City Of Light

by Darren Deegan

  ‘I could bake, or cook, maybe become a maid in some wealthy home in the upper quarter.’

  Gareth couldn’t help but laugh at that. ‘You can’t bake bread without setting fire to half the kitchen, how are you expecting to make more intricate things?’

  She punched him in the arm as he sat next to her on the ledge. ‘I’ll learn. Just like I learnt to tolerate you.’ She said, a mischievous grin on her face.

  ‘The rest of us spoke after you had your little fit and stormed off,’ he said, nudging her in the side. ‘We’ve decided that you might be right.’

  ‘Might be?’ She said, continuing not to look at him.

  ‘Might be. So we’ve decided to go against Vin’s orders and search the city together. It might not be as fast as the entire guild, but we’ll get there sooner than the ruddy guards.’

  She couldn’t have asked for more. That Vin might order the entire guild to stop earning him money, and search for some missing children, was a fool’s hope. But, she didn’t think Gareth and the others would go against a direct order from him either. The twins and Gareth had always skirted orders and rules. They made their own, and lived by them, and being huge earners had always kept them from Vin’s wraith. But blatantly throwing it in his face, defying him, Selene didn’t think any amount of money would save them from the fallout.

  ‘We’re doing the right thing, Gareth, I know we are,’ she said, turning to look at those loving eyes of his. ‘Thank you for always being there for me, even when it costs you.’

  Gareth reached across and placed his hand atop hers and smiled. ‘I’ll always have your back.’

  She smiled, ‘always?’

  ‘Until the bitter end.’

  THIRTEEN

  Three days had passed since Robert had been taken. Each and every day, the thieves had searched the city, Gareth even enlisted a few of the younger boys who followed him like he was the leader of the Thieves Guild. There had been no sign of the kidnappers, not even the usual sources had a scrap of information about a location, or who might be behind it.

  Selene grew more tired of it with each passing day as did the others. It wasn’t the extra hours of scouring the city, but the thought of what might happen to their friend, and the younger children that had been taken.

  If the lack of information wasn’t enough to dampen their mood, they had just received reports from a city guard on the guild’s payroll. There had been more kidnappings in the three days they’d been searching. More kidnappings, and still no one saw anything other than men, clothed in black, and even that had been a rare sight. Selene knew it wasn’t good. These people seemed to have free rein of the city, with no fear of being caught, not that Selene ever feared the City Guard either.

  ‘How are they getting them out?’

  Selene was deep in thought and had almost forgotten the others were around her. ‘Huh?’

  Marisa repeated herself, ‘how are they getting them out of the city? There’s been at least five people taken, and the guard has been doubled at all entrances to the city. So how have they been getting their victims out?’

  The group sat in silence for a moment, it was clear each of them contemplated the route they would take to subvert the guards. Each of their faces told Selene that they could think of no way to haul a person out of the city unseen, with the extra guards and everything being searched, in and out of the city gates.

  ‘Maybe they’re not. Or at least, they haven’t yet.’ Gareth said, standing up and pacing, just like he always did when a plan was formulating in his mind.

  ‘So you think they have all the children held here somewhere? But surely these men aren’t from Eitane where would they take them? It’s not like they have a house to hide them in.’ Selene said, unconvinced of Gareth’s idea.

  The wheels were turning in Gareth’s head, she could see that, but after three days, she wasn’t hopeful for an ingenious idea. His brow was furled, his hands moved in a pattern, as if he were instructing an invisible congregation. Gareth always liked to talk with his hands, and Selene noticed he did it, whether he was speaking to someone in front of them, or to the audience of his mind. He had been only a pace short of walking into a wall when he stopped and spun around towards them.

  ‘The docks,’ he said, with no follow up.

  ‘What about the docks?’ Tom asked.

