Pax and Amil found the rest of the crew shifting impatiently on the street corner outside the Steelshade’s building. They made quite the sight with all of their pets, distracting passersby, some of whom were startled when they suddenly noticed the menagerie next to them.
“About time.” Dahni’s gaze narrowed when he saw them approaching. “You do realize we’re in kind of a hurry?”
“Oh, wait.” Amil turned to Pax. “I think I forgot my socks.” He spun on his heel and took a step in the direction they'd come, just in time for an old shoe to hit him in the back.
He spun around, only to laugh when he saw the shoe on the ground. He picked it up and lobbed it back at Dahni. “That's the best you can do? And where did you get that?”
Dahni grinned. “It comes in handy against stray dogs . . . and idiot friends.”
“Is everything ready for our assignment today?” Rin asked Pax, ignoring the two boys' antics.
“Yes. I checked in with my mentor, and he wishes us well with our assignment today.”
Bryn gave them a curt nod and turned to head into the building. The others followed, more focused now that it was time to act.
Pax was proud of how well they fell into character as they walked into the front warehouse section of the Steelshade headquarters. They kept up an easy chatter, not too serious, as they made their way toward the message cabinet. Tyrodon took the lead, heading to check the paperwork where he would decide on their assignments.
After he finished going over them, he looked up. “Everyone, how about we see if we can catch up and get everything delivered today?”
“Sounds good to me.” Amil gave him a quick nod. “Less work for Wednesday is a great idea, right everyone?”
The others nodded, quickly splitting up into their usual pairs and waiting while Tyrodon worked.
The door slammed open behind them. Everybody jerked and spun around. Mage Lyndara stepped into the room and scanned the area. When she made a beeline toward them, Pax was pretty sure he wasn't the only one wondering if she'd received orders to detain them.
“I’m glad I caught you before you left,” she said when she got close. “We've just received two reports of messengers from other teams being attacked. I don't think it's a good idea that you go out today, at least not only in pairs.”
There was a moment of surprise and relief at her words before everyone blurted out questions.
“What happened?”
“Were the messengers hurt?”
“Who attacked them?”
“Did they catch the attackers?”
Lyndara raised a hand to silence them. “One pair of messengers fought off their attackers without too many injuries, and the attackers didn’t have an inventory-breaking skill to get at the messages. In the second attack, one messenger is missing, and they left the other unconscious. They’ll likely take the kidnapped one somewhere to force him to give up his messages. If he’s lucky, they’ll let him go afterward. We think the attackers are rebels trying to steal critical information. They're getting desperate.”
Pax glanced around the relatively empty warehouse room. “Does that have anything to do with why most of the teams aren't here?”
Lyndara hesitated, obviously deciding whether to answer. “Well, now that it looks like you're putting your lives on the line to help us, I think you deserve some answers. Yes, the empire deployed our teams to target any known locations of rebels. We've been on guard for retaliation. We just didn't consider our messenger network as a top target.”
“The teams are retaking Quarrybrook and Dunhaven?” Pax injected excitement into his face and did his best to look eager.
Lyndara shook her head. “No. Those are jobs for the regular army when they decide it's time. Our strike teams are best at stealthy and unexpected attacks on smaller targets.”
“Ah.” Rin made a soft sound of understanding. “That means you know where some of the rebel bases are, then? Our guys will teach the rebels that they aren't safe in their little hidey-holes anymore. Brilliant.”
Lyndara looked at Rin with surprise and then a nod of approval. “I can't confirm that, but I'm impressed by the direction of your thoughts. Stick with us, and when you graduate, there might be a spot for you here.” She straightened and gave them a half-smile. “Now, enjoy your day off.”
They exchanged worried looks as she started to turn away.
Tyrodon spoke up before anyone else could come up with a way to get the messages today. “Mage Lyndara. We could reorganize into groups of three. Together with our companions, that would make six of us delivering messages today. This information is important and shouldn’t be delayed.”
At Tyrodon’s words, their companions suddenly perked up from where they’d been lounging out of the way. They closed in, their postures no longer playful but radiating strength and danger as they gathered in front of the crew. Even Whisk joined in the display. He slid out from under Pax's armor to form a large disc of slime behind Pax's head that gave off an ominous hissing.
