The Violet Flamberge

Chapter 22

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Chapter 22

Noraes watched from the top of a building, his helm wedged between his rib cage and arm. His warriors were scattered throughout the alleys, many watching the brothel, others watching him, ready for his commands. Shivers migrated across his body as he waited, watching. A large part of him wanted to rush in, storming the brothel and the furious rage. He knew he would not be able to, otherwise he would risk bring harm to Starlyn, Toshiko.

He would need to go in first to set things into motion. His men will not be far behind, but this was something he had to do. His men still to know about Starlyn. He needed her back, he missed her. He took a large inhalation of breath, ready to begin.

"What are you looking at, Sir?" A small feminine voice asked.

Noraes turned around. A young girl with matted blonde hair looked up at him, eyes wide and full of wonder. He glanced around the rest of the building, but no one else was up there. It was only him in this young girl. Even though she was young, she had a look of experience on her, like she had been on her own for a long time, watching out for herself.

"This is no place for young girl," Noraes said.

"This is exactly the place for a young girl like me."

Noraes grew concerned. He didn't know who the young girl was, but he hoped she wasn't involved in the brothel. He imagined they could have some young, hopefully servants instead of workers, but he had no idea. He wondered if she was corrupted by their influence. His curiosity got the better of him.

"Who are you?" Noraes asked.

"A friend." She smiled.

Noraes asked tilted his head. "I have friends, you are not one I am familiar with. What is your name?"

"Charlotte."

Noraes raised his eyebrows. The name sounded familiar to him, but he couldn't quite place it. He searched his mind for the name, trying to remember where he had heard it. There were too many things going on in his recent life, making it hard to remember a single name from all that has had happened to him.

"What are you doing here?" Nor S asked.

"The same as you, Noraes. I am here to free Starlyn."

Nor S's eyebrows raised even further. "Who are you?"

"I have told you. I am Charlotte."

The dots in Noraes head finally connected. He remembered Starlyn talking about a young girl who had traveled with her and helped her, even saving her life from the Ikchani women. He remembered now. Starlyn had named the child Charlotte. But she had said she left Charlotte in the previous town with the family.

"I do recognize your name now. However, Starlyn told me she left you in the last village with a nice family. What has happened, are they all right?"

"They are fine." Charlotte smiled.

"Do they know you are here?"

"They know I am somewhere. I told them I cannot stay with them. I told them I had to make sure Starlyn was all right. I told them I could not rest unless I knew Starlyn was all right. They accepted that. They understood how much me Starlyn had been through. I promised them I would come back. They are very nice people. They are not my mother and father, but I can tell they care for me. So does Starlyn, and I will not abandon her. I will make sure that she is safe and then I will return to the family," She glanced stared at Noraes. "She loves you. She never told me, but I could always see that she was going to whomever she loved, hoping you could save her. Can you save her?"

Noraes sighed. "She was doing much better. Most of her strength has returned. That is why she decided to travel alone in the city. Now I have to save her. She shouldn't have wandered alone. The city is very dangerous. I am the king now, but there are a lot of things I need to fix before this'll be a safer city again."

"How is the little baby? Charlotte asked

"Starlyn told me she didn't tell you."

"She didn't have to. All I had to do is look at her, and I knew."

"You are wise for one so young," Noraes said.

"I've had to be ... to survive."

"Have you observed enough to break in and save Starlyn yet?"

"I'm merely trying to make sure I strike at the right time. I don't want any complications."

"I understand. It would be best if you do it in five minutes."

Noraes raised his brow.

Charlotte tilted her head. "They begin playing cards in five minutes."

Noraes opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.

"I've been watching them for days. You may have only known Starlyn to be gone recently, but I've been in the city for over a week. I've been studying all the dangerous places, making sure I understood everywhere Starlyn could run into harm."

"What else can you tell me about them?"

"There isn't much else to know. Tonight they play cards, tomorrow is dice, the day after that is a game far too inappropriate to wait for, especially for Starlyn's sake. They smoke pipes, cavendish blend usually, and some of them roll the tobacco in thin paper to smoke. Every three days, they wander the alleys, searching for women to take. There is a man who runs a jewelery booth in the market next to an alley, near the woman with the fresh fruit. He often tips them off when a woman wanders the alleys by herself. "

"I think you could teach my guards a thing or two about observing your surroundings." Noraes laughed.

"I could," Charlotte said, her face serious. "They aren't observant at all. I've slipped past them many times to check on Starlyn."

Noraes bit his lip, tilting his head slightly. "Have you?"

"Yes."

"I will be sure to retrain them."

"You may want to retrain yourself as well. I've slipped past you many times as well."

"I see. Thank you for all your help, Charlotte. It is time I free Starlyn."

"I am going with you."

"Excuse me?" Noraes asked.

"I have come too far to sit back and hide as you storm inside. I will accompany you. I can help."

"No. It is too dangerous."

"Danger? Hardly. I've been inside many times. If you think your guards aren't observant, try a group of men full on whiskey."

"The answer is no."

"I was not asking."

Noraes clenched his teeth. He didn't need a little girl to see the carnage he would wreck upon the men who captured Starlyn, the men who took her away from him, nor did he need her inside if he should fail. He had many men to back him up, but he planned on storming inside first to Search for Starlyn. There was no telling what could happen.

"No. I will not have a young girl get involved with a brothel. The answer is no."

"Say what you wish. I am tagging along. You won't stop me."

Noraes took a step toward her. "I will do what I must."

A low growl rumbled in the background. It grew louder as Noraes paused. He glanced to his left and saw a massive white tiger approaching him. He backed up a little, nearing the ledge of the building. The tiger strolled over to Charlotte, sitting next to her and purring when she petted the animal.

"Snowflake disagrees."

Noraes gulped. He closed his eyes, tilting his head back. "Fine," he said through clenched teeth. "But you must be careful. And I mean it. I know these guys may not be the brightest, but they are still dangerous."

"I understand," Charlotte said.

Noraes bit his lip. "One more thing. Can you convince the tiger to join us?"

Charlotte smiled. "Of course. Snowflake is eager to get Starlyn back too."