City Of Light

by Darren Deegan

  ‘That’s not possible.’ Velias regained her composure. ‘One of the greatest families to have ever lived, who's power was unmatched, have a child born to the poor and retched of this city? It can not be, the last of their line died, almost two decades ago.’

  ‘Seventeen years.’

  ‘The girl, she’s…’ Neesha cut in, ‘seventeen? Yes, exactly so.’

  ‘Are you certain?’

  Neesha stood and approached Velias. ‘I am as certain as I can be at this moment in time. You know what this could mean for our people, so I must stay as long as I can, if only to be sure I could do nothing more to convince her to join us.’

  Silence fell between them for a long moment before they both turned and cast a watchful eye across the Merchant’s Quarter.

  TWENTY SIX

  With almost a skip in his step, Gareth sauntered along the streets of the Merchant’s Quarter. Her mood much unchanged from the day’s search, he had left Selene with the warmest hug, and told her what he could to reassure her. It was clear she had appreciated his embrace, for she left him with an intense kiss that lingered still upon his lips.

  Their search was moving along although not at a pace Selene had hoped for. He knew they were doing their best, and would still beat the blasted city guards, but it was not enough. Not for her. Gareth could see it in her eyes day by day, the weight of the world carried on her shoulders. It was as if she were not just to blame for the kidnappings, but that she was solely responsible for their safe return.

  As hopeful as he was, he knew there was a chance it would not end well.

  Lost in thought, the white stone arch of the slums bridge was before him. The gates were wide open as usual, guards huddled around a brazier within their hut. They had long stopped asking about the missing children, and Gareth wasn’t sure if they searched at all. He hoped for Selene’s sake, that she took no notice, for her mood could suffer no further blows.

  The wind swept up around him as soon as he set foot on the bridge. Ferocious in strength, it carried rain that felt like thin blades cutting into his cheeks. It howled and swirled, even threatened to take him with it over the edge, along the river Bán out to sea never to be heard from again.

  This gods damned weather, a lifetime wouldn’t be long enough to get used to it, he thought.

  ‘Gareth, my boy, how are you?’

  Gareth, still lost in thought, had not seen the middle aged man appear beside him. Shorter than he, mostly due to the bad posture that had resulted in the early stages of a hunched back, the man sported finer attire than one would see in the slums. Grey streaked through otherwise jet black hair, adding to the already regal like appearance. He knew the man well, kind, welcoming, always happy to help those he could, he owned a small business in the nicer area of the slums.

  ‘Mr Tailor, sorry, I was caught up in my own world there. I’m fine, thanks, how are you?’ Gareth said.

  ‘Not too bad, all things considered.’

  ‘Something the matter?’

  ‘Oh, nothing to worry yourself over, my boy. I’ve just been having some issues with getting supplies in to the city the past few weeks.’

  ‘The guards shaking you down again?’ He had helped the merchant on several occasions when the city guard had decided they needed extra income. Taxing merchants’ supplies into the city was an old game, and no matter how often the guards moved on or changed, that game always seemed to filter down.

  ‘No no, thankfully they haven’t tried that again since you spoke to them last. It appears bandits have been attacking supply waggons on the Falias crossroads. Seems to be random, but I’ve been unlucky twice now in as many weeks. Hard to keep a business going when you’ve little to sell.’

  The man’s head lowered in thought, as he released a long, mournful sigh.

  ‘Mr Tailor?’

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t suffer much more loss, my boy. Each shipment is paid for before it leaves its destination, therefore, each time it is taken, the materials must be purchased again. Much more of this, and I’ll be forced to close my store.’

  ‘I hadn’t heard anything about supplies being hit on the way from Falias, I was just there.’ Gareth said, worried he’d missed something before he returned to the city.

  ‘Oh no, not from Falias. These goods have come from the south coast, along the Dubh Mountains and up through Corach. It’s not until they reach the intersection with the Falias road, that they are waylaid by these brigands.’

  Protecting caravans and shipments of goods not supplied or smuggled by the guild, was not in the purview of guild members. Merchants usually hire guards, or even mercenaries for high end shipments, but that was not within the budget of the smaller businesses. Instead, these merchants had to take a great risk, and suffer any loss that may occur.

  ‘When is your next shipment due, Mr Tailor?’

  ‘It should reach the crossroads in two days time. I’m afraid I’m left with no choice but to hire a few guards to meet it there. The cost of the guards is better than closing my store. Hopefully the men I can afford will be enough.’

  ‘There won’t be a need for that. I’ll have some friends waiting for your shipment long before it reaches the crossroads. I assure you, it will not be interfered with.’

  He knew Vin would not be pleased if he found out about resources being redirected without a heavy fee. The men used for this sort of work would never question an order from Gareth though.

  ‘Are you sure, Gareth? That is quite the task to take on.’ The merchant said.

  ‘It’s no trouble at all. My friends are well used to this sort of work, and would be happy to help.’

  Happy may have been an exaggeration, but they were on the guild’s payroll for just this purpose. Unless there was an unusual delay, they should do their job without reporting to Vin. At least he hoped so.

