Chapter 6: of the hidden city

“Titus! There is something going on and I want to know what!” the captains face was flushed a bright red with anger and frustration.

Titus remained calm, “That is none of your concern Leopold. I have everything under control.”

Leopold’s brilliant blue eyes watched him carefully, he squinted at him trying to decided the best way to address the issue. Distracted Leopold rubbed the back of his sore neck and agitatedly pulled at his short blond hair. His other hand played at the hem of his pale red wrapped shirt designed with darker reds and pale blues. “Titus,” he started calmly, “I have been friends with you for a while now and in many ways you have been like a father to me. Hopefully, I know you are a smart man and wouldn’t get yourself into any trouble,” he said this with great force and more as a warning then a compliment, Titus fully caught it’s meaning, “but the rumors I have been hearing suggest otherwise and-”

Titus smiled soothingly, “And as I said those rumors are none of your concern, I appreciate your care for my well fare, but I assure you-”

Leopold’s anger filled in his chest and finally burst out, “No sir! No more assurances! I want to know why, sir! Why were you found leaving this building with blood splattered across your body!? I want no more tiptoeing around it!”

Titus rubbed his aching forehead and muttered, “Leopold you are too young to understand such a problem and you don’t need t be worrying about me, the rumor will pass as all do and nothing will come of it.”

Leopold looked him in the eyes, took a deep breath and said, “Are the rumors true?”

Titus smiled wide and put his hand on Leopold’s shoulder, “What do you think?”

Starting to relax a little, Leopold smiled and replied, “Of course it isn’t true, you would never, no.”

Giving Leopold a little shake of the shoulder, Titus said, “That a boy, Leopold.”

A quite knock sounded at the door, Titus turned towards it and answered, “Yes.”

Panting a little, a man with dark hair and darker eyes stood at the door way, Titus greeted him in, “Apollo, yes come in, what is it that you need?”

Apollo walked up to him and beckoned Titus to lean down to his height and whispered in his ear quietly. Leopold watched Titus’s face as it suddenly became stern with surprise and worry; he looked at Apollo and asked, “Are you sure?” Apollo nodded and looked cautiously at Leopold. Titus regained his composure, “Well then I’ll be down to look at it in a bit, let me just finish up with my friend here.”

Suspiciously, Leopold watched Apollo leave then turned to Titus and asked, “What was that about?”

Titus waved his hand nonchalantly, “Oh having a problem with some things he wants me to help him with, he’s a good friend of mine.”

Leopold’s tension returned as he watched Titus lie and Leopold knew he was lying. They had been too close of friends for him not to be able to tell, and Titus did it so blatantly! But for the moment, Leopold decided it was best not to say any thing since that had gotten him nowhere.

Titus grabbed Leopold’s opposite shoulder and led him out of the room, “Well I am glad we had a chance to talk, but I do have some business I must attend to. You should come over to dinner sometime; Delilah would love to see you again.”

Leopold nodded his head, “Yeah, of course, she is the best cook in town who could miss out on that, just tell me date.”

Titus opened the door and started down the hall, “Great! I’ll see when Delilah is available.”

Thinking wildly, Leopold answered distractedly, “Yeah.” His mind was racing; he was going to have to keep a closer eye on Titus. Something was wrong and he was determined to find out what.

Titus met up with Apollo in the hall way, close to the dungeon. Without any greeting Titus stared at him hard and asked, “Are you absolute sure?”

Apollo looked up at him, “I saw it with my own eyes, a girl sitting right next to him!”

Titus looked around, “Sh! Keep it down. What did you do when you saw her?”

Apollo shook his head vigorously, “Nothing. As soon as I saw her I came running to tell you.”

Fear was etched on Titus’s face, but he answered, “Good, good. Ok. Well I guess I’ll go see about this. But don’t you worry about it. You look a little shaken up, how about you go on home early today.”

Still a little struck Apollo nodded, “Good idea sir.”

Titus patted his back and replied in a normal voice, “Good, see you tomorrow then.”

Apollo answered in the same tone, “Thanks sir.”

