Dwarven Ruby

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “Maybe so,” gasped Arik as he spied the soldiers gathering a block away. “It’s a trap! The soldiers are waiting for them to go after that wagon. We have to warn the children.”

  Arik turned and grabbed his staff as he sped out of the room. Wylan grabbed his staff and followed. Arik ran downstairs and opened the back door of the inn. He ran to the alley. Muffled warnings rippled through the gang of children as Arik and Wylan ran towards the street end of the alley. He halted between a boy and girl slightly younger than himself. They turned and stared at him.

  “It’s a trap,” warned Arik. “There are soldiers waiting a block away.”

  “Who are you?” Jon questioned cautiously.

  “Call me Arik,” he said quickly as he pointed up. “I saw them from my room window up there.”

  “Well you should mind your own business, Arik,” scowled Jon. “We know what we are doing.”

  “There is no need to be rude,” admonished Sheri. “We can send someone to check out what he says. If there are soldiers there then we will just wait for another time. We are breaking no laws standing here in the alley.”

  “I am Sheri and my friend is Jon,” Sheri said as she signaled for one of the boys in the gang to check out Arik’s story. “What is your friend’s name?”

  “He is Wylan,” answered Arik. “Why would you doubt my word?”

  “There are other gangs,” frowned Jon. “As if you didn’t know. Competition is fierce for the food shipments.”

  “I really didn’t know,” shrugged Arik. “I just got into the city today. Why else would I be staying at an inn?”

  The boy sent to spy on the soldiers came running down the street screaming a warning. The soldiers ran after him. More soldiers were coming from the other direction and the boy darted into the alley.

  “It is a trap,” exhaled the boy. “Soldiers on both sides of us. We have to flee. They mean to kill us.”

  “Scatter!” shouted Sheri as the two groups of soldiers joined in the street and headed for the alley.

  “We aren’t going to make it this time,” Jon said glumly as the children turned and ran towards the rear of the inn. “We can’t outrun their arrows.”

  Jon turned and ran after the children. Sheri pulled on Arik’s tunic.

  “Run,” she urged. “They will not care that you are not with us.”

  “Jon is right,” scowled Arik. “You cannot outrun their arrows. Get out of here. I will try to delay them for you.”

  “No,” screamed Sheri as the soldiers charged the alley. “They will kill you.”

  “They can try,” replied Arik as he pushed Sheri behind him. “Go with them Wylan.”

  “No,” Wylan replied as Sheri turned and ran down the alley. “I will stand by my prince.”

  The soldiers drew their swords as they entered the alley. Arik and Wylan spread out and blocked their path. As the first soldiers came within range, Arik’s staff struck one of the soldiers. Wylan attacked the soldier in front of him. Both soldiers tumbled to the ground, but Arik and Wylan did not hesitate to strike the next soldiers. As Arik’s staff jabbed into the soldier’s chest, the man fell backwards. The following soldiers were too close for the man’s body to fall and he was pushed towards Arik and Wylan.

  “Keep stepping backwards,” Arik warned softly. “We are not here to die, just to delay.”

  Arik and Wylan kept poking the soldiers with their staffs. They aimed high, for the head or upper chest. The alley was narrow and Arik and Wylan were effectively blocking it, but there was not room to swing the staffs. The length of the staffs gave the boys an advantage, though. The archers at the rear of the soldiers were ineffective because the boys were always too close to the front line of the soldiers. They were not able to use their arrows.

  “Now we have trouble,” gasped Wylan between thrusts. “One of them just shouted for some of the soldiers to go through the inn and surround us. Are you sure you want to continue this?”

  “No,” replied Arik. “We have accomplished our goal. Let’s make a run for it.”

  Wylan nodded as he shoved his staff into another soldier. He turned and bolted for the end of the alley. He had expected Arik to do the same, but Arik remained and continued to jab at the soldiers. Someone at the rear of the soldiers shouted for them to get down. The soldiers scrambled to hug the ground or squat if there was not enough room. Arik stood staring at two archers over the heads of the other soldiers. He turned and ran. He felt the arrows hitting his back, but Arik did not slow down. As he raced out of the alley he saw a rope hanging from the roof of the stables.

