by Drae Box
The gate captain circled around them noiselessly, a hand resting on his sword. He inspected them carefully with each stride he took around them, before pointing at the Dagger. “This lady is the Giften Dagger Bearer,” he stated. “The boy is a royal official?”
The first Newer nodded.
“Must be a rookie with a face that young. What rank are you, royal official?”
“MRT. The highest rank. I deal with the murderers, rapists and terrorists.”
“Haha,” uttered the gate captain.
“He is,” said Aldora. “He has his tags!”
Raneth pulled his royal official dog tags from his neck and offered them to the gate captain.
“He has the Common Gift of Ice too, and the Bayre blood-gift,” stated the junior Newer.
“Bayre?” asked the captain as he held the dog tags close to his eyes.
The junior Newer nodded confirmation.
“Best let them in then. Word from Queen Regina said a Giften captain called Bayre is to be given free rein of the kingdom. Probably less paperwork to let him in too. Dagger Bearer, I’ve heard trouble follows you. If that’s the case beyond my gates, I will drag you back outside. Understood?”
“I’ll do my best not to cause trouble, captain,” promised Aldora.
He does realise the Newer inspectors inside these city walls are likely to cause the problems, doesn’t he? wondered Pedibastet.
When the captain didn’t say any more, Aldora gave Raneth’s hand a quick squeeze before leading him through the city gates. Pedibastet walked at their side quietly, content to be overlooked by the gate unit. It didn’t go unnoticed by Aldora, who observed him as they walked between the gates.
“From what I saw when we were in the air, this city is pretty crowded,” said Pedibastet. “If Lodema is here, it’s going to be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”
“We’re still going to try,” stated Raneth firmly. “And we may have some friends here if we’re lucky.”
Ignoring the humans as they continued to converse, Pedibastet eyed the city as it began to unfold around him. The buildings either side of the gate had large spaces between them, which narrowed to almost half the size further down the cobbled pathway. The building to his left was made of light cream stones; the fascias had been worn down by rain over the years, and black dirt rested against some of its protrusions. Gargoyles leered and laughed at him from the top of each window, their mouths agape. Hideous things. The building to the right was the same, with motionless triangles of fabric dangling from the closed windows. Between the two buildings, metal beams ran over the pathway, forcing the leaning buildings to stay erect.
“Where are we going to stay?” asked Aldora, eyeing the two leaning buildings.
“There’s no safehouse for us here – it was destroyed,” said Raneth. “We’ll probably have to find an abandoned building and share with the homeless.”
Share with homeless people in Newer? Did he bash his griffin-brains on something whilst we were in flight? Oh good, Aldora’s pulling a face.
“Relax,” said Raneth. “The homeless are usually a lot nicer than some of the people who live here, and if we’re lucky they’ll give us information. We could even trade some of the royal official rations for what they know.”
I’m not having us get filthy as well as wind-ruffled, and he should know better when he has a woman with him.
“Raneth, you will book us into a hotel,” insisted Pedibastet. “Aldora should be treated with respect. She is your superior officer, and more importantly, a young lady.”
Aldora smiled at Pedibastet, but Raneth was frowning.
He rubbed at the back of his neck. “Yes, sir. I didn’t think about Aldora’s gender as an incentive for misbehaviour.”
“That’s why I’m here. To keep Aldora safe,” stated Pedibastet. “After all, if the royal official captain failed to look after her and word got out at home, who do you think would be held accountable and shamed by the kingdom?”
“Prince Pedibastet, respectfully, shut up,” grumbled Raneth.
Aldora hugged Raneth’s arm. “It’s OK. I only pulled a face because I thought it would be a bit gross. Like on the Quest when I had to pee without a toilet. I didn’t even think about my being a girl either.”
“Because you trust Raneth too much for your protection,” said Pedibastet. “You really ought to–”
“Pedi, stop it,” insisted Aldora.
Pedibastet’s ears flicked back and his tail twitched.
