Chapter Twelve
Linkoln III
The straight, pitch-black path they traveled delved deep underneath Stallworth Keep and the Crystal Lake that surrounded it. How deep do these tunnels go? Link wondered as he staggered through. He could feel openings in the walls, plenty of places one could stray, but the three opted to continue straight. They figured that the prince would take the most direct path, unless he was familiar with the rest already. Had Domino ventured down here before? Had anyone? Link and Benjamin both had no idea that there were tunnels underneath the lake, but both had served in the royal knights for a mere seven years.
Ser Benjamin Sheets was the second son of Austin Sheets, a Pegasus noble, Lord of Port Irving. Before the last war, Benjamin had served the Natales as one of their household knights, but part of the pact that ended the conflict had landed him in the service of Daerunt. During the war, he was responsible for extracting the then-prince from Sky City and hiding him away in the mountains where he could gather his army. Afterward, he was supposed to be sworn to protect the queen, but she died before he and Link had returned from Pegasus. Link was not very close with Benjamin, but he did respect his accomplishments and loyalty to his vows of protecting and serving the royal family.
In staying on the straight path, they found themselves at a set of stairs leading to a piercing splinter of light. Link led the way and pushed at the thick stone ceiling, revealing a bright blue sky. They emerged on the edge of the lake at the outskirts of the city. Across the water, he could see the blue and gold banners flapping on the walls of Stallworth Keep.
“A way out,” Ser Sheets noted. “Perhaps a secret escape route, were the keep ever to come under siege. Being completely surrounded by water may give you the advantage over your enemies, since they only have one way in, but it also leaves you with one way out. When this place was built, they must have had that in mind. Smart.”
“Why would you not know about it then?” Nottoc questioned. “Seems like a rather important detail to keep from your own knights.”
“Good question. Especially with all that’s been going on lately,” Link added.
“Maybe King Daerunt doesn’t know about them,” Ser Sheets said, pacing the edge of the water. “Think about it: Stallworth Keep was built over two hundred years ago, and it wasn’t the Danfords that built her. Perhaps it was a Lagrest secret that died with the family.”
Link had not known much about the Lagrest kings that preceded his own, only that the last one went mad and started executing mages, so Daerunt was forced to revolt against him.
“Well, doesn’t do us much good to ponder on this. We should get back to looking for Domino,” Link insisted.
“How do we know he went this way?” Nottoc asked. “And where should we begin to look?”
Link smiled at the mage. “The market, of course. If I know the prince, that is where he will be.”
Ser Benjamin Sheets was the second son of Austin Sheets, a Pegasus noble, Lord of Port Irving. Before the last war, Benjamin had served the Natales as one of their household knights, but part of the pact that ended the conflict had landed him in the service of Daerunt. During the war, he was responsible for extracting the then-prince from Sky City and hiding him away in the mountains where he could gather his army. Afterward, he was supposed to be sworn to protect the queen, but she died before he and Link had returned from Pegasus. Link was not very close with Benjamin, but he did respect his accomplishments and loyalty to his vows of protecting and serving the royal family.
In staying on the straight path, they found themselves at a set of stairs leading to a piercing splinter of light. Link led the way and pushed at the thick stone ceiling, revealing a bright blue sky. They emerged on the edge of the lake at the outskirts of the city. Across the water, he could see the blue and gold banners flapping on the walls of Stallworth Keep.
“A way out,” Ser Sheets noted. “Perhaps a secret escape route, were the keep ever to come under siege. Being completely surrounded by water may give you the advantage over your enemies, since they only have one way in, but it also leaves you with one way out. When this place was built, they must have had that in mind. Smart.”
“Why would you not know about it then?” Nottoc questioned. “Seems like a rather important detail to keep from your own knights.”
“Good question. Especially with all that’s been going on lately,” Link added.
“Maybe King Daerunt doesn’t know about them,” Ser Sheets said, pacing the edge of the water. “Think about it: Stallworth Keep was built over two hundred years ago, and it wasn’t the Danfords that built her. Perhaps it was a Lagrest secret that died with the family.”
Link had not known much about the Lagrest kings that preceded his own, only that the last one went mad and started executing mages, so Daerunt was forced to revolt against him.
