Free City of Demons by Kevin Harkness Page A

more frightening than attractive. Trallet, the tavern keeper’s wife, was the worst of these. She covered her face in rouge and powders to hide her age, but she achieved only a harsh mockery of youth. Salick, the only other young woman he knew, was Trallet’s opposite. She disdained makeup and hid what might have been a pretty face behind such deadly seriousness that he did not dare to think of her romantically. Besides, his relationship with her was now one of student to teacher, a relationship she was unlikely to let him forget.
    The young woman standing in front of them now, long braids whipping around her cheeks in the prairie wind, wore neither rouge nor a grim expression. She smiled, not to entice him, but from a pure love of this moment in her life: the blue sky, the excitement of the camp around them, and meeting old friends, for she and Salick now hugged each other and fell to talking. For perhaps the first time in his life, Garet understood just what beauty meant. He blushed even more and busied himself with a perfectly good knot on his horse’s rein.
    â€œVinir! I didn’t know you were sent here.” Salick looked happier than Garet had ever seen her. She grabbed Vinir by her shoulders, giving the other Bane a shake.
    â€œEasy there!” Vinir replied, freeing herself and brushing the hair out of her eyes. “I need to complete my duties. Master, is there anything else you’ll need?”
    Mandarack shook his head. “No, Vinir. Tell me, are you to be posted here permanently?”
    â€œNo, Master!” the reply was emphatic. “I have no wish to live in a wooden city.” She reached over and ruffled Marick’s hair, acknowledging his nod of agreement. “Besides, I’m really only here to help the Golds and Reds.” She scanned the horizon beyond the camp. “They’re still out, hunting down the last few demons or guarding the feeding cattle.” With a slight bow to the Master, she motioned to a narrow lane between the tents, and the party followed her.
    The press of people parted like a bubble around them and Garet wondered nervously if the refugees blamed the Banes for the arrival of the demons. Mothers cowered as they approached and held their children to themselves as if the Banes were demons themselves. He caught at the reins of his mount, and the mare flicked its head about, rolling its eyes nervously. An old man spat on the ground but turned and vanished into a tattered tent. Garet swallowed. He felt his shoulders shaking and then caught himself. Why was he so on edge? The people avoiding the party looked as afraid as he felt. With the beginnings of understanding, he turned and saw that Dorict had moved from his distant position in the rear to right behind Garet.
    Was Dorict afraid of losing them in the crowd? The usually calm boy’s face was strained and sweating. In his arms, he held a coil of rope and the ragged sheepskin bundle containing the demons' jewels. Garet swallowed. He slowed his breath and tried to see this anxiety as a thing outside himself, emanating from those two small spheres the younger Bane carried. Ignoring the reactions of the people around him, he concentrated until he could will the jangling of his nerves to stop.
    They ate a quick meal on the riverbank near the docks. Mandarack had directed Dorict to tie the sheepskin package by its long rope to the bow post of the barge they were soon to board.
    â€œIsn’t there a place prepared for...” Salick pointed with her chin at the young Bane tying off the rope.
    â€œNot yet,” Vinir replied. “There’s been no time for anything but saving as many people as possible. We may have to send them down to Old Torrick for a while,” she added between mouthfuls of warm bread stuffed with spiced beef. She handed another piece to Marick, who had not stirred from her side since they started eating.
    All too soon, Vinir saw them off at the ferry dock,