9

 My back was sore after a restless night spent on Lowri’s floor. We were walking to Black Cross with me rubbing my neck and smoking my pipe. Lowri was asking all sorts of questions, why was the Jűr working for someone in the Seren? What was the importance of the diary? And what I thought we were going to find in the library? My head hurt, I couldn’t decide whether it was Lowri or the drink that was causing it.

 I didn’t think we were going to find anything. The library, to me, seemed like an unnecessary risk. However, there was a niggling thought in the back of my mind that dragged me across this Cross to meet with Noemi. The niggling thought was that maybe, just maybe, there was an answer. Souls, the Netherworld, Shadows, cylinders, symbols, the Jűr, Fűdd, Ragstaffe, they all had questions. They all tied together in some way or another, why were souls leaking from the Netherworld and being contained in cylinders with symbols etched into the surface? Why was Fűdd, a farmer from Ragstaffe, writing a diary with instructions on entering the Nethworld and using souls to become immortal? I hated questions, they made my head hurt even more. I had sent my Mouse to find Dole and ask him to gather anything he took from Marv that I had left for him.

 The light of the morning was muddied by the thick grey clouds which gave the air a chill. A heavy wind whipped across the square and around the hems of coats, children played at their parents heels who chatted about things that seemed the world to them. We were to meet Noemi at the ‘Brown Ale’s Tavern’, a bar located in a corner of Black Cross, a proper looking establishment, the right kind for the square. Tall walls of brown brick and mortar, dark wooden panels surrounded the bottom half of the building with the name of the bar painted in large, gold letter above the entrance. Above the ground level windows, a balcony was built, and a Roach stood on top watching us as we entered.

 This pleace wasn’t like the ‘King’s Inn’, a long mahogony bar stretched from the wall around the corner and to the back where people dined. Bottles of every kind were kept on many shelves behind the barkeeper who watched us as we looked around. His hazel coloured eyes fixed on me, his hair was slicked back, greying slightly. The thin line of hair above his top lip twitched slightly.

 We approached the bar, the place was empty.

 “Port and bourbon, please?” asked Lowri.

 “Uh, just water for me. What?”

 Lowri smiled. “Just the bourbon.”

 The keep seemed a bit more at ease with my order. He moved with a flow and elegance of a man of considerable experience, knowing where everything was and what to do. The bourbon was being poured as my glass of water was being handed to me.

 I lifted the glass to say ‘thank you’. “Where’s this Noemi then?”

 “We’re early, she’ll be here soon. Let’s grab a seat first.”

 We sat down at the table closest to the window, a clean, polished surface with small cloths to rest your drink on.

 I sighed and pushed at my lower back until I heard a succession of pops.

 “I heard something last night,” I said, sipping my water.

 “Oh?”

 “Yeah, Jak talking to a Watcher. He said he needed someone to be found, think it was me.”

 “What makes you think that?” Lowri took a drink, her green eyes never leaving mine. She wore her cap today, messy strands of blond poked over her ears.

 “What they said, they asked if the person was still looking for Little Rich, which I am, and also said not to use you because you’re too close with the Skip.”

 Lowri frowned. “Who are they using instead?”

 “Omar.”

 “Omar? You better watch him, dangerous one that. Why would Jak want to find you?”

 “No idea, but I don’t like it.”

 “Maybe Boss has asked him to.”

 “Maybe.” I frowned at the idea, if Don wanted me, he would just send for me and I’d come running. I tried to remember what was said exactly, ‘Does he still think he’s looking for Little Rich?’ ‘think’.

 “She’s here.” Lowri stood up.

 I turned around to look at who had just walked through the door. A flame haired woman stood looking around the bar.

 “Emi?” Lowri called.

 Noemi turned to face us and began walking over. She didn’t dress impressive, deep red dress, black boots and a green blazer over a white shirt. A green bowler hat with a red ribbon was perched upon her red locks.

 “’Alloo, Lowri.” The women shook hands.

 “Good to see you again, Emi, this is Cal.”

