Once Upon a Time

by C J Preece

  It was possible that one or more of these things tried to hamper Red in her journey, but she paid no more attention to them than she did to the other speed bumps she drove over. She kept the wheels on the road through brute force, even when the road became little more than a dirt track, a low stone wall keeping her hemmed in on either side. The light was beginning to break through the mountains in the distance, and she knew her destination was near. There was no more speed to be coaxed from the engine, but she leaned forwards as though her willpower could bring her there faster.

  At the end of the path she could see the spires of the towers, rising out of the mud and dirt. Once it had been cobbled streets, with shining lights welcoming weary travellers. Only a few lights remained on, winking occasionally in dark and textureless walls. Dark shapes moved along the outside of some of the walls, many-legged things that never saw the light of day. By the time the sun reached this desolate spot they would be hidden away underneath beds and inside closets. She had faced such things before, and had no desire to again.

  The sun was well above the mountains by the time she slowed the bike to a halt, still a good half-hour’s walk from the Farm itself. It was time to make her plan. She dismounted and pushed the bike into the cover of a nearby thicket, wrapping the chains round it to perturb all but the most persistent of magical creatures. She took the bag from the back and put it over her shoulder, taking care with the metal tube inside. Pushing her goggles off she started the trudge towards the Farm.

  Only a few steps down the road a voice emerged from the bushes to her left. “If I were you,” it said. “I wouldn’t go in there without some information.”

  She came to a dead halt, glaring at the bush. “And information is always for sale, right?”

  A sleek red fox emerged from the bush, his mouth twisted into a human grin. On his animal face it looked threatening and sly. Renard could easily have appeared as almost fully human if he wanted to, the only signs of his true nature his vibrant red hair and jet-black eyes. But he was choosing to stay in his animal form. Interesting. As Red watched he circled and came to a rest just before her in the road.

  “Information is my business,” he said, having the gall to sound hurt. “It would be a shame to see me out of work.”

  “It would be small recompense,” she grumbled, but she did at least kneel down to his eye level. “What information, and what price?”

  “Surely those should be the other way around,” he said. “I have no guarantee of your payment if I give you the information first.”

  “I’m honest.”

  He laughed.

  “I’m more honest than you.”

  “Wild animals usually are.”

  She managed to restrain a growl. A year had been enough time to make her forget what a challenge he was. “I’ve never left a debt unpaid.”

  “Well let me rephrase. I have no guarantee of your survival if I give you the information first.”

  It wasn’t a threat. He believed his information was so bad it would send her to her death. Probably better to listen then. “Can you give me any indication what I’m paying for is worth it?”

  “I could, but where’s the fun in that?”

  “None of your games. I’m here for-”

  “Goldilocks, Pure and fair. I know.”

  “So you read the message you brought?”

  “I would hardly have known who to bring it to otherwise.”

  “Why not bring it to me?”

  “I see many things and go many places cub, but I don’t venture into the dark forest.”

  “You prefer much more dangerous hideouts.”

  His smile was back. “You’ve learnt the art of speech. I am proud of you.”

  “Double-talk isn’t exactly an art. And I still don’t care for it.”

  “Have a care, for care is all that can save you sometimes.”

  “Do you have information that can help me save Goldilocks?”

  “And we return to the blunt approach.” He sighed, shaking his head a few times. “Brittle things break cub, flexible things escape.”

  “Tell that to a thousand year old oak.” Even as she said it she knew she was playing right into his hands.

  “Let your oak speak to the pine at the centre of the universe.”

  “Tell me how to save her.”

  “What have you to offer in return?”

  “What do you want?”

  “Now there is a question.”

  Now she really did growl. “Straight answers. What can I pay you to get this information?”

  Renard gave her a long, calculating look. “Fine. What I require is a favour, to be completed immediately.”

  “A favour from you can mean anything.”

  “This one is very simple, so no need to fret. I want you to retrieve my book.”

  “Your book?”

  “Yes, my book. A very large, very old tome, containing within it many mysteries and favours from all the years I have known. You will find it in the keeping of a certain Ass I once made somewhat of a fool of.”

  “The Ass in the Lion’s Skin?” Red raised an eyebrow. “You want me to go into the lion’s den, literally, and find a book?”

  “Not a book cub. My book. You’re not likely to find a more important book in all the world.”

  “And how exactly am I supposed to get this book and save Goldie? I can get into one of the towers, maybe, before the whole town is on me. I can’t fight that many.”

  “You always jump to so many assumptions.” Renard leapt up onto the wall next to her. “Goldilocks isn’t being held by the Family, she’s being held by the Ass, in his tower. He wants to use her to make a power-play. He knows the Family will do almost anything for a chance at her, and if he gets them on side they can take out the Hawk. He can ask almost any price. And then with the Ass in charge of two and a half towers he can move on the Family while they are distracted with torturing your damsel in distress.”

  “And when is he going to make this play?”

  “The town meeting is set for tonight, which is why I implore you to not go in unprepared.”

