by Isaac Hooke
"Open the gate," Hoodwink announced to no one in particularly.
After a pause—likely Cap was nodding his confirmation to someone again—the gatehouse winch turned, and the portcullis lifted.
Hoodwink strode outside. He'd only taken three steps when the gate slammed shut behind him. He was all too aware of the arrows trained down from the walkways above, not all of them pointing at the Emissary.
The gol flashed its teeth. "And who are you?"
Hoodwink twirled the blade, making a few feints, testing its weight. The sword passed near the Emissary's head, but the gol didn't even blink.
"Name's Hoodwink," he said.
"Hoode-Wink." The gol passed its tongue over the lower half of its sharp teeth.
"Yes. Remember that name. Your master will recognize it. So tell me, you're threatening to destroy the Den?"
The Emissary cocked its head. "It is not I who threatens. I am the Emissary. I speak only the words of the mayor."
Using the Emissary's shoulder for balance, Hoodwink lifted one of his boots and used the sword to scrape snow and mud from his sole. "And what are the mayor's words, exactly?"
"Give up the Dwarf, and mayor Jeremy's remaining property, or these walls shall come tumbling down and this evil that thrives in the heart of the city shall be rooted out." Its breath misted in hateful plumes. "Relinquish the Dwarf or the Den shall be raped and pillaged in a fitting end to the raping and pillaging criminals who live within. Return Jeremy's property or the Den shall be burned down, your hearts cut out, and your heads hung—"
Hoodwink raised a halting hand. "I heard that last part from the Calico already. Wonderfully theatrical." He circled the Emissary, casually flourishing the sword. "But tell me, what about the women and children who live here? The innocents?"
"There shall be no quarter." The Emissary flashed those too-white teeth.
"Why bother with an Emissary," Hoodwink said. "Jeremy could just break down these walls and take the Dwarf, and the Boxes. His pet, Brute, could probably do it all by itself. Why bother to negotiate?"
The Emissary spread its hands, saying nothing, grinning that toothy grin.
"There's something you're not telling me," Hoodwink said. "What are you about, gol? What the hell are you about?"
And then he understood.
That symbol on its chest, it wasn't a sun with shining rays.
"Bomb!" Hoodwink shouted.
85
Hoodwink swept the sword in a wide arc and cleanly separated the Emissary's head from its body. Hoodwink caught the head by the hair, tossed it in front of him, and gave it a boot. The thing hurtled skyward.
Hoodwink's big toe throbbed with sudden pain, and he turned about, limping. "Gah! Damn skulls!" He blocked-out the agony in time to watch the airborne head explode.
The shock-wave hurled Hoodwink into the metal bars of the portcullis, which rattled as if from thunder. He fell forward on his knees, and a red-tinged string of snot plunged from his nose, smearing the shoveled cobblestone.
His head swayed drunkenly. He forced himself to rise. First one boot. Then the other. He leaned heavily on the portcullis and pulled himself up.
Movement drew his eye past the drifts of snow that formed the ramparts four paces from the wall. In the adjacent street, Hoodwink saw figures gathering, stacked three ranks deep. A few of them snarled, and he saw those famous finger-long canines Tanner had told him about.
So. The newfangled 'Direwalkers.' He'd wondered how they would turn out.
Hoodwink spun toward the portcullis. "Let me in."
"Belay that," Cap said.
Hoodwink felt his anger rise. He'd just saved this fool's entire Den. "Let me in you ungrateful son of an arse."
"How did you know?" the leader of the Black Faction said.
Hoodwink grasped two of the long metallic bars and pulled. The thick steel bars didn't budge.
Cap glanced over his shoulder and stepped back a pace. He threw his hands forward in a gesture of attack. Denizens thrust past the man, and before Hoodwink knew it he had five pikes reaching through the bars at him, licking his throat.
"Tell me how you knew." Cap said.
Tanner spoke up. "Just let him inside, Cap." Other men immediately spun on Tanner now and lifted their pikes to his neck. Tanner carefully raised his hands and made no further move.
"Don't you have other, more pressing matters to focus on?" Hoodwink tilted his head in the direction of the gathering Direwalker ranks.
Cap raised his voice so that all might hear. "Tell us how you knew Jeremy's Emissary had a bomb, Hoodwink dear friend."
