When The Petal Fell

21-2

She still couldn't think of where to start and standing around talking only meant Dūr would get further away. She and Sora had to do something. Then she heard it. From only a walkway or two in distance, the sound of a dog barking. Angry, protective barking and then a yelp of pain. Klaron glanced at Sora.

"It's as good a chance as any." Sora shrugged and, without waiting, began to run in that direction, passing the Bell-Ringer, tapping along the walkway.

With one last look at Pirizd, accepting his nod, she followed the racing Sora. Without people to get in the way, she caught up with the debt collector and, together, they ran fast across the walkway, turning down an alley onto a rope bridge slung between two sets of buildings. Klaron knew Sora would have the best idea where to go. The woman had spent her entire life in the Underside. Klaron had made few visits, but had a good memory of where she had been in those times.

Sora's knowledge, however, would be almost innate. A knowledge born of years and decades exploring every nook and cranny of the death-defying walkways and rope bridges. A knowledge gained through constant use and many days of running for her life. Klaron trusted that Sora would lead the way.

They found the dog, chained to the outside of a rundown small house, one of the many hundreds of similar houses dangling from flimsy fixings and ropes from each other and the structure of the bridge. The dog cowered in the shadows at their approach, making a low, half-terrified growl at their approach. Something had struck the dog, its eye already swelling. Someone had, Klaron felt certain, passed this way. Someone angry, or desperate enough to strike a chained dog.

She felt something, then, an itch in her mind, similar to that she felt whenever attacked by a Thought Mage. This, however, felt different. Instead of an attack, or feeling compelled, it came as more of a nudge in her mind. She assumed, hoped, that this was the work of Pirizd.

"This way." She tapped Sora's arm as the debt collector knelt to shush and calm the dog, its back low, legs bent, wagging its tail in furious sweeps, licking Sora's hand.

Once again they began to run, secure in the thought that in this, they had the advantage over the ageing, overweight Sender. With each nudge in her mind, Klaron made turn after turn. At one point, they emerged from an alley into a wider space, an Underside market square where, during the day, many stalls would be here, piled high with goods. People thronging around. Instead, the square at this time remained empty.

Except for the figure across from them.

With renewed vigour, Klaron and Sora ran towards the figure, navigating the maze-like rope bridges, swaying as they ran, and the walkways, their boots clattering against the thick boarding. The figure ducked into a side street and they followed, about to pass a single child sat upon the floor. Without warning, the child jumped up in front of them, forced by Dūr, no doubt. With a flick of her arm, Klaron pushed Sora to the side and they both slipped by the child, leaving him as they continued to run.

She would not allow the man's tricks to stop her now and she knew Sora would feel the same. Not when they were so close. Another nudge in her mind sent them diving down an alley, forced to move in single file, attempting to avoid bouncing into the tight walls on either side and then they both burst out into another square, close to the edge of the Underside buildings.

In his rush to escape, Dūr had run in almost a complete circle, ending up only around three hundred feet from where they had left Pirizd. The Sender had stopped, leaning against a high fence, built to stop people falling from the Underside by accident. The older man, bent almost double, drew heavy breaths into his lungs, glaring as Klaron and Sora approached.

All that stood between them, now, was a single rope bridge before reaching the wide, open deck of boards where Dūr now stood.

"Dūr! Stop. Just stop. Let this be the end of it. Face justice with honour." Klaron stepped upon the rope bridge, walking towards the man who had nowhere else to go. She could see fear in the man, now. "I promise, you will be treated fairly."