Interspersed among the ultramodern architecture, on the wide main streets and in the alleyways between the buildings, traders offered their wares. Colorful stalls, the kind that could be erected and dismantled easily, lined the streets. Musicians of all kinds performed alongside hawkers, peddlers, painters, and more. Anything could be bought on the streets of Agavi. Hot sweet tea and coffee so thick a spoon could stand up in it; colorful scarves and clinking jewelry; exotic poisons, and even, if one were unlucky enough to accidentally stumble into the wrong place at the wrong time, a swift death.
Everywhere, sights and sounds assailed their senses. The smell of coffee and incense made their stomachs growl and their heads spin. The calls of the hawkers blended with the shrill songs of the women, who unrestrainedly lifted their voices as an offering to the Gods in the squares and plazas. Everything was bright and clear in the brittle heat, demanding their attention, dividing their focus, scattering their thoughts.
Feeling overloaded, they found a small pavement café where they sipped the thick local coffee, nibbled on sweet cakes, and watched the world go by.
“This is a hell of a place,” Astrin commented.
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s giving me a headache.”
“You already had a headache; it’s called a hangover.”
“It’s not fair you don’t have one too. You drank as much as I did, if not more.”
“I do have a headache—it’s called Astrin.”
Astrin stuck out his tongue and laughed.
“Don’t forget, I’m Cody here.”
“Oops.”
Rowan looked around nervously.
“Do you think anyone heard?”
“No, but you have to be more careful.”
“Noted. What do you think of the place… really?”
“It’s interesting. On the surface, it’s very colorful and full of life, but… it isn’t, not really.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look into their eyes, Rowan. Their eyes are dead, despairing. There are police on almost every corner, and everything feels… forced.”
“I know what you mean.”
“What do you think we should do now?”
“We need more information about what’s happening tomorrow, but we have to keep a low profile. We have to be careful. It’s what… almost eight o’clock? We need to find somewhere to stay and get something to eat. How do you feel about a bar?”
“Nervous.”
Rowan smiled and said aloud, “How do you feel about finding somewhere to eat and stay the night?”
“I feel… hungry. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and this cake is only making me hungrier.”
“It’s your fault you didn’t eat. You slept all the way.”
“Yeah, well. Where should we go? What kind of food were you thinking of? Where can we stay?”
Rowan shrugged.
“Perhaps I can help you boys, as you seem to be new to the city.”
They looked up at the familiar voice and were surprised to see the woman from the train. She was accompanied by a young man, who looked to be around Rowan’s age or a little older. He scowled at them.
“Are you following us?” Astrin asked.
The woman laughed. “Hardly, I’ve been at my sister’s.” She beamed at Rowan. “Remember? I told you all about her.” Rowan gave a polite nod, wracking his brain for the aimless chatter he’d failed to listen to. “My nephew and I were about to meet some friends for dinner. Would you like to join us?”
“Aunt Neive, are you sure that’s wise? We don’t need trouble now.”
“These boys aren’t trouble, dear. They’re mercenaries, and they might be able to help us. Mercenaries owe their allegiance to whoever pays their fees, isn’t that right?” Her voice and eyes hardened and bored into Rowan with a ferocity that made him shiver.
“Of course,” Astrin answered for him. “If the price is right. What do you have in mind?”
“Aunt Neive,” the young man said nervously. “We don’t have the money to pay for mercenaries.”
“I think we can come to some arrangement, can’t we, boys?”
“We’re always ready to discuss terms.” Again it was Astrin who responded. Rowan was still locked in a gaze with Neive. She leaned forward and whispered something in his ear.
Rowan stiffened and jerked.
“How…?”
“Sh, I’m not blind, boy, and I’m not stupid. I watch television, and unlike the other fools that surround us, I can see what is there—not what I expect to be there or am led to believe is there.” She glanced at Astrin. “I can help you, and I will keep your secret, if you will keep mine.”
