Chapter 21: Stalk Hawk
The night’s wind was a balm on her still damp cheeks, the coldness stinging her face in a way she didn’t dislike, but rather welcomed. She felt all emptied out from earlier, and the wind helped her feel something. It was peaceful.
The birds that were usually in the sky were mostly absent during the night and the moon shone on the horizon, casting the mountain in a pale glow. It had been beautiful when she was in the Cloud District, the moonlight refracting upon the crystals casting everything in a pale, iridescent light, but the lack of shadows up there made her uncomfortable enough to slip down to a lower level, where she was walking along the paths winding down the side of the mountain.
She pulled up her hood and stepped through the shadows, passing unseen through the patches of moonlight. It was not the fun of moving invisible to the eyes of observers that caused her to do it now, but just the simple pleasure of walking in darkness. Tonight was a night of quiet and contemplation.
She heard shuffling noises above her, so she glanced at a roof, the dark yielding its secrets to her, and she saw two little birds as round as balls cuddled up together. They look yummy. Dantes had said he liked them though, and she wasn’t in the mood, so she just moved along, content to experience things as they happened.
As she walked, she saw many things. There, a woman conjuring little glowing orbs that floated into a tree. There, a tall wooden post lined with marked paper scraps flapping in the wind. There, a pair of guards, idly chatting as they patrolled. There, a pair of lovers looking out over the city below.
She beheld all these things unseen when she came to a red building, the one Dantes had mentioned at supper. She lingered in the wide doorway, observing.
Inside, Dantes and the old man fought, Dantes’ staff swing a shallow arc to prevent the man from closing in. The man stood just outside the arc of the blow before stepping closer and cutting towards Dantes.
The blow was caught on the haft of the staff, then deflected to one side, as Dantes sent a kick into the man’s shins. Which failed to hit, as the man kneed Dantes in the stomach, before striking him in the chest with the pommel of his sword, which got a grunt from him.
The man must be stronger than he looked, because Dantes was easily twice his weight. She took a sniff. [Strength], [Speed], and the lingering scent of [Flexibility] and [Balance] in the air. The man was definitely more than he seemed.
The went back and forth for a few more minutes, neither side really gaining a decisive advantage. No, that’s not true. It seemed like whenever Dantes was gaining ground, pushing the man back, the man seemed to get stronger or faster or improbably flexible, where he would push Dantes back again until they reached another stalemate.
I wonder if…
Still lingering in the long shadows in the doorway, she withdrew a wooden marble from her pocket and hurled it at the man when his back was turned, just as Dantes was gaining the advantage again.
In an explosion of movement unlike any the man had displayed earlier, he dropped and swept Dantes’ legs out front under him in one quick sweep, holding a sword to his neck with one hand, and in the other, the marble.
They lay there panting for a moment before the man helped Dantes to his feet.
“I guess that’s enough for the night. Looks like your friend is here to pick you up.” Then added, grinning in a way that didn’t suit his age “hope I didn’t ruin your plans for the night.”
Dantes responded, the dig going completely over his head, “wow, I knew you were going easy on me, but not that easy. And no plans. I’ll see you tomorrow, sensei.”
The man nodded.
“You’re welcome any time. I don’t teach the kids, so noon will be fine. Feel free to stop by for lunch with your girlfriend.” He chuckled, dodging another marble from the shadows.
Mitty stepped into the light, rolling her eyes.
“C’mon Dantes, we’ll need to find a place to stay tonight.”
He fetched his shirt from the corner, before making his way out with her.
“Didn’t Selia say we could stay with her?”
She blinked. “She says she needs to get the guest room ready.” There was no way she was going to stay there tonight. Not after her petrifying display. She’d just broken down from a little bit of constructive feedback. No, she needed some time away.
“Oh, okay. Here, why don’t I show you this cool outlook I found on the way, it’s just a short walk.”
That was what she liked about him. Not a care for digging up secrets. No interest in deceptions. Just says what he thinks, so no need to read into it. She watched him comb his hands through his hair, slick with sweat, the way the firelight played across his muscles.
She looked away before he’d notice, though she knew that would never happen even if she stared like an owl.
