I carefully moved through the streets. My eyes darted around me, avoiding eye contact but scanning faces for anyone familiar. I didn't relax even as it seemed safe. I felt coiled tight, like a threatened snake. Ready to strike if I had too. Still I slunk further into Paris, the streets grew more decrepit as I went. The hustle and bustle of the main streets with their shops and pedestrians were far behind me. I tightened my grip on a flyer and slid into an alleyway. I gave one last precautionary look and pulled back a section of plywood before slipping into the gap and breathing a sigh of relief. Safe at last.
"Did you find anything?" I snapped my head to my right and made eye contact with Ion. Ion was Romani, his hair a thick black, and his skin and eyes a deep caramel. He was thin and tall and slick as an oil spill. He could pickpocket with the best of them, I taught him everything he knows and our skills were very closely matched.
"Managed to pickpocket a bit." I reached my hand into my shift. "I got some coins and bought some bread." I tossed him a roll,and set another on the table. "I also managed to nab this." I held up a flask.
"Alcohol? I don't feel much like partying." Ion scoffed.
"It's not for drinking." I answered. We shared a knowing look. "How is he?" I asked.
"How do you think?" Ion grunted. "He lost his fucking eye. He's acting like he's fine but he's not."
"That does sound like Gordon." I chuckled dryly.
"If it gets infected…" Ion's voice drifted.
"It won't. That's what this is for." I placed the flask on the table. Well we're using it as a table, it's actually a large spool, once used to hold wire. Now used as furniture.
The room we were in was small and admittedly pretty dirty. We did our best to clean it out when we arrived a few days ago, but we didn't have much and didn't want to risk too much either. An old moth-eaten curtain cut the room in half and the only light came from a single oil lamp resting on our spool.
"Ines? Is that you?" The curtain pulled back to reveal Gordon. Gordon was a bit taller than Ion but softer. He had strong arms and a soft gut. His skin was tanned from being out in the sun and his eyes and hair were brown. A bandage was fastened around his left eye, a patch of blood seeping through.
"It's me Gordon, you should lie back down." I stood up to help him but Ion had already beaten me to his side.
"C'mon big guy, you need to rest." Ion's tone changed dramatically when talking to Gordon, it became soft and gentle. The two had been best friends their whole life.
"I'm fine Ion." Gordon shooed him away. "I can't lay down and rest anymore…we need to plan." Gordons eye settled on me. I nodded in agreement and Ion let out a defeated sigh.
"Any ideas?" Ion turned to me. They had both been my mentee's for 7 years now, first coming into my tutelage at the age of 11.
" I've got one." I placed the flyer on the table. A bright festive illustration popped out from the drab decor of our safe house.
" The Feast of Fools?" Gordon cocked his head and raised an eyebrow at me.
"The perfect cover." I responded. "While everyone is distracted by the feast we can pickpocket and maybe buy some real medicine. Once Gordon is patched up we can get out of this city." I explained. I didn't hate the city but the woods were my domain. I didn't feel safe in this concrete jungle.
"What about Ward and his goons?" Ion had his hand on his chin. "They know we're here and if they see us it's over."
"Not to mention soldiers." Gordon chimed in. "I heard the captain of the guard is no one to mess with."
"We can handle soldiers." I assured them. Ion raised his eyebrow and I rolled my eyes. "We've handled them plenty before, this is no different. As for Ward." I paused. "The festival is taking place in the courtyard in front of Notre Dame. There are 10 bridges surrounding it. Try to always be close to one. Make a mad dash if you need to and drop into the catacombs if you can."
"Seriously Ines? This is the best you could come up with?" Ion glared at me.
"Yes." I answered honestly. "We don't have many options."
Ion's shoulders softened and he sighed. "Not a great plan." He grimaced.
"If all else fails, run to Notre Dame and claim sanctuary."
"Sanctuary?" Gordon exchanged a look with Ion. "Why?"
"I was told that if you claim sanctuary in Notre Dame, you're protected by the church."
"Who told you that?" Ion gazed at me suspiciously.
I paused for a moment. "Willow."
"Willow? You mean gullible naive Willow?" Ion scoffed.
"The Willow who sold us out. That Willow?" Gordon grunted.
I glared at them both. "Yes. That Willow." I paused. "She's paid for all of that don't you think?"
Ion and Gordon exchanged a look.
Ion rolled his eyes. "Yeah ok, fine."
"It's a last ditch effort. Not a first response." I grunted. "Only do it if you have too."
" Ward doesn't respect any laws. Why would he respect church law?" Gordon pressed.
"Again, this is if all else fails." I repeated. "Besides you're not coming anyway so it doesn't really apply to you."
"What? Of course I'm coming." Gordon exclaimed. "Ion?" He turned to his best friend for backup.
"I agree with Ines, you already stand out with your height and then pair it with your eye… we'll be too conspicuous." Ion put a hand on Gordons shoulder. "Besides, it's better if you're here and safe. I don't want to have to worry about you out there."
"Conspicuous?! Gordon gestured towards me. "My height and injury will blow your cover, but her hair and scar won't?"
"I have a cloak." I gestured to the scrap of clothing on the floor. Gordon wasn't wrong. My white blonde hair and burn scarring had been the bane to my stealth career. It's the only reason Ion was better at stealth than I was.
"Also she's tiny." Ion shrugged. "Nobody will look twice at her, probably think she's a kid."
Gordon sighed in defeat. "Fine. But you both better come back." He grumbled.
"We always do." I responded with a faint smile on my lips.
Silence fell on us like a shroud. Our situation was grim and our plan brought little comfort.
"We best get to bed." I sighed. Standing up. "We better clean that wound out first though. " I motioned to Gordons eye.
He nodded and I grabbed the flask and a scrap of cloth.
"You talk to him Ion, I'll make this quick." I started unwinding the bandage on Gordon's head. The two began to talk in a low murmur, I wasn't paying too close attention. The bandage fell away and the gaping eye socket stared back at me. A slash cut through his now useless eyelid and up through his eyebrow. We needed to keep it clean, an infection could be devastating. I poured a bit of alcohol onto my cloth.
"I'm cleaning it now, 1,2,3." I pushed the cloth into the wound and Gordon gasped in pain. Ion continued to talk soothingly to him and I worked quickly. I wasn't a medicine woman by any means but I knew how to treat something like this. Within moments I was wrapping his head back up.
"Sorry." I breathed running my hand through Gordon's hair. Poor guy was only 18. He didn't deserve this, any of this. Neither of them did. I wished I could give them more.
"Thanks." Ion mumbled. I nodded in response, catching a glimpse of Ion's hand intertwined with Gordons.
"Get some rest when you can, boys. We have a big day tomorrow." I stated before settling in for the night. The boys ate their bread and spoke in low murmurs. I could tell by their cadence that Ion was joking and trying to ease Gordon's worries but it wasn't really working. I turned over on the ground. I was using my cloak as a pillow but I had no blanket. I'd slept in worse conditions. Still though, a bed would be nice.
My thoughts drifted to the next day. I ran over scenario after scenario. "Please be right about this Willow." I prayed. Ion wasn't wrong. She had been very gullible. I was going to choose to have faith in her regardless. Somehow, someway I fell asleep.
