A/N: More traveling coming up. Chapters are going to slow down a bit.
Hammy: I actually really like that last idea...
TheRanger'sDaughter: Oh yeah...Kane wanted Robin to have the knife for more than just sentimental reasons.
Aubrey: Robin is indeed awesome.
AER: The kidnapper is definitely covering his tracks.
Raider: Gabby's amazing :) As always. Are you being talked by Taylor Swift? Interesting...yeah, I'm sure authors and writers in general avoid fanfiction of their own work because...plagiarism, but the RA universe is so clearly inspired by LOTR, making it the ultimate fanfiction. I wonder if Flanagan ever reads it...or perhaps he just writes it. I know when I'm actively writing fanfiction I tend to avoid reading other stories without that universe until I'm finished, but...who knows.
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.
Reese sat by the window of their room at the inn. It was his turn to serve as lookout for the brothel across the street. It'd been four days since Robin went in there undercover. She hadn't gone that night. She waited a day, as weather made traveling with a child impossible. The Academy agents caught up with them. Russ instructed them to set up a discreet perimeter around the city. Those with children Maggie's age were followed until it could be confirmed she was not among them.
"Are you certain she's here?" Hazen asked Russ from somewhere behind Reese. Their room had just two small beds, which was fine since one always kept watch. As for Robin, she'd entered the brothel and yet to return. She hang a bright blue scarf her brother gave her in a window facing their inn every morning. Russ fumed and kept watch over the business across the street. Though he'd agreed to allow her to go undercover, she'd left immediately before he could change his mind. He'd barely had time to give her the scarf and instruct her to use it as a signal she was safe. He still muttered his parents would kill him for this at least a dozen times every hour. If they ever found out they likely would.
Reese allowed himself a small sigh of relief when he saw Robin appear in a window on the third floor. She didn't look for him. She simply hung her scarf. She was dressed in only her sleeping gown. Her hair hung in a thick blonde braid over her shoulder. She was preparing for bed at a time Hazen and Russ were just waking. Reese had woken hours before sunrise to do his own watch. Now that morning was coming, Hazen would take watch while Reese and Russ went out into the village. They'd eat breakfast at the docks with the fishermen, hunting gossip from them and then lunch at the tavern for more gossip. Then Russ would take a watch while Hazen infiltrated the circle only he as a prince could, appealing to the village leaders for news of Maggie.
"Anything of interest?"
Reese looked over his shoulder. Russ was awake now, already getting dressed. He shook his head and turned back to the brothel. Robin had gone off now. The blue scarf would hang in the window until she woke later in the afternoon. "Russ?" he began.
"Yes?"
"Are we certain Maggie's even here?"
Reese turned back to face Russ again, waiting for his answer. Russ pulled his mottled cloak over his shoulders, shaking his head. "This is where the trail lead us. She's somewhere, but…we need a new lead. Soon."
Reese nodded in agreement. "Poor Maggie," he sighed. "I'm sure she's afraid."
Russ shrugged. "Daniel and Julia raised her to be tough, but still. We need her back."
"Of course."
Russ walked over to Hazen and gave his shoulder a violent shake. Hazen, having become used to this abrupt wakening, struck his arm out every which way attempting to slap the Ranger. Russ sidestepped the groggy attack with a wide grin.
"Anything new?" Hazen asked as he stretched out.
"Yes," Russ answered.
"Really?" Hazen replied with more than a little shock. He turned to Reese, who was just as confused.
"Really," Russ went on. "I'm sending you and Reese out to the docks this morning."
"Is Maggie there?"
"We don't know, but what we're doing isn't working. Reese has made good connections there, and you're a native. Perhaps you two can work a new angle."
"Does this mean you're keeping watch here?" Reese asked with a raised eyebrow. The docks were mostly fishermen, but a few merchant ships remained docked. A captain could easily recognize Hazen, something Russ must surely know.
"Nope," Russ continued. He splashed water from a basin onto his face. "I think it's time I reconnect with my sister."