"The symbol on its chest," Hoodwink said. "The rays were all different sizes. Of course it had to be a bomb."
Cap massaged his chin. "That explanation is almost plausible. But, how did you know the bomb was in its head?"
"There's so much you don't know," Hoodwink said. "So so much." And then he added, underbreath, "You pompous peacock."
"What was that?" Cap lifted an eyebrow.
"He called you a pompous peacock, sir!" one of the pike-wielding thugs said. Angry-Scar, actually.
Cap self-consciously tugged the hem of his fur collar. "How unfortunate for him."
"All right." Hoodwink raised his hands in surrender. "All right. How did I know the bomb was in its head? I'm a gol. We can place maps of the city over our vision. We can read someone's face and tell right away if they're lying. And we can see bombs in other gols' damn heads."
Cap rubbed his chin. He glanced at Al. The former user shrugged. "Don't look at me."
"Tanner!" Hoodwink said. "Tell them."
Momentary confusion flitted across Tanner's face, but then he supported the lie. "Hoodwink is right. Gols can do things ordinary humans can't even imagine. I felt the bomb in the Emissary's head too."
"You felt the bomb." Cap looked between Tanner and Hoodwink. "One can see the bomb, and the other can feel the bomb. I don't trust them, Al. I just don't trust them."
Hoodwink held his gaze. "The feeling is mutual."
"Pikes down!" Cap said at last. "Open the gate. Quickly!"
The pikes left Hoodwink's throat, and the portcullis clanged upward.
Hoodwink didn't wait—when the portcullis had reached knee-high he rolled inside.
"Shut it!" Cap said.
The bars slammed down.
Cap was gazing past Hoodwink. "I almost expected Jeremy's playthings to try running inside with you."
Hoodwink returned the sword to Al, then turned around. The Direwalkers remained where he'd last seen them beyond the rampart, but their numbers continued to grow.
"What are they waiting for?" Cap said.
"Another bomb, maybe?" Hoodwink glanced skyward. The ravens were still there, circling just outside bow range.
Cap followed his gaze. "Can Jeremy put bombs in birds?"
That was an interesting thought. Hoodwink didn't think so. He glanced at Tanner.
"The restraints of the system would prevent it," Tanner said.
"The what?" Cap twisted his lips.
"No bombs in birds," Hoodwink said. "Too small."
"But those Boxes of yours can hold a room far bigger than the chests that house them."
"Those operate under different principles," Tanner said.
"Whatever you say." Cap glanced at Hoodwink. "To hell with your Boxes and your birds and your bombs!" He swiveled on the pikemen. "Shut the inner door!"
The men closed the massive wooden doors that lay behind the portcullis, shutting the Direwalkers from view.
"Who does Jeremy think he is, coming up against us!" Cap said. "We're the Black Faction! Experts at murder and thievery!" Cap paced back and forth, and then he opened a slot in the door and peered outside. His confident demeanor abruptly fell, and Hoodwink saw the raw fear on his face. Cap slammed the slot shut. He'd grown very pale. "They just keep coming and coming." The man's fear was contagious, and Hoodwink noticed that the men nearest their leader were fidgeting nervously now, Al and J
acob included. Cap glanced at Jacob. "If only we had more lightning men."
"We're uncollaring more at this very moment," Jacob said. "But it's slow going. Five minutes per collar."
Lightning men? So they'd already begun uncollaring the Denizens. Hoodwink didn't see anyone uncollared nearby though, save for Jacob.
"We'll help you, Cap," Hoodwink said. "Don't be getting all upset on me. Tanner and I, we got some things that can help you, we do. We'll tilt the odds in your favor, don't you worry." He glanced at Tanner. "Return to the Outside, and send in a couple of those new gifts you told me about. Use my position."
Tanner drew his handmirror and strode away to begin the process of disbelieving reality.
"Been waiting for an attack for years," Cap said. "Watching, and waiting. Wondering if I'd wake up in the night to the shouts and screams of the dying. Time passed. I became complacent. Guess I never actually believed it would ever happen. Should've seen it coming though. Should've better prepared my men. Oh they're veterans of wars against other factions, don't you fret. But that's a different kind of fighting. A fighting set in the shadows, with assassinations in the dark. Not the close-quarters, in-your-face fighting that's coming."
