Page 3 of Take No Prisoners
He opened the door and looked in the direction of the windows, but saw nothing. When he glanced the other direction, he fell backward through the door, startled by the closeness of a familiar face streaked with dirt. He landed hard on the stone tiles.
"Hullo!" Klaus said. "I didn't think you would answer." His dull crimson hair was pulled back with a shining black satin ribbon. He sometimes received baubles from his patrons, but Niall had never seen him wear them before.
Niall grinned at his oldest friend. He jumped to his feet and pulled Klaus into a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"I promised you a new set of pajamas!" Klaus laughed. "I can do one better, even. I got you a new set of clothes." Klaus shoved a paper-wrapped package into his hands. "A pair of fancy short breeches like they wear at the capital nowadays, and a flouncy shirt that's bound to get you some attention from the ladies."
Niall didn't want attention from the ladies, and Klaus knew that. He also seemed to be playing for a crowd in his fancy ribbon and a tunic with puffy sleeves, as though he was putting on a performance. The baggy fabric didn't hide the fact that Klaus was far too skinny. The dim light from the streetlamp did him no favors, making the purple half-circles beneath his eyes even darker.
"Put these on and join me outside. We're getting out of here. Tonight."
"I can't leave!" Niall had who knows how many years left in his apprenticeship. He was willing to wait until Master Othelio died. The old man didn't have a decade left in him, if that. It wouldn't be long, and Niall would own the shop and be able to put his own brand on both his artwork and everyday items.
"You're going nowhere here, and you know it. Master," Klaus hissed the word like it was venomous, "is using you to make his wares. He'll keep you at apprentice wages until he dies, and he'll have squandered all your hard-earned money on gambling and women, so you won't get a dime to continue the business. You'll be lucky to keep this store from his daughter. You know she wants to turn it into a dress shop."
That was news to Niall. He'd only met Master's daughter, Ishta, once. She'd been nice enough, but he'd heard them laughing about his "misfortunes" when they thought he couldn't hear. His only misfortune was to be born in a dark time where a person's worth was measured by how willing he was to break his back for someone else's coin.
His frustration with Master Othelio resurfaced with the memory. In his heart, he knew Klaus was right about his work and his future, but he'd spent so long waiting for the old man to pass on. Master Othelio had been plagued with a harsh cough that had progressively worsened over the last week, too. If he hadn't sent a messenger to say he wouldn't be home tonight, Niall would have assumed he'd died when he didn't return to his rooms above the shop.
"He's playing you," Klaus said. "He's at the gambling hall tonight. He's already lost a week's earnings. At least this way, he'll not be using you to get them back."
Niall knew Master Othelio gambled. He bragged about his time at the floating casinos where townsfolk, visitors, and pirates alike lost their money.
He hadn't mentioned it when leaving the shop today, though. Perhaps Klaus was right, and the game had changed. Master had an end in sight, one where he would spend as much money as possible before his death, since he couldn't take it with him.
"I'll go with you."
"Fantastic! Where we're going, they're badly in need of potters. No apprenticeship, either. You'll be able to make a name for yourself."
"Where are we going?"
"Hearthstone."
Niall had one leg already in the new breeches, but the thought of going to Embertide's capital city stopped him cold. His parents had warned him against the ruling family, General Coryn, and anyone else who would dare subjugate weavers in the empire. His parents had hanged for false accusations of treason against the emperor. Niall had watched them swing from the hangman's noose. He tugged at the neck of his too-tight pajama shirt.
"Come on! He won't wait for us forever."
"Who's waiting?" Niall didn't like the sound of someone else's involvement, either. Word could easily get back to Master Othelio, and then Niall would be hanged for deserting his apprenticeship.
"You'll see."
Something dark slithered across Klaus's face, an emotion Niall couldn't identify but which made him even more uneasy about their circumstances. He had nothing to gain if he stayed here, though, and only his life to lose. Besides, he had no magic. The general wasn't looking for him. She could have dragged him onto her boat the night his parents died or claimed him at the orphanage if she'd wanted. He'd spent two full years in the port orphanage under his real name. Hell, he still used his real name now.
No one was looking for him in Hearthstone. No one was coming to save him here, either. It was time for him to save himself.
He finished dressing and followed Klaus into the night. the streets were fairly empty, especially when they turned away from the lanterns and headed for the docks. Instead of boarding one of the merchant ships docked there, Klaus headed for the naval vessels on the far side. Thankfully, he turned the corner instead of walking up the gangplank to the largest naval ship Niall had ever seen,Imperial Fool. The name seemed to be a private joke, between the general and the ship's captain, Niall guessed.
Klaus motioned him to a stack of crates beneath a half-open window. "Up there. Let me know what you see."
Niall climbed up and looked inside. It was a large building filled with crates. There were a few torches down below.
"Well? Do you see anyone?" he asked.
"No."
"Good. In you get!"
Niall hesitated. It was a long drop to the ground without the crates.
