City Of Light

by Darren Deegan

  There was no forethought, no movement to give away her next action, Selene bolted backwards, back towards the street, hoping to reach help, hoping to reach Gareth.

  In front of her, blocking access to the street, another figure stepped out from the shadows. She stopped dead and shot a terrified glance back to the figures behind her. Only one stood where two had been. Impossible. Somehow one of them had gotten ahead of her, preventing her escape, and any hope of finding help. Adrenaline surged, she could feel it course through her veins. She steadied her hands and placed them within quick reach of her daggers as both figures closed in on her. Fight or flight, Selene, fight or flight…

  Ten paces between her and her would be attacker blocking the street. She darted forward, feinting left and rolling right around him, sprinting towards the light of the main street ahead. It was only a moment, but it felt like an eternity until her feet were on the cobblestones of the street again. She needed no direction, and turned left towards the docks, towards not just Gareth, but all the thieves.

  Hurried footsteps, soft, but loud enough for her to pick up on the otherwise silent street, were close behind. She dared not look, not even a glance. The alleyway Gareth had taken was just ahead, she veered left, springing to a window sill and on to a low roof as soon as she was around the corner. Let’s see them catch me now, she thought, satisfied with her escape. Her victory was short lived however as she snapped a glance behind, seeing the men come over the roof’s edge just as she was jumping to the building ahead.

  ‘Gods,’ she said beneath her breath, ‘what does a girl have to do to catch a break around here.’

  Two buildings between them now, she had a commanding lead, and hoped it would hold out until she could reach Gareth or one of the others. Another building, and another, she was making short work of the rooftops, and would be at the outer edge of the district in a matter of minutes.

  It was the shining metal of the curved blade that entered her field of vision first. Then the all encompassing blackness of his armour as the figure stepped out from the shadow of a chimney on the building in front of her. Her path cut off, she swore loudly, turning right setting her on a direct path towards the docks. Again she leapt from rooftop to rooftop, unsure of how they constantly got ahead of her, but she had no time to think about that. She kept her mind on survival, it was all about surviving long enough to reach one of her friends, wild theories and contemplation would come later.

  Selene put a few rooftops between her and her pursuers, before she decided that running where they could see her, was not the best strategy. She didn’t understand it, but she knew they could get ahead of her. She needed to remove line of sight from the equation, and when she reached a low rooftop, she sprung forward, hitting the street below hard.

  Move Selene, fast.

  The side street ahead looked like a good place to start and she was on the street without ever coming back to a standing position. Darting around corner after corner, she was two streets away before she risked a glance over her shoulder. They were gone, but she’d been in that position before. Building to building, streets one after another, Selene moved, never resting until she was sure she could see and hear nothing around her.

  Satisfied with her efforts, she knew getting off the streets, if only for a few minutes, would be more than beneficial to her. Every door she tried was locked. It seemed foolish to remove her picks and work on one of the locks, it would be safer to move from street to street and try every building she passed. A metallic click brought a smile to her face as she twisted a door handle and peered inside.

  ‘Hello, anyone here?’ She called out, not wanting to spook anyone inside with her sudden presence.

  Not a sound throughout the darkened building. It looked like a small shipping office that had long since closed for the day. Selene locked the door behind her and let out a sigh of relief as she parked herself in a small chair behind a desk.

  It looked like a single room building, nothing of value around, at least not material items. She noticed shipping schedules and routes in an open book on the desk. I bet I know a few pirates that would love these, she mused. The office would do, it would act as a suitable refuge for her, and she would return the favour of the unlocked door, by ensure her sticky hands stayed in her pockets.

  TWENTY

  The familiar sound of metal rubbing against metal caught his attention and forced him to turn, Thyle saw two City Guards hurrying towards him, out of breath. They stopped just short of him, red faced, chests heaving up and down from their hearts pounding in their chests. If he’d had time, Thyle would have sent for his own men, but most of his available Knights were already at the docks.

  ‘Sir,’ the two guards said in unison, saluting.

  ‘Report,’ said Thyle, standing to attention.

  ‘Word has been sent to the units at the docks, in case the kidnappers go for a ship tonight. We’ve also received a report of where the other guards lost the kidnappers, we can take you there if you wish.’ One guard said, now catching his breath.

  Thyle nodded and contemplated it for a moment before turning to another guard posted at the building across from him. ‘You there. Stand watch here until you’re relieved on my orders. You’re only to leave if word comes for me, in which case, find me at once.’

  The guard nodded in acknowledgement, ‘aye, Commander.’

  ‘Let’s get a move on then,’ he said, turning back to the two City Guards. ‘Take me to the area where they lost track of the kidnappers.’

  They moved at a brutal pace, waiting for nothing and no one. Thyle was impressed by the guards, knowing they’d already raced half way across the city carrying his orders, and coming back to find him. Perhaps I should have given them more credit, he mused as they rounded a corner at the end of the street.

