Chapter Four
The sky was a dark blue, with a few clouds in it. The moon was full, but it was starting to disappear. On the horizon, beams of light began to cut through the sky, and the dark blue sky became lighter and lighter. Before long, the sun began to shine on the houses and buildings inside wall Sina. Nicholas was in his room, in bed, and the light that was illuminating the day crept through his window, waking him. He slowly rolled up into a sitting position, and with a stretch and a yawn, he was completely awake. Getting up, Nicholas went over to his drawer, and got dressed for the day. He got into his outfit of a dark red shirt and brown pants. Nicholas headed out of his door and went straight downstairs to the kitchen. Opening the pantry door, he got out a pot and pumped a small amount of water into it from the basin. Fetching some wood and matches, he started a fire in the cooking stove. After getting the stepping stool and putting the pot on one of the burners, he got a bag of oatmeal from the pantry along with a large spoon. When the pot started boiling, he started to put scoops of the oatmeal in the pot one after the other. Stirring the meal, he got some sugar, milk, and cinnamon from the pantry, adding each of them little by little. Nicholas then set about making a place for Lorenz and himself at the table. Giving the oatmeal one last stir, he looked around, making sure everything was set. With that Nicholas waited, and waited, until he gave a grunt of annoyance and went back upstairs. Opening the door to Lorenz's room, he saw him sleeping upside down in his bed with the sheets sprawled, still in his pajamas. Nicholas gave a sigh and went over to wake him up.
"Lorenz, wake up."
Lorenz just snorted and turned away in response. Nicholas simply had nothing but a look of indignation.
"Lorenz, wake up now," he said as he shook him, " I'm going to use the wax."
Again, he just snorted in response.
"Alright, wax it is."
Nicholas went over to his desk and got the block of sealing wax and a box of matches from the top drawer. Lighting a match, he went over to Lorenz, and held the wax up over the back of his neck while putting the flame close to the block. It started to melt, and a single drop landed on Lorenz's skin. That made him wince, and it was the second one that made him sit at attention like a cat dropped into water.
"AHHH...SON OF A BITCH!"
Lorenz grasped the nape of his neck to get at the hot droplets. He looked around in confusion until he saw Nicholas with a block of wax that was melted at the top in one hand and waving a match out in the other.
"What the hell kid, why'd you do that!"
"Because you said it was what I could do if you started to sleep in."
Lorenz had a look of realization as he said, "Oh...I did say that."
Getting up from bed, still rubbing the back of his neck, he looked at Nicholas and asked, "So, what's for breakfast?"
"Eh, cinnamon oatmeal with your choice of drink."
"Hmph, not bad. Mind giving me a moment?"
"Sure thing," Nicholas said while leaving the room. He went downstairs, serving himself and waiting for Lorenz to come down. A moment later, he came down the stairs and walked straight to the basin, putting water in his hand and applying it to his neck. After soothing his burns, he got his meal and sat down at the table.
"So Lorenz, do you have anything for me to do today?"
"Yeah, a couple of things actually," and after swallowing a spoonful of oatmeal, " first, I want you to go to the general store to get sugar, soap, matches, and oil. Next, I want you to visit the butcher shop. I ordered some meat and he should have it ready. After that, head down to the bakers and buy a few loaves of bread. Finally, go down to the bookstore. There're some certain materials I want you to get."
Nicholas looked up from his breakfast and asked, "That it?"
"Mmm… yep, that's it."
Both of them finished their meal. Nicholas went about washing the dishes while Lorenz went back to his room. After washing them, Nicholas got a wooden cup from the pantry and some salt. Pumping some water into the cup, he added the salt, and proceed to rinse his mouth and gargle. After spitting into the basin, he filled it once again. Rinsing the cup and putting it with the dishes drying to the right, he proceeded to wait for Lorenz next to the door. Coming quietly down the stairs, Lorenz had a couple of papers in one hand and a large coin purse in the other.
"Alright kid, here are the orders for the items I need," handing the papers to him, "and here is what you're going to pay with," handing the coin purse next.
"You know what to do."
With a nod, Nicholas grabbed the keys off the coat rack and went right through the front door. Locking it behind him, he set out. But before even walking a few steps, something began picking at his mind.
"Hmm, I feel like...I'm forgetting something today?"
