Chapter 8

The sounds of the market closing are still audible inside the empty, dark warehouse. A remainder of the smell of spices once stored here mixes with the usual scents of dust and hay. Sterien steps in carefully, looking side to side, scanning the whole area before walking to a simple stool in the middle of the large room.

"Took you a while," Renzo’s voice comes from behind him, and Sterien jumps from his almost-sitting position.

"Oh! ...It’s you. I didn’t see you."

"Good," Renzo says, stepping out of the shadow behind a ruined wooden staircase. "I took your advice about secrecy to heart, especially after what’s happened."

"What do you mean?" Sterien asks, clutching at his chest as if reaching for something in his jacket pocket.

"You would know, Sterien," Renzo says, starting toward him. "You’re good at remembering conversations, and you know everything that happens in town."

Sterien’s eyes dart about, looking increasingly sheepish as Renzo approaches.

"Oh," Sterien says, lowering his voice. "You mean Jarel, right? Yes, I heard about that. Awful luck, being arrested like that." He pauses, waiting for Renzo to acknowledge him, but Renzo only steps closer.

"You were right. The Crown really has this place full of spies," Renzo responds slowly, with a low voice.

"You could say that." Sterien steps back until he bumps into a wooden beam behind him.

"Perhaps some of them are amongst the people I used to trust."

"Wait." Sterien holds up his right hand and massages his head with the left while side-stepping. "You don’t think that I was behind–"

"I think you will tell me where Jarel is. And you will aid me in getting him out of there." Renzo keeps walking toward him.

"I-I need more time, Renzo," Sterien stammers. "This whole arrest really mucked everything up... But," he adds as the two men slowly make their way through the building, "I’ll have you know I figured out a way for you to get straight to Alavane."

In the faint light from a broken window, Sterien can make out the grimace on Renzo’s face.

"Also, they’re not really fully searching for you yet. Word has just spread that you escaped," he continues, with an increasingly shaky voice.

"Good," Renzo says. "Now I propose that instead of meeting me again when you have the information, I just trail you, and you figure out in real time how to get to Jarel."

"It’s not that simple, Renzo." Sterien is backed against a heavy door.

"I’m sure we’ll make it work!" Renzo slams his fist just above Sterien's head.

Sterien opens his mouth to say something, but whimpers while Renzo looms over him. The two stand a good minute in silence until an eager female voice comes from Renzo's left: "I can help you!"

They both turn heads. A woman sneaks in through the broken window, hops off, and lands on a bit of remaining hay, dusting off her pants. She wears a cloak that almost completely conceals her face.

"You need someone who knows the town, right?" she says.

Renzo bolts toward her and chokes her against the wall. "Who are you? Who sent you?!"

The woman struggles, trying to pry his hand away. Sterien approaches, pulls her hood down, and looks surprised at a young female face. Renzo’s eyes widen.

"Katrina?"

He lets the girl go, and she doubles over, clutching her throat.

"You know this person?" Sterien asks.

"It’s a long story."

Katrina wheezes for a moment, then straightens out and looks resolutely at Renzo. "I can help you, Renzo."

He tilts his head. "I'm looking for very specific information."

"Try me."

"I need you to locate an acquaintance called Jarel, an old soldier turned mercenary," Renzo says. "He's recently been arrested. What could you know about that?"

"Not much..." she admits.

"Exactly. He'll be transported–"

"The armored carriages, right?" Katrina perks up. "I’ve seen them many times, mostly in the morning when I'm going out to buy bread for ma, and sometimes late at night... They used to go by the jewellers' street, but now move through the Butcher’s Quarter, or by the old big water well."

"Hold on, Renzo," Sterien interrupts. "You don’t think you can just trust this random woman who happened to find us here? How did she know we were here?"

"I didn’t," Katrina says and points at Renzo. "I was looking for him all day, and then I heard voices and somebody slamming into a door. So I peeked in." She turns to Renzo. "I can help you. I want to help you."

"Why?" Renzo asks.

Katrina looks down for a moment, and her voice grows quieter. "I want to find the man responsible for my father’s death," she says. "My mom says to let it go. But that’s all I’ve been thinking about, ever since. He worked for the King’s Guard, right? You knew him, right?" She looks up, eyes lit up. "So you would help me find him if I help you get your friend out of jail?"

