See Part One for Disclaimers

Chapter Six

"We should enter the dungeons through this gate."  Davyn gestured to the drawing of Magistrate's palace laying on the table.  They had been trying to come up with a plan for breaking in and rescuing one of Sinbad's crew.  A fellow named Firouz.

Kaliandra rubbed her temples tiredly.  She had been helping as best she could these last few hours as her brother and Sinbad tried to work out a plan.   She had drawn and redrawn sketches of the palace until her hand and arm ached.

"This would probably be our safest bet.  One of my agents is working that gate tonight.  He would be able to let us in without anyone knowing."  Davyn leaned back from the table and stretched.

"The other question is, would he do it?" Rizgin stood up from where he had been crouching by the fire.  "Ahmed is a frightened man.  He's got a wife and son to think of."

"He'll help.  He wants Gatharian gone as much as anyone.  He just hasn't left the guard because he knows the only way a person leave the guard is dead."

"Would he know were Firouz is?" Sinbad asked.

"Hard to say."  Davyn rested his arm on the butt of his sword.  "He most likely won't.  With a prisoner as essential to Gatharian as you man, the only ones who would know would be his personal guard."

"Kedel and his creeps," said Kaliandra under her breath.

Davyn smiled.  "Apt description."

"When would be the best time to strike?" Sinbad asked.

Davyn glanced out the window at the moonlit streets of the city.  "The moon will set in about an hour.  The darkness will cover our entrance into the palace.  I should be able to get my men together by then too."

Sinbad nodded and grasped Davyn's hand.  "In an hour then."

******

The next hour was spent in a flurry of activity.  Davyn left to go and rouse his men from their homes and families.  Rizgin and Doubar went into the forge to gather weapons they would need for the assault on the palace.  Sinbad and Rongar had disappeared into the stable to saddle the horses.

Kaliandra and Maeve were left alone in the cottage.  Kali retreated in her room to return moments later dressed in a rough riding skirt and leather vest.  She had a worn looking sword strapped to her side.  She picked up the tiny vial containing the antidote and started fitting it to a chain she wore around her neck.  She stopped for a moment to fingered the small locket attached to the chain before starting to slip the vial on the end of it.

"That's beautiful," Maeve said.  Dermott squawked from his perch on a chair back.  "Dermott thinks so too."

"Thank you," Kaliandra said shyly.  "It was a gift."
"Was it from Falon?" Maeve asked gently.  "Rizgin told me about him."

Kaliandra's eyes took on a far away look.  "Yes, he gave it to me the night he asked me to marry him.  " Her head snapped up.  "Oh, you don't want to know about that.  You've got so much on you mind now, you don't need my troubles too."  She turned to head for the forge.

"Kaliandra, it's alright," Maeve said catching her arm.  "Tell me about him."

She took a deep breath and sat down beside the fire.  The rosy glow played a cross her features.  Maeve could see tears glimmering in her eyes.

"Falon was a very sweet man.  We were both so young when he proposed that Rizgin and Davyn made us promise to wait a year before we wed."  She smiled up at Maeve.  "Rizgin and Davyn have been like fathers to me more than just big brothers.  I was just a little girl when our parents died.  A sickness came through our village.  My mother was a healer, so the sick came to us for help.  Both of our parents died from it that fall.  That's when we moved to Koreth.

"Rizgin had learned smithing from our father and set up a forge here.  Davyn got a job as a city warden.  They kept me at my studies.  They were determined that one of us would have an education.  All we had was each other, then I met Falon.

"He had come to the forge to get some parts made for a gadget he was working on.  He was a tinker by trade, but he could make the most wonderful and useful things.  He had got a commission to make a special knife for a woman wanted to cut the core out of an apple and slice it all in one stroke.  We started to talk while Rizgin made this piece he needed.  Falon was shocked to find a woman who was interested in science.

"We started to see one another.  We would just talk.  I guess that is what I miss the most.  I love my brothers dearly, but sometime, they just don't have a clue what I'm talking about.  Falon and I just connected."  Kaliandra gave Maeve a knowing smile.  "Kind of like you and Sinbad."

Maeve started back.  "What?"

"I've seen you two look at each other.  I know that look."  Kaliandra pulled the locket and chain over her head and handed it to Maeve.  "Push the little knob on the side."

Maeve looked for a moment, admiring the workmanship of the tiny silver locket.   She found the tiny knob on the side of locket thumbed it.  Quiet music tinkled from the locket.  The sweet melody filled the small room.  "How lovely," Maeve said.  She looked up and saw Kaliandra bit her lip as it played.  She handed it back to Kaliandra and she quickly touched the knob again and the music died.

"How long ago?" Maeve tried to find a delicate way to say it.
"How long ago did Falon die?" Kaliandra said bluntly.  "It's ok."  She put the chain around her neck and attached the tiny vial on to it.  "It's been a year," She said tucking the chain back into her bodice.

They heard the sounds of horses out on the street and he outside door swung open.  Davyn and Sinbad came in.

"Where is Doubar?" Sinbad asked.

"Here little brother," Doubar said.  "Rizgin has a regular arsenal in his forge,"

Rizgin and Doubar walked in with their arms full of weapon.  Kaliandra rushed to clear the table for them to lay the things down.  They had an assortment of swords, daggers, axes, and crossbows.

Rizgin humped.  "I should.  I supply the palace and Davyn's troops with weapons to use on each other.  Though, I would have to say the quality may not be quite the same for the palace."  He gave them an innocent look.  "It's not my fault if a blade falls off a hilt.  Or a sword breaks from time to time. They just need to take better care of their weapons."

"Rizgin's special swords are the only thing that have kept some of my men alive.  That Kali's healing touch."

"And you wouldn't need my 'healing touch' nearly as often if your men would learn to duck."  Kaliandra crossed her arms and scowled at her brother.

"Ouch," Davyn said.  He turned to Sinbad.  "Seriously, we need to get moving. Are we ready to go?"

Doubar and Rizgin picked up the weapons and headed for the door.  Maeve followed right behind them.  Kaliandra picked up Firouz's bag from behind the door and started after her.

"Hold on."  Davyn grabbed her shoulder.  "Now were do you think you are going?"

Kaliandra glared at him.  "I'm going too."

"No, you're not.  This is too dangerous.  You are staying right here until we get back."

Kaliandra crossed her arms defiantly.  "And what are you going to do?  Lock me in my room."

"If I have to."

She eyes blazed as she glared at her brother.  "Just try it!  I can take care of myself.  I can handle a sword as good as any of your men.  Better in fact.   Just who had been you sparing partner since the time they could walk?"  Davyn opened his mouth to say something, but Kaliandra cut him off.  "Besides that, I have to go.  I'm the only one who knows how to administer the antidote."   She pulled the little vial out and shook it under her brother's nose.  She turned her back on him and marched out the door.

Davyn look as Sinbad helplessly.  "What am I supposed to do?  She right."  Sinbad just smiled and looked at Maeve.

"Don't look at me like that," Maeve snapped and followed Kaliandra out.

Davyn tried not to smile.  "You too, huh?"

"Me too," Sinbad said.

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