Disclaimer: I own nothing that is recognizable from the Goddess Tammy's books
AN: Hello to all my faithful readers! Sorry this took so long. I've been on vacation, where NO computers are allowed. Anyway, here's the next chapter; enjoy!
Chapter 4
Rosto POV:
To the Tortallan Rogue, Rosto the Piper;
I have your little sweetheart, the 'Dog' Rebekah Cooper of the Lower City of Corus.
Come to my palace or she will die. Come alone.
Signed,
Srimfor Klyminet, Scanran Rogue
I read it at least three times before it sunk in. They had Beka. And if I didn't come there, she would die. I looked at Kora, who watched me anxiously.
"Rosto the Piper, you are not going back to Scanra to face Srimfor. Not only will he kill you for leaving, he will kill Beka for being your 'sweetheart!' Or she'll have to become his doxy." She added the last as an afterthought. I glared at her.
"He will do that to her anyway, and she is not my sweetheart, however much I wish she was, so I may be able to bargain with him. I will not stay here, letting her die, if I knew there was a chance that I could have saved her." I could feel my anger rising, at Kora, for thinking that I would just stay here while Beka was in Scanra. At those Rogues that I had trusted, the ones that had kidnapped Beka. And at Srimfor Klyminet, the mastermind in this plot. I was going to go to Scanra to save Beka, and no-one was going to stop me. Kora looked into my eyes, searching for something to keep me here, then sighed.
"I'll tell Aniki she's in charge, but you'll have to tell Goodwin and Tunstall."
I nodded. They had been coming by every day, seeing if we had news of Beka. In fact, they were coming up right now. Kora left, probably to tell Aniki of the letter, and my plans. Goodwin walked right up to me. There was sadness in her eyes that had been present in all of us since Beka had been taken. Wordlessly, I handed her the letter. Tunstall read over her shoulder. They both finished and looked at me. I held up a hand to stall any questions.
"Yes, I am going. Aniki will be in charge. Beka isn't my sweetheart, we are just the only single people in this building. People just assume things. No-one can come with me. Srimfor will kill them, me, and most importantly, Beka, if we even try. Sneaking in will not be an option. His security is better than the Kings, and he's upgraded since I left." There. That was everything I could think of them asking. I was wrong, however.
"Have you considered going to the Provest? The King here, or there, for that matter? Did you even think that her side of the law could help?" Goodwin, for some reason, didn't look at all angry, more relieved. I sighed, thinking. Then, shaking my head, I looked at Tunstall. He looked back at me, silently, though his eyes begged me to speak.
"Same problem. If Srimfor gets even a hint that the Provest, or their Majesties, know of what he did, he will get rid of all the evidence. That means Beka. No, I'll have to go, and alone." Tunstall sighed. He looked heartbroken.
I wonder, just how close are these Dogs to Beka? She's a sweet gixie, and a good Dog. She speaks of them with the highest respect, and I've heard rumors that Goodwin is much more relaxed and even nice around her. Once, a cove came to me, battered severely, saying that Goodwin had beaten him to a pulp for calling Beka a doxy. I was sore tempted to do the same, but Aniki got me calm, saying, he was already beaten, did I want people to know I fancied Beka? So I had let him be patched up and left him alone. Mostly. The healer he was sent to wasn't the best.
I looked at Goodwin, then Tunstall. There was grief, worry, and relief evident in their faces.
"I will find her, and I will bring her back," I said determinedly, looking into their eyes. They both nod, saying nothing.
"C'mon, Clary. It's time for duty. You can beat up some Rats."
Tunstall lead her away, nodding to Kora as she came back over.
"There is a horse waiting out on the street, with a week's worth of food and clothing in the saddlebags. Aniki says to tell you, if you die, she'll kill you. Then, if you don't bring Beka back, she'll kill you anyway. And if you ask, if you die and you don't bring Beka back, she will kill you twice." She kissed me on the cheek.
"Good luck. Bring Beka home"
I nod, then gave her a hug and go to the horse. She's a good mare, white and light brown. It reminds me of Beka's hair. The white is a bit dirty, and looks my color. I mount, trying not to think of what will happen at Srimfor's place.
