Raw Winter

Chapter 42 The Garden

She and her crew were standing inside the wall in the pitch black. None of them dared to light a torch or anything else that would cast light, and she swore she was in the right place. She could feel the grooves where the wall would part for her with only a shove. It wasn't light—she was right to assume that—but it was definitely movable. Chresher had Varnett. He was big and strong and the least likely to give the boy up if someone were to rush them and try to drag him from his hands. Rawintr doubted anyone would sneak up on them or get past them, but didn't doubt they would try. Whistle and Kircan were on either side of her with pistols in both hands and ready to shoot down anyone she didn't maim on the other side of that wall. Mesmar was there as well, standing back, but ready to get this over with.

She remembered saying to him, "Are you sure you want to go? It would be fine to stay back and watch the ship."

"Aint nothing too soon," he answered with his usual grin that echoed Adders. "If I die, I die."

She shivered. She felt he wasn't there to help, but to die, and it felt like a bad omen. It had tempted her to order him to stay on the ship, but at this point she didn't feel she had the right.

She didn't know which was better, to push it slowly and have it creep along and scrape against the wall, or to slam it open as fast as she could and risk the crashing noise it might make. She hadn't bothered to ask Varnett. She doubted he would help and would probably be glad to get her killed. She pushed the door, but the sound of stone scraping against stone was agony. She was sure if there was someone on the other side, they would wait and have a weapon ready for her.

Finally, it was open. She held her breath, though didn't believe she could sense anyone nearby as she pressed forward. Despite the need for caution, it had to happen and if someone took her head off at least the rest would know. No one did, but she felt a flood of agitation realizing the stone was now jutting out and would be difficult to push back in. Varnett had pushed it in when he came through. She didn't know if he did the same when he was leaving or if he did what they did, but she didn't intend to ask. She glanced at him as Chresher came through after Kircan—he was eager to come right after her—but the boy didn't have any sort of expression other than disgust.

Once she started looking, it surprised her to find this seemed to be a garden. It was green, very green, and there were many flowers. Her nose tingled, and she wasn't used to pollen. There were different trees and a fountain in the middle. It felt artificially wild, but there were signs of tending and walls and buildings surrounded it. She looked around but didn't know what to expect.

She went to Chresher and gripped Varnett's shirt without looking at him. "Tell me about this place. Tell me who tends it."

"What? He's just some crazy old man. Why do you think it was so easy to sneak out from there?" Varnett said and Rawintr nodded.

She asked, "When is he around? Does he come here often or is it a monthly thing?"

"I don't know," Varnett said, trying to twist out of her grip, though she only gripped tighter. "Do you think I'm going to help you? He sleeps early. Is that what you want?"

Rawintr nodded. She looked at Kircan and hesitated, but motioned him closer. She did the same with Mesmar and had Chresher stay where he was with the boy.

"There's an old man that takes care of this garden somewhere around here," she said in a low tone. "He's got to be around here and he's probably the only one that knows about this wall if anyone knows at all. I want him found and I don't want either of you to hurt him. If you find him and he's still asleep, come get me and if he wakes up make sure he doesn't sound any alarms. I want a chance to talk to him, but I don't think we'll be able to if he's panicking."