Summary: Arbutus is a street rat with no hope of making it high in the world. A noble suddenly has him do some investigating job on a secret society called the Silencers only to find out secrets. Secrets that makes him want to turn his back on the king.

Chapter One

Arbutus Drake sat at the edge of the stone-carved bridge, dangling his bare feet over the side. The water nipped at his thin and dirty legs. A light breeze tugged lovingly at his matted hair. If someone looked past the dirt that clung to his locks, they would notice how fair it really was. It matched his fair, yet mud covered skin.

The swaying branches of the trees teased his clear grey eyes, making the sun flicker in and out of his vision.

Heaving a sigh, Arbutus shut his eyes and touched the scar on the back of his neck. It soothed him in an odd way. The scar made him feel important, as though the red slash were secret. But whatever the secret was, he didn’t know. His mother and older brother didn’t know either. They had said that is just sort of appeared one day.

“Arbutus!” someone called in the distance. “Where’d you run off to?”

Arbutus stood after he gave the water one last glance. He had a feeling he know who was coming. “I’m over here,” he shouted at the hazy shadow. He waved his thin arms wildly to get the person’s attention.

“Jeez, lad,” a girl with flowing black locks said as she ran to him. Arbutus smiled at his friend and flicked her small nose playfully. “Must you run off like that? It’s trouble findin’ you, you know. D’you ever settle yourself for a moment?”

“For the past ten years we’ve been friends, you still ain’t found all of my points? Shame me seven times!” the young man cried, mocking his friend slightly. She glared back at him with an angry glint in her brown eyes. “Now Minika, I was only jestin’. You don’t need ta get all angry ‘bout it.”

“I don’t have much time for jests Arbutus Drake!” Minika exclaimed. She was a very eccentric young woman, and much better fed than Arbutus. She was middle class. They had enough money to care for the family and even send her to school at the local university in the city. Her street language was just a cover up for what she really was, and Arbutus knew it. If her comrades found out about her high status, they would rob and possibly kill her.

That was how city life went…At least for Arbutus. He had been a street rat all of his fifteen years living. He lived among the criminals all of his life. He even took a few lessons from them but he wasn’t much of a criminal. He was far too clumsy to be a thief or an assassin. He didn’t think he could kill someone.

“Whatcha you want?” Arbutus asked. “I ain’t got all day, lady.”

“Your ma wants you,” Minika said. “She says you have works ta do.”

“Eh, I know I know. I was goin’ ta get ta ‘em.” Arbutus went on his way back home without saying goodbye to Minika. He knew he was going to hear about it later.

He walked along the path of dirt. The loose stones stuck between his bare toes. He ran his hands atop the neatly cropped bushes in the park. Through the busy city full of merchants and crooks alike, Arbutus carefully made his way to his home in the worst part of the city.

Arbutus stopped before a worn out house. The roof was poorly patched and the shutters were hanging threateningly. “Mama!” He cried, making his way into the three-room house. “Mama, I’m home.”

An aging woman stepped before him. There was authority in her blue-grey eyes, that bore down done on Arbutus powerfully. His mother was on to fear in their household. Even though she was aging, she kept the family going. People on the streets adore her. She was polite when needed but testy when it was called upon. She repaired clothes for the city fold, even sometimes nobles. The money she earned was carefully spent and saved for the yearly taxes.

“Arbutus!” she exclaimed, her voice as sharp as knives. “Where have you been?” Each word was carefully pronounced but even so, the young man could hear the accent his mother possessed. “There is work ta be done and you’re off lollygagging around. I need you to deliver these garments to Lord Grady. He’s been waitin’ for them for nearly three moons now.”

“Mama, I’ve only been gone an hour!” Arbutus protested. “Lord Grady isn’t as testy as the other nobles anyway. He’ll understand my lateness.” He took the carefully wrapped package and turned to the door. He glanced back with a sigh at his mother. “I’ll be home for before dinner.”

“You’d better be,” his mother said. “If Lord Grady isn’t playing nice with you today, then don’t come-a-cryin’ ta me. I told you many a-time before; Nobles don’t always have the patience of us city-bred. Now be gone with you. I have other tending ta work on.” She glanced down at her son’s feet and rolled her eyes. “Shoes!” she demanded.

