“Be careful, Mr. Moore. You’ve already done enough to draw the attention of the MLP. If you attempt to illegally cross the border, you will be dealt with as any other lawbreaker. I’m sure you don’t want that.”
“Thank you for the warning. Was there anything else?”
Panz’s eyebrows went up. “Are you ejecting me from your room?”
Keltin stood up. The two agents standing behind Panz tensed, but Keltin remained in place, fixing the Prefect with an icy stare.
“You said that this conversation is not a formal investigation. That being the case, I’m tired of you being here, so I’m going to politely ask you to leave.”
Panz slowly rose to his feet, his expression turning dangerously dark.
“Be careful, Mr. Moore. I can easily make this encounter very official.”
Suddenly Harper spoke up. “If you do, may I just remind you that Mr. Moore and I are both citizens of Riltvin, and that his status as a national hero will likely turn any action you take here into an international incident. Consider that, Prefect, before you try throwing your legal weight around.”
Panz gave a daggered look at Harper for a moment before turning back to Keltin.
“We’ll see. In the meantime, let me give you some advice, Mr. Moore. Leave town. Tomorrow. Early. Go to Kerrtow. Your country has an embassy there. They can see about getting you back to where you belong.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Keltin.
“Good.”
Panz started towards the door before hesitating. He turned slightly, giving Keltin a slit-eyed smile.
“By the way, do you remember a young man you encountered last night named Lough Karven?”
“I remember him.”
“Well, you might be interested to know that we went to visit him before coming to see you. We wanted to ask for his side of things, see how he was doing after all of the tragedy his family has faced. Unfortunately, we found him in a deplorable state, and when he resisted us, we were forced to act in self-defense. Goodbye.”
Panz turned and walked out of the room, followed by his two agents. Harper went to the door, closed it, and pressed his back against it with a heavy sigh.
“Well, that complicates things,” he said softly.
Keltin didn’t move. His hands were clenched and his breathing came in short, deep draughts. Harper crossed the room to him, bending his tall frame down slightly to look him directly in the eyes.
“Keltin, listen to me. This is not your fault. You couldn’t have saved that boy.”
Keltin pulled away and sat down on the bed. His stomach was in knots and he wondered if he would throw up. He covered his eyes with his hands and took in a deep, shuddering breath.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “I told you I was no good at this sort of thing.”
Harper sat next to him.
“It’s all right. You’ve done admirably. You can’t control what these people do, and there wasn’t anything that you could have said that would have made that little interview go any better than it did. That Prefect knew what he was going to say to you before he even came in the room. He was just testing you to see if you might do something incredibly stupid. You didn’t, so the best he could do was threaten you and leave.”
“And after what happened to Lough, we know that he isn’t bluffing.”
Harper gave a somber sigh. “No, he’s more than bluster, that’s for certain. I’m sure that he suspects that you and I smuggled ourselves across the border, he just doesn’t know why. I think he’s hoping for one of two things. Either we leave in the morning and take our problems with us, or we stay and tip our hand as to what we’re really up to.”
“So what do we do?”
“For one thing, we’ll have to move faster than I would have liked. I would have preferred for you to stay here at Jacoby’s throughout the day while I went out asking questions. That way you’d be easy to find if someone were trying to contact you. As it is, we’ll both have to spend what little time we have looking everywhere we can for the Brothers of Kerrtow. At least Panz gave us one day in town.”
“He’ll have us followed.”
“Maybe. Then again, maybe we’re a low priority for him. Lough was local and likely an ongoing problem. Last night was simply an excuse for removing him. As long as you and I are gone in the morning, I think Panz will be willing to overlook us.”
Keltin wasn’t convinced but realized there was little that he could do about it. He felt the whole situation spinning out of control and took only a little comfort in knowing that he would be out and doing something, anything, rather than just sitting around at Jacoby’s.
“How should I try looking for the Brothers?” he asked. “I can’t exactly start asking people on the street.”
Harper chewed his cheek for a moment while he thought.
“You have a few friends who are Loopi, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“All right, then perhaps you can go around town asking for a friend of theirs. Any Loopi will likely know something of the Brothers, and if we can convince them that we’re a friend, then we’ll be set.”
“But I don’t know of any Loopi friends they have.”
“That’s fine. Just pick one of them and say that they have kin here, and you’re trying to find them. If you find someone that’s helpful, they’ll likely point you in the direction of any Loopi that’s still in the area, and that’s all we really need. Do you understand?”
“I think so.” Keltin glanced at the growing light outside. “I suppose we’d better get started.”
“Agreed. We’ll meet up here tonight unless we find something. Good hunting, Mr. Moore.”
Less than half an hour later Keltin was standing in the rain out on the streets of Carris, trying to decide how to begin. Perhaps he could start at some local shops, asking merchants if they knew of any acquaintances that Bor’ve’tai might have in the area. It seemed an awkward and flimsy lie, but with little time to come up with something better, he was prepared to fully commit to it.
