Sly

I didn't care at this point if I was thrown in the dungeons for the rest of my days, as long as I found Rorik and knew Davery had gotten him his bloody map. The curst wretched map that Grethan had killed over. What did Grethan even want with it? Where did he even fit into this mess anyway?

    It was getting dark earlier and though the fifth bell rang only a while ago the light began to grow dim. I rose higher and higher up the cliff to the palace as the ripples of water played in the last rays of the day's sun. My legs burned as the gates, polished and grand atop a city of mud, came into view. I stopped in front of the guards, looking a bit wild with my bare feet and the strands of hair escaping their pins. Whatever work the muses had done on me for the burning ceremony was now undone. The stocky guard on the left eyed me suspiciously. It was probably the dress. I may look disheveled but I was still dressed for a high station in life.

    "Where is Guard Captain Pettypiece?" I demanded with all the authority I could muster.

    "Not here. You'll have to come back tomorrow," replied the senior guard.

    "Let me in, it's important," I ordered, glaring at them.

    "What family name, miss?" the guard on the right asked.

I didn't answer at first. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, blurring everything as I began to laugh. "None. I've no family left, and I'm no one of consequence."

The guards, unsure how to respond looked uneasily at each other. I didn't bother arguing further. I simply put my slippers on and began the slow walk down to Lights district. Turning just before the road curved away and took the view of the gates with it, I spun around and cupped my hands at my mouth. "You're probably why he's dead now, you prick!"

If the guards knew I was yelling at a royal I'd be in shackles by now, halfway to the floating cages with a rag stuffed in my traitorous mouth. But apart from exchanging one last look between them, the guards didn't make a move as I turned back down the path.

    The night air was bitterly cold. I wished I had just kept Jexa's coat. Watching my feet more than I watched the road ahead, I was mildly surprised to hear lapping water. Looking up I found myself near the lake, the nicer end of the lake. Eating houses, taverns, gambling dens with people flowing in and out. Lights flickered in windows and at doors. None of the people around here had holes or patches on clothing and many of them seemed to have jewelry. Stones and pearls that would feed a family for weeks, if not months. I knew little of the value of gems beyond which ones the butcher would trade the best cuts of meat for if I stole them.

The extravagance next to the cesspools of the city would never cease to amaze me. I leaned up against the side of a shopfront that was closed for the night and just watched the people. It was probably around the seventh bell of the evening. Still early for activity in Lights district though I didn't recognize the street I was on. It may even be Green district for all I hadn't paid attention. The road I watched wasn't as traveled, had more stores on it than eating houses, and this time of night many of the shops were closed. There were glimpses of the water between buildings though and the stars were shining overhead.

    My mind wandered through the people I watched, not paying particular attention to anyone. The fact that they were all here and Davery was not burned in my chest. Would burn in my chest forever, probably. The flow of people were slowing down but there were still a few to watch. A child ran homr, a man on a horse turned down another street, an older couple walked hand in hand. I supposed the upper classes could have loved ones too, though I rarely saw a caring side of them. I couldn't even really count the Muses. While they did have some social status and were paid well if they performed like they did for Hunts Festival, they lived in a dorm style house and did their own chores. Any excess money they brought in went to care for their families or to Bliss' temple which then used it to help women and children who needed it anyway. No, it was anyone with a title that I disliked. Sure some probably live up to the truest definition of 'noble' but so many of them didn't and it made me sick of the whole system.

    "No!" a muffled cry came from my right. I looked up sharply. A girl maybe my age, maybe a bit less, was on the ground. A man in a tattered cloak that had once been of much finer make stood over her at the entrance of an alley, the faded black fabric leaving no identifiable marks to him, and the dark color of it helping disguise the movements in the night. What few people were nearby walked away quickly, either not seeing the scene in the shadows or avoiding involvement.

I didn't give a shit that the girl on the ground wore clothes of at least a well-to-do merchant, or perhaps even a lesser lord's family. All I had to know in that moment was that my burning anger had a target.

The man yanked a necklace right off the woman's throat and she let out a small cry. I'd picked my share of pockets, but never with such a victim and never to induce terror. I was a thief, I would admit that. But not a brute. I knew my targets and they were always somehow crooked. I couldn't vouch for the girl's family, but I doubted the girl herself had done anything to deserve this treatment.

    Sliding Davery's knife from the bodice of my dress and taking off the slippers, I stalked towards the ally. The man had dragged the woman deeper into the shadows. I quickened my pace. I held back the bile that threatened to climb up at the wretched sight before me as I reached the man's back.

    The girl spotted me, fear on her face. She looked away as soon as she realized there might be hope of help but it was too late, the man had noticed. He began to turn around and I took a swing with the butt of Davery's knife. It connected with the side of his face in a bloody smear and he snarled in rage and pain. He was actually quite large when he stood upright. I backed away as he took a swing, something shone in his hand. A knife, great. This was going to end messy unless I was very careful.

Backing up as he turned, I dropped the slippers to free up my other hand and crouched into a better position to receive his attack. The lady, and I knew she must be a lady now that I got a closer look, ran. Good, at least one of us would make it out of the ally unscathed. The man charged. The fact that he didn't yell as he did so scared me. It meant he was thinking clearly as he attacked, this would be more like fighting calm and collected Dirk than wild and roaring Jexa. Jexa could hold his own, but Dirk was downright terrifying.