“But Mama-”

“No arguing! Where are they?”

“They are in my bed,” Arbutus moped. “They aren’t comfortable!”

“Lord Grady will not approve of your way, now get ‘em and put ‘em on.” He obeyed and went for his shoes. When he returned, his mother tapped her foot impatiently. Arbutus noticed how deep the wrinkles were in her plain face. “Now dawdling until the garments are delivered.”

He left their falling apart home, grumbling about uncomfortable shoes. The package was tucked securely under his arms. With a sigh, he sauntered off though the streets. He avoided the streets and groups that he thought would be troubling. Members of the Provost Guard waved at him in welcome. Most of them knew him through his mother and her work. Occasionally, they would have him do running for them.

He danced on one foot to the other once he stood before Lord Grady’s door. He knocked, making his knuckles hurt from the impact.

“Good evening, young sir,” a man said. He opened the door wide so the young man could see him. The man at the door wore long black breeches with his boots hidden under the legs of them. Under the bright blue tunic with an embroidered silver pattern on the hem, he wore a stark white shirt. This was Lord Grady. Arbutus recognized his thoughtful green-brown eyes and long nose that held a scar on its bridge. “Ah! I see you’ve brought my clothes I had your mother repair.”

Arbutus nodded and handed him the package. “Sorry for the wait, my Lord. I was a bit distracted.” The young man bowed respectfully.

“Not a problem, my boy,” Lord Grady said, clapping the boy’s shoulder.

The contact surprised Arbutus. Most nobles didn’t dare touch the city-bred –Especially if they lived in the worst part of the city, Beggar’s District.

“Would you like to come in?” Arbutus blinked at the noble in utter shock. He couldn’t believe his ears. “I won’t do you harm, come in, come in! Join me for an afternoon snack will you?”

“But, my Lord, I’ll just dirty up your home. I don’t think you’re Lady would approve,” Arbutus said politely.

“Nonsense! I don’t have a Lady and I definitely won’t mind the mess. If you have other things to do, then please refuse me and run off but if now, join me. I need the company.” Lord Grady stood to the side giving Arbutus entry.

“Thank you, my Lord,” he said and stepped into the foyer. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, spreading it’s glory throughout the room. Arbutus couldn’t take his eyes off of it.

“Come now, Arbutus,” Lord Grady said, placing a light hand on his shoulder. “Let’s got into my study.” Without argument, Arbutus let the man lead him to a vast room mothered in books.

A desk rested against a wall where a large map of the city was up. There were pins sticking from area’s of the city, in different color. Arbutus found the map far more entrancing than the elegant chandelier. “My Lord?” Arbutus asked. He winced and bit his tongue. You’re lower class! A street rat! You can’t go around talking ta nobles like they’re equal, he scolded himself.

“What’s wrong?”

Arbutus shook his head and averted his eye to the expensive rug he was getting dirty. He grimaced. Mama is goin’ ta kill me, he thought. “It’s nothin’,” he mumbled.

“Are you sure? You seemed as though you wanted to say something to me.” Lord Grady leaned against his desk, staring the young man down with his green-brown eyes.

“I-I just spoke without thinkin’. I apologize.”

“No need to apologize,” the man said. There was a long moment of silence. Arbutus kept his eyes on the rung. After a while he twitched, making something glint on the floor before him.

He stooped low to see what it was. “Hmm?” he thought aloud. He picked up the object in the rug and saw another glint from the corner of his eye.

“What’s wrong?” The noble asked, again.

The young man just shook his head and followed the trail of glint, which turned out to be pieces of glass. He went around the room, picking up the glass shards when it suddenly stopped at the wall layered with dusty volumes. The books didn’t interest him so much because he couldn’t read.

There!

Wedged between two books was an envelope. He slipped it out and turned to give Grady. He felt foolish for being so rude to his host. Without realizing it, he held the glass pieces tightly. They drew deeply in his fair flesh.

