How a Little Bird Learned to Fly (3)

The younger Lord Rydberg’s vacation retreat sat on a quiet street in the common quarter of the city, next to a small café large enough to seat six or so people. When I arrived, they were closing for the evening. I waved politely to the waiter who was bringing in the signboard.

“Good evening, ma’am. Can I help you?”

I nodded. “Are you familiar with the owner of this home?” I gestured at the unassuming two-story townhouse. “I’m here to return something he forgot at a meeting, and I was given this address.”

The waiter thought for a moment. “He was here the other day for dinner, but I don’t think I’ve seen him or any of his companions recently other than that. I expect he won’t visit until next week at the earliest, so you might want to deliver the item to the Rydberg estate instead. I’m sure he’ll be grateful for your assistance.”

I smiled at the waiter. “Thank you so much for the information. I’ll have to stop by his estate tomorrow. Have a wonderful evening!”

He waved goodbye as he returned to the signboard and brought it inside, locking the café door behind him after dimming the lights.

After a few moments’ pause, I walked quietly to the ornate wooden doors at the front of the young lord’s home and removed my lock picks from the pocket of my dress uniform.

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The wooden floorboards creaked as I crossed into the townhouse’s entrance hall. There were locked doors to my left and right that lead into the dining room and the living room respectively. The hall ahead split off into a narrow staircase leading up to the bedroom, then continued into the kitchen and the restroom. My destination lay behind a concealed door in the hallway. There was a hidden staircase between the dining area and kitchen that led down into a secret basement. 

I placed my gloved left hand on the wall and dragged it back and forth, searching for the mechanism that would open the concealed door. Though it took me a moment, my fingers located two separate mechanisms, one at waist level and the other down lower, near my foot. The first mechanism likely would set off a silent alarm or release a weight to seal the hidden door—in short, bait.  I went with the less obvious choice. The path to the staircase opened smoothly in response to the pressure from my boot, revealing a flight of narrow wooden steps lit by a row of lightstones in unassuming fixtures.

I walked on light feet to the lower level, taking care to step over two different trip wires before disarming their mechanisms. It wouldn’t do for any of the countess’s agents to get injured later.

The stale basement air stank of blood and sweat. The chamber was lined on three sides by rusty iron cages with bars that ran from floor to ceiling, while the wall behind me was occupied by a long wooden counter and wall-to-wall plywood shelves.

The shelves were filled with vials labeled carefully in the sophisticated handwriting one would expect from a noble’s upbringing. On a near-empty vial, I recognized one name as the anesthetic I had recently purchased, while the vial next to it – a weak acid, I believe – was two-thirds full.

I made my way to the cages on the opposite side and waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, covering my nose to endure the stench. Still, once my vision cleared, bile rose in my throat. After gently checking the cages’ occupants for a pulse (alas, none to be found), I removed the small notebook from the right pocket of my dress uniform and made note of everything I had discovered, alongside the testimony of Rigo from next door. The order would take care of the rest.

Yes, this will meet Solana’s expectations. Now for the finale.

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Two – no, three – men began tailing me the moment I left the townhouse. I had been sloppy. No doubt they had been watching when I entered, though it was an odd decision not to corner me inside. 

Perhaps it had been a precaution. Attacking me inside would only create more witnesses.

In any case, I’d have to deal with them.  I couldn’t have one of them running off and reporting to either the baron or his son. Not now… It would compromise the evidence. 

I selected a conveniently dim alleyway, and as I entered, they hastened their steps to follow me.

“Oi.”

Announcing yourself first? Stupid. “Good evening, gentlemen.”

The angry one belted out a pointless question. “Who do you work for?”

“If I tell you that, I’ll have to kill you.”

The tallest one made a show of his sturdy wooden bat, balancing it with one arm before letting it drop into the palm of his hand. “You oughta worry about yourself, missy.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Just so you know, this is self-defense.”

The thin ringleader’s face contorted into an even thinner smile. He drew a pristine blade from his side and rushed towards me.

Slow. How are they so slow?

The man with the bat swooped in alongside the thin one, likely in an attempt to close off my movement. The angry one simply stood there, watching. Hm, he might have a crossbow or something, better keep an eye on-

As I sidestepped the ringleader’s thrust, the bat swept low towards my shin – Good fundamentals, at least, that’s a decent place to aim – only to uselessly bounce off the greaves I had hidden beneath my slacks.

The tall assailant stepped back, confused, and re-evaluated his weapon. A poor craftsman blames his tools – you’re the issue here. Anyway- 

The ringleader maintained excellent posture, closing in with a feint, then followed up with another thrust. Not bad. Better kill this one first.

The angry one was still just watching. He might run for help if things turn south… Better make him the second course.

As I held it firmly in my grip, Pretense’s comforting warmth radiated through my hand and all the way up my arm. I drew the sword from its sheath in a clean, elegant motion – like she taught me – and swung it directly against the ringleader’s blade in a hard parry forceful enough to drive it from his hand. The shock of the impact resonated through my whole body.

Oh, this is why Helian likes swordplay so much. This is fun! Totally different from sparring.

The bat-wielding man realized his error and charged, going for my exposed arm. You need to be faster than that. Your boss is going to die!

