We all moved into action, retreating to the many rooms lining the large open area. I and two others, a man and a woman who joined me, headed to the darkest corner of the room and fell deathly still.
We stayed that way for a very long time, listening and waiting for any sign of foul play or the foreboding Tonrar presence. No one moved as silence permeated the atmosphere. My whole body felt strung tighter than a bow ready to release its deadly load and my hand rested on the hilt of my short double-edged sword. Time stalled as the minutes ticked by, no one daring to move a finger or breathe too loudly.
Suddenly, off in the distance, a warbling trill sounded, soft and welcoming. Enyo had released the signal that all was well, the path was clear. Gradually, we all cautiously came out of hiding and gathered in the open space once more.
Discussion began again as ideas were thrown back and forth.
A woman who appeared worn by life but with a fire in her eyes said, “My nickname is Wrecker because I plan to wreck havoc on Casimer’s kingdom.”
I allowed a small smile. “What is your idea?”
“I will need some help. I plan go into Casimer’s service as a nursemaid. I have a child, a young one, but he’s dying. In a few days I will likely need to bury him. I am done bearing children doomed to death and I need some purpose. I’ve heard that the Royal Administrator only hires women who dress well, look presentable and are not too thin.” She looked down at her scrawny body and lifted her gaze to scan the group again. “I can’t do much about gaining weight but I need good clothes and some help with my skin and hair.”
A woman stepped forward. “I have a gift in enhancing women’s appearance. I work for Loralai’s whore house as a stylist and beautician. Her harlots love my work. Making them look presentable for the clientele comes easily to me. I also know how to manipulate skin to glow with youthfulness and cause women to appear more attractive.”
“What’s your name?” I asked.
With a wry smile, she said, “Magic.
Wrecker nodded and said, “Perfect. Can you come to my residence and work on me, let’s say in the next day or so?”
“Yes,” said Magic.
“But I’ll also need good clothes. Where will I find those?”
Magic said, “The whores go through clothes like their free. Loralai makes sure they are dressed the part. Outfits are resold or restyled on a regular basis. There is a specific container in Loralai’s home and office where unwanted or highly used clothes are deposited. I have, from time to time, taken a few items for myself. I usually sell them for food. I wouldn’t dare wear them.”
“Could you get me some good clothes that are not too suggestive?”
“I will try but it will cost you. I would be taking a risk stealing from Loralai.”
“No,” I said. “We will not extract from each other. Either this is a joint effort or it is of no consequence at all. We must work together and help each other. Casimer gets much accomplished because his cronies do his bidding without complaint and without extracting from him. We must learn to work as a team if we are to outwit him.”
Magic nodded but she didn’t look impressed.
I noticed the look that Wrecker gave Magic. I was sure they would come to some agreement.
“Anyone else interested in employment under Casimer’s regime?”
A young teenager no more than thirteen or fourteen lifted his hand. “I could apply as a server, footmen or stable boy.” He looked rough, his hair was matted and hung down to his shoulders, his face looked unwashed and smeared with dirt and his clothes were extremely tattered.
I guessed he was a street urchin, orphaned and beggarly. I didn’t understand any of the jobs he mentioned but that was of no significance to me. Anyone willing to sabotage Casimer was welcome in this revolt.
Kibou said, “That is a dangerous profession. I have heard that youths who go into Casimer’s employ never return.”
“I know,” said the teen. “Casimer murdered my parents, my baby brother and my sister. I have no one and nothing else to live for. My life’s agenda is wrapped up in ridding Dwarkaa of him.”
“What’s your name,” I asked.
“Rage.”
Kibou said, “You will need to learn to control your anger to work in Casimer’s regime. His other employees will notice and you won’t last long.”
“I won’t last long anyway. No one does.”
The group fell silent at the morbid response. Of course we all battled the same thoughts but our mission was giving us a sliver of hope.
“And how will you manage to get into Casimer’s employ?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I need some help too I guess. Does anyone know where I can steal some good clothes?”
Risk said, “I can look for clothes as I go on missions to the richer areas. I will find you something.”
Shadow added, “I will keep an eye out for clothes too.”
“I will trim your hair and make you look presentable,” Magic said. “Some of Loralai’s clients come with servants. I know how they are expected to look. You could apply to one of the Royal Guard as a personnel servant.”
“No. I want to work directly for Casimer on the Royal Palace Grounds.”
“I’ve heard stories,” Magic said. “He is a cruel, vindictive being. No one can tolerate being around him for any length of time.”
Rage remained silent but his jaw jutted in determination.
