Lapis quietly opened the back door to the Eaves, relieved to finally be back. She wished Patch had accompanied her and not just Rin and Scand, but the workstation had become a meeting place for those opposed to Celem’s sudden ascension and Gall’s unwavering support of whoever led the empire.
Did the puppet king believe the new high counselor would send him tech as a thank-you? Most of the vassal state rulers had recalled their tech-begging envoys, but the Jilvaynan prince was still in Alesha, sniffing at Celem’s ass and reminding anyone who would listen that his country was loyal to the empire. She did not think the ploy would work, but who was she to guess the thoughts of a usurper?
Warm air engulfed them, and the rats hurried inside before too much escaped. She closed the portal, glad her cold face could bask in some heat. The walk from the Minq drop-off out Blossom way to an underground wagon willing to take them to the Grey Streets, and the subsequent journey in night-frosty breezes, had left the tips of her ears and her nose numb.
Better that, than sitting through another couple days of debriefings and strategy meetings. While she found the exploits of the rebels who stayed in Abastion interesting, she would have preferred to peruse a written account as she accompanied the rats to Jiy. She disliked them hearing about the Calderton chase—and how close Dagby came to getting his head split in two. The Beryl agent was good—just not quite good enough.
She wondered how Cassa would take the story. The ex-chaser feared that their new relationship would drown under the worry that, despite having chosen the rebel cause, he still participated in dangerous stakes.
“Rin, Scand, are you hungry or sleepy?” Night had long ago descended, and while she wanted to collapse, she needed some food and warm tea before doing so. Pushing herself into blurry-eyed exhaustion so she could sleep without Patch’s company was her only option. She understood his need to stay at the workstation and attend the meetings, but her heart ached for his arms because she had the feeling that night terrors would hound her after her eyes closed.
The rats pulled down their scarves. “Food,” came the chorus.
“I’ll get Dalia t’ fix us somethin’,” Rin said, picking up the pace to the counter.
The lateness of the hour meant no rats sat at the table, which relieved her. She had no want to answer questions until she had to. She flumped onto the bench in her corner, marveling that so little had changed because she felt as if her life had flipped upside down and years had passed since she stepped foot in the place. But no, the reading cubby still had the benches and random chairs around the two tables pushed together. Patrons still perched around the stool-high tables enjoying a meal and drink under the honey-yellow fruit oil lighting. Round-topped, four-legged, portable heating devices rested in the corners, their merry flames making the interior toasty. Lapis often wondered if that, more than warm food and tea, brought customers to the Eaves on cold End Year nights.
“Lady! Welcome back!”
She smiled at Dachs, who cheerfully raised a snifter to her.
“Hey Dachs. Seems kinda sparse tonight.”
He huffed and motioned out the door with the glass. “People ain’t feelin’ much social,” he admitted. “Not that we know what’s up, other than tourists are stuck here and the palace cut off access up to Greencastle, but fear isn’t so easy to dispel.”
Rik snorted, loud enough the rest of the patronage groaned, and waved his hand in the vague direction of the palace. “Bit into my work,” he muttered. “Making it up with the underground, but still.”
“What have you heard?” she asked as Scand rounded the table to the other side, sat on the bench, scooted to her, and slumped down, as weary as she felt. At least he would have a warm night in Rin’s room before he returned to his cubby and far colder accommodations. The brown coat he now wore, a woolen, knee-length affair the Abastion rebels let him keep, should make the frozen days tolerable, but she still wished she had a place the street rats could live where they did not have to worry about adverse elements killing them in their sleep.
“Somethin’ about a skyshroud crashin’,” Dachs said. “Staff at places tourists are stayin’ says it’s like tip-toein’ to the Pit for an illegal service. People whisperin’ and cryin’ but hushin’ up if anyone gets too close.”
“’Shroud did go down,” Rin agreed as he skitted from the kitchen. “’N we watched the whole thing!”
That had the entire tavern’s attention.
“I’s gettin’ Lyet,” Rin said before pounding up the stairs. Scand made a kissy-face, and Lapis whapped his arm; she was not up to shenanigans. That did not stop him, but he did grin widely enough to obliterate the intent.
“You watched it go down?” Rik asked, setting his elbows on his table and leaning closer, his dark brown eyes intent. His companion, a Lells seller, studied them with wide eyes while plucking at her grey sweater’s sleeve.
“Them tourists been talkin’,” she said. “They’s sayin’ all Trave’s cut off n’ their travel back home’s canceled!”
“It is,” Lapis said. “The prelate doesn’t want anyone in or out because the empire’s looking for a scapegoat. The last I saw, the news reports attempted to blame the rebels or a syndicate for the crash, but that’s not why it went down.”
