“Good. We’ve been talking about that. And the crossbows?”
“They’re in the sleepin’ room.” Kittul paused. “I’ve been thinkin’ though. ’Tis us should do the shootin’. We’re used to crossbows; we’ll not miss.”
Macurdy shook his head. “I don’t doubt you’re better marksmen with them,” he said. “But if anyone saw, even in the night, they could tell the patrolmen it was dwarves. While with us—in the dark we look like anyone else around here. And if there’s a chase, our legs are longer.
“Besides, Jeremid and Melody have used crossbows, and in my world, we use weapons called guns that you aim pretty much the same way.”
“Ah. Well,” said Kittul thoughtfully, “there’s no doubt we’d be recognized, even if just glimpsed. So then. Best ye start while the moon’s still up.” He led them into the bedroom, and standing on tiptoes, took two crossbows from pegs on the wall, crossbows that were cocked using a stirrup, and a hook on the belt. Macurdy had thought to use one himself, but the belts were too small to buckle around him.
He handed it to Jeremid, saying, “Try it on.” Jeremid did. It buckled in the last notch. “You and Melody will do the shooting,” Macurdy told him.
They got ready and left, walking to the square via an alley that opened onto it not far from the posts. At the alley’s mouth they huddled in darkness, eyes sorting through the moon shadows around the post area.
Macurdy’s eyes made out four guards now, one each on the southeast and southwest corners, while two stood conversing quietly within a few feet of one another on the north end, near where the main street hit the square. He wondered how alert they were. Did they think someone might try a rescue? Or was guard just routine, another dull watch?
He led the others back a ways. “Melody,” he murmured, “circle ’round and come out the next alley south. Jeremid, circle north, cross the main street where they won’t see you; come to the square on the other side. You two will kill the two in back, the corner men.” He paused. “Melody, tell me what I said.” She did. Then Jeremid repeated the instructions.
“Good. I’ll take the two in front. After you’ve had time to get in position, I’ll go out to one of them. I’ve got no bow, no spear, and no sword, and my knife’s around back of my hip, so they shouldn’t be too leery of me.
“Keep a close eye on me. I’ll pretend I’ve been drinking, and walk up to him and start talking. Then I’ll knife him and jump the other one. That’s when you’ll shoot your men and reload. Got it?”
They both stared at him. I know, he thought. I can’t believe we’re doing this either. They’d discussed the broad features back at the inn, and it had felt spooky enough then, in daylight and safety. “Good,” he said. “Go!”
It took them three or four seconds to turn away, leaving Macurdy where he stood. Come on, he told himself, it’s for Varia. Let’s get going. He took another alley, moving quickly but quietly, eyes and ears fine-tuned. Asking himself how this could be for Varia, or how it could possibly work. But not wavering.
Shortly he reached the main street. The moon was low and the whole street in shadow, when he turned quietly onto it. He was in mid-block when he heard what had to be a patrol, and pausing, looked backward. They were turning onto his street from a cross street a hundred yards away. With torches.
Hell! he thought. Some of the shops along the street had small marquees over their entrances, perhaps to protect them from slops thrown from windows above. Striding a few quick steps farther, he jumped, grabbed a marquee, and pulled himself up. It took his weight, and he lay as low and flat as he could. If they’d seen him . . .
But the shadows were dark, and the torches had little reach. He shielded his face with his arms. The patrol passed so close below, it seemed to him they should have heard his heart pounding. Passed and continued along the street, hard-soled boots thudding and scuffing on the cobblestones. After half a minute he raised his head enough to see them from behind. Eight or ten, it seemed, fewer than he’d thought. At the square, instead of turning west or east to pass it by, they walked directly to the poles and stopped. Faintly he heard commands being given; seconds later they turned and started back his way. Again he lowered his face, shielding it, and again they passed beneath him, marching back north up the street, turned onto another and were gone.