Chapter 34: Missing in Action (Patreon)

We walked in silence for another ten minutes before Odenna came to a sudden halt before a decrepit manor house that had obviously seen better days.

Roots had pushed up from the surrounding brickwork to wrap around the rusty fence enclosing the property. The windows were boarded up, the walls were crumbling, and silence lay like a thick blanket over everything.

“This is a safe house?” I asked skeptically.

“Hmpf. Looks can be deceiving,” Odenna replied cryptically. Stepping forward, she toyed with the iron lock holding the manor’s main gates closed. Just like the fence itself, it was rusted with age, leaving me to wonder if the darn thing even worked.

Much to my amazement, the lock sprang open with a sharp click a moment later.

Pushing open the gates—they didn’t creak surprisingly—Odenna glanced over her shoulder at me. “Be on your best behavior in there,” she cautioned. “Don’t speak unless you’re spoken to, and please, please, don’t tell anyone you’re a player. I am taking a great risk by bringing you here.”

“Then why do it at all?” I snapped, growing tired of her constant distrust.

“Because of your parents,” she growled, stepping into the overgrown manor yard. “They are the only reason I do any of this.”

The word stung and I ached to retort. Instead, I bit my tongue and followed silently in Odenna’s wake.

The old woman threaded a path through the garden, before drawing to a stop outside one the manor house’s many side doors. How she knew which door to pick, I had no idea. Raising a hand to the door, Odenna rapped on it in a distinctive yet unusual fashion.

Some kind of code, I thought.

Moments passed before an answering knock came from the inside. In response, Odenna knocked again, this time in a different pattern. Once she finished, the door opened to reveal a dwarf.

“Odenna! So good to see you,” he said, wrapping his arms around her.

She clung tightly to the dwarf for a few seconds before pulling away. “Urfak, it’s been too long,” she said warmly. “Can we come in?”

“We?”

Odenna pointed to where I stood half hidden amongst the shadows.

The dwarf looked me up and down. “She is not one of us,” he rumbled. It was not a question.

“She isn’t,” Odenna agreed. “But you could say resistance is in her blood.”

“Who is she?”

“Someone special,” Odenna replied obliquely, then held up her hand to forestall further questions. “And before you ask: no, I won’t tell you more.”

Urfak’s eyes narrowed. “You vouch for her?”

“Of course,” Odenna answered easily.

“Well, alright then. Come on in.” Pulling back the door, he ushered us in.

The inside of the manor was a study in contrast to the outside. Where the exterior was cold and uninviting, the interior oozed warmth.

Following on the dwarf’s heels, we entered a large sitting room. A small but cheerful fire crackled in one corner, thick carpet lay underfoot, tapestries decorated the walls, and food of all kinds had been laid out on the central table. There was only one other person in the room—a human woman with short brown hair.

“Ode!” she said, setting down the book she’d been reading. “What a pleasant surprise.” Smiling, she came forward to hug the old elf.

“Maragret, it’s good to see you,” Odenna greeted.

“Magret?” the woman exclaimed. “When did we start getting so formal? It’s Marge, remember?” Her gaze darted to me. “Or is the formality for your… friend’s benefit?”

Odenna chuckled. “As always, you are overwhelming, my friend.” Her smile faded. “But this isn’t a social call.”

Maragret lips twitched. “I didn’t think it was.” She led us to the table. “Sit. Eat if you wish. Then, we’ll talk.”

Odenna sat down and I followed her lead. “There’s no time,” she said, gesturing regretfully at the food. “We need your help.” She glanced at me. “It may be a matter of life and death.”

“Help is what we’re here for,” Urfak replied lazily. Sitting down, he took a bite out of a chunk of bread. “Is the lass in trouble? Does she need a safe place to stay?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but Odenna motioned to me to be quiet. “No,” she said firmly. “It’s not to use the safe house, we’ve come.”

“What then?” Maragret asked curiously.

“I need you to check the dead drops,” Odenna replied. “I would do so myself, but I am being watched.”

“The dead drops?” Urfak asked, his brows rising in surprise. “I thought you were done with all that—”

Maragret waved him to silence. “You said you’re being watched, Ode. By whom?” Maragret asked.

Odenna hesitated for a moment. “Arinna’s people. They broke into my shop.”

“Then you do need the safe house,” Urfak declared.

“No. Maybe. I’ll manage somehow,” Odenna replied. “I always do. But what I urgently need is for you to find Eoman.”

