Company of Strangers, #1

by Melissa McShane

  They all looked across the estate grounds, which were covered with more hedges in irregular patterns, fruit trees heavy with unripe apples and plums, and the occasional white marble bench. The manor of the estate dominated the property, three stories of well-polished granite that glinted here and there with bright mica inclusions, topped with a roof of a peculiar greenish-gray slate. “Let’s circle around,” Alaric said, “and verify that it’s in there. I pray Sisyletus it’s not.”

  They followed the hedge past a wide iron gate to where it turned a corner. There were no other estates north of this one, and the road itself came to an end a few yards farther on in a gravel circle suitable for turning a carriage around. The hedge on the northern side was much taller, at least eight feet, though not as thick. There were plenty of gaps for looking through.

  “The pulse continues strong, and is directed toward that house no matter where I stand,” Perrin said when they’d gone a few feet along the northern hedge. “The pendant is there.”

  “Wonderful,” Alaric said. “Even if we could get in, by the time we did, the location blessing will have worn off, and we’ll fumble around that enormous house looking for the box.”

  “I don’t know vanish,” Sienne said. Alaric shot her a sharp look, and she stammered, “It…it might not be the best option, though, because we’d be invisible to each other as well.”

  “I’ll have to go in alone,” Dianthe said.

  “I hate that plan,” Alaric said. “It’s a terrible plan.”

  “It’s the only option.”

  “Possibly not,” Kalanath said. He stood near one of the gaps in the hedge, looking at something. “That is interesting.”

  Sienne found her own gap and looked. “The Giordas!” she gasped. “Why are they here?”

  “And walking out the front door, no less,” Alaric said, his face pressed to another gap.

  “They could have been hired by whoever owns this estate,” Dianthe said.

  “Whoever owns this estate is probably thigh-deep in this mystery. And I don’t believe in coincidence.” Alaric stepped back. “We follow them.”

  “But should we not investigate the estate for the pendant?” Perrin said.

  “I doubt it’s going anywhere. The Giordas look like they’ve got something on what passes for their minds, and I want to know what it is.”

  “Wait,” Dianthe said. “We can’t go rushing out after them. They’ll see us, and we’ll never find out their business.”

  “We’ll have to stay far behind. It’s risky, but there’s no other option.”

  “Actually,” Sienne said, pulling out her spellbook, “there is.”

  19

  It was likely, Sienne thought, they hadn’t needed shift at all. Not that she intended to mention this to Alaric, who’d voiced a short but strenuous objection to her plan. The Giordas crossed the city boldly, without looking around to see if they were being followed. Her estimation of their intelligence dropped. Conn’s unseasonal cloak billowed around him in the afternoon breeze, which was probably why he wore it. Her estimation of his vanity rose.

  She’d disguised her companions as quickly as possible so they wouldn’t lose sight of their quarry, so they mostly still resembled themselves in height and build. All except Alaric, whom she’d used imitate on to give him the image of a man six inches shorter, so he wouldn’t stand out. They walked along in silence, keeping about fifteen feet back from the Giordas and lagging farther occasionally to avoid looking like they were following anyone. Sienne touched her spellbook for reassurance. She had no idea how they’d know when to jump the Giordas, or what to do when they had them captive. Well, she didn’t have to know. That was down to Alaric and Dianthe. She hoped they knew what to do.

  They’d entered streets Sienne was vaguely familiar with, but it wasn’t until they passed the burned-out husk of Neoma’s store that she realized where they were. The street was as thronged with passersby and travelers as ever, which made Sienne irrationally angry. Of course life shouldn’t stop just because one woman died, and it wasn’t as if Sienne had known her as more than a passing acquaintance, but it just felt wrong, like denying Neoma’s vibrant spirit.

  Alaric slowed. “Watch it,” he said. The Giordas had turned a corner onto a much smaller side street. “Dianthe?”

  “Sienne, will the confusion spell last if you’re not within sight of us?” Dianthe asked.

  “Yes. Just don’t stay in contact with anyone for very long.”

