by Adam Dreece
He checked his red jerkin was clean and straightened his criss-crossing leather straps. Zelda had taken his pistols and put them aside. The two guards that stood ten feet away were well armed and trained, but he knew Zelda was the real guard. Despite her soft tones and graceful gestures, he could read one of his own kind. Her beauty was a natural distractor. She reminded him of Richelle.
“I’m ready now,” he said nodding to convince himself.
The double doors opened. Zelda entered and then motioned for him to follow. Once he’d crossed the threshold, she closed the doors behind him.
Mister Jenny gazed about the grand room. The walls were decorated with blue and silver marble, brilliantly reflecting the light pouring in from the open balcony doors. Paintings lay sitting on the floor, leaning against the walls; clearly a change of mood was about. In the middle of the room was a large, round glass table. On it was a bounty of fresh fruit and bread, wine and water. Sitting at one of the four chairs around the table was his host, her red hood down.
“I present to you her royal highness, Regent Caterina Maurice,” said Zelda.
“Your majesty,” said Mister Jenny, bowing his head. “Your request has been completed.”
“Good. I’d heard rumor to that effect. Please, Mister Jenny, join me.” She then looked at Zelda. “You can leave us.” She caught the look of concern on Zelda’s face. “You may stay in the adjoining study, if you want.”
“Thank you, your majesty.” Zelda shuffled off and closed the study door at the opposite end of the room.
“I can see surprise on your face, Mister Jenny. There have been a few attempts on my life recently, one where I had requested Zelda to leave, and she pretended to. She made it to my side at a critical moment, shall we say. She and her sister are devoted, and I’ve learned to be a bit more appreciative of their concern.” She motioned for him to sit.
He put his worn leather backpack on the ground and made himself comfortable in one of the fine wooden chairs. He ran his rough fingers along the glass table top. He’d never seen anything like it. He resisted the childish urge to move his hand underneath it.
“Did you eliminate all of them?” she asked, taking a loud bite of a bright red apple.
“Yes,” he replied, glancing up at her and then politely moving his eyes away. “And there were no witnesses. I put the evidence in place, as you requested. Everything should point to the Piemans, if someone investigates.”
“Someone will.” She leaned in. “How certain are you that there is no trail to be followed back here?”
Mister Jenny felt the heat of her gaze. “There is always the possibility of something, your majesty. But none that I am aware of.” He paused, wondering for a moment about the scar that ran down the side of her face. “I’m only concerned about the people who saw me leave here to carry out the act, as well as return.”
“You came in through the underground entrance, as I requested?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about,” she said, smiling. “Mister Jenny, you should relax. You’ve accomplished something the Tub and many others tried and failed at. You’ve eliminated the entire Council of the Fare at once. No successors, no ability to recover—they are finally gone.” Finally. Now I truly have my Freedom, she thought. “It’s not every day a man gets to single-handedly topple an ancient order. My path will no longer be interfered with by small minds.”
He glanced at her, his face showing questions he wasn’t sure he should ask. He’d never heard of the Council of the Fare before her request. He’d learned on mission that they also called themselves the One True Fare, a way to differentiate from the group who followed the Piemans. He didn’t understand the politics, and knew he was better off staying out of it. He was, however, getting tired of being a weapon in their silent war.
She stared out the open balcony doors at the hot summer day. “Does Silskin know anything?” she asked, taking another bite of her apple.
He stroked his mustache and thought through his answer carefully. “No, at least not yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if he learns of what happened soon. He always seems to find out.”
“He does, doesn’t he? The rumors will travel quickly to him, but they have little power over him other than being a distraction. He’ll need to see it himself.” She drew a circle on the glass table with her finger. “Piecing together the truth will take him time, and by then, it shouldn’t matter.” She noticed the backpack. “Is that everything I asked for?”
Mister Jenny followed her glance and nodded. He picked it up with both hands and put it in his lap. “Everything from the meeting rooms, including the red leather satchel. It was right where you said it would be. I didn’t open any of it.”
A smile of delight crossed her face as she took the items from him and placed them on the glass table. She carefully opened the leather satchel and double checked it held all of the signing seals. “You are one of the few men I have met with a well-earned reputation that doesn’t do you enough credit, Mister Jenny.” She looked at him, wondering. “People are most vulnerable when they think themselves victorious, are they not? Was the Council celebrating Pieman’s capture? Was there an air of having won the grand game?”
“Somewhat, yes, your majesty,” he replied. He knew it was better not to share what he’d really seen or heard. The job was done, and in the end, she could rewrite history however she wanted.
A loud popping sound came from outside, drawing their gaze to the experimental Skyfaller. It was listing to one side, apparently being bogged down by a series of broken pipes. They could hear the captain cursing and ordering his small crew about.
She stood and smiled. “That is the sound of progress, Mister Jenny. We cannot afford to lose our focus or determination, especially when we think we’ve won. The finish line is always truly a mile away from where we last thought it was.”
Mister Jenny was glued to his seat, staring at the sky in disbelief. “What is that?”