  ‘Well, the warehouse district to be more precise. Ship captains rent out warehouses for short periods all the time. They hold cargo there while waiting for buyers, and if our kidnappers posed as simple merchants, looking to store their goods, they could rent a warehouse, never peaking suspicion.’ Gareth said, with a sense of achievement.

  He was right, he was always right, not that Selene would ever boost his already inflated ego by telling him that. But the warehouse district was vast and spanned an entire quarter of the city. Eitane was the largest and busiest port, and required a huge number of people to run the docks, and warehouses. No one would notice new comers walking around, so asking for information on any new arrivals would be pointless. This wasn’t the lead she’d hoped for.

  Selene didn’t want to rain on Gareth’s idea, but she had to keep them grounded. ‘It would take us weeks, if not months to search every warehouse from top to bottom, and you know that’s what we’ll have to do. These people, whoever they are, will not be stupid enough to keep the children in sight. We’ll have to scour every inch of those warehouses.’ She said.

  ‘I know it’s not what you were hoping for but it’s a start. Searching a quarter of the city is better than searching the entire city. Unless someone has a better idea?’ He asked, with a look that told Selene he was sure of himself.

  She didn’t need to survey the thieves around the room, to know no one had a better idea. They’d been searching for three days, and any idea seemed better than the alternative at that moment. Tom was fidgeting with something in his hand as he leaned against the only window in the room. The look of pain and worry on his face reflected Selene’s own. She regretted that over the past few days, she’d felt so bad herself for losing Robert, that she’d forgotten there was someone else who may miss him even more than she did.

  ‘You’re right, it’s a step in the right direction. We needed to narrow it down,’ she said, hoping she sounded somewhat optimistic, at least for Tom’s sake. ‘We should search the warehouse district first thing tomorrow.’

  * * *

  The never ending pile of paperwork was all that Thyle had done that day. His fingers ached from holding the slim quill between them, even the calluses and trained muscles from years of wielding a sword, weren’t enough to offer relief. He thought about how many times he’d signed his own name since taking his post as Commander of the king’s Guard and wondered if it added up to more than the rest of his life put together. It was a monotonous task that had to be done, he knew, but he almost pleaded with the gods some times, for a war, or even a small skirmish that would take him away from his desk.

  A knock on the door almost sent a wave of excitement over him as he dropped the quill and cried out, ‘enter.’

  The door creaked open, and a large man with broad shoulders made his way through the narrow entrance, he was dressed in a ceremonial city guard uniform, a must, when you had any business at the castle. Two gold stripes on each shoulder signified his rank as Captain. Thyle stood from his desk as the man approached and saluted him, a formal sign of respect. Unnecessary in private, but Thyle appreciated it none the less.

  ‘Captain Ferras, good to see you,’ he said, and gestured towards a sturdy wooden chair in front of his desk. ‘Please, take a seat.’

  ‘Thank you Commander.’ He said, pulling his sword to the side and taking a seat.

  ‘I can only assume your presence here, means you have news of the kidnapping case?’

  The Captain shifted in his seat a little, Thyle could tell he wasn’t there as the bearer of good news, as a letter would have sufficed, or even one of the Captain’s many messengers. No, whatever n
ews the Captain bore, it would not make Thyle’s day any better, and in an instant, he regretted his loathing of the paperwork he’d spent the day signing.

  ‘There have been reports of more kidnappings, all from different parts of the city, Commander. Varying ages, genders, and even classes. My men and I can see no pattern to this, it appears to be completely random.’

  Just as he had suspected, nothing to make that day any better. ‘And how goes the search for them? Have there been no witnesses at all? Surely someone has seen these men.’ Thyle said, wishing he hadn’t told the Captain to come in.

  ‘There have been several witnesses to the more recent kidnappings, Sir, but nothing solid. Some say they saw two or three men, dressed in black. Others say they’re demons that can disappear at will. The last kidnapping was at the edges of the slums, towards the entrance to the warehouse district.’

