Actually, no one was looking. But then Mockers, being thieves and scoundrels, rarely stared; but they always eavesdropped and he couldnt afford to be overheard. Nevertheless, saying so seemed to stiffen Larrys spine. Jimmy had often noticed that nonsense at the right moment could do wonders, if it was the right nonsense.
Sorry, the boy said gruffly. Its just
Larry, Jimmy said, leaning close, if youve got a better idea tell it to me. I want to hear it.
His friend hung his head and slowly shook it.
All right. Look, if we get no further by using this were no further behind either. And even if Asher is a drunk hes got the reputation for knowing his craft. He gave the boy a pat on the shoulder and a crooked grin. If he didnt someone from the Guild would have cut his throat by now. Which means he wouldnt be working for me.
Larry gave him a weak smile.
Have you got the rope? Jimmy asked.
The boy nodded. Stowed it in the tunnel just behind the collapse and piled some rocks over it.
Good. It must be well hidden, Jimmy thought. He had left a bunch of rags and a bottle of vinegar there before coming to Mockers Rest and he hadnt seen it. Well, lets do it then, he said and started off.
Larrys eyes nearly bulged out of his head and he caught up with the other thief quickly. Now? he whispered.
The sooner the better, Jimmy said wisely. And why not?
Larry shook his head. Its daytime! he protested.
So, they wont be expecting us, Jimmy replied, with a wink.
But therell be more guards, wont there?
Why should there be? Are the iron bars less sturdy during the day?
No, I mean, theyre awake, in the keep walking around and acting like guards.
Jimmy stopped abruptly and glared down at the younger boy. You want to do this or not?
Do! Larry said, nodding vigorously.
Looking him in the eye Jimmy said, Then lets do it!
He strode off without looking back. After a brief silence, Jimmy smiled to hear Larrys footsteps following. This would work and then hed be a legend among the Mockers forever after. He carefully kept himself from thinking of the alternative most of them involved ropes, sharp things or red-hot things, or things that were sharp and red-hot and applied to the tender parts of his body.
Jimmy the Hand was still less than fourteen years, more or less, and like most youngsters he felt as if hed live forever. But like most Mockers hed seen a great deal of death during those years; not enough to grant him a sense of his own mortality, but enough to teach him caution.
It was all Jimmy could do to force himself back into the half-collapsed tunnel and up the shaft that led into the main cell of Krondors dungeon. Hed spent most of his young life wandering reeking sewers and stinking alleyways so he was used to the stench and the velvet-deep darkness. But if a smell could be terrifying, this was. The stink seemed to creep up on him. It had hair and teeth and mean little eyes, it had a personality all of its own, a very bad personality that bore down on his spirit with an almost physical weight. But by telling himself that hed never have to do this again Jimmy was able to meet the challenge. Tying the vinegar-soaked rag over his face, he put the bundle of rags and bottle of vinegar into his shirt for the others. He knew a fit of retching on the way down might land someone at the bottom of the shaft a lot faster and in much worse shape than they needed to be. Not that the vinegar smell helped a lot, but anything was better than a bare face here.
He pulled on some gloves, slung the knotted rope across his chest and began climbing.
It went faster this time because he knew what to expect, but his prayers to Ruthia were no less fervent. Once he reached the blockage he braced his feet and shoulders against the walls of the shaft, pulled off one glove, worked the tiny bottle from the pouch tied to his belt and broke the lead seal with his fingernail. Then he looked for a place to spill out the invisible drop.
The mortar just above him was quite smooth and Jimmy remembered Ashers warning not to get the stuff on himself. Higher up, as though the mason was getting bored with the job or finding it harder to reach with his trowel, the work was messier, with little shelves and projections of cement making a good spot for the spell to be poured. But that meant pushing his arm and shoulder up close against that slimy hole. The very idea sent a surge of nausea through him, so he took a few slow, deep breaths, forcing himself to ignore the Smell and focused his mind on the goal.
Free the Mockers. Become famous. All the girls will admire you once youve taken a bath.
Gradually his stomach calmed itself.
Part of the problem was that he still hadnt been able to see anything in the bottle and his faith in the drunken magician wasnt all that strong, in spite of what hed said to Larry. He was more afraid they might fail than that theyd be caught and hanged.