Titus watched him walk off and looked around the corridor, once it was cleared out of people he walked back down to the dungeon. It was so dark and dreary, he really hated having to go down there, but he had to. He walked up to the door way of Ripple’s cell and looked in. Sure enough there sitting on the floor next to Ripple was a girl, not really a girl though, a women. Truly her appearance was striking, even in the dim light the beautiful soft curve of her face was very predominate and her light brown eyes sparkled brightly. Her lushes brown hair was thrown into a bun on top of her head and although it was very messing it still had a very attractive appeal. Both prisoners looked up at him as he came in and he stared back down at them, “So you dragged a rat in with you.” Titus looked down at the spilled mush on the floor and curled his lip at it, disgusted, he walked over it in to the room.

Ellaway spoke first, “I don’t know what you mean, I have never seen this man in my life.”

Titus smiled, “A likely story.”

Her voice, a little too steady for Titus’s taste, replied, “Bolbart, that nasty old creature, tricked me! He led me down this tunnel, when he tried to kill me.”

Titus pursed his lips, “Bolbart can’t crawl down the tunnel, it would suffocate him.”

Ellaway nodded, “Yes I learned that. I kept crawling down the tunnel as he chased me till he had to turn back. I had no place else to go. So I kept crawling.”

Titus raised his brow, “Quite a big coincidence that you should come here just shortly after Ripple. Where do you come from?”

Ellaway shifted a little, “I live in the forest with some friends of mine, you might have heard of them, Jerrt and Colien. I went to fetch some fire wood, when I met up with Bolbart.”

Titus looked at her quizzically, “You don’t know where you are, do you?”

Ellaway shook her head with an innocent face and wide eyes, “No, I am not sure at all.”

Titus heart wrenched as he thought of her poor friends searching frantically for her, “What’s your name?”

Ellaway trembled a little, “Ezeklea, I am an orphan.”

Titus’s heart twisted even more in his chest, but said, “Well Ripple can tell you all about it here. Good day.”

He quickly walked out of the room and a little ways down the hall. Aguish knotted in his stomach. He leaned his back against the wall and started kneading at his sore head. He covered his face with his hands and tried to remain calm, but his fingered trembled uncontrollably against his eyes and cheeks. What was he doing? What had he started? He couldn’t afford compassion on this women, there was no way. His stomach ached even more. He had already tired being compassionate and look what it lost him, his daughter! At his thought Titus’s hand quivered from anger instead of ache. He couldn’t take the chance, it was to risky, better to not mention this to any one. He was smart enough to make good decisions and this girl could be no good. No one needed to know about her being there, along with Ripple. She would just have to share his same fate, innocent or not. As Titus convinced himself that he had no other choice but to leave Ezeklea where she was, he gained enough composer to stand up. Better not to tell any one, not even Delilah needed to hear about this. I have got it all under control. With a deep breath, he stood up straight and tall, extending his full powerful height and walked up the stairs. Titus looked around as he came in the hallway, and Leopold dashed into the corner just in time. Leopold held his breath, as he tilted his head around the corner and watched Titus march back to his office. Leopold burrowed his eye brows as he thought. What would have brought him down there?

He started from his hiding place to here a voice behind him, “Leopold! You’re needed in the staffing room,” Leopold turned around and stood for a minute stuttering when the man barked, “Immediately!”

Dejected, Leopold nodded his head, “Right, of course.” and made his way to the conference room.

(Maybe next chapter)

After checking his hair for the fifth time over and straighten his blue vest, brilliant enough to match his stunning eyes, Leopold finally was ready to leave his apartment. He was a bit early, well more then a bit, more like a half turns worth, but he was hoping to speak to Delilah before Titus came home. Leopold looked around his bright little flat, making sure there was nothing he left. He picked up the white rose he had bought for Delilah earlier, as a compliment for dinner, and with a deep breath he turned and walked out in to the hallway of his building. He shut the door precisely and tight behind him and with care he walked down the stair case and into the refreshingly bright day.

Very contentious of his moments, Leopold walked down the street toward Titus’s house. He straightened his stance and nodded graciously to people on the street. His wrapped skirt of plane silver reflected the setting sun making his glowing stamina even more noticeable. His tall, yet never cocky or overbearing presences drew the attention of shy giggles, blushing cheeks, and bating eye lashes. Courteously, he smiled in return and continued on his way.

He watched the buildings as he passed, taking notice of their number till he got to right one, he had been there plenty of times before, but he looked at the address checking that he was at the correct place. Satisfied, he opened the door and walked up the stairs counting the floors as he passed them and after double checking the room number, Leopold knocked. Behind the door he could hear the quiet clanging of pots and pan then a sudden loud crash that made him jump significantly and a yell, “Oh fingle stick.” Then he heard the pitter pat of feet coming toward the door. The knob jingled and Delilah opened the door.