Looking at the sky for a few seconds, Nicholas just shrugged the feeling off. Rolling up the papers and putting them in his left pocket while placing the coin purse and keys in the other, he continued on his way. Going down the cobbled road and onto the main street, and after a few turns and such, he finally arrived at his first destination. Heading through the door, Nicholas looked around the general store, viewing the various goods. There were an assortment of all kinds of objects lined on shelves, such as lanterns, containers of oil, firewood, brooms, dustpans, and dishes. Alongside these were open boxes of matches, candles, and silverware. Mixed in with these objects were wrapped cheeses, canned meats and vegetables as well as sacks of flour together with sugar.
"Ahh, there it is."
Heading over to the nearest bag, which was about the size of his entire torso, Nicholas heaved with all his might to pick it up. He had to apply an equal amount of effort in order to not fall back once the sack of sugar was off the ground. Step by step and around the other patrons, Nicholas headed toward the counter, where a pretty brown-haired girl was at, asking politely, "excuse me miss?"
The girl responded with a smile alongside a look of concern, "yes?"
"I would like to buy this," gesturing toward the load that he was holding in front of him.
"Okay then…" the girl said, giving the boy a look of solace.
Paying the girl what was owed after setting the sack down, Nicholas then took a big gasp of air, and once again lifted up the bag. It was definitely a challenge for him. Heading for the door, he looked back and said through strained breath, "have a nice day."
The girl at the counter waved back and gave a concerned, "likewise."
Heading out through the door and across the streets, Nicholas trudged his way back home.
"Thank goodness the house isn't that far away."
Coming up to the stone road of the house, Nicholas had to open and close the gate with just his feet. Overcoming that obstacle, he went to the front door and set down the bag of sugar as gently as he could. Producing the key, he unlocked it and made sure to swing it wide open. With sugar in tow, he made a beeline straight for the kitchen pantry, where he successfully put the bag away.
"Alright, one down, the rest to go."
Getting the paper that contained the checklist for the day from his pocket, Nicholas folded down so that the sentence, "get sugar," was hidden.
"Now that I got the sugar...I'll just have to go right back to the general store in order to get the soap, matches, and oil."
The thought was enough to make Nicholas sigh. Putting the paper back, he went back to the ajar door.
"Huh, I wonder what Lorenz is doing?"
At a hole in the wall house in the southern corner of wall Sina, three men were sitting around a table with wine bottles in their hands.
"Shit man, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know, just give me some time to think."
"Time to think, we don't HAVE the time to think."
"Would you just shut the hell up."
"It's your fault that we're in this god forsaken mess."
"Hey, the guy pulled a knife on me!"
"Yea, and that guy also happened to be the brother of the local lieutenant. What the hell were you thinking!"
"Well I was drunk…"
"Oh, there's a surprise!"
"Hey! If you got something to…"
"Shut it, both of you!"
Everyone at the table fell silent
"Now look, no point arguing about who gutted who and who had a bit too much drink. Were all royally screwed, and need a plan to get un-screwed. If anyone's got any ideas, I'd love to hear them!"
No one spoke.
"That's what I thought"
The fellow who stopped the argument got up from his chair.
"Now look, I'm going to go take a leak. When I come back, we're going to figure this problem out TOGETHER and not argue like a bunch of clucking hens."
As he left the table, the two remaining men simply got back to their drinking. The mediator of the group left through the door and walked the weed-filled, stone street until he found a nice, lonely, corner. He proceeded to relieve himself.
"Damn, this is what I get for being the boss of those two idiots."
After the last few drops, the man made sure to secure his breeches. It was then that a black gloved hand reached out and covered his mouth. The other one, holding a knife, reached around and slit his throat. The fellow fell to the ground clutching at the wound. He looked up, and saw a person dressed in black boots, black trousers, and a white button-up shirt that had a black vest on top. As the man looked up at his assailant with a scornful expression, the attacker replied back, "ah, don't look at me like that. At least I let you finish."
Nicholas continued on his way through the street, making sure he would complete the task at hand. After going a couple of blocks and making a left, he arrived at "Fleisch meatery." Going through the wooden swinging doors, Nicholas noticed all the people that were sitting or standing around waiting. After letting the person in front of him finish his order, he walked right up to the butcher Fleisch. He was a large, red-headed man with a moustache who was always wearing a blood-stained apron and gloves.
