Girl of Shadow Page 11

  “I know. If this goes wrong, more people will be implicated, but if we don’t at least try Harold will have died in vain, The Boss will have won and we will have two more widows. If I go in there tonight and find there’s no way to get them out, I will give them the option to end themselves honorably.” Susan at least agrees with that. I continue to move along turning to the bakery and grabbing a loaf of bread off the shelf while Susan appears to be contemplating the overpriced cookies.

  “One more thing before you leave, Daytin brought by his report from the house…” As a precaution, Daytin’s job includes keeping multiple members of Liberty informed if something important comes up, that way if any one of us is captured the group can still move forward with as much information as possible. It also makes it possible for me to still get information from him even if I can’t speak to him directly, like now.

  “Yes?”

  “Well, you said you wanted to know if there was ever anything strange with Miss Izabel.” I nod for her to continue, my curiosity peaked. “Apparently she was crying out a name in her sleep about a person named Daniau. I checked all the records and the only person named Daniau died a few years ago and he was one of our own.”

  “That is interesting.” I don’t think much of it. She could have heard the name anywhere and it could mean anything, but I don’t want my spies digging into her. They are only supposed to be keeping an eye on her to make sure she’s safe… but on the other hand if they do find something I want to know about it first. They don’t understand how important she is to me. As far as they are concerned, she’s just a pawn caught up in our own rebellion when her father decided we would marry. “If Daytin comes across anything else of interest from Izabel tell him to report directly to me. Actually, I’ll let him know myself tomorrow.” I don’t want anything spread about her that could hurt her in the future. The fewer people that know what goes on in Izabel’s life, the better.

  Leaving Susan with my orders, I check out my few items before heading back into work.

  For the rest night, I keep myself busy with my normal tasks to help avoid suspicion. I wait as long as I can before following through with my plan. As the enforcer, it isn’t unusual for me to make rounds throughout the night so there’s no need to hide my presence from my men. However, the activity of the last few days will make it nearly impossible to get my friends out undetected without tying my name to their disappearance. My only advantage is the slight decrease in personnel during the night time hours and the cover of darkness.

  Sticking my hand in my pocket, I grip the two tubes of poison I carry. This is it then. It’s time to face the corner we’ve been shoved in.

  At the stairs leading to the dungeon, the guards are nowhere to be found. At first, I don’t see any sign of a struggle but upon closer inspection I find drops of blood on the ground. Following the trail, I find more on the wall. Using my finger, I rub it along the corner and find it’s still damp. Fresh.

  I stop my examination when I hear a reverberating sound of a cell door opening on squeaky hinges. With a shot of adrenaline rushing through me, I take the steps two at a time. I move as quietly as possible, but with caution, pulling my sword out as I go. None of my people would be foolish enough to try to rescue anyone from The Boss’s dungeon. So it is must be someone else and without knowing their purpose, I have to assume they’re up to no good.

  Chapter 22

  IZABEL

  “To exact revenge for yourself or your friends is not only a right, it's an absolute duty.”

