Station, стр. 55
"Of course, you're right. Otho, take Cal, and thetwo of you meet Marlin Hadder on the Caesar Bridge at Solay's breaktomorrow. You're to accompany Marlin Hadder on this little sojournof his and inform any Risers that he is under the protection ofAlbany Rott. After his business, on the slim chance that hesurvives, accompany him back across the Skirt and report tome."
For a walking statue, Otho momentarily appearedconfused. "And if we are attacked?"
Rott waved his worry away. "By all means, those thatbreak my edict can be disposed of."
Otho bowed deeply, and Rott folded his handstogether. "Then, it is settled. Our business is concluded, is itnot?"
Hadder, unsure of how to close the conversation,followed Otho's lead and bowed deeply. "Thank you, MisterRott."
"Good luck, Marlin Hadder. I really mean it. Shouldthis be the last I see of you, I want you to know that I haveenjoyed this conversation. Rarely do humans interest me."
Hadder forced a smile and began to turn before Rottstopped him. "One more thing, Marlin Hadder. This home that youhope to reclaim, what will you do if, when you get there, it's notas you remember? What if the smells are different? What if brokenglass cuts your bare feet as you walk? What if the creaks, onceignorable, now keep you up at night?"
"Why would it be different?"
"Maybe it's not different. Maybe it is you that isdifferent. After you swim in blood, the bathwater will also change,will it not?"
Hadder nodded sadly, understanding Rott's pointwhile conceding that he had no choice. As he walked back down thered carpet, Hadder could feel Albany Rott's fiery eyes on his back,making calculations he could never comprehend in a language hewould never understand.
CHAPTER 18
The Caesar Bridge differed significantlyfrom the others that crossed the Lethe River. While those such asthe Bridge Gab'Riel were works of arts, the Caesar Bridge waspurely utilitarian. An add-on to the original blueprint of thecity, the Caesar Bridge was where the Skirt crossed the LetheRiver. Made of simple, sturdy timber, it was rarely visited byanyone other than the Caesars as they made their patrols along theSkirt.
Marlin Hadder walked towards the Caesar Bridge,happy to be away from the stuffy atmosphere of The RoyalJelly. For the better part of a Solay and all Haela, Hadder hadanxiously bided his time, getting new clothes made while waitingfor his opportunity to cross the Skirt. Royal had little to say,knowing that any words of discouragement would prove futile, andLilly Sistine had even less. A coldness had fallen over Lilly,sheets of ice that barricaded the warm heart that he fell in lovewith. He understood, however, that this was her way of proactivelydealing with loss, extra padding for the inevitable hit that was tocome.
Unable to take the worried looks, disappointedglances, and angry words, Hadder had spent the majority of theHaela alone in the courtyard, practicing stretching and breathingexercises he hadn't done in years. When Haela began swelling withSolay, Hadder was already sitting on the front steps of TheRoyal. All he had to do was grab his jacket and be gone.
As Hadder closed the distance to the Caesar Bridge,he could see that both giant Caesars were already waiting there forhim. Otho, black skin and a silver mohawk, stood professionally,looking up and down the Skirt, perhaps more out of habit thananything else. He had a massive battle-ax strapped to his back, afigure cut straight from the pages of a D&D novel.
The other Caesar must have been Cal, the one thatsaved him so many Haelas ago. Slightly larger than even Otho, hehad dark orange skin, a mullet of blonde hair, and matching yellowmuttonchops, making him look like an oversized 80's wrestler fromVenice Beach. Cal had a much more playful demeanor than his solemncolleague, casually throwing stones into the river as he waited.While Otho wielded an ax, Hadder could see that Cal had tworegular-sized swords crossed and strapped to his back, the pommelssticking out above each shoulder for ease of reach. While Othodonned his transparent vest, Cal went shirtless, showing off avariety of pale scars against his tanned skin.
Hadder stepped onto the bridge and approached themonstrous duo. Unsure of how to interact with these intimidatingconstructs, Hadder simply nodded in greeting. "Otho. And you'reCal, I believe. I think I owe you thanks for saving my ass manyHaelas back."
Otho simply continued his intense searching up anddown the Skirt. Cal, however, halted his rock-throwing and walkedtowards Hadder. He stared down at Hadder with purple eyes, anelephant surveying a mouse. "You want to kill a man." If Otho hadthe voice of a boulder, then Cal's was the sound of thunder.
Hadder met the giant's stare and did his best tomaintain his confident facade. "That's right."
"He murdered your woman?"
Hadder saw no point in arguing semantics. "That'sright."
Cal continued his stare. "You were ready to die,that Haela I found you. Are you again ready? Are you ready to diefor this woman?"
"I am."
"Then let's go."
Cal walked past Hadder and resumed throwing rocksheld in his meaty palm into the raging waters of the Lethe. Othostepped forward, a soldier ready for orders. "Direction?"
Hadder's face screwed up in confusion. "I'msorry?"
"Direction?"
"We're going into the Rising."
"Direction?"
Hadder looked helplessly towards Cal, who simplychuckled as he threw the last of his rocks. "He wants to know whichway into the Rising." He began to move his arms. "To the left, ornorth, are Bars that belong to The Krown. To the right, or south ofthe Lethe, are Bars loyal to Ego Rounds. Which one you need tosee?"
"I don't know who this Skeelis works for. Which waywould you recommend?"
Cal shook his head. "Not how this works. Otho and Iweren't built with a lot of what you call ‘free will.' So when mybrother says, ‘direction,' he needs you to pick a direction."
Hadder took Otho's silence for his agreement ofCal's assessment. "Well, I heard that this Ego Rounds is much morereasonable than his counterpart up north, so let's start with himand hope that Skeelis is there. And that he was acting alone."
Cal moved to the side of the bridge, waving Hadderon towards the southwest. "You go. We follow. Someone other thanSkeelis tries to kill you,