Knives of Bastion (An Empire Falls Book 2)

by Harry Leighton

  Vika could not prevent the man punching down and catching the woman in the side of the head, making her fall to the ground and start groaning.

  “Halt your actions,” she hissed.

  He turned, looked at her through angry eyes, and asked, “Who the fuck are you?”

  “What is happening?”

  “You another fucking whore? Come for a fucking beating too?”

  Then he made the mistake of stepping forward, fist raised.

  Maybe he’d have been faster sober. But he wasn’t fast enough at this moment to stop Vika moving swiftly and smashing her bar into the man’s descending fist, breaking bones and making him recoil in pain. Attention on the hand, he didn’t react to the bar smashing him on the jaw, then the other hand when that came to protect the head, or to any of the other blows which followed.

  After a while, Vika’s adrenaline slowed and she stepped back, panting. Her bar was bloody, and there was a single spot of the liquid running down one of her cheeks.

  “What did you see?” she asked, not looking back.

  “He attacked you,” the driver said.

  “That he did. Go and fetch someone to carry him to the cells.”

  “Of course. But, your face.”

  A hand went up to the warm spot. “Thank you. Hurry back.”

  *****

  Elena opened her eyes. It was still daylight so she’d probably not slept for more than a few hours. That’ll do she told herself. She listened carefully but couldn’t hear any noise from Regis. Perhaps he had gone out after all. That would be good. He was still spending far too much time cooped up indoors. Hiding, if she was honest. She regretted that they’d argued a little before she’d gone to bed. However hard she thought she had it at work, it was nothing compared to his difficulties. Perhaps she’d better go and get that loaf of bread. She wasn’t due on duty for a few hours but that seemed to have become rather flexible of late. The captain had been giving her a lot of jobs that had required anti-social hours recently, probably to keep her out of the watch station as much as possible. She wasn’t sure if that was for her benefit or theirs. Maybe a bit of both. Either way it wasn’t like she was expected in particularly.

  The murder from the morning was bothering her. Whether she’d been lucky or unlucky to have happened to be in the vicinity when they’d wanted an investigator on scene, she wasn’t sure. The man had clearly been a member of one of the recent undesirable additions to the city’s underworld, and thanks to her brother, it was an area she was now gaining uncomfortable familiarity with. But the way he had been killed… This wasn’t just some random murder or a fight that had gotten out of hand. This had been a message and she doubted it had been meant for the watch.

  Which meant there may be a war brewing between gangs. Something the city really didn’t want or need. She remembered clearly what had happened when the legion had been pulled out and before the city had regained stability. She didn’t want to see those days again. Whilst the Thieftaker had made her name back then, driving the gangs deep back into their holes underground, these days she seemed more interested in politics. It looked like it was the job of the everyday watch to keep order, which ultimately, Elena thought to herself, was probably the right way of things.

  Enough lying in bed, this wasn’t getting things done. If one message was intercepted, there was likely to be another. And it might be in her interests to see who received it. And, possibly more importantly, who sent it. She looked at her watch uniform slung across a chair. Apart from being somewhat grimy now, it wasn’t really going to help her blend in so that she could spy out what was going on. Civvies it was then.

  She washed quickly but her hair was unruly so she resorted to tying it back again. Dressing quickly in her ordinary clothes, she looked around but could see no sign of Regis. He was not in his room. Somewhat guiltily she left her watch uniform hanging over the side of the barrel they used for bathing. Hopefully he would take pity on her. Or be annoyed at them being left there and wash them for her. Either way she felt a pang of regret at taking advantage of him. It couldn’t be helped. She didn’t really have time and it didn’t hurt for him to earn his keep a little. Before she left, she wrote herself a note to get bread on a scrap of parchment and stuck it in her pocket. Hopefully this time she would remember.

  To business — where was the next message going to be left? That alley probably wasn’t an accident. It was likely that the sack gang — as she was going to call them for the time being — had some sort of operation or at least lookout in the area. That suggested it was reasonable to start there.

  She liked to consider herself observant but this time she was looking for something in particular, so she walked a little more slowly than normal, studying small side roads and alleys as unobtrusively as possible as she walked past.

  After a lap of the area she'd made little progress on her main goal. She had noticed a variety of minor law breaking, but she was trying not to stand out and an arrest or two would really have drawn attention. But … she could always come back later in uniform.

  Walking laps of the area was also going to get her noticed. She clearly hadn't been on a shopping errand as she wasn't carrying a bag and walking back past the same people a number of times would give the lie to her being on the way to somewhere. Whilst not being entirely normal as a woman on her own, she decided to stop for a drink at a tavern. One with a decent vantage point on the original alley. She had a hunch.

  Sure enough, after a while she saw furtive movement. Maybe she'd been lucky with the timing but experience had taught her that if you put yourself in the right place often enough, things would eventually turn up.

  She finished her drink. Maybe another body drop off. She should probably report it but she wasn't in uniform and explaining what she was doing — and finding someone who would listen — would take too long. She'd point them in the right direction later if they didn't find it themselves first.

  Still though. The balls on this ganger to leave another body in the same place within the space of a day. Maybe he wasn't bright, or maybe she had been correct and this place was important. Something worthy of further investigation anyway.