  “Use the rope,” Wylan called to him.

  Arik threw his staff into the stables and grabbed the rope. He pulled himself up swiftly, and Wylan quickly hauled the rope up to the roof. They flattened themselves to the roof just as the first soldiers appeared at the end of the alley. Seconds later, soldiers burst out of the door to the Falcon’s Hood Inn. The soldiers stood milling around until an officer appeared to give them direction.

  “Two of you search the stables,” ordered the officer. “Half of the rest of you head to the right. The rest go to the left. I want those children found. Move.”

  Arik heard the footsteps of the soldiers as they ran off in two different directions. The two searching the stables were quick and careless in their search. They emerged from the stables moments after entering.

  “Can you believe those kids?” asked one of the soldiers. “It takes guts to stand up to the army that way.”

  “Not to mention a lack of intelligence,” the other soldier shook his head. “Still, those two lads were pretty good with their sticks. If we didn’t have orders to kill them when we found them, I would suggest that the army hire them. It does bother me though if they start fighting back. I am not looking forward to getting attacked when I walk around the city.”

  “I know what you mean,” the first soldier responded. “I joined the army to defend the city, not attack the citizens. My family lives here. And my friends.”

  “Did you see the arrows hit that last one?” asked the second soldier. “I could have sworn they struck him fairly.”

  “Me too,” shrugged the first soldier. “Obviously they didn’t though. He still managed to outrun us. Let’s catch up with the rest of the men. I don’t feel like standing alone in this part of town.”

  The voices of the soldiers faded as they left the area of the stables. Arik remained face down on the roof until the soldiers were well gone. Slowly he rose to peer into the alley.

  “There are tears in your tunic,” declared Sheri. “Were you hit? Are you hurt?”

  Arik sat up and turned around. Wylan and Sheri were both sitting up. Arik ran his hand behind his back and felt the holes in his tunic. His fingers pressed up against his breastplate and he smiled.

  “Must have been dull tips,” shrugged Arik. “I am not cut.”

  “Well, wasn’t that lucky?” sighed Sheri as she stared at Arik. “You two were magnificent. You have great courage.”

  “From what I hear,” smiled Arik, “you and the rest of your gang have a good deal of courage yourselves. I don’t like to think about people in my city having to steal in order to survive.”

  “Your city?” chuckled Sheri. “My, aren’t we possessive? I thought you were just visiting? And if I am not mistaken, your voice carries a hint of Sordoa in it.”

  “I meant my favorite city,” blushed Arik. “I grew up in Sordoa, but Tagaret is what I like to call home these days. Why don’t we go up to our room? It is much safer than sitting here on the roof.”

  “You don’t sound Sordoan, Wylan,” stated Sheri. “Where are you from?”

  “Southland,” smiled Wylan. “Still I have to agree with Arik. I would like to make Tagaret my home. Southland is not much to look at.”

  “I have to get back to the hideout,” declared Sheri. “I need to make sure all of the group is safe. “Why don’t you come with me?”

  “We shouldn’t,” Arik shook his head
. “We really shouldn’t be out on the streets. You shouldn’t be either. It isn’t safe.”

  “It’s not so bad,” Sheri replied as she threw the rope over the side of the stables and started climbing down. “I will show you the way.”

  Arik climbed down next, followed closely by Wylan. Sheri grabbed the rope and threw it back onto the roof.

  “Follow me,” smiled Sheri as she entered the stables.

  Arik frowned as he watched Sheri move into the stables, but Wylan shrugged and grinned.

  “Why not?” chuckled Wylan as he followed Sheri. “It’s bound to be boring in the room.”

  Arik shrugged and entered the stables. He retrieved his staff and walked to the rear where Sheri was lifting a metal grate. Wylan immediately lifted the grate for Sheri, and she smiled at him as she lowered herself into the hole. Wylan handed his staff down to Sheri and then lowered himself into the hole. Arik frowned but followed Wylan’s lead. He moved the grate back into place before climbing down the rough stones to the bottom.

