Chapter 46
"How do you know Silvio's the one who took off with... whoever this maid is?" Basta growled, remaining sceptical.
Cockerell pushed himself off Basta's door and swaggered over. At least as much swagger he could muster with his limp.
"Oh it's your boy alright. There was another maid there and she recognised him. By the sounds of it he regularly called on this girl what he's run off with. Nearly every day."
Flatnose laughed.
"Isn't that sweet," he sneered, "It must be love."
"Don't tell me you didn't know that either," Cockerell said to Basta scornfully, "You keep such a close eye on the boy. Let him sleep in your house. Took him to hospital when he got shot. Cared for him almost like a son, wouldn't you say Flattie?"
Flatnose nodded,
"Oh yes, very much like a son. I suppose our friend Basta liked the idea of having a little family," he pointed at Dafne, "With little wifey over there."
By now Dafne's heart was beating so rapidly it felt like it would burst out of her chest. Basta hadn't believed Cockerell at first but she had. She knew in her gut it was true. That silly caring boy, what had he gotten himself into? She had only considered the possibility of him confronting Capricorn, not this. Not stealing Netta from under Capricorn's nose and running away.
Basta hadn't looked at her since hearing the news. She wished he would so she could see how he was feeling towards her, even if it was bad. Did he blame her, even without knowing the part she had played? But Basta only had eyes for the bringers of bad news, the ones who were now taunting him.
"Shut up," he snarled with such viciousness that made Cockerell take a cautionary step back, "You don't know anything about my life. Neither of you."
"Oh but we do know some things," Cockerell said, overcoming his wariness of Basta and smiling, "We know for a fact it was the runt what took her. And we know he's living here with you. Put two and two together and what do you get?"
"I hope," Basta said in a low dangerous voice, "That you're not implying that I'm involved in the boy's lapse of judgement. That I'm assisting him by letting the two of them hide in my house," he took a threatening step towards Cockerell, hand hovering above his holster, "Because if you were, that would mean you're accusing me of betraying Capricorn and I wouldn't like that. I wouldn't like it one bit."
Cockerell backed off uneasily, hands raised in a disarming gesture,
"I'm not accusing you of anything Basta. Were you and maidy out on a nice stroll? By the looks of it you only just got back. You didn't even know what the boy had done until I told you. No one's blaming you."
Despite the other's retreat, Basta quickly closed the space between them and thrust his face aggressively close to Cockerell's.
"They better not be," he hissed, "And they better not be stupid enough to think the runaways are in my house," he stabbed a finger towards the house, "I locked that door myself when we went out. It was still locked when you two dunces turned up. Otherwise you would have just waltzed in and had a peek around," he shook Cockerell by the neck of his shirt, "So what does that tell you huh? The two can't walk through walls. They aren't in there!"
He pushed Cockerell to the ground in disgust. The man glared up at him helplessly.
"I suggest you look for them elsewhere," Basta said, hovering over him intimidatingly, "Because you're not going to find them here."
"And are you going to help search for your brat Basta?" Flatnose asked, leaning nonchalantly on the butt of his gun. He seemed unconcerned by Basta's treatment of his companion.
Basta glared at him but didn't answer.
"I would suggest that you do," Flatnose went on, "Because if we don't find him, Capricorn isn't going to be happy. No sir, not happy at all. Someone just stealing one of his maids like that. If he can't have the boy, he is going to be looking for someone else to punish."
"What are you getting at fatnose," Basta snapped but he looked as though he already knew. He had paled and there was a hint of fear in his eyes amidst the fury.
Flatnose smiled a slow malicious smile.
"What I mean, friend, is the brat you've stupidly adopted like a puppy is going to land you in the firing line. Who do you think told us to check your house? It was Capricorn."
Basta's face went slack with shock.
"What?" he uttered in a tight, tense voice, "What did you say?"
Flatnose chuckled, clearly enjoying the man's discomfort. Cockerell smirked too from his vantage point on the ground.
"I think you heard quite well what I said. Did you think Capricorn wasn't clued in to the fact you've been keeping the boy as a pet? That's why as soon as he heard what your naughty puppy had done, he ordered us to start looking here."