  She thought about that, rocking her gun bag idly back and forth. “The only one who could have sent that note would be the Ass,” she said. “Why would he ask for me specifically? He had to know the lengths I’d go to to get her back.”

  “I believe he was counting on it. You would have gone directly to the Family, yes?” At her reluctant nod he continued. “You would have believed the Family took her, because who else could have, and gone to have your reckoning. As you say you couldn’t fight the whole town, and since your sweet dainty lass is not with the Family you would have inevitably been killed, but not before taking down a large chunk of their forces, leaving them even more vulnerable when the Ass made his move. He is many things, but unfortunately the Ass is not a fool.” He shrugged, a singularly odd motion for a fox. “At least, he’s not a fool anymore.”

  More and more of what he said was beginning to make sense. She decided to hear him out, sitting down properly, legs crossed and bag at her side. “If Goldie and your book are being held in the same place then surely I can just sneak in, steal them both, and get out.”

  “The book is protected, as is your erstwhile paramour. The Ass has spared no expense in their binding,” Renard said, lying down on the wall. “Perhaps he feared someone with a grudge might come after such precious items,” he added with a hint of a smile.

  “You’re the expert in breaking through enchantments.”

  “Yes, but I also need to maintain my cover here in the town in case I am needed.”

  “You mean in case the situation turns in their favour and you still want a safe place after the fighting’s done.”

  “You think so little of me Red. It hurts to know that when I think so highly of you.”

  She bit the inside of her cheek, drawing no small measure of satisfaction from the simple nature of the act
. “So you could get through the enchantments, but you won’t.”

  “I don’t need to. You came along.”

  And I hope that was just luck, she thought as she watched the sun rise further. If I find you waited until you knew I was returning to deliver that message…

  “When do you want me to attack?”

  “At the meeting.”

  “When the entire town is gathered as one? I’m sure I’ll enjoy fighting off all of those Beasts.”

  “Go to the Hawk beforehand, reveal to him the Ass’ plans and the Family’s complicity in them. When the time comes for the meeting, the Hawk will be prepared, and you will have a chance, in the ensuing chaos you should be able to save your bonny lass.”

  “And your book?”

  “The Ass will bring it with him to the meeting. He keeps it with him on those few occasions when he’s not in his tower.”

  “So I have to somehow spirit away the book and Goldilocks, before they murder me or each other.”

  “Surely not too much for someone with your abilities?”

  “I didn’t say it was, I was just stating the facts.” Her mind was racing, although she tried to keep it from her face. She knew the basic layout of the Farm, but she also knew that it changed regularly. There was more than enough debris scattered around for good cover if she got into a fire-fight, but a lot of blind corners if she was trying to sneak in. She was loathe to accept Renard’s suggestion, but without an army she’d have no chance of taking the place by force.

  With as loud a sigh as she could give she turned back to him. “Fine. Let’s say I wanted to follow your plan. I suppose you have some way for me to get into the Farm without being murdered by everyone and the dogs.”

  “Would I have come to you if I didn’t?”

  “Let’s hear it.”

  “I warn you in advance that you won’t like it.”

  “I rarely like anything you say.”

  “You’re about to be captured by the Hawk.”

  She stared at him for along moment, trying to find the most appropriate response. He stared back, his face unreadable. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t have been any more readable had he been human. Renard was the master of the stoic face.

  “I wasn’t aware that the best daring rescues were carried out from behind bars.”

  “That much will be up to you. Once you are with the Hawk you will need to convince him to set you free so that you can rescue your maiden fair.”

  “Of course.” She stood and looked down the road, preparing herself for the next step. “Are you going to stay here?”

  “Of course. I’ll make sure no one damages this lovely bike of yours.”

  She was already disarming herself, keeping a single knife and her two revolvers. Arriving completely without weapons would be very suspicious, but arriving with an arsenal would get her shot. She didn’t want to leave her bag behind, especially given the boom tube she had brought with her, but it was bound to set off every single magical detector and even slightly emphatic creature if she crossed the boundaries with it over her shoulder.

  “You must be very desperate,” Renard said when she was ready. “You actually listened to me for once, and you’re agreeing to a plan where you ally with a Beast. Is the distressed damsel, fair though she may be, really worth risking your life?”

  Red shrugged. “She’s worth it.” She chained the bag to the bike and jabbed a finger at the fox. “Not one scratch,” she told him.

  “But of course.” He leapt lightly onto the seat and curled up, smiling at her. “Do hurry back.”

  “I’ll see you tonight then.”

  Unfortunately she was out of ways to waste time, and with a last faint wish for an army she walked down the road alone.

  Chapter Four: The Noble Lord Hawk

  Handcuffs did not suit her, she decided as she was dragged along through the Hawk’s tower.