"AHH! My favorite little wurst, how are you today?"
"Good, thank you Mr. Fleisch."
"Oh please, how many times do I have to repeat myself, it's Roger to you."
Nicholas retrieved a rolled paper that was in his pocket and handed it to the butcher.
"Ahh, yes, I have this order ready for him."
After placing the order into the front pocket of his apron, he noticed a few more people coming through the door.
"Ehh, Nicholas, if you don't mind, would you please wait behind the shop for the order?"
Nicholas, understanding the situation, nodded with a simple, "of course."
Making his way through the incoming customers, he headed out the door and went around the building until he arrived at the back. Behind the store was a large road meant for transport carriages and such. The back door to the store itself was two large wooden doors that swung out, not unlike that of a barm. After waiting for a while, Nicholas found himself an abandoned box, turned it over, and simply sat down. He started to hum a little song to himself in order to pass the time. After many moments or so, the back doors opened with a moan, and out stepped the butcher. He held a burlap sack with a large square object bulging out of it. Nicholas walked up to receive the package. The butcher handed it to him saying, "sorry about the wait, you wouldn't believe how busy we are today."
"No worries," Nicholas said as he slung the sack over his shoulder, "although, if you want to avoid days like this, why don't you just have orders be mandatory and ban walk-ins altogether."
"Ehh, I always run the idea by my wife, but she always shoots it down in the end. 'Nooo,' she says, 'you'll drive away the customers,' she says," the butcher gave a sigh of frustration and shook his head, "but in the end, she's right. When push comes to shove, I'd rather have a room full of customers waiting impatiently for their requests rather than a few ones who bother with the orders."
Nicholas gave a little chuckler, "well, I'm just glad me and Lorenz can help a little by waiting a bit."
With that, he set off with his load while waving goodbye.
"Have a nice day Mr. Fle...err…Roger."
"Good day wurst."
The two men continued to sit over the table and drink, until one of them spoke up.
"Hey, why isn't Anselm back yet."
"Ehhh, I don't know, may be he was holding it in for a long time before."
"Dammit, man, is there ever a time when you're sober."
"Ehhh, maybe about...a third of the day."
"Just get off your ass and see what's wrong with him."
Before either of them could move, a voice came through the front door.
"No need gentleman," and as the two drinkers looked at the owner of the voice, "he's just getting some fresh air, that's all."
As Lorenz strode confidently through the door, he leaned on the table with his left hand. The sober man was on his right and the drunk was on his left.
"Wha-who the hell are you? Where's the boss?"
Lorenz calmly replied, "like I said, he's getting some fresh air."
The sober man slammed a fist down onto the table, "Hey, you better stop bullshitting us or you'll get a bullet in your head."
"Whoa, whoa, there buddy. Calm down, I'm not bullshitting you. Like I said, your boss is just getting some fresh air...he's just doing it through the hole I made in his throat."
The man on Lorenz's right reached for the gun on his waist, "why you…"
But before he could draw, Lorenz drew the knife from the his vest. He made a clean, upward slash, and the man's throat began spilling blood. He quickly fell to the floor gurgling. His companion, with sluggish speed, reached for his own weapon. Lorenz noticed, and used the his left hand that he was no longer leaning against to strike. He sent the man flying with the back of his fist. The fellow hit the ground with a thud, and could do nothing else but look up with fear.
Taking a right at the next corner, going up two blocks, and then taking a left, Nicholas came across the local church. The church itself was circular and very high up, with stained glass windows, and round, marble columns. A man at the front of the church preached.
"Come and give thanks! Give thanks to the gods that have blessed us with these walls!"
Nicholas gazed at the church for a moment longer, then kept on walking until he smelled what he was looking for. He followed his nose until he found the bakery. Smoke was coming from the store's chimney, which explained the smell of fresh baked bread. Going through the door, he saw a woman with ashen hair dressed in a bright yellow button-up top and an apron selling a wide assortment of bread. There was sourdough, pumpernickel, wheat, white, some with sesame seeds and some without. They all lined the shelves along with bags of flour. A man wearing a dark green tank top and brown pants with brown hair came through the back and put a few fresh loaves into the glass case that was a part of the counter. A few people were in the store, but just seemed to be browsing. Nicholas approached the counter.