Maragret and Urfak exchanged glances. “Eoman…” the woman mused. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the recent unpleasantness in the poor quarter, would it?”

“I think it might,” Urfak replied, scrutinizing me anew. “Now that I’ve a proper look at her, I’d bet my last copper that the lass is from the poor quarter. She has the look.”

I scowled. “And what look is that?” I asked bitingly before Odenna could stop me.

He shrugged, not put off by my tone. “Wary. On edge. Underfed. And always ready to stick you if they don’t like the look of you.” He eyed me shrewdly. “Tell me, lass, how many daggers you got hidden about you? I bet its more than one.”

Flushing hotly, I opened my mouth to retort.

“Enough, Urfak,” Odenna said, beating me to the punch. “Don’t tease the girl. She’s been through enough.”

“Is she a Raccoon?” Maragret asked, looking at me sympathetically.

“No,” I said, speaking up for myself again.

Whoever Odenna’s friends were, they seemed well-informed about recent happenings in the city, which boded well for my own mission.

This plan of Odenna’s might just work, after all, I thought, encouraged.

After shooting me another glare—that I took to mean, ‘shut up!’—Odenna turned back to the other two. “So, will you do it? Will you help?”

“I’ll start checking the dead drops,” Urfak said. He held up a cautionary hand. “But I warn you, going through all of them will take all night. Don’t expect to hear back from me before morning.”

“Thank you,” Odenna said, rising to her feet. “We’ll return at dawn then.”

“So eager to go already?” Maragret asked.

“Like I said, Arinna’s people are hunting me,” Odenna replied. “Staying will only endanger you.”

I eyed the old elf sideways. Even I could tell the excuse was a weak one. It was clear Odenna didn’t want to stay. Her reasons though were less so.

“We can take care of ourselves,” Urfak said reproachfully. “You know that?”

“Still, I don’t think it—” Odenna began.

“At least introduce your friend before you go,” Maragret interjected. Her gaze drifted to me. “I almost feel as if I should know her…”

“You don’t,” Odenna said a little too sharply, “and like I told Urfak already, I won’t share—”

“My name is Elana Shanis,” I cut in.

Deafening silence overtook the room. I could feel Odenna’s heated glare, but steadfastly refusing to look at her, I kept my gaze on the other two.

“Shanis?” Margaret repeated. Rising from her chair, she walked over and studied my face quizzically. “Like in Penelope Shanis?”

Odenna’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Her daughter, actually.”

Even Urfak looked intrigued. “Would you look at that…” he murmured.

Maragret leaned closer. “Yes, I can see it now. She has her mother’s eyes.”

“My, my!” the dwarf exclaimed, slightly bewildered. “Does this mean she has her—”

“No!” Odenna cut in sharply.

Maragret and Urfak exchanged glances again.

Odenna inhaled deeply, visibly trying to regain her composure. “I came here for your help, not to be interrogated. There will be no more talk of Elana or her mother,” she said firmly. “Is that clear?”

“As you wish,” Maragret said, reseating herself. Her face was no longer as affable as it once was. “You always played your cards close, Ode, but this…” She shook her head. “This I did not expect.”

I shifted uncomfortably, sensing deep currents at play.

“I had my reasons,” the old elf said stiffly.

“I’m sure you did,” Maragret replied blandly. “But if you wish our help now, you will need to tell us more.”

“More?” Odenna echoed. “I told you the girl is off limits.”

“That much I understood,” Maragret snapped. “And I won’t ask you about her. But you will explain your interest in Eoman?”

“And if I refuse?” Odenna asked frostily.

The conversation between the two woman was growing heated, and Urfak, I saw, was wisely staying out of it, but to me, it seemed as if Odenna was going about matters all wrong.

“I’m looking for my brother,” I interjected.

Maragret broke off from her staring match with Odenna. “Your brother?” she asked, sounding startled.

I nodded.

Her gaze darted to Odenna before coming back to rest on me. “And is he… a Shanis too?”

“Yes,” I replied frankly. “The last I saw him, he was with Eoman.”

Maragret inclined her head. “Thank you for telling me, Elana.” She turned back to Odenna. “We will help, of course.”

Odenna nodded. “Thank you,” she said heavily. “Come, Elana, let’s go.” Turning to the door, she began to head out.

“Ode!” Maragret called, stopping her.

The old elf turned back.

“Stay the night,” Maragret said softly. “If not for your sake, then the girl’s.”

Odenna hesitated then nodded. “Alright, we’ll stay.”