  ‘Thank you, Gareth, you have always been a kind boy. Your mother should be proud.’

  ‘Always help when I can, Mr Tailor, you know that. I best head off though, I’ll need to make the arrangements to meet your supply waggon.’

  ‘Of course, of course. I shall talk to you soon, my boy.’

  * * *

  His muscles pulled tight with each stride. The intense scouring of the districts had left him both physically and mentally exhausted. Gareth had hoped to return home for a hot meal and much needed rest before he began again early the next morning. Community was important to him, and long before the guild, he had always done what he could for his neighbours. But now his position allowed him far more reach than he ever thought possible.

  From time to time, Vin would learn of his good deeds, but given Gareth’s usefulness to the guild, it had never ended in anything more than a short conversation. Jobs such as the one he was about to help with required more resources than Vin would ever agree to, however. It would have to be carried out with care, ensuring that each man involved had no reason to question the order and report to their leader. He wished that Marisa were there to help, she had a way of talking men into doing anything without question.

  The main entrance of the Guild came and went as he passed by the old grey wooden buildings that housed his brethren. There were other entrances open to him, entrances that wouldn’t draw the attention of the entire main hall. He needed to make it appear as if he were already in the building, and that it was plausible he’d just come from a meeting with Vin.

  Gareth rounded a corner at the end of the street, leading on to an alleyway. Outside of the guild, not many knew that the entire street on that side had actually been converted into one large building. Vin had bought every home and business on all sides of the original guild, and after extensive work, ended up with the largest guild building in all of Emeer.

  To the common passerby, the doorway before him looked like a broken, jaded entrance, long boarded up and useless. But to Gareth, and a select few, it was an entrance that when opened correctly, allowed access to the back rooms of the guild hall.

  He ob
served the entire area surrounding him before approaching the seemingly useless entrance. Gareth moved his hands around two sides of the boards nailed across the doorway, feeling for the familiar latches. One click followed another, and the door swung outward boards and all, allowing him to slip inside, completely unseen.

  Shadows danced on the walls all around him, but nothing else stirred in the immediate vicinity. Rooms and corridors at the rear of the guildhall were always lit by oil lamps. The guild had sealed up all windows to prevent the outside world from catching a glimpse of their dealings, the downside of which, being no natural light. Gareth moved along the hallway with trained grace that the western assassins would have had trouble detecting.

  Muffled voices close by stopped him dead in his tracks.

  Shit. Vin’s office.

  He hadn’t thought Vin would be here, he’d remembered a meeting on his schedule, but it was marked as being outside the city. God’s damn my luck, something must have changed. His own office of sorts sat next to Vin’s, he could simply enter, and pretend he had his own meeting with a client who had yet to show.

  Gareth entered the adjacent room, a basic affair with nothing more than what he required. Simple wooden desk and chairs, shelving for ledgers, and a sealed chest which housed his weapons and gear. He had never felt the need to purchase the expensive trappings of his position. Vin had told him it was important to have clients know you had the means to assist them, but he had never felt that way. With the exception of two paintings along the right wall, nothing else decorated the room.

  The chair legs let out a low rumble as he pulled one out from the desk and sat down. Vin could be there for some time, depending on the type of meeting, and Gareth desperately wanted to get home for a much needed rest and food. He stared at the paintings adorning the wall before him. It couldn’t hurt to take a peak. I’ll have a better idea of how long I’ll be waiting.

  Many years before, when he had been training, Vin had had concealed holes inserted in the adjoining wall between the rooms. It was there to allow Gareth to observe his meetings, learning without being a distraction to potential clients. There had been no need to use them in recent times as Vin had allowed him to join in on any meetings he needed to know about. But now they could be used to help him bring his plan to fruition.

  The painting came down with ease, revealing the spy hole no bigger than a gold coin. He pulled on the cork, and in an instant the voices within Vin’s office became crystal clear.

  ‘We move our cargo tomorrow night.’ A voice that felt faintly familiar.

  ‘Tomorrow is far too early. The terms of our agreement stretched for another fortnight at least.’ Vin countered.

  ‘The terms change when I say they do. Remember your place, thief lord. We are paying you a king’s ransom for your services, do not forget that.’ The strangers voice sounded less and less strange by the word.

  ‘Very well. You shall have your distraction tomorrow night at the agreed time. My best men will see to it.’

  ‘See that they do. If I’m forced to return here, it shall not be pleasant.’

  While Gareth was unable to see the men in their entirety, he saw their hands grasp each other’s forearm.

  ‘I hope never to see you again.’ The man said.

  ‘Come now, no need to forget our manners.’

  The men slowly released each other’s forearm and began to step away. It was then Gareth saw the candle light glint on something familiar.

  That bracer… It’s him, the stranger from Falias. Why in the nine hells is he here?

  He replaced the cork and painting with haste and waited for the stranger to leave before making his own exit. There was far more going on with Vin than he believed.

  TWENTY SEVEN

  Molly had long since gone to bed, her position at the bakery demanded long hours on her feet, working amongst roaring ovens for most of it. Selene didn’t envy her one bit, but admired the woman for how hard she worked for an honest day’s pay. Honest pay.

