Invisibles

The Mask #1

Clouds rose from the canals and into the Sarsan night. These streets and islands were called The Fog. The place was well-named, Percival thought, as he prowled down the alleyway, leading the way for Alina and Martin. The pale mists obscured structures new and old, sitting squat along the streets in the darkness.

He looked from the alley's mouth into the street. A squad of Red Guards, the city police force, marched along the damp street, their lanterns offering wispy strands of light and diffuse apprehension to any would-be thieves who happened to be wandering outside their home-turf.

Percival's summoned rain-imp winged her way over the buildings. He focused himself to share the demon's senses with accuracy. She dropped onto a slanted rooftop just above the gutter. Then a hand slapped down on Percival's shoulder. He emerged from the demon's mind with a start. Alina's touch would have been welcome, but the hand on his shoulder was heavy, cold with a stony gauntlet.

Martin Leng liked moonlighting, even when he could not see the moon in this mist. Percy grunted at him. Martin lifted his stone-clad hand easily thanks to his geomantic abilities. He might not be a shaper who could craft golems like Kelebek or sculpt weapons like the Rogue Hound, but without the metal armor he usually wore under his stone cladding he could move as naturally and quietly as most anyone. He peered around the corner as the Red Guards and their lamps receded.

"Looks like we're clear," Martin said.

Percy grunted again. "Give me a second with my imp. Then I'll tell you if we're clear."

The summoner still had not forgiven Martin for being a member of the Hound Legion, evidently. He would have shrugged if Percy could see him. Of course, even in a good mood, Martin figured Percy did not like the direct approach.

Alina caught up with them. She adjusted her posture to walking normally rather than staying low to avoid light and went out into the street without missing a step. She would keep an eye on the Red Guards for them. Martin trusted her more than any demon Percy could summon.

She walked into the middle of the street, feeling exposed, though she knew Saint was listening from the alleyway on the opposite side of the street from Percival and Martin. Nonetheless, she proceeded down the street toward the Watertakers' hideout. She had never dealt with the Watertakers in the past, but she knew their reputation from the few Korda she met in Nicodod Ring.

The Watertakers were all Korda exiled from their peoples' mighty eastern sky fleets. Though they were human-like, arguably fully human, Korda did not mix with westerners well. Alina spotted a figure emerging from a building near her on the right.

Like most of the Korda in dusty Sarsa, this one wore a mesh mask over her mouth and nose. Her hair was lank and yellow, but unlike many of her people, she left it uncovered. She wore a long black dress with practical shoes, odd to see given the neighborhood. What little of her skin was visible was pallid, as if she never saw the sun. The woman fell into step alongside Alina.

Martin turned to Percy. "Someone suspect her?" he asked.

"Not likely," said the summoner. "That Korda isn't a Watertaker."

"How can you tell?"

"She's not wearing blue."

"You can see that?" Martin could not help the incredulity from his voice.

"My imp can," said Percival. "Don't go clanking out there trying to help."

"I don't clank," said Martin.

"Not that you can hear," said Percival, hoping the big legionnaire would catch his meaning. "Stay in the shadows."

Alina sneaked another glance at the woman walking beside her as they crossed the street, still heading toward the Watertakers' building. They were close enough together, Alina smelled alcohol an chemicals wafting off of the woman. She could not place the foul smell, but it was clearly present.

"Where are you going so late?" asked the woman.

Alina smiled. "Home," she lied.

"You don't live around here," said the woman.

Alina did not let her smile slip. "You got me. I'm taking the midnight ferry back to land." The small docks did lie further on this way, so the untruth would be difficult to guess.

The woman nodded, and Alina thought she saw a ghost of a smile beneath the breathing mask. Funny, how common the device appeared, because Alina and the others were here to steal a far more decadent version from the Watertakers. Ceth, the leader of the gang, should not have worn it around so proudly, letting its sapphires sparkle in the sunlight and start the rumors spreading.

Percival and Martin followed Alina and the woman to the hideout. There, Alina kept walking past the building. But the woman turned and approached the doorway to the building. Martin glanced at Percival. "What were you saying about her not being with the Watertakers? People can change their clothes, you know."

"Just watch, please." Percival crept ahead, following the street after Alina, who had passed out of the Korda woman's line of sight and was circling around to meet up with him and Martin.

Martin watched the two younger members of the crew approach each other, then turned his attention to the front of the Watertakers' hideout. The woman knocked on the door. A slat opened and a small square of light fell on the woman's black dress. He listened as well as he could to the voices speaking.

"You're late, Rethe," said the man behind the door.

"I'm here to pay," Rethe answered.

The door unlatched, revealing a man in a sapphire-jeweled mask. He grabbed the woman by the forearm. "You have no idea," said Ceth. He pulled the woman inside. The doors slammed, and the bolt locked.

"Did you see that?" Martin asked as Alina and Percy returned.

"I heard everything." Percy shook his head. "Told you she wasn't with them."

"Yeah, no kidding," said Martin. "Does this change anything?"

Alina shook her head. "Only makes it tougher. "Saint and Kelebek should be on their way inside by now."

Martin nodded. He hated the idea of what Ceth would be doing to the woman he had just dragged inside. He made a face but knew there was a heroic urge inside him. Tonight would have been dangerous enough without Rethe's appearance.

He glowered at the Watertakers' door. Not long now.