Chapter 36: Little games


    Be was right. Rose district was only a few minutes away from Shikari Lane, and Chance could see where it had gotten its name. Hed originally thought it was some sort of sly reference to red lighting or the like, but he couldnt have been farther from the truth.


    The Rose district had been named very literally. The buildings were covered with bushy green foliage, all carefully trimmed and properly cared for so thatrge, beautiful flowered bloomed all the way down the streets. There was almost no traffic in the area, but Chance wasnt sure if that was normally how things were or if it was because of all the Soothound sightings.


    A faint sweet smell filled the air, and there was just enough of a breeze through the street to carry the scent to Chances nostrils. He let out a content sigh.


    I think I just found my favorite street on Gleam. It smells incredible.


    You think I can eat the flowers? Yeo asked. They look magical. I bet theyd have some benefits.


    Youd probably blow your Gate up, Be said, rubbing her chin. Either that or get the Shikari called on <em>us </em>for stealing. They do look magical, though. Dont tempt me.


    Arent you supposed to be the voice of reason? Chance asked.


    Be cocked an eyebrow. Reason? No. Im self-aware enough to know that I make some pretty stupid decisions. Im just not aspletely brainless as Yeo.


    Hey! Yeo snapped. I am not brainless. I simply follow my primal instincts, like our ancestors did before us.


    Right, Be said. Well, why dont you use those primal instincts of yours to find some of the Soothounds while they chew on the flowers?


    Yeo pursed his lips. Then he pointed at the absolutest ce Chance wanted him to  an alley branching off the road. It was nestled between tworge bushes trimming the edges of houses.


    As good a ce as any, Be said. Chance couldnt argue with that. It wasnt like the Soothounds were just going to be sitting around in the middle of the road, so the three of them walked toward the alley.


    <em>Im overreacting. Its not like the Old City is going to be in every single alleyway wee across. Theres nothing to worry- </em>


    Chance choked on his own saliva as they drew up between the bushes, where a cracked stone street led into the darkness.


    Not this one, Chance snapped, grabbing Be and Yeos shoulders and turning them away from it.


    What? Why! It looked like a perfect ce for Soothounds to hide, Yeo protested.


    I used my Karma powers. There was nothing in there, Chance lied, his mind racing furiously. He couldnt tell them about the Old City. That would put them in Yamishs sights. But there was no way he could just keep them from walking into every single alleyway.


    Right, then, Be said slowly. She pointed at an alley on the opposite side of the street. What about that one?


    From what Chance could tell, it just looked like a normal alley. He repressed the relieved sigh and nodded. Yeah. Lets check that one out.


    Yeo gave him a strange nce, but they walked over to it and stepped through the bushes, Chance at the lead. No sooner than they had taken a few paces in, one of the walls rippled. A pathway into the Old City appeared and Chance repressed a curse.


    Damn, how big are the alleys here? Yeo asked, peering over Chances shoulder. You detect any Soothounds down there?


    Chance didnt even the chance to say no. A low growl echoed through the alley as a Soothound just a little shorter than him stalked out of the shadows, saliva dripping from its mouth as its cherry-red eyes focused on them.


    Yes, Chance said, heaving a sigh. The monster bounded toward them, but hed fought so many of them that his hand moved of its own ord. His urumi whipped out, slicing through the air and extending like a striking snake.


    It punched clean through the Soothounds chest with a <em>snik</em>. Even as Chance ripped the de free, the light in the monsters eyes winked out and its body mmed to the ground, rolling over to stop at his feet.


    Shit, Yeo said, whistling. When did you get so fast with the urumi, Chance? That was actually really solid.


    It was, Be said, studying him. That was quite impressive.


    Thanks, Chance said with an awkward chuckle. Lets get these and


    Two more Soothounds padded out of the alley, their hackles raised. Chance groaned.


    Dont worry, I got this! Yeo said, darting past Chance and into the Old City. His kusarigama whirled around him and flew out as the monsters lunged at him. Blood sprayed across the alley and Yeo danced past them, a second kusarigama joining the first.


    One of the Soothounds pitched forward, a leg severed at the limb. The sickle cut through its neck next, putting it down. The second met the same fate a secondter.


    Man, this really is easy money, Yeo said. Come on! This ce is huge.


    Hold on, Chance said. Why dont we just stay here? If theyreing to us, theres no reason to push further.


    There could be a whole pack of them, Be said, nodding. Its unwise to get too deep, I think. We could get surrounded. And we need the ears  five gold each.


    Yeo harrumphed. He knelt, drawing the monsters into two metal orbs. We forgot to use the Ward again.


    Be tossed one of her own spheres onto the Soothound that Chance had killed, absorbing it with a sh of blue light. She knelt, grabbing it and handing it to Chance.


    Thanks, Chance said.


    No problem. And theres no point using a Ward on something as weak as these, Be said. Its meant for monsters that can damage the city when the fight, not juvenile Soothounds.