He was about to step into a general store when he saw the back of a woman that seemed to have familiar dark, tightly curled hair. Immediately he turned and rushed after her. Pulling his hat low to shield himself from prying eyes as much as from the cold, drizzling rain, he hurried down the wooden walkway in the direction the woman had taken. He didn’t see her on the street ahead of him, and began peering into each window he passed in case she had ducked inside somewhere. Finally, through the glass of a bakery window he saw the woman that he had been pursuing. Entering to the sound of a tinkling bell Keltin stepped up behind her. She faced away from him, so he edged to her side and risked a sideways glance at her.
His heart sank. It wasn’t Elaine. She took a parcel from the baker and left without even noticing his reaction to her. Keltin cursed himself for a fool. Of course she wouldn’t be out in the open like that. He’d let his heart do his tracking, and had only succeeded in wasting time. He had to focus. Treat this like a hunt. Think like a hunter. The baker turned his attention to Keltin.
“What can I get for you, sir?”
Keltin steeled himself and began his deception.
“I thought while I was in town I’d try to look up some of the kin of a friend of mine. They’re supposed to live around here. My friend’s name is Bor’ve’tai.”
The baker seemed to shrink inside himself at the sound of the Loopi name. His eyes darted around the room at all of the other customers before shaking his head.
“Sorry sir, don’t know that name.”
It was clear that the man was uncomfortable, but Keltin didn’t have time to waste. He pressed further.
“You may not know the name, but he may still have kin here. Where’s the nearest Loopi? I could ask them.”
Now the baker was truly unsettled, as were those customers within earshot.
“I’m sorry sir,” said the man. “I can’t help you. Have a good day.”
The man turned to the next person in line to take their order. Keltin left the bakery, pausing to watch the gray raindrops falling from a leaden sky. He felt so helpless. A small part of him wished that he could simply drag someone into a back alley and force them to tell him where the Brothers could be found. Of course, even if he could do that, he never would, but the image of it made him feel just a little better as he entered the next open business and repeated his line of questioning, with a very similar result. For the rest of the morning he wandered the streets, going into every shop and eatery that was open, repeating his story and receiving the same evasive answers. Once, he spied Ross in a disreputable looking bar, but the two of them avoided eye contact and Keltin soon left. Nowhere did Keltin find a Loopi, or even hear of one in the neighboring farms.
By mid-afternoon, he’d been through the town twice with nothing to show for it, except for noticing that he was being followed. It wasn’t always the same person, and Keltin wondered if perhaps there were multiple agents of the MLP taking turns at watching him. None were in uniform, and each maintained a distance that might have kept them unseen to someone whose senses had not been honed by long years of hunting beasts. Well, let them follow him. He had found nothing.
Defeated, Keltin slowly made his way back to the hotel, looking at every passerby in the vain hopes of spying a Loopi among the crowd. There were none, and he returned to his room at Jacoby’s, looking out his window until evening fell and Harper arrived with his supper.
“Any good news?” asked the newspaperman.
“No. I tried your story everywhere, but all I achieved was getting followed by someone.”
Harper tensed. “Do you know who?”
“No, but they’re still out there. They’re watching me through that store window down the street.”
Harper came to his side and peered through the fading light.
“I don’t know how you can even see them,” he said.
Keltin shrugged and closed the window shutters. “You don’t have to see something every moment to know it’s there.” He sat down to eat, not noticing the taste of his food or even what it was. “I assume you had similar results?” he asked as he chewed mechanically.
“I’m afraid so. This town is like a pinthar nut. Even if you could get the shell open, I’m not sure the prize inside would be worth it. People seem afraid to even look like they know anything. If I had a week, I might be able to find something. But in just one day...” Harper shook his head. “I’m sorry Keltin.”
They finished their meal in silence then sat watching the flickering light of the single lantern in the room. Harper sighed and stood up.
“Well, we’re going to have to leave in the morning. We’ll regroup with Wendi, and wait to see if Ross was able to find something. If not, well, we’ll just have to try something else.”
“All right.”
Harper hesitated, as if he were considering whether he should say something more before quietly leaving the room. Keltin prepared for bed and blew out the lantern, his mind weary with worry. He had barely gotten into bed before he began turning over restlessly. He had always been a light sleeper, and years of hunting beasts alone had only increased that. While he had gotten more accustomed to mundane nighttime noises from his time spent with Jaylocke and Bor’ve’tai, when he was alone or particularly stressed, his old habits returned with a vengeance. Every sound seemed amplified in his ears. The settling of the hotel, the tap of dripping shingles, the distant snoring of another guest. Each new sound added to the quiet bedlam.
Footsteps in the hallway joined the soft cacophony. It sounded like whoever was walking was also sensitive to sound, as they tried to walk slowly and quietly across the protesting old floorboards. Keltin lay counting footsteps as they got louder. Looking at the gap under his door, he saw the telltale flickering of a weak light grow brighter with the approaching steps. The sound approached his door, and Keltin waited for the steps to continue on, but they hesitated.
Keltin sat up. The light was flickering just outside his door. Someone was outside. Was it Harper? What couldn’t wait until morning? Maybe Ross had come secretly to try to speak with him. Keltin thought of Panz. The Prefect had said that they would have until the morning to leave, but could he really trust anything that the man said? Had he sent someone in the night for him? Keltin got up silently, slipping the pocket pistol from under his pillow. There was the muffled chunking of a key placed into the door lock, and Keltin moved against the wall behind the door.