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
“What secret might that be?” Rowan managed to say calmly, although he was sure his eyes must betray his inner turmoil.
“Shall we just say we are alike in our desire to see justice done?”
Rowan glanced at Astrin, who was frowning, looking ill at ease and very worried. Then he took a deep breath and nodded. “All right. We’ll come with you and talk, but if you try anything….”
“I mean you no harm, my dear. All I ask is that you come with us and listen to what we have to say. If you then feel you cannot profit from our association, you can walk away and, as long as you give your oath not to interfere with our purpose, we will not interfere with yours.”
“Agreed.”
Neive smiled and nodded, then began to walk away. Rowan rose to follow, but Astrin put a hand on his arm.
“What was that all about?”
“She knows who we are!”
“What? What did she say to you?”
“She used my name.”
“We can’t go with her.”
“We have to. I have a feeling our meeting was not by chance. I think she might have something to do with the demonstration tomorrow. This meeting is about that, I think.”
“Are you sure?”
“Not even remotely, but I have a feeling.”
“Good enough for me. I haven’t got a better idea. Keep alert.”
“Always.”
They followed Neive and her scowling nephew, if that was who he really was, through the city to a small bar near the main thoroughfare. After entering the establishment, instead of heading into the main bar area, Neive led them up a set of narrow stairs onto a landing. Faced with a door, she knocked a complicated series of taps and slaps; then the door was opened by a pale man with a harassed expression on his face.
Seeing Astrin and Rowan, his eyes widened. He dragged Neive inside and shut the door in their faces. Shocked, they remained frozen where they were, uncomfortably trying to ignore the scowling boy who stood in front of the door with his arms crossed.
After a time the door opened and Neive gestured them inside.
There were about thirty people crammed into a room that was barely big enough to hold them all. They were sitting on benches, chairs, and tables, ranging in age from teens to the grizzled old men who huddled in a corner, smoking strong-smelling vanilla tobacco from long, cherrywood pipes. It scented the room and created a haze that made the whole scene somewhat surreal. What they all had in common was that look—the nervous, haunted look of the underground revolutionary.
Everyone was staring at them, and they returned the glances nervously.
“Welcome to Agavi, Your Majesties. It is truly an honor to meet you.”
Rowan and Astrin turned to look at the speaker, a lean, handsome man in his midthirties with jet-black hair and the eyes of a predator. He was not haunted, and he was not hunted—he was the hunter, and both boys had the uneasy feeling that they were the prey.
“How… how did you know?” Astrin whispered.
“I’m sorry, dears, I had to tell them. Our meeting was too fortuitous to be chance.”
“But how did
you
know?”
“Honey, I don’t quite know what you’re doing here, but you’re hellishly lucky you made it this far. The illusion was a good one, but you should know that you don’t maintain it when you’re unconscious.” She directed this remark at Astrin.
“What illusion?”
Rowan asked sharply.
“Just a little masking to make us look different. Something like what you did with the stone, but more subtle.”
“Did you know it slips when you’re asleep?”
“Um… no.”
“Well, now you do.”
Astrin shrugged, an amused expression dancing in his eyes.
“You must be more careful. It would be catastrophic if you were recognized here.”
“We’ll be more careful.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t need to from now on.”
They both tensed and unconsciously drew closer together. Neive smiled. “Don’t look so concerned, my dears. I only meant that we will look after you now.”
“At what price?”
She looked at Astrin with surprise. “No price. Our bargain holds. We talk, and if we can help each other, we will; if not, you are welcome to stay here tonight and we part company tomorrow.”
“Are you part of the resistance—part of the demonstration tomorrow?”
“How did you know about that?”
“Everyone knows about that. It’s all they’re talking about in Port Home, even in Maratebo.” The revolutionaries looked uncomfortably at one another. “There’s a great deal of sympathy for you there. There’s talk of a war, a disaster of worldwide proportions if something is not done to curb the ambitions of House Michael before they unleash whatever plans they have for my father and Rowan’s uncle.