"Wait a minute," Sterien starts, but Renzo silences him with a hand gesture.

"I knew your father," Renzo says. "But I promised him, and your mother, that I would keep you safe. And that means not involving you in my business."

"Mother always says that," she responds, lightly stomping her foot. "But I’m grown up now. This is what I want. This is what I’ve wanted all this time."

"You shouldn’t let this girl–" Sterien starts again, but Renzo cuts him off.

"How much time do they usually take when transporting prisoners?" he asks the man.

"Well–" Sterien hesitates. "I would say they’re probably going to transport him today, if they figure he knows you."

Renzo immediately turns back to Katrina. "Are you sure you can help me get Jarel out of jail?"

"I can help you locate the right transport. Though I think you’ll have to do the... heavy work yourself, for the most part."

Renzo stands back a moment, crosses his arms, and nods. Sterien looks suspiciously at Katrina, who returns the same gaze.

"I’ll find a way to get you to the man responsible for your father’s death," Renzo says, and Katrina’s eyes light up. "But you stay here and help your mother until then."

"But–" she starts.

"There is no other way I can keep you safe," he cuts her off. "Besides, if you cannot do the heavy work, as you said, I have no use for you where I’m going."

Her head drops and her face grows sullen.

"It will be best for both of us." Renzo holds out his hand. "Can we agree?"

Katrina bites her lip for a moment and shifts in place. At last she raises her hand and shakes his.

"Meet me just past midnight," she says, "near the old cabinet maker’s guild building. The one with a pair of goats on the emblem."

"I surely don’t think this is a good idea," Sterien says.

"Here is another idea," Renzo says. "We go back to your office and figure out a way to get me some weapons. Then you come with me, and we bust him out."

"But–why?" Sterien protests. "I am no good in a fight. You know that. What use am I to you?"

"The use," Renzo growls, "is that I know you haven’t spoken to anyone else." Renzo shoves him. "Now go." He turns to Katrina. "You too. Leave a while after we do."

"Thank you," the girl says with a nod.

---

Renzo, pushing Sterien in front of him through the shadows, approaches where Katrina stands half hidden behind a white column at the guild building's entrance.

"They should be here very soon," she whispers.

"Good," Renzo says. "Stand guard over the well. If you see them, give a loud whistle. Stay in the shadow, and don’t get involved no matter what."

"But what if you need–" she starts.

"Don’t get involved," Renzo repeats.

"All right," Katrina agrees with a quiet sigh.

A short while later, Sterien and Renzo perch on an upper walkway of a building overlooking the passageway out of the Butchers' Quarter. A carriage passes by, but Renzo cannot see who is being transported or even any city emblems. He readies his weapon, but a whistle comes from a distance.

"Quick," Renzo says, pushing Sterien down as they rush to the intersection.

They see a group of four soldiers in a convoy, moving at a brisk walking pace – two at the front, two at the back.

Renzo waits in a small alley until they've almost passed. A kick sends the back guard closest to him slamming into the carriage and falling under. The other guards look around in surprise. Renzo springs up from a crouch, stabbing the forward guard through the chest.

"Bandits!" the two others shout. Renzo jumps onto the back of the carriage as it speeds away. A crossbow bolt flies past him. He wrestles with the driver and kicks him off into an empty stall, and stops the cart. He waits crouched behind the coachman's seat, until the next guard runs up. A hit of his fist slams him in the face as soon as the man peeks around. The man regains composure and swings at Renzo just as he jumps off. Renzo’s legs glow red, and he dodges unnaturally fast. The surprised soldier has no time to react before Renzo pulls out his sword and delivers the killing blow.

He turns around to see the last guard pointing a reloaded crossbow right at Renzo. Before Renzo can react, a rock hits the guard right in the head. He staggers and fires, the bolt embedding itself in a nearby tavern sign. Renzo leaps close and strikes him down. He looks to his right and sees Katrina approaching with another rock in her hand, ready to toss it.

"Did you get them all?" she asks.

"Yes. Thank you... But I told you to stay back!"