  So now she had a decision to make. Wait for the sack gang and follow them, or follow the killer. Hmm. Killer. He seemed to be alone and this looked like the drop off rather than the kill so he probably wasn’t expecting trouble yet, not something she would likely be able to say about any representatives of the sack gang when they arrived.

  She paid up and walked casually into the alley. Yep. Another body. She walked past quickly. No real need to examine it, she knew what she would find. Her target had ducked out of the other end of the alley. She drew her cosh but put the end in her coat pocket to conceal it. No sense in undue risk. It may have taken more than one of them to move the body and whilst she was pretty handy in a fight, two gangers in an alleyway were not odds she wanted to go up against unprepared. She walked quickly but quietly to the end of the alley before peering around the corner onto the small road it led to. There he was. And he seemed alone. Ducking into another alley further along. She was going to have to be quicker or else lose him.

  Backstreet to backstreet she followed him, using all her skill to keep an eye on him when he moved through a group of people or deduction if she missed which alley he turned down. It was three more alleys in rapid succession that finally got her. He was good. Or she was getting sloppy. They'd been heading into the docks and that was bad. Plenty of places to hide or crowds of workers to disappear into. Without any obvious choice of which way to take, she picked a road at a guess. She had a moment of elation as she thought she caught a glance of her man ahead. But when he stopped she could tell it wasn't him. Damn.

  Definitely lost him in the alleys. She was tired and her concentration wasn’t at its best. If she’d been fresh she was sure she’d have tailed him better. Perhaps she should have slept a little longer. Angry at herself for losing him, at least she now knew where to start looking. Tho
ugh ‘the docks’ didn’t really give her all that much to go on. Maybe she should have stayed and kept an eye on the sack gang. But that was going to be for another day.

  Somewhat defeated, she walked home, but aware enough to make sure no one was following her. She didn’t think her target had spotted that he’d been tailed but she really didn’t want to bring that sort of trouble home. Tired, she reached for the door. Her clothing rustled. She put her hand in her pocket and felt a scrap of parchment. A confused look crossed her face momentarily.

  “Damnit,” she said, turning round and heading back in the direction of the nearest baker, hoping they might have something left.

  *****

  “Well that might be one of the reasons they call it Bastion,” Daeholf said as they rode into view of the walls.

  “They're higher than I remember,” Trimas said, looking at the tall grey stone walls. He could just see a change in colour towards the top.

  “Just how long ago was it you were here?” Daeholf said with an amused look on his face.

  “I don't mean it like that,” Trimas said. “I mean it looks like they've been adding to them since I was last here.”

  “The top bit does look newer,” Daeholf said.

  “Why would they do that?” Zedek said. “It seems an unusual thing to do in these times.”

  “Fear of invasion? Spare money?” Trimas said.

  “I doubt the latter,” Daeholf said. “It's not like the empire is swimming in money and hasn't been for years.”

  “I doubt it is imperially funded at all,” Trimas said, studying the walls intently.

  “So who paid for the wall extension then?” Zedek said.

  “The citizens actually,” Kellan said in a weary tone borne of far too many questions over the last couple of months. “A number of years ago when it was first mooted that the legion be pulled out. The soldiers actually helped with some of the labour. The old commander had a soft spot for the place and didn't want to leave it in a worse state than when he got there. They finished them before the legion pulled out though.”

  “Remarkable,” Zedek said.

  “I'd not heard about that,” Trimas said, surprised.

  “Well whoever paid up, the masons did a good job. It wouldn't be much fun assaulting them,” Daeholf said.

  “You'd need to batter them with catapults for an extended period first I think,” Trimas said, musing.

  “Do you two ever look at a place and not immediately start planning how to attack it?” Zedek said slightly testily.

  Daeholf grinned at him. Trimas winked.

  “I know. Old habits,” Zedek said wearily after a moment.

  “There is a big hole in the setup though,” Daeholf said.

  “Oh?” Kellan said, now looking at the walls himself and frowning, interest finally piqued.

  “Old army barracks on the hill opposite,” Trimas said, pointing.

  Kellan looked at them. “Looks pretty ruined to me,” he said, slightly hesitantly, out of his area of expertise.

  “It wouldn't be that hard to sort it out to a useable state. And it would make a good base from which to attack,” Daeholf said.

  “Who is going to attack up here? Elves?” Kellan said with a laugh before quickly stopping himself and giving Zedek a guilty look.

  “It's been a long, tiring trip,” Zedek said magnanimously. “We could all do with a rest to clear our heads.”

  “My apologies,” Kellan said. “I had expected better of myself. Like you say, it has been a long trip.”

  “Maybe it just means I'm doing a better job of blending in,” Zedek said.

  Kellan inclined his head.

  “It would be pirates anyway,” Trimas. “Or ‘traders’ as we're calling them now,” he said, aiming the last at Kellan.

  “So why just leave the barracks then?” Zedek said.

  “The city doesn't need or want them at a guess, and it's not their job to keep them in a useable state. That and they've probably not spent a lot of time planning against a land based attack. Beyond building an imposing set of walls that is,” Daeholf said.

