"I say, that's a capital idea," Phandebrass agreed. "I can tell them what to do, and tell them to obey you two. They could be a big help for you, they could."
"I can deal with a locked door, brother," Allia told him.
"I'm sure you can, sister, but this way you won't have to climb up walls," he replied. "Sarraya can fly, and if there aren't many buildings I can't find a way into. We have easy ways to get into places, and remember, Dolanna told us we have to do this fast. We just have to hope that they leave their windows open."
"In this heat, I seriously doubt that," Camara Tal said. "This isn't much off our own climate, and I think I can count the number of times I've closed my windows at night on one hand. It's the only way to get the cool night air into the house."
"We don't close them in Arkisia," Dar said, "but we usually have bars on the windows to discourage thieves. Odds are, it'll be the same in the richer buildings in Dala Yar Arak."
"Probably, but I'm small enough to get into any barred window, and Tarrin can just shapeshift once he climbs up," Sarraya said. "And the drakes should be small enough to squeeze between bars. At least this way, each of us has a way to get into a house with barred windows."
"Good point, my dear," Phandebrass nodded. "I say, that just about covers all the bases, it does. We just need to get lucky."
"I doubt we'll be that lucky, mage," Camara Tal grunted. "Where is the circus going to set up in the city? We may have to move away from it if it's too far from the center of the city. Remember, this is the biggest city in the world."
"It sets up just outside of the Imperial Palace," Phandebrass replied. "At least that's where we've set up the last two years. It's pretty close to the center of the city. It's in the northern section of the city."
"Who gets which direction?" Allia asked.
"That's going to depend on demographics," Dolanna replied, looking at Phandebrass. "You have been to the city. Which parts of the city hold the larger, richer buildings?"
"I say, definitely the northern reaches of the city, definitely," he said immediately. "Most of the rich Arakites live close to the Imperial Palace. Status and all that."
"Naturally. Then that will be Sarraya's sector. She can fly and she can render herself invisible at will, so that will give her the most access to the largest and most heavily guarded buildings. But Sarraya, avoid the Imperial Palace. There is no doubt that it is magically defended. Leave it alone."
"Good sense," Camara Tal nodded in agreement.
"I'll do that, but that medallion's a bit too big for me," Sarraya said with distaste, looking at the crystal. It was half as large as she was. "I don't think I could even pick it up, let alone fly with it."
"I say, I can shrink it down for you, my dear," Phandebrass assured her. "I know a spell to do that."
"Which has the next largest buildings of the remaining three directions?" Dolanna asked the mage.
He rubbed his chin. "I'd have to say the west," he replied. "A good many well-off merchants live in that section of the city, they do."
"Then that will be Tarrin's section," Dolanna announced. "He is better suited for entering buildings that are guarded than Allia or Dar. But I warn you, dear one, no unnecessary fatalities. Do not get the people nervous. It could make it harder for us to function."
"I'll try," he replied. "No promises."
"Try very hard, dear one," Dolanna said. "We do not have time to take any unnecessary risks." She looked to Phandebrass. "Any suggestion as to how the other two sections should be divided?"
"The southern section is the rough side of town, it is," he replied after a moment. "Mainly docks, and some of the nastier slums. I say, Dar is too young to try to navigate that. Allia would be much better suited for dealing with that kind of crowd, she would. The eastern section of the city is also poor, but it's not as rough as the south."
"Sounds like it won't be fun," Dar grunted.
"Dala Yar Arak is a huge city, but the misery that lives there is ten times the human population," Phandebrass said seriously. "For every silk-clad merchant you see, there will be a hundred beggars, homeless scavengers, and runaway slaves. Dala Yar Arak is a city set on the shoulders of pain, and built on the backs of slaves. I never liked going there, and I doubt it's improved much since last year. For a city that professes to be so civilized, it's the most barbaric cesspool I've ever seen." He motioned absently with a hand. "Every part of the city has its share of poor neighborhoods and squatters. You'll find starving children huddled in the gateways of the richest palaces, because there are just so many of them they don't have anywhere else to go. You all should be ready to see that kind of thing. I know it left me shaken the first time I came here."
Allia frowned, Dar looked uncertain, and Camara Tal grunted under her breath. Tarrin couldn't accept what Phandebrass was saying. How could people be so cruel to each other? He just couldn't believe it. Especially to children. He may not trust humans, but children were children, no matter what race they were. They were innocents, they needed protection. The very thought of someone starving a child filled him with a sudden seething fury that he found hard to control.
Allia reached up and grabbed his clenched fist, placing her slender four-fingered hand atop it, then pulled it back down to his side slowly. She gave him a knowing look, understanding his anger. She knew him so well, there was nothing he could hide from her. She could see the outrage in his eyes, but there was no reassurance within her own.
"We are not here to overthrow Arak, my friends," Dolanna said seriously. "We are here for only one reason. And when we find the Book of Ages, we will leave. Remember, it is not our place to pass judgement on the culture the Arakites have created for themselves. We are visitors, nothing more. Now, I believe that Renoit would be appreciative if we helped the circus prepare to disembark. And Phandebrass needs to prepare Sarraya's medallion. So, everyone, do what you can to help, and then get some rest. We will have little time for it once we are in Dala Yar Arak."
They broke up at that point, but Tarrin chased down Dolanna before she could get too far away. He put a paw on her shoulder and stopped her, then turned her around to face him. She looked up at him with those pretty eyes, but he could see the pain she was hiding behind them. "What is it, dear one?" she asked with a slight smile. A feigned smile.
"Why no questions about how I feel?" he asked.
"I spoke with Allia. She told me everything I needed to know."
"How do you feel, Dolanna?" he asked pointedly. "I've known you and Faalken longer than any of the others. You were the ones that started all this mess with me. I know you knew him much longer than I did. So, for once, you tell me how you feel."
Wordlessly, she leaned against him and put her arms up against his chest, putting her cheek against him. He enfolded her in his large arms, swallowing up the small woman. She was so small, so frail looking. She barely came up to his chest. But she was a woman he thought at times was absolutely invincible, a powerful Sorceress with an exceptional wisdom that had helped him grow and mature, had guided them in ways that no other could. It was strange, nearly bizarre, to see her upset. She had comforted him many times when he was upset, uncertain, afraid. It was only fair to return some of her kindness.
"Me too, Dolanna. Me too," he said quietly.
This was it.
Tarrin stood at the bow of Dancer a short time before dawn, as light just began to stain the horizon to herald the approach of the sun, staring out at what had to be the strangest sight he had ever seen.
To the few sailors and lookouts on duty, it was probably murky, indistinct, but his night-sighted eyes revealed the terrible splendor of Dala Yar Arak, the largest city in the world.