Don’t Let Go #2
I woke Nella, and after finishing the last of the food and water from our packs, we followed the road toward Dolvenar, staying in the woods off to one side, crouching low behind the brambles when carts and carriages went by.
When we got close enough to see the entrance guards, the sun was nearing its peak in the sky, and traffic into the capital was picking up—this would be our stakeout.
We settled behind a large tree on the edge of the woods, which offered us cover from the main road and a line of sight through sparse bushes to the gates ahead. Despite being well hidden, we could see the traffic coming and going.
For hours, we watched in the late summer heat, sweat dripping steadily from both our brows.
Some carts went right through the gates without being stopped.
Others were stopped and the drivers questioned.
Still others had their carts searched before being allowed past. Twice, a cart was refused entrance and turned around, leaving the capital before it even entered.
It was tough to find a pattern at first.
But after a while, it became apparent which carriages were let through without question. These were all smaller and far more lavish carriages, likely carrying important people. The shabbier and larger carriages were searched each time they approached and each passenger was questioned.
Looking closer at the ones admitted through, it was the golden accents, gold-adorned bridles and harnesses of the horses, and the sharp uniforms of the drivers that marked these as carrying the people that the capital trusted to come through the gates unchecked.
This would be our ticket in. It was predictable and, if we were on board, undetectable. But how to get on board unnoticed…
When we discussed this and the day’s observations, Nella was the first to propose a solution.
“I read once in a book about a robbery where the thieves got through the gates of the place they were robbing by holding on to the underside of a carriage.”
“Nella, that’s…that’s brilliant! If we can sneak up behind one, we would need to get the carriage to stop long enough for us to slip under. We would need a distraction that stopped the horses. They’re easy enough to spook, but how do we do it without being seen?”
“Need some help?”
There was the bird’s voice in my head again. Noxie. He swooped down from the large tree we were hiding behind to land between Nella and me, where we were seated on the ground in the brush of our stakeout.
Nella opened her mouth to speak, but when no words came out, she just looked from the bird to me and closed her mouth again.
“Still following us?” I asked.
“That’s no way to greet someone who just offered you help, Ignacia.”
“I’ll apologize if you stop calling me that. I hate that name.”
“Fine, I’ll stop calling you Ignacia if you accept my help. You’ll be hopeless in Dolvenar without it.”
“Fine.”
Oh, how my life had changed. From enduring abuse in a lifeless town to arguing with a bird, in my head, about sneaking into the capital in pursuit of my mother.
“You need a distraction when the right carriage comes by. I happen to be a master of chaos. Call it my specialty,” Noxie said.
I relayed to Nella what the crow had said.
“Oh…how kind of…him,” Nella said, her tone dripping with distrust.
“I’ll fly over and give a heads up when a fancy carriage is approaching.” Noxie either didn’t hear or didn’t care that Nella was not his biggest fan.
* * *
After I’d begun to lose hope that we would get our chance today—which would be problematic with no more food or water—Noxie squawked loud and clear from a distance.
We looked to the sky to find him circling an approaching carriage.
This was it. I was secretly glad that Noxie had come to help us.
Not that I would admit that to him, though.
“If you want to hide your thoughts from me, you should work on your mental shields. Carriage approaching, be ready to run on my signal.”
He could hear my thoughts even when I wasn’t talking to him? How intrusive.
“Heard that,” he said.
“Good. We’ll talk about this later.”
Just after the ornate carriage passed our hiding place behind the tree, I saw Noxie dive-bomb toward the horses pulling it. He started weaving between their heads, cawing loudly and pecking at their bridles.
The horses grew irritated, swishing their heads and batting him away with their noses. I could just hear their huffs of annoyance from where Nella and I crouched in wait.
When one horse stopped and reared up, the whole cart came to a stop. Noxie timed it well, pecking at the rope connecting one horse to the carriage until it snapped.
“Now!”
I didn’t need telling twice. I grabbed Nella by the hand and bolted toward the back of the carriage. Luckily, the curtains were drawn over the window, so we only needed to worry about the driver.
From ahead, I saw the driver hop down and walk toward the spooked horse at the front, speaking low to calm it. Maybe Noxie wasn’t so bad after all.
We rolled under the carriage, and just as we were looking for the right places to hold on, I heard the driver say, “That ought to hold until we get to Dolvenar. I’ll replace it while you take care of your business in the capital, my lord, my lady.”
We were running out of time. I pointed to a crossbar parallel with the rear axle that connected the back wheels, then to Nella’s feet.
She understood and slipped her feet up and over just before I did.
I reached up and grabbed onto the front crossbar, and Nella followed suit, mere seconds before the carriage lurched back into motion.
It was uncomfortable, and our packs and cloaks were dragging on the ground. I worried that someone might see from a distance, so letting go with one hand, I wrapped the ends of my coat around me and tucked the pack into my lap, then helped Nella do the same.
Luckily, the cart was moving at a decent pace, and the gates weren’t too far ahead. I just prayed neither of our grips faltered.
“Hold on tight. I’ll meet you in Dolvenar.”
“Thanks, Noxie. We owe you.”
“That’s twice you’ve thanked me now. Careful, Naci, or I’ll think you’re losing your bite. It’s my favorite quality of yours.”
I smiled when I heard him caw in the distance and fly off toward the capital.
* * *
By the time the carriage approached the gates, my hands were aching, and my arms were burning with the effort of holding on. I’d put as much of my weight as I could in my legs hooked over the bar at my knees, but my arms were still holding up a considerable amount of weight.