 I stood up and offered a hand out to the unique looking lady in front of me. Noemi had caramel coloured skin, unusual for the colour of hair she had. She had long face, small chin below smiling, big lips. Her nose was a little longer than the average size but didn’t seem out of proportion. Her eyes were what captivated me though, a striking green, almost teal colour. They seemed to glow, sparkle even beneath her long lashes. She was beautiful.

 As she shook my hand I felt the roughness on her fingertips, but her palms were smooth.

 “What do you play?” I asked instinctively, not realising how ridiculous it sounded.

 She pulled a puzzled but amused face. “Oh Manee, zee cello, zee ‘arp, geetar, lute, piano. Do you play?” she sat opposite, next to Lowri.

 “Me? No, no, never learned. Mother wouldn’t let that racket inside the house.”

 Noemi laughed, it was as sweet as music.

 Lowri coughed, it was only then I noticed she was still here.

 “Sorry.”

 “So, down to business?”

 “Yes, ov course. I can get you into zee libraree. But, you ‘ave to know, once you are in, it will bee twice as ‘ard to get owt.”  Her eyes pierced through me, they were gorgeous, bright and shining like her soul was on display and I knew what a soul looked like.

 “Twice as hard? Surely we just come out the same way we go in?”

 “Unless you can fly you will not get owt zee same way.”

 “How are we getting in, Emi?” Lowri asked. I was torn between which beauty to look at, Lowri’s rough and ready boyishness, an innocent childish air about her charm, deeper green eyes compared to Noemi’s bright pair. Or Noemi, quirky and unique, bright red hair, ferocious and wild, natural beauty radiated from her every pore.

 “Through ze roof, there’z a window, through zat we can get in but not owt.” She flicked her hair off her shoulder.

 Noemi’s plan was suicide. There was no way we’d be able to get in through a high space and just stumble across an exit. “I’m sorry, we can’t do this.”

 “What?” Lowri turned to me.

 “Lowri, we can’t just break into the palace and not have a way out. This ain’t happening until we have a fool proof plan,” I whispered ferociously, wary of the barkeep cleaning glasses ten foot away.

 “We’ll think of something.”

 “Noemi, is there a way out?” I asked.

 “Emi, pleaze. Ov course there’z a way owt, it’s just dangerouz.”

 “What is it?”

 “Owt zee front door.” She smiled at me, it was wide, all her teeth were on display. “You see, going in you ‘ave securitee and checks, going owt, if you are confident, nussing.”

 I couldn’t help but smile back. The gnawing thought of how to get out seemed to melt away with her mischievious grin. I turned to Lowri after feeling her eyes on me and all of a sudden, thought the table looked incredibly interesting.

 “So, Emi, can you draw up a plan, on paper I mean for us to see?” Lowri asked, looking back at the flame haired beauty in front of me.

 “Ov course, I will ‘ave it for you tomorrow.” Emi nodded to Lowri, the two smiled at each other before saying there goodbye. Emi said goodbye to me and shook my hand again.

 Lowri and I left the tavern and stepped out into the shade of the clouds above. A light mist began to fall.

 “So, Emi’s nice.”

 Lowri gave me that murderous look again.

Reviews

[Morrigan Nicole]

So...? Where is the rest? Waiting for another chapter!!! Please! Loved it! I know I have said that a lot, but I speak the truth!

[Coyote Poetry]

Good conversation and I like some of the old history is coming to life. A strong ending. The memory is rebirth a different places and actions. A excellent chapter.
Coyote

[jennifer little]

wonderful work great job keep up the good work i loved reading this chapter great job keep up the good work and thanks for sharing this with me

[Missy Lorraine]

First off, great job!! You described the antics of drunks quite accurately.great use of descriptive language as well...My sis was right, you are good.No, great.i will most definately check out your previous chapters.Thank you for the read request.

[The Scholar]

I haven't read the entirety of your story--only this chapter--but you have me intrigued already. I'll have to go back and start from the beginning!
I really liked this chapter. It had just the right amount of description, balanced with dialogue that was not at all forced, but perfectly emulates real speech.
I'm curious now who this Cal man is and what his past consists of.

Really like this so far! . . . even though I've only read one chapter . . . and it's not even the first one. Still, great write!