  “Kalanath, stay with me,” Dianthe said. “The rest of you, keep going and turn at the next right. Follow Alaric.” In a few steps, they reached the corner, and Dianthe and Kalanath strolled along down the new street. Sienne, Perrin, and Alaric kept going.

  “That street cuts across Lupin and Farrier streets,” Alaric said. “We’ll go around and pick it up again on Farrier. Keeps us from being a noticeable bunch of five.”

  No one paid them any attention. At least they were dressed for this neighborhood as they had not been for the wealthy estates, though Perrin stood out in his embroidered vest and expensive, if worn, boots. Sienne’s nerves were keyed to the breaking point. If the confusion dissolved…if they ran into the Giordas, and were recognized despite the confusion…being separated from the others only made it worse. A pack of small children raced past, screaming with delight at some game, and Sienne clenched her teeth at the noise. Perrin looked as tense as she felt. He watched the children go and kept his attention on them even after they rounded a corner and were nothing but a trailing banner of sound.

  Alaric turned the corner away from where the children had gone and slowed his pace. “We should see them pass,” he said, pointing at another cross-street some distance ahead. “We don’t want to get ahead of them.”

  Sienne slowed to match him. A couple of carriages lumbered past, then a young couple holding hands, followed by a scrapper team on horseback. No Giordas in sight. Suppose they’d already passed? Sienne didn’t think they wanted to fall too far behind them, either.

  They reached the cross-street and Alaric looked both ways. He grunted, and led them down the new street, back the direction they’d come, to where Dianthe and Kalanath stood in the lee of a tall wooden house, shabby but well cared for. “Back this way,” Dianthe said in a low voice, though the sound of passing traffic made it unlikely anyone farther than five feet away could hear her.

  They backed into the space between the house and its neighbor until the street was mostly invisible. “The Giordas went into a building across the street,” Dianthe said. “It’s one of those big ones with lots of one-room apartments.”

  “This isn’t where they live,” Alaric said. Sienne wanted to ask how he knew that, but held her tongue. “Let’s watch and see what they do.”

  Dianthe nodded. “We’ll need to be careful not to be noticed. In a neighborhood like this, people generally know their neighbors. We can’t get away with loitering too obviously. How long will the confusions last?”

  “Another half-hour, and then I’ll have to do them again.” Sienne had a feeling she was going to test her reserves on this.

  “You could do different disguises each time,” Alaric said. “Make it look like we’re each five different people.”

  Again Sienne marveled at how someone who despised wizardry could come up with such clever uses for it. “That’s a good idea.”

  “Then let me show you all where to stand,” Dianthe said.

  Dianthe positioned them all in places where they had a good view of the building she indicated without being immediately visible. Then she disappeared, saying she would scout out the rear of the building for back doors.

  Sienne ended up two buildings down from their target, on the same side of the street, where she could barely see its front door. None of her companions were visible but Kalanath, directly opposite her, but she knew where they were. She would have to approach each of them in a short time to renew the confusions. Someone passed her and entered the building, and she manage
d not to cringe or, she hoped, do anything else guilty-looking.

  A small sound behind her made her turn in alarm. “There’s no back door, thank Kitane,” Dianthe said. “You remember what I told you?”

  Sienne nodded. “Walk casually, as if I’m going someplace familiar. Try not to catch anyone’s eye, but don’t avoid eye contact. Smile if the other person does. Does this really work?”

  “Surprisingly, yes. Most people are so caught up in their own troubles, they don’t generally take notice of anyone behaving like an ordinary person. Sneaking around stands out.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  Dianthe grinned. “We’ll make a thief of you yet. Well, not a thief. I don’t expect you to break the law.”

  “So how did you get to have all these skills if you’re not a thief?”

  It was the wrong question. Dianthe’s smile disappeared. “Long story,” she said. “One for another time.” Her tone of voice said that other time would be “never.”

  “Sorry,” Sienne said. “Um…I should go now.”

