Askaro of the Falcon

by Lady Li Andre

  Chapter 15 – Disappearing Act

  Zane and Marlo both looked confused. Zane pointed down to where Blin was still standing by the stage and dropped his voice. “If anything, I would have thought he was after that one.”

  “It’s a long story. My mother was captured as a slave but my father took her as a wife.”

  Marlo whistled. “Your father’s an airman!”

  “He is a Chief Engineer.”

  There was a loud bang and the pieces of broken glass rattled in the window frame. Zane looked out to see what was going on. “They got a board from somewhere and they’re trying to break down the door!”

  Blin called up to them. “Did you say something about another way out?”

  Zane let the curtain fall back. “He’s right. Time to make a magical exit.”

  Askaro followed him toward the stairs. “Magical?”

  Zane led them back to the stage. “The Great Kunari always magically disappeared into a cloud of smoke at the end of his shows.”

  Askaro looked up at the riggings above the stage. “Was he hoisted up above the curtains?”

  Zane went to the back of the stage. “Nope. He went the other way.” He tapped his foot on the floor and a section of the wood rose slightly.

  There was another loud boom accompanied by a slight cracking noise. Blin moved forward. “That door frame isn’t going to hold much longer. Let’s make use of your magical exit and disappear.”

  Marlo grabbed his lute. “I’m all for that. I never cared much for Golarin or his men.”

  Zane opened the hatch. A ladder went downward into the darkness. “Better let me go first. I know where the lanterns are.”

  Marlo insisted that Askaro and Blin go next. He brought up the rear. “Is there any way to secure this hatch?”

  Zane held up a dusty lantern. “See the knob in the trapdoor? Pull it down tight.”

  Marlo did as directed and the door snapped shut. He climbed down and joined them. “Quite a neat trick. So we just have to sit down here and wait for that lot to clear out.”

  Blin had lit another lantern and was surveying the small room. “What is all this?”

  Askaro looked around. There were numerous trunks, all covered by a thick layer of dust. “Must be some kind of storage area.”

  Zane moved toward one of the trunks. He handed the lantern to Askaro and opened the lid. The trunk was filled with colorful clothes. “These are costumes and some of the other ones contain props for magic tricks or plays.” He pulled a picture from a metal frame in the lid of the trunk.

  Askaro moved the lantern closer to see the image. There was a man in a black suit with a shiny red cape and a woman in a short beaded dress. He looked at the man’s face. “That man looks a lot like you.”

  Zane took a deep breath. “He should. That’s my father.”

  Blin and Marlo came over to look, too. Blin’s face softened. “And I bet she was your mother. She was pretty.”

  Marlo’s eyes had grown large. “Your mother was the Lady Melody?”

  Zane nodded. His eyes became glassy. Askaro had a sinking feeling. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “What happened to them?”

  Marlo looked at him. “Are you kidding? You really don’t know?”

  Blin had turned away and was studying the dust on the floor that he pushed around with his foot. “There’s a lot of stuff he doesn’t understand.”

  Askaro felt awkward. “I’m sorry. I don’t. I haven’t been here very long.”

  Zane tucked the picture into an inner pocket of his vest. “My father discovered my mother was having an affair with the Regent. He killed her.” His voice was flat.

  Askaro gasped. “That’s terrible. And what happened to your father?”

  Blin shivered. “The Regent tossed him into the bottomless pit under the castle.”

  Askaro almost laughed but he didn’t want to offend Zane. “I’m sorry, Blin, but it can’t be bottomless. Maybe it’s just really deep.”

  Blin shook his head. “And how would you know?”

  “Because if it were bottomless it would have to pass through the entire planet and come out on the other side. There’s no such hole like that. I know. I’ve sailed around the entire world.”

  All three turned and stared at him. Marlo lightly touched his arm. “For real? There’s only one ship that’s done that.”

  Askaro nodded. “The Falcon.”

  Footsteps echoed above their heads. Zane looked up. “They’re walking around on the stage.”

  Blin began searching the corners of the room. “There’s no where to hide.”

  Zane looked thoughtfully at Askaro. “So those men up there know what you look like? Maybe we can change that.”

  Askaro followed Zane toward a different trunk. “How?’

  Zane opened it and pulled out a small bag. “By changing the way you look, of course.” He pulled what appeared to be blond hair from the bag and fitted it on Askaro’s head like a cap.

  Blin chuckled. “Yah, that’s different all right.”

  Zane rummaged through the trunk and pulled out a couple different pieces of clothes. He handed them to Askaro. “These should fit you. Put them on.”

  Askaro slid the brown breeches over his own and pulled on the dark blue jerkin. He let Zane straighten everything. “Do I really look different?”

  Marlo walked around him. “From a distance, especially. Unless they know your face well enough. Your black hair is totally covered. The wig was a dandy idea, Zane. He looks just like a shop apprentice.”

  The stage boomed above them. Blin looked up. “That’s not going to be much help if they manage to find us down here.”

  Zane closed the trunk and picked up the lantern. “Then I guess we better not be found down here.” He moved to the wall farthest from the ladder and pressed on a stone. There was a soft click and part of the wall moved.

