Chapter 19
We retraced our steps to the same tunnel we had used to leave the city. The stench of rot and rat droppings assaulted our nostrils as we struggled through the narrow corridor.
"This is disgusting," Sara whined for the fifth time in as many minutes. "I feel filth seeping into my very bones."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. It was her fault the walk was taking too long in the first place. She refused to move with any urgency, preferring instead to stop every few minutes and complain.
"Then walk faster," I said, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
She didn't.
Instead, she let out a long-suffering sigh and dragged her feet through the damp dirt floor.
"You know, noble ladies aren't made for this kind of treatment," she continued. "When I return home, I will ensure Father hears of this abuse."
I nearly walked into the low ceiling as my patience frayed. "I'm not taking you back to your father."
"What do you mean?" she demanded, stopping in place.
"I'm taking you to Erwin."
"My little brother? Are you saying Father hasn't been looking for me? Is this why we are sneaking around like common thieves and not going through the main gate?"
Her bombardment of questions had me reeling. It seemed that Sara had been completely clueless about the state of the Duchy and how her father was being blackmailed.
I started to answer but changed my mind and shut my mouth.
"Just be quiet and follow. You can ask your brother these questions when we get back."
We emerged from the tunnel into the decrepit shack. As Sara was complaining about the state of it, I walked over to the window and to check things out.
It was nighttime but the sky was cloudless and the moon was bright. There were a few people moving here and there across the street. They seemed like thugs and thieves. In the distance, I saw soldiers moving about, torches in hand.
The duke's patrols were still out there searching for us.
I looked back at Sara, standing in her dirty but extravagant noblewoman's clothes.
She couldn't sneak past anyone in that outfit—it would make her stand out in this crime-ridden part of the city.
I wordlessly grabbed the filthy cloak from the thief's shoulders and tossed it at her. "Put that on."
She recoiled as if I had thrown a dead rat. "Absolutely not."
I folded my arms. "You want to stroll through the streets in that ridiculous noble dress? Well then be my guest, you'll just end up getting kidnapped again."
Sara crossed her arms, lifting her chin. "I refuse to drape myself in something so vile. The kidnappers treated me better."
I sighed and reached for her bag. "Put it on, or I'll throw all your precious jewelry into the streets. I'm sure the people here will be grateful to their noble lady for her donation."
Her eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me." I shifted the bag in my grip, acting as if I was about to toss it out through the window.
With an offended shriek, she grabbed the cloak and threw it over her shoulders. "You are the worst rescuer in history."
Once I was satisfied that Sara looked like an ordinary beggar, we emerged from the shack into Baran's shadowed alleys. A few civilians eyed us warily but walked past without a word.
I turned to the thief. "This is where we part ways."
Now that Sara was rescued the thief was just dead weight. I could find my own way back to Clover's Rest, the inn where I had left the duke's advisor.
He hesitated. "Listen, I—"
"Nope." I held up a hand. "You're not about to tell me your name and make me feel obligated to remember you."
I didn't need another annoying thief following me around. Laine was more than enough.
The thief frowned. "But—"
"Go. And just in case you are thinking about telling people about me, just remember what I did to our attackers."
I could tell the image of the veiled man flying straight up into the air was stuck in his mind. The thief didn't say anything more and slinked off into the shadows, muttering about how ungrateful people were these days.
With that handled we set off toward Clover's Rest. We snuck through the streets together with our hoods lowered.
Navigating the city's backstreets took time, but I had gotten used to avoiding patrols. Sara, however, had not. She tripped, stumbled, and huffed with every step, ensuring that I knew just how much she despised this entire situation.
I wanted to get to the inn quickly and hand her off to whoever was waiting for us there.
'Just a few more minutes,' I told myself.
Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. The inn was surrounded.
From our vantage point in a side alley, I counted at least two dozen of the Duke's soldiers stationed around the place, fully armed. I should have guessed. I had broken the tracking spell inside the inn—of course, this would be the last place they knew I had been.
I saw the duke's advisor, too, his feet dragging as two soldiers carried him out by the shoulders.
Sara finally broke her silence. "What now?" she whispered.
I was surprised that she had opened her mouth for something that wasn't a complaint.
"We go somewhere else."
"Where?"
I thought back to the map Erwin had shown me in Ghis' house. "Near the main gate. That's where Erwin's safehouse should be."
Sara groaned dramatically. "More walking?"
It was another long walk, but at least Sara had the sense to stop whining for the first half. By the time we reached the halfway point, she was back to her old self, complaining about the uneven road I was making her walk on.
"It's your city. If anyone should be blamed, it'd be your father," I told her.
She didn't like that response and launched into a barrage of insults.
By the time we reached the safehouse, some sort of abandoned restaurant, I was at my limit. I knocked on the door sharply, shifting my weight impatiently as I waited for a response.
A voice from within called out, "Password?"
I froze.
I did not have the password.
Thinking quickly, I blurted out the only one I knew. "I'm the Fish Inspector."