“Haven’t you seen them before?” she asked. “Have a good look. That is the future. My new design has sails and piping along the sides that allows it to catch the wind, and cool the water.” She glanced at the grandfather clock across the room. “This one has lasted longer than the other prototypes. It’s the third generation, and soon will be gracing the sky everywhere. The greatest change to this generation is that it will only take us weeks to build one. The first one took years. Progress is an amazing thing.”
He was speechless. He’d heard rumors of air balloons with a ship’s body, but it was far too simplistic for what he was witnessing move through the air. Even lurching to one side, it had an air of limitless power.
Caterina continued, “For years, there were whispers that the Piemans had a secret weapon called the Hotaru. It was a fabled airship, one that he had hidden just behind the next ridge somewhere. Yet we never saw one, nor were any spies ever able to find a scrap of evidence it existed. Marcus Pieman, more than anyone else, knows how to create an insidious idea. He didn’t have to build airships, he just had to make people think that he had them, and by never talking about them, he only strengthened the rumors."
“But now, the world thinks that Marcus Pieman’s airships have been attacking, and soon they will look at my beauties as the saviors. Our only line of defense against the terror of the Piemans. My little children, my floating beauties, they will bring me the world.”
“Oh,” said Mister Jenny as something clicked. “The reason for the delegates, and the attacks under Pieman’s name… you need them to revoke his rights as a head of state.”
She smiled and nodded.
He stopped himself from asking anything else, realizing there was no long-term good that could come from his curiosity.
“You’re a smart man, Mister Jenny. Loyal, too. I’ve done my research on you, from the days before you were a trainer for the Piemans to now. However, I need a new level of loyalty from you from here on out.” She went through the papers Je
nny had given her and found what she was looking for. “Your leash is cut,” she said, handing it to him.
As he read the sheet, his cheeks went red, his eyes welled up. “The location of your daughter, her name and everything. I can’t imagine what it must have been like when you were forced out of the Piemans’ service by my father’s heavy-handed tactic of killing your wife and claiming to have killed your daughter. And then, what it must have been like to know that your daughter was alive, but you could never find her.”
Jenny kept re-reading the letter and then checking the date in the upper corner was recent. “I don’t know what to say,” he said, his throat tight with emotion.
“You don’t need to say anything. Just understand that I take care of my own, Mister Jenny. Are you with me?”
He looked at her and nodded.
“Might I suggest you take no action on this matter until everything is settled? It will definitely draw Silskin’s attention, if not that of others.”
He nodded again, unable to find words.
“Speaking of distracting matters, I have another request for you, Mister Jenny,” said Caterina, staring at the Skyfaller as it regained control. She paused and tapped the glass.
“Yes, your majesty?” asked Mister Jenny, surprised at the look of indecision on her face.
She glanced at him before returning her gaze to the airship. “Have you heard we have two guests? Bakon Cochon and a woman named Egelina-Marie Archambault?”
He shook his head. “I’ve only just returned, your majesty.”
“We discovered them in the company of Abeland Pieman. While they…” she stopped, momentarily losing confidence in what she was about to say. She scanned the gardens below, and was disappointed not to find Bakon and Egelina-Marie walking about. “I want you to watch them on the expedition to Kar’m. If they survive, discover whose side they are on. And if that side isn’t ours, I want you to kill them.”
Mister Jenny nodded, his brow showing he knew there was something more to it. He bit his tongue rather than ask why she was sending them on a mission, but it was a mystery. She never did that with others whose loyalty she questioned. Clearly, there was something more she wasn’t willing to discuss. “Understood, your majesty. Do you want me to contact you after I witness anything, or simply take action?”
She sighed and wondered. She sat down and stared at him. With firm confidence in her eyes, she said, “I’ve changed my mind. If they survive, kill them. Regardless. My destiny is mine now. I can’t afford any distractions.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
An Order of Redemption
The inn was filled to the brim with soldiers and their support people, yet again. Gretel and Ray had definitely earned their place, and with Ray’s suggestion at raising prices, Emery was able to afford to pay them for their devoted work. He tried not to think of the implications for the world around him, with an endless stream of soldiers, and now dignitaries, coming through. He was exhausted, and feeling like the richest man on a deserted island, wondering why he ever wished for anything other than the peace and quiet he used to complain about.
Emery was too tired to jump when a man gave him a slap on the back and a friendly voice filled his ears. “Need a help in the kitchen? Your staff out there is running a pretty tight ship, but you look like you need a hand.”
“William! William Baker!” said Emery, instantly filled with energy. “I’d feared you’d been killed or captured, with what happened in Mineau.”
The tall, thin man smiled. “No, but things aren’t good. I’ve got to get back there in a day or two, but needed somewhere to stay. Do you have room? You look like you have a full house.”
“Bah, I never give them the good rooms. We’ll find you something. Are your wife and daughter here? It’s been ages since I’ve seen the little one.”
“Tee’s fine, I just saw her in Costello.”
“Costello? What’s she doing over there?” asked Emery, waving for one of his staff to hold a minute.
