The guard peered at me, then focused back on Hutch. “Who is that?”

  “A friend of mine. We were just wrapping up some business. He’s about to be on his way.”

  Leaving now was the safest thing I could do, putting distance between me and the men that wished me dead. But I couldn’t leave Kiri and Sani behind. “Actually, if one of those nefarious men from Palla Cahue is in the area, perhaps I should find someplace safe to wait.”

  Hutched glanced at the other guard. “Inka, do you think your lady friend at the inn will wake up and show him to a room?”

  He shook his head. “You’d have better luck waking a giant, as sound as her slumber is.”

  “We’ll bring you to lock-up, instead.”

  Was this a ruse to arrest me without a fight? I again considered drawing my sword, then wondered why they hadn’t disarmed me. He could have given an excuse for holding my weapon. “I’ve never been to lock-up.”

  “It’s the safest place.” He moved around a muddy spot on the road and continued walking. “Really, it’s the only place open this late.”

  Inca said, “If we run across the Palla Cahua man, stay out of our way and let us do our duty.”

  “Of course.” I followed, escorting the horses, as the two guards walked side by side. The stroll there was silent, almost peaceful. A peace I would likely have to break before the night was over.

  From the outside, the lock-up looked like an inn. The square building was constructed of stone of varying gray and brown shades. Unlike the inns I’d seen, this one had metal bars over the windows.

  I tied the horses to a post outside.

  Hutch held the door while we entered the structure. The warmth of the large fire enveloped me as I strolled into the spacious common room.

  “You can have a seat at the table.” Hutch pointed toward a wooden table in the center of the room. Eight chairs surrounded it. Likely more than were ever used at a time. Like the lock-up in Palla Cahue, it was only occupied by those awaiting judgement. In Mallma, judgement was swift.

  I scanned the room, allowing my eyes to follow the stairs to the second floor. Four wooden doors separated the prisoners from us. At the end of the walkway, two guards stood, one in front of each of the last two rooms. The doors were barred with a wooden plank on the outside. The first two doors didn’t have planks, nor guards. They must be empty.

  Hutch and Inca moved to the fire, switching between warming their backs and facing the flames.

  My mind raced as I tried to figure out how to release Kiri and Sani. Hutch and Inca would be heading out to search for me. That left two guards upstairs. Getting them away from the door would be difficult. As I knew from my own time standing watch, they were not to leave their posts. Most would keep to the rules, not wanting to lose such a lucrative job. Hell, I’d only step away when I had to piss.

  I nearly jumped out of my seat as the idea bounced off the inside of my skull. “Hutch, is it possible to get a drink?”

  “The tavern is closed.” Inca pointed to a small bar in the corner. “And those drinks are reserved for prisoners and visiting dignitaries.”

  Hutch slapped his friend on the back. “It wouldn’t hurt for him to have a few drinks. You know, take the edge off.”

  “Fine.” Inca pointed at me. “Stick to the bottom shelf.” He motioned toward the door with his head. “We should get back out there.”

  Hutch nodded, then turned to me. “I’ll see you when I return. If we don’t find this Tye from Palla Cahua before my shift ends, I escort you from town myself.” He shrugged. “I want to ensure the merchandise makes it to Kusi Vilca.”

  Inca glanced at my waist, where I tied the bags to my belt. “You gave him the gems?”

  “He agreed to sell them and keep half. We’ll split the other half.”

  “Perhaps I’ll escort him all the way to Kusi Vilca and I’ll keep half.” He raised his eyebrows. “The two of you can split the rest.”

  Hutch chuckled. “Always the negotiator.” Heading for the door, he added, “We shall discuss it on the road.”

  After they left, I poured myself a drink from the bottom shelf. The bottle had no label, but smelled like human wine. If anything good came from the portal, other than saving the realms from annihilation, it was the human drinks. Unlike our relaxation potion, it had an added effect of making the user think less of their problems. If one ignored the new problems it tended to create, then it was really the most magical of elixirs.

  The wine tasted bitter, but I finished the glass. Looking up at the room guards, I asked, “Do you allow the prisoners to drink the wine?”

  The pudgier of the two guards nodded. “Occasionally, but we mostly give them table beer.”

  I nodded. Another magnificent invention from humans. The concoction contained less of the ingredient that made one feel the effects, but the brew lessened the risk of getting ill from drinking the local water.

  “Can I bring you a table beer?” I asked.

  “I’m quite parched now that you mention it.”

