Now Egil fell silent, and as lamplighters moved along the street preparing for the oncoming dusk by igniting the oil lanthorns atop lampposts, at last Arin and her companions came unto the jail.
Upon orders from the desk warden, they laid their weapons aside. A guard searched them all and found Aiko's shiruken; in spite of her low growls, he set them in the vestibule as well. "Care for them as if they were your children," she said, "for if they are not here when we return, you shall father no offspring in the future."
A jailor led them up a stone stairwell and in among enshadowed holding cages, dark with the coming of eve.
Through the barred windows the crowd waiting in the street below could be heard: hawkers selling their wares, children shouting and screaming in play, strident voices calling for the show to begin, a low mumble and mutter of people pressed together. Some prisoners peered out through windows at the gallows below, while others sat upon the floor and wept.
"These are them what are to be hanged," said their jailor escort, gesturing at the cells to the right. "Pirates and cutpurses and such. Them others over on this side are drunks and debtors. Hang them too, says I. It'll clear the city of such." Then he turned to Arin. "Mind you now, you got to hurry. The rope dancing is about to begin, and me, I want a fair seat for the show. In fact, I'll go get Rob to save me one. Take care now not to get too close to the bars and I'll be back before you know I was gone." With that he turned and hurried away.
Aiko prowled down the side holding the drunkards and debtors, her gaze searching the cells.
Of a sudden, Delon called out "Ferret!" his voice ringing throughout the pens.
There was no answer.
Slowly, Arin and Egil moved along the right-hand cages, peering within. Some of the prisoners were dark skinned; these were obviously the Kistanians-the captured Rover captains. Others were pale and trembling- "Cutpurses and thieves, most likely," said Egil. Feral eyes turned their way and some prisoners spat curses at them in an unfamiliar tongue. Some captives turned their backs upon these gawking visitors, while others reached out through the bars, beseeching, pleading for the Dylvana to save them, tears running down their faces.
"Adon, deliver me from such a place," muttered Delon, and he strode on ahead.
A fair-skinned youth with dark brown, shoulder-length hair moved forward through the shadows to fetch up against the bars of a cell. As Delon stepped past, the youth reached out and caught at Delon's sleeve. "Good sir, you called for Ferret?"
Delon drew back, away from the clutching fingers. "I did."
The youth, alone in the cell, said in a low voice, "I am she, unjustly imprisoned."
Delon's eyes flew wide and he looked closely. "By Adon," he gasped, "you are a female!"
She held her arms wide and pirouetted. Dressed in lad's clothing, she stood a slender five feet three or four. Her enshadowed eyes were dark brown, matching her hair. She could be no older than twenty-one or -two.
"And you are named Ferret?" asked Delon.
She turned up a hand. "Yes." She gazed up at him, her eyes wide and filled with as much maidenly virtue as she could muster. "Surely, sir, you can see that I am innocent."
Delon looked rightward. "Dara!" he called. When Arin turned, Delon said, "This lady names herself Ferret."
Arin quickly stepped to the cell. "Is this true? Thou art Ferret?"
"That's what I am called, milady," answered the girl-woman, "though my true name is Ferai. 'Tis Gothonian, as was my dear father, rest his soul."
"Ferret, Ferai, regardless," said Arin, "we must get thee free of this place."
Ferai's eyes lighted at these words, but no sooner were they said than the jailor came rushing back. "Time's up. I've got my seat, and they're ready to start the hangings. You'll have to leave."
"Wait," demanded Arin. "You must set this one free."
The warder stepped back, as if startled. "Her? Why, she's one of the worst. Queen of All Thieves, that one. No, milady, she'll dangle among the first, she will."
"But I am innocent," declared Ferret, attempting to summon up a tear but failing.
"Ha!" barked the jailor. "Guilty as sin."
"Chien haleine batard!" snarled Ferret.
"Guilt or innocence is not at issue here," declared Arin. "Our mission is vital and she must go with us. Set her free."
The jailor shook his head. "I'll do no such, milady. She's to hang, and that's a fact."
"This cannot be," protested Arin. "Take me to the chief warden."
"It won't do you no good," said the jailor. "He's got his orders, too."
"Even so," said Egil, "we would talk to him."
"Aiko," called Ann. The yellow warrior had reached the end of the cells on the left. "Hurry. We must see the one in charge."
Aiko swiftly came to Arin's side, and with the warder leading in righteous indignation, they moved back down the corridor.
As Delon started to follow, Ferret plucked at his sleeve again. "Give me your belt."
"What?" He looked down at the gaudy leather.
"Don't question," she hissed. "Just give it to me."
As Delon slipped the iridescent belt with its ornate buckle from about his waist, she said, "Where shall I meet you?"
"Meet us?"
"Yes, you fool. Where?"
"Um, we are staying at the Blue Moon, but we have a ship at the docks: slip thirty-four; the Brise."
She snaked the ornate belt through the bars. "The ship it is. Go now, before he turns."
Delon hurried to catch the others.
After they retrieved their weapons, the warder escorted them to an office on the first floor. A tall, lean man in his early forties was putting on his hat as the Dylvana entered. He cocked an eye toward the warder.
"They insisted on seeing you, sir," the jailor huffed. "Wouldn't take my word, oh, no." Nose in the air, he marched away.
"What do you want?" demanded the chief warden, gazing out the window where the sun lipped the rim of the world. "I am in a hurry."
"There is a prisoner we need," replied Arin. "One who must be set free."
The chief settled a cloak about his shoulders. From the corridor there came the tramp of feet. "If it's a drunk or a debtor, simply pay at the desk," he snapped.
"Nay, chief warden, 'tis one about to hang," replied Arin.
A jailor stood in the doorway. Arrayed in the hallway behind was a troop of men-swords at their sides, manacles in hand. "We are ready, sir."
The warden nodded and tossed him a ring of keys. "Go on up, sergeant. Take those in the first cell. I'll be there in a moment."
The jailor saluted and turned and called out a command, and the troop tramped away, heading for the stairs.
The warden took up a sheaf of papers. "I'm sorry, but you are too late. I have these warrants to execute. No prisoner to be hanged will be set free."
Aiko growled, and touched the wide leather sash at her waist, the belt holding the hidden shiruken, but Arin stopped her with a glance. The Dylvana turned. "I represent Coron Remar of Darda Erynian, chief warden, and am here at the behest of the Lord Steward Revor. He will tell thee that what I request is to be honored."
"Have you proof of this?" asked the man.
"Nay, yet I can get it."
"Then do so," he replied, stepping toward the doorway. "Until I see such, though, the hangings will go on as scheduled."
"But the steward has set sail, chief warden," protested Arin. "I cannot-"
From the hall came shouts of alarm and the clash and clang of weaponry. Bloodcurdling shrieks and howls of battle rang throughout the building. Horns sounded above the furor, and swarthy men armed with swords and manacle chains clattered down the stairs.