“Well, doesn’t do us much good to ponder on this. We should get back to looking for Domino,” Link insisted.
“How do we know he went this way?” Nottoc asked. “And where should we begin to look?”
Link smiled at the mage. “The market, of course. If I know the prince, that is where he will be.”
After walking from the edge of the lake, they found center city abuzz. The market hummed with merchants serenading passersby with tales of fine silks from the south and promises of potions that would turn back the timeless wrinkles of a woman’s face. It was a traffic hub for wives and servants of wealthy merchants and traders who resided in Stallworth, but it was also filled with children begging for food or coin. Link knew that many of them had no homes or parents, and so they took to surviving the only way they could. It was for this reason that Link had never liked the market much. It reminded him of the hard times that had fallen on the city and showed who truly bled when Ruinous was cut.
Still, it was refreshing to be out on his own for once, and not part of a royal entourage. Whenever the king took his son into the market, Link always had to be at his side, although they had not been out since the attempt on Daerunt’s life. And just recently a mob had tried to overrun the grandmaster. Would Link be in danger here, clad in the silver armor of a Royal Knight? Would Domino be?
Still, it was refreshing to be out on his own for once, and not part of a royal entourage. Whenever the king took his son into the market, Link always had to be at his side, although they had not been out since the attempt on Daerunt’s life. And just recently a mob had tried to overrun the grandmaster. Would Link be in danger here, clad in the silver armor of a Royal Knight? Would Domino be?
“No sign of our little prince,” Nottoc whispered to Link, leaning into his distracted ear.
“Market’s a big place. He’s here somewhere, I know it.”
“And if he’s not? We can’t just search blindly, Ser Knight. We should ask around.”
Link’s brows drew low as he turned to the mage. “Ask around? Are you mad? The fewer who know that the prince is lost in the city, the better.”
“Look around,” she said, motioning to a ragged pair of children draped in tattered garments escaping the cold wind underneath a narrow awning. “I walk these streets every night. They are covered with children, but none of them dressed as Domino. Were he to be off on his own—”
“He would stick out,” he said, finishing her sentence.
“Exactly. And what harm would it do to at the very least question one of the children? We don’t even have to mention that it is the prince; we could say he’s someone else.”
“Ser Sheets!” Link called to his companion, who was walking ahead of them. “We should question some of these children, see if they saw the prince come through here.”
“Market’s a big place. He’s here somewhere, I know it.”
“And if he’s not? We can’t just search blindly, Ser Knight. We should ask around.”
Link’s brows drew low as he turned to the mage. “Ask around? Are you mad? The fewer who know that the prince is lost in the city, the better.”
“Look around,” she said, motioning to a ragged pair of children draped in tattered garments escaping the cold wind underneath a narrow awning. “I walk these streets every night. They are covered with children, but none of them dressed as Domino. Were he to be off on his own—”
“He would stick out,” he said, finishing her sentence.
“Exactly. And what harm would it do to at the very least question one of the children? We don’t even have to mention that it is the prince; we could say he’s someone else.”
“Ser Sheets!” Link called to his companion, who was walking ahead of them. “We should question some of these children, see if they saw the prince come through here.”
They went from child to child, describing the young prince and telling them a story of a servant’s son who ran away. Many of them were either too weak with hunger to answer their questions or fled in fear from the armored knights. Linked wanted to help them out and offer them some food or gold, but before he could even reach into his purse, they fled. After nearly six hours of scouring the market, Nottoc—who had a much gentler disposition than they—was able to engage in conversation with one of the older children stationed at a begging post by offering him half a loaf of bread she had purchased to hand out. He was a scruffy boy whose golden hair was coated in dust. The two spoke at length. Nottoc reported that he did mention seeing a wealthier-looking boy who matched her description of Domino go into the Lazy Inn earlier. It was nothing definite, but it was their only lead, and a place to start.
As the day drew its last hours of sunlight, so the Lazy Inn drew in its usual wealth of patrons. Link was no stranger to the inn, and he was concerned that soon the shift change would occur and Daerunt’s household guards would arrive for their usual night of drinking to find their superiors away from their posts. Of course they would say nothing, but some of them would take note that Link especially was away from the keep, and thus away from the prince. He intended to quickly and discreetly inspect the inn for the prince, but his companions did not share his vision.
