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AVEN RAN OUT THROUGH the empty, dark courtyard and into the streets, trying to put some distance between himself and the building where he’d been captive. He turned blindly, knowing that if someone came after him, if someone caught him, that he was dead. He needed to find a place to hide, someplace safe. He stumbled, nearly fell, and slowed to a stop, his thoughts finally catching up with him.
He had no idea where he was. How was he supposed to know where to find someplace safe?
Memfis’ forge was safe, but there was no one there.
Meris’ house? He already knew it wasn’t safe there, but where else could he go? It would at least give him a place to start. And Aria might still be there. He wouldn’t be alone. But first he needed to find the house. He thought back to riding in the cart with Memfis. The sun had been setting, and it had been directly behind the house when they’d driven up to the gate. That meant the house was on the west side of the city. He looked up at the skies. He might not be able to see the horizon from here, but he’d known the names of these stars as long as he’d known his own name. He studied them for a moment, and knew his direction. West was that way — thankfully, it was also the same direction he’d been going, the same direction as away.
He started walking, this time paying attention to the houses around him. They were easily as nice as the one that Meris lived in, but not as large. The gates were smaller, and the houses were closer to them. He wasn’t sure what that meant, other than the interior courtyards must not be as large. And how big was this city, anyway? He stopped at an intersection, and wiped his face. He was hungry, thirsty, and now that the rush of energy from his escape was fading, he was exhausted. He looked up, got his bearings, and started walking again.
Del. Silent Del, who wasn’t Water, but somehow knew the secret language of the Water tribe. The collar meant he was a slave, but that didn’t matter. He was one of theirs, Aven was sure of it. A Companion. Which one? That didn’t matter either. What mattered was going back for him. He turned, realizing that he had no idea how to find the house where he’d been imprisoned again. How was he going to go back for Del if he couldn’t find where he’d been? For a moment, he thought about retracing his steps. But no — if he was caught, he’d never get away. Not a second time. Best to keep moving. He frowned as the street he was on ended, then turned and backtracked, trying to find a way around. It did no good — every west-bound street stopped at a wall. The wall, Aven realized. He was as far west as he could be in Forge, and still be inside the walls. And he had no idea where to go from here.
Where now? He looked up, trying to remember if he’d looked at the sky while he’d been in Meris’ garden. He didn’t think he had. Then he looked up and down the street. Most of the windows were dark, the houses silent. There was no one out that he could ask for help.
North, or south? They’d entered the city from the south, Aven remembered. And... and Meris’ house had been in the west, but they’d gone north out of the forge to reach it. He turned to the left and started walking again.
The road curved, following the curve of the wall, and the buildings grew more and more shabby, the streets more uneven. It didn’t smell right, and Aven was about to turn back and go south when he saw lights. He hesitated, then headed toward them. Maybe someone would be able to tell him where he was, and how to get to Meris’ house from here.
As he got closer, he heard voices, and music. A door opened, and the noise grew louder as a pair of figures stumbled out into the street. They came toward Aven, and didn’t seem to notice him at first.
“Hey,” one of them grunted. “Hey, it’s someone.”
“I’m someone,” the other man replied. He looked up, saw Aven, and blinked. “Oh. Someone else someone. You looking for someone, boy?” He frowned. “You found someone.”
“I was looking for directions,” Aven answered, realizing that the men were both drunk. But he didn’t have much of a choice. He needed help. “I’m lost. I’m trying to find my way back to my grandmother’s house.”
The first man snorted. “Who’s that, then?”
“Lady Meris,” Aven answered. “Do you know her? Am I going the right way?”
“Meris? Nah, you’re heading the wrong way,” the first man said. He waved in Aven’s general direction. “Back that way. District Two. Firze, how far?”
“Huh?”
“How far to District Two from here?”
“Oh. Um... nine intersections? I think? Where are we?” He looked around, frowned, then nodded. “Yeah. Nine. You new here, boy?”
“Just came today,” Aven answered. “My uncle brought me to meet my grandmother. I went out for some air, but I got lost, and it got dark, and now I don’t know where I am.”
“You walked a good bit,” the first man said. “C’mon. We’ll walk with you a bit. We’re going that way. He’s Firze. I’m Tolly.”
“My name is Aven.” The words were out of his mouth before Aven realized he shouldn’t be using his real name.
“Nice to meet you, Aven,” Tolly said as they started walking. “Where are you from, that you’re just here today?”
“North,” Aven answered. “I’ve never been in a city like this before.”
“There are no other cities like this,” Firze said. “Probably why you got lost.”
Aven nodded, relaxing a little. They seemed like friendly enough people. They walked on, and Tolly pointed out different places and streets to him.
“Now, this here is Tannery Row,” he said. “Goes all the way to the north gate, back that way. When we hit the west gate, it turns into Temple Way.”
“Tannery,” Aven repeated. “Is that why it smells bad?”
“Smells bad?” Tolly said. “Firze, does it smell bad around here?”
“Dipshit,” Firze said fondly. “You know tanning smells bad. You just don’t smell it no more.”