One Week Later
The ride was uneventful. Yesterday, a group of Srimfor's rushers came close by me, but , thankfully, didn't spot my hiding place, or Hope, as I have began to call the mare.
I look at the Rogues palace and wince. It was better in every way than the King's, including the number of guards. How to enter? I pondered as I traveled toward his castle. Eventually, I decided to simply go in. After all, I had been invited. And arriving at midnight would certainly throw Srimfor off-balance. With that happy thought, I went to the gate.
Beka POV:
I was walking with Pounce toward the gates. He had said that we could steal a horse. I had enough food already, having stolen all that had been laying out when he had found me. We were walking in silence now.
"Hey! This here letter says that I was supposed to come here, and no-one's here to greet me? I'm devastated, Srimfor, just devastated. What was the point of coming if I'm not welcome?"
I stopped dead. That was Rosto. What the hell was he doing here? Then it hit me. Ransom. The Scanran Rogue kidnapped me, and Rosto's the bloody ransom! Is he mad?! They'll kill him! I ducked into another curtained alcove. Why this Rogue keeps them is beyond me. Anyone could hide in here. Pounce comes in as well.
"How long was I out?" I whispered, almost silently. The gate guards' voices sounded too close for comfort.
He meowed. Two weeks, give or take a few days. They had you under a spell. I freed you early. It would have lasted another week or so.
I nodded, then listened. The guard's voices were getting quieter, as they probably led Rosto away.
"Where will they take Rosto?"
Since it's the middle of the night, to the dungeon. No-one else is there, not even guards. It's spelled so he won't be able to escape.
"Won't they just kill him?"
No. Srimfor, the Rogue here, will have them under orders not to kill him. He'll want to kill Rosto himself. And make you watch, I suppose.
Hmmm…. No-one in the dungeons with him…
"Would I be able to get in to talk to him, without getting stuck inside?"
Yes. I'd advise you not to go there anyway, but as you wouldn't listen, I'll just come along.
I grinned, then listened intently for any movement outside the curtains. Nothing. A quick peek out showed the entire corridor was empty. Swiftly, I went the way the guards voices had went. Soon, I heard them. Then, I ducked into yet another alcove. I swear, it's like he wants people to sneak around his castle. I had went a slightly different direction than the guards, and ended up ahead of them. They passed quickly, without a word. When they had passed, I poked my head outside the curtains, then walked out, and slipped into step behind them, a silent shadow.
AN: I could have ended there, but this took so long that I will continue.
Rosto POV:
After I had yelled, the guards came quickly. One took Hope, and another searched me for weapons, confiscating all of them. I was proud to say that they missed the belt buckle knife and the one I had hidden in my own braid. I had picked up the idea from Beka's spiked strap woven into her braid.
As we walked toward what was probably the dungeons, I had the feeling we were being watched. I watched out of the corners of my eyes for movement. Wait….. There! Oddly enough, the person was in front of us, where our hallway met another.
As we passed, I watched. Nothing. They were obviously waiting for the guards to pass. I watched as we walked by. I was at the very end of the group, being led like a dog on a leash, by the rope tied to my wrists. Stupid, really. I wasn't going anywhere without Beka. I walked silently, so the person behind the curtain would think we had passed. Those curtains are one of Srimfor's mistakes. People could sneak all around his palace without ever being seen.
Just when I thought that my ploy hadn't worked, the person peeked warily out of the curtains. They saw me looking, winked, then ducked back before the guards saw her. I kept walking, thinking.
Beka?
Beka POV:
I felt stupid for letting Rosto see me, but at least he hadn't said anything. That would have been a disaster. I don't know why I winked, but it doesn't really matter.
As I continued to follow them, more warily than before, I could see Rosto glancing at me every few feet. He was probably wondering how I had gotten out, and why I was following him.
We finally arrived at the dungeons. The guards shoved Rosto into one of the cells, then left. He was the only one there. Well, him and me. He waited until the guards voices had completely faded, then hissed, "Beka?"
"Hello, Rosto. Do you like your accommodations? I must say, they are better than mine."