Nottoc greeted some faces familiar to her and introduced the two knights to an assortment of people. She glided through, going table to table, and lastly stopped at a vacant one to take a seat and call over a tavern maid, who greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. Nottoc kicked back a chair and plopped herself down, gazing at Link with a wry smirk. “You going to sit down?”
“I had not—”
“Sure thing,” Ser Sheets replied, interrupting Link and seating himself at the table.
“I had not planned on staying long,” Link finally managed to say. “It does not appear that he is here. We should continue to look.”
Nottoc placed her finger over her lips, hissing, “Shh, Ser Knight. Best not to draw attention to ourselves. Would it not look odd if a mage and two royal knights just walked in, looked around, and simply walked out? If a certain someone was here at some point today, people might put two and two together and identify our young friend, but if we sit a spell, have some drinks, maybe eat a bit, well then, it just looks like friends enjoying a night away from the keep. We need to blend in. Let me ask around. I know these people, so it will not seem so suspicious.”
“I had not—”
“Sure thing,” Ser Sheets replied, interrupting Link and seating himself at the table.
“I had not planned on staying long,” Link finally managed to say. “It does not appear that he is here. We should continue to look.”
Nottoc placed her finger over her lips, hissing, “Shh, Ser Knight. Best not to draw attention to ourselves. Would it not look odd if a mage and two royal knights just walked in, looked around, and simply walked out? If a certain someone was here at some point today, people might put two and two together and identify our young friend, but if we sit a spell, have some drinks, maybe eat a bit, well then, it just looks like friends enjoying a night away from the keep. We need to blend in. Let me ask around. I know these people, so it will not seem so suspicious.”
She was right. Link knew it, though he did not like it. He followed her plan and sipped a stout bitter ale while she darted in and out of conversations and Ser Sheets devoured a chicken leg melting off its bone. Link had never liked places like this and only went out of courtesy to his men. He never cared to drink much, as he found the taste of alcohol, even the sweetest of wines, unappealing. In his days with the Woodsmen Guild, he would seldom join his brothers at the tavern and certainly he did not as a knight. He would only patronize a place like the Lazy Inn for an early supper with some of his subordinates.
“Do we not waste our time here, brother?” he groaned to Sheets, clenching his fist around the handle of his nearly full mug.
“I look at it one of two ways, Link,” he slurred, food falling from his mouth to the plate. “Excuse me.” He washed his meal down with one final gulp of ale and waved his mug in the air, signaling for another. “We don’t know where our little friend is, only that some street rat may or may not have seen him come in here earlier. This mage knows people here, so if someone did see him, she’ll find out.”
“Do we not waste our time here, brother?” he groaned to Sheets, clenching his fist around the handle of his nearly full mug.
“I look at it one of two ways, Link,” he slurred, food falling from his mouth to the plate. “Excuse me.” He washed his meal down with one final gulp of ale and waved his mug in the air, signaling for another. “We don’t know where our little friend is, only that some street rat may or may not have seen him come in here earlier. This mage knows people here, so if someone did see him, she’ll find out.”
“It appears that she is just drinking and socializing.” His voice had grown irritated as he looked at the mage sitting and laughing in the lap of a thick, scruffy, bald man.
“That’s called a woman’s investigation. She’s rather good at it, actually. So on the off-chance she manages to get something that helps us, bearing in mind that by now someone has likely noticed that the two of us and the prince are absent, maybe she can save our heads. If not, well, then this will sure make one hell of a last meal.”
“That’s called a woman’s investigation. She’s rather good at it, actually. So on the off-chance she manages to get something that helps us, bearing in mind that by now someone has likely noticed that the two of us and the prince are absent, maybe she can save our heads. If not, well, then this will sure make one hell of a last meal.”
Link placed his hand on the back of his head and stared into the brown liquid. Benjamin was right. If they returned without Domino, Link might be joining his old friend Daniel after all. Surely the king would understand though; it wasn’t as if Link or even Benjamin could have done anything to prevent the prince from slipping out. Although this was the same Daerunt who allowed his friend to be executed, his friend to whom Daerunt owed everything. No, the king was a wise and logical man. If they just returned and explained the situation...or maybe if they had when it first happened. Maybe then the prince would not be... It was too late for maybes. They had already wasted the day away, and now Nottoc and Benjamin were wasting the night. Every second they sat here, his prince could be dying in the street, or worse. Link could no longer stand the thought. He might be exiled or executed for his oversight, but at least he could return Domino home safely. He rose from his seat, ready to take his leave, even on his own, when Nottoc returned to them with the bald man she had been flirting with.
