Chapter 36: The Show Must Go On (Patreon)

I didn’t return to the safe house until hours later.

With no meaningful amount of money remaining in my pockets, I whiled away the time browsing the many shops in the district. Everything was expensive—at least by poor quarter standards.

Eventually, though, I tired of my explorations and headed back to the safe house. Thankfully, I’d remembered the knock pattern correctly and had no trouble gaining access. Even better, when the door swung open, it was Urfak’s smiling face that greeted me.

“What news?” I asked immediately.

He grinned. “Why don’t you come in first.” Not waiting for my reply, he led me back to the sitting room where I found Odenna pacing the floor.

At my entrance, she swung around to face me. “About time you returned,” she scowled. “Where have you been?”

Ignoring her, I addressed the dwarf. “Tell me.”

“We found him. We found Eoman.”

“Where?” I asked breathlessly.

“In one of the Raccoon satellite bases.”

I wrinkled my nose. “What? But Alon said—” I shook my head. “Never mind. Where is this base?”

“In the poor quarter,” he replied. “The base is a well-kept secret whose whereabouts are apparently known only to a few. I’ve given Odenna the directions.”

“What about my brother? Has there been any word of him?”

Urfak’s face turned grave. “Eoman’s communique didn’t mention him.” Seeing my expression fall, he hastened to add. “But that’s not unusual, and you may yet find him with Eoman.”

Nodding slowly, I turned around. Odenna had not moved position. “When do we leave?” I asked.

“Immediately,” she replied. “If you’re ready.”

“I am.”

“Then, let’s go,” she said, and marched out of the room.

I turned to the dwarf. “Thank you, Urfak. For… everything.”

He inclined his head. “It was no trouble lass, and pittance compared to the debt the Insurgence owes your family.” He shook my hand warmly. “Go well, and good luck, Shanis.”

I squeeze his hand one last time, then hurried after Odenna. The elf had not waited for me and was already halfway out the door.

Odenna wore a thick cloak with the hood pulled low, making her nearly indistinguishable from any other old woman in the city. So disguised, we crossed the city quickly.

To my surprise, Odenna lead the way confidently the entire way, neither asking for directions to the sewer entrance nor hesitating to enter when we reached it. That alone marked her as a regular visitor to the poor quarter.

How did I not know that about her?

It was only when we exited the sewers on the poor quarter side that she turned to address me. “We should be safe now,” she said. “From Arinna’s spies, at least.”

“I can lead from here. If you give me the directions—”

“Not necessary,” Odenna cut in serenely. “I know the way.”

I stared at her. “I don’t know when you’ve last been to this part of the city, but I assure you the poor quarter has changed much since your day.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” she said with what sounded suspiciously like amusement.

“It’s not safe, Odenna.”

“Perhaps.”

I glared at her. Why was she being so obstinate? “The Devils will attack on sight. I know all their usual haunts and can guide us safely around. Give me the—”

“Enough, girl,” she replied, her voice going hard again. “Believe it or not, I can take care of myself, and I’m more than passingly familiar with the quarter. I will lead.” Swinging about, she strode away. “Follow or not as you please.”

For a moment, I watched her go. Odenna was being foolish, but I had no choice but to do as she asked.

Throwing up my hands, I followed after her.

✵ ✵ ✵

It turned out Odenna was right. She did know the poor quarter—and almost as well as she claimed.

With only the occasional misstep—none of which brought us in contact with the Devils, thankfully—she got us to the Raccoon’s secret base.

The ‘base’—although that seemed too grand a term for it—was an unassuming wooden building no different from any other in the poor quarter. Coming to a stop in front of the rickety door, Odenna knocked softly.

Seconds passed before someone answered. “Who’s there?”

“Odenna,” the elf replied forthrightly. “Here for Eoman.”

More silence.

Then the door was yanked back. “Get in.”

Doing as we were told, Odenna and I entered the building. Our greeter shut the door behind us and while he did, I took the opportunity to study him.

He was a large bare-chested man with a distinctive Raccoon tattoo extending from neck to navel. Over one shoulder, he casually held a large war hammer. Turning around to face us, he smiled, revealing multiple missing teeth.

“This way,” he instructed. Unbolting a trapdoor set in the floor, he led us down. When we got to the bottom, the still-nameless Raccoon headed back up the ground floor. “Follow the corridor to its end,” he called over his shoulder. “Someone will be waiting for you.”

Once more, we did as asked. The corridor was longer than I expected and seemed to delve ever deeper. Eventually though, it came to an end, spilling out into a larger cavern-like hall.

It was nothing like the Insurgence’s safe house. There was no large table, no fireplace, and no magelights. Only torches lined the perimeter, their weak light doing little to illuminate the cavern’s gloomy center.

But despite the poor lighting, I could clearly see the bodies wrapped in white sheets and laid down in a neat little row in the middle of the hall.

Dead Raccoons? I wondered.

Contemplating the corpses were five men. The survivors, I judged. I scanned their faces. One was Eoman.

Another was Soren.

✵ ✵ ✵

He’s alive!