"Excuse me miss?"
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"I would like about a half dozen loaves of bread please."
"Plain?"
"Yes please."
The woman went into the back and brought out a burlap sack full of his order. Nicholas got the coin purse from his pocket and paid the amount due.
"I swear, the people who profit the most are the ones who make burlap sacks," Nicholas thought as he swung the bag over his shoulder. As Nicholas headed for the door, he and the woman bid each other a simple farewell, and he was out on the street and walking again.
"Alright, I got the sugar, meat, general goods, and now the bread," he gave a bit of an exasperated sigh, "It's such a pain to go back and forth between the house and where I need to buy something. Wish I had a wheelbarrow or something."
Lorenz was walking on the sidewalk until he finally stopped at a tavern. It was located between two warehouses, with several sketchy characters outside. He entered through the door and scanned the room. Some of the patrons gave him a dirty look, while the rest just minded their own business. It was the man in the farthest corner that drew Lorenz's attention. Making his way through the crowd, Lorenz took a seat right across from the mysterious patron dressed in casual businesswear. It was him who spoke first, "so, is it done?"
"Yes, it's taken care of."
"Hope you didn't make too much noise."
"Don't worry, they didn't even fire a shot."
"Well, so long as the job is done," the man said as he stood up, "the rest of the money will be sent to you."
The man headed for the door, but Lorenz spoke up, "By the way, my condolences for your loss."
The mystery man looked back, "Eh, he was always getting drunk and picking fights to prove how much of a man he is. I'm honestly not surprised this happened."
Lorenz was a bit taken aback, "Well...still…"
"So long as everyone understands that I still know how to make people 'disappear,' everything's fine with me."
As he headed back for the door, he spoke, "might hire you again, Messer."
With that, he was out, and Lorenz just simply stayed in his seat.
Nicholas went through the gate with a stack of books held tightly together by string.
"Ahhh, of all the things they don't put into a burlap sack, and they're the things that stretch my arms when I hold them in front."
Unlocking and pushing open the front door, Nicholas brought in the books and used his foot to close the entryway. Making sure to lock the front door, he then took the books upstairs and put them on his bed. After putting them down, he himself dropped onto the bed.
"Uhh, so tired…"
Nicholas closed his eyes for a couple of seconds, and then a few seconds later, opened them back up. He tilted his head back and took note of the light coming through the window.
"Hmm...about dinner time."
After a few more seconds of rest, he sprung up from the bed and went downstairs to the kitchen. He got out a pan, two pots, and the stepping stool. Filling both of the pots with water and setting them on burners, he lit up a fire in the stove. From the pantry he got two potatoes, a can of green beans, and the large box containing the newly bought cuts of meat wrapped in paper. He also got flour, oil, a knife, and some assorted spices. When the pots started to boil and he felt heat of the pan, Nicholas started to cook. He rinsed the potatoes in the basin and put them into one of the pots. Then he used a knife to open the can of green beans and put them into the other one. After that, he put some oil into the pan which replied with a sizzle. Getting out two cuts of meat and unwrapping them from the paper, he set about coating both with flour, using the paper that previously covered them to catch any flour that fell. After that, Nicholas then started flavoring both pieces of meat with the spices he retrieved from the pantry. When all was done, he laid both pieces in the pan, and they started to sizzle and pop from the heat. Retrieving a fork and tongs from the pantry, Nicholas eyed the meat, potatoes, and green beans closely until they were done. Putting out the fire with a bucket of water, he then started setting the table for him and Lorenz. Placing a container of butter and a knife on the table, everything was set. Nicholas proceeded to wait, and wait, and wait.
"Alright, if he isn't here in five minutes, I'm eating without him."
Five minutes passed, and Nicholas made good on his word. He placed a piece of meat, a potato, and a few scoops of green beans on his plate. After pouring some milk into his wooden mug, he sat down and prepared to eat. Nicholas cut off a piece of the meat, which still had some juices in it, and started to raise it to his mouth. It was then that the front door was unlocked and Lorenz came through it.
"Hey kid, you her-oh, there you are."
"Huuh, figures."
Lorenz shut and locked the door behind them and proceeded to the kitchen.
"Woow, that looks pretty tasty."