"That's right," Cockerell said, rising to his feet not without effort, "But since you've made it adamantly clear he and the girl aren't inside, we'll go on our way. Who knows we might find them," he gave a shrug of indifference, "Then again we might not. Either way, it won't be our heads on the chopping block."
Basta stood frozen on the spot, no doubt contemplating his master's fury turned on him, the possible punishments he might receive in the boy's stead.
Then he smiled, the wild desperate smile of a trapped animal who knew it's time for escape was running out. He laughed as if trying to laugh away his fear.
"You find him? Cockerell, you couldn't even find your way home the other day. The boy's smarter than the two of you combined," he shook his head with a long-suffering sigh, "Once again it falls to me to get things done around here. I'll find the boy. You can be sure of that. He can't give me the slip. I know him too well."
You'll find him and do what? Dafne thought worriedly. Surely he wouldn't hand the boy over to Capricorn to save his own skin. Would he? No doubt he was angry at Silvio was putting him in this predicament but he cared about the boy. If he cared about him, how could he deliver him to Capricorn knowing a possible death sentence awaited the boy? He couldn't. He...
As these thoughts were rushing through her head, Flatnose had slung his gun over his broad shoulder and started moving away from the house.
"If you're that confident," he said to Basta, "You don't really need us helping you look, do you. We'll just leave you to it. I would rather be hunting cats than those lovebirds anyway," he nodded almost lovingly at his gun, "Cats you can shoot whereas Capricorn wanted those two brought in alive."
This didn't fill Dafne with relief. It probably meant that Capricorn was planning on a crueller means of death than being riddled with bullets.
"Oh no you don't," Basta hissed, blocking Flatnose's path, looking like a small dog bearing it's teeth at a larger animal that was just as deadly, "As long as you've got eyes in your thick heads, you're going to search for them. I don't think Capricorn will take kindly to you abandoning his orders to shoot cats. It's unlucky to kill them anyway, I keep telling you that you idiot."
Dafne couldn't see what was preventing Flatnose from picking Basta off the ground by his throat and holding him there until he stopped breathing. She sometimes wondered why Flatnose obeyed Basta. Flatnose was different to Cockerell. He was physically stronger than Basta. Basta was likely quicker though, especially with his knife. Was that the reason? He feared Basta's knife. Or was it simply that he tolerated Basta because of his higher rank. She expected Flatnose was hoping that would soon change. Until then he would bide his time and follow the smaller commander's orders.
"Tell us where look then if you know the boy so well," he said.
"We'll start with the house he used to live in," Basta replied, giving him the address, "You two start off. I'll catch up after I let Dafne in the house. I can't leave her locked outside."
"No wouldn't want that," Cockerell said as he and Flatnose were leaving, muttering to his companion, "Don't want her running off too."
"What was that?" Basta snarled, obviously hearing what Cockerell hadn't intended him to.
Cockerell looked somewhat nervously over his shoulder,
"I said don't be too long. You don't want us to catch the boy without you and get the glory."
Basta sneered,
"I doubt you'll make to the end off the street by the time I catch up. You're as slow as a tortoise with that limp."
Cockerell glared at him but swallowed a retort. He already been shaken like a ragdoll and thrown on the ground by Basta. He presumably didn't want to chance anything else.
"Nice to see you again teach," Flatnose said to Dafne in a pleasant enough voice that made a chill run up her spine. This cat-killer frightened her. Something told her that he probably enjoyed killing people just as much as he did animals.
"Dafne," Basta's voice was a whisper but so sharp. It startled her as she had been preoccupied with watching Flatnose. She turned to look at the man addressing her. There was a forbidding black look on his face, "Get inside now."
She did as he said but she began bracing herself. She could tell by his expression and the tone of his voice that it wasn't just Silvio he was furious with. It was her.
Basta slammed the door almost ominously behind them, the sound making Dafne flinch.
"Do you have something you want to tell me, little mouse," he asked in her in a quiet grating voice.