  “Walk lightly,” Dianthe said.

  Sienne walked up the street to the next intersection, crossed, and casually made her way back. There wasn’t much traffic at this hour of the day, on this quiet side street, and she renewed the confusions on the three men without causing a commotion. Alaric, positioned almost directly opposite the building’s front door, barely looked at her when she pulled out her spellbook. “I hate the waiting,” he said. “Too easy to get lazy, waiting.”

  Sienne whispered the words of imitate, and Alaric’s form shivered, then became a different nondescript Rafellish man. “And we don’t know how long we might have to wait,” she said.

  Alaric shook his head. “Has anyone paid any attention to you?”

  It was so odd hearing his Sorjic accent coming out of that stranger’s mouth. “No one.”

  Alaric grunted in acknowledgement. “Be careful.”

  Sienne returned to her original position. It was getting late. People should be returning to their homes soon, which meant either that she and her companions would blend in to the crowds better, or they’d be noticed as loitering strangers. Sienne decided to leave that for Dianthe to worry about.

  The afternoon turned to evening. More people, not very many, went in and out of the houses on both sides of the street, including the building Sienne tried to keep an eye on. The sky darkened from pale blue to rose and then to dusky violet. The number of people entering the houses increased. From her awkward position, all she could tell was that no one had come out of her target yet. She couldn’t see Kalanath anymore and wondered if he’d moved to avoid being spotted.

  She was about to make another round to renew the shift spell when the building’s door opened and four figures came out. She pressed against the side of the house shielding her from view and craned her neck to see better.

  “It’s them,” Dianthe said from behind her, startling her heart into one terrified pulse. “Follow me.”

  Sienne stayed close behind Dianthe, gripping the edges of her spellbook through her vest. To her surprise, they turned right instead of left, away from the building and, presumably, the Giordas. “Just a quick detour, to throw them off the scent,” Dianthe whispered, and in a few more steps turned and went back the way they’d come.

  The street was virtually empty now except for Sienne and Dianthe and the four figures they trailed. Who was the fourth person? It was still light enough that Sienne could make out Conn in the lead, with the mystery man behind him and Milo and Alethea flanking him. Something flashed silver—a knife, held close to the fourth man’s back. They were herding him, whoever he was.

  Quick steps behind her announced Kalanath’s presence. “We should attack before they enter the main streets,” he said.

  “We have a plan,” Dianthe said. “Wait for the others.”

  As they passed an alley, Alaric stepped out of its shadows and fell into place beside them. “Where’s Perrin?”

  “Here,” Perrin said, crossing the street toward them. “This is rather more good luck than I usually look for. They seem not to have noticed us.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Alaric said, “at least for now.”

  Perrin was right; once again the Giordas seemed oblivious to anyone following them. Dianthe made them spread out a little, just in case, but Sienne thought it was unnecessary. Not that she would argue with experience. This time, the Giordas took an indirect route, sticking to the less-trafficked streets and giving a wide berth to anyone they passed. The man they “escorted” was only a little taller than Conn, and pudgy, dressed plainly in laborer’s tunic and trousers. He wasn’t bound in any way, but by the way he stood, Sienne was sure the knife was as good as fetters.

  They were coming up on a main thoroughfare, one still thronged with pedestrians and carriages and brightly lit despite its not being full dark. The Giordas turned to one side and entered an alley running parallel to the main street. Alaric and Dianthe exchanged a glance Sienne caught the edge of. It conveyed a conversation’s worth of meaning. What would it be like to know someone that well?

  “Sienne, come with me,” Alaric said. “Perrin and Kalanath, follow Dianthe and do exactly as she says.”

  “Wait,” Sienne said. “I have to renew the spell.”

  “Not necessary,” Alaric said. His Rafellish form shivered, then dissolved. “We want them to see us.”

  Sienne, mystified, nodded, then had to trot after Alaric as he sped up, heading straight for the alley. “What am I supposed to do?”

