eyed expression.
“Fine,” he sighed.
“I’ll scout,” Shady said calmly. “Stripe’s on lookout.”
Ramaeka bound out of his chair with a whoop.
“But before we start, you need to put these on.” Shady held up a pair of boots, Ramaeka scowled at them. The other two had insisted on buying the boots for him, telling him firmly that he couldn’t be civilised without them. Ramaeka would have happily given up the experience, the contraptions pinched and rubbed at his feet.
“No boots, no stealing.”
“Fine,” he grumbled yanking them on.
“Come on then, let’s go!” he said ushering them out on to the street.
It was over two hours before Shady spotted a likely subject. Ramaeka waited as patiently as he could, leaning against the wall of a meat shop, looking as innocent as possible. Stripe was positioned somewhere above him on the roof of one of the buildings. It was cold, drizzling and he was terribly bored. Shivering he pulled the over large coat that Stripe had given him tightly around his body, scanning the street impatiently.
Finally Shady gestured for Ramaeka to join him from an alley nearby. He walked over as inconspicuously as he could, following Shady as he climbed up some crates onto the roof. They joined Stripe several buildings down. He was lying on his stomach despite the rain leaking through his clothes. Ramaeka copied his position and leaned over. The street below was surprisingly busy considering the weather; people bustled back and forth between the shops.
“That’s our target,” Shady announced pointing at a large beefy man with unfortunate taste in clothing.
“He looks like a giant plum,” giggled Ramaeka staring at the purple velvet clad figure. Stripe sniggered beside him. Looking over the street Ramaeka noticed a tall arrogant looking man who was staring over the street, a sneer of disdain twisting his face.
“What about him?” he asked curiously.
Shady rolled his eyes and pointed to several tough looking men standing nearby.
“That’s why,” he told him. “Those men are guarding him; it’s not worth the risk, even if he does have anything on him.”
Watching Ramaeka realised it was true. Still there was something about the tall man that called to his instincts.
“Come on then,” Shady said impatiently. He wriggled back, out of sight of the street. Ramaeka hastily followed, Stripe shot him an encouraging grin before turning back. Shady led him to the corner of the street.
“You know what to do?” he asked coolly.
Ramaeka nodded quickly, pushing away the excited fluttering in his stomach to concentrate on the task at hand. As Shady left, Ramaeka confidently walked around the corner. He casually glanced around as he did noting the purple man on his left several lengths down the street. Several men with swords wandered past him, joking with each other. Movement caught his eye. The tall arrogant man was moving slowly down the street from his right. As he walked Ramaeka noticed him glance at the purple man. It was only a quick look but it made Ramaeka suspicious. Something strange was going on here.
The purple man walked into the middle of the street and began to walk towards Ramaeka with a mincing swagger. This was too easy thought Ramaeka as he realised that the man would walk past just inches away with his money purse in the pocket closest to Ramaeka. He glanced up at the tall man again, he was looking out over the street as if casually observing the passer-by’s, he was also looking in Ramaeka’s direction.
At the last second Ramaeka made a quick decision and continued walking past the purple man without making a move. He continued up the street before stopping in front of a grocery shop a few lengths down from the tall man.
He looked back casually to see Shady’s scowling face as the older boy slouched down the street. As he passed the purple man his hand flicked out the way Ramaeka’s should have and secured the purple man’s money purse before he continued past. It happened so fast that a casual observer would not have noticed the movement. Ramaeka was not a casual observer and neither, it seemed, was the tall man.
He gave a shout and pointed at Shady who immediately took off. The men guarding the tall man immediately took off after him as did the tall man himself. He shoved Ramaeka out of the way as he stepped back to watch the events, and raced off down the street.
Ramaeka shoved his purse into his jacket and casually made his way down the street. Once he stepped around the corner he took off in the opposite direction to Shady, he knew that Stripe would have followed his friend to see if he could help. Several blocks away he stopped, panting, outside the doorstep that he had first met Makkie on. He had visited her several times since, to everyone’s shock. He knocked twice, slipping in as soon as the door opened.
“What’s happened?” Makkie demanded as she pulled him into the one dingy room. He leaned against the wall getting his breath back, pulling the torturous boots off his sore feet.
“The job I was doing went a bit wrong,” he admitted. “I don’t know where Shady and Stripe are, but Shady could be in a bit of trouble.”
“Stay here,” she ordered. “I’ll go see what I can find out. I’ll knock three times when I get back.”
He nodded and settled back to wait. He desperately hoped that Shady hadn’t been caught or hurt. The older boy had been cruel to him but Ramaeka didn’t want anything to happen to him. And he would never forgive himself if something happened to Stripe.
After an hour someone knocked three times on the door. Ramaeka yanked it open expecting to see Makkie. Stripe and Shady quickly pushed their way into the room closing the door behind them. They were both out of breath and Ramaeka quickly found a couple of cracked glasses and a jug of water. Stripe smiled tiredly at him as he gave him glass.
“Are you ok?” he asked anxiously.
“We’re ok,” replied Stripe. “Makkie saw us hiding behind some rubbish and told us to come here.”
“She’s finding out what happened,” he added seeing the concerned look on Ramaeka’s face.
“This is all your fault,” Shady snarled suddenly standing up and shoving Ramaeka backwards.
Annoyed Ramaeka pushed him away, Shady wasn’t that much taller than him despite the fact that he was four years older, and Ramaeka was tired of being pushed around.
“It was a set up,” he told them. “It’s not my fault you made an attempt before I could tell you.”
“He’s right,” Stripe interrupted. Shady glared at him furiously.
“You would take your little pet’s side,” he growled.
“Because he’s right,” Stripe glared right back. “It’s always been the rule, if the hand pulls out we wait to find out what happened before we make another attempt. Ramaeka did the right thing.”
“Well now were gonna have to ditch the city and we needed that purse,” Shady said sulkily.
“What happened to the purse?” he asked.
“It was full of bits metal, no coins,” replied Stripe sadly. “It was a complete failure.”
“Well actually,” Ramaeka said calmly. “If you would both shut up for a second I could tell you what happened.”