“Ser Link, Ser Benjamin, this is Ace. He may have seen my poor little nephew here earlier.”
“Yes, I think I did. A black-haired boy dressed in red silks. Must be pretty important to have two royal knights looking for him. Ser Link was it, sworn sword to the prince, correct?”
“Correct.” Link scowled at the man. “His mother is a dear friend of ours, and she’s worried sick about him.”
“I imagine she is. He was in good health when I saw him here and I think I saw him head in the direction of the keep. He’s probably safe at home with his mother by now.”
“We’ll be heading back then, once we finish our drinks,” Nottoc told him, taking command of the conversation. “Thanks for the help. Care to stay a spell?”
“I cannot, for sadly I have business to attend to. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Yes, I think I did. A black-haired boy dressed in red silks. Must be pretty important to have two royal knights looking for him. Ser Link was it, sworn sword to the prince, correct?”
“Correct.” Link scowled at the man. “His mother is a dear friend of ours, and she’s worried sick about him.”
“I imagine she is. He was in good health when I saw him here and I think I saw him head in the direction of the keep. He’s probably safe at home with his mother by now.”
“We’ll be heading back then, once we finish our drinks,” Nottoc told him, taking command of the conversation. “Thanks for the help. Care to stay a spell?”
“I cannot, for sadly I have business to attend to. It’s been a pleasure.”
They watched the man strut his way to the door. He moved very gracefully for such a stocky man and seemed very light on his feet. Link noticed that he was armed as well, with a long silver bow strapped to his back.
“He’s full of shit,” Nottoc said as the door creaked shut. “First of all, I’ve never seen that guy here before and his story doesn’t check out. I asked the barkeep if he’d seen Domino and he told me that he’d been working here all day and didn’t recall seeing anyone who looked like him. And Ace came to me, asked me if I was looking for someone. Seemed very interested in our missing person, and very, very interested in you, Link.”
“In me? Why so?”
“I don’t know, but he rubbed me the wrong way. I think we should follow him and be quick about it.” She got up, starting for the door, and looked back to the knights. “Let’s go, before we lose him.”
“Mages,” Ser Sheets complained, following Nottoc.
“We’re just going to follow her?”
The knight, walking away from Link, grunted, “You got any better ideas?”
“In me? Why so?”
“I don’t know, but he rubbed me the wrong way. I think we should follow him and be quick about it.” She got up, starting for the door, and looked back to the knights. “Let’s go, before we lose him.”
“Mages,” Ser Sheets complained, following Nottoc.
“We’re just going to follow her?”
The knight, walking away from Link, grunted, “You got any better ideas?”
Stealth was something Link was all too familiar with. In his youth, he and Michael would often sneak into the guild masters’ hall and eavesdrop on their fathers’ meetings. And he did smuggle a princess from Calafrack to Ruinous. Tailing this “Ace” was no problem for the knight, but that could not be said for those in his company. Ser Sheets, though graceful in combat, was clumsy and heavy in his steps, and Nottoc was anxious and quick-footed. The concept of keeping a quiet distance was completely foreign to them, and it soon became evident to Link that the mystery man knew he was being followed. Ace peeked over his shoulder casually, peering at them through his peripheral vision while he gradually increased his pace. The increasing darkness would help him disappear, and Link knew that a more direct approach would need to be taken. Without a word, he broke into a sprint toward the darkly dressed man. The clanging of his armor was Ace’s cue to dart away.
He cut immediately into the nearest alley adjacent to the theater. Link followed, with Nottoc and Benjamin trailing behind. As Link turned the corner, an arrow whizzed by his ear, nearly grazing him. At the end of the alley, Ace made an immediate break after missing his warning shot. Link, with sword drawn, pursued. Though Link was a larger man, he was much quicker on his feet than he appeared, but with every turn, he only managed to catch a glimpse of Ace making his next turn, until he came up an alley with a dead end. Link, now bent over and panting, glared around the alley. He knew that Ace had come this way. He had seen him with his own eyes, but where was he?