  She had had to make a bit of a show of it, of course. Sneaking into the Farm hadn’t been as hard as she had feared, since it was still too early for most of the citizenry to be out. There were guards on every door, of course, and a couple of patrols on the streets in between the four gigantic towers. She kept to the shadows, staying low and checking the sky for any flying scouts and the ground for mice or other easily hidden creatures. Thankfully the Hawk’s tower was right on the outskirts of the Farm, so she wouldn’t have to try and get across the plaza or past any of the other towers. Trying to get to the Ass or to Goose’s old tower would have been a nightmare.

  There had been two guards at the door to the Hawk’s tower, a badger and an owl. She took them down in seconds, slamming the badger’s head into the door and kicking the owl hard in the chest. She drew a knife and pushed open the door.

  Inside she ran right into a dozen monkeys, all dressed in crude armour made from wood and stone. She shot one of them in the breastplate and ran for the stairs, hearing the demented hooting following her with every step. At the top of the stairs she twisted and fired blind, keeping them away from her. She made it halfway down the corridor before every door burst open and a dozen creatures swarmed her. She kicked and punched, throwing off a cat that had latched onto her back. Her heavy coat protected her from the worst of the injuries, though one of the rodents managed to scratch her cheek badly.

  She fired again, deliberately missing a bloodhound and forcing them back, breaking free of the pack and heading for the stairs. The monkeys were back on her tail, so she shot another one in the chest plate. It dropped from the ceiling and landed heavily on a hare. She ran up the stairs, changing to her other revolver as she went. Before she reached the top of the stairs a shadow fell over her and she looked up to see a jaguar above her, teeth bared and growling. She cursed and fired, trying to scare it away, but he wasn’t as easily spooked as the monkeys. Instead he pounced down the stairs towards her. She dropped to the ground and he sailed over her head, crashing into a wolf hound behind her.

  She made it to the top of the steps and turned, putting two bullets into the wall next to the big cat. She didn’t wait to see what the effect was, running for the next set of stairs. Her luck would have to run out sooner or later, she just needed to be sure they wouldn’t kill her when they caught her. She kicked open a door to the right and ducked inside just as the monkeys reached the landing. Inside the room was simple, two empty beds, a solid oak desk and a wardrobe. What exactly they would have put in the wardrobe she didn’t know, but it was easy enough to shove it and the desk over.

  Outside she heard the clicks of claws on stone and fired her remaining bullets out the open door. The claws stopped and she had a moment to drag the desk into the corner of the room, creating a makeshift fort. She ducked behind it and reloaded the gun, keeping her eye on the door the whole time.

  “You can’t kill us all human.” She thought it was the jaguar. Most of the big cats had similar voices.

  She fired a shot at the door, just to let them know she still had ammunition. “I’ll surrender,” she shouted back. “But I need to talk to the Hawk.”

  “You think we’re stupid? You want to kill him.”

  “You can take my weapons, as long as you promise not to harm me. I’m not here to kill your leader, I have a proposition for him.”

  “Maybe we should,” that was a nervous voice. She thought it might be a mule or donkey. “I don’t want to get shot.”

  “Coward.” There was a blow and a bray from outside the door. “She hasn’t killed anyone yet. Her one eye must be almost blind.”

  “Stick your nose through the door then,” she said. “I’ll shoot it off for you.”

  There was a growl from outside. She reloaded her other revolver, trusting that the impasse would hold for a little longer. She could hear muttering from several different voices. After a minute a different voice spoke.

  “Throw your weapons out, we’ll come in and cuff you.”

  “And I have your word you won’t just tear me apart?”r />
  “What do you suggest?”

  She thought it was an owl. They usually responded best to logic. “I’ll throw out my knife and one gun. I’ll keep the other until I’m at the Hawk’s door if you don’t mind.”

  “You want to carry a gun right to his door?”

  “Six bullets” she reminded them. “I can hardly expect to kill him and get out alive, right?”

  More muttering, then the owl spoke again. “We accept, throw out your weapons.”

  She put the knife on the floor and pushed it hard out the door. Then she took off her ammunition belt and chucked that out. Finally she emptied one revolver, putting the bullets into her pocket. She put the other revolver down and kicked it across the floor, wincing as it bounced over the stones. It was definitely going to be out of commission now. She kept the other gun in her hand and walked to the door.

  “Alright,” she shouted. “I’m coming out.”

  Outside at least two dozen animals were gathered in the corridor. They could easily have rushed her, but thankfully even now they seemed scared of her, or at least the gun in her hand. She focused on breathing. Big deep breaths that steadied her nerves a little. “Take me to the Hawk.”

  If she had expected them to treat her gently she would have been disappointed. Thankfully the rough shoving and hustling was no shock to her. She kept a tight grasp on her revolver, even when an enterprising chimp tried to take it from her. They pushed her up several floors, the jaguar at her left and the donkey on her right. Her ammo was slung over the donkey’s back, and the jaguar had her revolver in his teeth. She couldn’t see where her knife had been taken. They led her up at least five floors until she stood in front of a plain iron door. She had no doubt that it would be easier to break through the walls than the door itself.