The lock clicked as the door swung open slowly. A figure stepped into the room, shielding their candle with their hand. From behind it was impossible to make out any features of the figure, but the rough outline was too short for Harper and not broad enough for Ross. Keltin wished that he had had time to create a decoy lump on his bed as the figure drew next to it. He had only seconds to act before the figure turned.
Keltin pounced forward, wrapping an arm around the stranger’s neck while his other hand pressed the small muzzle of the pocket pistol against the man’s temple. The stranger froze. Keltin tried to force the adrenaline from his mind as he struggled to think of what to do next.
“Who are you?” he whispered.
The man replied in a low, even voice.
“My name is Whelks. I am one of the Brothers, and have come on behalf of the Destovs.”
Keltin’s heart leapt within him, but suspicion forced him to be cautious.
“The Destovs? Who are they?”
Whelks gave a soft chuckle. “Miss Elaine was right. She thought you’d be too cautious to reveal yourself right away, and told me to ask you if the patches she sewed onto your coat have held together.”
Keltin sagged with relief. He lowered the pistol, closed the door, and turned as Whelks lifted his hand away from his candle to reveal his face. It was older than Keltin expected, plainer, not one that would stand out on a busy street. The perfect face to blend into the background and hide a wealth of secrets. Keltin placed his pistol back into his pocket.
“Sorry.”
Whelks gave him a half smile, made eerie by the shadows of his candle.
“Don’t be. I’d be disappointed if you were less cautious. We need to get going.”
“Someone was following me earlier today. I may still be watched.”
“You are, but we know where he is. Get dressed and packed. You’re not coming back here.”
Chapter 16 – Cornered
Keltin began throwing on his clothes.
“We’ll need to get Harper,” he said as he laced his boots.
“I already woke him. He’s getting ready. Incidentally, he tried to pull a gun on me too, but couldn’t make it stick.”
Keltin decided not to ask for details as he shouldered his pack and the Ripper, taking his rifle into his hands.
“Ready.”
“Good. Follow me. And stay quiet.”
They stepped back out into the hall. Moving to Harper’s door, Whelks ran his fingers over the wood in a movement that was just loud enough to be heard. The newspaperman appeared and followed them without a word, reaching out to give Keltin’s arm a squeeze as they quietly made their way downstairs. Whelks paused at the landing.
“Wait here,” he whispered.
He disappeared around a corner for a few moments. Keltin and Harper waited in the darkness until he returned.
“Returning the key,” Whelks said by way of explanation.
“Is Jacoby one of the Brothers as well?” asked Harper.
“No. He’s just a heavy sleeper who doesn’t hide his things very well. Follow me.”
Keltin and Harper followed Whelks through the empty sitting room and into the darkened kitchen. Threading their way past the large stove and preparing tables, they came to a small door leading out into a cold, dark alleyway. Whelks extinguished his candle and motioned for the others to keep close. Keltin followed the man into the night, weaving through narrow streets and crawling over rubbish bins and low fences. Eventu
ally his sense of direction suggested to him that they were retracing some of their steps, and he wondered if Whelks did this to throw off unwanted followers or to prevent his two charges from memorizing the way.
Eventually they reached an unassuming warehouse with boarded up windows and the faint outline of graffiti on its walls. Whelks led them around to the back and gave a soft, complicated knock at a small door. It opened, and the three of them were ushered into the greater darkness within the building. Keltin felt Whelks’s hand on his wrist as the Brother led him through the gloom. He paused, and Keltin heard the rustle of fabric and the creak of hinges.
“There are steps here,” said Whelks, lowering Keltin’s hand down to the floor. “Go to the bottom and stand to the side.”
Keltin descended to find the smell of damp muskiness and sweat. His attuned ears detected breathing nearby, and his hand went into his pocket to find the tiny pistol resting there even as Harper and Whelks descending down to him. It wasn’t until the hatch above them was closed that a match was struck, dispelling darkness in a small pool of light, revealing two additional figures. The first was a smallish man with a bushy brown beard and a pair of spectacles perched on his nose. The second was a Loopi with chocolate-brown fur and dark, piercing eyes. Something seemed off to Keltin about the Loopi, and it took a moment for him to realize just what it was. It was the eyes. Every Loopi that he had ever known had had an aura of stoic calm about them. Even Bor’ve’tai –who had described himself as being too emotional for one of his people— still radiated a spirit of quiet strength. But this Loopi standing before Keltin was not calm. Despite his stone-like posture, his eyes belied a burning intensity, a dangerous energy that reminded Keltin of a cornered animal. He was still watching the Loopi as the small, bespeckled man spoke to Whelks.
“I still don’t agree with bringing these two here,” he said, his voice high and nasally. “You should have led them to the outside of town and pointed them in the right direction. Or better yet, wait until they left and then meet them outside the city. This way is just too risky.”
Dangerous Territory Page 17