“Halt!” Ser Sheets yelled, rounding the corner at a run with his sword in hand and Nottoc at his back. “Rats, you lost him.”
Link, still bent over, glared back at his fellow knight. “I didn’t lose him! He came this way, I know it.”
“Why did you go after him like that, Ser Linkoln? Was our plan not to follow him?”
Link walked toward Ser Sheets. “That was the plan, but it’s rather difficult to follow someone with a clunking brute at your heels,” he yelled, shoving Benjamin. “Dammit! Dammit, dammit, dammit!” he yelled, pounding his fist against a jagged stone wall.
“Link, calm down.” Nottoc’s soothing voice echoed in the empty alley as she grabbed the knight by the shoulders.
Link, still bent over, glared back at his fellow knight. “I didn’t lose him! He came this way, I know it.”
“Why did you go after him like that, Ser Linkoln? Was our plan not to follow him?”
Link walked toward Ser Sheets. “That was the plan, but it’s rather difficult to follow someone with a clunking brute at your heels,” he yelled, shoving Benjamin. “Dammit! Dammit, dammit, dammit!” he yelled, pounding his fist against a jagged stone wall.
“Link, calm down.” Nottoc’s soothing voice echoed in the empty alley as she grabbed the knight by the shoulders.
He smacked her hands away and yelled, “Don’t put your hands on me.” He didn’t want to calm down, he wanted to find his prince. All he could think of was the boy’s eyes flooded with tears as this Ace tossed him about. His rage was beginning to take him. It had been so long since he’d lost control that he could not quite remember how to regain it. Everything around him was suffocating him with anger: the concerned look on Nottoc’s face, the empty stare of Ser Sheets, and the stone wall that lay behind him, leading to nowhere. He hurled his sword behind him in a fit of anger, but the strangest thing happened. Rather than bounce off the stone, as any steel blade would, its end stuck into it like an arrow in a block of wood.
Silently, a puzzled Nottoc inspected the blade, while Link stared at it. “Interesting. Either you’ve the strength of Guy himself or this wall is not what it appears.” She pulled at the sword, but it did not move alone. With it swung open a wooden door leading to a passage of steep winding stairs.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ser Sheets sighed, “another secret door? What happened to the days when people would put doors right out in the open where you could see them? My, how times have changed.”
“I knew he went this way,” Link said, approaching the passage. “Ser Sheets, would you be so kind as to fetch Ser Radivan and the city guard? I believe we have stumbled onto something here.”
“Good idea, Ser Link. Wait here for my return?”
“No, we will go in now. If the prince is here, it’s best we not waste any time. The mage and I should be fine until you return, that is if you can remain quiet this time.” He turned to Nottoc with a half-smile.
“I knew he went this way,” Link said, approaching the passage. “Ser Sheets, would you be so kind as to fetch Ser Radivan and the city guard? I believe we have stumbled onto something here.”
“Good idea, Ser Link. Wait here for my return?”
“No, we will go in now. If the prince is here, it’s best we not waste any time. The mage and I should be fine until you return, that is if you can remain quiet this time.” He turned to Nottoc with a half-smile.
Down the wooden stairs they crept, circling slowly over the loose boards to avoid the creaks. They could hear faint whispers below, but dared not rush. Link knew that his companions’ carelessness had already allowed Ace to elude him, so this time he was careful to lead the way and keep one hand behind him, silently instructing Nottoc. She efficiently followed him as if they had done it before, as if she were one of his brothers from the Woodsmen Guild. He applauded her ability to adapt to the situation, much more than his fellow knight had been able to. It was not that Sir Sheets was incapable, but his high-born life had left him lacking in the streetwise skillset that Link possessed.
As they moved down pressed against the wall, the dark spiral grew lighter and lighter and the whispers soon turned out to be the familiar voice of Ace. “They won’t be a problem,” he assured someone. “The royal knights are nothing more than glorified statues. They’re no threat to us.”
As they moved down pressed against the wall, the dark spiral grew lighter and lighter and the whispers soon turned out to be the familiar voice of Ace. “They won’t be a problem,” he assured someone. “The royal knights are nothing more than glorified statues. They’re no threat to us.”