“Have you heard of the Yellow Hoods?”
“Hoods…” Emery snapped his fingers. “Yes! There was a group a while back, complaining about them, a month or so ago.”
“That’s her and her friends,” said William with a proud smile.
“Really?” replied Emery. “Just them?”
“Well, they have a bit of help, but it’s mostly them.”
“Good for her. How’s Jennifer?” asked Emery eagerly.
His old friend’s expression went more solemn. “Let’s talk about that later, okay? Now, what do you need? Someone to chop? Call orders? Put me to work.”
As the sun daringly shone its morning light through the open doorway of the inn, Emery slammed some mugs of ale on the table. “Okay, enough cleaning and everything. All of you, come here,” he said. “Ray, put those chairs down. They might even fix themselves if you give them half a chance.”
Gretel nudged him with her broom. “Hound, he means you.”
“Oh,” he replied, nodding.
William pulled up a chair and smiled at his old friend. “Since when have you been this busy?” he asked. “That’s insane.”
“Lately, it’s almost every night, for months now. I think everyone within a hundred miles has now worked for me at some point. Few have been as helpful as these two. I had a great young woman helping me keep everything together for a while, Alice. She left on a short trip weeks ago, but never came back.
“The past couple of weeks, I’ve seen less soldiers and more dignitaries, some with Southern Kingdom colors. I think I even saw someone from Beleza, if you can believe it.”
“Are you sure you want us to join you?” asked Gretel.
Emery nodded and gestured. “Please, you guys hold it together. Gretel, Ray, this is my friend William.”
“We met through the course of the evening, but it’s a pleasure to meet you officially,” said Gretel, shaking his hand. She glanced at Ray, who then stuck his hand out as well.
Emery took his mug in both hands and leaned back. “So William, where’s Jennifer?”
Picking up his own mug and staring into it, William let his exhaustion quell the emotions that wanted to stir up. “We heard that something was going to happen in Mineau and went to check it out. The city was quickly overwhelmed. The Magistrate was in on it, and more than half the guardsmen turned on Captain Charlebois. When the foreign soldiers arrived, they spared no time in laying waste to the city. They scooped up the survivors and sent them in caravans to Kaban to be sold as slaves.”
“That’s terrible,” said Emery. “What happened to Jennifer?”
“We got separated, and I believe she was taken in one of the caravans.” William glanced about the tavern. It was strangely silent after the raucous evening. He scratched his forehead and then continued. “I was hoping to find some allies, but the world seems to be coming apart. We’ve lost a lot of good people. Do you remember Pierre DeMontagne?”
“No, I’m afraid not,” replied Emery.
“Pierre died saving my daughter from a Red Hooded archer,” said William.
Emery looked over at Gretel who was going pale. “Are you okay?”
Gretel glanced about nervously.
“She hates stories where something happens to a child,” replied the Hound, squeezing her hand back. “How old is your daughter?”
“Thirteen,” replied William.
“Thirteen already? How time has flown,” said Emery.
“I wish that was the worst of what’s happened to Tee lately, but it isn’t. I couldn’t ask her to come and help me find her mother. Maybe I don’t have enough faith in my daughter, but I’m scared what it would break her. Never mind her best friend and what’s happened with her parents. I’ll just need to find another way. It’s good to know that she’s safe, at least.”
“We’ll help you,” said Gretel, her voice trembling.
William and Emery stared at her in surprise.
“That’s nice of you,” said William, h
is hands raised in appreciation. “But you’re needed here, and I need warriors.”
“We know how to fight,” said Ray. “I didn’t get these good looks by playing with puppies.” His deadpan tone brought everyone to a laugh.
William shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“I’m good with a bow and sword, as well as other weapons,” said Gretel. “Please.”
Looking at Emery, William asked, “Can you live without them?”
“If it were anyone else, I’d say no. But I do have to ask a favor,” said Emery, the edge of his mouth curling up cheekily.
“Anything,” replied William.
“If you find that cartographer, Driss of Zouak, punch him in the face for me, please. I heard last night that everyone is coming here because he put my little inn on a map a year ago.” He looked at Ray and Gretel. “Are you sure about this?”
Gretel nodded, holding Ray’s hand.
“Well, hopefully Alice returns soon. Otherwise I’m going to close it down and cry in my mountain of money.”
William stared at Gretel and Ray. There was something in their eyes that he understood. “Okay, then. Thank you.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
A Benjamin, Tee'd Up
“Now,” said the booming instructor’s voice, cutting through the noise of the courtyard.
Elly’s eyes snapped open and scanned about the open-air training room. Immediately she spotted a man and woman charging at her from opposite sides. She blocked the woman’s attack with a wooden staff, and then rolled out of the way of the man’s club. As she lunged at the man, he grabbed her hand and yanked her across the room, into the path of the woman. Narrowly dodging the attack, Elly yelped and fell to the ground, holding her side.
“Stop,” commanded the instructor from the catwalk above. She quickly climbed down and gave Elly a helping hand. “You’ve been getting better each day. I wanted to push you harder today. How is your side?”