As the ringleader’s blade went soaring past his shoulder, he stumbled backward. Meanwhile, my blade continued on its trajectory, so naturally that it felt as though it was pulling my arm along with it. My whole body felt light. 

Pretense’s tip bit into his neck, tasting blood for the first time. Is it supposed to be this easy?

Blood escaped from the ringleader’s neck, spraying through the gaps between the fingers that he pressed desperately against the cut. The bat once again made for my other arm. Just a moment, Pretense.

I released my blade. As it dropped to the ground, I used my now-empty hand to effortlessly catch the bat mid-swing. I wrenched it from the sidekick’s grip, sending him tumbling face-first. 

As expected, the third one now looked more scared than angry, and turned to escape. I should have brought throwing knives or something… this will have to do.

The bat soared towards victim #2, twirling in the air before it struck him square in the back of his skull, cracking the bone with a satisfying thud. Oh, that sounded nice!

Without his weapon, the last assailant seemed to have lost his wits. He was backed up against the wall, paralyzed as he stared at the ringleader’s corpse. My hand still stung from catching the bat – no doubt it would leave a nasty bruise, but at least it was better than a broken arm – so I retrieved Pretense from the ground with my uninjured spell hand. I squatted down to look at the tall man, who now seemed so very small.

“A quick question before you go… Should I tell your mother you’re sorry for being such a bad child?”

Helian and the Baron’s Bastard (6)

A chandelier loomed over the audience hall, adorned with chain links made of glass that filled the room with iridescent light. The baron and baroness’s seats sat empty as both worked the crowd.

As we entered the hall, Arsen was determined to evade the notice of both his parents, likely because they would object to him lowering the evening’s standard by bringing a common girl - finely dressed though I was. When the servant at the entrance made to announce our arrival, the young lord shushed him as he dragged me by the arm towards the right side of the hall where a small group of businessmen had gathered.

“Ah, the young Lord Rydberg! How kind of you to join us!” the eldest man in the group greeted us as we approached. I recognized him as the man with the top hat from my presentation at the finance ministry. After a moment of confusion, he paid me a shallow bow and I bowed in return. “And Miss Helian as well! A pleasure to see you again. I was quite impressed by your presentation last week.”

Arsen smiled with pride as the other gentlemen turned to examine me. The youngest member of the crowd tilted his head. “Helian, you said? I’ve not heard her name before. Is she from overseas?”

The young lord shook his head. “No, she’s a rising star in the finance ministry who grew up here in the barony! I had the good luck of encountering her in a café during the administrative exams. Imagine my surprise when she ranked second—and on her very first attempt!” The assembled gentlemen murmured and nodded their heads.

“Quite impressive. I’ll anticipate great things from your partnership, you two.” A gentleman with a heavy eastern accent raised his glass and gestured towards the rest of the assembled men. “A toast to the bright future of the barony!”

The greasiest member of the group raised his glass and, with intoxicated wisdom, responded “And to the bright future of the baron’s lineage!”

Arsen’s eyes narrowed and the man in the top hat cleared his throat. “Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence, Lord Arsen. Perhaps you and the young miss should go and mingle? I’m sure she would benefit from meeting the members of the northern delegation.”

The young lord nodded. “Thank you, sir, that’s an excellent suggestion. Enjoy your evening, everyone.” 

As he said this, Arsen grabbed me by the wrist and stormed off. 

------

Arsen led me through the audience hall up to the second floor. There were four doors, the first two leading to the guest restrooms, while the last two led to separate sitting rooms for guests and esteemed guests respectively. The young lord dragged me to the rear room, making me an esteemed guest, at least temporarily. 

When we arrived at the door, he nodded to one of the two armed men guarding it. 

The worst part of the novel soon approached.

“I’ll be using this room until further notice. We’re not to be disturbed.”

The guard opened the door for us and nodded. “As you wish, my lord.”

Arsen pushed me inside and I heard the guard lock the door behind us. The room was dimly lit by the moon shining in through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the west wall. Farther up ahead, a pair of double doors opened onto an exterior balcony. 

Once he released my wrist, he practically sprinted towards the large sofa at the center of the room and collapsed onto it. He sat alone with his back hunched over.

“The nerve of those men.” He was trembling enough that I could see it from the doorway. “Even after everything I’ve done to prove myself, they still doubt me. Even though it’s obvious they’re no better than the dirt that lines the roads in outskirt villages like your hometown.”

He lifted his head and stared at me with clouded eyes. “You understand, right? It’s always been like this for me. I’m sure it’s been the same for you… worse, even. It will never change unless we show them the truth with our own hands. Engrave it in their hearts and minds, with the tip of a blade if necessary.” He nodded, as if to reassure himself, then stood up and swung the double doors wide as he stepped onto the balcony.

Arsen leaned against the balustrade and stared up at the moon, clearly waiting for me to follow. I approached and stood at the threshold, waiting for him to speak. When he turned to look at me, he wore a dead expression on his face. “I nearly forgot our first meeting. You’ve been looking down on me too, haven’t you? I can see it in your eyes – the eyes of a wild beast. That can be fixed, though, and we’ll get along just fine.” 

Arsen leaned away from the railing and made to approach me, and from the corner of my eye, I saw a gloved hand reach out from the darkness.