Magic said, “I know a man who visits Loralai’s brothel. His name is Dade and he hires people for Casimer’s service. I could speak to him.”
“No,” Kibou inserted. “This will cause too much suspicion. I know of a man in the wealthier area who has connections. I will ask him for a favor, ask him to refer Rage for employment. I will need to know your real name, or pick a name that is believable.”
Rage lowered his head in thought. Lifting it again, he said, “You may call me Kerrim. It was my baby brother’s name.”
Kibou said, “That’s good. I will try to contact him soon.”
I wondered who this person was whom Kibou knew. So far, I had heard of no one in this poverty stricken area that had any contact with the wealthier parts of the city. I stared at him and questioned his allegiances.
A few other ideas were tossed around but none of them felt legitimate and some were downright death sentences.
“This meeting needs to end. We will gather here again in a week’s time. I will expect a complete discourse on everyone’s assignment. The rest of you, come up with ideas of what can be done to abet the resistance. Don’t do anything prematurely or without passing your scheme by us. We all need to be agreed on what we will do.”
The group began to disperse, one leaving at a time and in different directions until only Kibou and I remained.
“It’s a good start,” he said.
“It’s only a start. We have a long way to go.”
“Now that you have arrived, they have a new sense of purpose. I see the hope in their eyes.”
“Hope is always dangerous.”
“You sound like Casimer’s men.”
“Yes, I know. His ruthless rule has reduced most of the population into a hopeless existence. But, now with Tarman Farrin on the move, perhaps we can start to hope.”
Kibou smiled. “I like the sound of that. When I began to dream of a revolution rising and I saw visions of you, that’s when my hope began to bud.”
I nodded nervously. I still didn’t appreciate the fact that I was looked to as the answer. I had little to offer this rag-tag group of paupers. “Tell me, how do you know this wealthy contact?”
Kibou hesitated but then he said, “He’s my brother, a half-brother. My mother was a harlot and was visited by many Royal Guards but one in particular. She always insisted that he was my father and that she saw no one else while she consorted with him. He has a son and we met a few times while we were both growing up. We look very much alike. We are definitely brothers and we are both aware of it.”
“And he would be willing to help you?”
“Yes, I’m sure he would.”
“Is he aware of the planned revolt?”
“No.”
That satisfied me. I gave him a slight nod and silence fell between us. I finally turned, left the building the way I’d entered and headed for home.
My journey was speedy and uneventful. When I arrived back at my building, I knocked on Bodil’s and Enyo’s door with the telling rap and waited. I heard the locks unlatching and the door finally opened. Bodil and Akiko were the only ones in the small room.
“Where is Enyo? Has she not returned yet?” I asked.
Bodil said, “No but I’m sure she’ll come soon.”
“But I stayed longer to speak with Kibou alone. Enyo should have returned well before me.”
There was fear in Bodil’s eyes.
I said, “I’ll go back out to check on her.”
Bodil nodded.
Akiko said, “I can join you.”
“No. There’s too much risk going out at night. I’ll go alone.”
I headed back outside and navigated the streets I suspected Enyo would have taken. I stayed close to shadowed areas, close to buildings and doorways where I could potentially hide if necessary. Walking slowly and looking for any sign of her, I’d gone a mere block and a half when I noticed movement up ahead and ghastly noises drifting on the wind. Shrinking back into an alleyway, I concealed myself in the darkness and glanced around the corner to see what was happening.
A monstrous figure tore at something on the ground and, by the vicious sounds it was making, I was sure that some unfortunate, lone soul was being torn to shreds by one of Casimer’s evil wraiths. Only occasionally will a Tonrar take on physical form. This was one such instance and I felt a new revulsion for the foul beings.
I waited until the Tonrar was done with his wrath and destruction, until the sounds of its sheer, vehement rage dissipated. A flurry of mortiferous cloud, noxious and suffocating, flew past where I hid and suddenly the air cleared so that I could breathe again.
Cautiously, I made my way down the street to where the unfortunate person lay. There was not much left of the body and blood splayed the ground in every direction. The Tonrar had dismembered it to near oblivion. Lowering myself to a knee, I studied what was left and knew instinctively that it was Enyo. When I saw a tuft of her curly hair extending from the decapitated head, I knew.
Standing, I began to search the area for the reed pipe. We would need it. I finally found it down the street in a groove between two inlayed stones. I discovered a few other things that were still intact. Her head scarf was lying to the side and I also found her bag that must have been hurled into the shadow of a doorway during the encounter. Bodil would appreciate any remembrance of her friend.
Staying close to the shadows and safety of buildings, I made my way back to my residence, dreading delivering the news I carried.
