“Why did you bring her?! Do we not have enough on our shoulders?”
“No other choice. She’s got information we need.”
“Tuskshit, no other choice! You had at least twenty other choices. Like my personal favorite, leave the slum rat where it belongs, in the gutter she was born in.”
Ingrid’s eyelids fluttered, the heated words rousing her. What’s…oh my head. What’s happening? Whose shouting? She tried to open her eyes but the massive ache in her head doubled as she did. Ingrid kept her eyes closed. Then the shouting match continued.
“You WILL not speak to the chief like that else your inwards will paint the outsides of this wagon!”
“Try it, tiny! I’m begging yah. Give me a reason to pack my shit and get out of this First Ones forsaken plan. You too Feathers! Don’t think I haven’t noticed you slinking over here.”
Ingrid tried to focus her thoughts, a task made increasingly difficult as the group of people got louder. What happened before she fell asleep? But her brain didn’t give her an answer. Only a scent. A cloying flavor danced on her tongue and nose, the only clue she could remember, that and warmth. A soft warmth that surrounded her whole body. One that she could swear she still felt. Then the warmth bristled in anger.
“Enough! Bradeth, you were paid handsomely. For both your contributions and your flexibility. Something you prided yourself on when you begged us to use you. This plan took too long to set in motion and can’t, no, won’t be stopped. Especially not by you.”
“The plan didn’t include slum rats like her. You may be safe from her kind, but my livelihood ain’t. I have a reputation to uphold in the city. And if she goes and blabs to the wrong people, not only is that rep thrown out the window, so am I. A window leading to the frigid ass end of the world.”
“And she won’t! So shut up and drive!”
During the argument, Ingrid’s memories of recent events began to resurface. The scene at Mort’s hideout, where her last job took place. She spied on a meeting between him and some Ferals. Shit went sideways and Lisse did something to her. Made her pass out. Lisse!
Ingrid shot up, her vision going white from the sudden movement, she grabbed her head.
Arms wrapped around Ingrid, holding her in a gentle embrace. “Shush. Griddy, calm down. Give it a second and breathe. You’ll be right in a moment.” Ingrid felt a hand rub her back, easing her heart. Once the lightheadedness began to subside, Ingrid opened her eyes again.
She was in a wagon, a midsized one used by the caravans. She was all too familiar with the design, they were a prime target back in her younger years. She nicked quite a lot of gold off them while they sat poorly defended in merchant yards or warehouses. Though this was the first time she’d ever ridden in one.
Ingrid looked out through the back of the wagon where there wasn’t any covering, trying to see what part of the city they were in. But instead of cobblestone streets and buildings, all she saw were trees, bushes, and other assorted shrubbery. No. No. No.
Ingrid pulled away from Lisse’s embrace, standing up in the wagon, barely finding her balance as the wagon shifted under her. “Ingrid stop, sit back down.” But she didn’t listen to her sister.
Ingrid stumbled, both from her own dizziness and the wagon’s bumpy ride, as she walked over to the open back of the wagon. She looked out and saw that her fears had come true, Ingrid was taken out of the city.
Another big bump threw her to the wagon’s floor. Her eyes stayed focused on the trees passing by.
“Why?” It was the only word her scratchy throat would let out.
Lisse walked over to the seat closest to where Ingrid sat on the floor. Ingrid looked up at her long lost sister’s face. She looked older. Still very pretty, but time, and from the look of the worried wrinkles on her face, stress had worn on her. They only shared a human father, Ingrid’s mother was an elf who worked at one of the pleasure houses in the Gloom and never bothered to claim Ingrid as her own. She still worked in the Gloom. Lisse, on the other hand, was the legitimate elder daughter to their father and his wife, a full human. So Lisse was always going to age quicker.
“Because I need to ask you some questions.” She went to touch Ingrid’s shoulder. “And it's time you came home.”
Even though the rest of her had aged, Lisse’s purple eyes still showed strength, the same strength they always held. As if those twenty long years could have done nothing to take it from her. Ingrid was transported back to her childhood while she looked into those purple pools when she would cry to her sister after a hard day of teasing from the other kids.
Ingrid ripped her gaze away before she fell into those memories any further. Those days were gone. That Ingrid was gone.
Ingrid almost protested, several of her own questions and arguments flew through her mind. About how she already had a home. How she had a new family. A new purpose. Hell, a new job that paid well. She was helping the people in the Gloom in her own way. Not the way her father tried to. His way ultimately ended in needless bloodshed that put the Gloom in a worse position than ever before.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Ingrid got off the floor of the wagon and sat down on the seat next to the exit. She pulled her hood back up as she thought of hopping out and running back to the city. She could get back in easily enough, might have to wait until the raid was over, but it wasn’t her first time on the outside of the city walls. Though she had never been this far. She couldn’t even see the giant tree-formed walls that protected the city. Only forest. That plan was quickly dashed, however, when her sister’s lackey, the large axe wielding woman, plopped down next to her. The woman whose name Ingrid couldn’t remember placed a hand on Ingrid’s shoulder. The gesture wasn’t threatening, just a simple message of “don’t try it.”
Lisse coughed and nodded at the woman. “Glenna, give her some water.”
“Ma’am,” the large woman responded, producing a waterskin from a pouch on her side. She handed it to Ingrid. Ingrid held it, suspiciously scrutinizing it, but ultimately drinking from it. They already had her captured, no point in being thirsty too.
