~ Rescue ~

Absence Of Choice

"This stupid thing ... what are you trying to tell me? What?"

Ren laughed at Talise's frustration.

"Maybe you ain't hitting it right," he said. "Give it to me, I'll jolt some sense into it."

Talise held the device away from Ren. "Take a step back, please."

Felony noticed a faint look of irritation cross Ren's face, but he obeyed Talise's command and took a step back.

"Good," Talise said, as Felony paced the alley again. "Thank you."

It was night, or early morning, really, the sun a few hours from rising. Felony took in a breath, held it, then let it out slowly, watching it dissolve in the light of Kyle's lamp—this was a new experience for her, it never got cold enough to see your own breath in Clock Face.

"It doesn't seem to be working properly," Talise was saying, frowning down at the device she was holding.

"Since when has it ever?" said Kyle. "Armand himself said it, half the tubes have never even worked, and with the ones that do it's mostly guesswork."

Talise looked up at him, her expression weary but patient.

"I know exactly which tubes work and which tubes do not work," she said. "Normally I have no trouble whatsoever using this device."

"Maybe it's the cold?" Felony suggested, although really she had no idea. She'd never seen the device Talise was holding before, and found herself fascinated by it—it was formed of three interlocking brass rings with a solid gold core. From this core, held in place and protected by the rings, extended six glass tubes. Currently three of the tubes were glowing; the first with a pale white light, which extended a quarter of the way up the length of the tube; the second with an odd, murky kind of orangey purple colour that shifted and changed by the moment; the third pulsing between a dull blueish light and an even duller greenish light.

Talise shook the device gently.

"When we first came into the city," she said, "it indicated a strong energy presence. I assumed this meant that the item was particularly powerful. However, now that we're further inside the city the energy reading has dropped considerably. There's been a small increase since we got to this meeting spot, but even so it doesn't make sense. Unless Edward's message—"

"Wait, Edward?" spluttered Kyle. "EDWARD is our contact? Hell of a thing not to tell us, Talise!"

"You didn't need to know," said Talise. "Really, what difference would it have made? Probably I saved you a lot of stress by not telling you. But, yes, Edward is our contact here, along with Jek. And the girl's name is Zivah, apparently."

Felony smiled to herself. She'd had her suspicions about the nature of the 'item' they were after, and this all-but confirmed them. But then, like Talise had said, what difference did it make?

"What was that about a message?" she asked.

"Edward sent me one last night, telling me where he and the item would be," said Talise. "And yet he isn't here, which makes me nervous. This is a quiet part of the city, but there are still night patrols around, and from all I've heard the curfews are very strictly enforced." Talise made a little irritated noise. "Maybe he made a mistake in sending the message, the device isn't exactly simple—"

"Now, Talise. Really. When have I EVER made a mistake?"

Felony turned to see a tall, broad young man stroll into the lamplight. He moved with confidence and grace, and his face was almost absurdly handsome; high cheekbones, strong jawline, bright hazel eyes that held a spark of amusement. His bronze-brown hair was perfectly messy, and his voice was high but masculine.

He was perfect.

Yeah, Felony thought. Here we go.

"Edward!" Ren was already moving forward, the two young men clasping hands and grinning at each other as they slapped each other's shoulders and did all that alpha-male greeting nonsense. "Bet you're ready to get the hell outta Pyre, yeah?"

"Oh, I don't know," Edward replied. "It's been rather amusing, actually. Surprisingly so. Variety is the spice of life, so I've heard it said."

"Where's the girl?" Talise asked, her voice crisp. Edward turned to smile at her.

"With Jek," he said. "Safe. She's an odd, mousy little thing, I suppose some people might like that type, personally I prefer a feistier girl. Speaking of which..." he turned his smile on Felony. "You must be Felony. I'm Edward Swift. It's my honour to meet you."

He extended his hand. Felony didn't uncross her arms to take it.

"Yeah," she said. "Sure."

Edward laughed, light and musical.

"You see?" he said, to no one in particular. "Feisty. I could tell as soon as I saw you. That's an interesting scar you have, under your eye. The crescent moon has called to me/As I lie drifting on the sea, and so forth."

It's the voice, Felony thought, as she regarded Edward with wary eyes. That edge of expectation; I have said it so it MUST be true, and important, and wise, and clever. Highborns have it, and so do his type. Handsome and charming enough that he's never had to work for anything, and so now he expects everything.

Be very careful of this boy.

"Could we move this inside?" Felony said. "Kind of chilly out here."

"Not to me," said Edward, with a sly smile. "Nor to you, dear Talise, I'm quite sure. But for Kyle and Ren and feisty young Felony's sake, yes, let's move this little soirée to my current residence."

Ugh, Felony thought, but she was careful to show no expression.

"I'll be taking Ren with me," said Edward lightly, as he led them through the streets. "To Rosanth. I'm sure he'll have no objection to that."

