Kindness

Zius had sent out messages in the night as the army of the damned encircled Gaelel. Isemalrocath, Anykrocath, Lallareth, even to Denenden and Alaidin. The rest of his birds he untethered and tried to set free. He had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that there wouldn’t be a city left by the time the army moved on.

Leaving his home with the intention to stay far from the gates, he heard a commotion at the one nearby. The gate had been cautiously pulled open wide enough for a few Cearazon soldiers and their Prince to try and escape, a crowd of townsfolk was trying to follow them out.

He couldn’t help but watch with morbid curiosity. There were a few short ugly screams from outside the gate and some of those who had tried to leave came shoving their way back in. The gate was pushed closed and barred. Men called for furniture or anything at all to put in front of it.

The Cearazon Prince trembled like a terrified boy in a man’s clothes. He had only two guards left. They led him toward Zius at the edge of the crowd and he could hear the young man stuttering about his brother coming to kill him.

Speaking low, Zius asked, “This is your brother’s army?” One of the guards drew a sword but Zius held up his hands. “I thought the Black Prince might come for his wife, but I didn’t know he’d have an army like this, or that he’d want his brother dead.”

The Prince stepped forward cautiously. “You know about his wife?”

“I met the girl, albeit briefly. A friend brought her for clothes.” He studied the boy’s face.

“You’re a tailor?”

Zius couldn’t help but bark a laugh. “No. But I keep them for those that need them.”

An odd smile spread across the boy’s features. “Would you have something to fit me? I can pay you.”

Shaking his head Zius answered him, “I don’t think money is going to mean much by morning. You’ll pay it back in kindness.”

He watched the boy’s chin come up proudly. “As you wish. What is your name, good man?” The tone of his voice made Zius wince.

“Zius. And yours, boy?” He watched the young man’s jaw clench and his guards tried to keep their faces carefully neutral. “You don’t want to be seen as the Black Prince’s brother tonight, that’s why you asked for clothes. You’ll want to shed your title as well, if just for a time.”

The boy nodded stiffly, “Ayred.”

Looking to the guards, Zius said, “You’ll want to be friends.”

One of them laughed softly. “I don’t think he knows our names.” He offered a hand to Zius, “Lutius, and this is Aramen. We’ll follow you, lead the way.”

His house was only a few steps away. Once inside he helped them find clothes that fit. The young prince looked uncomfortable in the common clothes, his guards still managed to look like guards. He grinned at them. “You two still look like soldiers. You should try to slouch or-” A noise from above got his attention.

His grey moldase had come back in to roost. He put her in a cage and brought her down. “I turned them all out but she keeps coming back. I suppose she’ll be coming with me.”

“And where is it you’re going?” Ayred asked him carefully. “Those things outside the gate aren’t letting anyone through.”

Zius nodded sagely and gave the boy a bit of advice, “If you need to find a way out of a place unnoticed, find a thief. There’s an old beggar they flock to and take care of, they call him grandfather. If we find him we may find a way out.”

As the four left the house and made their way through the quiet streets, Ayred whispered, “My brother’s wife is a thief.”

The comment drew a soft laugh from Zius, “And a good one. She had your brother’s staff with her when I saw her. The girl had a round belly and no shoes but she was as mischievous as Ayil and as sweet as Ynis.” He glanced at Ayred who looked bemused.

“I didn’t know she stole his staff, but I didn’t know she’d escaped him until I arrived here either. If she stole from him, I doubt she’ll survive long past the birth of the child. My brother is,” he paused and looked for the words.

“Vicious and vengeful.” Lutius helpfully supplied. “May the girl run fast and far.”

Aramen grunted his assent.

“Esus will keep her safe, I have no doubts.” An odd chittering came from the shadows around them and Zius stopped. “We’re just here hoping you might know a way out past the army.” The silence was heavy. “How is grandfather for shoes?” He asked conversationally.

A laugh came from the left. “Good, thank you, Zius. We know a way, but we know who you’re with and they-” There was a murmuring before the now baffled voice added, “Grandfather wants to see you all.” As they were ushered in the dark the thief spoke quietly to Zius, “We’d already be gone but grandfather's agitated right now and won’t leave.”

It was clear that Lutius and Aramen were nervous, but Ayred just looked curious as they were led into an alleyway. Grandfather was sitting in a pool of warm torchlight with a battered old staff laid on the ground next to him. The ribbons were faded and dirty and the bells rusty, but Zius couldn’t remember having seen it before.

“Bitter blood and a dead man’s tears. Keen eyed bird! A brother’s not his brother. Threats and favors. Wait! Sweet girl, sweet girl.”

Ayred leaned close, “Is he mad?”

Grandfather’s rheumy eyes settled on the boy and Zius couldn’t help but smile, “More than some but less than most.”

He was rewarded with a grin and the staff was lifted and jingled at him, “Keen eyed bird! Kindness keeps all company.”

Ayred asked again, “Do you understand him?”

Zius tilted his head and shrugged slightly. “Some.” At the hard look from the thief standing closest to grandfather, he asked, “You understood that he’s waiting for something to happen and for someone to come? A girl, I think?”

The bells were jingled again and the thief blinked. “You didn’t happen to catch what’s going to happen did you?”

It was Zius turn to give him a hard look. “It didn’t sound pleasant. I’d find a place to lay low with as many good folk as I could shelter.”

“All company, all company. Kindness keeps all company.”

With a smile, Zius corrected himself, “Not just good folk, anyone you can shelter.”

The old beggar nodded and swayed looking tired. Zius looked at him with some concern. He’d been an old man for as long as Zius could remember. This kind of worry and stress couldn’t be good for an old heart. “You need shelter and rest yourself, grandfather. Let one of these young boys shoulder the worry for tonight and get some sleep. If we’re very lucky tomorrow will be a long day.”

The old beggar’s shoulders slumped and he smiled sadly.

“There’s no ignoring

Or escaping

Reach to the sides

When your heart is breaking

To look to the sky

Is to look to the ground

What reaches up

Also sinks down”