She smiled widely, “Leopold! It is so good to see you! It has been to long.” She pulled him into a short warm embrace, “You are here a little early, Titus shouldn’t be here for another half a turn, but come in! I was just working on dinner.” Delilah closed the door behind him. The house looked the same as always, an open sitting room led into a small dinning area that was cut off from the kitchen by a low counter. By the counter, was a small fire pit. Delilah’s golden brown hair bounced cheerfully mid-way down her back and she stepped lightly on her bare feet. She walked into the kitchen and started picking up the pans that had clattered earlier. The counter, that divided the kitchen from the dinning room, had drawers and cupboard on one side, while the other side had bar stools and opened up into the dinning room. Once she picked up her face was flushed red giving a bright color to her perky round cheeks. With a sigh she turned to face Leopold, who had followed in behind her.

Leopold extended forward his flower and muttered, “I brought you a rose for your kindness in having me over. Is there any thing I can help you with?”

Delilah thought for a moment and said, “Oh thank you! White rose my favorite!” She turned to put it in a vase, “but since you ask, yes, I have some thero root that needs cutting up, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Leopold nodded his head, “Of course.”

Delilah’s child like face, with the addition of wrinkles, creased into a smile, “Oh good!” She moved farther into the kitchen and pulled out a green rough looking root and pointed across the counter, “There is a stool on the other side of the counter, if you would sit on that so I have more room in the kitchen.” Delilah pushed the root, knife and cutting board across the counter for him to work on. Leopold sat down and started to dice the root, Delilah stopped him. “Oh, no I need it cut wide and thin like slices of meet, not cubed.”

Leopold nodded his head and started again, focusing very hard on cutting it right. Delilah smiled at his concentrated face and went to start the fire pit. The fire wasn’t too hard to start, with felt and her starter rock. Once the flames caught and started to burn she got her own knife and began cutting up meet and throwing it into a pot, “So Leopold how have you been? I haven’t seen you in a while! Is there any new girl lately?”

Leopold looked up at her at this last comment and she gave him a sly wink. Leopold couldn’t help but smile widely, “No, no there isn’t any new girls. Just work really, nothing much has changed.”

Delilah sighed, “Just boring old life huh?”

Still smiling he answer, “Yeah, there is this girl in farming department that I would like to get to know.”

Delilah perked up at this, “Oh yeah? What’s her name?”

Leopold glared at her suspiciously, “No way am I giving that out again. I learned form the last time I did that.”

Delilah smirked, “What?! All I did was tell her the nights you were free?”

Slicing the root, he replied, “Well, it was sure enough to cause havoc in the office the entire week.”

Throwing more meat into the pot she teased, “You know I never give up that easy right?”

He laughed, “Oh yes, I defiantly know that!”

After their laughter subsided, Leopold started to feel nerves. He wasn’t sure he was ready to talk to Delilah about his suspicions, but she was the only one he could think of to go to. He thought hard for a moment, trying to decide the best way to bring it up, “So have you noticed any thing different going on with Titus recently?”

Delilah frowned slightly, “Different? How do you mean?”

He bit his lip and answered slowly, “Well, just with the way he’s acting, his mood, or the amount of time he spends at work, I don’t know any thing that’s off.”

Delilah seemed calm, “No. Why do you ask?”

A little uncomfortable Leopold shifted in his seat, “He’s just been acting a little strange.”

Delilah had started cutting carrots and rutabaga, “In what way has he acted different?”

Leopold had stopped cutting and watched Delilah’s reaction, she intently focused more on her cutting, more then she usually would, but he went on, “He has seemed up tight and secretive.”

Avoiding his eyes, she shoved the carrots and rutabaga into the near by pot and shrugged her shoulders, “I haven’t noticed.”

Leopold squinted at her and said, “I know something is wrong Delilah, and both you and Titus are trying to hide it. I want to know what’s wrong.”

Delilah had her back turned toward him while she got out more things to put into the pot, “I am not sure what you are talking about.”

Leopold stared at her with a shocked face, “You to! Titus lied straight to my face and now you as well!” His voice started to rise in intensity, “Delilah I demand to know what’s happening.”

Delilah had turned around again and was cutting up more vegetables all, but she merely shook her head and continued working.

