Page 64 of A Skirl of Sorcery
It was my turn to flinch.
Bin wasn’t finished. ‘Scared or not, I’m still here. I won’t run away from you. I know what I did was wrong and I know I scared people by breaking into their homes, but I had my reasons. I’m not a monster and I don’t wear a mask – I am what you see. But you are not what you appear to be, and that makes you moreterrifying than me. We’re grateful to you for what you achieved with Mr Hollow, but Mr Hollow told us who he was from the start and we always knew what he wanted. Who areyou? What doyouwant?’
Thane’s eyes glittered. ‘You need to take this down a notch.’
‘Or what?’ Bin demanded.
I put a hand on Thane’s arm and thought of Keres. This was only a flavour of what she experienced on a daily basis and she managed it with considerable grace. ‘It’s fine.’ I met Bin’s angry gaze. ‘I’m Kit. I’m many things to many people, but all I want as far as you’re concerned is help. I wanted to help you, and now I want your help for someone else. Nothing more, nothing less.’
Bin bared his teeth in a semi-snarl. He didn’t trust anyone from the city, but he had specific reasons for not trusting me in particular. ‘I don’t like cats.’
‘Okay.’ He was lying; he’d been friendly enough when he’d first met me and I’d been in a cat’s body.
‘And I don’t like you.’
‘That’s okay, too.’ This time he was telling the truth. That was alright; I didn’t need him to like me.
He huffed loudly then his head dropped back into the hole in the earth. When he reappeared, he was carrying something. ‘This is better than any scummy tram,’ he declared.
I gazed at the rickety bicycle that appeared to be made out of wood. I dreaded to think what its suspension was like. ‘Fabulous,’ I said.
‘Take it, then.’
I did as I was told.
‘Wolf!’
Thane started. ‘Yes?’
‘This one is for you.’ Bin produced another bike, slightly bigger than the one I was holding though it didn’t appear to be any sturdier.
‘Wonderful.’
Bin managed a smile. He pulled out a third bicycle, heaved himself out of the hole and smacked his lips in satisfaction. ‘Now we can go.’
I gazed at him. ‘What?’ he asked. ‘I thought you were in a hurry. The faster this is over and done with, the better.’
True. I sighed and clambered onto the bike. It was designed for trows and I was far too large for its wooden frame. Thane didn’t look any more comfortable. ‘The Three Damned Stooges,’ he muttered.
I stifled a laugh. ‘It could be worse.’
‘Could it?’
Bin was already cycling, pulling away from us and gaining speed with each turn of the heavy wooden wheels.
‘It’s all for a good cause, Thane.’
‘Tell that to my arse when we finally get to Danksville.’
I started to pedal. There was no doubt in my mind that we would both be rubbed raw in that tender area before we got close to my home suburb. ‘Play your cards right,’ I told him, ‘and I’ll kiss it better.’
Ninety or so minutes later,when we finally trundled into the dark and empty riverside market, I felt even worse than I’d expected. It was bad enough when we were cycling along paths and grassy walkways, but when we reached the city streets and the uneven cobbles it became a genuine nightmare. I was no stranger to pain but my bottom felt as if it were on fire and I wasn’t sure there was any skin left on it. When I climbed off every muscle screeched and even walking was painful.
‘This way!’ Bin chirped, pirouetting off his bike and dancing up the slope that led away from the market.
‘Torture,’ Thane whispered, his horrified expression a mirror of my own. ‘We should have taken the tram.’
‘Indeed.’ I certainly had a newfound respect for the hardiness of your average trow.
