Maya bolted back towards the shop, followed closely by Spanner. The pair burst through the smoke stained door, crashing into Mikus before they could stop themselves. Mikus grunted as all the air was forced out of his lungs, throwing his hands up all too late. The three of them bundled to the floor, with Spanner rolling and gathering herself first. She rushed to collect Mikus from the ground.
“What in the blazes?!” The dumbfounded man climbed to his feet, glaring at Spanner.
“We need to hide, do you have anywhere? Fylguard. I’ll explain later!”
Mikus froze, bemused and frightened by the urgency in Spanner’s voice.
“I- uh”
“I’ll pay back the favour! Quickly!”
Mikus’ eyes darted around the shop, then with sudden jerk of the head, he looked up at Spanner and nodded. “This way!”
The stout man turned on his heels and rushed into a back room. Spanner yanked on Maya’s arm and pulled her along, despite Maya not quite having her footing. Recovering quickly, Maya followed Spanner through into a small corridor with what must have been offices or stockrooms peppered along it. Mikus was fumbling a set of keys and eventually unlocked a dusty green door. He swung it open and stepped inside.
“Quick, both of you in, I’ll try and get rid of them. If I can’t, I’ll make sure you know we’re coming in. Get in the crates.”
A shout came from the shop, and Mikus rushed to lock the door behind them.
“I’m coming! Calm yerself, we’re closed for refurbishment!”
Maya’s eyes adjusted to dark quickly. There were half a dozen large crates with straw poking out, all leaking the tell tale smell of cigars. Maya moved to grab the lid of one when Spanner grabbed her arm and whispered, pointing upwards.
“The rafters here are bare. Quick help me up, I’ll pull you.”
With Maya’s assistance, and a couple of crates as stepping points, Spanner clambered up to the huge wooden beams that spanned the ceiling. Laying face down across one, she lowered her arms and reached down for Maya. Maya heaved herself onto a crate, then grasped Spanner’s hands.
“Other way, turn around, I’ll swing you up, catch with your legs.”
Realising the plan, Maya spun and grabbed on. Slowly she lifted her feet from the crate, and began to sway. As she built momentum, Maya lifted her legs and wrapped them around the beam. The moment of elation was short lived, as Spanner’s grip on Maya’s hands slipped. Maya’s body dropped and hung suspended upside down from the beam, with only her feet hooked together to hold on. Grandpa’s bag slipped from her shoulder as she panicked. Despite her best efforts she grasped nothing more than air, as the bag fell and landed on the crate below with a clunk. Fraught, Maya’s gaze jumped between Spanner and the bag.
“Leave it! Get up here!”
Maya continued staring at the backpack, frozen.
“Kid! Leave it!”
Mikus’ voice echoed in from the corridor. “What is the meaning of this?! You can’t just barge-“ He cut off with another grunt, accompanied by the sounds of doors crashing open.
A second voice could be heard through the door, though much less frantic. “Unlock those three.”
“I will not!! You have no right-“
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
The unmistakable sound of an almighty slap interrupted Mikus’ protests, before giving way to sounds of a struggle, and then the jangling of keys. Spanner moved to sit on the beam next to where Maya had her legs hooked, and reached a hand down. Maya grabbed it, still torn about the bag, and allowed herself to be pulled up. Spanner pointed at a shadowed corner of the room, and the pair slowly began to make their way across the rafters.
The lock clicked. A tall woman in a dark grey uniform stepped slowly in and surveyed the scene. Maya and Spanner held their breath and stayed as perfectly still as they could, whilst she paced around and between the crates. The Fylguard officer called to someone in the corridor.
“Get these opened.” With that, she turned and left the room. Maya let out a sigh instinctively, then caught it as another Fylguard entered. The broad man began immediately lifting the crate lids and rummaging through the cigars and straw. Despite the danger, Spanner seemed quite happy to nudge Maya and offer a look that screamed “I told you so.”