Leopold got off his chair and came around the counter, he pulled her hands away from her food and whispered, “Delilah, I saw Titus coming out from the dungeon today and I have heard rumor that he walked home splattered in blood, now what is going on?”

As Leopold talked Delilah’s eyes started to water and tears spilled over onto her face, through gulps of her sputtered breathing she answered, “Leopold, I wish I could tell you, I wish so much that I could, but I love my husband and he made me promise not to tell a soul.”

Leopold’s heart tendered as he watched Delilah cry, he said softly, “If you want me to drop this and pretend I noticed nothing, I will do it at your command.”

Delilah started to gain control on her emotions and smiled, “I never said you weren’t allowed to look into it. Nor did he tell me other people weren’t to see about it.” With a little wink and sparkle in her eye she smiled, “You go along and do what you must.”

Leopold gave her a hug, trying to help her calm down. She received his hug gladly, like a mother to her son and slowly pulled away, “You are such a joy Leopold, such a joy!” She whipped away at the few remaining tears and her mind started to calm. Finally she could breath easy, Leopold was on it. She had no need to fear. Taking a deep slightly staggered breath she said, “Alright, well we had better get this finished before Titus comes home so we can eat!”

Leopold smiled at her cheerful domineer; leave it to Delilah to be happy no matter the situation, “Right! I cut up the theo root, now what?”

Delilah got out more things to cut up and poured water in the pot and started it boiling. They both cut up food while Delilah tried to coax more information about this girl he interested and when Leopold could get her to stray from that subject, he asked about the house and any changes or her family or the little garden plot she had rented. The pot finally started boiling and a small salad had been made, both Delilah and Leopold sat in the sitting room next to the kitchen, chatting when Titus opened the door, “Delilah? I’m home.”

Sitting up in her chair she said, “We’re over here Titus.” Leopold instantly picked up the tension in her voice, but Titus didn’t seem to notice, “Leopold has been here for a while now. You know him would rather be a half turn early then a second late!”

Titus smiled as he came into the sitting room, if he held any suspicious about Leopold coming over early, he didn’t show it, but Leopold couldn’t help but think Titus would be wary, “Good old reliable Leopold.”

Titus bent over and kissed Delilah and sat on the chair next to her, Delilah looked at Titus, “We were just talking about the Delane brothers who are claiming to have found the place of the legendary Cameron’s last battle. They think they’ve found the star medallion that he left behind.”

Titus furrowed his brows, “Why would you want to talk about old gossip and women’s folk tale!”

Delilah looked at him and smiled, “Some would say that it isn’t just gossip and tales and that it actually did happen.”

Titus seemed to squirm under her stare, “Delilah you know it’s my job to snuff out those kinds of stories, why would you go around spreading them?”

She smiled wider as if she had won something, “Just want to make sure you are doing your moneys worth.” Delilah got up and left to check the soup cooking on the pit.

Leopold sat up a bit, “There are rumors of others leaving that way rather then just the famous Cameron, I heard after Daton disappeared that he left that way, also about a character named Ripple leaving, I was just little though when that happened.”

Titus sat calmly in his seat, but Delilah fumbled her spoon and it clattered to the ground. She muttered, “Oh, clumsy me. Splattering everything today.”

Leopold jumped out of his seat, “Do you need help?” but before Delilah could respond he was over in the kitchen wiping spilled soup.

Delilah sighed, “Oh thank you Leopold.”

After cleaning up the floor, Leopold held small metal bowls while Delilah poured soup into each. They brought over the bowls and place them on the metal dining table, stained a dark brown. Delilah brought out napkins and silverware while Leopold stood by looking awkward and asking what else he could do.

Titus grunted, “Boy you have a lot to learn, once you get to this point you are nothing but in the way.”

Leopold answer indignantly, “I helped prepare it.”

Delilah smiled while Titus said, “Yes but beyond that point, there is no room for two people. Believe me I tried for many years to help, till finally Delilah gave me that same piece of advice. Then every time I asked what I can do to help I was told to pick out a favorite wine, just so she could get me out of her hair.”

Laughing openly, Delilah said, “That’s right! But Titus was never much help in the kitchen unlike you Leopold.”

Leopold smiled, “Well thank you Delilah.”

Delilah smirked, “In that case, can you bring over these plates of salad I am dishing up.”

Leopold looked at Titus with a grin, “Of course I will.”

