Nutusi can look scary.
With her blind eyes, bony hands and her grim smile she looks more like some heretic witches of the stories than a lawful priestess. I believe she does that by design and revels in the fright she causes to others.
It was the first time that my comrades met with the old priestess and I was awaiting their reaction. After introducing herself only as a simple priestess instead of a majores, she took off her shawl.
They were all a bit startled by her milky eyes: Balout gasped, Melodi waved a paw in front of the pale eyes to check just how blind she was and there was a strange staring contest between the purple nebulas of Gel and the milky way of Nutusi.
In the end lilacs and lilies reached a tacit understanding after gauging each other. There was some strange chemistry going on between the young girl and the old one.
“Nice to meet you all.” Started Nutusi starting to sound less scary than usual, I appreciated the effort. “As you all know, you are reunited here to help Telerios deal with a problem. This will require you to infiltrate the Shield's castle.” She paused to take a good look at each of them with her ghostly eyes and sense the fear this was seeding in the kids. She must have been satisfied because she kept going on and finally explained how she intended for us to create a miracle.
We were to take advantage of our small stature.
We were only nearing 6 springs old. Balout who is the sturdiest of us all could pass for an 8 years old on earth but as for the rest of us we are still small kids.
Not that this fools me, I know very well that Mel and Gel can already pack a punch heavier than most teenagers on Earth.
Nutusi would have us hide in one of the supplies convoys restocking the castle.
There were two way up the palace atop the mountain: the serpent road that was circling around the top of the mountain. This was the longest and slowest route with many hurdles along the way: checkpoints and fortified garrisons aplenty along the road to check cargo and identities. Not anyone was allowed up there even less with weapons or suspicious materials.
The place was heavily fortified and not only against monster attacks but also human led sieges with Chi warriors.
The other way in for goods was an elevator like some kind of simple crane at the southern side of the castle. There was only the wall and the steep mountain almost like a cliff. The serpentine road was going under rock on this face.
On top of the thick south wall was a docking bay with a huge crane that could lift goods or selected people to reach the castle faster.
It was a faster way in but less often used, only influential officials or perishable goods were allowed this entrance. There was a delivery scheduled for tomorrow and with goods that would “help hide us”.
Nutusi knew the castle very well since she worked there for years. She made a rough sketch of the castle starting from the cellar where the crates we will hide in were going to be stored. It would be inside of the second inner court, already near the Shield's personal quarters.
She then exposed the task she envisioned for each of us and only now did I understood why she needed so many kids.
Balout was to go to the left towards the inner kitchen of the court. This kitchen was cooking for officials and blades. He was to create a disturbance that would attract as many guards and servants as possible there.
“Just start eating as much as you can.” advised Nutusi with a wink at him. Her blind gaze made him shiver but the idea to just have to eat, furthermore some delicacies, comforted him in his ability to do well with his assigned task. This was well within his abilities and would make a few lashes worth it.
I voiced my concern: “Won't he get punished for that? When servants catch him and find out that he isn't from the palace won't they try to interrogate him.”
Nutusi's wrinkled face looked annoyed. “They will. But this will only cause even more trouble inside and attract more guards his way, opening the road for you and the rest.” She explained before turning her fogged eyes back on Balout: “You will get a few kisses from the whip for that. Unless Telerios manages to reach the old lord before you get punished and can beg for your safety.” Balout was looking at me full of hope, I was his way to gorge himself AND get away untouched...
The rest of the plan was more or less following the same pattern: wreak chaos everywhere.
Once Balout's commotion started Gel was to go towards the Lord's court to attract the attention. “Just claim that blade Duarch tried to rape you or something. With your Akolai's gift it would make for a plausible story and the officials should gather around you like vultures above a juicy rotting carcass.[She actually said noriks but I can only guess they are some kind of vultures,]” Not the most engaging metaphor but quite on spot.
Gelcaria nodded in acceptance, ready to do anything needed from her. She just had to find her way to the court and attract attention. She might not like it but she was good at attracting unwanted attention anyway.
“Won't she risk anything? Slandering a high blade can't be without consequences?” I worried again.