"Tell me there's a secret back way out of here," Hoodwink said.
Cap nodded, and exchanged a knowing glance with Al. "There's a back way, through the sewers. The outlet is by Fen Street. Back of the Den."
"There's a working sewer system in the Den?" And you made my Cora use a chamber pot?
Cap frowned. "Never said it was working."
"Ah." Hoodwink should've figured as much. "Well. Working or not, it's an escape. We have to get the women and children out."
Cap ground his teeth. Probably wanted to save his own skin first. Then he glanced at his men, and his face softened. Hoodwink regarded the men now too, and saw the mixed emotions there. Fear, and yet an inexplicable resolve. Hoodwink realized that every man present likely had a wife and child, Cap included. And when your life was a whirlwind of crime, all you really had to anchor you to the world was your family. No matter how tough you were on the outside, without them you'd be left adrift.
Sort of like Hoodwink.
"You're right," Cap said, with a sigh. "You're right. The women and children first. We may be criminals, but we're not heartless. Family is all we have. We'll wait here, hold the ranks off as long as we can. Then we'll join our wives and sons."
"So there's honor among thieves after all," Hoodwink said. "Assuming you keep your part of the bargain. It's usually the women and children who get screwed. Literally."
"I'll keep my part," Cap said. "As will my men. Just bring those gifts of yours."
Hoodwink nodded. "I will. Once I make sure the Dwarf is on the way out." He glanced meaningfully at Jacob.
Jacob nodded. "Let's go. The Dwarf's in the Warehouse, along with the Boxes."
Hoodwink followed Jacob. He was glad the Dwarf was at the Warehouse, because that's where Cora was too.
Cap addressed someone behind Hoodwink. "You there, see that the families begin the evacuation."
Hoodwink hurried away with Jacob. When he was only about five paces from the gate, he heard a shout from behind.
"They're rushing the walls!"
"To arms!" Cap said, and the area around the gate erupted in activity.
86
Hoodwink almost had trouble keeping pace with Jacob, who moved with surprising speed for an old man. Still, he preferred it that way. Have to get Cora!
Tanner appeared at his side. "How did you know about the bomb back there, Hood? I've never heard of gols being able to sense bombs. We don't have that ability."
Hoodwink couldn't keep the anger from his voice. "They can't," he snapped.
"Then how—"
"Aren't you supposed to be throwing off this reality? I recall giving you the order to go Outside. Now would be a good time to listen to me, don't you think? Given that we're under attack."
Tanner opened his mouth, but then bit back whatever he was going to say. He lowered his eyes. "You're right. We don't have time for this. The rush on the walls distracted me. I'm sorry." He turned to go, but paused. "Once I inject a few presents, I'll come back in, and help hold the Direwalkers off. Buy you and the women and children some time."
"Dangerous," Hoodwink said.
"It seems like the right thing to do. Ari would have done it."
Hoodwink nodded. Ari. "All right. I can't stop you. Good luck, man. But please, when the fighting starts in earnest, retreat to the sewage outlet."
Tanner nodded. "I'll do my best. Good luck, Hood."
Hoodwink hurried after Jacob.
"Why do they want the Dwarf so badly?" the old man said when Hoodwink reached him.
"I don't know," Hoodwink lied. "Have you revised the Dwarf yet?"
"No."
"Too bad." Though that was probably good.
"We should've listened to you, Hoodwink," Jacob said.
"How so?"
"The Den is perilously undermanned. Even though you warned us not to, Cap sent about two hundred of his best to take over the mayor's house. We'd been uncollaring them all morning. And this is the fallout. I know it is."
Hoodwink frowned. "Uncollared men would have been useful here. But sent to the mayor's house? Likely they're all dead."
"We should have listened to you."
Hoodwink found it hard not to feel smug. Still, he'd never been the I-told-you-so type, so he held his tongue.
When they reached the foyer of the Warehouse, Hoodwink turned down a side hallway. "I have to get Cora. Where should I meet you?"
Jacob considered this, the furrows in his forehead momentarily deepening. "I'll wait for you in the Control Room. You have three minutes."
"Good enough." Hoodwink hurried off.
After some moments he reached the room that held Cora, and he barged past the two New User guards, Green-cloak and Gray-cloak.