  “You’re the decoy,” Alaric said. “You just have to stand there. And don’t go for your spellbook even if Conn does. If this goes wrong, and it turns into a public fight, you need to be clearly innocent of any aggression. Understand?”

  “All right. But—”

  They entered the alley. It was clean, mostly, piled here and there with broken furniture and empty barrels but free of human or animal waste. Barred cellar doors lay to the left and right. The Giordas still hadn’t noticed them. “Giorda!” Alaric shouted. “I want a word with you.”

  All three Giordas jerked and whipped around to stare at Alaric. The fourth man turned more slowly, his hands held stiffly at waist level. Since Milo had a knife to his side, Sienne wasn’t surprised by his stillness. Conn made a jerky motion as if to raise the spellbook tucked under his left arm, then subsided. “Ham-fist. What do you want?”

  “An apology,” Alaric said, “for attacking me and mine. You meant us to die out there, didn’t you?”

  Conn’s mocking grin grew wider. “It would have been an unfortunate accident. Things like that happen all the time in the wilderness. There’s nothing for me to apologize for, even if I were inclined to do so.”

  “And poaching? You’ve got an excuse for that, too?”

  “Poaching?” Conn’s eyes widened in mock innocence. “I made the whelp an offer and she refused it. Why she’d have such loyalty to you, I have no idea. You’re not banging her, are you?” He assessed Sienne with his eyes. “Not that I’d blame you.”

  “You disgusting little rat—”

  Alaric put a quelling hand on Sienne’s shoulder. “She was paid fairly, just like the rest of my team, which is more than I can say for the people you work with.”

  “Do you have a point?” Conn drawled. “I have things to do.”

  “Looks like kidnapping is on that list.” Alaric indicated the knife. “Let him go.”

  “What do you care? Did you develop a sense of civic duty overnight?”

  “I enjoy interfering with your plans.”

  “What, you and the whelp? She’s not even prepared.” Conn’s spellbook popped open and the pages riffled in an invisible wind. “I offered you a chance. You should have taken it,” he said to Sienne. Behind him, Alethea drew her sword, while Milo kept the knife pressed to the man’s side.

  “You’re a pig. I wouldn’t work with you if it was a choice between that and a life of indentured servitude,” Sien
ne said.

  Conn smiled, dismissing her as he turned his attention on Alaric. “Ten lari to your one says I can blast you before you draw that sword of yours.”

  Alaric smiled back. “The same bet says you’ll be out cold before I lay a finger on you.”

  Conn’s smile went confused. “What?”

  Kalanath came flying out of the darkness behind the trio, followed by Dianthe. Conn turned just in time for Kalanath’s staff to smack him hard behind the ear. His eyes rolled up comically in his head, and he folded. Dianthe’s blade clashed with Alethea’s, but Dianthe had the advantage of surprise, and pressed the woman hard against the alley wall. Alaric, moving swiftly for someone his size, darted past the falling Conn and advanced on Milo. Milo squeaked and stepped backward. His captive surged backward and ran for the far end of the alley. “I don’t think so,” Perrin said, stepping forward to grab the man’s arm.

  Sienne rushed to Conn’s side and snatched his spellbook out of his limp hands, then backed away. She’d never handled anyone’s spellbook without their permission before, and it felt vaguely illicit, like breaking a minor law no one knew about to enforce. But since he was already beginning to stir, she felt taking his weapon away was a smart move.

  A clang and a clatter signaled the end of Dianthe’s duel, as she knocked Alethea’s sword out of her hand. Alethea sprawled against the wall, arms and legs outstretched, head turned away from the knife in Dianthe’s off hand that was pressed against her cheek. Alaric shoved Milo, limp and unresisting, in Kalanath’s direction. “Nicely done,” he said. “Perrin, bring him here.”

  Perrin still had hold of the man’s arm, but his “captive” wasn’t resisting. As he came closer, Sienne saw how still and miserable his face was, as if he was sure he’d just traded one set of kidnappers for another.

  “I wish I had rope,” Dianthe complained. “Why do I ever go anywhere without rope?”