TKC 20 and 21
After Attis has delivered both food and dry clothes and
after eating to the last crumb, we sleep. This entails stiff postures from both
of us, as we attempt to lie on the same bed without actually touching, but
sleep we do need. Tonight we will go for the boats; we need to be alert and
strong.
Soon the sounds of a city awakening to a new day no longer
bother me and Damin’s soft snores tell me he is asleep. I relax and oblivion
takes me.
Hours later I suddenly snap into awareness when a particularly
loud noise penetrates the fog of sleep. I realise someone is at the door. The
knocking there is loud and repeated. I also realise Damin’s arm is across me.
For a moment I consider not moving, to lie there forever with that warmth on
me, but the knocking becomes insistent.
In a flurry of movement meant to jar Damin into wakefulness,
I leave the bed. By the wan light in the room, I can tell evening draws near.
It is still raining.
“Lyra, wait. We don’t know who it is,” Damin whispers as he
rolls from the bedding to stand. From the sodden bundle of discarded clothes in
the corner he withdraws a dagger and then stealthily approaches the door.
I have a similar dagger in my pack and I swiftly have it to
hand. All the young of Grenmassin are taught how to fight and for that I am now
thankful. In silence I step into the darkest shadows.
Damin nods at me and then says, “Who is there?” in a normal
tone.
The knocking ceases immediately. “Attis.”
Rolling his eyes, Damin unlocks and hauls the lad inside, quickly
locking again. “Boy, you just told the entire inn where we are.”
“Mirlin told me to wake you no matter what,” Attis gripes.
“I tried to be quiet, but you weren’t listening.”
“Mirlin is here?” Damin snaps out. “How do you know Mirlin?”
The tousle-haired boy stands arms akimbo before Damin and I
hide a grin. “Mirlin is my uncle. I am his eyes in the city.”
Damin glares. “Well, you could have told me that in the
lower city. I almost had you killed, by the stars.”
Attis turns away, looking for me. “Lyra would not let
anything happen to me, I knew it. Lyra?”
I step from the shadows. “You are safe where I am, yes. Now
tell us your news.” This time I smile widely when the boy perches on the
rumpled bed as if he is part of our family.
“Mirlin came as the sun lowered, said to wake you, saw you
come here, he was watching for you. Says the lawmen concentrate on the edge,
pushing folk back into the water, so it’s safe to go east as planned.” Attis
squints up. “What is in the east?”
“Never mind,” Damin mutters. “Did he say he will meet us?”
A nod. “At the jailhouse.”
“When?”
“He’s already there,” Attis shrugs.
“Then we must make haste,” Damin says, but I shake my head
and add, “We eat first. Attis?”
The boy nods vigorously and scoots off the bed to go to the
door. “Supper is ready downstairs. I’ll bring yours up.” Unlocking, he
vanishes.
Damin stares at me. “It will be dangerous, Lyra.”
“And people are dying. Whatever this night brings, we get as
many to safety as we can. We use the rain to hide us from sound and sight.”
Sighing, Damin starts donning boots and gear. “That was the
plan. This rain is the best defence, even as it is the cause.”
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