Rage and Rebellion (Histories of Havenhearth)

8.0 Sophine

Tobina and Sophine had been summoned not long after the boy was. They had been called up, as if they were animals, to be delivered somewhere, and no amount of Tobina's demands for an explanation had been answered. But Sophine was relieved to get out of the dungeon since water had started to come in, and as they were transported, dragged along on a mule cart, the water line was already over the ankles of those who walked on the street. Some people even had little rafts and boats and were pulling or paddling them along. It was a strange sight. The capitaine seemed nonetheless pleased, despite the indignity- she seemed to believe that her rank was responsible for her rescue, while the others sat in the dungeon. Calls and shouts came down at them from the windows, awful insults and language that Sophine had ever heard, and she was scared. "Horrible people," the woman said. "Not all of them, capitaine," Sophine retorted, fed up and lamenting her fate to end up with the imbecile. "I suppose," Tobina conceded but nonetheless outaged, mumbling something about high moral tone. At least brooding about it seemed to keep her mind occupied enough to keep her quiet, and she remained that way as they bounced along.
"I've just spotted Brackenridge! Brackenridge! Brackenridge!" She had stood up and begun to wave her arms when one of the escorting guards drew a sword, which had the immediate effect of settling Tobina down, something Wynemere had also been able to see.
Sophine noticed the approach of a boat, not a raft, pushing impatiently through the riff-raff, ignoring the protests it's passage was given. Sophine heard the language of Fuchsjaegerlanders being spoken, and amidst them was a smug looking Hettenhausen. She yelled up to Yarazhenya, "I have spoken with she who leads the Golden Defenders, can we speak more privately?" She gave an order to those rowing her boat, which propelled to the gate. The imperial protectorate moved aside.
Tobina yelled "she is a traitor! Don't you dare Brackenridge, on my-" The sword reappeared, this time at her throat.
"Come in! Bring the translator with you!" Sophine heard. The front gate was opened and Hettenhausen was allowed to enter, with Sophine, who had to wade through the dirty floodwater. Tobina continued half protesting at being left outside amongst the mob, but the sword remained to placate her.
Everyone was watching her, Sophine realised, and it had gone silent. A quiet filled with unease and suspicion and disappointment, since it did not appear that any execution was going to occur at any time soon.

The deluge continued, sleets visible in the circles of light from the lanterns. Sophine entered with Hettenhausen and two of the Fuchsjaegers, the ones who had previously been on horseback. Her sister was standing at the edge of the courtyard! Adephine gave a sign that she was well. Sophine, confused but relieved indicated that she too was well. How in all of Havenhearth did Adephine wind up here? But she had no time to think about it now. Hettenhausen took no time for introductions. "I come with an offer. You have been granted permission to depart Chevelles, but you must promise to not return. Prisoners," she nodded to Sophine, "were not supposed to have been taken. At least not from the Marine protectorate." This time she nodded at Wynemere, "Indeed the boats were intended to remove all the foreign population to safety."
"One moment!" A voice. Bernebe the historian had appeared, slurring his words and walking carefully into the room. "You, sir, do not-"
"Thank you Bernebe, better for you to return to your room," Yarazhenya placed her arm around his shoulder and gently tried to guide him back to the door. He protested, so Wynemere grabbed the other arm, tightly, pulling him along. Sophine overheard Yarazhenya whisper to him that if he appeared again then she would leave him to the mob.

Hettenhausen said that she did not wish to compromise relationships between Tainish and Fuchsjaegerlanders ascendancy and that the orders she had made to the Cassioni chancellor had been misapplied, perhaps deliberately, she was not sure. Nonetheless, she wanted to make amends.
Her proposal was to protect the safe passage of the capitaine and those under siege in this hotel to the ships, and that they would be allowed to leave Chevelles.
"How?" Yarazhenya asked.
"The boat I came in on, you will load into it, and my cavalry will escort you. The leader of the Golden Defenders has agreed to it provided you promise not to return."
"And how about those who work here? Those who have been seen with us?" She gestured to Sophine, and generally back towards the hotel. "They also will be protected to return to their homes, but I think you may find that this seige, that the Golden Defenders will not hold the town for too much longer. The Tainish protectorate are on their way. Will you accept my assistance?"
"What is it you are asking in return?"
"That you do not share the information you have obtained." Sophine was not sure what she was referring to, but she noted Wynemere and Yarazhenya exchanging pointed looks.
"But you say that we must leave, never to return?"
"For your own good, it is."
"But this is my home now,"
"Nonsense! Your home is Tainland or Petrovia, wherever, it is here that you are foreign." "I don't see it like that, nonetheless, we accept your help. I will ready everyone, the Wheatstones, Bernebe, how much time do we have until embarkation?"
"We depart immediately,"

