Second-Hand Dresses

Chapter 17: Rainfall

Rain washes away all the mud we use as masks.

—Halador Masin, Dance of Children

The bells rang out across the city, the ringing muted by the rain that had continued to hammer the streets. It was late—much later than she wanted it to be. However the rain had not subsided since it had started. Fat droplets sloshed into shallow puddles. Rivers bubbled along both sides of the roads, flooding the gutters. The raindrops came down in a steady drum, the glass behind her vibrated with the countless impacts.

Lily sighed and glared into the dark street. It was getting late and she needed to be home. She was anxious and her mood had soured. Even fantasies or her work couldn't keep her distracted from the time slipping between her fingers.

A carriage drove by, splashing water in both directions.

She cringed as the water sheeted toward her but fell short. It poured across the sidewalk to lap against the raised stoop.

Lily breathed a sigh of relief.

A peal of thunder shook the street. The clouds were rolling darkness punctuated by the flash of lighting and peals of thunder. The streetlights pushed back the gloom on the street, but the magical flames weren't enough to push it back completely. The sheets of rain sparkled in the light.

She was too tired and anxious to enjoy the beauty. She crossed her arms across her chest, squelching into the soaked fabric. She glared at the rain, cursing it to end as soon as possible.

Lily had worked herself into a foul mood when three men rushed down the street right on front of her. Their boots smacked loudly through the puddles as they raced by.

She gasped and stepped to protect her sewing. As she did, she caught only a sight of their swords still in sheaths and a flash of the Martin crest on their chests.

Before the water finished splashing, they were out of sight. The steady drum of their boots and hiss of water flying everything ended seconds later as they ran out of earshot.

Curious, Lily leaned out of her shelter and into the rain. The Martins were standing in front of an alley two blocks down. Without a word, they spread into a wide arc to cover the entrance. Rain bounced off their top hats and soaked into their black jackets.

The three men drew their swords. One by one, they filed into the alley.

She blinked and wiped the rain from her face to get a better look.

A heartbeat later, there was a muffled boom and water exploded from the alley. It shot out like a geyser, arching clear across the street before cracking the glass of a store on the opposite side. Two of the Martin men flew out. They hit the ground hard and rolled over.

Lily jumped at the explosion and then gasped as the Martin men slumped to the road. The rain soaked her head as she stared, looking for any sign of movement in the two fallen Martins.

One of the men pushed himself up. Blood dripped down the side of his face as he staggered to his feet. He limped over to the other one.

She held her breath as the man reached down.

When the second man reached up, she let out her breath with a gasp.

The third Martin backed out of the alley. He had his sword out and it crackled with lightning. He had it up to parry a blow. "Kal, you okay? Domin?" he yelled through the sheeting rain.

"Yeah, Mark," said the first guy as he straightened. "Domin got some wind." He reached down for the Domin before speaking up. "Tell me you at least nicked that shit Kendrick?"