“When House Raphael and House Gabriel were at war, there was scope for House Michael to plan a war on the divided nations, but with the war looking as if it is drawing to a close, he cannot afford to have us united. I’m not entirely sure what he plans to do with my father and Lord Charles Gabriel, but I’m guessing that whatever it is, if it comes to fruition, it will result in the collapse of our Houses and the dominance of his.
“So… what we plan is simple—to get into the compound in any way we can and rescue our family. I don’t think this will hurt your plans at all.”
The dark-haired man looked at Astrin thoughtfully, then finally said, “I think you are fools. If you are captured by House Michael, you are playing into their hands. With all four of you in his dungeons, there is nothing that will stop Strebo Michael from grinding your Houses into the dust.”
“I know. But I… we’re following a vision. It’s not something we want to do; it’s something we have to do.”
“Vision? You’re a seer, then?”
“Apparently so.”
“Can you see for us? Tell us what will happen tomorrow?”
Astrin looked very uncomfortable. “It doesn’t work that way—not for me, or not yet. It’s an ability that has only just awoken. It comes when it comes, and I have no control over it.”
“Could you at least try?”
“I… don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“You know something, don’t you? Tell us.”
“I…. It’s not as simple as that. If I told you what I’ve seen, it might alter things and—”
“And it wouldn’t suit you? But what about us? Is that why you came here?” He looked at Astrin shrewdly. “You saw something in your vision that you thought you could use to help you, so you came here seeking us out. That’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“You have some sight yourself?”
“I have a… knack for seeing truth.”
“Yes, there is truth in what you say. I saw the demonstration and thought we could use the confusion to get inside.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Astrin sighed and glanced at Rowan.
“What do you think? Should I tell them?”
“Why not?”
“Because if I tell them what’s going to happen, they might not go ahead with the demonstration.”
“I don’t think that’s going to stop them, Astrin. They’re revolutionaries. Just being seen in the demonstration will mark them. They’re not going to stop just because there are going to be soldiers there and some of them are going to be hauled off to the dungeons. I’d be surprised if they weren’t expecting it.”
“All right…. Yes, I did see the demonstration. I saw a heavy presence of the palace guards—mounted horsemen across the gate, hiding scores of foot soldiers behind. I saw the riders charge and the foot soldiers drag some protesters inside to the dungeons. They… they were not being gentle.”
“It’s no more than we expected. That the mounted soldiers charge is a surprise, but we can arrange surprises of our own. Thank you. You’ve been most helpful. How did you plan to use the demonstration to get inside the walls?”
“We thought we might make some trouble and get arrested.”
The man looked at them for a few moments, then began to laugh. The laughter was picked up by others until soon the whole room was rocking.
“Well, that’s one way to get into the dungeons. All right… if you are set on this, I will help you.”
“Help us? How?”
“We will hide you here until it’s time for the demonstration to begin, and we will get you safely and undetected to the gate. After that, you’re on your own.”
“That sounds fair,” Rowan said. “What do you want from us in return?”
The man looked at them for a while, long enough to make Rowan feel uncomfortable. “I am of House Gabriel, and my liege lord asks what he can do for me. Just succeed, Rowan Gabriel. Just succeed, then get the hell out of there. If you make it that far, come back here, and we will be waiting.”
“If you make it.”
“Someone will make it.”
And just like that, they were part of the group. At some point food was brought up from the bar below, with foaming glasses of thick, dark beer that Astrin looked at suspiciously before taking a cautious sip. He drank one glass with his meal, then switched to water, Rowan noticed with a smile.
They found out with surprise that this little group was merely a splinter group in a much larger movement that was planning not just a demonstration but a full-scale revolution.
The demonstration itself was a diversion, but they didn’t know—or so they said—what it was a diversion from. The safety of the collective depended on none of the factions knowing who the others were or what they were doing. Such was the way of all revolutions.