  The other guard nodded in agreement.

  I dipped three mugs into the barrel behind the bar, then carefully carried them up the steps. As I handed them off, I introduced myself. “I’m Timak.”

  The pudgy guard drank from his mug. He let out a loud burp. “Ylin.”

  “Amaru.” The other guard said.

  “Amaru,” I repeated. “Are not you the one that caught the two dangerous prisoners?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  He grinned. “I am.”

  “Doesn’t such a feat deserve something with a little more kick?”

  “We’re on duty,” Ylin said.

  I put up my hands, as if surrendering. “Sorry for the suggestion.” I held back the smile that wanted to form on my face. “Hard to stand in front of a door if you have a drink in you.”

  Amaru scoffed. “He has a point, Ylin. Perhaps we taste of the wine.”

  “Two glasses of wine coming up.” I hustled back down the stairs and grabbed three glasses, along with a fresh bottle of unlabeled wine.

  Once back upstairs, I filled the glasses and handed them off.

  Ylin glanced around before moving his glass to his lips, sipping the red liquid. Amaru gulped his down. I filled their glasses as soon as they finished. When tilting my glass, I kept my lips tight, not really drinking any of the liquid. It wouldn’t help much if I had to piss too.

  By the time the bottle was empty, the three of us were chatting like old friends.

  Amaru sipped the last few drops from his glass. “When I realized it was Pari, Puma’s sister, and not Puma herself, we had already been in the throes of passion. She wasn’t protesting, so I figured the candle was already lit, blowing it out wasn’t going to unlight it.”

  “I need another.” I said. “Do you?”

  Ylin shook his head. “I really shouldn’t.” He wobbled a bit.

  “How about you Amaru?”

  He glanced at Ylin, then also declined. But his voice betrayed his desire to keep the party going.

  I hurried down the stairs and reached for a bottle, then I glanced up at the top shelf. “How about the stuff up there?” I asked.

  Ylin said, “That’s only for the fancy men of the capital.”

  I pulled a bottle down. “This one is called whisky. Have you ever tried it?”

  “I’ve heard of whisky,” Amaru said. “Perhaps just a taste.”

  Hustling up the stairs, I presented the bottle.

  “They mark the level to make sure no one sneaks the good stuff,” Ylin said.

  “The liquid is clear, just like water.” I paused. “Perhaps we take a taste, and add a little. Nobody will know.”

  Amaru smiled. “Just a sip or two.” He held out his glass. I filled it halfway.

  “That’s too much,” Ylin said. “They will taste the difference if it's too watered down.”

  “Live a little,” Amaru said. “Even if they notice a difference, they won’t know what shift is responsible.”

  Ylin exhaled slowly. He rolled his eyes, then held out his glass. I filled only a fraction of the glass before he put his hand out to stop me. He smelled the liquid first, then tipped it back slowly as he sipped. His face reminded me of someone sucking on a lemon. “That has some bite.”

  Amaru tilted his glass back, taking a small glug. He clenched his teeth as he breathed out heavily, making a hissing sound. “That’s how you know it’s the good stuff.”

  Ylin laughed. “You look like you’re about to puke.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

  While I kept a straight face, I smiled on the inside. “I’ll be right back.” I walked downstairs and grabbed a chair in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other, carrying them back up with me. “With a long walk ahead of me, I’d be best resting my feet a bit.” Placing the chair between the guards, I sat.

  After Amaru finished his glass, I filled it again, this time nearly to the rim. He leaned against the wall as he sipped it.

  Ylin put his hand over his glass. “No more for me. My teeth are floating over here.”

  “They don’t give you a chamber pot?”

  He shook his head. “They expect us to hold it until we are relieved.”

  As Amaru finished his glass, he blinked rapidly. He shook his head, trying to keep himself awake.

  I opened the whisky bottle and dumped the water into it. Then, I poured the water and whisky mixture back into the mug. “Have to mix them well.” I repeated the action. Every time the liquid splashed into the mug, Ylin shifted his weight more.

  “Can you watch these doors with Amaru for a moment? I can’t wait any longer.”

  I nodded. “Take all the time you need.”

  As he walked down the stairs, I sat the whisky bottle on the floor, next to the chair. Then I stood up and stretched.

  Amaru mumbled something, starting to slur his words together as his eyelids closed. His head fell forward. He jerked awake and glanced at me. “I wasn’t sleeping.” He rolled his shoulders.

