Ice warriors

Chapter 5

Did her brother think her stupid? He told her he was meeting some friends and that she should stay in the room. He had no friends. Anyway she heard him talking with those people last night.
Rorak was strolling casually along the road whilst she ran along the rooftops, following him from above.
There were so many shadows at this time of day so it was very easy for her to cross the streets. Rorak turned left onto a street lined with people shouting  and trying to sell lots of stuff, Lina's eyes were drawn to the steaming food. She sniffed and her nostrils were filled with delicious flavours, she was hungry enough she thought about going down and grabbing something, she'd done it before but had always been caught. Maybe she shouldn't. No she shouldn't, she resisted the urge and focussed on Rorak. Where was he going? They'd only been here for a few days and he'd been boring the whole time, not letting her go out an explore. She'd spoil his fun then.
After some time her big brother stopped just on the edge of a large square. Surrounding the square were more serious, boring shops where people were going into then to buy stuff. She preferred the other place.
What was Rorak doing, he wasn't meeting anyone he was just standing there, trying to make it look like he was peeking round the corner. Silly boy.
She looked in the direction he appeared to be starring. There was an angry looking man with his head and arms trapped in wooden stocks. Lina had seen lots of people like this on her travels. Some children were throwing bits of vegetable at him, she'd seen that before but Rorak had told her never to do it so she hadn't, it still looked fun though.
She looked back down at her brother, he was still being boring. Then some beautiful music started. She looked to see a bearded man in a colourful cloak, he was playing his flute he was walking towards the other side of the man in stocks. The music was lovely and other people thought so to as they began to crowd round him, blocking her view. She looked over to the roofs on the other side of the square then jumped through her shadow to get there. She rushed back to the edge of the roof where she could see him. She watched, fascinated. She wanted to be able to make such beautiful music.
Somebody sounded like there weren't enjoying the music. Sounded like people fighting. She scuttled to the other side of the rooftop and peered down at the noise.
It was dark but could she could just about see a man pushing a woman into the wall. The woman needed help, she rushed back to a shadow and jumped through it down to the alley. She punched the man in the back, well she was going to to but she hit something lumpy. She stepped back and that's when she saw his breeches were pulled to his ankles, and the woman's legs were wrapped round his back. She'd heard of this, she didn't want to be here.
The man looked around , he was old with a big bushy grey moustache.
"Here now what are you doing, bugger off."
The woman looked round him, she seemed familiar. Lina didn't know what to do so she ran out of the alley, then paused looking for enough shadow to get away.
"Bugger this, I should be back at work," the man said.
"Don't you want to finish?"
"No it's too risky."
"Come on, I want it,"
"Bugger off," the man said his voice getting closer. Lina ran again.
Out from the alley she looked behind and saw the man walkout. Then she knocked into someone, almost falling over.
The man turned around, he was quite young but he was wearing the same clothes as that bushy nosed man.
"Here now, what's wrong little one?"
She didn't say anything and ran past him, he shouted at her to stop as she weaved her way through the crowd, now there was shouting everywhere. She managed to slip out near to the man in the stocks. Stood just to the side of him was Rorak, he looked down at her, his face blank.
He quickly ripped the man stocks away then hauled him onto one shoulder, the man shouting and trying to fight her brother.
He strode toward her and picked her up under his arm then they were running. Followed by shouts for him to stop. She could see the young man in the uniform hopping about trying to move people on. Just as they turned the corner the bushy nose man joined him.
Rorak ran, faster than she thought him able to. He was so slow usually. They turned down an alley then turned again and again until he finally stopped and shrugged the man from his shoulders and placed her down.
She was about to explain when he told her to keep quiet, they would talk about it later, that was never good.
"Laruk, your life is back in your own hands, what are your going to do with it?"
"What's it matter to you?"
"I just saved you from death because you are a clansman and should only be judged by your own kind. I judge you need a new direction, I can offer you that,"
"And if I judge otherwise?"
"If I catch you stealing again you will face clan justice."
"What are you offering?"
"A chance to redeem yourself, we are going to take the north back,"
"I don't really want either, what I really want is to move on before those guards catch us up. I'll join you,"
"Good choice, we have lodging in the Coalmans furrow, come there with us,"
"How about we go somewhere a bit safer, follow me."
Luruk then darted off down the alley, Rorak scooped her up again and thundered after him.
Luruk was quick on his feet, Lina thought he could have lost them easier if he'd chosen to, but every time he disappeared round an alley they found him waiting, occasionally hissing for Rorak to go faster.
Eventually they came upon s disused house, with the windows and door blocked by wooden planks. Luruk lead them and extremely narrow alleyway, Rorak had to shimmy sideways and allow her to walk by herself. The alley opened into area blocked by overground trees and bushes. His hands touched the wall and pulled something, a rope ladder unfurled clattering against the wall. Luruk nimbly ascended it, gesturing for them to follow. Rorak helped her with first rungs then she clambered up easily enough. Near the top the ladder shook as Rorak slowly pulled his bulk up.
At the top Luruk was pulling a sheet of metal along the rooftop, exposing a jagged hole. Then he waited making a coin dance along his fingers. The coin disappeared as Rorak heaved himself up onto the roof.
"What is the place," he panted.
"My temporary home, the former owners came to a nasty end and no one wants to live here now,"
"Apart from you,"
"I don't believe on that superstition, come,"
He dropped into the hole, landing on something then dropping again. Rorak walked round her and approached the hole first.
He lowered himself onto the next level, then swivelled offering his arms for her. She ran past him and dove into the darkness, she flew through the shadows. Then dropped out into the roof, landing gently.
"I'm down here big brother,"
Rorak muttered something she couldn't make out, then lowered himself slowly onto ground level.
Light suddenly flashed through the room, from Luruk who's just lit a lantern.
"Welcome," he said