  Murmuring congregations of locals dotted the street they had just turned on to. Word had spread about another kidnapping, and the proximity of the resulting chase by the City Guard. Voices lulled and people stared at Thyle, and the guards as the three of them came to a more relaxed pace half way down the street. One guard pointed to a large intersecting street with the one they were on, and they all moved towards it.

  ‘Commander, this is where the other City Guard reported losing the men, and child.’ The guard said.

  The street was quiet, businesses and warehouses that had already closed for the evening. He knew the street led to the docks in one direction, and back towards the slums in the other, there was only one choice for him. Thyle turned right and moved at a brisk pace, enough to make good time, but not enough to cause him to miss anything. Not that there’s anything to miss, he thought as they made it a few hundred paces down the street.

  For too long, children had been taken from all over Emeer, and no one, not a single person had ever been as close to catching the people responsible. Thyle felt a sense of almost excitement at the idea of catching them, at the possibility of bringing it all to an end. He realised that the months of constant paperwork, and even the king’s birthday celebrations had bored him to almost breaking. So much so, that dealing with any situation that got him away from his desk, even one as dreadful as mass kidnappings, was enough to bring him an ounce of excitement.

  Something danced in the corner of his eye, a flicker of a shadow passing from one roof to another up ahead. That ounce of excitement flared and met with the rush of adrenaline that surged through his body as Thyle took off at a sprint. He said nothing to the guards, they would follow, they were trained to follow, his job was to lead. Thyle’s mind was on reaching the shadow ahead, no, three shadows, he saw as he closed in.

  ‘Commander, there were only two kidnappers seen, are you sure that’s them?’ One guard asked, confirming they were behind him.

  ‘I am, now keep up.’ He said without missing a beat.

  Thyle wasn't certain but when he drew closer, he had a much better view of the three figures. It wasn’t three figures running together as a pack, he now knew two chased
the other. The cloaked figure ahead of the others moved as if the hounds of the seven hells were at their back, and that was enough for him to pursue. Within a hundred paces of his targets, he saw the chased figure drop to the streets, moments after followed by their pursuers.

  ‘You two, off to the left, circle round and block off any retreat that way, I’ll cut them off this way.’ He shouted as they passed a side street.

  He kept his pace and didn’t so much as glance back to confirm the guards had obeyed. The Commander drew closer, and with the distance closing, he felt the anticipation of the capture resonate through him. Thyle turned the next corner on to the street the figures had dropped to, as he did, he glimpsed the back of one turning right up ahead. You’re mine, a burst of speed spurring him forward.

  * * *

  There was nothing, not a trace of the kidnappers, or Selene. Gareth was worried, either they hadn’t met along the path Selene was taking, or they’d already taken her too. Neither was appealing to him, for it left too much to chance, and Selene’s life was not something he would ever leave to chance. He didn’t wait another moment, he backtracked a little and made a bee line for the docks.

  The entire area was quiet, there were few homes in that part of the Warehouse District, and even as he approached the main street ahead of him, there was nothing to be seen or heard. Except that, he thought as he heard muffled voices in the distance. Gareth reached the edge of the roof overlooking the street, but there was nothing below. He looked left and strained his eyes, three figures running at speed towards the docks at the far end of the street.

  Gareth didn’t wait for his mind to confirm what his strained eyes were seeing. He didn’t entirely care, no matter who they were, he knew anyone running in the district that night, was involved in the hunt. He moved in leaps and bounds across the low buildings that lined the path to the three figures ahead. They didn’t move as quickly as him, even with the rooftops preventing him from opening up to his full speed, he closed in behind them and saw the royal gold insignia on the cloak of the lead figure.

  Gods, even the king has sent his own men tonight.

  He took his eyes from the men on the street, and glimpsed another three figures on the rooftops up ahead, one dropping to the streets below, followed by the other two. Who the hell were they, he thought, bringing his gaze back to the man sporting the royal insignia who was on his own. Gareth moved even closer to the man, and recognition hit him when he saw his face. He wondered what the Commander of the king’s Guard was doing, chasing people through the warehouse district, but figured it was important enough he should follow suit.

  * * *

  There was nothing interesting about the shipping logs to her, it was just a way of calming her mind, and offered a brief distraction from the fact she’d almost fallen victim to the men she’d been hunting. It had only been a few minutes since she’d entered the safety of the small office, but she felt a little calmer. Selene relived the minutes of the chase, the sheer speed and agility of the men was unlike anything she’d seen, and the way they moved, as if through shadow. Stop it, Selene, that’s not possible, there’s a plausible explanation for it.

  Gareth and the others had been on her mind the entire time. It wasn’t just a thought and hope they might provide help, she’d also been worried that they were in similar situations. She knew there had to be other groups of these men moving around the city, perhaps they’d ran into her friends too.

  ‘The twins can handle anything, so long as they’re together. And Gareth,’ she began, smiling, ‘I pity the men that meet him in the dark places of this city.’

  The thought brought a sense of relief to her as she leaned back in the chair, hopeful again.

