Chapter 7: The Breakaway

    “We can’t leave her here, Zephyr.”

    “I don’t know that we have a choice. She was an enslaver long before you, Gale. She’s built a history here, and likely elsewhere, to the extent where she really has nowhere to escape.”

     “I know that. I’d still like to try.”

     “Dammit, Gale! Time’s getting away from us. The rebels are winning, and when they get within sight of these walls, there’ll be no stopping them.

      “If we stay here, we’re all dead.”

      The look of desperation on her face to save the one who took her innocence and future away broke his heart. He understood it, but he couldn’t indulge it.”

       “What do we do?”

       “They’re still some distance away. Pack light. Talk to Karis if you think it’ll do any good. I don’t see it happening, but you can try.

      “I’ll go to book passage, and I’ll be back to get you. I’ll take her if she wants to go, but I won’t waste time trying to get her if she doesn’t, so do your best.”

      “I will.” She left him, already heading to Karis’ room.

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      Fitting, and fortunate.

      The air in the harbor was cold and foggy, just right for a fugitive run.

      He hoped the Guild wouldn’t send anyone for them; fighting would be difficult in these conditions, and as trained as he was, he wasn’t sure he was up for it. 

     There was light in the harbormaster’s office, so he went there.

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      “I need passage going northwest.”

      “How’d you get in here?”

      “The door was open.”

      “No it wasn’t.”

      “But here I am.”

      “Look, I don’t have anything in here worth stealing.”

      “Good. Not why I’m here. I need to know what’s sailing northwest?”

      The harbormaster sighed.

       Anyone giving general directions was on the run. He tried to avoid getting involved in that kind of thing, lucrative as it was, but this slightly-framed man looked dangerous. The fact that he’d be roaming the harbor at this hour was proof, and the harbormaster decided he loved his wife and children and couldn’t wait to get home.
        He took the book out  and set it on the desk with a low, loud thunk.

       He flipped some pages, then said: “A ship called The Crackin.” 

       Zephyr laughed. “As in the creature, or as in falling apart?”

       The harbormaster smiled. “Falling apart. The captain thinks it’s funny. The crew does not.”

       “I wouldn’t either.”

       “I can vouch for its seaworthiness, though. And despite the captain’s bad sense of humor, he’s got some years under his belt, and his crew respects him, even if they don’t like him.”

       Zephyr tossed a couple of gleaming coins on the desk.

       “Thanks.” 

       It was said in such a way that the harbormaster got the gist, and only nodded, breathing a sigh of relief when the door closed. 

       He briefly wondered if there was any reward money out for fugitives, but poured himself a drink to steady his nerves, and wisely decided to forget this even happened. 

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       He saw a couple of shadowy men tying heavy rope over already loaded cargo.

       “You there! I need to speak to the captain.”

        One shadow looked over the side rail, sized him up, and asked: “Can you pay now?”

        Zephyr nodded. 

       “Be right back, then.” 

       In a moment, the captain came out, looked down and nodded. “Take his money. He’s from the Assassin’s Guild. We want no trouble with them.”

       The man looked again at Zephyr, his eyes wider than before. 

       “I wanted to speak to the Captain.”

       “He’s got things to do, and he seems to know where you came from, if not who you are.

“You’re booking passage, that’s good enough. We don’t ask questions, and we don’t want none asked. 

        “You alone?”

        “Two others.” He said it as an act of faith. 

        “We ain’t full, but that’ll still cost.”

         As he was speaking, Zephyr handed him the money.

         He looked down at it. “That’ll cover. We set sail in two hours.”

         “I’ll be back in one.” He gave the man a look. “Be here.”

         The sailor’s skin paled a bit as he swallowed.

         “Like the captain said, sir, we don’t want trouble with your kind.”

         Zephyr nodded and left as the man scampered back up the rope ladder.

Chapter 8: New Dawn

     Zephyr arrived at the palace in the light of false dawn.

     He was pleasantly surprised to see Karis, and smiled at Gale, who returned it.

     “The ship sails in two hours. I’ve booked passage on…the Crackin.”

     Karis laughed. “I know that ship. Ridiculous name, but a good crew.”

     “Did they transport…?” Gale ventured. 

     “Not for me, if they ever did.”

     Zephyr prompted them: “We can talk on the way, but let’s get this wagon loaded. Gale can drive the team.”

      In moments they were on their way out of the gate.

      The watchmen, seeing the three of them leave as they had before, simply raised the gate.

      When it closed behind them for what they knew to be the last time, they all grew quiet, lost in their own thoughts as the eastern sky gradually brightened, and the sun bid the moon farewell.

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     Eventually, as the sky grew flush with real dawn’s colors, they began to discuss what they were going to do, and where. 

     Zephyr told them: “We’re heading northwest first. It’s getting cold there now, so anyone looking for us will be discouraged to try. It’s also not as populated as the northeast.”

     “I don’t like the idea of traveling into cold weather, but it’s sound reasoning.” Karis said.

     “We don’t have to stay long, just long enough to get news of the rebellion’s success or not.”

      “My homeland never got winters,” Gale said. “I’m curious to see what it’s like.”

      Karis and Zephyr exchanged a look and chuckled, but Gale didn’t hear.

      He asked Karis, “Why’d you change your mind?”

      “I know the land better than either of you. As a Mistress, I’ve traveled extensively. There was no Kenjin for me to readily acquire slaves. The armies did the raiding, and we had to travel to select which ones to bring back with us to serve the nobility.

      “I can help get you through checkpoints faster. There are places where Gale might not be recognized, and that could make things difficult. 

     “In short, I wanted to expedite your journey.”

      His look turned uncertain: “You mean ‘our journey’?”

      “Yes.” Her smile was enigmatic, but while she was more familiar to Gale, she was no stranger to him either. She was planning something, and if it was betrayal, he’d kill her himself.

      The Assassin’s Guild had at least done that much for him.

      He left it up to fate, as they had no time to lose, and gave her a nod of gratitude.

      “Let’s go then,” he said, and she followed.