Do it, he grumbled, gritting his teeth. As hed said himself, it wasnt as if there was anything better available.
Jimmy bit his lips and thrust his arm into the hole, aiming for a large projection he thought he could reach, but aiming blind since his arm cut off what little light filtered down from the cell above.
Dear Ruthia, he prayed, please dont let me get this on myself. He braced his shoulders hard against the wall, quickly pulled the tiny stopper from the small vial, and tilted it away from his left hand, pressing the open mouth of the container against the mortar. He held it motionless for a long count of seconds, wondering how he was supposed to tell when the vial was empty. Finally, he assumed it had to be.
It was done, except for the waiting to see if the spell would work. He held his breath, pressed himself against the sides of the shaft walls, wondering what to expect.
He missed the first few grains of falling mortar but then a stone fell, hitting him on the thigh. It hadnt occurred to him that there would be falling stones; then he remembered the iron grate above and hurriedly climbed back down again, some little part of him wailing in discontent. Hed have to go up again after all.
In less than a minute the heavy iron grate that had covered the shaft fell down with a crash on top of the dislodged stones and the heap of sand that had once been sturdy mortar.
Jimmy noted a cracked stone beneath it and blew out a relieved breath. Then he re-wet the rag he pulled over his mouth and nose with vinegar, rolled his shoulders to loosen the muscles and began climbing again. He found a ring of faces waiting for him when he got to the top and hands reached out to pull him up. He blinked for a moment; even the twilight dimness of the big cell seemed bright, after the passageways below. Feet rustled in the damp straw that covered the floor, and he could feel more than see the inmates gathering around him.
Jimmy!
That was Floras voice; she elbowed her way through the crush and embraced him, recoiling instantly, her eyes wide, her pretty mouth contorted into a rictus of disgust. Considering the condition of the dungeon and its inhabitants, that said a great deal.
I know, he apologized quietly. Quiet, unless you want the guards here! The smell cant be helped. He pulled out the bundle of rags and the vinegar. This will cut the smell, but its the only way out we could find.
I cant get down there, a legless beggar said.
Get down where? asked one of the blind ones.
Anyone who needs help getting down we can lower them with this rope, Jimmy said.
He slung it off and looked around for something to anchor it to, settling on the bars of the cell. He glanced anxiously out into the dim corridor but saw no one.
Good. If the excitement caused by his arrival hadnt brought the guards running they were probably safe. At least for now. But then, why pay attention to a dungeon with no exit?
Why are you doing this? Flora asked him in a whisper. She smiled and shook her head, clearly embarrassed for him. They arent going to keep us in here forever, you know.
No theyre not, Jimmy said grimly. Tomorrow or the next day theyre planning to hang the lot of you girls, and the beggars get fifty lashes apiece.
Flora stared at him in horror. What for? she asked. What are we supposed to have done?
Only what youve always done, he told her. Its just they changed the law.
She closed her mouth and her eyes grew cool. Because of the Princess, she said.
Or just because del Garzas crazy, Jimmy said with a grin. Doesnt matter. In a few minutes therell be nobody left for him to hang. Unless he wants to hang his own guards for letting you go.
She returned his smile slowly, a wicked glint growing in her eyes.
Well, then. Lets get to work, shall we?
Once they heard the news, the other Mockers and even the few strangers pitched in eagerly. When the rope was tied firmly, Jimmy said, As soon as you get to the sewers, scatter. Dont wait around, unless youre helping those who cant get away alone. By the time I get down last, I want you all gone. Make your way as best you can to your flops or back to Mockers Rest, but be careful. Once they find you all gone, things in the city are going to get even worse for a while. Jimmy sent Gerald, Larry the Ears young brother, down first. Mostly to soothe Larrys fears, partly to show the girls and everyone else how easy the climb was. Except for the Smell. Wisely, he didnt dwell on that part. And once the escapees encountered it they certainly werent going to climb back up, although if theyd known what was facing them some of them might have preferred hanging.
Finally it was just Jimmy and Flora. He turned to her with an excited grin.