  Her relief was short lived however, as the small wooden door to the building exploded inward, the lock shattering, sprayed across the floor in pieces. Selene fell backwards in the chair, but got to her feet and backed herself into the corner. There was no where to run, no where to hide, nothing in the room to use to her advantage, nothing save that short desk in the centre of the room. Useless, she thought, eyes wide at the entrance.

  Two tall, broad men entered the shipping office, each cloaked in black, hoods pulled low, faces in shadow. Selene couldn’t tell if they were the same two that had been chasing her, or even the same men from the rooftop the day of the parade, but they were as intimidating. Large booted feet stepped inside, the remnants of the door’s lock crunching beneath every weighted step. She felt her heart pounding harder with every step they took towards her, every movement of their hands, every twitch from their heads. They stopped, half way between the entrance and the corner she had backed herself into.

  This is it, this is how you die, she thought. Alone.

  Cold, calculating eyes stared at her from beneath the hood of the man closest to her, his hand moved to the hilt at his waist. The sword pulled smooth from the sheath. Silver light from the moon streamed through the window, hitting the tip as he held it low, towards the ground. The second man stood but a pace behind, hands still at his side, it was clear he assumed she wasn’t a worthy enough target to require both their weapons drawn.

  ‘Who are you? What do you want with me?’ She said, trying her best to steady her voice.

  ‘Who are we?’ The first said, a low, soft laugh beneath his breath. ‘That is of no concern now, girl. As for what we want, well, that is your biggest concern.’

  Selene’s mouth had gone dry, and any words she had, seemed to be caught in her throat. This couldn’t be revenge for the attack on the rooftop, they seemed to want her anyway, that much she could tell.

  ‘Twice you have evaded us, but not a third. You’re coming with us now. I would suggest that you not struggle,’ another soft laugh, ‘but I can see that’s not in your nature.’

  The second took a half step forward, ‘enough toying, take her, there’s more work to be done.’ He said, removing something from a small pouch at his waist.

  She still couldn’t seem to form words. Nothing she could say would sway them either way, she knew that. Words may have failed her, but Selene wanted them to know, that to take her would cost them a great deal, she wouldn’t go down without a fight. She pushed herself away from the wall, removing both daggers from beneath her cloak and took a fighting stance. She thought of her friends one last time, how she would miss them, hoping they were safe, and would eventually free their city, her city from this threat.

  ‘Come and get me,’ she said, a smile just touching her lips.

  He raised his blade, poised for attack, but before he could move on her, the man behind gave a small cough, as if he’d choked on something for a moment. Selene looked at him as did her attacker. A glint of moon light on steel as something retracted back through his chest, the man slumped to the floor, blood already pooling around his lifeless body. They both looked up again, attention now on the doorway as the silhouette of a man, sword in hand, moved forward.

  Recognition was instantaneous for Selene. She knew he was the soldier from the parade, the one that had held her gaze for so long. What he was doing in the warehouse district, was beyond her, but she was glad for his presence, whatever the cost may be.

  ‘You will pay for that,’ the dark figure said, looking again at his fallen comrade. ‘When I’m finished with you, you’ll wish for a death so swift.’

  The soldier raised his sword above his head in the high guard. ‘I hope for your sake you put up more of a fight than the man at my feet.’

  A taunt, she knew, and it had worked. The previously calm man lunged in rage at the soldier. His attack parried almost effortlessly, they began a dance of swords, trading blows one after another, the soldier always seeming to be the lead. Sparks flew as swords clashed, again and again. Both men were skilled with a blade, highly trained soldiers, on a battlefield that was the tiny shipping office.

  The battle seemed to go on forever, but in reality, Selene realised it had finished just as it had started. The soldier stood victorious, having f
eigned a high attack, only to slice across the man’s newly exposed mid section. Fatal she knew, but not instantly so. The dark figure dropped to his knees at the soldier’s feet, trying desperately to hold his intestines from evacuating from the deep gash. He lasted but a moment, before keeling over to his final resting place, at his comrades side.

  His gaze rested on Selene as the soldier moved towards her and spoke. ‘You. I know you,’ he began searching his memory. ‘The rooftop, on the day of the king’s birthday. That was you I saw, you’re the one the guards couldn’t catch.’

  Selene half hoped he wouldn’t have recognised her, and thought her a poor slum girl, who’d fallen victim to the kidnappers like so many before. Being connected to the reported theft of valuables from the upper quarter would mean serious punishment, but not death, and that much was a relief if nothing else.

  She realised she had said nothing for a few moments, ‘I think you’re mistaken, Sir, I was working the day of the parade, I couldn’t see it.’ Playing the innocent girl may not get her anywhere, but it never hurt to try.

  ‘You would insult the Commander of the king’s Guard, by making a liar of me,’ he began, sheathing his sword. ‘I’m not sure what part you play here, or the day of the parade, but you’re coming with me, girl.’

  Commander of the king’s Guard, she thought. Of all the people to come to her rescue, this would have been last on her list, right next to the king himself, but she could ponder that another time. She would have plenty of time to think while she sat in a cell, along with contemplating her escape.