  She almost laughed at the notion of working in a bakery herself, or any other job she might procure around the capital with no experience or competences that most citizens possessed. For her, any chance of a life with an honest day’s pay had evaporated the day her father had failed to return home from sea. That day everything changed for her.

  Life had been tough on her, but she regretted nothing she’d done. Ever since fate, or the gods had thrown her and Gareth together, she had walked an unusual path. A path different to any her family would have chosen, but a path she wouldn’t trade now for anything.

  A pot boiled over on the stove, the released steam almost concealed the gentle knock from the front door. Selene quick to action, removed the boiling pot, drew a dagger from her coat she had thrown on a chair upon returning home, and proceeded to the door. She glanced down at the dagger in her hand, and felt a minor amusement at the thought that an enemy would knock, but given the events unfolding around her, she felt safe holding it.

  A now familiar rough, and hopeless face greeted her when she swung the door inward.

  ‘I’m sorry for calling so late, Selene. I found myself wandering and somehow ended up here.’

  She knew that look, for every night since her friend was taken, she felt it on her own face.

  ‘There’s nothing to be sorry for, Tom, come in.’

  The thief looked exhausted, both mentally and physically, but all the same, held himself together. He crossed the threshold and moved about the room; he seemed uncertain of where to place himself, or even where he was.

  ‘Tom, do you want to sit down?’ She said, pointing to one of the chairs around the kitchen table.

  ‘Hm? Oh, no, I’m fine thanks.’

  Again he drifted about, with no particular destination or intent. He stared at random things on shelves, books, a statue of the Goddess Danu, and even some of Molly’s baking supplies. She allowed him to wander, as he had done to find his way to her home, as she imagined his mind had been doing for quite some time.

  At last he broke the silence, ‘we were planning to take a trip to Falias this Yule. They have the most amazing festival during the solstice, did you know?’

  Selene shook her head, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts.

  ‘My family lived in a small village outside Falias, we went to the festival every year when I was a child. The only good memory I have of them to be honest. They weren’t the nicest of people, my parents. Times were hard on them, and they took it out on my younger sister and I whenever it suited them.’

  Tom had never shared so much as a single utterance of his family to her, or the rest of their group from what she knew. Having grown up near Falias, was the extent of what they knew of Tom’s past, and now he stood in her home divulging things she suspected only Robert knew.

  ‘I think my mother always had an idea about me, about my passions. I would hear her mumbling to herself sometimes when she thought I wasn’t listening. She’d always say there was something queer about me.’ He paused, his face sour, as if remembering something quite unpleasant. ‘But it was my eleventh birthday when things got bad. It was late, I remember thinking I should be home for dinner, but as usual, I decided it best to stay out with my friends.’

  She felt mesmerised by his story, so much information she never had about him, and he was telling her everything as if she were his partner. Selene didn’t know why he was telling her all of this now, but she almost blurted out that he should continue when he’d paused to stare off into the darkness through her window.

  After a too long moment, he continued, but still stared off into nothingness. ‘I was stupid I suppose, staying out past dinner, knowing my father would come looking for me. Perhaps I wanted him to know, to catch me so undeniably in the act that not even he could choose to ignore it. Whatever the reason, it was done.

  He stumbled upon me and a local boy, in one of our regular places to hang out after school. We had never done it before, and so when he kissed me, I fel
l completely into it and had not noticed my father standing over us in shock, not until the shouting started. His face had never looked so furious before, had never been so red and starved of air, as he was in that moment when he let out a roar that could be heard clear across the village.

  I ran, faster than I’d ever ran before. At first I didn’t know where to go, other than away from there, from him, but I found myself heading home before I knew it. Leaving was my only option, I knew that from my father’s face. He had beaten me for nothing on many occasions, I couldn’t even imagine how far he would go after what he’d witnessed. I needed to say goodbye to my sister, I couldn’t leave without seeing her one last time.

  She was there of course, I would never let her disobey our parents, could never let her take the brunt of their violence. But my time was short, far too short to say everything I wanted to say to her.’

  A tear ran down his cheek, he bowed his head, as if ashamed. Selene moved to his side before another tear could leave his eyes. She placed an arm around him and pulled him close. Never had she been this close to Tom, in a moment of need. Their relationship had always been around spending time with Robert, or the others, this was unknown territory for them.

  ‘It’s okay, Tom, let it out.’ She said, unsure of what else to say.

  Tom took a deep breath and continued. ‘I left, left her there with them, but with a promise that someday I would return. There would be a day when I could protect her from them, and had the means to take care of both of us, and on that day, I would come back for her.’ Another sob.

  ‘What is it? What happened?’ She said, without thinking.

  ‘I fled here, with that promise fresh in my mind. And a vow to myself, to get stronger, stronger than him, to learn to fight better than any who would stand in my way. I hid who I was, to fit in, to get by and fulfil my promise to Áine.

  Some days were harder than others, but they were all bad. Hiding my true self was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But to become a thief to survive, a fighter and assassin to keep a promise, that was something else entirely.’