rescue Onric and get us both out of harm’s way!
Were we really related? Was this who Klosterheim and von Minct were searching for? Were they hoping I would lead them to the
boy? Did I, after all, have some sort of affinity with him?
In a daze, I managed to reach the bridge and return the way I’d come. Where was I going to find help? Raspazian’s seemed the
only likely place. I had to hope the Sebastocrater’s guards had left, as there was still a fair amount of activity on the
bridge.
I crossed over into the warehouse district, found a street I recognized and began to make my way up it. I heard the marching
feet of guardsmen behind me. I was so exhausted, I was almost ready to be captured.
Stepping back into a doorway, I felt sick with fear as a hand covered my mouth and an arm encircled my body and lifted me.
I struggled until I heard Kushy’s murmur in my ear. “Hush, little mort.” When we were back in the alleys he let me go. His
face was badly battered, and he had a wound in his left side. He seemed ashamed ofhimself and kept apologizing to me. “His Lordship’s still not returned. There’s talk he’s captured.”
I was horrified. “What can we do?”
“Get you away from here,” he said. “Get you somewhere safe. I’ve no idea how Klosterheim has the guards on his side. It probably
means he’s persuaded the Sebastocrater that you’ve been kidnapped by us.”
“Herr Lobkowitz and Lieutenant Fromental were supposed to be at his palace. They wouldn’t have let him do it!”
“We don’t know what’s happened, missy.” He was leading me into the tangle of twitterns running between the buildings. “We
need to find the chief. Meanwhile you can hide out here.” He opened a door, and we slipped into a poorly furnished room. There
was a cot in the corner, a table and some crudely made chairs. “Get some sleep,” he advised. “I’ll bring you some food in
the morning.”
I lay down to rest.
When Kushy still hadn’t returned by noon the next day, I became sure he was dead or captured. If they tortured him, they’d
learn where I was. The plight of the blind albino boy was still on my mind. I couldn’t just leave him. He had asked for help.
Taking the blanket from the cot, I left the hovel and made my way out into the creaking, tottering streets. First I must find
food. Then I must find the Sebastocrater. At least I would be able to tell him that Klosterheim had tricked him, and maybe
I could find and recruit Lord Renyard to help save the boy.
CHAPTER FIVE
H EAVING IN DAYLIGHT was a risk, but I really needed to eat. At least I was no longer conspicuous. Dirty and poorly dressed, I slipped out into
the streets with no idea how I would find food. The Deep City was crowded with frightened people unused to the presence of
the city guards, even though the guards kept their distance according to ancient tradition. With Lord Renyard gone, there
was no one to demand a return to those old agreements. The guards, in their peculiar antique Greek armor, did not look comfortable.
Most of them wore strings of garlic around their necks. Apparently they thought it warded off disease. Only Klosterheim carried
pistols. They were armed with swords, lances, shields and bows, while the Deep City’s denizens had plenty of guns. Any uprising
would be hard to control.
Eventually I applied the bad lessons I’d learned from Kushy and his friends. Feeling rather guilty, I easily pinched a loaf
and a pie from a distracted baker in the market. Ravenously I ate them in a quiet doorway. I think anyone as hungry as I would
have done the same. But I was very glad my mum hadn’t been there to see me! I wondered if I should try to find Mrs. House
again. She had foreseen some sort of future for me, and she hadmentioned the boy. Then I reminded myself that the best thing to do was to go into the Shallow City and try to find out what
had happened to Lord Renyard or Herr
Were we really related? Was this who Klosterheim and von Minct were searching for? Were they hoping I would lead them to the
boy? Did I, after all, have some sort of affinity with him?
In a daze, I managed to reach the bridge and return the way I’d come. Where was I going to find help? Raspazian’s seemed the
only likely place. I had to hope the Sebastocrater’s guards had left, as there was still a fair amount of activity on the
bridge.
I crossed over into the warehouse district, found a street I recognized and began to make my way up it. I heard the marching
feet of guardsmen behind me. I was so exhausted, I was almost ready to be captured.
Stepping back into a doorway, I felt sick with fear as a hand covered my mouth and an arm encircled my body and lifted me.
I struggled until I heard Kushy’s murmur in my ear. “Hush, little mort.” When we were back in the alleys he let me go. His
face was badly battered, and he had a wound in his left side. He seemed ashamed ofhimself and kept apologizing to me. “His Lordship’s still not returned. There’s talk he’s captured.”
I was horrified. “What can we do?”
“Get you away from here,” he said. “Get you somewhere safe. I’ve no idea how Klosterheim has the guards on his side. It probably
means he’s persuaded the Sebastocrater that you’ve been kidnapped by us.”
“Herr Lobkowitz and Lieutenant Fromental were supposed to be at his palace. They wouldn’t have let him do it!”
“We don’t know what’s happened, missy.” He was leading me into the tangle of twitterns running between the buildings. “We
need to find the chief. Meanwhile you can hide out here.” He opened a door, and we slipped into a poorly furnished room. There
was a cot in the corner, a table and some crudely made chairs. “Get some sleep,” he advised. “I’ll bring you some food in
the morning.”
I lay down to rest.
When Kushy still hadn’t returned by noon the next day, I became sure he was dead or captured. If they tortured him, they’d
learn where I was. The plight of the blind albino boy was still on my mind. I couldn’t just leave him. He had asked for help.
Taking the blanket from the cot, I left the hovel and made my way out into the creaking, tottering streets. First I must find
food. Then I must find the Sebastocrater. At least I would be able to tell him that Klosterheim had tricked him, and maybe
I could find and recruit Lord Renyard to help save the boy.
CHAPTER FIVE
H EAVING IN DAYLIGHT was a risk, but I really needed to eat. At least I was no longer conspicuous. Dirty and poorly dressed, I slipped out into
the streets with no idea how I would find food. The Deep City was crowded with frightened people unused to the presence of
the city guards, even though the guards kept their distance according to ancient tradition. With Lord Renyard gone, there
was no one to demand a return to those old agreements. The guards, in their peculiar antique Greek armor, did not look comfortable.
Most of them wore strings of garlic around their necks. Apparently they thought it warded off disease. Only Klosterheim carried
pistols. They were armed with swords, lances, shields and bows, while the Deep City’s denizens had plenty of guns. Any uprising
would be hard to control.
Eventually I applied the bad lessons I’d learned from Kushy and his friends. Feeling rather guilty, I easily pinched a loaf
and a pie from a distracted baker in the market. Ravenously I ate them in a quiet doorway. I think anyone as hungry as I would
have done the same. But I was very glad my mum hadn’t been there to see me! I wondered if I should try to find Mrs. House
again. She had foreseen some sort of future for me, and she hadmentioned the boy. Then I reminded myself that the best thing to do was to go into the Shallow City and try to find out what
had happened to Lord Renyard or Herr
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