“Figures,” Dachs growled, rocking the glass between two fingers as he glared at her. “Truth never does matter to them.”
Dani hummed her agreement as she brought them tea for six; Lyet must be entertaining Lykas and Jandra. Scand snagged a cup and downed it before the server could turn around, produced a contented, exaggerated sigh, and held it up for a refill.
Lapis selected another and sipped. “I’m betting the Councils will dredge up something that points in the Drakeways’ direction. They moved into the Torc Bedan base and used it as a staging ground. If they’re still around.” She took a heartier mouthful; warm coursed down her throat, past her chest, and into her belly. So, so nice.
Dachs frowned. “Torc Bedan? That’s been abandoned for years.”
“Which is why the Drakeways set up there. Apparently they’re collaborating with the son of a Lord’s Counselor named Moorlight. Probably doesn’t matter anymore.” She rubbed at her eyes with her forefinger and thumb. How much should she tell them about her adventures and the more concerning events in Dentheria? Scanning the handful of patrons, she noted regulars and their guests, and no one that triggered her suspicion. Good. She did not have to worry too much about watching her tongue.
Feet rushed down the stairs, then Lyet barreled into her and squeezed tight. She hugged her back, then greeted Lykas and Jandra, who also seemed happy and relieved she had returned, hale and whole. Scand, much to her surprise, accepted hugs from his friends without making a disparaging remark. Had the rat grown up a tad bit during his time at the Shivers?
“Glad to see you took care of Rin,” Lyet said as she grabbed a teacup.
“Ha!” Rin called, sharp and arrogant. “Who’s takin’ care ‘o who? I’s the one did mosta the carin’.” He pointed at his head. “’Cause I’s the Lady’s man.”
Lyet’s humor as she sat, and the smothered laughter from Lykas and Jandra, proved they had opinions about how helpful the rat had been during the outing. If he did not correct them first, she would on the morrow.
“So why doesn’t anything matter?” Rik asked after everyone settled. Others murmured their support of the question, so Lapis lowered her cup.
“Well, for one, the ‘shroud that crashed into the Leads hit another, which tried to make it to Torc Bedan. I’m pretty sure it went down before it docked.”
“Two crashes?” Dachs asked, credulous, the glass nearly dropping from his fingers.
“We were fleeing, so we didn’t get to see it, but Dentherion news—”
“Kardell’s News at Night,” Rin and Scand chimed in together.
“—obtained camera footage captured by nearby communities.” She sucked in a breath as the crowd shook heads and scowled and wondered what that meant. “It sure looked like the ‘shroud plowed into the western mountainside of the valley.” She ran her finger over the edge of her cup. “That’s not the worst of it. It appears Celem, High Counselor Makethryn’s cousin, assassinated her and her son after the crash. He’s now in charge of the empire.”
Dead silence.
A fork clattered onto a plate and the custom started, breaking from their shock.
“To the Pit with him,” Dachs breathed. “You’re serious?”
“Yeah. Vassal states called their envoys home to wait and see what happens, but of course Gall told his son to stay.”
“Thinks he’ll get a bone if he’s a good boy?” Rik asked, all the angry sarcasm in the world weighing his voice down.
“I’m betting so. And I’m betting it won’t work. Celem may have usurped the Counselorship, but he has two major problems; his military leaders just died, and the Trave disaster affected some of the wealthiest citizens of the country.”
“Military leaders died? What do you mean?” Dachs asked.
“Apparently there was a secret meeting going on at the Leads when the ‘shroud crashed into it. The upper echelon of the Dentherion military is gone; commanders, lead commanders, tributes.”
“Shit.” Rik’s vehement distress infected some, while worry fell across others like a heavy snowstorm. Lyet moved into Rin and he slid his arm around her shoulders in comfort while Jandra gripped Lykas’s hand. Scand edged his leg over so it brushed Lapis’s, a non-obtrusive touch and one he needed. She smiled at him in reassurance before taking a sip of tea and continuing.
“We don’t know who Celem’s going to put in charge of the empire’s forces. But he needs to play nice with the richest in Dentheria because the ‘shroud and the cloudbreakers it destroyed took out wealthy neighborhoods near the Leads. Extended council families, business people, investors, who knows who else, were in its path.”
“Sounds like it’s a ripe time to take advantage,” Dachs said, rubbing at his chin in thought.
“Yep.”
“Still can’t believe a ‘shroud crashed, let alone two." The barkeep tipped back and drained his glass. “Been thinkin’ of those ships as goliaths my whole life; too big, too untouchable, their reach unfathomable.”
