7. A Second Chance

      The city watch arrived a few minutes later to the sight of Aledine, Nerris, Dist and Jhareth standing over the dead demon. By then Saint Bendel had resumed his usual perch, sword at his side and hand held high in benediction. The crowd in the square grew almost as fast as the demon had. After the watch came curious citizens and men from the castle, including Lord Gaviel Feigh himself.

      "Aledine!" The lord sprinted ahead of his guards and threw his arms around his sister. "What happened? We've all been worried sick."

      "I'm all right, Gav," Aledine asked. "What are you doing out here?"

      "Our guards say they were chasing some thieves out of the cellars when one of them accosted you at knifepoint. When they caught up with you again, they say the vagabonds vanished into the night, only leaving behind their cloaks. I was immediately rousted from the party and led the search for our invisible thieves, only to find Catemally Alley burning down and a dead monster here in Bendel Square!"

      Evidently that was the story the guards had gone with, rather than admit they had been outfoxed by four adolescents. But the alley was burning? Nerris turned and looked in the general direction of Catemally Alley. Smoke rose in heavy plumes from the rooftops, thick and dark. The fire from the brazier Aledine knocked over must have spread fast.

      Jhareth put a hand on his shoulder. "Our pay," he muttered in a panicked tone. He made to run back toward the alley, but Lord Feigh's guards stopped him.

      "Who are you three?" Lord Gaviel asked. "And how did you kill this.. this..."

      "Demon," Aledine said. "It's a demon, Gav, can't you see? Just like in the Church scriptures."

      "That is preposterous," Lord Gaviel said. "The demons were driven into hell by Clystam's saint-warriors over three thousand years ago."

      Aledine jammed her thumb at the corpse. "Then what do you call that? It's not an oversized rat." The demon's lifeless body still twitched every so often, causing nearby observers to jump back. "The thieves took Father's old idol, that ugly thing from the storeroom, to some... magician in the alley. He made it real! It was going to eat me until our brave men intervened." She gestured to Nerris, Dist and Jhareth. "They stopped the magician's rite and he got eaten by that thing. The thieves ran off, and they fought the demon to protect me."

      "You boys killed that monstrosity by yourselves?" asked a booming voice. The speaker was behind some men-at-arms, but Nerris recognized the red hair and beard. Rhodias, the instructor from Gauntlet, pushed his way to the forefront.

      Nerris stood up straight, a lump in his throat. "Well, we weren't--"

      Jhareth jabbed an elbow into his midsection. "Yes, we killed it. As Aledine said, it tried to eat her after it finished snacking on the magician, but we chased it away. It ended up here, and you can see the result."

      Rhodias laughed. "I've read all sorts of chilling things about demons. You four were lucky it was just a gargoyle confined to a tangible form. Still, three adolescents against a monster like that. What I would have given to see that fight! You boys ever consider enrolling at Gauntlet? You might do well there."

      Nerris, Dist and Jhareth looked at each other, grinning. "Yes!" Nerris said. "That's why we worked for Lord Feigh. We didn't have enough money for tuition."

      Rhodias snorted. "We take all sorts at Gauntlet, as long as they can earn their keep. The noble brats don't like it much... no offense, milord... but that's the way Headmaster Owen wants to run it. I'll have to see about speaking to him about you, if you really want this."

      "You can get us into Gauntlet?" Dist asked, excitement in his voice.

      "I said we'll see." Rhodias folded his arms. "Once Lord Feigh finishes sorting you out."

      "There are still pieces to put together, I think," Lord Feigh said.

       Aledine's eyes grew flinty. "What does that mean? Don't you believe my account of events?"

      "Not unless I have to," Lord Feigh said with a wry smile, eyeing her common clothing. "But it's Mother you'll have to convince, not me. I have enough to deal with. Nerris, Dist and Jhareth, is it? Being that you saved my sister, you are certainly welcome within my walls. As guests, not servants. At least until Instructor Rhodias speaks with Headmaster Owen."

       Aledine grasped Nerris's arm and smiled at him, and Nerris returned her smile. Minutes before, he had been sure he was going to die. Now everything took on a dreamlike quality as his head swam with the generosity Lord Gaviel and Rhodias had just shown them.

       "Get this mess cleaned up," the lord told the watchmen and his guards. "I don't want a single bloodstain on these cobblestones come dawn. I will not have my city in a panic over this abomination." He turned back to Nerris. "Oh, one more thing. I am wondering, how in the world three of my servants could find our three invisible thieves and track them down here when my guards could not? Just curious."

       Nerris's smile dropped. He couldn't think of an answer to give to Lord Feigh, and he waited for Jhareth to chime in. But his friend was silent for once, and Nerris merely stood looking into the young lord's blue, knowing eyes, gawping and wide eyed like a freshly caught trout.

      "Why don't you just drop it, Gav?" Aledine finally said. "Nerris, Dist and Jhareth are my guests, and I'll take responsibility for them." She raised her chin and cast her brother a challenging stare.

       Lord Gaviel met her stare, but eventually shrugged. "Have it your way. I suppose it ultimately doesn't matter. All is well now."

       He gestured for his escort and headed west, toward the castle. Rhodias gave Nerris a friendly clap on the shoulder, which nearly sent him crashing to the street, before following the young lord. Aledine locked arms with Nerris again and gave him an encouraging smile. Nerris exchanged glances with Dist and Jhareth, and they were all smiles as well. The four followed the escort, stepping carefully over the blood pooling on the cobblestones.

       They had managed to get their feet inside the door. It was time to take that next step, for good or for ill.

-The End

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