The city of Arnheim was as busy as usual, the capital city of the country was a favoured trading location for merchants far and wide. The products being offered were as divers as the people offering them. Aside from the local merchants, there were a couple of people from a southern country across the sea, with a skin as dark as the night. They offered their valuables with a heavy accent. Creatures with faces and limbs just like humans, but completely covered in short, colourful feathers came from the far east of the continent. Their woodcraft skills were legendary even in these parts and selling or trading their items seemed to go smoothly. Stern looking humans with a greyish skin had travelled across the sea with their wares in the hopes of selling them. Money and goods transferred from owner to owner, but not always through righteous means. Thieves were always on the lookout for easy targets and therefore easy money. During market days, like this day, it was easy to ‘accidentally’ bump into someone and quickly take something from them while muttering an excuse if the target would turn around to see who had bumped into him. A tactic one man was in the middle of performing when he felt a hand on his shoulder. When he turned around he looked in the face of a female knight. Even though she wore a tunic in the colours of this country, the dark-blue eyes and light-blonde hair, which was cut at ear-length, gave away she or at least her family originated from a country up north.
“Who are you?” the man asked.
“Rachel Heartwood, one of the King’s Knights,” she answered curtly, with an accent that confirmed what her appearance indicated. “Return his purse,” she commanded as she narrowed her eyes.
“What purse?” the man spat.
“The one you just cut from his belt.”
“I didn’t-” the man began to defend himself, but Rachel took his arm in a firm grip and followed the targeted man. Judging by the velvet clothes this man dressed in, he was one of wealth and therefore a desired target for thieves. When she caught up with him, she tapped on his shoulder and the man turned around.
“Sir, are you missing your purse?” she asked him.
The man in velvet clothes looked surprised at her before glancing down at his belt where two small pieces of leather strings with clean cuts were hanging idly down the belt. “M-my purse!” he said. “Where is-“
Rachel tapped on the clothes of the man she held until she heard the unmistakeable sound of coins hitting each other. She dug up a velvet purse with gold embroidery. The leather string tied around the top had two loose end with clean cuts and in the same colour as the strings on the belt.
“That is my purse!” the man in velvet clothes exclaimed as he pointed at the other man. “Thief! You filthy-”
“I’ll take care of it, sir,” Rachel promised before the man could begin his tirade and she handed the purse to him. As soon as the weight of the purse lifted from her hand, she turned around and swiftly pulled the arm of the thief up behind his back, grabbed his second arm too and walked away with him. The thief squirmed and tried to break free from her grip while uttering curses to her and her family, but she held him in a firm grip and walked with him to the sheriffs office. There he would remain in custody until someone had time to deal with him.
When she emerged from the office again she looked around. It was a shame people turned to such schemes in order to make money. If there was one type of people she couldn’t stand, it were thieves. Low, dishonest people stealing from honest, hardworking people. At least this one was off the streets now and undoubtedly would get what he deserved. And with this out of the way, she could return to her initial investigation. The alchemist she was after had been spotted in this city, but she hadn’t been able to track him down. She only had a couple of days left to find him and free the three young women he held in captive, she knew he was going to use them in some kind of ritual which would happen in the night of the blue moon.
A gentle tune reached her ears and she turned her head to see where it was coming from. She noticed a man playing a lute and singing a song for a small group of people. A travelling bard, judging by the simple and somewhat worn-down clothes. For a moment she observed him as she listened to a song about a beautiful princess of the north who placed a bright star in the sky to guide her lover towards her. She walked forward and put some coins in the cup on the ground, she felt it was the least she could do. When she looked up her eyes met with the friendly light-brown eyes of the bard who nodded a thank you. She nodded back once and left the scene. She had respect for people trying to earn an honest coin through their skills and if she could she would spare some coins as appreciation for their talent and to help them get through the next day.
“Rachel!”
The familiar voice made Rachel stop and turn. She looked at the owner of the voice, a woman just a couple of years older than she was. The long, blonde hair fell gracefully over the shoulders and the skin was as pale as her own. For a moment she didn’t speak, but when she finally said something her voice had a cold undertone in it. “Kasandra,” she greeted the woman, “what brings you here?”
“I want to help you!” Kasandra exclaimed cheerfully. “Like big sisters do.”