Lyndara’s eyes widened, and she took an instinctive step back before stopping herself. She looked over the collection of Tamed beasts. From Rin’s shoulder, Eris gave a sharp hunting cry that drew Lyndara's gaze.
Looking thoughtful, she turned her attention back to Tyrodon. “You might have a point there. Your lot has quite an advantage over other messengers. But I still think the deliveries can wait until we find the perpetrators.”
“Even the ones that have been here for a couple of days?” Tyrodon tapped at the papers in front of him. “It doesn't look like anyone did deliveries over the weekend.”
Scowling, Lyndara marched over to look for herself. Letting out a few curses under her breath, she straightened and finally nodded. “I’ll track down who took delivery of these over the weekend without informing me.”
She scowled and glanced over the mostly empty space, not finding who she was looking for. She turned back to them. “Fine. But stay on your guard. I don't want anything to happen to you kids.”
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Seeing her genuine concern, Pax felt bad about the deception, but still nodded his agreement. Thankfully, she was in a hurry and disappeared into the training area, her voice quickly fading away.
“Nice job,” Pax whispered as Tyrodon unlocked all the cubbies with messages. The others did their best to appear natural. Pax felt his pulse speed up every time someone else walked through the area. At least, they'd all honed their acting lately and managed not to attract any undue attention.
Faster. You know this assignment is on our official schedules, so anyone looking for us will come here when they don't find us on campus. Bryn’s words were calm, but kept them focused. And once they resort to enlisting the altar’s help, we’re really in trouble.
Tyrodon passed out the messages, moving quickly. Their pets followed through on their promise, distracting whichever Steelshade personnel walked through or glanced their way. When Pax noticed himself relaxing, his urgency and worry drifting away, he shook his head and forced himself to refocus. Horrid had obviously leveled her Scent Lure and had hit just the right level of subtle soothing with it.
Finally, they’d filled their folders with stacks of messages and stashed them in their inventories. Their companion’s efforts, along with the mostly deserted warehouse, ensured no one noticed that they’d cleaned out the message cabinet completely. As soon as they were done, they hurried out of the building and onto the street.
We’ll take route A to the Silent Stein, Pax sent, stepping off to the right, followed by Rin, Tasar, and Tyrodon. Bryn. You and your group take B.
Got it. Bryn, together with Amil and Dahni, turned to the left. Good luck.
Once they were back out on the busy streets, Pax activated his Sphere, knowing now, more than ever, he needed advance warnings about anything coming for them. He kept his Haste ready to pulse when he needed help sorting through the information.
A moment after he activated it, he sensed a disturbance in the crowd, back near the building they just left. He didn't look back, instead quickening his step. He sent Talpa to look. The answer wasn’t good.
Guards. Four of them going into the Steelshade building. One staying at the door. Looking for us.
Good job! Don't let them see you. Get back here fast.
Pax quickly switched over to the Echoes. Guards are behind us at the building. We just missed them. We should have a few minutes while they search for us inside. Bryn, keep an eye out and do your best not to get spotted.
Will do. You too, Bryn sent, her mental voice quieter, indicating she was getting close to the range limit of the Echoes.
Pax veered to take a route that skirted the edge of a busy marketplace, hoping it would help disguise their distinctive appearance with so many pets. His tension kept ratcheting up as the minutes passed. They all did their best to watch for incoming dangers from every direction. It didn't help that many of the passersby were also furtive or full of their own tension. Pax felt like he was jumping at shadows, but couldn't turn down his vigilance.
As they reached the more modest section of town closer to the Silent Stein, Pax thought they'd make it unscathed. When someone yelled from the open seating area of a pub across the street, he glanced over, but didn’t slow his pace. Two men screamed at each other, and bystanders began to get involved.
“Quick,” he hissed at the others. “That's going to attract a lot of attention. We need to get past it fast.”
“There's a side street just past the bookstore up there.” Rin pointed, already stepping off the crowded sidewalk into the street to move faster.
The others followed her, shooting the occasional glance over their shoulders at the brawl escalating behind them. It exploded out of control so quickly that Pax wondered if it would turn into another riot. It made him glad they were leaving today.
Just as they got close to the bookstore, Pax heard the faint sound of heavy boots, more than one set, running. Despite the headache of using his Sphere in such a crowded area, he pushed his forward senses to the max and triggered the minimal amount of Haste he could. A guard in uniform suddenly appeared at the front edge of his sensory bubble, followed by two more.
