As they moved to follow Amri out of the shelter of the alley Ezra gasped and pulled Browen back. “Browen, your shield!”
Ralis looked at the intricate design on the back of Browen’s shield. While most of the shield was polished silver the rim was stained a dark blue and at the center was a detailed emblem of a blue snake coiling through a crown. He had never realized that the design was somehow tied to Browen’s family name.
Browen took off his shield and inspected the design as Ezra continued.
“We’re lucky that no one noticed it yet.”
“What is wrong with his shield?” Miri asked, looking confused between Ezra, Browen and the shield.
“That is a symbol of the Serrelli family, if anyone sees it, they’ll know that he’s related to them.” Ezra instructed, then turned to Browen. “You need to leave it behind.”
“I would rather not.” Browen frowned as he pulled his family shield closer to his chest. “If we get into trouble, I would like to have it with me. I fight better with a sword and shield.”
“But if you keep it, you’ll absolutely attract trouble.” Amri reasoned, nodding at Ezra. “Leave it here, hopefully we’re long gone before someone finds it.”
Browen’s shoulders slumped and Ralis spoke up. “Is there a way we can hide the symbol?”
Everyone took a closer look at the design; the emblem was fused to the metal and without the tools of a blacksmith they would not be able to get it off without damaging the integrity of the shield.
“I have an idea, but… it’s dangerous.” Ezra said quietly. “My power can be hot enough to melt metal, remember. If I’m careful then I could, maybe, metal the symbol beyond recognition.”
“Absolutely not!” Miri squeaked. “That is too dangerous! If you lose control of the flame, you could burn Browen!”
Miri was shaking as she spoke, and her eyes were wide in terror.
“I don’t think that the shield would still be usable if you did it that way.” Browen frowned, then after taking a closer look at the shield. “Maybe if you could just weaken the brazing that’s holding the emblem on, I could pry it off with my sword.”
“I could try.” Ezra pulled off her glove and brought her hand over the emblem.
Miri attempted to protest and resolved to turn away as the two prepared to remove the Serrelli family mark. Ralis couldn’t figure out why she was so upset and instead turned his focus onto Ezra and Browen’s work.
The green tattoos that decorated her left arm blazed a brilliant green and her eyes sparked with a fire as she attempted to control the flame. Browen rested the shield against the wall and drew his sword, ready to do his part. The alley grew warm, then uncomfortably hot, as she focused the flames around the crest on the shield. The metal turned red from the heat but was still solid when Browen brought his sword down between the polished silver and the ornate crest. Ezra continued to pour more heat into the metal as he worked and eventually the piece snapped apart leaving the shield bare aside from the stained blue rim and the unpolished metal where the emblem had been.
“How did you know that would work?” Ralis asked, impressed.
“When I got into swordplay, I wanted to learn a little about blacksmithing. You’d be surprised what you can learn from books.” He smiled.
“We need to get moving, someone would have noticed that.” Amri looked anxiously back into the street.
“What about the crest?” Browen asked as he looked down at his family’s symbol, discarded on the ground.
Ezra grabbed the hot metal crest, like it was nothing, and tossed it behind a smashed and rotting barrel that had been forgotten in the alleyway. “There, hopefully no one will find it until we’re long gone from here.”
Chapter Seventeen
Amri
Amri felt at home in the dense cityscape. The thick crowds that made Miri’s breathing race and eyes widen made Amri feel relaxed. The towers of buildings on all sides were a comfort and the gangs of soldiers patrolling the streets made her feel oddly safe. They were a danger she could track and avoid unlike the threats of the woods. She was surprised at how much she had missed her old life as she sulked through rain slick streets.
When they had first arrived in Endar, she had spotted a pickpocket swiping a pocket watch from a well-dressed gentleman. Then deeper in the city she saw a dirty looking man peddling illegal wares in the dark of an alleyway, and the shadow of someone creeping along a rooftop. Little details that her friends certainly missed but confirmed her suspicions.
The notice board had been a surprise. Despite how much thieving Amri had done in Esper, she had never been a wanted person before aside from general cleansings of the city. It was stupid, but she felt oddly jealous that the Queen did not seem to care about her fate whereas the other four were exclusively wanted alive. The reason for Ezra and Browen’s wanted status was obvious, they were children of important people and Miri’s gifts made her valuable. Were it not for their run in at Snow’s End, she would have wondered why Ralis was also wanted alive. The soldiers there had mentioned that the King-Regent of Esper had an interest in half-bloods. They would all likely be tortured for their secrets, then punished for their traitorous actions. But not Amri. If she wasn’t killed by a guard in the capture, the Queen would likely have her executed without further thought. It was a strange thing to feel envious of. She tried to shake the emotion from her mind as she led her friends into the seedier parts of the city.
Despite this being a strange new city to her, she was able to read the streets like Browen could read a book. It seemed that crime was the same no matter where in Madaria you were, and it didn’t take long for her to spot what she was looking for. The small symbol that had been scratched into the wall was, thankfully, the same as what was used in Verta.
Amri paused at the opening to a dark alleyway and turned to face her friends. “I’m going in alone; your faces are too recognizable.”
