Free Ebudae by John H. Carroll

Boss. The way she’s carrying it suggests
competence beyond her years. I also have a bad feeling about this.
These are not normal girls.”
    The man they called boss made a couple of
gestures with his hands. It was some sort of signal and all of the
men backed up, returning to their hiding places. Ebudae was
disappointed. She wanted to see how fast she could kill the wizard.
Adrenaline rushed through her veins and her legs were beginning to
shake.
    “Let’s get out of here before they change
their minds,” Pelya said in a low voice that was half growl. She
sheathed her sword, but kept her hand firmly on the hilt.
    They kept their eyes open while moving as
rapidly as was reasonable. By the time they had passed three
intersections, the traffic had become normal again. “I think we’re
safe for now,” Pelya said, looking back in the direction they had
come. “I can’t believe they were willing to try something like that
before the sun had fully set.”
    “Shouldn’t we have done something so they
wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone else?” Ebudae’s thoughts were
flying in wildly different directions. She wanted to do something
and was both excited and terrified by the real danger they had
avoided. The hardest part was feeling vulnerable and unsafe.
    “There wasn’t a good solution. Attacking
them might have gotten us killed. If we had killed them instead,
we’d have had to explain our actions and would never be allowed out
again even when we’re forty.”
    “Yeah . . . That’s a good point,” Ebudae
conceded. “What if they hurt someone else or kidnap others?” It
bothered Ebudae.
    “It’s a good question. There’s so much crime
in the city and the Guard can’t seem to stop it, so I asked Daddy
about that.” Pelya avoided a couple of college students who had
begun drinking early that evening. To the east of the Mosh District
was a college of business, popular with the children of
merchants.
    “What did he say?” She knew that Frath took
crime personally when he couldn’t prevent bad things from happening
to people.
    “He said that it’s the fault of the person
who commits the crime, not the fault of the person who can’t stop
it from happening.” They passed into the Noble District and were
walking quickly, making good time to get home. The last rays of the
sunset streaked through the smog in the sky, making it a dirty
orange that was astonishingly beautiful over the slate roofs of the
noble’s houses. “Daddy tells himself that a lot to help ease the
guilt he feels every time he sees another dead body in a gutter.”
Pelya gave her a worried look. “I worry about him sometimes. He
never talks about how much he hurts. Thinking about those men from
the alley helps me understand him a little better.”
    “I like your father, Pelya. I think he’s one
of the best men in the city, even if he can’t save everyone.”
    “I think so too.” Pelya smiled
appreciatively.
    Lady Pallon was waiting for them in the
conservatory. She asked if they had a good time. After they said
they had and assured her that nothing untoward had happened, she
went to bed. The girls ran upstairs and talked about the day’s
events for hours before turning in.
     
    Chapter
5
     
    It was noon the next day before they headed
out. Lady Pallon was allowing them to go to Carnival again. Ebudae
was certain it was because her grandmother enjoyed having a
peaceful house rather than out of any generosity.
    The first place they went to was the Carnie
tent. The group did morning shows and had just finished when the
girls walked in. “You have come to see Lizor’s magnificent muscles
again! Good for you.” He performed a muscle builder’s pose. The oil
on his body made every ridge of every muscle show in detail.
    “Hello, Lizor,” Pelya said. “Yes, we’ve come
to see your muscles again. They truly are magnificent.”
    Ebudae pointed at her friend. “What she
said.” Aphry was nowhere to be seen, but Glav was sitting in