They walked in silence for a time before he donned his shirt once more.
“Say, Mitts, what do you think my power is?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you get your magic cooking, but I don’t really have anything. I was thinking… maybe you were supposed to be the voyager all along. And I just happened to be there… or something.” He finished lamely.
“Well that’s dumb. Aren’t you like, really strong or something?”
“Sure, but it doesn’t feel special, you know? I think Teacher Tsu is physically stronger than me when he tries.”
“Who knows. I guess you’ll figure it out some day. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you cause’ you’re only a little stronger than normal or whatever. Anything else rattling around in there?”
“I guess… what do you think our purpose for adventuring is? Like a reason or something?”
“What?”
“Well, I was thinking, traveling the world is fine and all, but why are we doing it?”
“This was your idea, dog brain. What do you think?”
“Thank you. Well, I’m thinking that even though we have a plan, how will we know when we’re done. Is there a point to freedom if you have no purpose? I’m not saying this very well.”
She hummed at that, but she knew what he meant. “I never really thought about it before, but yeah, I get it. Like how will we know when we’re done, you mean?”
“Yeah, I guess. It’s just I guess there’s just no end goal, you know? But in a way, thinking of the end… well, I don’t want our adventure to end.”
They’d made their way to one of the many lookouts, this one thankfully empty. They sat at the bench looking out over the mountainside in silence for some time, watching the lights, and stars, and moon. It was a beautiful crescent on the horizon.
After a while, Dantes continued.
It’s just, with the Spitfire, after the aurora, we’ll go our own ways, and never see them again, probably. I think I just don’t want that to happen to us, you know?”
She didn’t know how to feel about that. She’d already been emotionally wrung out once today, she didn’t want to go through that again, so she chose to deflect. “Well maybe we’ll just retire when we’re filthy rich on a mountain of gold.” She didn’t really care too much about money, but with enough of it she could live without worrying about her next meal. She thought she’d maybe like something like what Selia had.
“I guess that’s an okay goal. Get enough money to retire, eat like a king. I guess that’s not far off from our original plan.”
“Mm”
“And I guess we could look for Captain Crow’s treasure?”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Mm. Wait what?”
“Oh yeah, I found a treasure map in his quarters with the kid. Said there’s a mountain of gold there. And something about wishes, and some ancient voyager, but I forget now.”
“And you didn’t say anything about it before?”
“Well, you just didn’t seem to care about money and stuff that much.”
“I guess. What about the wishes?”
“Hmm, I forget. I think maybe you get to make a wish if you find it or something?”
“I’ll see if I can find out more.”
“If you could make a wish, what would you wish for?”
“No clue” she said. Home… “How about you?”
Dantes had to think for a bit. Time passed as the wind blew gently down the mountain.
“A family. I never had one before, but I think I’d like to love someone and be loved in return.”
Blood rushed to her head as she felt a deep anger unravel itself from the deepest confines of her mind, subsuming the emotional emptiness she’d been feeling. It bubbled over.
“No.” she blurted out. “I mean, family like that doesn’t exist. There’s no such thing. It’s STUPID and I HATE it. ABSOLUTELY NOT. NEVER AGAI-”
She cut off as she saw Dantes’ look of confusion and hurt.
It broke her.
She ran.
***
When she finally calmed down, she’d come to a rocky terrace overlooking a main street.
She’d unknowingly transformed back into her original form as she looked down on the street below.
What is wrong with me today? Why did I say that to him? Right, right, I was just protecting him. If he found a family, they would just leave him. In one piece if he was lucky…
She flexed her paws at that thought.
He just doesn’t know. He doesn’t need one. And if he found one, then maybe he wouldn’t need… ugh I’m just as stupid as that mutt.
She sat there, unseen, looking over the row of houses. Enough of the past. If the wishing thing is real, maybe I’ll think about it then, if not, I can just buy a little house in the middle of nowhere and live my days peaceful and alone. Assuming the whole thing wasn’t just some story.
Below, a figure tread carefully across the roofs, quiet as a ghost. For that was what he was, she realised. She hopped down to the rooftops and set out to intercept him.