  ‘I see. And what are you doing to find these men and prevent further kidnappings?’ Thyle asked, standing from his desk, and paced.

  The Captain moved in his chair and tried to follow the Commander as he paced the room. ‘I’m not sure there’s anymore to be done, Commander. The guard has been doubled, my men are searching as best they can. What would you have me do?’

  The king had warned Thyle that this situation could be far worse than they thought, but he had argued to err on the side of caution. He had argued that the Captain and City Guard could handle it, without intervention, but he was wrong on both accounts.

  ‘Captain, I’m afraid you’re not going to like what I would have you do,’ he began, facing the Captain. ‘I am assuming command of the City Guard from this moment, until the moment we bring these men to justice and return those children to their families.’

  Ferras jumped from his seat, respect and honour thrown to the wind. ‘On who’s authority?’ He demanded, squaring up to the Commander.

  ‘By order of King Torren. Would you question the crown as disrespectfully as you question me?’

  The king’s name seemed to put the Captain in his place, and he quickly remembered who he was speaking to, and how he had addressed him. ‘My apologies Commander, I did not mean to disrespect you, or his Majesty, or course. If the king wishes you to take command of my men, then they are yours to command.’

  ‘Concentrate the search on the area surrounding the last kidnapping in the slums, and the area just inside the warehouse district nearest the slums gate. Pull some men from patrols of other quarters to help that should increase their speed and efficiency.’

  The Captain saluted the Commander and said, ‘at once,’ before making his way to the door.

  ‘And Captain,’ Thyle began, ‘I want daily reports, unless there is something important, in which case, I should like to know with haste. A messenger will do, no need to drag yourself all the way here.’

  A nod, and the Captain was out the door, leaving Thyle to dwell on the news, and what he would tell the king.

  * * *

  White hot sparks flew high, as the black hammer struck steel, again and again, the ringing of metal on metal almost melodic. Selene had been staring, entranced by the Blacksmith’s fluidic movements, something achieved from long hard years of training beneath his former master. The smith, Toben, known across Emeer for his craft. People came from far and wide to buy his weapons and tools, or leave custom orders with him, in the hopes of a unique item. It’s said Toben’s family even crafted the king’s sword, and that no finer blade could be found in the kingdom.

  ‘Girl, if you plan on standing there any longer, I’m going to have to start charging you for taking up space.’ Toben said, never taking his eye from the anvil.

  Selene snapped to attention, ‘sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt, you seemed engrossed in your work.’

  ‘That I am, but engrossed or not, I could hardly miss a stranger standing in my door for so long.’ He said, placing a red-hot sword into a bath of water, it hissed as steam filled the immediate area around it.

  She walked across the room and took a seat at a small table opposite the smith who was hanging the newly quenched sword on a rack, next to others he must have finished earlier that day.

  ‘I won’t take much of your time, I’m just here to finalise the details of an order I gave to your apprentice at the market.’

  Toben sat down at the table, pulled a large jug of water close to him, and poured himself a cup. ‘Aye, I saw the order, couple of daggers.’

  ‘That’s the one. I’m looking for something unusual, as they’re a gift for an unusual guy who never stops complaining about the daggers he has. I need them to be your best work. Weapons that not even he can complain about.’

  ‘This must be some special man to have you in my workshop making demands. I assume you know my work doesn’t come cheap. Even for the weapons I make without demands.’

  Selene nodded.

  ‘You want an unusual length, curved steel, and custom hilts crafted with the finest materials,’ he said, lifting a cup to his lips. ‘Take no offence, girl, but I’m not sure you can afford what you’re looking for.’ Toben emptied the contents of his cup in a single swig.

  Girl. Twice he’d referred to her with that condescending word, Selene wouldn’t tolerate it a third time. She repositioned herself in the chair, sitting up tall, shoulders straight and back, eyes locked on his, informing him, that she was not a woman to be trifled with. Selene reached slowly beneath her coat, feeling for the thick leather purse she kept stowed away. Its contents weighed heavy in her hand as she threw it down on the table.