Rachel’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, even if Kasandra was her big sister, she didn’t trust her. Not just because Kasandra didn’t mind to tell a lie or two, but she had chosen a career as thief. They walked on opposite sides of the law, but thus far Rachel was unable to bring her sister to justice, either due to lack of evidence or because of a well-performed escape trick by Kasandra.
“I don’t need your help,” Rachel stated curtly and was about to turn around.
“I know where the alchemist hides,” Kasandra stated. “And I know you’ve been looking for him to free those people he abducted for his experiments.”
Rachel turned back to her sister. “Why would you help me with that?”
“Because that’s what big sisters do, silly,” Kasandra said as she walked closer. “You’re running out of time and I want to help you. I can take you there and you can take down the alchemist, or free those girls, or both!” She looked expectantly at Rachel, but didn’t get a reaction of any kind.
The silence between them lingered for a few moments as Rachel contemplated the words. A part of her wasn’t ready to trust her, but it was true the new moon would be there in a few days and those people had to be freed by then. Could she trust her sister with this or was there a catch? There had to be a catch, she knew Kasandra wouldn’t do this out of the goodness of her heart. She could decline the help, she knew she could just turn around and leave, but could she really take the risk? There was of course the chance Kasandra was truthful for a change, maybe she really did want to help? “Fine,” Rachel said eventually. “Tell me where he is.”
“I will show you and I will help you,” Kasandra promised as she smiled warmly at Rachel. “This way.”
Together the Heartwood sisters walked down the street, but they did not speak to each other. Ever since Rachel joined the King’s Knights, she hadn’t talked much with Kasandra. While she had never approved of her sister’s career, it wasn’t until Kasandra had stolen jewellery from the princess they stood on opposing sides for the first time. Occasionally they had run into each other after that, but only when there was a crime involved which she investigated and Kasandra had committed.
After leaving the busy main street, Kasandra lead Rachel towards the wealthy part of the city. The paved street was broad enough for two carriages and workers kept it clean throughout the day. Every house was an architectural masterpiece and lay behind a wall with a sturdy and often heavily decorated gate. Guards patrolled the streets day and night and several servants walked around, going from or to an assignment. While some nobles strolled over the street to catch up or gossip with neighbours, most kept to their own place unless they needed to be somewhere.
In the middle of the street Kasandra stopped and pointed to a mansion behind an ornate iron gate. “That’s where he stays,” she told Rachel.
“That’s the house of lady Trialca…” Rachel muttered. While she didn’t know the lady in person, she hadn’t heard much good about her. Still, none of the stories gave away the lady would be willing to participate in human sacrifice.
Kasandra giggled as she grabbed her hair and tied the long strands together with a leather band. “Whatever the alchemist promised her in exchange for a hiding place, she’s not going to get it.” Her hands moved over her clothes to check if everything was she needed was present and turned to Rachel. “What do you think he promised her? Gold? Eternal youth? Probably the second, right?”
Rachel looked at her sister for a moment, this moment had a familiarity to it she hadn’t felt in a while. Why Kasandra was able to talk to her as if nothing had happened between them was a mystery to her, but it was nice to talk like sisters for a moment. “I’d say the eternal youth,” Rachel agreed. “That is appealing to many young women and this family is already one of the wealthiest in the city.” She turned her attention back to the mansion. “I doubt the lady would let us meet with the alchemist,” she sighed. “I don’t know how…”
“Easy, just say you want to talk to lady Trialca about her missing bracelet.”
“How do you know,” Rachel began when she noticed the grin her sister gave. “You stole it,” she sighed.
“Look at it from the bright side,” Kasandra replied cheerfully. “I’ve been inside before and I know where we have to be.”
The idea seemed to work, after ringing the bell a servant came to the door. Upon explaining the reason for their visit, they were allowed access to the house. The servant brought them to a waiting room. The room was equipped with some of the finest furniture, to show the wealth of the family to the waiting guests. The servant promised he would get lady Trialca and left.
A few moments later Kasandra opened the door to see if the servant was out of sight. She smirked when she saw the empty hallway. “This way,” she whispered as she beckoned Rachel to follow her. They silently walked over the thick red carpet covering the floor so they wouldn’t draw the attention from any of the servant or the noble family themselves. There were several statues and painting in the hallway, but Rachel hardly looked at them. All she wanted was to bring the alchemist to justice and free his captives.