Theres something I want to do before I go. Flora looked puzzled, but nodded for him to go on. Rumours are flying that del Garza put Prince Erland in the dungeon. Do you have any idea where theyd keep him? he asked.
How would I know?
But he must be somewhere near here, right? Jimmy asked.
Crossing her arms, she stared at him for a long moment. I suppose so. If the rumours said he was in the dungeons, that would be here. She cocked her head. Are you thinking what I think youre thinking?
He nodded eagerly, his grin growing wider, if that was possible. Im going to get him out.
Floras eyes widened. Are you crazy? she hissed, shaking her head as though trying to dislodge something. I cant even imagine what theyd do if you did that. Her eyes widened further. The Upright Man! Flora covered her mouth with her hand. Del Garza might not catch you, but the Upright Man certainly would!
Hed probably be very pleased indeed, Jimmy said confidently. A lot more confidently than he actually felt. The Upright Man doesnt confide in me, either.
She lowered her hand and licked her lips. You really mean to do this, dont you?
Why not? he countered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. What better chance will anyone have? What patriotic citizen of Krondor could pass it up?
All right, she said breathlessly. Ill help you.
That took him aback; he hadnt meant to convert her. I can handle it, he said firmly. No need for you to risk getting caught again.
Hes supposed to be ill, Jimmy. You may need some help with him.
She gave him a steady look until he nodded reluctantly. Then he went to work on the cells lock. It was tougher than hed expected, but then, it was supposed to keep common prisoners in, not lock-crackers with a full set of picks. He worked the tumblers by feel, by the tension of the wire struts bending under his fingers, and for the first time blessed Long Charlie for all those tedious drills. Flora stood beside him, her body taut with fear, keeping an eye out for the guards. Then the last probe sprang back; there was a click sound from within the heavy lock-plate, and they both winced at the protesting squeal of the hinges.
Which way? he wondered aloud.
They brought us in that way, Flora said, nodding left down a corridor of mortared stone; what little light there was came from a round sun-well in the ceiling, no bigger than the diameter of a mans head.
There were two large cells before this one, but little else. So I think we should go this way. She pointed to the right and then quickly moved off.
Better let me go first, Jimmy said. Ive got something I can use in case we meet anyone.
Flora raised an eyebrow, but didnt object.
Jimmy moved ahead of her, feeling awkward because while what hed said was true the real reason he wanted to be first was, well
Because I want to be first. And he suspected Flora knew it.
The corridor they followed was dark and narrow. Jimmy couldnt imagine why it was laid out this way, unless the proposed inhabitants were supposed to be owls and cats. He thought that it actually worked to their advantage though, providing them with cover when they needed to look around a corner, to see if the way was clear. So far, there was no one here to notice them. Every cell theyd checked on their way was empty.
Which surprised him; hed been sure del Garza was jailing anyone he felt like throwing into the dungeon. And given Jocko Radburns personality, Jimmy had been sure hed find half the city behind bars. At least the official half.
He was getting impatient; theyd been walking so long it felt as if they must be all the way on the other side of the keep by now.
Then the flickering light of a torch outside a cell up ahead revealed the presence of a guard. A Bas-Tyran from his black and gold uniform and nearly asleep, even standing up and leaning on his halberd, judging from the way his helmeted head kept nodding off and then jerking up again. Sleeping standing up seemed to be one of the basic military skills.
Jimmy squatted, waving Flora down too; they were behind a quarter-turn in the passageways meander. Then he dug the small bag hed purchased from Asher out of his pouch and unknotted the string. That was when it occurred to him that he had no idea how much of the stuff to use. His mouth twisted in exasperation. Hed been thinking about the wrong thing; how much hed pay, rather than how much to use and how long it would last. Too late now.
He decided to sneak up on the nodding guard and blow just a pinch into the mans face. Hed keep on doing that until the guard collapsed. Jimmy gave a mental shrug. It wasnt perfect, but it would have to do. After all, things had gone pretty well so far using trial and error.
He turned to Flora and silently cautioned her to stay put. She nodded and made a shooing gesture. When hed turned away Jimmy crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue, a gesture hed never dream of making to her face; but he hated being told what to do. Especially when it was his idea to do it in the first place.