A clock face loomed above them, at the top of a tower whose corner gargoyles had broken and fallen off at some point. The tower’s roof had a tall turquoise tip, but it was the clock face that caught Pedibastet’s attention due to the fact that it was illuminating the street below it. They moved aside for a rider as Aldora inspected the clock curiously.
“I understand Giften doesn’t have clock towers, but it cannot be that interesting, Aldora.”
“But it is, Pedi. I know it’s just an oversized clock, but my father has wanted to go to the Southern Kingdom for years to help fashion the metal parts of one. I never thought I’d see a real one.”
I see she is still assuming she will always have a dull life. Pedibastet’s tail swished. She should know by now that with me in her life, something interesting is always possible. I suppose with one of the Bayres in her life that can be said too. They walked through a small ray of sun before reaching the crossroads in front of the clock tower, which had a sliver of a walkway either side of it, just wide enough for an adult to walk through unhindered.
Raneth took the left walkway and led Pedibastet and Aldora deeper into the city by turning left again. They eased past a clothes shop and weaponry store before they erupted onto a street where several men were shouting at one another. Two inspectors were watching the argument from a stone seat nestled at the side of one of the buildings. “See them?” Raneth asked Aldora softly, nodding towards the two inspectors.
Aldora nodded.
“Seeing inspectors on benches is common here. It’s easier than giving them outposts or smaller offices to work in. They’re less likely to intervene in things here too, unless weapons are being used – that’s why they asked about your gift at the gate.”
“They wouldn’t be able to tell if I’m about to use my gift,” realised Aldora, giving a nod.
It took a while, but eventually the three friends reached a hotel, The Bronze Compass. It was nestled between two larger buildings, with two bronze lampposts guarding its entrance, each with four candles squeezed inside the large glass containers. The trio briskly entered the hotel and strode up to the reception desk, where Raneth rang a small bell.
Pedibastet jumped onto the desk, allowing his tail to dangle off the side and giving a small purr. Much nicer inside than it is outside. I might as well start cleaning my paws. Goodness knows when I’ll get the chance again. The Prince of the Cats half closed his eyes as he started to inspect and tug at the fur between his paw pads. He heard as a door behind the reception desk opened and a short elder man stepped through, a pair of thin-rimmed glasses resting on his bony nose. His grey eyes took in their appearance and Pedibastet’s claim of a spot on the reception desk. The cat paused his cleaning to stare back.
“So,” said the man nasally, “you’ll be wanting a double?”
“No,” replied Raneth. “Two singles close to each other please.”
Pedibastet’s right ear flicked back briefly at Raneth’s request. Why won’t he share with his mate yet? He’s a Bayre, a soldier. Everything should be in perfect working order.
“How many nights?” asked the older man, looking to Aldora.
She shrugged.
“Can we do it on a week by week basis?” asked Raneth.
“Yes, sir, but that’ll cost you nine hundred nimbs each week.”
That’s practically theft! Pedibastet glanced at Raneth. Even if he has that much on him, he should haggle!
Raneth shrugged. “Fine,” he said.
“But, uh, there is a slight snag.”
“If you can’t afford the rate, you can sleep on the street.”
“No, it’s not that, it’s just…” Raneth glanced at Aldora.
She gave him a slight smile and a nod.
“I need to purchase it using a royal official’s allowance,” said Raneth. “Is that OK here?”
Idiots.
“You? A royal official?” The man eyed Raneth up and down then shrugged. “ID?”
Raneth gave the receptionist his passport, border crossing pass and royal official identification tags. The receptionist viewed each carefully then moved a candle on the reception desk a little closer to the passport to view it better.
“Everything seems to be in order,” he stated, handing them back. “But we charge royal officials extra for keeping our mouths shut that you’re here.”
Oh, of course they do, decided the cat sarcastically. By the Goddess, nothing is cheap for a royal official or a Giften! I hate Newers. So dishonest! So, so... The cat’s tail slapped the reception desk with a thud. I’m sure if I bit the Newer, Raneth would grab me out of harm’s way.