At least he was giving her a chance to explain herself.
"I accidently told Silvio that Capricorn had threatened to kill Netta. That's why he's done this. I made him promise not to do anything but..." she trailed off, the rest he knew.
But this wasn't the full story and he called her out on it.
"How did you know he had threatened to kill the girl?"
Dafne sighed.
"Resa," she said, "She told me that Capricorn had threatened to kill Netta if she, Resa, tried to escape again. She wasn't going to escape though. I tried to get this part through to Silvio but obviously he didn't listen."
"I see," Basta said in almost understanding voice which made her hopeful, "So this is how this happened."
"Yes," Dafne said, looking at him pleadingly, "Please don't be angry at Silvio. I know he's done something very foolish but he was only trying to do the right thing."
"The right thing?" Basta shouted at her, startling her so much she took a step back. But he was moving towards her anyway, "That's something you're obsessed with isn't it. Doing the right thing. You've filled the boy's head with this drivel and look what it's gotten him into. What it's gotten us into," he seized her shoulders, holding her in place so she couldn't back away him or his condemnation, "Do you realise how much trouble we're in right now? All three of us?" there was fear in his voice now, mixing with the anger, "Do you think Capricorn's going to believe we were completely ignorant? Were you listening to Flatnose? Capricorn sent them here. If I don't find Silvio, he's going to think I helped them escape. Do you know what the punishment for treachery is?" he didn't tell her but she could feel his hands shaking as he gripped her shoulders. Basta shook his head as if trying to banish the thought from his mind, "Even if I can convince him I had nothing to do with it. He'll probably never trust me again."
"Is that all you can think about?" Dafne said angrily, disgusted such self-pitying talk, "Yourself?"
"Who else is going to?" Basta hissed back, "Definitely not the boy. Was he thinking about what could happen to me if he took the girl? No. Were you thinking about me when you stupidly decided to goad him into doing it?"
"I did not goad him," Dafne said furiously, "It slipped out. The last thing I wanted was for him to put himself in danger. I don't want to see him dead or you for that matter."
"You should prepare yourself then," Basta said softly, leaning in close to her face, not doing so to kiss her but to deliver words that made her blood run cold, "Because I might not be able to clean up this mess the way you want me to."
"What do you mean?" she stammered fearfully.
He didn't answer. He drew away from her, heading to the door.
"Stay here," he told her, "And don't open this door to anyone while I'm gone. Do you understand? Don't go out and don't answer the door. For once in your life, you had better do exactly what I tell you."
"Basta wait," Dafne cried out desperately after him, "What are you going to do if you find him, please..."
He didn't answer, just closed the door in her face. That was no comfort at all. None at all.
I can't just stay here, Dafne thought despite Basta's orders. I can't just stay here worrying while Silvio's out there. If he and Netta were hiding somewhere in the village, she need to find them and warn them. She couldn't allow Basta to hand Silvio over to Capricorn. He hadn't stated outright that this was what he was planning to do but he had pretty much implied it.
I might not be able to clean up this mess the way you want me to.
That's what he had said. He probably thought he had no choice. If he didn't bring the boy before Capricorn, he would become his replacement. He would have to pay the consequences for the boy's slight against his master. But surely Capricorn would be more merciful towards Basta. Basta was useful to him whereas Silvio was not. She doubted his punishment would be as severe as the latter's. It wouldn't be death at least. It was this reasoning which assured her that she needed to leave the house straight away. Hopefully she would be able to find Silvio and Netta before Basta. She had a feeling they were still in the village. She didn't think Silvio would leave without attempting to contact her. She just prayed this loyalty wouldn't be his downfall. He would have been better off getting the two of them as far away as possible.
Silvio I hope I can find you, she thought as she headed towards the door.
There was suddenly a knock on the door and she drew back with a cry of surprise. Had Capricorn sent more men to search Basta's house? She cursed whoever it was behind the door. How would she able to leave now? Maybe she shouldn't answer it. Basta had told her not to. They might leave. Then she would be able to venture out on her mission. She kept very still, breathing as quietly as possible. She hoped they had not heard her cry out before.