Nutusi waved annoyingly. “Not more than the others. Duarch has as many foes as friends and many will be ready to protect the girl. If her claims are true the better but even if it was just slandering, every rumours leaves its stain.” Concluded the mistress of deception.
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Finally Melodi had the most difficult task of all. She was going to have to reach the stables, the furthest destination from our starting location. There she would have to free a few of the flying beasts. Catching them back would busy some guards, opening the way for me even more. Melodi was confident in her stealth maybe a bit too much if I am to say.
And I was to reach the inner court where the shield's family was residing. There she pointed me at the old lord's courtyard.
One of the biggest with many rooms on multiple levels and with a whole personal garden atop of it. “You should find the old lord there. From what I gathered he spends most of his time there, drinking, reading or training but mostly drinking.” she was judging him harshly. “I don't know what he looks like now. Back in the days he was a fine looking lord with a noble gaze and a straight nose. But who knows what years of drinking and sorrow did to him...” she bitterly concluded. “He should still have those green eyes of his but other than that I can't really say.” This was a bare-bone description but I believe I should recognise him at his attire. Lords don't dress like the rest of us.
We were to go unarmed of course. The goal was to have us pass for children making a prank not for spies or armed infiltrators in an assassination attempt. Seeing how young we were the officials should be lenient. And if my mission was a success the old lord might even pardon us all.
“Won't all the disturbance put them on edge? The security would just get more tight for me to pass through?” I asked in concern.
“Yes. This is why your window of operation will be very small. The three disturbances,” she pointed at my three friends, “will create enough chaos for a short while. Only the praetorian guard will be left in the innermost court. The lords are powerful enough to look after themselves so there shouldn't be much security left if you time it well.” Then she added forebodingly, “But don't waste that small window of opportunity. Afterwards they will tighten the net and it will become impossible for you to wander through the corridors.”
After that she had us rehearse her plan and memorize the castle's map. This what somewhat trickier for the other kids, except Melodi. They had never seen a real map and only roughly understood the concept. Melodi naturally had better proprioception and kinaesthesia giving her a better spatial awareness than the others. She immediately grasped what a map was and was able to memorize it at an alarming speed.
Once Nutusi was sure we all knew our task and how to go where we needed to, we were allowed to go have a meal in the kitchen. Sansho was delighted to meet my friends, she had a soft spot for children and Melodi particularly charmed her. The lizard kept trying to pat, cuddle and touch her fluffy warm fur. Both were Beastkins but there was a harsh contrast between the lizard and the cat.
Melodi's compliance with Sansho's assault was rewarded with the best dishes. Sansho used all her array of spices to cook us some throat burning dishes that made us feel as warm as in the Summer.
We were dismissed after taking a nap to digest our feast. Meeting point was fixed for the morrow's early morning.
Gel stayed with me for the night. Whenever nightmares woke me up, either Yoli's body or the mugger's assault I was met by Gelcaria's shinning purple stars.
Downstairs I could hear my grandmother cough for the whole night, seeding blooming poppies all over her sheets.
Tomorrow, failure wasn't an option.
* * * * *
My night was restless.
Gelcaria managed to sleep after 3rd nightbell. Her calm breathing was soothing but I couldn't manage to fall sound asleep. I woke her up at first morning bell and we discreetly went downstairs before eloping to the temple. I was hoping to grab a bite there.
Although she slept more than I did, Gel was rubbing her reddened eyes like she was the one that kept awake for the whole night.
She might be stronger than I am but right now I'm the most enduring. Is it a turning point? Has Chi started to kick in for me?
Sansho gladly welcomed us in her domain around the oven. A warm cup of koati milk and crispy fresh bunta bread made for the best breakfast.
Sansho preferred Melodi but Gelcaria's eyes still had an attracting power on her too. The lizard woman's scales turned to a slightly purple colour I never saw her have before. She looked mesmerized.
The other joined us soon after and Melodi took hold of the reptilian cook's attention again, breaking her entrancement.
Nutusi then drafted us and took us all in a side alley where a cart filled with crates, jars and amphoras was waiting. Two mighty looking Tojas ready to pull it. These two specimens looked stronger than the usual breed with their fiercely red plumage and long fangs making them different than the common beasts of burden I met till now.