Heedless of the onlookers, I ran towards my brother. “Soren!”

Frowning, he glanced over his shoulder. Catching sight of me, his face brightened surprise, then delight. Throwing open his arms, he caught me in a bear hug. “Elana! I’m so glad. I thought… I thought—”

“I know, I know.” I sobbed in his chest, tears of joy streaming down my face. “I thought so too.”

Pulling back, he held me at arm’s length and inspected me minutely. “Are you alright?”

I nodded, my eyes shining. “And you?”

He shrugged. “A few nicks and bruises, but nothing much to complain about.” His voice dropped. “What happened to you?”

I laughed, a little unsteadily. “Too much to tell all at once.” I glanced over my shoulder. “There is a lot we’ve to talk about.”

Following my gaze, Soren’s mouth dropped open. “Is that… is that Odenna?”

“In the flesh,” I muttered.

His gaze shot back to me, catching the unhappiness in my tone. “Things didn’t quite turn out the way you expected with her, did they?” he guessed shrewdly. “They never do.”

“Something like that,” I said, waving aside his comment. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Alright,” he said slowly. “But what is she doing here?”

“Odenna is the only reason I found you,” I replied, giving the elf her due. Turning around, I watched the old woman for a moment.

She’d entered the hall more staidly than I had, and Eoman had broken off from his companions to speak to her. Presently the pair were whispering together. “They know each other.”

“Who do?” Soren asked blankly.

“Eoman and Odenna,” I replied. “Apparently, they were in the resistance together.”

Soren’s eyes narrowed—not with confusion, but with some other emotion I couldn’t decipher. He licked his lips—nervously, I thought. “Listen, Elana,” he began. “There are things I need to—”

“Soren?” one of the Raccoons interjected. “I hate to interrupt, but if we’re gonna go, it has to be now.”

My gaze flickered from the Raccoon to Soren. “Go where?” I asked.

For a moment, my brother hesitated, then he nodded at the other man. “Alright. Be with you in a bit.” He turned back to me. “We’ll have to leave our talk for later. I have to go.”

“Why?” I demanded.

“Alon has gone missing,” he said. “I’ve convinced Eoman to let me search for him, but like Mike said, we don’t have much—”

He broke off, finally noticing my bowed head and quiet hiccups. “El?” When I didn’t answer, he shook me gently. “What’s wrong, El?”

I raised my head, tears streaming down my face. “You’re not going to find Alon, brother.”

He stared at me uncomprehendingly.

“Why not?”

“Because… because…” My chest heaved and my breathing sped up, but I kept it together. I had to. For Soren’s sake. “Because he’s gone,” I finally choked out.

“He isn’t, El,” Soren said soothingly. “He’s just missing.”

I shook my head. “You don’t understand, brother. I was there.” My voice dropped an octave. “I saw him fall.”

Soren turned as pale as a sheet. “What are you saying, El?” he whispered. I could see the desperate need in his eyes for me to deny his fears, but I could also tell he already knew what I was going to say.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I gathered my courage. Then opening them, I voiced the words I had been dreading speaking all day. “Alon is dead.”

Soren said nothing, but I felt him tremble. Shakily, he lowered himself to one knee. His chest heaving, he bowed his head. My invincible brother, the man who’d shown not the least hint of fear during his own illness, was close to breaking.

“Soren…” I began, then stopped. There were no words that could make it better. Dropping down beside him, I held him tightly and gave him what comfort touch could provide.

For how long we stayed like that, I don’t know, but it felt like an eternity. Clinging to each other, we shared in the other’s grief.

Just like we’d done all those years ago.

Then, it had been our parents we’d mourned. Today, it was the loss of our brother.

Finally, Soren lifted his head and wiped his face dry. “Tell me how it happened.”

I told him everything—leaving out nothing and laying bare exactly how I’d failed Alon. As I spoke, a myriad of emotions crossed my brother’s face, but one remained constant throughout: sadness. A bone-deep ache of regret and loss we both knew only too well.

“I’m sorry,” I said when I was done. “I’m so sorry.”

Soren pulled me into another hug. “It’s not your fault. I know you think it is, but it’s not.”

I didn’t argue, but nor did I believe him. Staying where I was, I enjoyed the feeling of safety and comfort he’d wrapped me in. It wouldn’t—couldn’t—last, I knew.

Sooner or later, the world would intrude.

A hand squeezed my shoulder. Jerking back, I found Eoman standing behind me and beside him a solemn Odenna.

“Elana, I heard the news,” the Raccoon leader said. “My condolences.” He glanced at Soren. “I hate to intrude but…”

Soren rose smoothly to his feet, helping me up in the process. “We understand and thank you for sparing us the time. What do you need?”

“Odenna has filled me in on recent events,” Eoman said. He glanced at me. “There are things Elana and I must discuss.”

Soren pushed me gently in the direction of the Raccoon leader. “Go, El. I’ll be here when you’re done.”

I looked at him. “You’re not coming?”

He shook his head, shooting Eoman’s companion an indecipherable look. “I must speak to Odenna.”