The water was surprisingly cool as it went down, soothing her dry throat. She took the opportunity to think about how she would respond. Should she ask her own questions? What happened to her after dad’s massive blunder at the wedding? Why had she come back now? No. She didn’t need to know, it’s been twenty years. All that mattered was getting back to the twins as quickly as possible. That and the fat paycheck waiting for her when she gave the information to Len.
Once finished, Ingrid handed it back and looked over to Lisse. “What questions do you have for me?” Ingrid asked flatly.
Lisse gently smiled at her, a slightly sad smile. “Straight to business.” She said on the inhale, possibly disappointed. Her purple eyes grew serious, that overly emotional woman vanishing. “I need you to tell me everything about your newest acquaintance.”
“Which one? There’s been a few lately. I hope you don’t mean them. Bet you’d know more than me.” Ingrid said while pointing at her sister’s subordinates.
Glenna, the large woman, grunted, clearly irritated by the sarcastic answer. Lisse’s other henchmen, the crow feathered man, chuckled through his nose.
“No, Ingrid.” Lisse’s face didn’t change. “I’m talking about the one you brought Ranj the other night. Liam Foster.”
Ingrid’s nose twitched. “And how do you know about that?”
“I have more eyes and ears in that city than you think. Ingrid, I respect Ranj, she was a mentor and mother figure, you know that. And she is trying to help as many of our people and other disenfranchised people by the city and that witch.” Her final word was spat out as if it were poison. “But it will never work. Father made sure of that.”
Ingrid took note as something twinkled in her sister’s hard eyes for a split second. Regret. Anger maybe. Ingrid couldn’t be sure. She leaned back. Why does she care about him?
“Don't know much about the guy to be honest. Too nice and gullible for a guy who lived outside of the city. Would have made for a really easy mark. I felt like he was begging me to take that coin purse off his hands with how carefree he was with it. But Mrs. Warbler likes him so that means something.” Ingrid shook her head. “Other than that I can’t tell you much. I was just the guide. Ranj did all the talking. Your sources can back me up on that one.”
Ingrid tried to keep her knowledge close to her chest. She didn’t say anything about his strange powers. She wanted to keep as many cards to herself as she could, a vital strategy in these kinds of interrogations.
Lisse nodded. “Is he actually a Feral?”
“From what I can gather, yes. Either that or he is the best liar on the face of Kniyas.”
“What do you say?”
“Because you can’t fake those kinds of reactions. I watched him for days before taking him to Ranj. But you knew that already I’m guessing.”
“Yes.”
“Everything looked so new to him, especially in the Gloom. He was fascinated by every little thing. I’ve only ever seen those faces from newcomers to the city. That and the uproar he caused in the Capitol Building couldn’t have been staged. So yes he’s Feral.”
Lisse’s face twisted, her serious veneer cracking for just a second as Ingrid spoke about the city’s giant central tree. Ingrid swore she heard her sister say something like “Disgusting name.” under her breath.
“Next. Why is Leonard Ainsworth so interested in him?”
“Couldn’t tell you. I’ve never once had a discussion about Liam, or caught him talking to anyone about him either.”
Lisse nodded. “What about his gene?”
Ingrid tensed for a moment. Should I say anything? The woman to her side nudged Ingrid. Lisse scolded the woman, but Ingrid ignored it for the most part. I don’t really see why not. Besides, not like I owe the guy.
“Why does that matter?” Ingrid asked, hoping Lisse would let something slip. Ingrid was curious about the guy. So many different figures were interested in him.
“It matters so much more than you know. Please, answer the question. What is his gene? And if you don’t know that, can you give me a description of his powers?”
Ingrid pondered for a minute more, was the information she had of value? Could she use it to get something? In this case, a trip home. She really wanted to get back to Macie and Kende. They got really nervous on Raid days. Most people in the Gloom did with it being the district closest to the Raid field.
“Before I say anything, I need to know you're not just going to leave me out here once you have what you're looking for.”
Lisse’s seriousness melted, horrified at the accusation. “Ingrid, you know me. I would never—”
“Leave me to fend for myself when I needed you the most. No, you only did that when I was seven years old!”
Lisse turned her head away in shame. Ingrid felt more anger bubbling up in her chest. More words and accusations she never realized she had but now desperately wished to be flung at her sister. But before she could Lisse squatted down in front of her.
“I know…I know you have a lot to say, shout even, but please save it for later. Right now, I just need you to tell me his gene. His powers?”
Ingrid sniffed away the tears that began to well up. “Why?”
“Later, please trust…no, I don’t deserve your trust. But please, this matters so much.”
Ingrid not caring anymore, just burst out a quick answer. “I don’t know, he can change his trope and turn into fucking barrels. There, happy now.”
Lisse stood up and looked at her comrades. They shared a simple nod. Both got up and rushed to the front of the wagon, the woman pulled out her axe and sharpened its edge while the feathered man shouted to the front. “Give me an estimate!”
“Ten minutes. Ludicrous bastards.” The wagon puller announced.
“Thank you, Ingrid,” Lisse said, looking at the front.
“What? That’s it.”
“Yes,” Lisse answered as she joined the group, finding and putting some leather armor on over her clothes.
“Where are we even going?” Ingrid asked, realizing that probably should have been her first question.
Lisse turned around and put on some gloves. “To the Raid.”