“Again my apologize sir, I didn’t want to leave these glass shards everywhere.” He thrust the envelope into the noble’s hands. “I found this wedged between the books. He opened it slowly and read it’s context slowly. He was scowling while he read. Slowly, he peeked at Arbutus. “Do you know what this is?”

The young man shook his head. “Sorry, my Lord, I don’t. I can’t read, nor write.”

The man made a disapproving sound. “Have you heard of the Silencers?”

“I’ve heard of them,” Arbutus said with a shudder. “They are certainly popular – and not in a good way – down in the city. I’ve never seen one before though. They are an infamous group.” He glanced at the noble warily.

“Well it seems that one of them planted this,” he held the note up between his forefinger and middle, “in my house. But I don’t understand the shards of glass.” Arbutus didn’t speak. He had nothing intelligent to say. Instead he inspected the shards that cut into his hand. His blood glistened on them in a serenely beautiful way.

He picked up a shard and bit it. He didn’t know why he decided to bite it; it just suddenly happened. Wiggling it in his teeth, he began to think.

“Get that out of your mouth boy! If you’re hungry then I’ll have the servants bring you food.” Arbutus spit it out and ground his teeth together.

Huh? he thought. There isn’t even that weird crumbly feeling that the glass leave behind. He inspected the shards closely and noticed how they were cut. “I don’t think this is glass.”

“What?”

“It’s not glass,” Arbutus repeated. “Usually when you bite into glass, it leaves a crumbly, grinding feelin’ in your teeth from the chips that break off.” Lord Grady arched his eyebrows. “Not only that, these shards are cut to the same shape and size. “He handed the noble the unstained pieces.

Lord Grady inspected them carefully. “Good eye, boy.” He set the shards on his desk. “Where did you learn this?”

“It’s just stuff I picked up in the streets, sir. I do favors for people in the market, occasionally. They usually tell me a thing or two about their work.”

“I see.”

“Um…” Arbutus started. He wasn’t sure if he should asked. “Do you know how the Silencers got in?” He didn’t see any signs of breaking in, except for the note and the trail of the transparent pieces. But he was no expert at this kind of think.

“I don’t have a clue, maybe I should get my partner to help me.”

“Partner?”

“I’m a member of Provost’s Guard. Didn’t you know?”

“No, sir, I didn’t, but I thought nobles weren’t allowed to be part of Provost’s Guard.”

“Oh, they’re allowed. It’s just other nobles don’t agree with it. They think it’s a low class career. I like it though. Patrolling every night in the Beggars or Westeria districts…” he trailed off with a sigh.

Arbutus blinked at him. He patrols the two worst districts in the city, he thought with admiration. “You like crime?”

“Oh very much so,” Grady replied. “It’s thrilling. Being a knight would be thrilling when war came around but being a Provost Guard, there is excitement around every corner and down every street.”

“Oh,” was all Arbutus could say. He didn’t think being part of the authorities looked exciting or thrilling, just dangerous. Danger made Arbutus break out with goose bumps. “Have you ever been attacked?”

The thin man chuckled. “Almost every week.” Grady rested a hand on Arbutus’s head and walked him into another room. It was a privy with a hot bath waiting to be used.

“Bathe here and I’ll take you to some place no street-dweller has been before,” Grady said.

“Why?”

“Your mother asked me to help you find an interest. She thinks that at the age of ten, you should be on your way as an apprentice of some sort. I hear that most lads your age have all been apprenticed with someone.” The noble said. “I would have to agree. Whenever I see you, you’re on the bridge staring into the water.” Arbutus winced. Lord Grady was watching him? Mama! The young man thought angrily. “Now bathe and bathe well. I don’t want to see a speck of dirt on your scrawny self.” He left shutting the privy door.

Arbutus stripped his tattered breeches and tunic from his body. There are no need to argue with the noble, especially Lord Grady. He would have scrubbed him raw if he didn’t listen.

He lowered himself in the water. Quickly and thoroughly he scrubbed himself until his hair gleamed in the light. He used the special soap at the side made for killing lice and fleas.

“How did he know?” Arbutus mumbled. His head lice had been bothering him. He was grateful for the soap.