“True,” Tolly said. “I’m used to it.” He stopped. “Hey, is that a patrol?”
“Patrol? In Tannery? Who the shit patrols Tannery?” Firze stopped. “That’s no patrol.”
“They’re on their way somewhere,” Tolly murmured. “Come this way, Aven. Let them pass.”
“Who is it?” Aven asked, stepping out of the road and moving up against a building.
“The Guard. We don’t mess with them, and they leave us alone.” Tolly stood next to Aven. “Tannery Row... things aren’t always on the right side of the Guard here, you know? Now, they know it. And we know it, so we make sure they get their cut of whatever it is, and they leave us alone. But this... someone’s in for a lot of hurting, if they’re coming through like this.”
Aven could see the group more clearly now. A lot of mounted men, armored and armed. A cart at the center of the group, driven by a man that looked almost familiar. And next to him—
“Aria!”
He blurted out her name, and saw her head whip around to face him. The look of shock on her face had to be mirrored in his own, and he was out into the street before she could jump down from the cart. So when she jumped down, it was into his arms. She clung to him, and he buried his face in her hair and just held on to her. It took him a minute to realize that she was crying. It took him another minute to realize that he was, too.
“I’m all right,” he whispered to her. “I’ll be fine.”
She nodded and pulled back, sniffling. She wiped her face, then laughed and wiped his. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” she whispered.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” Aven answered. “Mother of us all, it’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you again,” the familiar man said. “Do you remember me? We met this afternoon.”
Aven blinked and raised his head. He studied the man for a moment, then remembered his name. “Karse, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Now, you got yourself away. Where were you?”
Aven shook his head. “I don’t know. A house. Small courtyard. But I don’t know where. And I didn’t get away without help.”
Karse nodded and looked past them. “What are you two doing here?”
“Nothing, sir!” Tolly called back. He sounded both nervous and stone-cold sober.
“They were helping me, Karse,” Aven said. “They were showing me the way to Meris’ house.”
“Were they now?” Karse said, his eyebrows raised. “Well then, there’s a blessing for you. Thank you both, for your help.”
Aven turned. “Yes. Thank you.”
Tolly’s eyes were wide. “You’re welcome... what the fu—” he stopped, turning red. “I’m sorry. Please, excuse my language, my Heir.”
My Heir? Aven turned back to Aria, and realized that she was wearing the Diadem. “You’re wearing it,” he breathed. “I’ve never seen you wear it.”
“Memfis thought it a good idea. Karse and Meris agreed.” Aria answered. She turned back to Tolly and Firze, and smiled. “Apology accepted, my friends. Thank you, for your help. Now, please don’t say anything about seeing us, will you?”
“Not a word!” Tolly swore. “Not even to my own mother!” He grabbed Firze’s arm and dragged him down the street.
Before they disappeared, Firze stopped, turned, and shouted, “Here’s to the Heir! May she never fall!”
Karse groaned. “He was drunker than I thought. Let’s get moving before people realize what he said. Aven, up in the cart. Tell us everything.”
Aven climbed up into the cart, with Aria between him and Karse. He rubbed his forehead and tried to get his thoughts in order. Before he could say anything, Karse asked, “Was Owyn with you?”
Aven stared at him. “Do you think I’d be here alone if he was?”
“Had to ask. There were three places Owyn might be,” Karse answered. “You were in a house, you said?”
“Yes.”
“Then Owyn’s either in the warehouse or the brothel.” Karse nodded. “We’re heading to the warehouse. I sent men to the house, and to the brothel. We’ll find him.”
“I was in Fandor’s house?” Aven asked. “There was someone else there. A slave. I’m pretty sure he was a slave. He was supposed to be chained in the kitchen. He helped me escape.”
“Supposed to be?”
“Apparently, they don’t know he can undo the locks,” Aven said. “He wouldn’t come with me — he chained himself up again before I left. His name is Del, and he doesn’t talk—”
“Del?” Karse interrupted. “Oh, shit. That’s just wonderful.” He looked around, then waved. A man rode up next to him, and he gave rapid instructions. “Go back to the house. Tell Memfis that whatever he’s planning, he needs to do it now. We’re out of time.”
“Why?” Aria asked.
“Because Del is a slave,” Karse answered, picking up the reins and snapping them, urging the horses on faster. “But he’s not Fandor’s slave. He’s Mannon’s. Mannon’s personal slave, and Mannon never lets him out of his sight. If he’s here, so is Mannon.”
******
THE WAREHOUSE WAS LARGE, dark, and completely empty. Karse’s men searched it from top to bottom twice, and several of them remained behind as Karse turned the cart back down Tannery Row.
“He’s at the brothel. He has to be there,” Karse muttered. “I just hate going back to the house without having him. If anything happens to him, Memfis is going to crawl back into a bottle and not come out.”
“You’re calling him by his real name,” Aven said, his voice low. “Did he tell you?”
“Nah, I knew. He didn’t know that, but I knew,” Karse looked at him and smiled. “I knew your father, by the by.”