"You can't," Hazen protested. "She could be found out if a Ranger…"
"You may be surprised to hear this, but there are less-than-moral Rangers out there. Robin has been posing as their servant-girl. Cornering her shouldn't take too much talent, especially if I approach at an odd hour. At least, odd for them."
"Robin agreed to signal if she learned anything. She hasn't signaled," Reese pointed out. Russ shook his head.
"She's being trained in business and merchant ships, not locating kidnapped children. I'm certain she knows something of use. She may not realize it's useful."
Russ had a point. Robin may be smart, cunning, and ambitious, but she wasn't trained to seek answers the way Russ was. Rangers could take nothing and win a war. Perhaps Robin would give him some scrap of information that would lead to finding Maggie. If nothing else, it was safest for Russ to enter to brothel. He could get in, get out, and give them an update on Robin's wellbeing. From what they could tell Robin hadn't taken her undercover status to a level she'd be ashamed to tell her mother about, but how long she could keep that up they didn't know.
"Good luck," Hazen told him. Reese nodded his own sentiments.
"Your Grace, Your Highness," Russ gave them both a mocking bow, as though giving his leave. Reese and Hazen responded by throwing socks at him.
Robin felt a familiar hand on her shoulder. She stirred stubbornly.
"Really?" she mumbled. "I just got to bed."
"Mum would be in fits if she knew you were sleeping at this hour," Russ teased her.
"How did you get in here? Did you…buy services?"
Robin has been careful when spinning her tale as to why she wanted work as a servant rather than…something more. If that was how Russ made it back perhaps she'd need to cut her term of service short.
"I had planned that, yes, but it seems everyone here sleeps at this hour," Russ answered softly. He sat on the edge of Robin's pallet in the pantry, crossing his legs and helping her upright.
"Why did you come?" Robin asked. "Has something happened?"
"No. I came to talk to you about what you've learned here."
"Oh. I thought we'd agreed on a signal for…"
"It's been too long. We're running out of time," Russ explained. "I'm here to see what you've heard in your time here. Perhaps there's something you know that you don't realize is important."
"Unless you want to know the price of services here, I'm sorry. I don't know anything."
"Nothing of the customers?"
Robin shook her head. "Every girl here guards her customers. They don't speak of them because they don't want to give the others ammunition to steal a client. They have to give a large percentage of everything they make to the mistress and if they don't meet the quota they are cast on the street."
Russ bit his lip. "So, if this venture has amounted to nothing why do you stay? Come back with me."
"I didn't say it amounts to nothing."
"Then what are you learning?"
"The mistress has a record book."
"A record book?"
Robin nodded. "She's keeping track of all the...exchanges of service. I'm trying to get it."
"Why?" Russ asked. "What use would that be to us?"
"It's also got a record of every girl who crosses through this village. If the man is after gold, he may have presented her to the mistress asking how much she'd give him for her."
Russ frowned. Brothels may be shady ventures exploited with ulterior motives as commonly as taverns, but he'd been under the impression this one was semi-honest. The girls working didn't seem like they were there against their wills, and Robin herself just said they strived to meet their quotas.
"Are you saying you think Maggie is going to be sold as a…" Russ trailed, unable to form the words. Robin shook her head.
"I'm saying I think she will be offered to the mistress here as an indentured servant of sorts until the travel ban is lifted. The kidnapper can't leave, but he can only hide her for so long. His drug supply will eventually run out. He may give her to the mistress here to work in the kitchens or something until he can figure out a way to smuggle her out. The book will have records of any such offer, even if she turned him down."
Russ nodded. His sister was doing a better job than he'd expected. Perhaps she should give up Aunt Lucy's company and join the Charmed Battalion back home.
No, he told himself. She needed to remain with Aunt Lucy's company, where she was mostly safe. This rescue mission was simply as a favor to the family.
"Get the book," Russ agreed. "Then signal me when you have it."
"I will," Robin promised.