The City: PuzzleLocked Book 1

“Do you think this is going to work?” Flor asked as they left The Angry Onion toward the markets.

“There are lots of things that could go wrong. Starting with, where do we get lock picks? Then, how do we cause a diversion at the south gate that would force a farmer to go the long way through the east gate? Then, can we bring it all together?”

“I could go back and ask Nikolette about the lock picks.”

Alastair thought, then said, “No, let’s leave her with deniability. We’ll have to find the criminal underbelly at the markets.”

“What do you have in mind for the south gate?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. Explosives if we could find them, but there isn’t a way that we have enough money or credibility or time to coordinate that.”

“I haven’t met this farmer, but what if you just ask him?”

“I guess. Let me think about it while we find lock picks for you.”

“Why do I have to pick the locks, by the way?”

“You might be able to break the lock with your muscles if the lock picking fails. Also, mainly, because you are better at Sudoku than I am.”

“Is this ‘muscles’ thing going to be an ongoing joke?”

“Only until I figure out the next one.”

Although they had wandered the city for a couple of days, they still hadn’t wandered through the market proper. Stalls with a wide variety of every sort of cloth and fruit and spices and tools and baskets repeated themselves in an endless variety. Vendors sold clocks and string and toys and pots and juices and jewelry and pastries and coffees and teas.

Although not proficient with lock picks, Flor led the way through the market with at least a rough idea of what she was looking to buy. Hopefully just applying them from the inventory will allow me enough proficiency in breaking the lock. Finally, she found a tool shop, slightly out of the way, that was not overly well advertised. It didn’t have so much as a door, although a curtain separated the stall from the rest of the street.

The shop was empty of customers, but a small variety of tools and locks hung on the walls. A bored teen manned the counter: Vendor 1. She looked up as Flor came in, but managed to look even more bored at having a customer in the shop.

Vendor (bored): “Welcome. Buy/Sell?”

“Buy, please.”

Vendor (bored): “Select: calipers, squares, scribe, pick, punch, gauge, thread, measure, hex, wrench, hammer, file, parallel, lock.”

“Pick.”

Vendor (bored): “Lock pick set - 8.”

“Yes.”

Vendor (bored): “Eight coins.”

“Buy. Lock.”

Vendor (bored): “Padlock - 8; cylinder - 12.”

Dang, I probably need to practice on a cylinder, but we’re getting to the edge of the money. She hesitated then said, “Cylinder.”

Vendor (bored): “Twenty coins.”

Flor handed over the money while feeling the pain, but there would be a new supply of coins in the morning. The vendor packed a cylinder lock and the pick set and handed them over. Flor walked outside and saw Alastair browsing a juice vendor. She walked to him, and said, “Why not? We’ve already broken the bank. What’s another couple of coins? Uh, one pomegranate juice and what he wants.”

Vendor (juice): “Two coins, please.”

Flor whispered to Alastair, “We should plan to sleep at the prison tavern tonight. We’re near broke.”

“Like how broke?”

“Down to around thirteen coins, after this juice.”

“That’s a bit broke. We should be fine. But I need at least eight more coins to disrupt the east gate.”

“You’ve thought of a plan?”

“I have an idea.”

Half an hour later they were walking back to the Onion. Although they’d be a bit late, Flor thought Alastair’s plan might work. Technically they needed to close the gate long enough to convince a few farmers to route the long way rather than the way past the monastery. Arnar Mattias, Farmer 3 wasn’t even needed specifically, just as long as they could convince someone to go with them out the east gate after the procession to ‘discover’ the freed children.

As they walked in, Flor noticed Irving and his thugs at their normal table. Nikolette waved them over before they could head to Irving.

Nikolette said, “I overheard what you’re doing for Irving. I want to offer to help if I can. At least, I’ll spot you both lunch and beers and another round if you’re successful. But, if there is anything I can do in the meantime, you be sure to let me know.”

Your disposition with Nikolette changed from Neutral to Neutral+

We’re pulling in a bunch of neutral+. What does it take to turn someone pleasant or friendly around here?

Alastair said, “There is one piece that we need help with. I’m concerned that the wagon we’ve arranged to topple at the south gate might not topple. That will make recovering those kids that much more difficult. Do you have someone reliable who can ensure mass disruption to traffic at that gate right after the procession has left?”

“I might have a way to ensure that happens. It depends on their availability, but it could probably work. Let me send the boy and I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you Nikolette. We’ve got to see what other issues have come up.” Alastair and Flor walked over to the table of thugs. “Irving, what is the progress?”

“We’ve got clothes and a couple of axes. We’ll still need to acquire a wagon on our way out. What about your end?”

“It took a little longer than I expected, but we’ve acquired things on our end.” Alastair moved close to Irving. “Nikolette says she overheard about our plan.” Alastair punched Irving strongly in the stomach. He doubled over but stayed on his feet since Alastair held him up. The other two thugs stood up to assist Irving, but Flor stepped closer and shook her head. Alastair helped Irving onto a stool. “I understand it’s Nikolette, and she’s safe. But, you only trust people who are in the crew. If you make another amateur mistake like that again, I’ll cut you from consideration for further work. Do you understand?”

Alastair waited until Irving nodded yes.

“Well then, it’s about time you two went and chopped down a tree. And acquired a wagon with some goods.” The two thugs glanced at each other and then almost fell over each other heading for the door. “Now, Irving, we have a couple of remaining things to do. I don’t trust you right now. So, you sit right here until we get back. Do you understand?”

Irving nodded.