"But–"

Renzo grabs the guard’s keys and opens the carriage. Confused prisoners peek out, among them a wary-looking man with a scar.

"Renzo," Jarel mutters.

"There you are. Everyone out, now," he gestures and the men spill out of the transport. "You can go now. Go to your mother," Renzo says to Katrina while trying to figure out which key to use to unshackle Jarel. "The rest of you, get out too," he tells the confused prisoners, tossing them the keys.

"Who’s that girl?" Jarel asks.

"It doesn’t matter," Renzo says, repeating to Katrina. "Go back now."

Before Katrina can turn around, a horn blares.

"Was this your doing?" Jarel asks, looking at the prison guards strewn on the road.

"Where’s Sterien?" Renzo says to himself.

"You got Sterien in on this too?" Jarel says.

Peering into the shadows, they see the plump man running toward them, away from approaching guards.

"Wait!" Sterien wheezes, approaching fast. "Don’t leave me!"

The carriage is already moving as he hops on and they speed off.

"Turn left, to the western gate," Jarel says.

"No, they always lock the gates at night," Sterien insists.

"How do we get out, then?" Renzo asks.

"Two blocks, then turn toward the port," Katrina’s voice comes from behind them.

The three turn and see her clinging to the back of the carriage.

"Katrina!" Renzo yells. "You were supposed to go back!"

"Who is she? Do I remember her from somewhere?" Jarel asks.

"Please, just get me out of here," Sterien pleads.

"We don’t have time for this," Renzo grunts and turns the way Katrina recommends. The voices of the guards fade as they reach the port.

"All right," Renzo says. "Jarel and I are going to make it across the river." He points at the wide body of water. It looks more like a giant lake, with boats docked at the long wharf, quietly bobbing against the gentle waves. "You," he says, pointing at Katrina, "return home now, as fast as you can."

Before Katrina can speak, he turns to Sterien, "I’m not done with you yet. I need you to get out of here and meet me at Centalorian."

"There’s no way I’m meeting you again," Sterien begins. "I’m sorry, Renzo, I cannot take that sort of risk."

Renzo steps up and stares him down. "If you don’t show up at Centalorian at the Ravaging Pig when I’m there, I’ll tell everyone that I know you, where I met you, and that you helped me get out of here."

Sterien begins to tremble and swallows loudly. "I suppose I will take the risk."

"Halt!" a guard jumps from the shadows, pointing a sword at Katrina.

Katrina screams. Two more guards approach from the loading bay behind the men, with crossbows trained on them.

Backing off and looking around, Katrina sees a rope connected to a pulley, ending at a crate hanging above them. She reaches out, desperately yanks the tie-off free, and jumps back once it goes loose. The guard looks up just in time to see the massive crate approaching. It knocks the helmet off of his head and splits open on the cobblestones, spilling metal wares with an enormous racket. Katrina and the man fall down to the opposite sides.

Renzo sees the guards distracted by the scene. He punches one, tears the crossbow from his hands and shoots the other. The guard who was holding Katrina reaches for a short sword at his belt and is about to swing back at her. Katrina grabs a long, heavy candle holder and, terrified, slams it into the back of his head, yelling. The man drops unconscious to the floor. Shaking, she drops the heavy piece of metal and backs away.

Shouting and sound of footsteps come from down the street.

"Onto a boat, now!" Renzo yells.

"None of us knows how to sail," Jarel says.

"There," Renzo points at a transport barge about to leave. Renzo is the first to jump aboard, with Jarel just behind. Sterien, failing to keep up and catching his breath, turns to a side street and runs off into the shadows. The boat is already past the end of the wooden walkway when Katrina springs out from behind the loading dock. She sprints at them, stepping on the last pylon to leap towards the ship, slamming into the stern and barely holding onto the railing just as it leaves port. Renzo and Jarel grab her and hoist her up.

"I told you to stay out of it," Renzo says.

"Oh, this is just what we needed," Jarel mutters as they all catch their breaths. "A woman."

Katrina takes the longest to breathe steadily again, glaring at Jarel. "You’re welcome," she says with a raspy voice and turns to Renzo. "I’m coming with you after all, then."