    Good point. If the city isnt at risk of getting damaged, theres no point dropping a Ward. I think hear more Soothounds, Yeo said, nodding down the alley. Doesnt sound like that many.


    Lets stay here, Chance said firmly, ncing over his shoulder. Rose district still stretched out behind him, but he got the feeling that the second they turned any sort of corner, it would be gone.


    Fine with me, but I get the next set that show up, Be said, walking to join Yeo deeper in the alley.


    Thats fine with me, Chance said. Ill, uh, stay back here and make sure we dont get nked.


    Sure. Yeo chuckled. Im sure were about to get jumped by the one Soothound that trotted straight through the streets in broad daylight.


    Just dont go any deeper, Chance said, biting his lower lip. And stay in my sight. Dont leave this alley, or we could get separated.


    Whatever you want, Yeo said. Dont stay back there too long, or Be and I are going to get to do all the fun stuff.


    Chance nodded absentmindedly. He leaned against the wall casually, then turned his head so that Yeo and Be wouldnt be able to see his lips move.


    Old City, whats this about? he hissed. Im meant to be keeping other people <em>out</em>! You know I cant tell them anything. Stop trying to lure us deeper! If you keep sending weak Soothounds our way, theyre going to want to go farther in.


    The wall rippled, and a tiny circle traced itself into the cracked stone. Chance let out a relieved, muted sigh. Thank you.


    A loud crash filled the alley. Chance spun as an enormous, fully grown Soothound staggered to its feet on the far end of the alley, stone raining down from the wall where it hadnded.


    Gods, did anyone else see that? Yeo asked, taking several steps back and readying his weapons. That thing came flying out of nowhere!


    Get your Ward ready, Be said, ice reaching out to cover her body. We arent going to be able to take care of this one as easily as thest few.


    Goddamn it, Chance muttered, running to join them as the huge Soothound loped toward his friends.


    Yeos sickles shed out, but therge monster leapt over the weapons andnded atop the chains, mming them to the ground. Itshed out with a huge paw, forcing Yeo to release the kusarigama and vault backward.


    Be lunged at the monster and thrust her hand into its leg. Ice wrapped around it in bands, crackling against the Soothounds fur. It snarled and bit at her. Ice surged to form a shield in front of the girl, but it shattered under the monsters huge jaws.


    She dove back, narrowly avoiding its jagged teeth as they tore through the air where shed just been. Chance flicked his urumi and the weapon whipped out. The soothound ducked and the des scored across its back, screeching against its fur but failing to cut through it.


    Why is this one so dang big? Yeo yelled. His kusarigama shattered beneath the soothound, the fragments flying back to his hands and reforming.


    Its got really strong defenses. Were going to need a lot of Essence to damage it, Chance warned, jogging to join Yeo. Ive got a way to wound it. Activate the Ward once I get it, okay?


    Yeo nodded. I was just about to tell you the same thing, but go wild.


    Chance darted forward, throwing himself into a roll as the Soothound swept at him with a huge paw. It whistled over his back and he came back up, his third eye snapping open as he poured Essence into it.


    Strands of karmic debt shimmered into view all over the huge monster, and Chance grabbed the closest one. It tore away with a twang. For an instant, a faint outline of the threat remained behind. Chance didnt have the time to wonder what it was. He threw himself out of the way as the Soothounds jaws snapped shut, narrowly missing him.


    Golden mist bloomed behind the monster, and a shaggy Soothound made of light leapt at its dark counterpart. Its ws scored through the bigger monsters flesh and it bit into the monsters neck, tearing fur and spraying hot blood across the alley.


    A powerful thrum set Chances hair on end as an electric current shed through the alley. A blue dome bloomed above them, tracing down and encapsting them in the alleyway.


    Good job, Chance, Yeo called. It didnt resist at all! Youre getting it good. Keep it up.


    The golden Soothound faded into particles, blowing away in nonexistent wind. The wounded monster caught Chance in the chest with a paw, mming him into the wall and tearing several deep furrows through his chest with its jagged ws.


    He cried out in pain and surprise and slid to the ground, the urumi falling from his hand beside him. Be leapt forward, driving her fists into the monsters chest in a series of brutal strikes. Each one sent a wave of Essence rippling outward and spread a growing nket of ice across the monster.


    Chance fumbled with his bag, pulling out one of the healing potions that Jagg had given him with rapidly numbing hands. He popped the top of it off and raised a shaking hand, nearly spilling the lifesaving liquid as he tried to bring it to his mouth.


    Yeo joined the fight, his kusarigama shing in the dim light. He and Be circled therge monster, slowly but steadily whittling its defenses down. They both kept their space, only striking when its attention was on the other.


    Chance managed to drink the potion and staggered to his feet as the wounds on his chest bubbled and lurched, knitting themselves back together. He grabbed the urumi from the ground and send it whistling out. Some of the wounds that his karmic punishment had inflicted on the Soothound were prettyrge, and that meant they didnt have the enhanced defense of its fur.


