Page 17 of The Fury She Holds
Rain took a deep breath and stopped short, grabbing his middle. “As kids we were told a story about the Pyrie, a Fury from eons ago. Some call her the original, others say she was the most powerful of her time. The legend says the power drove her mad, and she tried to destroy the world.”
“So, what happened to her?”
“Another elemental betrayed and killed her.”
“What does this have to do with me? Do you think I’m about to go mad, too?”
He sighed, frustration creasing his brow. “Power is dangerous, especially when it’s untamed like yours. You know that better than anyone. I only remember pieces of the story we were told as children, but there’s a reason generations of people passed it down. I need to learn more, but I can’t help but think this is a warning.”
“And the nobles?”
Rainier shook his head. Sybil’s gift created more questions than answers.
Tal's arms shook as she pushed to her feet. She grunted. “I need some food.”
Carrick helped her to the table as Egan arrived with a plate overflowing with a meal worthy of a king.
“Go rest,” she dismissed Rain as he stood slowly.
Egan paused at the door. “We’ve got your back, Tal. Whatever it is.” He gave her a small smile and followed Rainier down the tunnel.
Carrick handed her a fork and motioned for her to eat. “We need to take this seriously,” he began, but Talwyn waved him away. With a sigh, he changed the subject. “Faron has been wandering the taverns searching for you. I told him to stay out of the tunnels if he knows what’s good for him.” He didn’t wait for a response and left Talwyn to finish her meal in silence.
Using her fury left Tal ravenous. She asked Egan for a second plate before energy returned to her limbs. And after gulping down half of a healing elixir, she made her way through the tunnels, her wounds mostly healed.
She found the children in one of their storage rooms. Rainier’s various glass bottles sat against the wall; the large crate that used to contain them overflowed with hay. Egan’s oversized blanket cocooned the children sleeping there. It wasn’t permanent, but it would work until they could figure out what to do.
“Evania. That’s the girl,” Egan said behind her.
“How is she?” Tal asked without taking her eyes off the sleeping forms.
He stepped next to her. “She screams in her sleep, clings to Sybil, and won’t let anyone leave her by herself—not that her brother will let her out of his sight. He thinks it was his fault. He tries to act tough, but one crack in his armor, and the boy will be a blubbering mess.”
“Will they eat?”
Egan nodded. “They’re skin and bone. Covered in bruises. Evania flinches when anyone besides Sybil comes near. They won’t tell us, but we suspect they’ve been abused. Sybil’s been using her visions to figure out who did it. I’ll take pleasure in shaving the skin from their bones when we find out.” He paused, steadying his breath and turning his thoughts away from violence.
Talwyn gave him a moment to reign in his inner beast.
“They mostly sit together and watch us, but they’ve begun to play a little.” He paused, gathering the courage to say what Talwyn knew the whole crew felt. “We can’t send them back to the street,” he pleaded. “They won’t make it on their own.”
She pursed her lips. “Have the others been told of the danger?”
“I warned what orphans I could find to stay out of sight. They’ll tell the others.”
Tal nodded. Helping those like Evania and Janin had been the plan all along, but not in this way. They were supposed to funnel money from Pochette’s businesses back to the poor. They were supposed to keep the gangs out of the docks. Taking children into their care asked too much. The docks held enough orphans to fill the tunnels to the brim and with not enough people able to care for them. If they took in one, how could they say no to the rest? And what kind of life could she give them? Dishonesty, danger, and violence found them at every turn, even with the absence of Pochette’s men. Would it be fair to pull two children into that kind of life? And were her friends responsible enough to care for two children? What would they do when they had toleave for a bounty? Would someone have to stay behind to watch the kids? She surely couldn’t bring them along.
Talwyn sighed. For now, the children were safe, and they had more reason to keep them in the tunnels than to send them away.
She put a hand on Egan’s shoulder. “They’ll stay for now until we find them a better home. Rain is resting tonight. The children won’t be alone. Come on. We have a maroon swordsman to find.”
Sybil stayed in the tunnels, claiming she had an irresponsible redhead to have visions about, but Carrick refused to stay back. So, Talwyn, Carrick, and Egan took to the streets. They chose to buy a pint at Gale’s Tavern first. It stood far enough away from the entrance to their particular set of tunnels, and their well-dressed target would expect them to slum with a rowdier crowd.
“He probably thinks we’re scoundrels,” Talwyn said.
Gale’s always guaranteed a good time. The owner, Gale, a woman with enough muscle to give Carrick a fair fight, communicated with her patrons through the use of force, and often destroyed her own furniture to do it. On any given night, they would be sure to see at least two brawls, one person leaving with a black eye, another missing a tooth, and patrons often hoped to receive the honor of being literally tossed out the door by the burly woman. Tal always chose Gale’s to let off steam. But it wasn’t the place to find their swordsman.
They tried two other taverns, having a pint or two at each, until they decided on a better tactic. Grabbing a few things to go, they took to the rooftops, positioning themselves so that together, they could see the entrances to four taverns. Talwyn tipped herpint six buildings to the north to Carrick. He held a bit of bread up by way of greeting and then waved west to Egan, sitting cross legged and feeding a black bird that joined his perch.