  Marlo grinned. “Now that’s magical for sure.” He put a hand on Zane’s shoulder. “Very impressive.”

  Zane pushed on the wall panel. “And now for my next trick.” The panel slid aside revealing darkness. “Follow me closely and watch your step on the stairs.”

  Askaro followed Zane and Marlo followed Blin. Marlo paused at the opening. “Is it like the other one?”

  Zane looked back. “See the handle? Just pull it closed and the latch will catch.”

  Marlo did. There was a soft click as the panel locked in place. “That is a neat trick. Do you know how these work?”

  Zane moved his lantern to see the stairs better. “Sort of. I watched my father fix one but I’ve never worked on one myself.”

  The stairs ended. Askaro felt damp cold stone under his feet. He could hear the sound of moving water but it echoed over an unknown distance. “Where are we?”

  Zane moved slowly, following a series of dimples in the rock floor. “This is one of the collection basins for storm water. When we get rain or snow melt, the water from the streets runs into channels under them that empty into basins like this one. There are several of them around the city.”

  Blin swung the lantern he was carrying in a slow arc around them. “What happens to all the water?”

  Zane stopped by an opening in the wall. “It gets purified and pumped through the service pipes for people to use. That’s where most of the city’s water comes from.”

  Askaro could hear the muffled sound of people talking. “Where does this tunnel go?”

  Zane moved into it and dropped his voice. “The Fowler Street Stairs are above us.” He stopped at a wooden door, felt above the frame, and pulled down a rusted key. It turned in the lock. He opened the door and replaced the key.

  Marlo was the last to enter the room. “I’m guessing there isn’t one of those nice latches on this door.”

  Zane closed the door. There was a key hanging on a hook attached to the back side. “Nah. He never got around to doing this one.”

  Blin was moving through the room. “All the shelves are empty.”


  Zane led them to a stairway and sat down on one of the steps. “These stairs lead up to the rooms my family used to live in. This was the store room for my uncle’s shop which is on the other side of that door over there.”

  Blin moved toward the door and opened it slowly. A narrow crack of light illuminated his face. “It’s empty, too. There are heavy curtains across the windows. Can we get out through the door?”

  Zane leaned back and closed his eyes. “Yes, I know where the key is. The question is, where are we going?”

  Blin closed the door. “Askaro needs to get home. Do you think that disguise is good enough to fool Golarin’s men?”

  Marlo adjusted the wig. “I’d think so. It’s almost evening so the streets are in shadows.”

  Zane got up. “Great. It’s always better when you know where you’re headed. So where do you live, Askaro?”

  Marlo laughed quietly. “Weren’t you paying attention, my friend? Our boy here is from the Falcon.”

  Zane gasped. “The Falcon, as in that really big ship that came in the other day?”

  Askaro wondered about the look on Blin’s face. “I was trying to tell you.”

  Blin didn’t say anything. He walked back to the door, opened it a crack, and turned his attention to what lay beyond it.

  Marlo slung his lute over his shoulder. “Shouldn’t be too hard. She’s sitting in the Grand Portal. There will be plenty of people moving through the streets at this hour. With that outfit, we’ll have him home in no time.”

  Zane moved to Blin’s side. “What about you? Where do you live?”

  Blin didn’t look at him. “Where ever I can find a hole.”

  Zane looked at Marlo. “Sounds like the rest of us are all in the same lot.”

  Askaro came up to Blin. “Maybe my grandfather can help find you a job.”

  Blin snorted. “Right. Doing what? It’s not like I have any real skills. I’m no cook or musician.”

  Marlo put a hand on Blin’s arm. “Well, the sooner we get this chap home, the better. We don’t want to wait too long or Golarin’s crew might get wise that we slipped away.”

  Zane pushed open the door to the empty shop and moved past Blin. He found the key on a shelf and went to the front door. A black drape hung over the small window in the upper half of the door. He drew a corner of the drape aside. “Looks like we could be getting a break in traffic. Let’s get ready to move.”

  They followed Zane out of the shop and he locked it behind them. Askaro looked around. They were at the base of the tall stairway. Marlo took up the lead. “Just stay close behind me.” He led them to the corner where Fowler turned onto Low Street. They went down the short set of stairs beside the building with the steeply slanted roof. There was a knot of people near the intersection of the street that led to the Port Authority.

  Zane swore and motioned for Marlo to move closer to the building beside them. Askaro tensed. Men in armor were questioning everyone who was trying to get down the street.

  Blin struggled to breathe. “It’s the bottle neck. We can’t get passed it.”

  Askaro looked up. “We could if we were on the roof. That’s how I got to this side of town in the first place.”

  Marlo studied the crowd. “They don’t look happy about the wait. Maybe we could drop a few good words here and there and get the lot of them to work in our favor.”

  Zane grabbed his arm. “Make sure our friend is behind you.”

  His whispered warning made the hairs on the back of Askaro’s neck stand up. He peered around Marlo’s shoulder.

  Golarin and several of his men pushed through the crowd to the check point. “Well, have you found him?”