Kasandra opened a door which lead deeper in the mansion and pointed to another door which had a few symbols carved into it. “That is where we have to be,” she whispered. “That is the alchemists room.”
Rachel nodded and walked over to the door. After she opened it and carefully peeked inside to see if it was safe, she walked inside she looked around. Aside from some expensive looking furniture and a door on the other side, she couldn’t see much out of the ordinary.
As Rachel went towards the other door, Kasandra went to a mahogany cabinet and opened the drawers. That sound caught Rachel’s attention and she walked back, but Kasandra didn’t pay any attention to her. When she found a locked drawer she bend down and started picked it.
“Let’s go,” Rachel whispered.
“Hush,” Kasandra whispered back. It didn’t take her long to unlock the drawer and when she opened it her eyes lit up. She carefully took a smooth golden sphere from it. “There it is,” she whispered. “The alchemist’s stone. This is what I was after.” She smiled sweetly at Rachel. “I knew they would let you in, being a knight and all that. This place is not easy to break in to, you know.”
“Put that sphere back,” Rachel whispered. “We came here to free those people.”
“You did, I didn’t.” Kasandra winked as she stepped back. “Thanks for your help, sis, I couldn’t have done it without you, but you’re on your own. I don’t want to mess with the alchemist.”
“I knew I couldn’t trust you,” Rachel hissed. “At least tell me where they are.”
“I don’t know, okay?” Kasandra said in a hushed voice, “I only know the alchemist is here and that he brought his stone.” She turned around to leave, looking at the large piece of gold which was hers now. With the golden distraction in her hand, she noticed a tall vase too late and knocked it over. Almost immediately after it loudly shattered into small pieces the door on the other side opened and a tall man with short, black hair emerged. Rachel recognized him instantly, it was the alchemist.
“My stone,” he grumbled, when he noticed it in Kasandra’s hand. “Hector, fetch.”
A creature with the body of a mountain cat and two heads, one of a fox and one of a wolf, emerged from the room and growled ominously.
“Run!” Kasandra said as she darted off. Rachel didn’t waste a moment and quickly followed her. The creature took off and followed the two intruders, but due to its speed and size it ran into the wall of the hallway and it shook its heads, before going after the two intruders again. The Heartwood sisters ran through the mansion with the creature closing in on them. Kasandra opened the door leading into the kitchen and Rachel closed it behind her. A loud thud of something heavy colliding with the door came mere seconds later, that was how close the creature had gotten. They ran through the kitchen where the startled kitchen staff didn’t know how to react, and left the house. The creature had opened the door by now and continued it’s pursuit through the kitchen and into the garden. When it caught up with Rachel, the fox head bit down in her arm and she screamed, but she took her knife with her free hand and lashed out, making a cut in the creature’s flesh. The fox-head whined and released her arm. Kasandra was half-way through the garden and went straight for the brick wall at the end. The creature sped up to catch her, as she was the one carrying the treasure of the master, and jumped up. The paws hit her back and she fell down, but before either head could bite, Kasandra smacked the heavy golden sphere against one head, which smacked into the other. The dazed creature shook both heads and Kasandra quickly got up again. Rachel took advantage of the moment too and followed her sister to the wall. After Kasandra agilely got on the wall she waited for Rachel. She helped her up and once her sister was sitting next to her, she winked once and jumped down.
“Kasandra!” Rachel called after her.
“Until next time!” Kasandra called back.
Rachel came down from the wall too and looked at her arm. Behind her she heard two different barks, the creature obviously stood on the other side of the wall. She quickly walked away through the small streets and alleys until she reached the main street of Arnheim again. She held her injured arm and glared at anyone who looked a bit too long at her, this could have gone worse than it had, but she was disappointed with how it had gone and angry at herself for allowing this to fail so miserably. She reminded herself that at least she knew where the alchemist was, but it was a shallow comfort. She needed a new plan, especially with that freak creature at his side. Maybe one of her fellow knights could help her, none of them would betray her like her sister had. She scowled when she thought about that, once again Kasandra had proven she couldn’t be trusted and she got away with this theft too. The worst part of it was that Kasandra used her in her scheme this time and it got them in serious danger. One day she would make sure Kasandra would get what she deserved and proof that in the long run a life of crime doesn’t pay off.
*** © Mariska Bekker ***