When Hettenhausen exited once again, Tobina yelled at her immediately, "what lies have you been telling this time?"
"I do not understand, capitaine,"
"You had me thrown in jail!"
"Ah yes, that. A misunderstanding capitaine,"
"A misunderstanding? pfffttt," Tobina, purple-faced, made a strange angry sound.
"No matter capitaine, you're out now and I will accompany you to your boat, with my armed escort, if you please,"
"Oh. Ah. Yes." She gave a cough to clear her throat, "I accept these conditions. And I would expect no less. But do remember that you will be under my command in doing so,"

The Wheatstone woman appeared, followed by the children. "Let us speak to the spirits," she said, "now is the time". She began to sing out a prayer to the spirits, a clear strong voice. The children joined in but rather than feel comforted by the rather beautiful hymn, Sophine felt panicked, scared- her sister was involved. And this was all confusing to her- she had no idea how she had gotten involved, no idea how she would get out of this mess.
They waited patiently for the singing to finish and Wynemere and Yarazhenya helped the Wheatstones, Bernebe and Sophine and Adephine embark one by one onto Hettenhausen's raft, ensuring that they were settled in. Tobina joined them, making sounds of complaint as the rowers began their strokes.

The raft drifted through now deserted streets- the mob seemed to have disappeared and no attack was offered save the odd insult thrown down from the upper windows of houses. navigation was tricky since the craft was unwieldy and the storm had picked up a lot of garbage, but the Fuchsjaegerlander rowers pulled them onwards slowly, steadily through the night which was no longer quiet- the sounds of battle could be heard elsewhere in the city.

And the whizzing of an arrow was heard, followed by a few more. The lanterns went out,their first targets. The shields went up. Sophine heard screams, and shouts and cries and a big splash. The Fuchsjaegers didn't have any archers, not that that would have done any good, an invisible enemy in the darkness would be near impossible targets to aim for. It remained rather dark given the rain clouds still in front of the moon. The mob had returned and she was certain, that hand to hand combat would begin.

But the mob did not appear anywhere around them. Those in the boat were suddenly covered in wet, musty-smelling blankets and someone was pulling them along quickly, it definitely wasn't Hettenhausen anymore. Tobina seemed to have good enough sense for once to stay quiet. Sophine thought she spied republican protectorate uniforms from out under the blanket but it was too dark to tell. One of them was gesturing wildly to another. In any case, whoever was moving them was asked what was happening and why she was moving around at night in a boat with no lantern"What business of yours what I am doing? And if you are so concerned you are welcome to take it up with the one who gave me the order."
"And who's that?"
"It's none of your business, but feel free to speak to the chancellor, if you are interested,"
After some grumbled replies, they continued to move on, turning down what Sophine guessed was a side street. She heard a creak of iron as doors were opened and then closed again. A command for them to stand and leave the raft was given, as the water levels were too low. They all pushed the suffocating wet blanket off of their faces, taking in gulps of air as they did. She held her sister's hand tightly. They were given hooded cloaks to put on and told to follow a guide. Who their guide was Sophine still could not tell. But the guide knew Yarazhenya and Bernebe. When they had closed the creaking door behind them, Speaking in accented Tainish, she addressed some of their party.
"I am pleased to see you again master Candle-maker, and you master historian, it has been some while," she raised her lantern into both of their faces- neither of them seemed pleased to see her and she received no response.  "Please come in, all of you. And welcome to the birds of paradise. But do please be quiet as we go," they climbed a set of spiralling stone stairs, and along a landing to a dead end, but a tapestry was pushed away and the wall opened to another hallway and set of stairs.
"I've had no notice of your arrival and no time to prepare, so I do hope your rooms are to your liking. You are the most esteemed of our guests, and any friend of the chancellor, is one of mine also, so do not hesitate to make any requests. My room is up there, if you need me, and this room is for the family," she opened a door into a room with a number burning candles into which the family was herded, such overly children," she simpered. The mother led the kids in, then turned back, closing the door slightly "please, if you hear anything about my husband..."
"Yes of course, I will do my utmost," the old woman, still with the hood over her head, spoke with an insincere tone.
"And yours," she gestured to Yarazhenya and then Wynemere, "I am sorry to say that you will have to join the candle-maker and the occupant," she indicated a room to her right. "You two will follow me please," she spoke in Tainish to the sisters. She said nothing about Bernebe who also followed along, "I wish you all a good night," cackling as she glided off.