"Well, I wouldn't know. Here," Nicholas said as he gestured to the chair opposite him, "I made a place for you."
"Oh, thanks kid, but no thanks. I already ate, you see."
Nicholas had a look of inconceivability, "really?"
"Yeah, decided to fill up after a job. Although, thanks for the effort."
Nicholas just sighed in response, "don't mention it."
Lorenz did sit down though and continued the conversation, "so, got everything done today?"
"Yep, I did it," Nicholas replied while putting some food into his mouth, "although I got to ask, why did you want the books?"
"Oh, they're for you."
Nicholas almost choked on his food, "me?"
"Yeah, you."
"But why?"
"Because obviously you can't go to public school. You're my assistant, which means it would be a lot more convenient for you to be home schooled."
"But why do I have to be schooled at all?"
"Like I said, you're my assistant, and one thing I won't allow will be an assistant that's uneducated. I do have standards after all."
"Of course you do."
"So, starting tomorrow I'm going to expect a bit of school work along with you doing some chores around the house. You've had about a year to settle in around here and I think that's enough time."
It was this that jogged Nicholas's memory.
"Wait Lorenz, what did you say?"
"Huh? I said it's been a year around here so I think that's more than enough time for you to adjust."
"Oh...so that's it."
Lorenz just had a look of confusion.
"What? What's it?"
Nicholas just looked down and started picking at his food.
"Today...it's my eighth birthday."
Lorenz looked shocked.
"Huh, it is?"
"Yeah. The first day we met, in that underground city, it was my birthday."
"Well...why didn't you tell me."
"It's just...with everything that's happened...I kind've just forgot. Besides I didn't want to bother you."
Lorenz sprung up from his seat and stated, "hey kid, something like that's no bother at all. Stay right here."
After that statement, he headed out and locked the door behind them. It was Nicholas's turn to look on in confusion.
"Hm? Where is he going?"
The boy dismissed the thought and went back to eating his food
Nicholas was putting his dishes into the basin when Lorenz came through the door again, holding something that was covered in white paper.
"Ahh, good. The table is cleared," he said.
As he set it on the table, Nicholas eyed the the object Lorenz held with curiosity.
"Hey Lorenz, what's that?"
"Oh, nothing much.."
As he said the words, Lorenz took the paper off the object, revealing a chocolate birthday cake. Nicholas just marveled at it.
"Is-is that…"
"Yep, a birthday cake for you. Although it would be nice to share."
"W-why would you do this?"
Lorenz just extended his hand and placed it on Nicholas's head, "because it's your birthday kid, and everybody deserves to have their birthday celebrated."
Nicholas looked up at Lorenz, and just smiled.
"Besides, it give me an excuse to pop open a bottle of wine. Might just get one from downstairs. Oh! Before I forget," Lorenz said as he slammed a fist into his open palm, "can't forget these."
He went to the space under the stairs to obtain a box of matches while simultaneously getting a box of birthday candles from his pocket. After placing the eight candles on the cake, Lorenz lit each of them up. He then looked at Nicholas and said, "Well don't just stand there, you get the plates, knife, forks, glasses, and milk, I get the wine."
Both of them went of to get the items, and both came back.
"Alright kid, now make a wish, and blow."
Nicholas closed his eyes for a few seconds, opened them, and blew every candle out with a single breath. Serving themselves some cake, both of them sat down and began to eat.
"So kid, what do you want," Lorenz said with a mouthful of cake.
"What do you mean," Nicholas replied with a mouthful of his own cake.
"Well, to me, every birthday means that the person getting older gets one birthday present. So what do you want?"
Nicholas thought for a moment with his fork to his mouth, and replied, "well...a wagon wouldn't hurt."
Lorenz just chortled.
"A wagon it is. Although, we'll have to get it tomorrow. All the toy stores are probably closed. Though, I still want you to start studying tomorrow..."
Nicholas started to have a look of irritation.
"Ahh, what the hell. You can have the day off. A new toy bought should always get broken in. Now then Nicholas," Lorenz said, as he filled up his glass with wine, "let's see how good your drinking skills are. I challenge you."
Nicholas gave back a daring smirk in return, and proceeded to fill up his own glass to the brim with milk. Both competitors looked each other in the eye.
"Three…"
"Two…"
"GO!"
With that, the two began to chug.