When he finished, he found a towel folded neatly on a chair. As he dried himself he looked for his old clothes but they were gone. They must’ve taken ‘em while I was washing my hair! he thought. Arbutus looked around for clothes that he could wait until he god his old ones back. On the chair, lay a neatly folded pair of breeches and a tunic, both were black than the fathoms of the sea. Arbutus pulled on the breeches and a vivid white shirt. He took a moment to inspect the finely sewn tunic.

He fingered the cloth. It was soft and thick, but it looked elegant. Arbutus thought he had seen it before but he didn’t know where. With a shrug he put it on and looked at himself in the mirror.

The black material brought out the contrast of his fair features. Well, what can I do? I’ll just walk around looking like I’m dead, he told himself.

“You’re finished! Splendid, now let’s go,” Grady said, straightening his tunic. His eye finally fell on Arbutus. “I’ll make sure to tell your mother to keep you in light colors. You look like wax.”

I knew it was mama! he thought reproachfully Arbutus looked down at his feet that were hidden by black tights. “Lord Grady, I just realized that I don’t have shoes.”.

“The maid will bring you a pair of boots in a moment. Now let’s do something about your hair.” Lord Grady combed his hair until each hair sat where they were supposed to. “For someone with such light hair, you sure do have a lot of it.”

“Wha’da ya mean?”

“Most people with hair as fair as your, usually have thin hair,” the noble explained. The maid came in with a bow and set the boots on the floor in front of the young man. “Thank you Kelsea. Will you inform Malikai to prepare the mounts? We should be leaving soon.”

“Leaving? Mount?” Arbutus repeated as he slipped on the boots. These are riding boots, Arbutus moaned in his head.

“Yes. You can ride a horse can’t you?”

“No, sir, I never learned how. Mama doesn’t have the time or money to find ta find someone ta teach me.”

“Well you’ll learn today. It’ll be a quick lesson. But you’re a clever lad. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Grady lead the boy out of the house where two horses were waiting. “This is Bright Eyes.” The man pat the palomino’s nose. “He will belong to you until your mother tells me that I need to stop spoiling you.” He chuckled softly.

“Belong to me, sir?” Arbutus couldn’t mask his shock.

“Yes, I bought him for you,” Lord Grady said offhandedly.

“But how would I be able ta pay you back? I have no money.”

“We’ll talk about that another time. Maybe when you have an apprenticeship. Now mount the horse. Like this.” The noble lifted himself gracefully onto his horse. Arbutus clamored onto Bright Eyes awkwardly. The horse pranced in place seemingly annoyed by the young man’s inexperience. He sat stiffly in the saddle. “Okay now,” Lord Grady told him the basics. “Of course, actually doing it would be better. Let’s go.”

Arbutus couldn’t speak. He clung to the reins tightly as Lord Grady easy his horse forward. Relax, he told himself. It’s not so bad. Look the horse is going slowly. It’s not that bad. Arbutus’s muscles loosened in his back and shoulders.

“How long will it take ta get where we’re headin’?” Arbutus asked to his own amazement. He didn’t think he could manage a word while sitting on the beast.

“An hour, if it’s this crowded all over the city.”

“What about the silencers? Are you just gonna let it slip?”

“Oh, that,” Lord Grady said. “I looked it over while you were in the bath. Not a single clue except for the shards and the note. They are tricky.” Arbutus nodded slowly.

“Sir? Would it’ve been easier if we just walked? I don’t think these fold are gonna move out of the way for us and these beasts.”

“It would have been easier but I need Ploop for later.”

“Ploop?” Arbutus snickered.

“Yeah, my little sister named the horse a few years ago. It was embarrassing at first. I mean, who wants to ride a horse named Ploop? But what the hell it’s just a name.” The man reached over and pet his horse’s head.

“How old is your sister?” Arbutus asked.

“She’s the same age as you, actually.”

Arbutus blinked. “How old are you?”

“Thirty. What do you ask?”

“Curious, that’s all.” The young man focused his grey eyes ahead. He put his concentration on the beast beneath him. Never in his life has he felt so uncomfortable. “So, you never said where you were takin’ me.”

“You’ll see,” Lord Grady said nothing more on the topic.