Spindrift
Chapter 4: The Lady of Rii

Dri, you’d make aterrible rapist!

Thank you. I’ll take that as a complement. And thank you for your help. Of course I would have subdued her in a few moremoments anyway.

Yes, of course. Somehow, she didn’t seem convinced.

Well I would have!

No doubt, she’s atleast eight months pregnant after all.

There was no winning this argument.

“What are you going to do with me?” There was terror in the woman’s voice. Our silence must have been unnerving.

“Nothing at all, my dear,” reassured Ari. “We said we wouldn’t hurt you. All we want is to leave this place.”

She shook her head defiantly. “I think you will not replace that easy!”

“Of course not, but that’s what we intend to do in anycase,” said Ari. “Will you help us ornot?”

“Help you?!” She wasincredulous. And, frankly, so was I.

“Yes. Help us.”

“Why should I?”

Ari leaned closer to her. “Because you know as well as I that your lord is making a seriouserror.”

The Rii woman sucked in her breath and covered her mouthwith both hands. “You take my thoughts!” I feared she would faint.

Are you? Are you seeing her thoughts? I asked Ari.

No, Dri, I cannot takeany thoughts that are not offered and no one can ‘hear’ us think either unlessI choose. I’m using psychology, not telepathy. Remember how she looked at me when they mademe stand?

I only got a briefglimpse of her then, I was mostly watching you, but she did seem almostsympathetic.

Ari smiled gently, “I am no thief, or mindflayer, child. I would not take your thoughts, even if Icould.”

Child? Remember, she tried to slice me open.

Dri! You have eyes. Look! She’s barely old enough to menstruate. Poor thing!

“Then how did you know?” she asked Ari.

“I just do. It shouldbe obvious to any woman!”

The younger female’s eyes lit up. “Yes indeed! Men play at war as though it were a game! The path we’re on leads us to death anddestruction! Rii will become a playthingbetween two mighty empires! Where willthat leave my child?”

Out of the mouths ofbabes, Ari.

“You speak wisdom…uh, what is your name, dear?” she asked.

“Jen of House Mindeb. I am the Keeper’s woman, soon to be mother of his heir!” she said, thenlooked down modestly. “The wisdom,however, I owe to my friend, Justin.”

“Mr. Chang?” Bless him! I’ll see he gets a knighthood, Dri!

“Yes. When I was but achild, and my father would bring us to the city, my nurse would take me to hisshop. So many wonderful things were there!” She looked wistful. “I have always thought that any people whomade such things could never be evil. Hewould tell me stories about the stars and the worlds that surround them.” She whispered conspiratorially, “He eventaught me how to read!”

“Justin is a good man,” I said.

Ari agreed. “I hopehe’s still safe.”

Jen started at the reminder of danger and her eyesfilled. “I will help you, but you andyour armored warriors must promise to keep Justin safe. If you do, you will earn the gratitude of theLady of Rii!”

Rifle in hand, I opened the door and made a quick check ofthe hallway. It was clear. I motioned to the two women, who followed meout of the room.

“This way, then it’s the second hall on the right,” said Jen. “It’s the closest maintenance well.”

“Are there many of these maintenance wells?” I asked.

“Just four and they’re all in the palace. Beyond the palace, however, there arehundreds of open wells large enough for a man to enter the water-paths.”

“Hundreds, you say? And they all interconnect?” Ari was evidently impressed. “This system must supply the whole city! Where does the water come from?”

The younger woman shrugged, “I don’t know.”

We paused at the first hall while I made sure it was clear.

“You needn’t go with us,” said Ari. “You’re taking a grave enough risk as it is.”

“I want to make sure you can follow the map to the rightwell,” Jen replied. “Nothing bad canhappen to me so long as I have this.” Sheplaced a hand on her belly.

“But afterwards…And that won’t be long by the looks of you,”observed Ari.

You and your friendneed to be a little less chatty. Ari stuck her tongue out at me, but kept quiet.

We finally reached the correct hallway and crept to the endof it. There was a wooden door, largerand heavier than the others with iron bands reinforcing it. I took hold of the ringed handle andpulled. It opened easily.

“The maintenance-well doors are never kept locked,” said Jen.

We entered the small room and closed the door behindus. Ari’s chair made it crowded. I lit a taper and held it up.

“There’s the well,” Jen pointed at a large, circular metalplate on the floor. “And there’s themap. “ She traced her finger along a line on the wall. “Follow this yellow path along this way. Here.” She tapped the map. “Here is the wellin front of Justin’s shop. Never ventureoff of the yellow paths.”

“How will we know?” Iasked.

“The ceilings are painted in the proper colors, yellow, redand black. If you replace yourself underred, turn back immediately!”

“How do you know all this, dear?” asked Ari.

“My father, when he was alive served a term as Master of theWells. He would let me follow oninspections, but he never allowed me in the tunnels.”

Ari reached up, hugged her and kissed her cheek. “We will be forever grateful, Jen of HouseMindeb.”

“Just swear to me that you will protect Justin, he is like afather to me now. And my child-swearthat you will protect my child. I fearthe pirates may cease treating us as an ally.”

Ari placed a hand on Jen’s belly. “I swear, I will do all I can and yet more,if God allows it. Now please go, beforeyou endanger yourself further!”

At that Jen left. Ifollowed her to the end of the corridor, watched until she was out of sight, andthen listened carefully until certain she had returned to her quarters. I sighed with relief and returned toAri. She was wiping tears from hercheeks.

“You know, Dri, I’m trained to say whatever needs to be saidto complete a mission, even lie. Iwasn’t lying then, Dri. I wasn’t lying. I will do all I can to protect her!”

I’m not known for being impulsive, yet I knelt down, tookher hand and kissed it.

She cleared her throat and gently took back her hand. “Well, Dri…Let’s not be hasty. We hardly know each other. Now, let’s see what’s under this man-holecover.”