A stone-carrying wagon had just passed, creaking and groaning from the heavy load of marble it transported. The wagon’s escorts gave Hong Fei and the people with him curious looks. One approached to offer a warning to stay well back.
“Sometimes accidents happen,” the Grandmother said, “with slabs falling and people crushed.”
“I once saw a wagon collapse completely,” another added. “The wood splintered and stone went everywhere like a landslide. None of the escorts survived.”
Over the last half-handspan of the sun’s travels, the laborers had become more helpful, offering information and suggestions to Hong Fei. They’d seen how he’d punished greed and rewarded virtue, and wanted to be on the right side of that calculation. No doubt, a few wondered if they might also find employment like young Rock Head had. Even with the House of Yu under siege, that would still be a better life than they currently enjoyed.
The rest of the journey to Ruby Swift City went much the same way. While on the road, the laborers could finally talk freely, sharing their experiences with the Rock Knife Gang. Many of those present had been abducted while away from their homes or workplaces, which told Hong Fei that the gangsters knew enough about each of their captives to make those kinds of arrangements—either through direct knowledge of the people involved, a network of informants, or divination magics.
That last possibility was unlikely, since the laborers were hardly worth that level of effort and resources. Yet Hong Fei considered it anyway, since there was already some evidence of divination magics being used, namely the apparatus he’d taken from the Tiger Masks.
That might be the only place, however. From eavesdropping on the laborers’ conversations and several rounds of focused questioning, he gathered that all the former captives had had some kind of good fortune occur in their lives recently. It seemed that the Rock Knife gangsters were simply sweeping up everyone who could possibly be touched by fate, and then letting the Tiger Masks make the actual determinations using their device.
That’s a reasonable assumption, he decided, at least for now. I’ll need more evidence to confirm, deny, or adapt it.
In the course of time, the Dragon’s Spine met the Tistkil River, and barges were seen upon the water, loaded with goods less weighty than the stone-carrying wagons. The road widened, and when it was safe to do so, Hong Fei led the group of rescued laborers around the wagons. Even with that, a trip that should’ve originally taken a single handspan of the sun traveling across the sky ended up lasting three.
Near the journey’s end, the road south turned west, and the walls of Ruby Swift City came into view. The buildings behind them rose up from the gorge’s base like a flowering vine, and Hong Fei spotted the Wing Span Bridge high above, the pure white arc crossing the gap to the high city from the intersection between the low and middle cities.
Once more, Hong Fei and his collection of laborers garnered curious looks, this time from the guards stationed at the east gate, yet his badge of office let them all through… eventually. The violence during the raids on the Rock Knives had the soldiers and constabulary still justifiably nervous.
Entering the low city, Hong Fei saw that the streets were mostly empty of pedestrians. Only those who needed to be out, were. The laborers in the train behind him went quiet at the sight. Everyone naturally came to a stop to looked around with cautious eyes.
This is good, Hong Fei thought. If people are this nervous about reprisals, it means the raids were successful. Now I just have to make sure my share of the prizes arrives safely at the estate.
“Auntie Ling,” he said, “go to the rear to keep watch on our backtrail.” In Askalousan he also added, “And make sure no one tries to slip away.” Back in the People’s language he continued, “Rock Head, take the donkey’s lead line and walk beside me.” It wouldn’t do for something untoward to happen to the lad before his fated reunification with Ugly Dog.
The young man stood a moment thinking. He looked down at his hand, then the leather cord offered to him. “All right,” he replied simply.
Arrangements made to his liking, the dūtóu clicked his tongue to get the donkey—and everyone else behind it—moving again. At the pace they were going, it’d still take at least another handspan or more of the sun’s travel before they reached the Yu estate.
Hong Fei kept his hand on the hilt of the ruined sword as he walked. He felt observed from a multitude of directions. Many of the buildings in this part of the city contained residences or apartments above the businesses on the first floor. Dozens of people must be noting his arrival, as well as the laborers with him.
His eyes roved from rooftops to balconies, down to the alleys and across the doors, then back again. He hadn’t sensed any killing intent so far, but a good-enough assassin knew how to hide. Hong Fei swallowed; a rising tension swirled through him.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The donkey, meanwhile, clip clopped onward seemingly without a care in the world. At a street that was otherwise unremarkable, the animal started to turn right. Hong Fei reached out to grab the beast’s halter to keep it from continuing in that direction.
Likely, the donkey was heading to the Rock Knife base that supplied the Tiger Masks, but Hong Fei couldn’t investigate it with all these laborers with him. He’d have to come back later, and bring along a few of his proper allies with him.
“First Uncle!” a voice cried out.
Hong Fei caught sight of motion from the corner of his eye. He drew the ruined sword in an instant, and essence streamed into his legs, ready to intercept the running figure. Then the words registered and he saw it was a young woman. Tears sparkled in the air behind her as she ran toward an older man standing in the cart.
He, in turn, jumped down to run toward her. They met in the road, clutching each other, while the train stopped again.
