Cathrac the Gilded City

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Boy and Silk were going to the spot to meet Useless. "Stay here Silk and I'll go get useless."

Silk seemed uncomfortable, "He's already there." 

Boy looked at her, "no he's not we have to go get him that's the plan remember."

When they had entered the stables though there he was. He was also holding very still and gave Boy a fright. "By the Maker Useless"

Useless was grinning ear to ear as he picked up Silk and spun her around. His deep voice boomed with pure joy, "my father gave me my third name." Silk gasped and put her soft hands up to her mouth and could do nothing but cry into his shoulders.

Eventually, she had the sense to ask him his new name. "Dýra af sjónum but you may call me Dýra"

Silk looked at Boy, "what does it mean"

Dýra answered "Beast of water in the sea language."

Boy was grinning like a mad man, "You know they edited the third name law," now it was Dyra's turn to be confused, "Without her father though she can't get a new name."

Boy then spoke in a clear voice, "As our stepmother is an alcoholic abusive and a degenerate, we renounce all familial ties with him. We are now fatherless." Now even Silk looked confused

"Now being fatherless the duty and honor to name my sister falls to me the elder brother for everyone here to witness, I name her Beauty."

Dýra was hugging and swinging Beauty around, all the while Boy watched with a sad smile.

After a bit Boy interrupted the happy couple, Alright c'mon you know the plan we can't stay here."

Dýra sobered up a bit, the guards are looking for you and they are patrolling my ship."

Beauty smiled wickedly and said, "you know what they don't patrol?"

That is how the trio with their still slumbering tag- along found themselves in the sewers. Boy was not happy. "This was most definitely part of the plan"

Useless said, "Neither was she, was she."

Boy merely grunted his consent.

Beauty was still in a good mood and not even the foul stench that surrounded her would put her off. "Whats her name."

"I don't really know, I know who she is but not her name."

"Oh yeah so who is she"

"The guards who described her said that she is the princess."

Useless stopped here and looked at Boy, "That completely ruins the plan to go back to your father's village and you know it.

"I couldn't just leave her lying in the alley."

Beauty spoke up, "He couldn't give her to the guards and besides there is always plan B."

Useless sighed, "To the outcasts we go."

The merrily liberated band traveled cautiously into the Dark Forest that bordered the farmland around Cathrac and the other neutral cities. It was called the dark forest not because it was haunted but because the trees were so large their branches connected together and would allow no new sunlight to reach the ground. They traveled along enjoying the elegant birdsong that rang in the air. For the siblings who grew up in the villages to them, it was the sound of home. For Dýra though it was the sound of Freedom, pure unadulterated freedom. He had never heard the wondrous songs of the birds because the song birds never came to the city. He was scared by how exquisite their song and feathers were because there was nothing that beautiful in the city except Beauty. He couldn't quite believe that they had gotten away with this. No one left the city let alone with the crown princess. He knew how the Guards treated children and agreed that they should not give her to the guards but he could not shake the feeling something was wrong. He tried to figure this out but then the child decided it was hungry and woke up screaming. She did not scream like a child who had lived a pampered life but one who was terrified. Boy acted instinctively and held her close and placed his forefinger and his thumb on her temples and whispered in a clear voice "Sov elsket en." ( sleep loved one) And she fell asleep peacefully in his arms.

His sister though had for the first time in years heard her brother's true voice, "Boy your voice, how."

Boy was tired and hungry "What about it?" he snapped. His voice was scratchier than normal. Beauty could only shake her head.

Eventually, they came to a clearing the forest was still dark but the trees that were crowding them had spread out to a large wall. The wall was made of the rib cages of some large animal and draped in that animal's fur. Boy walked up and drew one of his short-swords and rapped the wall making a shrill ringing sound. After the ring had cleared the air a head appeared. The person was clearly a werewolf.

"Have you come seeking refuge into the city of outcasts"

Dýra stepped forward and affirmed that they were not there to cause harm but had just run from the city. He did conveniently leave out the fact that the girl was the Princess.

"Then enter for we are a sanctuary for all."