Both of them froze once again though, as the Fylguard approached the crate on which Maya’s bag still lay. Maya leaned forward, almost as though she might jump to save it. Spanner put her hand on her shoulder, warning against such reckless actions. The Fylguard stood for a second at the crate, then heaved the lid off, casting Maya’s bag onto the floor behind it. He rummaged just as before, then moved on to the few crates remaining.
Maya slumped against Spanner, who steadied herself on the wall. The pair waited there for at least another ten minutes, before the sounds of the Fylguard left and Mikus came staggering into the room.
“You can come out now. Though how the bloody hell they didn’t find you, I’ve got no idea.” His voice sounded strained and raspy. Spanner announced their hiding place, and helped lower Maya down into an uncovered crate. She landed with a soft bounce, then clambered out. Spanner lowered herself to hanging and then dropped into another crate to the same effect, with Maya immediately running to grab her bag, as Spanner approached Mikus.
“Those bastards.”
Maya turned around to see Spanner inspecting cuts on Mikus’ face. He grinned.
“I better get a bloody discount now!”
“You most certainly will, although I’d understand if you don’t want me around after that I’m so sorry!”
“Bah, just a scratch. You don’t deal jewels in Troust and not get in a few scraps. Although this was a little more one sided than I’m used to, I have to say! You’ll find no love for the Fylguard with me. This cities gone to the dogs. I’ve no idea what young Crodus is up to, but ever since he stepped up as Principal, them Fylguard have been getting bolder.”
“Yes, I don’t think you’re the only one that’s noticed.”
“So, I think I might have earned the right to know what the hell they want with you two?”
Whilst he referenced them both, Mikus fixed his gaze decidedly upon Maya. Spanner turned, almost seeking permission, and Maya gave it.
“Might as well, seem to be telling everyone.” Maya dusted off the bag, and put it on her back. Spanner motioned to step out of the dingy room.
“Before we get into that, I’ve got to ask, what did you say to them before they barged through?”
“Well, I couldn’t exactly lie and say I ain’t seen you in case some of them downstairs decide to be ratting me out. So I said you’d been in, but you’d left and I didn’t know where. They didn’t believe me of course, but I swear I said nothing else.”
“Did you tell them why I was here?”
“They didn’t ask. Fylguard operate with force. Not an ounce of nuance in the lot of em. All too afraid of that General I reckon. You’ve heard the stories.”
“Well, thank you.”
“I am intrigued, though. Why don’t we have a drink and a chat?”
Once again Spanner turned to Maya.
“Yeah, maybe you’ll be able to help even more.”
The three of them stepped through the corridor, which was now even more littered than before, and into Mikus’ office. He pulled up a couple of chairs, and sat down at a large dark wood desk that in its prime, would have looked almost regal. Now however, it fell in line with the rest of the shop. Mikus leaned down and pulled a bottle and three glass tumblers from a drawer and placed them on the desk. He poured out a small measure into each glass, and slid two across the desk. Maya and Spanner both sat, and took a glass. Spanner wasted no time and took a large swig of the syrupy looking liquid, and sighed. Mikus sipped his more delicately and raised his eyebrows questioningly at Maya. She took a deep breath and began talking.
“I’m uh- Terran, and I think my Grandpa was a Hazemaker. I accidentally hazeported to Misvir, and Piv was helping me, and I got attacked by Fylguard birds.”
“Graven.”
“What- oh- Graven yeah, and they stole most of a letter that my Grandpa left me that I think would have explained more. He left me this bag too. I’ve got some hazes, but I don’t know what they do. We got away, and me and Piv came through Occlewood to here, and Spanner’s helping me. I need to find someone who can hazeport me and Piv both home. Either that or learn how to do it myself. So, yeah.”
“And Piv?”
“He’s a togi…”
Maya trailed off as Mikus’ face changed. Spanner quickly leaned in, “A friend of mine.” She almost dared Mikus to say something. He didn’t.