“You did?”
“I was born in the palace. Your father put my arm to rights when I fell out of a tree.” With one hand, he pushed his sleeve up, revealing a white scar. “Bone poked right through, it was that bad.” He shook his head. “You’re looking peaky, Aven.”
“I’m thirsty. And hungry. And my head aches from the dreamflower.” Aven closed his eyes. “Now what?”
“Now, we hope that Leist has beat us back to the house, and Owyn is there and safe,” Karse answered without looking at him. “And maybe Trey found something at the house. Or someone.”
Aven nodded. He glanced at Aria. “I promised Del I’d go back for him if I could. Aria, I think he’s one of us. One of yours.”
She gaped at him. “A Companion?”
“He felt like it.” Aven leaned forward and rubbed his face. “I don’t know if he’s Air or Earth. But his eyes are like yours.”
“Aria has ember eyes,” Karse said. “It’s a Fire trait.”
Aria nodded. “And I have my Fire— oh. Oh, no.”
Aven frowned, wondering why Aria suddenly looked so upset. Then he realized, and gasped, “Mother of us all! No. No, he’s not dead. Aria, he’s not!” His stomach turned, and he shook his head. “He can’t be dead.”
The cart lurched as Karse snapped the reins again. “From your mouth to the ears of the Mother,” he muttered. No one responded. No one said anything else, until they drove through the gate at Meris’ house. Karse stopped the cart at the door, then looked around as a man came toward them.
“Leist, tell me you have him,” he said. There was an almost pleading tone to his voice.
“The place was empty, Karse,” Leist answered. “Dust an inch thick on everything. There’s been no one there for a month or more. Trey’s here, and he says it looks like Fandor’s gone, too. The house was empty, looked like it had been ransacked.”
“That happened after I got out,” Aven murmured.
“He wasn’t there?” Aria asked, her voice very quiet. Very calm. “He wasn’t at the house with Aven. He wasn’t at the warehouse. He was not at this other place, this brothel. Where is my Owyn? Where else would Fandor have taken him?”
Aven climbed down from the cart and stopped, steadying himself with both hands as the world wobbled. He heard footsteps behind him, and jumped when a hand closed over his shoulder.
“It’s me,” Memfis said. “How are you?”
“A little battered,” Aven answered. “Hungry, thirsty, and I have a dreamflower headache.”
“I figured on the thirsty and hungry part,” Memfis said and handed Aven a cup. “Owyn wasn’t with you?”
“No. I’ll tell you the rest later.” Aven sipped the salted water and sighed. “Thank you. Where’s Meris?”
“I made her go lay down.” Memfis glanced at the house. “She’s old, Aven. Old enough that I’m worried about her, with all this insanity.”
Aven frowned. “I’ll sit with her, see if there’s anything I can do. Later. What do we do now?”
“That’s for Karse to say. Mannon is in the city, and we still have to face the Council. We have to get out of Forge, but I can’t leave without knowing—” Memfis raised his voice. “Karse, what now?”
“Working on that!” Karse turned to another man. “All right, Trey. Where else? He’s running now. Where else would he go?”
Aven closed his eyes, drinking his water, trying to think. There was something... he’d heard something, or maybe he’d seen it. Something that he knew would help them. He was certain of it... if he could remember...
“Aven?” Memfis said, his voice quiet. “What is it?”
“I...” He shook his head. Then he remembered Owyn laughing. And it’s just the kind of thing he’d get off on.
“The forge,” Aven murmured. “I... has anyone checked the forge?”
“What? The forge?” Memfis gasped. “My forge? My house?”
“Yes,” Aven said. He straightened, drained the last of his water, and turned to look at Memfis. “Remember this morning? Fandor wanted you to make that restraint? Owyn said he thought it was for him. And you both agreed that Fandor wanted you to make it because if you made it, with Owyn helping you make it, then Owyn would know that you had a hand in what was happening to him.” Aven blinked, his mind racing. “It has to be. Fandor knows we’re not at the forge anymore. It’s safe for him to hide there. No one is going to look there. Why would they? So he’s taken Owyn there, and he’s going to hurt him, and kill him, in the one place where Owyn was always safe from him. Because that will make it that much worse for Owyn.”
Aven stopped, and realized the silence that surrounded him. He turned, and saw that everyone was staring at him. He felt his face growing warm.
“I don’t think Aleia could have done that better, Aven,” Memfis said. “You’re right.”
“She’d have done it faster,” Aven answered. “How long have they been there?”
“Too long. Trey, I want horses,” Karse called. “No carts now. We’re going in, and we’re going fast.”
“I’m coming with you,” Aria said. “I do not need a horse.”
“Me, too,” Aven added. “I’m coming, too. Memfis, I want my swords.”
Memfis nodded. “I’ll get them.”
Karse came closer. “Ever ridden a horse, Aven?”
“No.”
“Then you’ll ride with Trey.” Karse turned and raised his voice. “Where are those horses? We need to move!”