Guards ahead of us. Quick, turn around and blend in, he sent urgently.
"Make way! Make way!" The guards’ yelling made the already nervous crowd stop in their tracks and do their best to get out of the way.
As every street rat knew, running guards were indiscriminate about hurting anyone who got in their way.
Keep someone between you and the guards at all times, Rin sent, probably for the benefit of Tasar and Tyrodon. Don’t let them see you.
Pax had already slunk behind a large lady yelling at her husband to keep her safe, while Talpa stayed underground. Rin had slipped out of sight just as quickly, but Tasar still stood like a stone in a stream, looking much too confident and powerful among these scared citizens. Tyrodon clung to his side, like another scared pedestrian. So, maybe it would be alright. The guards might take them for two friends out for the day, one trying to keep the other safe.
Still, it didn't hurt to be extra cautious. Pax motioned urgently for them to join him behind the large couple providing a convenient screen. Tasar and Tyrodon made it just before the first guards stormed through the staggered opening the pedestrians had created.
Watching them rush past, Pax thought they might avoid the danger. But the strongest and fastest of the six-guard squad raced toward the fight much faster than the two bringing up the rear.
Pax held his breath, watching the two older and less athletic guards doing their best to catch up to their fellows. Now, the initial panic that had the crowd of pedestrians making way had subsided. The cleared path narrowed again as the crowd relaxed.
And then the worst happened. Someone bumped into someone else, and suddenly, an overweight merchant-looking man fell backward, right in front of the last two guards.
Already huffing for breath, the female guard was not quick enough to avoid tripping over the man. She fell on top of him, both of them crying out in pain before struggling to extricate themselves from each other. Her partner stopped, his anger and frustration boiling over as he yelled at the poor man on the ground.
A furious guard was enough to make the crowd scatter again. A hole opened up quickly around the new altercation. The angry guard was red in the face, screaming almost incoherently about flickin’ rebels and citizens causing trouble as he helped his partner to her feet. The merchant moaned in pain, holding his ribs as he tried to crawl out of the way.
It was the perfect distraction for Pax and his friends to get away. And it would have worked if the frustrated guard hadn’t chosen that moment to launch a hard kick into the side of the merchant on the ground.
Those who saw it gasped in outrage. Then the arrogant woman in front of him screamed out, “You leave that man alone! He didn't do anything to you. Why don't you go help with the real problems over there and leave us all alone?”
Everything that happened next occurred extremely fast.
Those near the woman gasped at her temerity and pushed desperately to get away from her. The guard spun around, furious eyes looking for who had yelled at him. The woman’s husband squeaked in fear, grabbed the finger she was shaking at the guard, and jerked her off to the side.
Pax had a split second to dodge to the side. He chose the wrong direction. In the next moment, he found himself staring at the angry guard’s eyes across the empty space the woman and her husband had deserted.
The man's eyes skipped past Pax, obviously looking for the woman. But then they returned, not to Pax, he realized, but Tasar and Tyrodon standing behind him . . . and to Warden clutched in Tasar’s arms to keep him safe from being trampled.
The fury in the guard’s eyes dimmed for a minute, replaced by a flicker of fear at seeing Warden followed by questions when he looked up at their faces again.
Don’t meet his eyes. Back up slowly. Try to slip into the crowd, Pax sent to Tesar and Tyrodon, only to freeze when he felt the distinctive irritation of an Identify being used on him.
"Stop right there." The man jabbed his finger in their direction, quickly storming toward them. "You three with the beast."
Any chance of slipping into the crowd disappeared as a new circle of space opened up around them. Marked as persons of interest by an angry guard, they quickly became pariahs.
For a moment, Pax contemplated diving into the crowd and trying to disappear, anyway. But based on the suspicious scowls the crowd aimed their way, he knew they would try to stop them.
Don’t try to escape until you’re away from the angry crowd. Rin’s voice helped calm his growing panic. I'm on my way to the Silent Stein. I’ll bring help. Just stay calm and do your best to talk your way out of it or stall.
I will. Just hurry. Then Pax called on all his Charisma and aimed a pleasant smile at the angry guard. “Hello, sir. Is there something I can help you with?”