“Going in where?” Ezra asked incredulously as she looked past Amri into the dirty gap between buildings.
“It’s a safe place.” Amri’s eyes flicked to the mark scratched into the stone and she wondered if her friends had even noticed it amidst the wear and decay of the stonework. “That symbol means, people like me can be safe here. We had it in Verta too, but only the career criminals really used it.”
“Career criminals?” Miri asked, tilting her head to the side.
“People who stole for glory or fun, not out of necessity. It isn’t as common in Verta now, but apparently there was a huge network in the city before times got tough.” Amri recalled the whispers she had heard from the older thieves of the city, people like Burris the Rat who made crime their lifestyle.
“Is it a good idea for you to go in alone? Can you trust criminals?” Browen looked worriedly at her.
“Honor among thieves.” Amri parroted, times were too tough for thieves to not look out for one another, or so the adage went in Verta. Hopefully it would be the same here, but she decided to keep that to herself.
Browen shook his head. “At least let me go with you, just in case.”
Amri frowned, his hand drawn wanted portrait was still clear in her mind.
“It would be safer if someone joined you.” Miri agreed.
Amri sighed and grabbed at the fabric that dangled around her neck. “Fine, but you have to wear this.” She handed her old face mask to Browen. “And we can’t use our real names.”
Browen took the fabric from Amri and pulled it over his face as he had seen her do in the past. Amri suppressed a laugh as she looked upon the noble dressed as a thief, and was surprised at how good the look was on him.
“You can call me… Mouse.” Amri nodded, satisfied with her choice of nickname, then looked at Browen critically. “And you can be…”
“Brown Bear?” Miri offered with a blush.
“Brown B
ear?” Browen considered.
“Because you’re strong and you’re going to keep Amri safe.” Miri added shyly.
Ezra snickered. “And your name almost sounds like brown.”
Browen frowned then looked to Amri for her thoughts on the suggestion.
“It works.” She shrugged. “We shouldn’t waste too long on it, as long as it’s something we’ll remember.”
“Well I won’t forget it now.” Browen sighed at Ezra.
“Brown Bear and Mouse, it is.” Amri nodded in confirmation then grabbed Browen’s hand. “Let’s go, you three wait here. Try not to act suspicious.”
The others nodded seriously and moved towards the awning of a nearby store for some shelter from the persisting rain.
“Let me do the talking.” Amri instructed as she pulled Browen into the shadows.
He nodded in silent reply.
The dirty alley was littered with broken crates and discarded refuse. The smell of which seemed to make Browen gag, even with the facemask. A nondescript door rested against one of the walls, with the safe place mark scratched into the wood. Amri nearly knocked upon it, when she noticed more thieves cant carved into the stonework above the door. It was a series of numbers followed by the sign for luck and a childlike drawing of a fish. She paused and considered their meaning, while Browen looked over his shoulders nervously.
Finally, she raised her hand and knocked lightly against the door. First three times, then once, then two times, and finally, four more knocks. They stared at the door in silence for a long moment and Amri worried she had gotten the sequence wrong seconds before they heard the scratching of locks moving aside. The door opened only a crack and a gravelly voice called to her.
“Password.”
“Lucky fish.” She again hoped that she had read the symbols correctly.
The door slammed shut.
Amri and Browen looked at each other with a sigh. She wondered if she dared try again, when the sound of additional locks moved against the wooden frame. Then the door opened all the way revealing a dark landing and a set of stairs descending into the building’s basement. A large man with tan skin stood aside and nodded at the pair. Wordlessly Amri led Browen down the stairs and tried not to feel nervous about the sounds of locks snapping shut behind them.
At the bottom of the stairs was another heavy-set man who was cleaning a strange looking weapon as they approached. It was hard to tell through the gloom of the single lantern on the wall, but the weapon had a strange hollow shaft and an odd mechanism that rested by the wooden handle. It seemed to resemble a short hook and from the way that the man held it, Amri did not doubt that it was a weapon of some sort. Although she could not fathom how it was supposed to work.
“Names.” He grunted.
“Mouse and this is Brown Bear.”
“You’re new in town.” It wasn’t a question but a clear statement as he looked the pair over. “Good of you to introduce yourself to the Boatman, didn’t think many of you young ones respected the old traditions.”
Amri struggled to come up with a reply but was relieved not to need one as the large man opened the door for them. Where the alley and the inside of the building to this point had been dark and dirty, the room beyond glowed with lights and colours, in addition to a plethora of sights and smells. It almost reminded Amri of the Carnival of Dreams that they had left behind.
The room was set up like a long dining hall with several tables and benches lining either side of the central path from the door. Low hanging chandeliers lit the space and revealed the many men and women who were laughing and drinking at the tables. Not just Humans, but Orcs and Elves also. They were served by half naked men and women while fully naked people danced and writhed together as entertainment for those at the tables. Even more people came and went from the many doors that lined the long room and a group of musicians were playing a festive tune that filled the room. At the opposite end of the door, resting atop a figurative mountain of colourful pillows, was a bald man being hand fed fruit by a naked woman who rested on his lap.