That was enough feelings. She needed a little pick me up, so it was time to focus on getting into trouble.
She padded lightly like a shadow across the roofs to meet the broad man. She meowed lightly to announce herself.
“Ah, hello again kitty cat. I must say, I didn’t expect to see you again. Not that I’m complaining of course. How would you like to help me get into trouble? You see, I’m just trying to get inside, but the window is locked.” He said, wiggling the window in demonstration. “I suppose I will have to hope they don’t hear breaking glass. Where are you going, kitty?”
By the time he asked, she’d already headed around the side of the house, where she’d seen a dangling eve from her former vantage point. It wasn’t more than a few breaths before she’d wiggled herself under the roof and into the room.
It appeared to be a study of sorts, with books lining the walls, and a large desk facing the window.
She saw Hawk outside, pointing down towards a latch on the side of the window. Padding over she pulled down on it… and nothing. She wrapped two paws around it and pulled with her entire weight, and slowly, slowly, the latch creaked open, then suddenly, spilling her onto the floor below with a startled meow.
“Wow, you are one smart kitty. Were you a witch’s familiar? I could definitely use a friend like you” he whispered, reaching out a hand to pet her, which she hissed away.
“Touchy too, I see. Well, why don’t we get to work then. The sooner I’m done here, the sooner we can go for jaffa afterwards.”
The man laid a pouch of small metal tools on the desk and tried all the drawers. None opened, so he grabbed a thin stick from the pouch and started poking inside the lock.
“You see, kitty, I’m in a bit of trouble. My employer sent me out on a job, and it looks like I won’t be able to complete that job for a time. I want to complete it sooner, but I cannot. I need to wait another month to get it back.”
A click echoed from the lock.
“Ah, there we go. Best make yourself comfy, kitty, I have a lot of stuff to go through.”
He sheafed through papers, looking for something in particular, putting aside the ones he didn’t need on the desk.
She hopped up to investigate.
There were cargo manifests and ledgers, and a letter from a woman named Tilly. It read:
Norton,
When I married you, I knew your heart would always be at sea, and I accepted that. Now that I cannot join you on your journeys, I find myself settling in as I know you never could. I am finding happiness here in my final days, watching the sun rise from my bedside window. Little William is growing up just fine, the woman you hired is caring for him well. I tell him of you and his face just lights up. He has your eyes, you know. That said, I don’t think I have long left. I know you’ll care for him after I’m gone, but please take him before the end. He won’t understand, I don’t think. I’m rambling, even in a letter. Love you, come back soon.
xoxo, Tilly
She looked through some of the other papers, noticing a scrap of yellowed parchment wedged between the pages of a black bound journal.
At last, I found the island my ancestors had trawled long ago. I’ve searched multiple decades for it, for before you can go there, you need to know its name, or be led. Where my ancestors failed, I will succeed. No rock will go unturned, or depth unexplored. The treasure must exist, I’m certain of it. I need it to. I cannot lose her.
After this, the names clicked. William, she knew, was a common enough name. But Norton? She raked her mind, casting it back to that night on their escape from Esthar. That was captain Crow.
She pawed through the journals, looking for more hints, but she found nothing.
“Ah, kitty cat. Good find.” She saw him holding the scrap of paper.
“This must be where they hid the cargo. I doubt he would’ve written the name down anywhere. That would be careless beyond hope. I have all I need from here, kitty. Would you like to come eat a late night snack with me? Once I clean up of course. It’s only polite.”
There was a bit more shuffling and rearranging of papers, resulting in everything ending up back where it started, and Hawk and Mitty stealing away into the night.
They found themselves in front of a large metal box about Dantes’ height, with a large cup of Jaffa painted onto the front, along with a few attention catching words that she subconsciously ignored.
“The quality isn’t great, kitty, but it’s the best available this time of night.”
He put a coin into the box, and two cans fell out of the slot at the bottom. They then made their way a little way off the main street and sat together on a bench in a little alcove in the mountain face. He opened a can for her, and fumbled around in his bag.