“This will be your hiding spot.” Said the old woman when patting the amphoras. Today she wore a commoners garb: a brow robe made out of rough fabric. A shawl covered her head but just enough to hide her eyes instead of her whole face like her Shinpilo's robe does.
She opened one of the lids and a disgusting smell wafted out of it. Something like a pile of garbage left in the summer heat for a week mixed with the stench of urine and ammonia. The stinky vapors assaulted our nostrils and the bunta bread in my stomach was trying to find its way out.
Nutusi frowned her nose but told us: “This is kemcha, fermented fish bowels from the southern archipelagos with spices and herbs. Some nobles somehow find it to be a delicious condiment. Blades.” She added with exasperation as if this was an explanation. “This is where you'll hide in. The guards do not open it often and probe it even less often.
Melodi flat nose was wrinkled to the point that it was trying to hide inside her skull “No way I'm submerging myself in this stink, even the bowels of a Chogsu smells better. I'd rather eat Koati shit than bath in whatever Fusaad's pus this is.” she firmly opposed our hiding accommodations.
“Fine. Then you can't help us any further. Gelcaria will be the bravest girl around then.” Calmly stated Nutusi in a teasing tone. Gelcaria was only half reluctant to approach the mixture and was also startled by the old priestess's comment.
The provocation was enough for Melodi to switch horses in a second, now going straight for the nearest amphora, ready to bathe herself in the oily broth.
“Hold on a second.” stopped Nutusi. “Once inside you'll all have to immerse yourselves completely. You'll use this to breath,” she handed us small tubes looking like hollowed bamboo sticks. “There are spares of clean clothes under the crate of dried berries, you'll have to change once in the cellar. You'll still stink though, so try to wash it off however you can but know that it will last for a while, nothing much can be done about it.” She concluded with a smile as she was enjoying the disguted face we were making. At least Nutusi ha her fun.
The idea of stinking of rotten garbage wasn't a pleasing one. Not only would we smell but it will also make our infiltration more difficult afterwards. How will the old lord react when a stinking hobo commoner child appears to beg him for money?
“I also advise you to go to the toilets now. It could be a while before you finally have some peace in the cellar to get out. Not that I would complain if you added some flavour to the blade's kemcha.” she jokingly added.
While the others were emptying their bladders she handed a leather satchel “Use this to put your textbook in, you might need some proof to convince the old lord. It will stay dry inside this, it is oiled leather with a ward against moisture.” The pouch was indeed slightly shinning like recently polished shoes and it felt strangely rubbery to the touch. “If the old lord wants to check your blessing, agree to it. The Shield is already aware of your existence so no use hiding it from the former lord. Instead use it as a show of goodwill.” She advised me. I wasn't surprised the Shield knew about me. The city lord was tasked with protecting us from monsters and blessed ones were main targets. It was only natural that the Temple would somehow collaborate on this matter.
Now was the time to hide ourselves. The amphoras were just large enough for us kids to hide in. Some kemcha flew out when we dunked ourselves in. Her plan could only be executed by kids. I don't know if there were dwarf warriors somewhere? Could this have been a security breach for other threats?
I gagged when my face went near the disgusting liquid. I would only submerge myself when I'll hear the guards checking the goods. Gelcaria was the bravest: she gave me one last firm gaze before hiding in the mixture without complaints. Balout was gagging as much as I was and Melodi was whimpering like a wounded kitten, her grey fur getting sticky with the mephitic condiment.
The ride was smooth except for the smell. The liquid was oily and sticky but cushioned any jolt. When we got near the castle we could tell the roads were now paved.
When they started moving our amphoras I submerged in the kemcha, using my bamboo stick to breath and trying no to think about the stinky liquid that was attacking my nostrils directly.
They didn't even opened my lid. I could hear the guard or an official open a nearby amphora before complaining “What in Fusaad's vomit do they like about this thing? Pwah! Fine, load the amphoras and take the stink away from me as fast as you can.”
I took my head out to take a quiet breath.
A jolt signified us that the lifting had begun. Up we go.