A brief moment passed. She strained her ears to listen for footsteps to indicate they were leaving. But there were no footsteps. And the knocking continued, short insistent raps one after the other and she heard a voice, a voice she recognised and filled her with relief.
"Dafne," Silvio's voice was low and urgent, "Dafne, if you're there, please let me in, please."
She didn't pause. She raced to fling open the door and throw her arms around the boy standing there.
"Silvio," she said, her voice slightly choking with emotion, "I was so worried about you. So worried."
"I know. I'm really sorry," the boy replied guiltily whilst glancing around with trepidation, "We need to get inside Dafne."
She nodded in understanding. Silvio couldn't stay out in the open. She noticed he was alone too. Where was Netta? But that question could wait until she shut the door behind them.
"I left her with Dustfinger," the boy answered.
"Dustfinger?" Dafne said in surprise.
Silvio nodded.
"I had to leave her with someone I could trust. At least you trust him so I thought I could too. I don't trust any of the other men besides Basta."
You can't trust him either, Dafne thought sadly. He's out there looking for you so he can turn you in.
"Where is Basta?" the boy asked.
"He's..." Dafne was reluctant to tell him the truth, "Out looking for you." She left it at that.
"I was hoping he would be here too," Silvio said regretfully, "It would make things easier."
"Make what easier?" Dafne asked.
"Leaving the village," Silvio replied, "We all have to leave together remember? Like you said."
"Like I said," Dafne said quietly.
So that was why Silvio was here. Dafne had put this idea of a family exodus in his head. What could she say? The man he looked up to as a father wasn't tracking him down for the purpose of escaping together. Basta hadn't even considered this an option. Neither had she. Probably because she had felt Basta wasn't ready to commit to such an undertaking. But now that she thought about, why not leave now all four of them. What did Basta have to look forward if he stayed here? A vengeful Capricorn? A Capricorn whom he had said wouldn't trust him again. What was the point of sticking around if his beloved master rejected him? Why not chose her and Silvio, the two people who actually wanted him.
"Do you think he'll come back soon?" Silvio said hopefully.
"I don't know," Dafne said. Basta probably wouldn't rest until he found the boy. Ironically that meant he wouldn't return anytime soon and discover Silvio was actually here. She realised that time wasn't on their side. Besides Basta, Cockerell and Flatnose, how many more men were hunting Silvio down? "All I know is you can't wait around for Basta to come home. You need to go back to Netta and leave the village while you still can."
"What?" Silvio shook his head, "No we can't leave without you."
"You have to," Dafne said firmly, "If you're caught Silvio, you're going to die," she may as well use the worst case scenario to persuade him to do what she was asking.
"Die?" there was fear in the boy's voice.
"Yes Capricorn will have you killed. You've done him a great insult. He believes his maids as his property. When you took Netta, you were stealing something that belonged to him. He's not going to be merciful. You know that."
Silvio swallowed hard but didn't speak.
"He'll probably kill Netta too," Dafne said, making Silvio stare at her with wide panicked eyes, "If I know him well, he'll have her killed in front of you just to cause you as much pain as possible."
"Don't say that," Silvio pleaded, he couldn't bear to think of that happening, "Please don't say that."
Dafne placed her hand on the boy's shoulder solemnly,
"I have to," she said, "Because I need you to know how crucial it is for you to leave the village. Both your lives are stake. I couldn't bear..." she blinked away the tears forming in her eyes, she need to stay strong and level-headed, "I couldn't bear to have you die. You're my fratellino. My family," she gripped his shoulder more tightly, "So please, please do what I say."
Silvio bowed his head, shut his eyes and nodded. Dafne sighed in relief.
"Good. You said Dustfinger is with Netta yes?"
Silvio opened his eyes and nodded again. His eyes were full of the sadness she was feeling herself, knowing she was about to be parted from him. But she was consoled by the fact she was acting in the boy's best interests. Hopefully their parting would only be temporary.
"When you go back to Dustfinger, tell him that I want him to help you escape," Dafne instructed, "He had promised to help Resa and I but you two will just have to do. Dustfinger knows his way around the forest. He's the best person to get you to safety as quickly as possible."