He groaned quietly, coming up to the bars of the cell. I did the same. The torches on the walls lit his face. His eyes roved quickly over me, searching, I suppose, for injuries. HE finished, then shook his head.
"That cat is rubbing off on you, if you're being sarcastic at a time like this." I giggled a bit. He looked at me oddly, then commented, "OR you're suffering from near starvation. Aniki did that once. That is something I never want to see again."
"Now…. How the hell did you get out?! I seem to remember you being kidnapped. Unless…" He looked at me again, worry in his eyes.
"Rosto! I would never sleep with the Scanran Rogue! His kidnappers missed my boot knife, and didn't post guards on my room. I cut the ropes and walked out." He looked relieved. I glared at him; how dare he think I'd canoodle with anyone, let alone a Rogue I hate. We're friends, and I like him, but I won't sleep with him. Suddenly, he grins.
"You have no idea how much I missed you. Everyone has been on edge. Your Dogs have come by twice a day to see if we had any news. Aniki nearly killed a cove that called you a doxy. Kora's door has had to be replaced five times from people walking by it in the morning. She's so jumpy that it wakes her up." I have the strangest urge to giggle again, what is wrong with me?
"Now, you need to leave while they think you're still unconscious. When was that spell supposed to wear off?"
"A week. Rosto, I'm not going anywhere. First of all, they'll try to catch me again, and will get in everybody's way. Second, they'd kill you once they figured I was gone, and third, I have no idea how I'd get back, and fourth, they'd kill you!"
He looked at me oddly.
"You said they would kill me twice."
"Well, killing counts as two reasons to stay."
"And why's that?" He watched me closely, observing every twitch. It made me uncomfortable. I turned away. He continued to watch. I was saved from answering, however, by Pounce's mew.
Hide! Srimfor's coming with a dozen rushers.
I looked around for a hiding place.
"There, behind those barrels." Rosto seemed to have forgotten my earlier comment. I hid, just in time, as a man walked in, closely followed by the dozen rushers. Srimfor didn't look like much. Rather short, thinning light brown hair, potbelly. He'd been living well too long. From the look in Rosto's eyes as he watched the procession, he agreed. Srimfor nodded at his rushers, who all left, then began to speak.
Rosto POV:
Srimfor came in with all his rushers. He looked even worse than the last time I saw him. Fatter, and losing even more hair. Beka watched him with disgust. He dismissed his rushers. What a waste, I thought as he began talk.
"Hello, Piper. How was the trip?"
"Well, until I arrived. After all the trouble I went through to get here, the gates were locked on me! Is that how you treat your guests?" Inwardly, I laughed at his expression. I wanted to see Beka's reaction to my comment, but looking at her may give her away. Whatever else may happen, I will not get her killed. Srimfor finally recovered, and glared at me.
"You are a prisoner, not a guest, Piper. You will be treated as such. Now, what I want to know is, why did you come? The doxy's no looker, like I thought. I can't even keep her after you're gone."
I tried to keep anger out of my face and voice as I spoke.
"What was the point of me coming to get her if you'll just kill us both?" What I wanted to say was 'You asshole! Beka is beautiful! How dare you even think of her in that way, as though she was just a bedmate?' There was more, but Srimfor laughed, interrupting my thoughts.
"You actually thought that by coming here, she would be safe? She was to die either way, and now you will watch." He whistled sharply and a rusher walked in.
"Bring a mage and Miss Cooper to my chambers." The rusher nodded and left.
"Now, Master the Piper, come with me. You can watch her death, then enjoy your own."
He opened the door to the cell and yanked me out by the rope. I followed blindly, barely noticing as we walked over to the rushers and walked to his chambers. I did notice, however, that Beka was following close behind. I tried to signal her to leave now, before they realized she had escaped, but she ignored me. When we were near Srimfor's chambers, the rusher he had sent for Beka, followed by another man, came running. They both bowed, then stood gasping. Srimfor glared at them
"What is it? And where is Miss Cooper?" The rusher discreetly backed up a bit.
"Sir that's the problem. Miss Cooper, well…"
"What?" He sounded a little too calm.
"Well… She's gone."