“You’re alive!” The woman exclaimed. “And unhurt! First Auntie is going to be so relieved. Don’t be surprised when she hits you twenty times for making us worry so much.”
“Oh, my dear, I nearly died from the fright. It was the Knives that took me and all these other people. The young hero over yonder is the one who rescued us. Let me bring you to him to make his acquaintance.” The First Uncle stopped as soon as he saw the drawn sword. “Another time, another time. Go on back home and tell your auntie I’m safe. I’ll come join you when I can.”
The man’s niece gripped his arm. “Are you—”
“All’s well,” the First Uncle reassured her. He gestured toward where the giant badger stood watching them. “See. There’s even a ferocious spirit beast protecting us.”
Meanwhile, for Hong Fei, the feeling of being watched intensified. His peripheral vision caught more motion up and to the right, but when he turned there was nothing on the building’s rooftop.
“She can come with us,” Hong Fei called out to the First Uncle, “but we need to get moving.”
“No, no,” the man replied, “she’s going home. There’s no need to trouble yourself about it, hero.” He kindly pushed his niece away.
Hong Fei put the matter out of his head to focus on his surroundings. He got the laborers moving once more and led them along the path usually taken by the stone-carrying wagons. That was the road which cut most directly through the low city.
Once they passed the side streets leading to the marble workshops, the road narrowed and branched into a myriad of routes upward. There were more people on the roads the higher up they, yet people fled as soon as they saw Auntie Ling. The giant badger was a sure sign that the train of people was somehow connected to the House of Yu.
And the feeling of being watched continued, made worse by the suddenness of people running into alleys or ducking into businesses. Hong Fei calmed his breathing. He kept his grip on the sword’s hilt loose. His mind flicked toward the crossbow he’d looted from the Rock Knives the previous day. It’d be a welcome addition to his armaments.
He also thought of the Ice Spear spell waiting for him, and he wondered how long it would take to learn. The dūtóu was considered a quick study in his family, so a season or two? The timing depended on the magic’s complexity. Perhaps I should make it the next card I redeem so that I can start learning the spell’s intricacies. I don’t know if we can face a fighter like Scarlet without it, not unless we have Xiàowèi Chen or Steward Zhang with us and that won’t always be possible.
Hong Fei noted how the Yu businesses in the low city were closed for the day. The doors barred and the windows shuttered as if a typhoon were expected. He nodded in approval. It wasn’t like any of them would’ve pulled in customers so soon after the raids.
At a donkey’s pace, Hong Fei’s train approached the Wing Span Bridge. Then, on a familiar street—nearby was the Healthy Waters and Wholesome Body Bathhouse—the hairs along the back of his neck rose. Someone wants me dead.
In a way, it was a relief. The tension and anticipation that’d been coiling tighter and tighter within him would finally have a release. Whether he survived that release or not was another matter, however.
Remember that the sword’s length has been shortened. Auntie Ling’s with me, so they must think they have enough strength to deal with her. I doubt whoever it is will target the laborers, but—yes, that will work…
“Stop!” he ordered.
Rock Head continued for a couple more steps before he complied. He turned toward the dūtóu, and the laborers in the back came forward to check on the reason for the delay. Auntie Ling too. She’d heard something in his voice that the others hadn’t.
“You’ve all been through so much,” Hong Fei called out, his voice carrying. “Let me treat you to a bath so that you can clean off the stink of your imprisonment. Go on.” He gestured to the bathhouse. “I’ll pay the bill and watch over the cart.”
“Hero?” the Grandmother questioned, and the people around her looked at him with confusion.
His gaze back at them was steady. “It’s a good place,” he replied. “I’ve visited it before when things were troubled, and I found solace among its waters. Safety too.”
The old woman’s throat bobbed. “I see.” She laughed nervously. “A good bath… oh my… how long as it been? Let’s all thank the hero for his kindness.”
For the most part, the laborers were quick to sense danger. The ones who weren’t, were pulled along by the others. They muttered their thanks, then streamed toward the bathhouse.
Auntie Ling came forward, which caused the donkey to sidestep. Rock Head had to tighten his grip on the lead line.
“Should I stay?” Rock Head asked. “The donkey is scared.”
“No,” Hong Fei replied, his voice gentle. “You’ll want to be presentable for later.”
The young man’s eyes crossed a little, then he nodded. “For the job, yes. I understand. Thank you.” He joined the laborers pouring into the bathhouse.
Soon enough, Hong Fei was left alone with Auntie Ling, the donkey, and the cart. He led the beast toward a nearby hitching post and tied the lead line to it. All the while, his meridians warmed with the flow of essence from his lower cauldron.
“We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet,” he muttered under his breath in Askalousan, “so just be ready.”
Auntie Ling growled softly, which let Hong Fei know he had her unconditional support.
His heart lifted as he patted her flank. Now then, he thought, where would I put my people if it was me planning this ambush?
ten chapters ahead. :)