  One of the armored men stepped away from those being questioned. “No one has seen anyone matching the description of the boy.”

  Two familiar figures emerged from the other direction. Askaro felt weak. “Oh, no.”

  Zane looked over at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Those two men are from the Falcon. They are the ones trying to sell me.”

  Bruvano looked angry. He pushed his way toward Golarin. “So where is he? This is taking too long. The buyer isn’t going to wait forever.”

  Golarin put up his hands. “Take a breath, mate. I’ve never lost a catchling in my life. I’ll find him. This isn’t just about coin, you know. This is my reputation. I will get him. Count on it.”

  Bruvano clenched his fists. “I’m done waiting. Either you let me work with your men or this deal is finished.”

  Golarin stroked his short beard. “That actually might be helpful as you know what the boy looks like better than we do. I’m certain we have him pinned in Old Town. It’s just a matter of time. There’s no way he can get past my men.”

  Askaro saw another group of trackers led by the man Zane had called Otho. He could feel Blin shaking beside him. “We’re in a bad spot. We need to get out of here. Does anyone know another way out of Old Town?”

  Blin leaned close. “From the docks. You have to get around Snob Nob then there are stairs on the other side.”

  Marlo hummed. “And if Golarin’s men are watching the stairs?”

  “Then we use a different set of stairs. There are ways through the old warehouses.”

  Zane moved slightly to block Askaro and Blin from view as several of Golarin’s men moved passed. “We need to get out of this mess first. What we need is a distraction.”

  Marlo grabbed Blin’s arm. “Are you sure you can get Askaro up the stairs?”

  “Yah, what of it?”

  Marlo glanced at the crowd, which was moving again. “We’re going to split up but we need a place to meet you.”

  Blin looked thoughtful. “Do you know where the trees grow in the Hanging Gardens?”

  Zane’s eyebrows went up. “You can get him all the way over there?”

  “I can but it may take us a while.”

  Marlo looked over at Zane. “You used to be an actor, didn’t you?”

  Zane grinned. “A little improv on tap?”

  “That’s the plan. We need to give Blin and Askaro enough time to slip away.” He turned to Askaro. “Good luck. We’ll be waiting on the other side. I know how to get you home from there.”

  Askaro nodded. “Just don’t get in trouble, or worse.”

  Marlo twisted his armband around. “We’ll be fine. You two just look out for each other.” He tapped Zane on the shoulder. “Can you play a good drunk?”

  Zane twisted his face into a goofy grin. “Need a pint?”

  Askaro watched them blunder through the crowd. People began noticing their strange behavior. Marlo grabbed Zane around the shoulders and swung him toward several of Golarin’s men. “The Red Cloud is the best Pub in the whole city.” His words were slurred.

  Zane tumbled into the trackers. “No! You’re wrong! It’s the Winged Horse!”

  The armored men that had been behind them, moved toward Marlo and Zane. Blin grabbed Askaro and pulled him away. They cut down the short street that ran past the shop where they had met that morning. They turned the corner and found themselves back on Fowler Street by the stairs.

  Askaro let Blin lead. They swerved through the people and turned left at the teed intersection. He was caught off guard when Blin suddenly grabbed him and pulled him into the walkway that led to the theater. “What is it? More of Golarin’s men?”

  Blin looked pale. “No.”

  Askaro peered around the corner. A figure in a long gray cloak was moving with the people in their direction. “That doesn’t look like one of the trackers.”

  Blin joined him at the corner of the building. “It’s not.” He pointed to the street across from where they hid. Askaro recognized it as the place where he’d climbed the roof that morning. Blin grabbed his arm. “Be ready to run.”

  The cloaked figure turned to talk to someone and Blin shot across the street. Askaro followed. They ran around the corner and came to another intersection. Blin clung to the stone framing at the corner of th
e building and looked towards Fowler. The cloaked figure came into view.

  Blin was breathing hard and began chanting under his breath. “Keep going, keep going.” The figure moved beyond the building they were hiding behind. Blin turned to Askaro. “Now we run.”

  “Where?”

  “Straight down Hay Street. Just stay behind me.” Blin gave a final look then darted into the street.

  Askaro did his best to keep up. He was impressed at how fast Blin could run. He realized the street ended at a large building with wide stairs that disappeared inside. Blin paused for a moment before crossing the street. Askaro noticed the Sail Loft was only a couple buildings to their right. The building straight ahead of them must also have a level on the docks.

  Blin drew in a sharp breath. “There’s a tracker by the Dockside Pub. He’s not looking this way. We have to go now!”

  Askaro followed Blin up the stairs. The entire area was filled with bundles of hay. Blin ducked around the corner and went to the wall. Wide cracks, which allowed air to flow through the barn, provided a narrow view of the street below. “What do you see?”

  Blin gasped. “I think he saw us. He grabbed a friend and they’re headed this way. Come on.”

  Askaro didn’t have time to ask what Blin intended to do. Blin stopped at what looked like an open wooden cage without a top or bottom. Voices echoed from the stairs. “They’re here.”

  Blin took his hand. “Jump!”

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