There was still a little while after that message that the sounds of the chase completely died down. It seemed that, whatever it was, all of them were interested in what it meant. Imena still didn’t move for a couple more minutes but, once she was ready, she continued to take the lead.
“They keep all of their prisoners around here,” she explained. They’d walked through several now-abandoned hallways that already seemed to be hardly used. “The layout’s always the same.”
“So, if they’re an evil organization, why do all of their bases have the same layout..?” Enebish asked, mostly wondering aloud. “I mean, wouldn’t that just make it easier for people to get in and take what they want from any of the places?”
“There’s actually a rather simple answer for that question: they don’t expect anyone to. Anyone who’s caught trying to take something or known for being against them is either punished or put under watch. Very few people have been able to get through any of their bases without their knowing, and everyone who did knew what would’ve happened if they were caught. Almost everyone of that few doesn’t dare risk another encounter.”
“What keeps them from getting caught, then?”
“Luck, skill, and the will of the gods.” She gestured for them both to stop and stay silent as someone walked by. Then she gave a quick glance around and then motioned for them to keep walking.
They’d reached Nadia’s cell. Or at least, who Enebish was pretty sure was Nadia.
She had the same description as Leon had given them. While she had a few cuts, it didn’t look like anything as worrying as the log had made it sound—they needed her alive, after all, and it was the person in her head that they wanted. When she noticed them through the cell, she just returned to doodling random things on a piece of paper.
Enebish looked around. “We’re here to—”
Imena quickly interrupted them. “We may be lights in the darkness.”
“But we’re never alone,” Nadia mumbled back. She looked up from her drawings. “Uncle Leon sent you, didn’t he?”
Enebish nodded. “We’re getting you out of here. Once we figure out how to get you out.”
“The guy with the key is on break,” she said. “Every hour or so he stops watching my cell and takes a break. He should be coming back soon—find somewhere to hide out and take the keys from him before he realizes they’re missing.”
Enebish looked over at Imena, who seemed to agree with it. “Just don’t almost get us caught again.”
Nadia blinked. “You already almost got caught?” She paused. “You were the two intruders that they were trying to find before they got some information on where H99 was?”
“H99?” Imena repeated.
Enebish couldn’t help but blurt their own question, however. “You understand all those clicks?”
“Homunculus Attempt Ninety-Nine. From what I heard she went missing soon after her creation but, unlike H100—who defected—they don’t know where she is,” Nadia replied simply. “And yes, I can understand it. Everyone here can, even some people who aren’t members of Adidell.”
She stopped and lowered her voice when they started to be able to hear humming. “Now that’s the guard, find somewhere to hide and steal the key.”
Enebish quickly found a place and Imena soon followed. The guard, a surprisingly thin guy, sat right by the cell’s door. He didn’t seem to be paying attention to anything, his key obviously out and his eyes towards the cell, talking to Nadia like she was an animal.
The two seemed to flip a mental coin to determine which one was going to get the key. Enebish slowly stepped out from the hiding spot and crept towards the guard. The slightest movement made them step back again, but ultimately, they got it without a problem.
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Then all they had to do was play the waiting game until he left again. They used the key to unlock the door.
“Now come on,” they said with a smile, “let’s get you to Leon.”
…
They would say that their favorite part of the job was seeing the happy faces of the people they’d helped, but really it only happened this once. Still, they couldn’t think of anything better than seeing Leon and Nadia hugging, whispering things to each other.
Imena and Enuolare were watching as well, seeing the conclusion of what Enebish had worked hard for. There were things that needed to be said but they waited until the two were ready for it; Enuolare made her proposition first.
“It won’t exactly be wise for you to stay here,” she said. “They’ll undoubtedly try to bring you back as long as you have that spirit. If you’re both willing… I’ve already prepared a case for the king on giving you custody over Nadia. With the stories you have combined we won’t need anything about Adidell to make a convincing point. I wouldn’t mind sharing a bit of my wealth to assure you find a nice home, either.”
They looked between each other and nodded. “We’d both be honored if you could do that for us, Lady Enuolare,” Leon replied.
“Where do you think you’re gonna go?” Enebish prompted. “I mean, say the word and Mom’ll help pay for your trip anywhere. You could go to Qizar if you wanted to! Travel around, see what you like best.”
“First we go to the Lysha,” Nadia mumbled. “If the spirit is what they want, then we’ll just have to get rid of it. I don’t like him anyway.” She hmphed as if someone had responded to the comment, just proving her point of being certain of it.
Leon nodded. “Then I have some good friends in Mikkel territory; I’ve met them in the army and they’re all from around that area, so no connections to Adidell whatsoever. At the very least, they’ll be able to give us a recommendation for a better place to make our permanent home.”
“I’m kinda disappointed we don’t have a lot of time to talk to each other, though,” Enebish said with a sigh. Then a wonderful idea struck them. “Why don’t we write letters to each other? That way we can stay in touch and you can tell me about how things are going for you.”
Nadia smiled. “I think that’ll be nice. It’ll help to talk to people I know I can trust. You’re the reason I’m going anywhere, after all…”
“It’s nice to hear you’ve got this all figured out,” Imena said. “It sounds like you might be staying here for a little while longer, but I’ve got other things to do.” She glanced at Enebish. “Though… I think I may see one of you more in the future. Day likes making sure we’re with someone trustworthy, and I’m sure you’ve earned that position in her eyes.”
“Would you, uh, remind me who Day is again..?” Enebish asked sheepishly.
She sighed. “Danai, the goddess of light. But I suppose that won’t mean much to you, nor is it something you’ll need to remember. Just be ready in case I come to you again. I have a feeling that this isn’t the last time you’re going to be involved with Adidell or try to help the magical people unable to help themselves.”
Then Imena left without a word to anyone else.
Another thought crossed Enebish’s mind. “Hey, what was that thing you and Imena said to each other, Nadia?”
“It’s part of a story Uncle Leon used to tell me,” she responded. “They don’t acknowledge it in Adidell, since it has roots in the story of the person who saved magical people from them. No one in Adidell would’ve ever gone repeating it, but it’s also a lot more subtle than saying you were there to rescue me. Plus, I… really don’t know how much I would’ve believed you if you hadn’t given me proof of it.”
They continued a casual conversation for a little while. Eventually Enuolare pulled Leon and Nadia outside for a couple of minutes, likely to talk about what else would need to be done; when she returned, both of them were gone, and she went straight to where Enebish was.
“You know, I’ve… found myself incredibly impressed with how you were able to handle this whole situation,” she began. Already they liked where it was going, though pretended not to in order to save a bit of disappointment if it turned out wrong. “And I… think it may be time.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying..?” Their excitement, now, could not be contained.
Warily, she nodded. “I’m going to let you take on more serious cases more often. You’re an adult now and it’s about time I start treating you like one. You’ve just got to promise that you’ll always be safe and you’ll talk to me before getting yourself into trouble. This is only going to work if I know what’s going on. Alright?”
They quickly got out of their seat, around the desk, and hugged their mother. “I promise.” They stepped back. “So, does this also mean that I can leave Palus soon? Start taking on mysteries from all over the world?”
She let out a bit of nervous laughter. “Not quite yet, dear. Though I promise, those days are coming soon. I just want to be assured that you’re completely ready for all the secrets the world is keeping from you.”