committed to being on his way than commanding a good price. Moments later they were outfitted with a satchel and two packs filled with food that would keep them going for a few days at least. The stalls were packing up for the night and the rain, which had never really stopped, began anew.
No sooner had they gathered their supplies than two Imperial soldiers appeared and began to question one of the vendors. As one, Steiner, Kristofine and Marek pulled up their hoods to shield them as much from prying eyes as the drizzle that fell in Virag’s crooked streets. Steiner hid the sledgehammer beneath his cloak and prayed they were not searched.
‘What else do we need?’ he said.
‘Something to sleep on,’ replied Marek. ‘And Kristofine should have a blade.’
‘But I don’t know how to fight.’ The tavern-keeper’s daughter from Cinderfell looked at the older Vartiainen, shock and worry writ plain on her face.
‘Not yet you don’t,’ replied Marek. ‘But you’re going to learn now that you’re on the road with us.’
‘Is that wise?’ Steiner wanted to say more but couldn’t find the words.
‘Do you have a better idea?’ Marek’s impatience was clear as he paced down the street, away from the soldiers. Steiner leaned in close to his father.
‘I just don’t want her getting hurt is all,’ he whispered.
‘That makes two of us,’ replied Marek.
‘Three of us,’ added Kristofine, with a curl of her lip. ‘And I can hear you. What do I say if the soldiers ask us our business?’
‘We’ll tell them we’re mercenaries,’ replied Marek. ‘There’s never a lack of violence in Vinterkveld.’
‘Fine,’ said Kristofine, though this time Steiner had the sense she had made up her mind about something. ‘Where do I get one of these swords, then?’
It took around an hour to get what they needed. The rain fell harder with every coin they spent and a deep chill settled over Virag as the sun slunk towards the horizon from its hiding place behind the clouds. Steiner clenched his numb fingers into equally numb fists and Kristofine huddled close to him.
‘If we leave now we’ll never know if Tikhoveter discovered anything,’ said Steiner, slowing his pace.
‘We can’t be sure Tikhoveter didn’t sell us out to the local garrison,’ said Marek, clearly wanting to be on his way.
‘But he may be my best chance of finding out where Felgenhauer is.’ Marek shook his head and cursed softly. ‘We don’t have the luxury of time for that sort of thing.’
‘Luxury? She’s family! Family isn’t a luxury. I’ve already lost Kjellrunn to gods know what port in Shanisrond. I may never see her again.’
‘I’ve more a mind to search for Kjell than Felgenhauer,’ said Marek, his expression hard. ‘Come on. Now isn’t the time for this.’
‘Your father has a point,’ said Kristofine. ‘Let’s leave.’
‘If this uprising is going to stand a chance I’m going to need someone with the arcane on my side. I’m going to need Felgenhauer.’
‘Steiner.’ Marek’s tone was pleading now. ‘She’s likely dead, and us along with her if we go back to Tikhoveter.’
‘I’m going to speak with the spy,’ said Steiner. ‘We paid him and he owes us.’ He set off down the cobbled street as the drizzle continued to fall.
‘Gods damn it,’ muttered Marek, but he followed his son all the same.
‘Is there any chance we’ll agree on anything today?’ said Kristofine to Marek as they followed Steiner through the winding streets.
‘I don’t have much hope,’ said the blacksmith.
Smoke rose up over the city and obscured the few stars that peeked through the dreary clouds. Every chimney on every street gently exhaled more soot into the darkening sky.
‘Cities are wretched places,’ said Kristofine. ‘I feel like I’ll never be clean again.’
Steiner was too tired to form any sort of reply, could think of nothing else except Tikhoveter and what the spy might know about Felgenhauer. He hadn’t realised how much he’d missed the Matriarch-Commissar until the old spy had mentioned her name, but now her whereabouts consumed his thoughts.
A shout of alarm from the next street was their first clue something was wrong. They pressed on through the winding streets, keeping a bleary eye out for Imperial soldiers.
‘There shouldn’t be this much smoke,’ said Marek, struggling not to cough.
‘Surely it can’t be much further.’ Kristofine said no more as Tikhoveter’s townhouse came into view. Tongues of fire spoke destruction from every window. The stones of the beautiful old house were blackened and Steiner guessed the wooden beams had surrendered during the fire. The roof had collapsed, no doubt killing anyone inside that hadn’t already burned to death. Dozens of neighbours stood in the street clutching buckets. They did their best to ferry water from the nearest well, but the blaze had done its fearsome work.
‘We need to go,’ said Marek quietly. ‘The Empire will be watching this place to see who comes calling.’
‘You don’t know it was the Empire that did this,’ said Kristofine, but she became silent as she caught Marek’s stern gaze. The old blacksmith disappeared into a side alley. Marek didn’t speak as he strode away, hands balled into fists. Kristofine held Steiner’s arm tightly.
‘Do you think Tikhoveter escaped?’
Steiner shrugged. ‘The Empire are thorough. When they take an interest in someone …’ He grimaced. ‘They usually end up dead.’
‘Will we end up like that?’ said Kristofine. ‘Burned in our sleep?’
‘They’ll be looking for me too,’ replied Steiner. ‘You’re only caught up in this because of me. If things get bad you start running and don’t stop. Understand?’
Kristofine looked at him from under her hood, neither nodding in agreement nor refusing his request. He wished she was on the ship with the others.
Marek led them to a canal at the edge of the city where an inn hunched low under a rickety roof. The low din of merchants could be heard from within, no doubt arguing about the day’s events and the losses they had suffered.
‘What are we doing here?’ asked Kristofine hopefully.
‘Change of heart,’ said Marek. ‘You two are dead on your feet, and I’m not much better. Smithing is one thing but dashing around takes its toll. We stay here tonight and set off in the morning with a proper meal in our bellies. It may be the last time we eat well for some time.’
‘That’s the first bit of good news I’ve heard all day,’ replied Steiner, shouldering the door open and stepping out of the rain.
‘Seems we all agree
