She padded silently through the hallway, one hand on the wall to keep herself from stumbling in the darkness. A noise from up ahead caused her to halt mid-step, her heart racing. She didn't dare to breathe, her eyes opened wide to try and detect whatever it was. She jumped as something soft pressed itself against her bare calf, her grip on the keys thankfully tightening to keep them from making the slightest sound, and she let out a relieved sigh when she heard a soft meowing.
"I told you to stay outside," whispered Ameren in a scolding tone to the cat, picking it up and holding it against her chest. She continued forward while the animal purred and affectionately rubbed its furry head against her neck, soon reaching the empty kitchen, and through it she came into another hallway, the one leading to the backdoor. She carefully slipped a key into the lock and turned it, wincing as it clicked open.
Someone heard that and they'll come running to see what it was. Any moment now...
But the manor remained silent. Ameren pushed the door open and moved back as a large, dark figure stepped inside and sneaked toward the kitchen, then another came and stopped next to her.
"What's that?" whispered Jasper, crouching down.
"A cat. He wouldn't stay outside," mumbled Ameren, keeping both arms around the contented animal and quickly adding, "But he's good, he won't cause trouble for us."
"Sorry, little lassie, but we can't have him going about the place. Give him here," replied Jasper, drawing a dagger and reaching to grab the cat, but Ameren took a step backward, pressing her back against the wall.
"No, please, he's just a cat," she pleaded silently, the cat sinking its claws into her when Jasper grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. He was about to tear it away from her when a third figured appeared in the doorway and grabbed him by the wrist.
"What are you doing, you fools? Trying to wake the whole household?" hissed Lee, glaring at the pair of them.
"We can't have that little beast prowling the halls while we work. If he gets in the way and we trip on the damn thing we will wake the whole household."
"And you thought cutting its head off and leaving it in the bushes was the right idea? We can't afford to give them any clues that there has been foul play involved here. I swear, the child has more sense than you do," whispered Lee sternly and let go of the man's wrist, then turned to Ameren as Jasper headed off further into the house. "Can you keep that animal calm?"
"Aye, mistress, he's good, never fusses or anything," replied Ameren hastily, clutching the cat.
"He'd better not. Stay here, we won't be long."
Lee shut the door and followed the others, leaving them alone in the dark hallway.
Ameren had been in the manor for just about a month now, after Lee managed to get her a job there. During that month she'd mapped out almost the whole building and learned the routines of the people living and working there, information she'd written down and brought with her when she was bid to go to the town market every few days. An envelope, filled with everything Lee needed to know about the household, which she stealthily slipped from her dress and hid between a pair of barrels where she knew it would be found by one of the others in the syndicate. She'd gotten word yesterday of what Lee needed her to do.
Unlock a couple of doors, let them in. They do the job, get out, then I lock up again, make sure nothing is out of place, return the keys and go back to bed.
Ameren sunk her fingers into the cat's fur and slid down against the wall, her heart was still racing despite all she had to do for now was wait. The animal had started purring again, blissfully unaware of what was happening further inside his home. And so they sat there and waited, Ameren dreading to hear shouting and a fight breaking out on the floor above them. But it was almost completely silent, all she heard was her own soft breaths and the contented cat.
Why am I helping them? The master here is a decent man. Not like mistress Lee. She is a hard woman, cruel and heartless. She makes that old hag at the orphanage seem nice.
There were soft footsteps coming from the kitchen. Ameren stood up again and adjusted her grip on the cat before going to push the door open, spilling some light from the street into the hallway. Jasper went outside first to make sure it was clear, then came the large brute carrying the master's son slung over his shoulder. The young man was unconscious, hanging limply with his limbs tied and his mouth gagged.
This is wrong. These are good people. I can't let them do this.
Ameren watched as the men started to disappear down the alley, keeping to the shadows.
There is still a chance. If I scream I could alert the guard, and maybe the watch. If I-...
Lee had come up next to her and knelt down, putting her arms around Ameren and gently pulling the child to her. Ameren just stood there, stunned, the cat slipping from her grasp and wandering off back into the house as Lee kissed the top of her head and whispered softly.
"That was brilliantly done, sweet girl, we didn't run into a single problem."
There was warmth in her voice that Ameren had never heard her use before. She hesitantly put her arms around the woman, afraid that it would cause her to pull away, but she didn't, Lee just hugged her tighter, holding her close for a moment longer.
"Go on, lock up and back to bed with you. We'll see you at home in a few days, yes?" whispered Lee, standing up and keeping a hand on Ameren's shoulder.
"I-... aye, mistress, I'll take care of it."
Lee smiled warmly at her before she too headed out through the door and disappeared into the night.
There was the soft clucking of waves against the hull of the ship, the creaking of wood, and the tapping sound of ropes hitting the sails. Ameren put a hand over her eyes to shield them from the light of the rising sun and rolled over to her side only to kick herself loose from the blanket the next moment and scramble to her feet as a wave of nausea washed over her.
Damned seasickness. And here I was thinking it was getting a bit better.
Ameren spat into the waves and waited for the feeling to pass, her knuckles whitening as she clung to the railing.
Sleeping on deck was the right idea, though. I wouldn't want to be stuck below, listening to the savages' snoring and with the reeking smell of their sick making the whole thing worse. Suppose there is some comfort in that we're all handling this ride poorly, though.
She picked up her waterskin and rinsed out her mouth before taking a few gulps and pulling her mask up.
And Lee on top of everything else going on.
Ameren leaned against the railing again and locked her gaze on the horizon.
One embrace was all it took. A little bit of affection and I was lost. She'd gotten almost nowhere with me despite trying every other trick she knew, pain, fear, clever lies... How pleased she must have been with herself when she finally figured it out. All she needed to do was give me that little taste and after it I worked myself to exhaustion time and time again to get another. Anything to make her happy, anything to make her proud of me, anything at all so that I could fool myself into thinking that she cared for me. Nine damn years of it. Not that I learned my lesson either. Am I not-...
She frowned and then shook her head.
Enough, that line of thought leads nowhere you want to be. Leave it and go about your day.
And she pushed herself back and did just that.
