18 Kidnapped

Present Day

WHEN AIYANA’S WORLD bounced into focus, she knew things weren’t right. She attempted to stop the sickening motion by reaching out to steady herself. Her arms refused to move and her legs proved as uncooperative. Perhaps she was in a wagon or a cart, though the why of it eluded her. After several minutes of confusion, she realised she was slung over a person’s shoulders. Her arms were draped across their back, loosely bound. She smelled sweat and oiled leather armour. She managed to raise her head, though it was difficult to see past her hair and hood.

She realised the person in question was Captain Turol of the Actaeon Guard in a blue fish-stained coat. It smelled better than the man. His stench near unbearable, he carried her through narrow streets cluttered on either side by crumbling villas, battered shop fronts and brothels.

They’ve kidnapped me! Her anger and disbelief battled for precedence. She heard another set of footsteps, lighter and further ahead. She strained to see. As Turol turned a corner, she caught a glimpse of her Darken, despite the darkness and everything being upside down. She wanted to speak, to curse them, but found her tongue uncooperative.

You and I are going to have a nice talk, Cath, once this lummox puts me down, and once she could string two words together. She’d just need two. She had a strong sour smoky taste in her mouth, and realised she was drooling. What had that sly slinkt poisoned her with? She didn’t fear for her safety, of course. It was to keep her safe that the misguided fools were doing this.

A while later, they stood outside the fractured façade of an old church. Well, Aiyana just hung upside down and waited. Cathya wore a faded dirty grey cloak and dark clothing. She was staring at the building’s wall, hands on hips. Its spires were broken, windows smashed. Stone statues sat within their external niches amid excrement smeared walls. The Imperial Church was the solitary religious power, its paladins equal in status to any conclavist. Five paladins were conclavists. Worst of all, they also acted as bankers. Everyone who mattered owed them money, including the Todralans. The ordinary Mucker seemed not to appreciate the moral authority of the Church, however.

I wonder why that would be, Aiyana thought wryly. Theft might result in a public flogging. Vandalism of a church meant death. Of course, with a possible civil war looming, none cared.

They stood close to the low tenements of the stonemasons. The wooden scaffolds and workshops lay further off. The damaged limestone wall stood two hundred paces to the north. There were no sentries on the shattered battlements, the round towers abandoned.

‘She’s awake,’ said the clodhopper, shifting Aiyana a little as though feeling the strain. She hoped he was in agony. At least her mind had cleared.

‘I know,’ said Cathya who didn’t turn. She was kneeling, using a fire striker and flint to light a torch. There was a stench of sulphur as it burst into flame. ‘The dose I gave her was an estimate on height and weight ... and other variables. She shouldn’t be trouble for hours.’ She rose and turned, the torch blazing in her hand, and caught Aiyana’s furious gaze. ‘You will hate me for this. I know that. Once this is all done, I will accept whatever punishment you see fit, even death. I do this because I have to, because you’re too important.’ She turned back, surveying the building again before leading them around the side.

Cathya brought them into a dank alleyway and they came to a small battered bronze door. ‘This place is a haven for opium addicts, but it looks quiet tonight. Careful as you go, Turol.’

‘It’s all right,’ Cathya then said, holding out her hand to touch Aiyana’s cheek. She would’ve bitten it, she was so angry, but instead she moved her head away. It was about all she could move. ‘It is my duty to keep you alive. I am trying to do right by you, by my vows to you.’

‘Yet,’ Aiyana slurred, working her mouth, moistening her lips as she regained control of her tongue, ‘you do wrong by my people.’ Grim-damn it anyway, she was drooling again.

‘Once you’re safe, where your enemies cannot find you, I will submit myself to your judgement.’

Oh, Cath, you sweet fool. Her dreams haunted her. Images of fire and death and scaled winged creatures who were as children to her.

Cathya opened the door, the hinges squealing, and the captain carried Aiyana into darkness.​​​​