“Why were they following you, then?”
“I believe you were right. They are looking for the prince. The one knight, Link Gondev, he’s the prince’s sworn sword, and the mage is the boy’s tutor, not bad looking either. Plump little ass and nice perky pair of tits. I almost bent the gutterslut over right there at the inn. I’m surprised my cock didn’t stab her right through the ass.”
The voices broke out in laughter as Link struggled to contain his own while hugging the corner. Foul jokes like that were not something Link would normally partake in, but in his days with the guild, the men would crack them constantly so he learned to laugh even if he didn’t find it appropriate. He looked at Nottoc, whose face was scrunched in disgust, and let out a silent chuckle.
“I believe you were right. They are looking for the prince. The one knight, Link Gondev, he’s the prince’s sworn sword, and the mage is the boy’s tutor, not bad looking either. Plump little ass and nice perky pair of tits. I almost bent the gutterslut over right there at the inn. I’m surprised my cock didn’t stab her right through the ass.”
The voices broke out in laughter as Link struggled to contain his own while hugging the corner. Foul jokes like that were not something Link would normally partake in, but in his days with the guild, the men would crack them constantly so he learned to laugh even if he didn’t find it appropriate. He looked at Nottoc, whose face was scrunched in disgust, and let out a silent chuckle.
“Yeah, she was something else, right? Wait, though. If we can secure the prince, that would be huge for our charter. Do you think he would make us full-fledged members like you are?”
“Possibly. The question is, what is our little prince doing outside the walls of Stallworth Keep and out on his own? The new recruits—bring them in, let’s see if they know anything.”
After the opening and closing of a few doors, they heard the shuffling of tiny feet and the squeaks of high-pitched voices. “Fall in line,” another voice yelled as its tone deepened. The room went silent and the whispering of little boys was replaced by the pacing of boots back and forth.
“Welcome, recruits! I said, ‘welcome, recruits!’ This is where you say, ‘Welcome, Ser Eagle’.”
“Welcome, Ser Eagle!” the little voices chorused.
“Pathetic, this lot is. Worry not, though. You will be birds in time, and what do birds do? This is where you yell ‘fly’ at the top of your lungs!”
“FLY!” the voices screeched individually.
“Ha-ha, absolutely terrible. This organization is not for the weak, boys. If you’re here just looking for steady feed, then go look someplace else. Here you get what you earn and you earn what you get. Now who was in the market today with Ethan here?”
“Possibly. The question is, what is our little prince doing outside the walls of Stallworth Keep and out on his own? The new recruits—bring them in, let’s see if they know anything.”
After the opening and closing of a few doors, they heard the shuffling of tiny feet and the squeaks of high-pitched voices. “Fall in line,” another voice yelled as its tone deepened. The room went silent and the whispering of little boys was replaced by the pacing of boots back and forth.
“Welcome, recruits! I said, ‘welcome, recruits!’ This is where you say, ‘Welcome, Ser Eagle’.”
“Welcome, Ser Eagle!” the little voices chorused.
“Pathetic, this lot is. Worry not, though. You will be birds in time, and what do birds do? This is where you yell ‘fly’ at the top of your lungs!”
“FLY!” the voices screeched individually.
“Ha-ha, absolutely terrible. This organization is not for the weak, boys. If you’re here just looking for steady feed, then go look someplace else. Here you get what you earn and you earn what you get. Now who was in the market today with Ethan here?”
Link peered around the corner as Ace proceeded to question the boys in front of him. There were five of them, all very young, and Link could see the top of Ace’s head as he leaned down to look them in the eyes. Behind Ace he saw the filthy blonde-haired boy from the market who Nottoc had spoken with pouring himself a glass of water. As his eyes gradually made their way down the line of children, Link noticed that it ended with a small, black-haired boy. His hair was the right length and the perfect shade of colorless black. It was Domino, right here under their noses! But how long would it be before they realized the prince was among them?
Link looked back to Nottoc and mouthed “he’s here” to her, waving his finger and motioning for her to come closer and peek around the corner. He pointed to a pitcher on the table behind the blonde boy from the market. He swished his hands around in front of her and she nodded. His pointer and middle finger went from his eyes to the pitcher, then from the pitcher to Ace, then from Ace to himself, then from himself to Domino.