"We're under attack," he told the old men over his shoulder.
He found Briar inside with Cora. Briar, of all people.
"You!" Hoodwink stepped forward.
Briar's face turned a bright red and his jowls shook. His lips moved, but no sound came.
That's when Hoodwink realized he'd raised his hand and was choking Briar above the bronze bitch, his fingers buried in the folds of his brother-in-law's neck.
Hoodwink regained control of himself and flung his hand away, a little disgusted at himself. He could've easily killed the man with this gol body.
Still, his fury was white-hot, and he couldn't hold back the words that came next. "You led the gols right to me when I came to your house in peace, looking for Cora. You could have warned me, you sycophantic, castrated toad! I thought we were friends. Friends!"
"That was ten years ago!" Briar was leaning against Cora, panting. Hoodwink was surprised Cora could even hold up the man, given his bulk. It's a simulation, he reminded himself.
"Ten years?" Hoodwink's fist trembled. "Not so long for me."
"Did you come here to fight with Briar?" Cora said.
Hoodwink clamped down on his rage. It wasn't easy when he got all riled up like that, but he managed. "No. I came to see you out of here. Jeremy's attacking the Den."
"Attacking?" Briar said. "By the whoremongers, what do you mean, Jeremy's attacking?"
"My meaning is plain, Briar. And I suppose I'll have to rescue you too, or Cora will never forgive me." Hoodwink forcibly hauled the fat merchant into the hall, and Cora followed behind.
"With us!" Hoodwink told the New Users who had remained loyally at their posts. The two old men hastened alongside Cora, and together the small party made its way through the halls of the Warehouse.
Hoodwink glanced at Green-cloak. "Your job is to guard Cora?"
It was Gray-cloak, the ancient one, who answered. "With our lives!"
"That's what I wanted to hear." Hoodwink turned his attention on Briar next. "When we reach the sewers, I want you to take Cora and
her guards to one of your houses."
"My houses aren't safe!" Briar said. "Why do you think I'm here? I'm Jeremy's sworn enemy now. He knows it was me who helped steal the Control Room. Damn ravens saw me kill the sentries outside his mansion. Jeremy knows. And I didn't even get paid!" His voice seemed particularly whiny over that last part.
"You'll get paid. Look, you have to take Cora somewhere safe. Away from all the fighting. Can you do that for me?"
"I— I suppose. Is Tanner coming?"
"No, why?"
"I saw him earlier today, walking about as if nothing happened. I—" Briar glanced around, as though uncertain he wanted to say any more. "I was standing at the window of my house when it happened."
"When what happened?"
Briar lowered his voice, as if what he had to say was of the utmost secrecy. Or horror. "He died! He was cut in half. Damn shame. I saw it. He was just..." Briar chopped one hand into the other. "And now he lives. I know he's a gol, but even a gol couldn't survive that. What— what's going on, Hoodwink?"
Hoodwink glanced at Cora. She was listening very attentively. Briar hadn't lowered his voice enough apparently. "Better that you don't know, Briar. Much better."
The group reached the foyer of the Warehouse. "Back in a sec." Hoodwink hurried away through the halls, and came to the Control Room.
It was empty.
"Well I'll be an icicle of shit!" Hoodwink swore. "Jacob didn't wait."
Truth be told, Hoodwink had probably taken longer than three minutes.
Well, nothing for it now. He'd just have to catch up with Jacob and the Dwarf later.
He hurried back to the foyer and led his small group outside.
There were people rushing to and fro. The shouts and clangs of battle could be heard in the distance. Already he could see the smoke plumes.
The air above the snowpack flickered just ahead, and he held out a hand to halt his companions.
A sword belt materialized.
"What in the nine hells..." Gray-cloak said.
Hoodwink scooped the sword belt up and tied it around his waist. He drew the blade. On the steel was etched a fire-spitting raven, its wings trailing cinders. The familiar flow of vitra surged through his veins—life, sex, and everything else besides. But it was more than that. The flow seemed unlimited somehow, just as if he could siphon all the vitra the world contained through that single blade. Tanner hadn't been kidding when he'd said the sense of power the swords gave you was mind-blowing. Hoodwink felt like doing some mighty rash and reckless things.