There was an issue she hadn't covered, something which was troubling Silvio.
"What will we do after?" he said worriedly, "We don't have any place to go. Netta and me are both orphans."
Dafne considered this dilemma a moment. The two of them couldn't wander around aimlessly. If she and Basta did make it out of the village, how would they be able to find them? Then an idea crossed her mind. She reached around her neck and took off the necklace she had been safe-keeping.
"Here," she held it out to Silvio who only stared at it confusedly, "This belongs to my old master, Signor Orazio. He's a very kind man and I know that he'll take the two of you in."
Silvio looked unconvinced,
"But he doesn't even know us. Why would he do that?"
Dafne took Silvio's hand and dropped the necklace into it.
"Because you'll tell him that I sent you. This necklace is proof. I want you to tell him that I was taken from the house by robbers and brought to their hideout. It's the truth after all. Tell him that you two escaped and need somewhere safe to hide. Tell him that I should be following behind you."
Silvio shut his hand around the necklace, holding it tightly as if he could squeeze out the anxiety he was feeling. But he couldn't.
"What if you don't? What if you can't."
Dafne cupped the side of his face tenderly,
"I'm never going to give up wanting to be free. I don't know how long it will take but the most important thing is for me to know you're somewhere safe waiting for me."
Silvio nodded. He tried to smile but failed. Dafne didn't smile either, her expression only becoming graver.
"I want you to promise me that you won't come back for me under any circumstances," she went on, "And you need to make sure that Signor Orazio doesn't do anything drastic like call the police. He might think he's doing the right thing but he'll be putting my life in danger," she held the boy's gaze, "Promise me Silvio."
"I promise," the boy said solemnly without looking away.
Dafne nodded, she could only hope he kept his word this time.
"I'll write down Signor Orazio's address and then you need to go," she said, hating how harsh and dismissive the last words sounded. But they needed to be said. He had lingered here for too long. Every second was precious. She had to hold off her grieving until he was gone. The paper and pens were still on the table from last night though Basta had arranged them more neatly. She went over and jotted down the address as quickly and legibly as she could.
She held it out to Silvio and noticed that her hands were shaking. So were the boy's. Their fingers touched and she felt his tremors mingling with her own. How long would it be before she saw him again? Saw his smile? Hug him even though it embarrassed him? Maybe she would never see him again. Her heart suddenly felt very tight, painfully tight. Silvio's face was beginning to swim in front of her, the tears were breaking through. She couldn't stop them this time.
"I'm sorry," the boy said mournfully, "I've been so stupid. I shouldn't have taken Netta. I didn't think things through."
Dafne drew her arms around him, holding him as tightly as she could, with all the strength that came from loving him dearly. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"No, I don't want you regret anything," she said firmly, "You did what you thought was right. I'm proud of you for doing that. Ti amo fratello."
"I..." Even during this moment of farewell, Silvio was a little shy about responding in kind, it made her heart ache, he being so charmingly himself, "I love you too."
It took everything she had in her to let go of him. You have to, she told herself, he needs to go now. It can't wait. It can't.
She ruffled his hair. She had always liked doing that, passing her fingers through those curls. Even in this moment of sadness, such a familiar action made Silvio's mouth twitch in a smile. A very brief, small smile but all he could muster. She smiled back, just as weakly.
"You have to go now," she said.
"I know," the boy replied.
Dafne walked him to the door. They regarded each other for the possibly last time. He nodded in readiness and she opened the door. He flew out into the night like a dog running away from home, off to find another. She shut the door quickly, she couldn't bear to watch, couldn't bear to see the back of him. Instead she leaned against the door and prayed.
Please let him get out of here alive. Please let them make it to Signor Orazio's... Please let me get there too one day.
Now she had to wait for a certain someone to get home and convince him to take her there. She had to give him a chance at least to say yes. She hoped he would because if he said no, she was resolved go alone... somehow.
To be continued...
Fratellino - little brother
Ti amo fratello - I love you brother