“Alright,” I agree reluctantly before following Eoman. Striding purposefully, the Raccoon leader led me into an anteroom and closed the door behind us.

“There,” he said. “Now, we have some privacy. Take a seat please.”

I glanced around taking in the layout of the small room. It looked to be Eoman’s personal quarters. Utilitarian and bare, it was a far cry from what I’d seen of the Raccoon’s main base.

Seating myself I look at Eoman inquisitively. What could he want with me? And what could he possibly have to say to me that he couldn’t say in front of his people?

Following my gaze, Eoman looked around the room as well as he sat across me. “As you can see, things are not as they were.” He laughed bitterly. “That’s an understatement. We’ve been evicted. The Devils now control the Raccoons’ territory, and our losses have been nothing short of catastrophic.”

I winced at the bald statement.

“But worse than the loss in lives is how it came about.” Raising his eyes, he held my gaze.

I started. Was he blaming me? “Eoman, I know I should have returned earlier, and I’m sorry that I didn’t. If I had, so many things may have turned out different. But I was—”

“Stop, child,” the Raccoon leader ordered. “You misunderstand. I don’t hold you accountable.”

I sagged back into my chair. “You don’t?”

“I don’t,” he said firmly. “This is not your doing. But it is someone’s.”

I frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Pushing out of his chair as he if couldn’t hold himself still, Eoman began pacing. “Think about it. The Devils have been one step ahead of us the entire way. They took out our sentries cleanly. They saw through my feint at the old council hall and hit the main base anyway. They assassinated my lieutenants one by one, ambushing them in their homes or while alone.”

The last bit I hadn’t known about, but taken together, it all painted a bleak picture. Alon had been right. Eoman suspected a traitor, and based on the evidence he’d laid out, I didn’t think the Raccoon leader was being paranoid.

“You believe one of your people is working Cantos,” I stated.

“I do! And not just anyone. Someone very senior.” He chewed his lips. “Someone I trusted deeply.”

I frowned. “But something doesn’t add up. If there is a traitor, why have they let you live? Until you yourself are dead, the Raccoons live on.”

Eoman threw me a lopsided smile. “I thank you for the vote of confidence, dear, but I’m not sure it’s warranted.” His momentary humor faded. “As for why I’m alive, that’s easy enough to explain.” Raising his hands, he gestured to the structure around us. “No one knew about this base except me. No one. And since we’ve gotten here, I’ve not let any of my five fellow survivors leave.”

Five survivors? Taking quick count, I realized I’d seen the entirety of the Raccoon contingent in the base which meant… “So Celeste isn’t here?”

Eoman blinked. “Celeste? No, she’s gone. Killed with the others at the main base.”

I shook my head. “I saw her before I went to the old council hall. She is alive, Eoman.”

He stared at me. “She is?”

I nodded, then hesitated, biting my lip.

“What is it?” he demanded. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“When I saw her… she was is a bad way. What she suffered, no one should have to endure.” Inhaling sharply, I met his gaze. “But it is her tale to tell. I wasn’t able to stay with her at the base, so I gave her a healing potion, and rushed to the council hall. The rest you know.”

Eoman shook his head. “Celeste… alive,” he murmured. “I can’t believe it. Perhaps, I haven’t lost everything after all.” He glanced at me. “Where there any other survivors?”

“I don’t know,” I confessed. “I was in a hurry and didn’t spare the time to search the base.”

He nodded slowly. “I will have to send someone to scout, then.” He inhaled deeply. “Thank you for telling me. Perhaps, enough Raccoons have managed to escape the Devils purge, that we will yet recover.” He paused. “But none of that changes why you are here.”

“About that,” I said, leaning forward in my chair. “Why did you call me to this private meeting? It can’t be to hunt down the traitor, surely?”

“No, my dear, I don’t need you for that.” He chuckled hollowly. “I’ve got enough of my own experience in that sort of thing, believe me. I can hunt down the traitor well enough on my own.” Sighing, he sat down again. “No, the reason you are here is that you’re the only person I can trust.”

I blinked. “How’s that?”

“Of everyone still with me, only you weren’t in a position to know all my plans.” He shrugged. “You were in the sewers or the new city—ergo, you aren’t the traitor.”

“I see,” I mused, not missing the fact that he hadn’t ruled out Soren from his list of suspects. “And how does me being trustworthy help you?”

“I have a mission for you, one admirably suited to your talents.”

I sat back. “I’m listening.”

He held my gaze. “If I asked you to assassinate Cantos, my dear, would you do it?”

I didn’t hesitate, not even for a split-second. “In a heartbeat.”

He smiled. “Youth So impulsive. Don’t you want to know the details first?”

“If you have any, of course.” My eyes burned. “But no matter how difficult the task, I’ll do it. On that, you have my word.”

Eoman frowned, looking taken aback. “This is not a job for a hothead. Go in hungry for blood and you will fail,” he warned. “It will require cunning and cold calculation.”

I stared at him stonily. “Trust me, I will employ both—in spades.”

The gang leader studied me for a second longer. “Very well. I will put my faith in you. Don’t disappoint me.”