  ― Stieg Larsson

  ~~~

  I lie in bed after the party, considering the job I have to do tonight. Freeing the two prisoners held in the basement may not be on Fernando’s agenda, but it’s something I must do to balance out my soul. To turn my back on my own people when I can so easily set them free would be the same as murdering them myself. My soul can’t take such a killing and the Girl of Shadow is no coward. Even if I didn’t hold myself to the highest standard, the people starving on the streets do; for them, I’ll do anything.

  I keep my ears open to the house, listening for footsteps and creaking boards, anything to indicate a human presence. Nothing. Most everyone should be in bed for the night.

  Before bed I’d dressed in loose fighting pants and a tunic with a belt; my cloak and weapons are beneath my pillow waiting for me. I reach for them. It’s time. I send a quick prayer to my mother for safety and speed.

  Checking each hallway before I turn a corner, I slowly make my way to the basement. It’s slow going due to the guards wandering the floors, but luckily I know my own house better than anyone else. Plus my black as night outfit certainly helps in the darkened hallways. It takes a solid half-hour to get there.

  Two guards are stationed at the entrance. They’re a problem I hadn’t considered since guards are not usually stationed at this location, but it makes sense because we don’t usually have rebel prisoners being tortured in the basement. Usually, The Boss does such things off the property- as the saying goes, you don’t piss where you sleep. The fact he made an exception tells me the prisoners are very valuable to him; like a kid with a shiny new toy, he’s keeping them to himself. I’m the other kid, the one that takes the coveted shiny new toy away just because I can.

  They each stand facing out so their backs are angled to each other and the door. I take a moment to watch them for weaknesses, but they both remain in proper position, never saying a word and perfectly alert.

  Crap. Just my luck. They’re probably the only two guards who take their job this seriously and of course, I find them both together on the one night I could really use a break. Why couldn’t a fidgety anxious guard be assigned here?

  I consider distracting them and slipping past, but the risk is too high. They could easily find their way downstairs and I would still have to deal with some on my way back up which is out of the question. My only other choice is to knock them out quietly; a difficult task because it will require me to be in sight of both of them to do it. Pulling my knife out, I take a few steps back to get a running start.

  I move swiftly, taking the farthest one by surprise. My body slams into his back, pushing him into the nearest wall before he can get a grasp on the situation. The most sound he makes is the gasp of surprise before my blade handle finds the base of his skull. I let him drop to the floor while I turn towards his friend.

  The second is more difficult because he’s had time to prepare. He’s also much bigger than the first guy which will make bringing him down so much more difficult. Having already spotted me, he pulls his sword out while I pull out a second knife, dropping it straight down into the floor in front of me. With its tip gripped stiffly between the wood, we face off. I expect him to call for backup, but I guess his arrogance prevents him. Being such a big guy in all, he probably isn’t too worried about one little girl even if my reputation precedes me. Plus, if he brings me down himself, he gets all the credit. I can’t blame the guy for trying. I might have chosen to do the same thing if I were in his position… not! Completely foolish on his part.

  He gives me a big cocky smile and then he swings and I duck. We do this a few times, with him never making contact, but with every swing he takes a step forward. With one final swing, he’s where I want him to be. Having forgotten my knife lodged in the floor, his next step causes him to stumble- the bigger they are, the harder they fall… I swing around to his back and kick him as hard as I can forward. He hits his head on the corner of the wall and then slides to the floor, leaving a trail of blood on the wall while having effectively knocked himself out. His sword swings out of his hand in a spin, nicking his face just below his eye. I grab it before it in beds itself into his arm. Checking him over, I find his pulse and determine that he will live. For now.

  Other than the scratch on his face, and the cut on his head, he’s probably no worse for the wear. He might have even learned a very valuable lesson about underestimating opponents and the importance of backup. In fact, if I
had an address I would probably recommend he write me a thank you note. What I just shared might just save his life in the future.

  Tearing a section of his uniform, I wrap his head to stop the bleeding more for my benefit than for his. I don’t want to leave a trail of blood anywhere more than I already have. Blood equals discovery and I’m nearly out of time already.

  Grabbing my knife from the floor, I sheath it along with the one in my hand. Using the rope from my belt, I tie them both up and drag them to the closest room. It takes much longer than I would have liked just because of their sheer size. Swiping their keys, I lock the door from the inside before closing it to limit the possibility of someone randomly stumbling on them.

  With the guards down, my time is more limited than I would have liked. Eventually someone will be making rounds and notice the two guards are missing and if they’re paying any attention, they’ll see the blood I didn’t have time to clean up.

  I take the steps to the basement two at a time. The sight I find is more than unpleasant. The men have been tortured so badly I’m not sure how I’m going to manage to get them out. The amount of blood is worrisome, but hands, feet, and heads always bleed the most so I put the scene aside and focus on getting them out of the cell. I’ll deal with the rest as it comes. They see me and their faces light up. It gives me hope. Their spirits are not broken.

  I rush to their cell, scrambling through keys until finally one gives the telling click and the door swings open.

  “Girl of Shadow, you came for us.” The older of the two says. He can’t be any older than fifty if that, but the way he moves gives the impression of someone much older.

  “We must hurry. Come.” I assist them the best I can. The older one needing more help than the younger. I take one side of the older man and the younger man takes his other side. There’s no time to check over their injuries. The visible ones don’t look life threatening, but who knows what kind of horrors lay under their blood-stained shirts. Either way, if they stay here, they will certainly die at least now they have a chance no matter how slim it is.

  We make it halfway across the room before someone steps out of the shadows at the base of the stairs.

  Darick.

  I have to shift all of the weight of the older man to the younger man. They both step back wide-eyed, moving to stand against the wall. With some hesitation, I draw my short sword from the strap on my back. I’m not ready for this to happen, but I’ve trained for the possibility and as long as I stay in focus I will win and can control the outcome of this unexpected meeting. At least that’s what I tell myself. I can feel the beads of sweat forming under my hood. We have never fought before, but I’ve seen him practice and know he is as skilled or, perhaps, even a bit better than I am.

  His sword is out and ready. Not wanting to prolong this any longer, I advance taking the first swing. The sound of the swords clashing fills the dungeon, he deflects me with ease. His sword, longer than mine, slides down the blade until it hits my cross-guard. I fade and then lunge again, taking him by surprise, using my feet to trip him. He lands with a thunk; his hands unable to break his fall as he tries to grasp for his sword. His chin and stomach take the worst of the fall. I have to restrain myself from checking if he’s okay. His sword is just out of reach, but I kick it across the room just to be safe. His eyes flicker as if he’s considering going for it, but he’s smart enough to know he can’t get there before my sword would skewer him.

  He does make a move to stand, but I place my foot firmly on his back, letting him know who’s in charge. As soon as I feel like he’s not going to try anything, I release my foot off slowly and step away.

  In a low voice, I tell him, “Get up and turn around.”

  I’m surprised when he complies easily. I approach him again from behind, my sword still up in a defensive position. I turn to the younger man and toss him the set of keys. “Find which one opens that cabinet.” I point to the corner. He props the older one against a wall and after a minute or so opens it.

  “What exactly am I looking for?”

  “Chloroform or anything else that’ll knock him out but not kill him.” He raises an eyebrow at me but does as I directed. Keeping my eyes on Darick’s back, I listen to him dig through bottles and containers of things.

  Surprisingly, Darick chips in to help, “Bottom left corner.” He probably thinks we’ll accidently kill him by grabbing the wrong bottle or he thinks if I can’t find a way to subdue him that I might kill him. Smart guy and probably an accurate assessment of what I would do to just about anyone else, but Darick.

  The young man brings me the bottle, but I don’t take it. Instead, I let Darick feel the pressure of my sword. “Don’t move.” He just nods. I turn to the young man, “Have him breathe it in.” The man with some hesitation puts the bottle beneath Darick’s nose, who doesn’t show any reluctance at breathing it in.

  A second later, I catch Darick in my free arm as he falls back. The young man helps me move Darick out of the way. We leave him sitting up with his back against the inside of the cell. With a little guilt, I lock him in. Someone will find him by morning if not sooner. I toss the keys to the floor just out of reach and leave him without looking back.

  “Come on! We must leave now. We may only have a few minutes, if that.” Putting my short sword away, I trade it up for one of my knives. I help them up the stairs where we are met with an empty hallway. The first two guards remain undiscovered. Leaving the younger man to attend the older one, I scout the halls for guards and check every corner before we make a turn. We make it out with relative ease by staying in the shadows.

  Outside the real challenge begins. Taking a deep breath of the chill night air, we leave the protection of the house. Staying within the cover of the plant life we make our way forward taking each step carefully. The most precarious moment is crossing the path to the other side. We are completely exposed to anyone passing by or looking out the window. I point out the danger to them, but they are already aware and despite their injuries manage to move quickly. Fortunately, we make it without so much as a crunch of a leaf or skitter of a pebble, leaving me to believe the two rebels have been trained well by someone. Pausing occasionally for a passing guard, we make good time to the outer wall.

  Our next challenge is the wall itself. For someone like me with no injuries, the wall is but a small obstacle, but for someone who has been tortured it’s going to prove most challenging. Not having any time to search for an easier way over the wall, we assist in lifting the older one up. Luckily, he has enough strength in his arms to pull himself up to the top. Straddling the wall, the older man reaches a hand down to us. The younger one motions for me to go next, but I shake my head. He shrugs. I drop on one knee, placing my one hand on top of the other to indicate my intentions. He nods with understanding. He puts one shoe in my hand, giving him just enough of a boost to grip his friend’s hand and the top of the wall. He struggles for only a moment before he too is straddling the wall.

  Taking one last look around, I take a few steps back to give me a running start. I run forward using my momentum to get me part way up the wall. Each man grabs a single arm to heave me up.

  In reverse order, we make it down the other side only to be met by a guard on patrol. He opens his mouth to shout a warning, but he never gets the chance. My knife slides across his throat like butter. His body slumps forward, but the rebels grab him at the shoulders before his body hit the ground with a thud. They set him down gently. With no time to do more, I wipe my knife off on his uniform while praying for his soul and I lead them off the property. After that, they’re on their own. When Fernando hears about this, and I have no doubt he will, I’ll be in for a lecture.

  Chapter 23

  DARICK

  “In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.”

  -Albert Einstein

