Chapter 361: After the Escape

They did not cease walking until the black plain was well behind them.

Istra led and Lucian followed from the middle with Sera watching over her shoulder at where the passage had sealed itself, expecting it to be torn open and a group of some sorts to come pouring out. But it did not come. Not yet.

Whatever sort of area mid-plane was, it did not hold the packed streets, the river yards, the thin walled boards of Keth-Arel. Instead dark stone carpeted what little was in foot’s reach, distant towers of pale stone pierced the sky, and a hushed sort of weight hung over everything- the air was cleaner. Heavier.

Sera finally spoke. "So then, are we safe, or are we not?"

"No," Istra said, "we are away. It is not the same."

Lucian cast an unimpressed look over his shoulder. "How long before the higher city even hears of this sort of... disturbance, I wonder?"

"They may already know." Istra said. "You cracked Authority work in front of witnesses. Information runs its way up the chain in ways news does not."

Sera exhaled sharply.

"So much for the secret work, then."

"Ah yes," Lucian said.

She looked sidelong at him. "If at any point in all this I was told you were likely to bring problems such as this upon my head after a follow into a sealed basement, I would have been prepared"

"I did not ask you to follow me,"

"And I, apparently, did not ask for the city to stitch my name to yours. Careful it seems we both are getting tacked up for this."

Istra raised a hand and guided them to a nearby ridge of loose broken stone where the towers became apparent, though far and distant and within walking distance.

"They are neutral ground," Istra said. "Not hostile. Not welcoming. We can rest here until it is sorted out who among the higher city is asking questions in regards to you."

Lucian fixed his eyes on the distant towers. "And who sent you after me, in the first place?"

Istra did not deny that, "There are people who still want some say as to what happened to Cael. Some to find him, some to lock up every potential piece of history to prevent further war. I was told to investigate the footprint in Keth-Arel and attempt to transfer if necessary."

"You did not have to be convinced for very long, then."

"You cracked glass seals with ease, yes." Istra shrugged. "That set you from doubt in all but the most set of mind."

Sera rubbed at her forearms, frowning. "I want this spelled out for me. What does all this mean? Do we sneak, do we fight and run, continue running until a great many have come for us to stand and meet properly?"

Lucian answered Istra’s soon to come remark. "We stop pretending that I can be like a dock worker. The methods will change. Searches will turn from neat to not and wherever the people of Cael’s find go, others will as well."

Cael voice washed over his mind as though he were hearing it in truth. It was quieter than normal.

"She will lead you to somewhere with rules, which can shield you as well as shackle. Do not let loose anymore than the next step."

Lucian gave a small only-to-him-known nod and they walked on.

After a pause Sera spoke again but with less sharpness than with first. "Back at Keth-Arel it was all I thought to say for you was that you were just another Free with solid arms and bad luck. Now I have travelled the world to the other side of cities and listen to a woman talk of missing Lords and have a man walk about like the Authority is on his knees. My apologies for not keeping up with what you are all about, if you pardon me"

"You may yet leave me when we reach the towers," Lucian said, voice low. "Go find work and make a new name for yourself. Get clear of all this."

Sera let loose a quiet laugh, and there was not much mirth in it. "Leave and go where, back to a city which has made my name into the wind anyway? No. I shall wait to see the next step and then decide for myself."

Istra looked over at her. "A well said first set of words you have made since walking through my front door."

"I have more," Ser said. "Which come out when I stop all but dying."

The ground shifted under their steps, growing finer beneath their boots in places as if worn down by old streets long since abandoned. Ahead, the road split before a wide sort of gateway. Between two pillars stood what was nearly a door, half broken and half waiting for more to break it open.

Lucian felt the pressure of eyes before seeing people.

"People," he said, keeping a flat pace of walking, "ahead of us."

Istra nodded. "Guards of the line of neutrality. Let me do the first speaking, for if you should try anything they think you are in possession of higher rank."

"And if already the matter has reached them?"

"Then they decide on the sight of you lot that you are dangerous, as you are." Istra said.

Sera muttered, "I liked today better when my biggest problem was rent"

"That part of this day was cut short in the basement,"

"Yes," she said dryly. "I noticed"

They reached the sort of gate which would have been a wall in another age and as they came through the two people who had been waiting stood, their eyes sharp and weapons ready but not yet drawn

"Istra." One of them said as they walked forward. "You are running early and with more people than promised."

"The orders were given before Keth-Arel attempted to claim you I believe, as we are asking for entry to the neutral ground and offer temporary protection."

The other guard looked directly at Lucian. "This is your Free who broke the line of seals, then?"

The news had apparently reached further than their walk had accomplished.

Lucian did little to stop this. "Yes,"

The two looked at each other, the first tapping a plate at his own wrist before raising it for Lucian’s benefit. A pause, and then there was not quite so thick of a press on Lucian’s mind.

"You may pass the gate into outer court." he said finally. "No further access is allowed in line with no house claims. If higher presence should come bearing lawful demands for any matter, the neutral ground will hear the voices of each side until such time as they reach an agreement. Until that time, you shall remain upon our walls."

Istra gave a knowing nod. "That is enough."

They were led by the guards into a wide sort of outer courtyard of pale stone. People loitered in small clusters, chattering with one another and watching the new arrivals with great eagerness. A seal-breaker out of a lower district must have had ears far and wide.

Sera stayed close to Lucian as they walked. "They are all waiting like you are some sort of show for them."

"They are measuring." he said.

"I hate being measured."Then, you chose a bad night for me to follow you."

"Oh yes I did."

Istra led them to a set of lower doors with nothing to block a visitor from seeing in. "Rest here. Eat if you desire. Go nowhere foolish. I will make known to the line officers who has asked for these specific visitors to appear by description"

Lucian looked up where she looked. "And then?"

"Then we find out if you are either case to study or a matter to go to war over," Istra said, turning her gaze back to Lucian. "I will leave you for the now."

She left them there, and Sera sat on a stone bench, hands covering her face for a moment. When she lowered them she looked tired and determined at once.

"I am going to ask one thing, and I want an honest answer. Are you are connected to all this business of the missing Lord they are asking about?"

Lucian took a place by the doors. Looking out at the courtyard.

"Yes."

She waited and perhaps wanted him to temper the truth, but he did not temper it.

"Of course," she said quietly, and she was not angry. "Of course you are"

Cael’s voice once more. "This place can lie little in hiding from you for long. Use the moment. After this the mid-plane ceases its travel and moves into the standing of a board."

Lucian knew the truth of that.

The life of Keth-Arel with quiet dock work by day and tight budgets by night was behind him. Ahead was the pale towers and eyes sharp as glass and names older than any Free should remember.

He sat down across from Sera and allowed the first pause since he had stood in the basement to settle around them. It would not last, of course.

But for now, they had been able to get clear.