    Sure enough, his de bit deep, burrowing into the Soothounds unprotected flesh. It screamed in fury, which earned it a violent blow to the face from Bes Essence empowered fists.


    Teeth ttered across the ground and blood dripped from its mouth. It snarled, staggering backward. Yeos twin kusarigama sailed through the air, spinning around the monsters neck like asso. He yanked them taut and sickles whipped around, both carving deep furrows through the monsters hide.


    Chance sent his urumi out once more and it sunk deep into the Soothoudns neck, just below its skull. With one final snarl, the Soothound copsed to the ground with a crash. The alley fell silent, save the panting of the three Shikari.


    Fishing an orb from his bag, Chance tossed it onto therge monsters body. It vanished in a sh of blue light and he picked the filled orb up, tucking it into a pouch.


    Okay, Yeo said, wiping his forehead as the blue dome faded above them and the Ward fell. I think I might see what you mean. If there had been more than a few of those, we could have been in a lot of trouble.


    You think? Be asked dryly. Chance, are you okay? It looked like you got cut up pretty badly.


    Yeah, Chance said. It was a pretty rough hit, but Im fine. Thank God for those healing potions.


    I hope that Soothound sells for more than just ten gold, Yeo muttered, kicking a pebble across the ground. Uh maybe we should retreat to the entrance of the alley.


    Good idea, Chance said, not even bothering to hide his relief. They hadnt actually gone down any turns in the alley, so Rose district was still behind them. The three quickly headed back toward the entrance.


    Should we just wait here for more Soothounds, then? Yeo asked.


    Are both of you still up to fighting? Be asked. Im good myself.


    I am too, Yeo said. Chance?


    Im fine as well. We just run if we see more than one fully grown Soothound, Chance said. As long as they were at the entrance of the alley, theyd be safe. It was better than wandering around any further and somehow getting dragged deeper into the Old City.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Chance spotted the wall rippling. An image of anotherrge Soothound appeared in the stone. He suppressed a curse and shook his head urgently. Luckily, he was standing behind Be and Yeo, so neither of them saw the motion.


    The image changed to a group of smaller soothounds. Chance gave a curt nod. A momentter, a dozen soothound corpses catapulted out of the alley, forcing all of them to dive to the side. The bodies sailed over their heads and thudded to the street behind them.


    What in the hells? Yeo asked, staring at them. Okay. You all saw that. Im not hallucinating. Right?


    Seriously? Chance hissed under his breath. Stop!


    The alley rippled. Rosebushes erupted around the entrance,unching all three of them thest few feet out of they alley. Yeo leapt to his feet and darted over to the bush, squinting through the leaves.


    Well, Ill be damned. Its gone. Theres just a wall. Its like the alley was never there.


    I am thoroughly confused, Be said, looking from the Soothound bodies to the bush. Ive never seen anything like this.


    Yeah, Chance lied, wondering if the Old City was intentionally trying to blow his cover. Me neither. I, uh, think this one might be a bit out of our paygrade.


    <em>And Iming back to hunt Soothounds as soon as Im alone. The Old City and I need to have a nice, long talk that makes sure it doesnt lob any more corpses at me in the near future.</em>


    But hey, free loot! Yeo said cheerfully, spinning and collecting the Soothounds bodies. He paused at the aghast expressions on Be and Chances faces. What? No point passing it up. Its a gift!


    I dont know if a monster can be cursed, but if it can, those are definitely cursed, Be said, crossing her arms.


    Not my problem, Yeo replied. The Shikari Guild can figure that one out themselves. Im just going to make some bank off them in the process. I mean, look at this! One hundred and twenty gold, just lying around.


    Hes got a point, Chance admitted. Someone else will just take them if we dont.


    Are we just going to gloss over the fact that the city literally changed right in front of us?


    Meh. Ive seen weirder shit. Well report it to the Shikari and move on, Yeo replied. He gathered thest of the bodies and sauntered back over to them. Shall we go turn this in? If you want, Chance and I can just split these between ourselves.


    No way, Be said, narrowing her eyes. I want in too.


    Thought so, Yeo said. Lets go, then. I might not be about to question the gift, but I think I understand when Ive been told to get lost pretty well.


    You probably get it a lot, Be grumbled.


    Yup.


    Chance shook his head as he fell in behind his friends. Evidently, epting strangeness was natural once you lived in a world full of magic for long enough. But that wasnt enough for him topletely brush off the Old Citys actions.


    Something was seriously wrong, and he needed to find out what before anyone else got dragged into it. Be had already met Yamish once, and he didnt want the karmic bonds between any of them and the strange man to grow stronger.


    If they did a shiver ran down Chances back. He was learning very quickly that there were worse things than death, and somehow, he suspected his unsettling mentor might have been connected to more of them than he hoped.