  “Why are we hiding in a sewer?” asked Arik as he breathed through his mouth.

  “Not hiding,” corrected Sheri as she handed the staffs back to Arik and Wylan. “This is one of the ways we disappear when we are in trouble. The sewers go all over the city. Sometimes they are actually quicker than using the streets. No traffic down here. Be quiet though because there will be people above us.”

  Arik could tell that Sheri was at home in the sewers. She led the way through a maze of twisting passageways and intersections without the aid of a torch. Some of the passageways were narrow with shallow streams running through them while others were wide streams with dry walkways alongside them. Rats were numerous in the sewers, but they scattered when they heard the people coming. Arik did not feel comfortable wandering through the sewers and was grateful when Sheri led the way up a ladder. She hesitated for a moment at the top of the ladder before pushing the grate away. Arik and Wylan scrambled up after her. Wylan replaced the grate and was surprised to be inside a building.

  “You might want to clean your feet off,” chuckled Sheri as she pointed to a barrel of water. “The Thieves’ Highway is not exactly the cleanest way to travel the city.”

  “Where are we?” asked Arik as they cleaned their boots.

  “A lot closer to the harbor than we were when we started,” Sheri answered vaguely. “This building used to be a carriage factory, but it closed down years ago. Not much call for new carriages in Tagaret after the Collapse. There is another section of it next door. That is where the gang should be.”

  Sheri walked over to a wall that had old stalls for horses. She walked into one of the stalls and tapped on the wall in a quick pattern. A series of knocks returned from the other side of the wall.

  “It’s safe to go in,” smiled Sheri. “Follow me.”

  Sheri leaned against the wall and it creaked open. She slipped through the narrow opening. Arik and Wylan followed her, and Sheri pushed the wall shut. They stood in a large room with a wagon in the center of it. Arik’s mouth fell open as he read the sign on the side of the wagon. It read, “Boris Khatama – Merchant”.

  “You brought them over the Thieves’ Highway?” questioned Jon with a frown. “You endanger us all. You have no idea who they are. What were you thinking?”

  Forty pairs of eyes turned to stare at Arik and Wylan.

  “Look around you, Jon,” scowled Sheri. “Do you see anyone missing?”

  “No,” blustered Jon. “I see two extra people here who have no right to be here. Are you crazy? How do you know that they don’t work for the Council? That is now something we need to find out before we allow them to leave.”

  “They are the reason that everyone is here,” argued Sheri. “They stood and battled the soldiers while you ran. Without their efforts, you would not have made it to the end of that alleyway. I wouldn’t have either,” she added.

  “So now I am a coward for running?” questioned Jon.

  “Not at all, Jon,” Sheri sighed as she calmed down. “That is how we agreed to work. All that I am saying is that we would not have made it this time. The army came to kill us, not guard the wagon. The rules have changed. I listened to the soldiers talking when they were hunting for us. We are marked people now.”

  “How did these two manage to get away from the soldiers if they are not working for them?” inquired Jon skeptically. “Don’t you find that just a bit suspicious?”

  “In your place,” Sheri smiled tightly, “I might be led to believe that. The difference is that I stayed behind to see what would happen to them and to guide them to safety. They were running for their lives. Arik got hit in the back with two arrows. Does that sound like they are friends with the soldiers?”

  Jon walked around Arik and examined the holes in his tunic. He poked his fingers through the cloth and frowned.

  “There is not even a dent in his breastplate,” argued Jon. “Hard to believe that he was shot at.”

  “Look,” interrupted Arik, “I didn’t really want to come here anyway. Why don’t Wylan and I leave, and you can return to whatever it is that you do?”

  “No,” scowled Sheri. “I invited you here and I have a right to.”

  “Sheri is right,” interjected Benni, a small skinny boy with a tangle of black hair. “I heard some soldiers talking about the two lads who held them off. Some admired their courage while others nursed their bruises and threatened to kill them on sight. Any way you look at it, Jon, these two saved our hides today. I say they are welcome to stay if they want to.”