A confused pause. Then—
"Huh?"
I exhaled through my nose as I recognized the voice. "Ghis. It's me. Open up."
There was a muffled curse, some shuffling, and then the door creaked open. Ghis stood there, blinking at me. "Sam?"
"No shit. Let me in."
Ghis stepped aside, allowing us to enter.
The warehouse was crowded. Ghis' parents were asleep on a mattress in the corner while Laine sat at a table, feet kicked up, looking entirely too relaxed. The rest of the room was filled with armed men and women I didn't recognize. They were all eyeing me with suspicion.
I ignored them and looked up toward the mezzanine. Erwin was there, deep in discussion with an older, heavily scarred man. When I called his name, he turned immediately.
"I brought your sister," I said, gesturing behind me.
He barely let me finish before rushing down the stairs.
"Sara!"
She shrieked as Erwin embraced her. "Erwin! What in the world are you doing in this filth? I have never—"
Erwin placed a hand over her mouth, casting me a questioning glance.
"She doesn't seem to have a clue what's been going on," I said flatly.
Erwin sighed, removing his hand as Sara shot him a glare. "You have a lot to explain, brother. And I demand—"
"I'll explain everything. Alone." Erwin gestured at a door and Sara walked towards it arrogantly.
"Fine," she huffed, brushing a speck of dust off her sleeve. "But I'll need you to call a maid as well. And some hot water. And some fresh clothes. And some—"
Her voice faded as Erwin led her into the side room and shut the door behind them. I exhaled through my nose, running a hand through my hair.
Ghis strolled up beside me, arms crossed. "She seems like quite a handful."
"You have no idea."
I glanced at the strangers still lingering in the room. Some sat at the long wooden table, others leaned against the walls, their expressions hardened by experience.
"Who are these people?" I asked.
"Laine showed up before you did," Ghis said, gesturing toward the men and women scattered around the safehouse. "Told us what you got out of the veiled man about the attack on Eris, and the Duke being blackmailed. Erwin took the risk of reaching out, and we got lucky—some ex-soldiers and rebels decided to help. Not much, but it's something."
I nodded slowly. "What was the plan?"
"At first, he was planning to work slow. Gather forces, sneak in to the castle using the secret tunnels, capture the Duke, and end this whole mess." Ghis hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "But Laine also told us what you learned—that the Duke was being blackmailed, and that Eris is about to be attacked again. Erwin wanted to move fast. We would have already left, but some of the soldiers were opposed and said it's too risky with so few people."
I sighed. "Well, forget about all that for now. Grab a drink with me."
Ghis frowned. "You can't even get drunk."
I shrugged. "You wanna drink or not?"
A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Not gonna say no to a drink before the final battle."
An hour later, Erwin stood before the assembled fighters, going over the plan. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with tension. The ex-soldiers and rebels listened intently, their hands gripping weapons and tankards alike.
"We'll use the secret tunnels to reach the Duke's chamber," Erwin explained. "We'll take Sara with us as well. Once he sees her safe and sound, he won't listen to the council anymore."
Some of the men exchanged looks, murmuring among themselves.
"It won't come to a fight?" one of them asked.
"Hopefully not," Erwin admitted. "The moment we take Sara to him, this whole situation should end."
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, listening as Erwin mapped out the details. He turned to me.
"Sam, I need you to help lead the men."
I inhaled sharply through my nose. "Figures."
Ghis nudged me with his elbow. "Don't worry. We're almost done with this whole situation."
The words had barely left his mouth when a sharp knock echoed through the room. Everyone tensed, hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. Erwin exchanged a quick look with the old soldier, who opened the door.
A man stepped inside, breathing heavily.
"That's one of Erwin's scouts," Ghis whispered to me.
"Bad news," the man said after gathering his breath.
Silence fell over the room.
"The enemy moved faster than we expected," the scout continued, his voice grim. "Veiled Mages, similar to the advisor have seized the castle. They're holding both Eris and the Duke hostage."
Murmurs of shock rippled through the gathered men. Erwin's face drained of color.
"They weren't supposed to move this quickly," I heard him mutter. "The men we have—there's no way we can fight multiple mages—"
He was spiraling. He was just a kid who was trying his best to save his family. I could tell he wasn't going to come up with a plan anytime soon in his current condition. But I didn't want to wait that long. I was fed up with the whole situation.
I turned away and began walking.
Ghis noticed and followed. "Where are you going?"
I grabbed a coat and slung it over my shoulders. "I'm going to have a talk with these Council guys."
Ghis blinked. "I'm coming with you."
Laine appeared beside us, hands in his pockets, his ever-present smirk in place. "Me too."
I shook my head. "It'll be dangerous."
Ghis crossed his arms. "I need to repay you for helping save my father."
Laine stretched lazily. "And I just want to see what happens."
I exhaled through my nose and nodded. "Fine."
Ghis looked at me expectantly. "You can lead us through the tunnels, right?"
"No need," I said. "I'm walking through the front door."