“Let’s see here, should be… ah!” Hawk withdrew a small metal cup from his satchel. “Comes standard as part of our kit. Here you go.”
He poured the jaffa into the cup and set it next to him. It was sweeter than the last one they’d shared.
“Would you like to be my friend, kitty? I’m afraid you don’t get many benefits aside from free jaffa, but it’s nice having you around. You remind me of a woman I liked. Not liked liked, just regular liked. Haha, don’t look at me like that, it’s true. I wonder if she forgot I existed after what happened… I’m not clear on the details…”
He unconsciously reached out to pet her, which earned him a nip on the finger.
“Whoops, sorry. Do you have a name kitty?”
She watched him.
“No? How about Shadow, so I can remember her in a month.”
She meowed.
“Yes? Great. Hello Shadow, friend.”
They sat in silence for a while longer.
“You know, Shadow, I’m starting to think I quite regret the deal I made. Without it, I could not complete my mission which would be bad, but as it is, I’m exposed to a world I will never see again. I almost do not want to go back…”
She had no idea what he was talking about, so she said nothing, content to lap up the sweet drink in a hidden courtyard with her new… she guessed he could be a friend.
She stayed a while after, then headed down into the city.
***
In the second highest spire at the peak of Windcrown, Daryll laid his head in his arms, half asleep. It was rare anyone would send a message this late, but policy said they had to always have at least one person manning the desk. In case of emergencies, they said.
It was a good gig most days, just take messages, transcribe them into sending runes, then pipe them up to the peak to be sent. The range spanned the entire Red Sea, though it was unfortunately mostly one way, as the natural magics that empowered it here only applied to sending messages, not receiving them. A receiving message would need to be relayed through over a dozen smaller towers to make a return trip, which was a cost few were willing to pay.
It seemed it would be another boring night when two cloaked people, a man and a woman, with falcons on their shoulders, entered. From the tint of their skin, he guessed they hailed from the Esthars.
Without a word, the woman handed him a scroll.
The seal on the scroll and cypher within confirmed his earlier guess.
“That will be 53 golden loons, miss. And where would the destination be?” It would actually be about 48 loons, given the length of the report, but he knew they would be liberal with spending money that wasn’t theirs, and so wouldn’t argue. Or care.
“Esthar of Spice Communication Tower Three” was the response, and the sum deposited on the counter.
That was exciting. It’d been a while since the Sultan’s own guard had passed his desk. Comms tower three was the alias of the Sultan’s secret message tower.
He quickly counted the coins. He did not expect to be cheated by these two, but it was a professional standard, after all, and he was a professional. “Certainly, gentlemen. One moment while I transcribe the message.”
Let’s see what we have here.
Even though his lips were sealed, passing along messages all day for other people had led him to develop an interest in knowing things. Just for curiosity’s sake.
The current phase of the moon is… waning crescent. That means the key will be… saffron? Which corresponds to the poem written by Liraq… Ah yes, that was it, lets see what we have… Such a rascal, you are, Daryll.
My Lord,
News is troubling. Spitfire is docked at Windcrown, not set to leave until after the Aurora Festival, but the cargo has been dumped. It will have been somewhere between here and Dorry, with no room for more than a half day’s delay in transit. We fear they may have dropped it into the ocean.
While most of the crew has strong ties to local powers, word is the temporary crew member they picked up in our fine city is parting ways (see previous report for descriptions). Him, and an unknown woman clad in a black, who appears to have been a passenger.
We will attempt to bring those two in first to see what may have become of our cargo before attempting more drastic angles.
We also found an unpaired Nighthawk in Dorry, though no record of its paired partner.
Signed,
Agents 3 and 5
As he wrote the cyphered runes down on the transfer sheet, he felt sweat bead his brow. Agents were ordered in terms of seniority and ability. These were dangerous folk, not just random guards, loosely tied to the Sultan’s forces, but his personal task force.
He quickly tried to purge his emotions from his face as he piped the sheet to the sending room for transmission.
“There we are sir and madame. Your message will be arriving presently. Have a good night.”
The woman’s hawk screeched at him before they turned around in sync and left, the cold night air washing away the sudden heat he felt pervading the room.