Raneth glanced at the cat before his blue eyes swept back to the receptionist. “That’s fine. How much?”
“In total each week is one thousand five hundred nimbs now.”
Aldora drew closer to Raneth’s side. “Can we afford that on your allowance?” she asked, her voice soft.
“We should be fine. Cray will take a percentage of it from my pay if not, but he’ll cover the costs until our return home.” Raneth gave Aldora a smile and a nod. To the hotel receptionist he said, “Is it OK if we come back in a little while to settle in? We should probably get used to the area around the hotel so we don’t get lost.”
“Sure. The cat going with you?” asked the older man, reaching a hand out towards Pedibastet’s chin.
“No, the cat is not dumb enough,” stated Pedibastet, turning his head away from the receptionist so he couldn’t touch him. “Touch me and I’ll bite, Newer. Deeply.”
The receptionist’s hand jerked back at his voice, then he shoved it deeply into his black jacket pocket.
“Let’s go,” said Aldora. “Pedi, we’ll see you soon,” she added in promise, kissing the black and brown stripes between his white ears.
He purred at her affectionately. “Be careful,” he warned. “You are my favourite human besides Cray. Raneth, a moment before you go – could you see me to your room?”
“I’ll just be a second,” the Bayre promised Aldora, taking an offered key and leading the Prince of the Cats to the room.
Chapter Fourteen
Raneth
A while later, Raneth strolled through the streets, holding Aldora’s hand. A particular stone building caught her attention and with her free hand she pointed at the words engraved over its door.
“‘Time is limited. Don’t waste it.’ Raneth, what is that building?”
“It’s one of the older lower schools, I think,” stated Raneth, turning his gaze to a child running down the street with a gas lamp in one hand and a dozen thin reeds in the other. Must be almost time for the sun to go down if the lamp lighters are running already. Probably a good thing we got here when we did. I might be able to find a few old friends if they’ve survived the years since the fight.
“Is that their school motto then?” asked Aldora. “About time? It doesn’t seem like something kids would care about.”
“It’s a note of warning you’ll find all over the city,” explained Raneth, as Aldora pulled him towards a just emptied wooden bench. “The city was founded on the idea that working hard is a virtue. Now they’re stuck with it, because it’s too ingrained into their way of thinking. It causes a lot of problems you won’t see at home, or even in Oreg.”
“Like what?”
“People die from being overworked here, sometimes just dropping dead in the streets. And there’s a group of people known as the body snatchers who take advantage of that. They’ll grab any dead body and harvest the organs, which they sometimes sell to a cannibal cult in the city. They make quite a profit.”
Aldora pulled a face. “I hope we don’t meet them. It sounds awful here. Is there anything nice about the city?”
Not when I’ve ever been here. “I don’t think there is, no,” admitted Raneth, settling to sit next to Aldora on the bench.
He observed their surroundings as he waited for Aldora to speak again. The street wasn’t level, the cobblestones only adding more of a hazard, but a few men and women were rushing along as if they didn’t have a second to spare. Knowing this place, they probably don’t. Looking over the nearby rooftops, the Bayre sought out the familiar high roof of a rectangular building. He hadn’t known what it housed the last time he had been here, but he had spent more time than he would have liked on its rooftop. It was dangerous then because of the Eastern Barbarians, but it’s not exactly safe now either. How can I keep us safe when I’m not as familiar with this city as I was when I was fourteen? The big-name criminals have probably changed and the old ones are most likely dead. He glanced at Aldora as she snuggled into the crook of his arm, pressing her side against his. I shouldn’t have brought Aldora into this sort of danger. But then, Aldora has the Dagger. It should be possible that we can both look after ourselves here, as long as we don’t screw up.
“I think we should find an old friend or two of mine if we can. They might not know anything, or they might be dead, but I’d like to try.”
Aldora nodded, giving Raneth a smile. “That’s alright with me. Where do you think they might be?”
“Hiding,” admitted Raneth. “They’re not friends with the inspectors. They’re considered criminals.”