    The stranger's dagger nearly connected with my side, but I squirmed out of the way. He drew his arm back for another strike and I took the opening. I kicked the inside of his kneecap and he released a grunt of pain. He recovered much quicker than I would have liked and slashed at me again with that damned sharp blade. I took a graze across my hip as I grabbed his tunic. The throwing exercises with Dirk clicked into place and I flung the man behind me. I spun, he had slid out of the alley and into the street. Taking a ready stance, I watched him get back to his feet. He stood all the way up but as he leaned into another attack a cudgel came into my field of vision.

    Before I knew it a city guard had hit the man over his head, knocking him down. Another was quickly behind his partner with shackles. The noblewoman had come back, and with help. My lips parted in surprise as I watched her, shaking and terrified, yet standing here with help she had brought back with her. As the guards had sufficiently restrained the struggling man the lady made her way to me.

    "Thank you, if you hadn't come I'd . . ." The girl choked up, hugging me. She pulled away and smiled weakly as tears threatened to spill over, this was probably the most awful thing she's ever had to go through. Fair enough, hardship was hardship no matter how fat your purse was.

    "Sure," I said simply. One of the guards came over to give the girl her necklace. I put my slippers back on and slipped out of the alley. I was nearly gone from the street when the girl caught up to me again.

    "Wait!" She was breathless, not used to running even this short distance or still in trauma, I wasn't sure which.

    "May I . . . help you, lady?" I let a bit more of a sigh into the words than were proper, but by now I was well and truly exhausted.

    "Thank you. I would like to repay you somehow if I can. Are you going to the castle? I'm afraid that is where I was heading but got lost. I'm new to the city you see, I sent my man ahead with my luggage so I might walk by the lake but then . . ."

This noble talked a lot. Casually, and in more detail than I'd ever been given by a noble before other than the prince. I realized that I had been mistaken for someone of status because of the borrowed clothes. Again.

    "I just came from there actually." Not a lie. "But I'd be happy to walk you back." It was a good excuse to get in to see the prince. A thought hit me though and I wasn't sure where to  find Rorik at this time of night. I wouldn't exactly be able to ask around and anyone I did ask would probably find me very suspicious. The only person who would likely tell me was Captain Pettypiece but I doubted he would approve of me getting through his guards in such a way.

    "Goodness no! I couldn't take up more of your evening, I'm sure you're on your way home, right? Oh but I do hope to see you again. How did you learn to fight like that? Father wouldn't let me learn anything of the sort. I am here to be a lady in waiting to Queen Everith, so I'll be living in castle quarters. Do you come often?"

I wasn't sure how to respond to the new assault of information and questions. As it would turn out, the talkative lady didn't need an answer before continuing.

"I know, the Harvest feast! It's next week isn't it? Goodness the month has gone quickly. Would you sit with me at dinner? Oh please do! I will think of a proper thank you by then and it would be lovely to know someone who will be there. I'm Selenie Duplea." She ended with an introduction and small curtsey. All I could think to do was respond in kind.

    "Please, call me Salysta." I curtsied carefully, not risking speed to loose my balance and give away my cover. Thank Bliss for her chosen ones that had drilled the curtseys into my head. Besides, my hip really hurt where it was grazed by the knife during the fight. "I would be glad to see you at the Harvest feast. May Harvest bless our winter stores and the bread taste even better with friends." It was a bit old fashioned, but I hoped the old blessing would make me sound more noble. Selenie seemed to accept that though and smiled, thank Shadow.

    "Oh! That is the road to the palace isn't it? I will take my leave then, lady Salysta. I await the feast and our reunion." She gave a last curtsey and a warm smile that wrung at my traitorous heart for the deception, and strode towards the clifftop castle.

    This was now more eventful of a day than I wanted. The time spent helping lady Selenie actually managed to make me forget about my brother. A lump of guilt settled into my stomach at that thought. My brother. How could I forget about him, even for a moment on his burning day? I slumped against a wall and slid down. I still carried Davery's knife, so I unsheathed it and stared into it's reflective surface. Dried blood flaked on the handle where I'd first hit the man in the head. The reflection showed me the state my hair was in. It could be worse, but it made me wonder how Selenie was able to take me seriously with how unkempt I looked.

  "Davery," I let out in a hoarse croak. It was the first time I was able to say his name out loud. The pain came forward fresh in my heart and I began to cry, silently shaking. My head hurt, a throbbing ache in my temples with every sob.

    I didn't know how long I was there, but the streets had all but cleared out and the wind was making me shiver. I took several deep breaths and stood. I stared at my slippered feet, deciding they made me angry. I yanked the slippers off then directed my anger at the gown. I hated it. I hated the most that I couldn't even ruin it because I wouldn't do that to Orchid's kindness.

I hiked the skirts up much higher than was decent and tucked them into the band at my waist. I shoved the slippers in with them, and Davery's dagger was sheathed and stuck back into the bodice. I walked to Panther House, disheveled, cold, but more myself than I had felt in days.

Shadow take Rorik, take Pettypiece, and take all the wretched hands in the city that overpower and frighten. What to do next could wait for morning, tonight could be spent cursing every noble in Unays.