  “I'd imagine most people would feel pretty secure in there,” Trimas said. “Though slightly wrongly.”

  “Wouldn’t take that much effort to burn the old barracks out and scatter the stones,” Daeholf said.

  “If we end up talking to anyone important, feel free to mention it,” Kellan said. Trimas glowered at him momentarily. Kellan ignored him.

  “So if we’re done working out how to storm the place, shall we use the gates?” Zedek said.

  “Alia said it better,” Daeholf said. Zedek sighed.

  “I miss her,” Trimas said.

  “She’s doing her own thing. It’s probably for the best,” Daeholf said.

  “She’s fine,” Kellan said. “Karina is looking after her.”

  “Indeed,” Trimas said and exchanged a look with Daeholf.

  “She at least would be better able to explain how I’m supposed to use this,” Zedek said, drawing out and looking at his Bounty Hunter rod.

  “Be careful with that, Hunters tend to be regarded with suspicion on the fringes,” Kellan said.

  “Maybe just save it for special occasions,” Trimas said. Zedek shrugged and put it away.

  They approached the gates and joined the queue of people waiting to get into the city.

  “Let me do the talking,” Kellan said.

  “Trouble?” Daeholf asked.

  “No, it’ll just go quicker this way. Say the right thing to the right person and we won’t have to mess around too much with searches and the like,” Kellan replied.

  “We’ve not got anything to hide,” Zedek said.

  “Except perhaps your identities,” Kellan said.

  “Much as I hate to admit it, you have a point there,” Trimas said.

  They waited patiently in line for their turn. When the guards looked to them Kellan approached, spoke quietly and handed them something. The guards nodded and waved them through.

  “Well that was too easy,” Zedek said. “I didn’t even have to use my credentials. I was half looking forward to taking charge and browbeating the guards into letting us through.”

  “You’re not nearly broad shouldered enough for that,” Trimas said.

  “A couple of scars would have helped that along too,” Daeholf added.

  Kellan looked at the three of them and shook his head in despair.

  “We’re here now, you can be rid of us. Just point us in the right direction and we’ll take our leave,” Trimas said.

  “It’s not that easy,” Kellan said. “I need to get the lay of the land first.”

  “So what are we going to do then?” Daeholf said.

  “Find an inn,” Kellan said, looking at the sky. “It’s going to get dark soon. And frankly I’ve had enough for the day.”

  “A nice inn I think,” Daeholf said.

  “I know just the place,” Trimas said.

  “Are you sure?” Zedek said. “It’s been a while.”

  “Of course. I got to know a lot of the best places whilst I was here,” Trimas said.

  “Then by all means, lead on,” Kellan said.

  “A moment to get my bearings,” Trimas said.

  Daeholf looked around whilst they waited. This wasn’t your typical thrown-together, bursting-at-the-seams, grown-beyond-the-walls imperial city. “Smart place,” he said. “There’s some money here.”

  “It does look a little different,” Trimas said. “But I think I can still find my way around.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Zedek said.

  “Okay then,” Trimas said. “This way,” he added, motioning along the main street.

  “After you,” Kellan said.

  Trimas guided his horse along the road, the others in tow.

  “Lot of stone,” Daeholf muttered to himself, looking at the buildings as they passed.

  “Eh?” Zedek said.

  “For all the forests nearby, the build
ing work seems to be mostly stone,” Daeholf said.

  “Maybe the wood just rots too quickly by the sea,” Zedek said.

  “What do you think ships are made of?” Daeholf said.

  “Point.”

  “If I didn’t know better I’d say they were just showing off,” Daeholf said.

  “There’s more than I remember,” Trimas said from the front.

  “Maybe the legion leaving was a good thing then?” Zedek said.

  “Good for trade certainly,” Kellan said.

  “The sort of trade that the hierarchy perhaps wouldn’t approve of?” Daeholf said.

  “Perhaps,” Kellan said.

  “They’re in for a shock when a legion comes back then,” Trimas said.

  “Eh?” Kellan said.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if the Emperor considers posting one here again. It’s remote and, from the look of it, quite well off now. It’s exactly the sort of place he might fear rebelling next,” Trimas said.

  “Next?” Zedek said.

  “You don’t think last time was a one off do you?” Trimas said.

  “There were extenuating circumstances,” Zedek said.

  “But also a groundswell of public support. Mark my words, there’s more trouble coming.”

  “Let’s not talk about that here on the street,” Kellan said.

  “People seem pretty well behaved here,” Daeholf said. “On the surface at least.”

  “There’s certainly a lot of the watch on the streets,” Zedek said.

  “Let’s hope this lot are more competent than the last ones we came across,” Trimas said sourly.

  “That kind of depends on why we are here,” Daeholf said.

  “I doubt you’ll have much interaction with the watch, but as I said I need to find out where we stand. There might not even be anything for you to do,” Kellan said.

  “In which case, I suppose we get a seaside holiday in a northern winter,” Daeholf said. “Lovely,” he added without a detectable trace of irony.

  Trimas led them through a number of streets, the quality of the building work dropping with each turn they made.