Nottoc gave him another simple nod and placed her hands out, glaring at the pitcher. The water rose from the pitcher as her hands steadily lifted in front of her. She clenched her fingers, forming a half-open fist, and the airborne liquid shaped itself into a ball and froze solid. She violently thrust her hands to the left and the ice hurled itself into Ace’s shoulder, exploding into a thin veil of mist upon contact. Ace fell to the ground and the small boys all jumped back. Link took the brief window of confusion as his opportunity to rush in and grab Domino. He sprinted for the boy, tossed him over his shoulder, and made for the stairs.
Nottoc gave him another simple nod and placed her hands out, glaring at the pitcher. The water rose from the pitcher as her hands steadily lifted in front of her. She clenched her fingers, forming a half-open fist, and the airborne liquid shaped itself into a ball and froze solid. She violently thrust her hands to the left and the ice hurled itself into Ace’s shoulder, exploding into a thin veil of mist upon contact. Ace fell to the ground and the small boys all jumped back. Link took the brief window of confusion as his opportunity to rush in and grab Domino. He sprinted for the boy, tossed him over his shoulder, and made for the stairs.
Barreling back to the surface, they hurtled down the alley from which they came. Behind them they could hear boys pouring from the underground. Link knew he could turn around and likely scare them away, but if they did decide to engage the knight, he was not sure how he felt about slaughtering children. Rocks and dirt ricocheted off Link’s armor as the boys threw at them whatever they could pick up. He knew danger was likely at their rear as well, so he zigzagged as he withdrew, to keep from being an easy target. To his surprise, Nottoc kept pace and followed his lead. He was not worried about her, he knew she could take care of herself.
Emerging back into center city, he found Ser Sheets marching to them along with Ser Radivan and the city guard. When the boys behind them caught sight of this, they instantly turned and scattered at Ace’s command. The city guards pursued them, but Link knew they would not be able to navigate the alleys well enough. There were too many twists and turns deep within Stallworth. The city now belonged to the shadows more than the crown.
“Domino. My prince... Please do not leave the safety of the keep again,” he lectured, putting the boy on his feet below him. But when he placed Domino to the ground, he saw it was not Domino at all. He saw only the petrified face of a poor little black-haired boy.
“What happened here?” Ser Radivan inquired. “Why did you take this boy? Ser Sheets did not tell me much, only that you would be in need of our assistance.”
Link looked to Nottoc with a disappointed glare, and then back to Ser Radivan. “He was one of them, kids, a bunch of kids. I don’t know exactly what they were doing, didn’t get a good look at their hideout, but we can check it out. They may be connected to the Shadow Fox. I’m not sure.”
“I will report it to the grandmaster at once.” Ruf nodded. “But, Link, why are you away from the keep? Should you not be with the prince?”
“Business for the king,” Ser Sheets interrupted. “Reminds me, we better get back and report everything. I’d have your men clear out that hideout. I’ll show you where it is and then we can head back.”
“Domino. My prince... Please do not leave the safety of the keep again,” he lectured, putting the boy on his feet below him. But when he placed Domino to the ground, he saw it was not Domino at all. He saw only the petrified face of a poor little black-haired boy.
“What happened here?” Ser Radivan inquired. “Why did you take this boy? Ser Sheets did not tell me much, only that you would be in need of our assistance.”
Link looked to Nottoc with a disappointed glare, and then back to Ser Radivan. “He was one of them, kids, a bunch of kids. I don’t know exactly what they were doing, didn’t get a good look at their hideout, but we can check it out. They may be connected to the Shadow Fox. I’m not sure.”
“I will report it to the grandmaster at once.” Ruf nodded. “But, Link, why are you away from the keep? Should you not be with the prince?”
“Business for the king,” Ser Sheets interrupted. “Reminds me, we better get back and report everything. I’d have your men clear out that hideout. I’ll show you where it is and then we can head back.”
Benjamin led Ruf and his remaining guards down the maze of alleys, taking the boy Link thought to be Domino with them as a prisoner and leaving the knight with the mage. Link squatted, holding himself up with shaking knees and ankles. He would have to face the king. Link had lost his only son.