"No way." Ren grinned. "Sounds fun."

"I thought you'd like the idea. Frankly, although I've enjoyed Pyre more than I expected to, all this messing about with magic amulets and the like has grown completely boring. I'm looking forward to something more immediately satisfying. Still, it's just as well Armand sent me along on this one, I doubt Jek could have handled it alone."

"Have you cleared that with Mr Garnett?" Talise asked. "That you're taking Ren with you?"

Edward laughed pleasantly. "I thought I'd leave that to you, Talise," he said. "I know you do so enjoy that manner of organisational trifle, and you're far better than I at operating the novel-yet-tedious communication device we're forced to use."

Felony noted the way Talise responded to this; a very measured, very controlled breath. Edward didn't notice, and neither did any of the others.

"Ah, here we are," Edward said, indicating one small house amongst many. "Ladies first."

"Yeah, go ahead Blue," said Ren, pushing Kyle forward. Kyle managed a weak laugh before going inside the little house. Talise and Felony followed.

Inside it was dim, lit with a lamp turned low. Felony saw loose, thick rugs on the floor, a bundle of cloth, a couple of low beds, and the biggest person she'd ever seen in her life.

His hands, to start with, were massive; he could have held both of Felony's small hands in his palm. His arms and legs were thick and muscular, as was his chest—which was bare. He wore tough linen trousers and stout boots, and a cloak over his absurdly broad shoulders. His hair was long and black, shining dully in the weak light, and his face was square and flat—attractive enough, Felony considered, to those who like the ridiculously masculine look, even though he's obviously Crovian. How is he not freezing, though?

"Edward," the big man rumbled. He stood—the low ceiling was just an inch above his head. "And Talise. It's good to see you again."

"Hello, Jek," said Talise. "This is Ren, and Kyle, and Felony."

Jek nodded at them, then looked at Edward. "Are we leaving now?"

"Yes, I thought we might. No time like the present! Talise, I leave the 'item' in your more than capable hands. Kyle, always a pleasure. Felony ... I hope we have the opportunity to work together again. Farewell, my comrades. Ren, Jek, let's go."

Felony watched them leave, noting Kyle's quietly relieved sigh. She exchanged glances with him, then frowned.

"Wait, where's—"

Talise was crouching by the bundle of cloth—a person, Felony realised, a girl, wrapped up in a grey and purple robe.

"Come on, wake up," said Talise. "It's all right. We're here to rescue you."

Rescue, Felony thought. Well, if we're taking her away from Pyre, I guess that's rescuing by default. The girl stirred, then looked up, her light eyes bright but fearful. She had a soft, pretty face, though very thin.

"Who are you?" she asked, as she pushed herself to her knees. Her Pyrian accent was both thick and soft. "Where's Jek?"

"He left already," Talise said. "My name is Talise. You're Zivah, that's right?"

Zivah stared at Talise—no, Felony thought, not 'at' her. She's not looking at Talise, she's looking at the space beside her head.

"I..." Zivah trailed off and looked down, still kneeling, her hands pressed tight against her legs, the hood of her robe hanging over her face. She's really skinny, Felony thought. Her arms are barely even there.

"Are you okay?" Kyle asked. "Do you need help?"

"You are taking me away from here," Zivah said, her voice coming from within the hood of her robe.

"That's right," said Talise, crisply. "We'll be leaving in the morning, at first light."

The hood moved. It took Felony a moment to realise that Zivah had nodded.

"Then I put my trust in you," she said. "Until then?"

"We wait," said Talise, firmly. She glanced at Kyle and Felony. "You might as well make yourselves comfortable. We're not going anywhere until the curfew is over."

"Suits me," said Kyle, sitting down on the floor, his back to the wall. Zivah glanced at him, then she seemed to relax a little—though with her hood over her face, it was difficult to tell what kind of state she was in. Felony approached Talise, who was standing by the door.

"Why so cautious?" she asked. "We didn't see anyone on the way here, and even if we did I'd bet anything I could outrun 'em."

"Yes," Talise said, turning her cold eyes on Felony. "You could outrun them. And Kyle and I could defend ourselves. However, this girl, Zivah, the entire PURPOSE of our coming here, could not outrun the guards. She could not defend herself. Which means that WE would have to defend her, which in turn raises the risk of her being injured—"

"All right, all right, I get it. Why's she so special, anyway?"

"I have no idea," Talise muttered. "All I know, and all that I need to know, is that Mr Garnett has an interest in her safe delivery to Aylward."

"Just asking," said Felony, her hands raised. "Don't need to get all 'professional' on me."

"I thought that perhaps you'd appreciate it."

"Huh?"

"You also seem to be quite professional," Talise said. "Or have I misjudged you?"

Felony stared at Talise.

"Nuh," she said. "I mean, no. You haven't."

"Then rest, for now." Talise smiled. "Perhaps later you'll have cause to run."