Amri blushed at the nudity around her and looked to Browen, whose face was equally red. The festivities halted as the pair were noticed and all eyes watched them as they approached the lounging man. He seemed to be the one person who was not interested in their presence and continued to snack on fruits as he lewdly groped the young woman. Amri and Browen stopped just before the floor merged with the pillow pile and waited for the man to notice them.
His greedy eyes were fixed on the naked woman’s chest as he finally addressed the pair. “What is the point of life without its luxuries?” He held up a head preventing anyone from answering the philosophical question. “There’s none. The only good that comes of this wretched existence is its occasional pleasures. You should know before that I do not take kindly to being parted from them, even briefly. On that note, welcome to the best city in the world, my city, Endar.” He then looked at them and smiled wickedly.
His smile exposed several golden teeth which matched the many golden earrings that curled around his ears. His stubby nose also had an earring pierced through the side and his whole head had been shaved smooth. His beady eyes were a storm grey and he wore a robe of red and gold silks. He sat up with the posture of a king as he looked down at the pair. His hand moved to his hip and Amri noticed another of those strange weapons. Beside it was a wickedly curved dagger.
“Let me guess, more refugees from Verta? I’m afraid that my guild is already full to bursting.” He looked over Amri with a hungry stare that made her immediately uncomfortable. “But I’m sure I can find some work for you little miss.”
Amri could feel Browen tense beside her and discreetly brushed her knuckles against his comfortingly.
The bald man continued; the long sleeves of his robe flared as he gestured around the room. “This must be a foreign sight for young Vertins. Behold what success actually looks like, impossible in any city but this great one.”
“To the continued tensions between Esper and Madaria!” Shouted a Human as he raised his tankard.
“To the Endarin Thieves Guild.” Added another, standing with his drink.
“To the true lord of Endar!” Shouted an Orc with deep olive-green skin and his fist raised at the proclamation.
“To the Boatman!” Many of the gathered crowd suddenly shouted as one.
The bald man grinned as if fueled by the fervor. He patted the naked woman on the haunch, and she moved so that he could stand. The Boatman then stepped towards Amri and Browen with a confidence that exuded just how powerful he was.
He gestured to a naked Elf woman and took a tankard from the silver tray she carried. He then raised it high into the air and called out to the room. “To me!”
The crowd cheered as one and then drank as one. Amri stood very still as she watched the display in awe. She had known successful thieves in her time, those who pushed beyond mere survival and strived to live in luxury deemed above their means. But even the best of them had nothing on the Boatman, she would not have believed such success even possible just a few minutes ago.
Her shock must have shown on her face as the Boatman walked right in front of Amri and smiled his golden smile. “I am the Boatman, a silly name from my youth that has stuck. Now, who do I have the pleasure of meeting?”
“I’m Mouse.” Amri resisted the urge to step back as the Boatman slid his slender frame closer. “And this is Brown Bear.”
The Boatman moved to stand uncomfortably close to Browen as she introduced him, his eyes exploring every part of his body. “And you’ve come to join my guild?”
“Actually, we’re looking for passage into Esper.” Amri answered, drawing the Boatman’s attention back to her.
“Passage into Esper?” The Boatman purred. “That was my bread and butter for a time, now look at me!” he took a step back and spread his arms wide
. “What is it you’re looking to find in Esper?”
“We just want to get out of Madaria, we’ve had enough of the Queen.” Amri improvised smoothly, the anger in her voice very real.
“Oh, she’s not so bad.” He snickered lightly and took a deep swig from the tankard. “The country lives in a constant state of upheaval. What better to cloak our activities under, then the shadow of chaos.” He chuckled again then narrowed his eyes at Amri’s firm scowl. “I had heard that it was bad in Verta, but trust me girly, you don’t need to go into Esper to find sanctuary or pleasure.”
Amri’s expression remained firm and the joy drained from the Boatman’s expression.
“Why do you really want to go to Esper?”
“None of your business.” She snapped back.
“So little trust.” His wicked grin returned, but now with a suspicious glint to it, and he turned to Browen. “You are among your brothers and sisters, or so I assume since you were able to enter. You are safe in my company, no need for masks and secrets.”
A door opened on Amri’s left and she was surprised to see a familiar gangly form step from a room with a naked woman on each arm. He seemed just as surprised to see her and he blinked stupidly as he drank in the tension of the room.
He then laughed, an annoying sound that grated on Amri’s ears. “By the coins in my pocket! I told you kiddo, if anyone was going to make it out of that mess, it was you! I honestly thought you might have died with the others.”
“Buris the Rat, you know Mouse and Brown Bear?” The Boatman cocked an eyebrow at Amri’s old fence.
Buris blinked stupidly again then gave the Boatman a wide smile. “Not Brown Bear, but me and Mouse go way back. I taught the kid everything I know, why do you think they call her Mouse?”
Amri had been holding her breath and finally let it free at Buris’s reply, thankful that he was going to play along with the ruse.
“If Mouse trusts Brown Bear then you know he’s good people.” Buris continued.
Sunken Wind Page 17