  ~~~

  I come awar
e slowly, peeling my eyelids open just enough to see. I’m locked in a cell. My first reaction is panic- have I been caught? But I quickly push it away. Little good it will do me. My head’s pounding and I can’t figure what happened. I think for a moment and begin recalling bits and pieces... going to the party… dancing… Izabel… and then I was going to attempt a rescue… the Girl of Shadow! At least I think she was the Girl of Shadow. Who else could it be? She certainly fit the description of most of the accounts I’ve heard of her. Although, she was significantly shorter than I expected.

  I try to stand up, but I do it too quickly and have to sit back down. Placing my head between my knees, I give myself a moment to let the dizziness pass and to take stock of my injuries. The chloroform did a real number on me.

  My body is sore, probably from the impact of it hitting the hard ground when she tripped me. Touching my chin, I find it scrapped, it burns a little from my touch, but at least it’s not bleeding. My jaw hurts, but when I run my tongue over my teeth I find none of them broken… thank the Way. Outside of my headache, caused mostly likely from the chloroform and a little dehydration, I’m not in too bad of condition.

  Now that I’ve counted all my fingers and toes, I allow myself a moment to feel relief at my friends escape. I just hope they made it over the wall. I’m surprised the Girl of Shadow knew to come to their aid or even had an interest in helping them. She must have a contact on the inside since very few people knew Charlie and Samuel were down here. I’ll have to pay more attention and find her informer. Though she is beloved by the people, I know she’s not a saint and has some connection to the Underground, a group whose goals I don’t trust. They push for a coup, but they’re just selling the same old thing, dictatorship, just under a new name. No one, but them, will benefit if they take over. None the less, I’m glad she appeared and somewhat curious about her source and motivations.