  The look on his face was precisely what she had wanted. ‘Price won’t be an issue. Maybe you’re worried that your skills aren’t up to the task, in which case, I can take my business elsewhere.’

  Toben jumped to his feet, almost knocking the jug from the table. She had questioned the only thing he had, his talent as a blacksmith.

  ‘Now see here, g…’ He stopped short of finishing as Selene’s hand had shot up.

  She rose slowly, sweeping back her coat as she did, revealing her daggers beneath it. ‘The next word out of your mouth, better not be girl, or me taking my business elsewhere will be the least of your concerns.’

  Selene knew it would all most likely raise the price of her order, but she didn’t care, she wasn’t about to allow an old blacksmith to talk down to her.

  ‘Fine, one hundred a piece, I’ll not take a coin less.’

  Begrudgingly she counted out the Blacksmith’s fee, scribbled her address down on some paper, and handed both across the table.

  ‘You’ll have your apprentice deliver them when they’re finished.’ An order, not a request.

  Toben nodded, and she made her way out of his workshop and off home, a spring in her step at the thought of having Gareth’s birthday gift ordered.

  FOURTEEN

  The cool morning sea air swept up along the River Bán, flooding the streets of the slums. Selene felt a chill travel down her spine as she pulled her long leather coat closer. Only days before it had been too hot to wear even her lightest of coats, now she needed the brown leather coat that had kept her warm through the previous winter. She loved the coat though; it was made of the finest leather, soft, light, but thick enough to keep the wind from her.

  Gareth had had it made for her last birthday, and he had ensured the coat was equipped with enough pockets, and hidden compartments for all her favourite tools of the trade.

  I’ll never understand the gods damned weather in this country.

  ‘They say Emeer doesn’t have seasons, it just has weather.’ Gareth said, appearing next to her.

  Selene jumped a little, startled by his sudden appearance, and lashed out with a thunderous punch to his left arm. ‘I hate when you do that.’

  Gareth laughed, but massaged his arm, she’d hit him just hard enough, she thought. There weren’t many people that capable of sneaking up on Selene, none in fact, at least in her experience, but Gareth was the exception. He had a way about him that few people understood.
Gareth moved as if he could step through the shadows, or move just above the ground, leaving no trace, not even a sound. There was no doubt in anyone's mind why Vin had chosen Gareth to be his protégé. Selene was sure that one day, when Gareth took over, he would be far better than Vin had ever been.

  ‘I thought I was meeting you at the entrance to the warehouse district?’ She said.

  ‘You were, but I got held up by a contact, so now you’re meeting me here, and walking to the warehouse district together. Unless you’d like me to run ahead?’

  ‘Perhaps I would,’ she said with a cheeky smile.

  He looked at her questioningly for a moment, then sprung forward and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Well, I’m glad to see you’re your usual charming self, first thing in the morning. Haven’t had your coffee yet?’

  He knows me far too well. ‘Actually, we were all out this morning, and I didn’t want to wait around.’

  ‘How about we take a slight detour, and head into the Market square? Your favourite bakery is just inside the entrance. The best coffee and cake around.’

  The idea of those little balls of glazed red velvet cake made her mouth water, she loved them more than anything. They also had the best coffee in Eitane, no matter what the upper-class snobs thought. A wave of guilt followed the craving for cakes. How could she think of indulging when they were supposed to be finding the kidnappers and bringing those missing children home?

  ‘No, it’s fine, I’ll wait until later, we’ve got work to do now.’ She said, pushing on towards the bridge into the Warehouse District.

  ‘You’re guilty about having breakfast? You’ve got a big heart, my dear, but some times you let it run away with itself. We can spare ten minutes to get coffee, plus I need some myself, it’s a cold morning.’ Gareth said, putting his arm around her and leading them north towards the Market Square bridge.