CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR—CROSSING

The streets and houses were mostly dark. Across the river, the residences had multiple floors, a party clearly happening in the house one street back. These houses—though rich, were not of the aristocracy of Darshuun.

Across the river, though…

Most of the mansions were lit up within, whether there were social gatherings present or not, Shiro suspected they would be bright and awake regardless, to ward off thieves and to give light to the guards like the rich always did in these lands.

This river was not the main thoroughfare, but rather a tributary from the mountains. As the road stopped, the tall river grasses began.

“I hope there are no crocodiles in there,” Ali whispered. Then he chuckled. “Otherwise Hafza will have no need to cut off my balls, eh?”

Shiro laughed. He didn’t want to laugh, didn’t feel like doing so—not now with what they were about to do.

Jessamine, he thought. I’m almost there.

But for appearances, he allowed himself that moment of levity in case the guards found them wandering down the street, then they would be seen as simply a group of carousing men, perhaps on their way to one of these parties.

“I see the first signal,” Naro said quietly as they closed the distance to the river.

The plan, up to this point, was to have Malu and Shurk approach Faridoon’s house and make visual contact with his gate guards. Once that was done, they were to be ready to kill those guards and block the doors with wooden wedges and mallets.

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“Let’s get to the river,” Shiro said.

“Wait,” Ali whispered as he ran out into the street travelling parallel to the river. He glanced both ways and then waved them forward. “The quay,” Ali said.

Together, Shiro, Ali and Naro made their way out onto the level boards floating over the water. They glanced about as Naro kept an eye on the streets surrounding Faridoon’s residence.

A lamp was lit, giving the signal. Even Shiro could see it from here. “I see the signal,” he said.

“Naro,” Ali rebuked. “Why do I keep you around?” The cat eye slave said nothing, only growled dubiously.

“We can go now,” Shiro said.

“All right,” Ali said, touching the water with his sandaled foot. Then he glanced over to Shiro and indicated his bare chest. “I guess you were right not to put on a tunic.”

Shiro glanced back toward Naro who was a good two paces behind them. “What is wrong?” he asked.

“Do not be such a coward, Naro,” Ali said.

“Perhaps, Master, I can stay here and watch for any—“

“Nonsense,” Ali said. “Get in the water.”

Naro sighed. “As you command, Master Ali.”

Ah, he thought. That is right.

Cat eye typically hated water, but that didn’t seem to bother Tarshiks of whome Shiro had encountered on his way to Darshuun.

From here Faridoon’s house was well lit, but there wasn’t a lot of activity. In fact there was none to be seen, other than the two men on the outside of the gates, and of course, the two that would be manning the inner gates.

The turrets at the corners with domed roofs, though lit, were unmanned. Perhaps guards were only sent around the wall sporadically to make a presence and nothing more.

Perhaps Ali is right about Faridoon not having the money, he thought. A good call. One that I could never have made.

“Should we wait?” Shiro asked. “His guards might make their rounds.”

“No,” Ali said. “We do this like we mean it, Shiro.”

“I do mean it.”

“I know,” Ali said, “but sometimes you have to just use your sword instead of your mind.”

“This hardly seems a time.”

“Ha!” he scoffed. “Faridoon won’t even know what’s happening until its too late.”

Shiro certainly hoped so. He got into the water and began to swim across the river. Ali followed. Naro, took ages to coax himself into the river.

“Gods,” Ali said, keeping his head above the water. “I never thought I would be on this kind of an adventure again.” He chuckled.