  I extended my arm, presenting the chair to him. “Have a seat for a few moments.”

  “We’re not allowed.”

  “I won’t tell if you don’t.” I grinned. “Rest for a moment before Ylin returns and spoils your fun.”

  He glanced at the chair, then focused back at me, blinking too many times. “For a moment.” He started to lower himself, then dropped suddenly, landing on his rump. “Oops.” He chuckled.

  My gaze moved from him to the front door and back. I wasn’t sure how far Ylin would go to relieve himself, but knew my time was limited. Luck was on my side. Amaru cooperated, closing his eyes and beginning to snore.

  I waved my hand in front of his face, just to ensure he was out. Then I tiptoed to the far door and lifted the wooden plank. Just as I turned the knob, the door flung back at me, catching me in the jaw.

  For a moment, the world turned black. I stumbled back, kicking the bottle of whisky. It bounced down the stairs, shattering as it hit the bottom.

  A large woman barreled out of the room, knocking Amaru from his chair. As he collapsed, she charged me, shoulder first.

  “Open my door, Bessy.” A man’s voice emanated from the adjacent room.

  I moved to the right, almost avoiding Bessy. She smacked against my side, sending me into the wall. Instead of running past, she swiveled and lifted the wooden plank from the other door.

  Amaru pushed himself up to his knees, glancing around, trying to figure out what was happening.

  I sprung to my feet, attempting to get out of the way of the large woman. Instead I blocked her path. As she collided with me, Amaru dove toward us and grabbed her ankles. I fell backwards, and she tumbled on top of me. The air gushed out of my lungs.

  “Move.” The voice from the other room said.

  I couldn’t see him, my vision was blocked by two of the largest breasts I never wanted to see, let alone feel—one on each side of my head. I pushed against her stomach, my hands sinking into it like a baker kneading dough.

  Just as I thought I’d suffocate, her body was tugged off me. Amaru stood behind her, pulling on her arm.

  I squeezed free and pushed myself back, sliding my rump across the rough wooden floor, and earning myself a few uncomfortable splinters.

  The man, older than I’d imagined and skinnier than I’d believe, weaved back and forth behind Amaru and Bessy, trying to find a gap to squeeze through.

  “What the hell!” Ylin yelled from below us. His heavy feet clomped on the stairs. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him reach the top and draw his sword. “Get back in there.” He lunged forward, not trying to pierce Bessy, but getting close enough to scare her.

  The woman ran a meaty hand through her unkempt brown hair as she stepped back. He advanced, forcing her back into the far room. Amaru slammed the door shut and slid the wooden plank into place. The old man eyed the stairs as if he thought he could still escape. He crossed his thin arms over his bare chest. His skin seemed to hang from his bones.

  “Can I go home?” His gray beard shook as he spoke.

  “Get in!” Ylin pointed to the room behind him.

  The man’s tiny shoulders slumped as he turned and walked back into the room.

  Ylin glared at me. “What happened?”

  Thinking fast, I said. “The planks, they floated out of their holders. Perhaps the wizard used his magic.”

  “I’m not a wizard,” the man said from behind the closed door. “I told that damn fool guard that when he arrested us. Since when is having coitus in a field an arrestable offense?

  Ylin turned his focus to Amaru, “That is the wizard you caught?” He shook his head. “And that... that... that woman is a seductress?”

  “Did not you see them?” Amaru asked. “The white beard was a dead giveaway.” His eyebrows rose. “And no shirt, like we were told.”

  “Why in the hell do you think wizards have white beards?” He pointed a trembling finger at the far door. “And who in the hell is she seducing?”

  “They were in a field, him lying down and her on top,” Amaru said.

  “She was on top.” I snickered. “That poor man has been through enough.”

  Ylin glared at me. “You say the planks just jumped from their holders?”

  “We’ll, I wasn’t up here when it happened. I went down to check on you.” I pointed at Amaru. “He’s such a good fighter that he held them both back until I made it up the stairs. Even then, I was little more than a bump in the road. Amaru did all the work.”

  Amaru nodded. “And I was fully awake and standing when they tried to escape.”

  “Even during the heat of battle, he figured out what happened, telling me to rush up and assist, that the wizard must have used his magic.”

  Ylin locked eyes with Amaru. “Start from the beginning, and tell me exactly what happened.”

  While they argued, I crept down the stairs, careful to step over the broken bottle. Once in the main room, I grabbed my bags and headed out the front door.