“’Twere a sight,” Rin said, squeezing Lyet tight before rising to sit on the back of his chair. “Y’all wanna hear ‘bout it?”
“I do,” Rik said. His companion did not look as enthused, but her brother took that as a sign and made the tale his own, without the outlandish embellishments of his typical retellings. Lapis let him talk; it meant she could start eating when Dani brought the food, rather than hoping it stayed warm until the end of the story.
When his plate reached him, Scand shoveled the cubed meat, biscuits and milky gravy into his mouth like he would not see tomorrow. She ate with a bit more restraint, then answered questions as Rin tore into his meal and Scand inhaled seconds. True, the midday snack had long ago vanished from rumbly bellies, but were they really that hungry?
Dalia brought a basket of bread and some spreads that she likely did not think she would sell that night to anyone else, considering the late hour. Good. The rats would sleep like the dead, with over-full tummies. Lapis would not have to worry about them skipping out before she woke up later that day, and she could caution them about telling tales to random others.
It was not a good idea for the general populace to know they had been in Abastion, and certainly not in Dentheria.
“And that’s not all,” Rin said, his grin too wide for comfort. Lapis sent him a side-eye warning, which he ignored, and raised his hands for silence. “Guess who got caught by them city guards, ‘n the Lady noticed, so we saved ‘m.” Everyone glanced at one another, then at Dachs, who shrugged. His skepticism almost made her laugh. “None guessin’? Heh, Jo Ban Jano ‘n his son, Vu Ne.”
Dachs’s mouth dropped open as everyone else gasped.
“Jo Ban Jano?” Rik squeaked, his eyes bulging.
“Minq terrboss hisself,” Rin gloated.
“Was quite the ride,” Lapis agreed, draining the rest of her tea. “They were close enough to the crash, the Minq thought they might have died. But they were alive, and we made certain they stayed that way.”
“What were you doin’ in Dentheria, anyway?” Dachs asked as he poured himself an amber drink from an unlabeled bottle. “Thought you were hitchin’ a ride to Abastion.”
“We did. The tale is long, but basically, Drakeways kidnapped khentauree from the Shivers mine to experiment on, and we promised to help their leaders free them.” She paused, then rubbed down the bridge of her nose. “Like I said, the tale’s long, and I’m exhausted.”
“You look it,” Rik admitted, leaning back in his chair. “And we have enough to talk about. ‘Shrouds going down, aquatheerdaal running low, assassinations.” He rubbed at his chest, uneasy. “We’re in for a rough time of it.”
“We’ll see.” Lapis stretched and rose. She had a feeling that the rebels, under Midir’s guidance, would act before Gall did anything drastic to retain power.
A call came from the street, and the woman nearest the door popped up and closed it. Talk died as the shout came nearer.
“Curfew’s long gone, get yerselves home!”
Curfew? The wagon owner who drove them from Blossom had mentioned nothing of it. Lapis winced as the snarly voice yelled harsh threats, and she wondered where the guards hailed from; they sounded Grey Streets, but no self-respecting member of the district would order the stubborn lot who lived there to vacate cherished night-time social spots.
Dachs made a disgusted face and tipped his drink back as the back door opened and a few customers scurried in with the cold wind. Lapis recognized the woman in the lead; Shoose, an Eaves regular. She chuckled, unwrapped her scarf, and shook out her hair.
“They’re on the other side of the street,” she laughed. “Didn’t like gettin’ thrown out last time, so givin’ you a wide berth.”
“Will do it again, if they step inside,” Dachs growled as he took another long gulp. His dark brown skin had an angry fire gleam to it not caused by alcohol, so he must hold a deep grudge from their ill-advised last visit. Did they not know that being jerks with the barkeep was not a good idea?
“They spent the early part of the evening tryin’ to get customers to leave the Night Market,” Shoose said. “Sure you can guess at their success. Guards said soldiers were coming down from Greencastle to arrest stragglers because the king resented the violations of his edict, but no one believed them.”
“Let ‘m try,” Dachs grumbled. “No one comes between the Grey Streets and their fun.”
Lapis doubted they would set foot in western Jiy. If the palace thought they needed to retain every bit of aquatheerdaal to power tech, they wouldn’t expend it on Grey Streets residents. After all, Gall had pissed off enough entities that the rebels were not his only concern.
“Lady!” Shoose grinned wide in delight as she leaned back on the bar counter with her elbows. “I didn’t think you’d be back so soon!”
Lapis smiled. “I didn’t either,” she said. “It’s good to be home.”
The tavern custom raised a glass to that.
