The Cat Came Back

“Start talking cat,” Hektor was trying to be as menacing as he could, but the effect was dampened when he couldn't find his sword sleepily fumbling around the dark room.

“Now is that the way to speak to a friend?” The girl purred, turning her attention to Agnes. “Though your charming escort here has a point. We don't have much time.”

Agnes held up a hand to calm Hektor, “Alright then girl, out with it. Let's start with a proper introduction. I'm Agnes, and this is Hektor Tumlin.”

“Didn't need the last name to recognize that family,” The girl said with a wink to Hektor. She stood and offered a gracious bow to Agnes. “And I'm Chloe, nice to properly meet my benefactor.”

“Don't pay that any mind,” Agnes said with a bemused chuckle. “Though Tumlin could learn a thing or two about manners from you by the look of it.”

“Least I know how to use a door.” Hektor grumbled.

The girl blushed, not that it was easy to notice at this hour. “I suppose that's fair, but I have a good reason. I needed to warn you before they get here.”

“And who is they?” Asked Agnes.

“The guards. That officer from earlier, Arkos, he isn't exactly known for letting things go.”

Agnes stretched her legs and enjoyed a cool breeze wafting through the open window, “Well Tumlin...looks like your hot streak downstairs used up our last bit of luck in this town.”

By this point Chloe was back at the window, looking out for any sign of activity. “I'm not really sure what it was, but another one of the guards connected that business by the gate to some forest witch rumor floating around.”

“We keep hearing about her,” Agnes mused. “But surely the soldiers aren't chasing some whim like that.”

Chloe looked over to Hektor, who merely shrugged to suggest he was surprised Agnes had yet to make the connection too. Eventually the girl added, “Though I think our friend might have a point. It was one of the laborers who tipped them off where you were. Said a Tumlin and an old lady were running a crooked dice game at the Stake & Stocking.”

“Tumlin...” Agnes said in a nagging tone.

“Like I'd ever cheat at dice!” Hektor seemed genuinely offended at even a joke of an accusation.

“I know, I know” Agnes chuckled. “That family honor is worth more.”

“How can you two be so calm about all of this?” Chloe snipped, still looking warily out the window.

“Well, first...” Hektor trailed off as he took up a position by the door.

Chloe wheeled around to cast a puzzled glance, “First?”

“First,” Agnes finished Hektor's thought, “I need you to tell us how you knew all this.”

Chloe started to fumble for words, but she was drowned out by the clamor on the streets below followed by the glow of torchlight cast on the walls of the buildings. The din grew until it was unmistakeably the steady march of around a dozen armed men taking up positions on the street below.

Chloe slumped down below the window, beginning to tremble and fidgeting with the right hand she almost lost this afternoon. “This isn't looking good. I didn't want to get caught up in this, what I deserve for trying to be nice...”

Agnes crossed the room to peer out the window herself. She patted Chloe on the shoulder, “Now now dear. Doing the right thing always pays off. We're in this together now, so together we'll get out of it. Would you mind telling me how you reached this high window to begin with?”

Chloe sobbed gently, “Look to the right. This alley's pretty narrow and that warehouse has a thick beam to hold the sign.”

“There's no way you're making that jump, Ms. Agnes.” Hektor said as he tried to find a spot to peer out as well. “Even if your knee wasn't hurt already. I'd have trouble with it.”

At that point they could hear a banging on the front door of The Stake and Stocking. The voice of the military officer, Arkos, rang out into the night. “Open up! I have it on good authority this establishment is harboring a wanted criminal.”

“But you said it was a warehouse?” Agnes's mused with a wicked grin, seemingly unbothered by the escalation outside. “Tell me, little cat burgular...what kind of wares are being stored there at the moment?”

“Huh?” The odd question snapped Chloe out of her panic. “Well...kinda boring to be honest. The military took it over a while ago, so a lot of stuff for them. Bolts of that stupid red cloth for their cloaks. Scrap iron to melt down, wagon parts...stuff like that.”

The soldiers banged on the front door of the tavern again. “Don't think I won't torch this house of degeneracy! Bring out that forest witch and her companions, NOW!”

“Tumlin...” Agnes said softly as she tilted her crook out of sight of the window. “Will your cousin be too mad if we have to abandon the wagon?”

Hektor shrugged, “Probably not as mad as she would be if I let something happen to you. Let me worry about that one.”

“Perfect,” Agnes began with a light cackle. “We may not have some notorious witch on our side, but I think I've got enough to pull this off.

Just like when she met Hektor, Agnes produced a small flame and affixed it to a point just above the tip of her shepherd's crook. She held the staff up to eye level, drawing it back and forth as she looked for the right spot on the thatched roof of the warehouse across the street. When she found her mark, Agnes drew back the staff and thrust it forward as if it were knocking the little ball of flame into the night air. It was a silly way to get the flame to move, but she never had a purpose to do such a thing beyond entertaining her grandson.

Her aim was true, and within seconds the straw was catching fire. Smoking and cracking as it lit up the dark night. Agnes looked from the shocked face of Chloe to Hektor stifling a laugh and made her decision of which one to trust. “Tumlin, can you take it from here?”

“My pleasure, Mrs. Agnes.” He replied as he strode across the room. Deepening his reedy voice as much as he could, Tumlin hollered into the night. “Dammit! Which one of you was getting lazy with your torch! The Prince will have your ass if you let that stockpile burn down!”

The orderly scene below erupted into chaos as the soldiers scrambled to contain the new threat. Cries of “Fire!” went up throughout the city street and men raced for buckets and sources of water. Fortunately Agnes had picked a spot that was unlikely to spread to a neighboring building quickly, though the situation left little time to admire their handiwork. By this point Chloe had gotten back to her feet as well, awestruck by the boldness of her new friend and eagerly asking “What next?”

Agnes flashed a wry smile to Chloe, “Something you should be quite familiar with my dear little cat burglar...now we run.”