  Murmurs of agreement rippled through the gang of thieves, and Jon finally shrugged and conceded.

  “So how are we to get food to distribute now?” quizzed Jon. “If the army is hunting us down rather than guarding the wagons, our act is just about up anyways. So now we just let the people starve?”

  “I can’t do that,” frowned Sheri. “I did not start this fight to just give up when things got rough. We will find a way to outsmart the army. They haven’t managed to catch us yet.”

  “When the queen returns to Tagaret,” promised Arik, “this nonsense will stop. You only need to hold out a while longer.”

  “Queen Marta has returned,” retorted Jon. “A fat lot of good that has done us. She is no better than the Council. It matters little to any of us who is taking the food our families need.”

  “Don’t ever say that,” spat Arik as his fingers tightened on his staff. “You have no idea of the sacrifices Queen Marta has made for her people. She is offering up her life to rid Tagaret of the Council.”

  Jon shook his head and turned away. Sheri pulled gently on Arik’s arm and led him and Wylan to a quiet corner where they all sat down.

  “When did the queen arrive?” Arik asked after recovering his composure.

  “Just last night,” answered Sheri softly. “Give me your tunic and I will sew it up for you. Nothing would mark you as much as the two holes in the back of it.”

  Arik removed his tunic and handed it to Sheri. She stared at Arik’s chest in wonderment.

  “What is that emblazoned on your breastplate?” she asked. “Is it a dragon?”

  “I am not sure,” Arik replied, suddenly aware that he was wearing the breastplate. “I have never seen a dragon.”

  “It is the symbol of Alcea,” offered Wylan before Arik shot him a glare.

  “Alcea?” echoed Sheri as she ran her fingers over the breastplate. “I have heard of that before. Some old timers talked about people wanting to change the name of Tagaret to Alcea a long time ago. Why does a Sordoan wear such a thing?”

  “It is good protection,” shrugged Arik as he pulled his money pouch off his belt and handed it to Sheri. “Take this. Use it to buy food for the people instead of stealing it. Maybe the army will grow bored of looking for you and the gang.”

  “Keep your coppers,” smiled Sheri as she tried to hand the pouch back to Arik. “We will find a way to get food.”

  “No,” insisted A
rik. “I don’t want to worry about you being caught by the army right now. I know the queen will fix all of these problems. Just give her some time.”

  “I hope you are right,” shrugged Sheri as she placed the pouch alongside her and began sewing Arik’s tunic. “You seem to have an awful lot of faith in this queen. Do you know her?”

  “I have never met her,” Arik replied with just the hint of a tear forming in his eye. “I sure would like to though.”

  “I would like to apologize for Jon’s behavior,” interrupted Benni as he strode over and stared at Arik’s breastplate. “It was a tense day today and often it is hard to tell who your friends are. He is normally not like this.”

  “I know how it can be,” nodded Arik. “I’ve been in a few tough spots myself. Still, keeping faith in yourself and your friends is always the best thing to do. Tell him that I hold no grudge.”

  “I am glad you understand,” smiled Sheri as she handed Arik’s pouch to Benni. “Arik donated some coins to our cause,” she said to Benni. “See if we can buy some bread with it to keep everyone going until we can find another wagon.”

  Sheri finished repairing the tunic and handed it back to Arik. He immediately put it on and stood up.

  “Wylan and I should be going,” Arik stated. “Can you point us back towards the Falcon’s Hood?”

  “Sure,” smiled Sherri as she led them to the door of the building.

  She checked the street through a hole in the door and then pulled the door open. She pointed the direction they should go and then kissed Arik on the cheek.

  “Thank you for what you did today,” grinned Sheri. “I will always be grateful. Will we see you again?”

  “I would enjoy that very much,” smiled Arik.

  “Count on it,” grinned Wylan as he leaned forward and kissed Sheri on the cheek.

  Sheri giggled as the two boys walked around the corner and disappeared. She entered the hideout and closed the door. Benni came running up to her.

  “You said a couple of coins,” panted Benni. “There is nothing but gold in this pouch. Lots of it. More than lots of it.”