“I didn’t bat much of an eyelid at your knowing someone who owns a brothel, but it doesn’t sound like anyone you know here in Newer has a good reputation. Should you really know these people?”
“I know even more criminals at home, Aldora,” uttered Raneth softly. “Most of whom I’ve arrested. These ones aren’t too bad – if we can find them and they’re still breathing, anyway. They used to smuggle things into the Newer army for the grunts protecting the city.”
“So how do you know them?”
“When I was fourteen, in 2002, Cray allowed Newer to join the Treaty of Alliance. Some help from the royal officials went to Regina’s army at the time, due to…” Raneth reluctantly stopped talking. “It’s classified, but in short, some royal officials helped out Newer and a lot of us…” Can’t tell her that either. “Some royal officials helped out here.”
“If it’s a good thing you helped, why is it classified?”
How best to say that a good number of royal officials died without breaking the Defence of the Realms Act? Raneth shrugged. “It didn’t go smoothly.” Just as well Pedibastet isn’t here to tell Cray about this conversation.
Aldora shook her head. “It never seems to for royal officials.”
“I don’t mean to have all the accidents that I do. Come on, it’s growing dark. Now’s the perfect time to find them.”
The royal official stood and led Aldora away from the bench, noticing how quickly the street was being plunged into a blackness like spilled ink. No audible footsteps travelled up the pathway but theirs, no whispers or rattling coughs either. Raneth stepped clear of the hug of a soft light; taking hold of Aldora’s hand, he turned left and strode down the path with measured steps. Walking too fast could attract the attention of inspectors and criminals alike; the criminals would decide they were easy prey, and the inspectors would believe they were up to no good. A confident stride and deliberate steps would tell both that they were simply walking from one place to another, and he was confident in the belief that he could protect Aldora and himself from anybody who would do them harm.
His thoughts crawled to a stop at the sound of a nose sniff behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, checking for any visible sign of the nose’s owner, but he couldn’t see anyone. He wiped his free pa
lm against his chest and shortened his steps slightly – just enough to increase his pace without making it obvious that he had done so.
“What’s wrong?” whispered Aldora, still clutching his hand.
“Hopefully nothing. It’s not good news to meet people out after dark here.”
The soft phfft from a match whispered behind them. Raneth spun round, his left palm raised towards the source of their unwanted shadow. The match blew out, ensnaring Raneth in obscurity. For heck’s sake, he thought, frowning at the darkness. We need to go where there’s light. Then if someone is following us – especially if they’re toying with us for some reason – they’ll be forced to act before we get into the light, or we’ll be able to see them and they’ll back off. One or the other.
There were a few candles in windows up ahead, but if the royal official remembered the city’s walkways well, and if they hadn’t changed drastically, there would be an opening a little further ahead on the right that would get them near the theatre in the centre of the city. He stalked forwards with Aldora quiet at his side, looking for the slightest hint of the turning. He was rewarded with another sniff from behind. A few more steps gifted him the edge of a new pathway. Raneth eyed it warily. It was about where he had expected to find it, but it was thinner than before. Less of a pathway or a road and more like an alleyway, which two people can’t walk down holding hands, he realised. He glanced back the way he had come, but no indication of their possible follower caught his attention. I’ll use my gift, he decided.
“Go first,” he whispered to Aldora.
Her hold on his hand tightened. “What are–”
“I’m gonna make it a little hard to follow us, but I need to be quick.”
Aldora stepped into the alleyway and Raneth joined her, turning his back to her. He crouched, resting the tips of his forefingers and middle fingers against the ground. White mist billowed from the palms of his hand, rushing to the mouth of the alleyway. It swirled upwards, its presence hidden to anyone but Raneth in the limited light; his connection to his gift was the only way he could sense its presence and what it was doing. He thought of the white mist solidifying into ice and stood up as it hardened into place. It wasn’t the thickest ice wall he’d created but it would do. He heard the loud thud of someone walking into it, followed by a second thud as they landed flat on their butt on the pavement. Aldora and Raneth continued down the alleyway.