Titus looked at her, “Well, then what can I do to help?”

Delilah smiled, “Well, if you want to go pick out-”

But Titus finished her sentence for her, “-your favorite wine. I know, I know, I’m on it.”

They made there way through dinner while Titus avidly avoided the subject of old wives tales and gossip, and Leopold evaded the subject of girls as much as he could. They laughed and enjoyed each other company. After dinner Delilah brought out a silk coa pudding.

Titus leaned back luxuriously in his chair, “Oh Delilah you have truly out done yourself. That meal was amazing.” He smiled contently at her.

Delilah smiled back, “See Leopold, this is were Titus helps out, eating and complimenting.”

Titus laughed heartily, “I do what I can.”

Politely Leopold remarked, “It was a very good dinner.”

Delilah smiled even wider and answered, “Thank you Leopold.” Then she turned her head back to Titus, “There is something else Titus is good at.”

Titus gave her a shocked look, “Delilah don’t talk about that at the dinner table and not in front Leopold.”

Leopold bent his head slightly embarrassed, but smiled as Titus grunted from Delilah’s kick under the table, “Not that! Your cleaning up abilities.”

Titus smirked, “Oh that, yes the dishes! I am very good at doing that. I have had years of experience and practice at that.”

Titus scooted back his chair and stood up. He started picking dishes and balancing all as many as he could in his hands. Leopold shot up and started helping bring over dirty dishes, but Titus stopped him, “Leopold, what are you doing? You already helped cook and set the table. I have this.”

Leopold raised his eye brows, “Are you sure?”

Titus struggled as he kept the pile of dishes in his hands steady, “Absolutely. This won’t take me long.”

Nodding Leopold sat back down in his seat as Delilah started to get up, “I thought we could sit in the living room while he finished up.”

Leopold shot back up and made his way to the sitting area. They chatted about this and that, till Titus was finally done.

With a broad smile Titus asked, “Alright who is ready for a round of Penzy!”

Hesitantly Leopold said, “Truly I have a little bit of work I needed to attend to before tomorrow and it is already getting late.”

Titus shook his head, “You’re here to have fun, work can wait till tomorrow.”

Leopold was still worried though, “But I was supposed to get to it tonight.”

With a cocked eye brow Delilah chide, “Won’t it still be there tomorrow?”

Leopold laughed, “That is the point, if I don’t get to it tonight, it will still be there tomorrow.”

Delilah pouted her full lips, “Please Leopold, one round.”

Thinking a moment Leopold finally answer, “Alright one short round, then I must be off.”

Titus set out the game and it commenced with lots of hooting and hollering. Delilah appeared to shortly be the winner, till Leopold suddenly swooped in and took the game. It ended with a very surprised Titus and Delilah and Leopold calmly picking up the cards getting ready to leave.

While Leopold picked up the cards Delilah gawked at him, “You must have cheated.”

Leopold looked up at her, “I am just good at Penzy.”

Titus agreed with Delilah, “No you cheated.”

Looking slight exasperated Leopold sighed, “You know I don’t cheat.”

Delilah smiled, “Yes, but it makes me feel better to think you did, instead of beating me that badly.”

Leopold laughed. After piling the cards, he stood up saying, “Thank you so much for having me over.”

Delilah laughed, “Any time Leopold. You are more then welcome into our home. It had been to long from your last visit.”

He nodded his head, “Yes well things got busy at work.”

Titus answered, “Still no excuses, a man has got to eat and you’re free to eat here any time.”

Leopold crossed his hand in front of him, “Well I better be off.”

Delilah walked towards the Leopold who started toward the door, “Of course.”

Titus followed after them both, “I’ll see you at work then.”

Leopold opened the door and turned to face them, “Yes at work.”

Delilah smiled, “And I am not sure when I’ll be seeing you next.” She spread open her arms for a hug and Leopold obliged.

Delilah and Titus got in there last goodbyes as he walked toward the stair case, “Don’t be a stranger Leopold. You are welcome any time.”

Delilah closed the door and turned toward Titus, she had a wide content smile on her lips. Titus smirked at her wide smile, “What are you so happy about?”

She sighed and said, “I really like Leopold it always nice to have him over.”

Titus nodded his head in agreement, “Yes he is a good kid, headed the right direction.”

Delilah started walking into the sitting room mid way to the chair Titus asked, “So what did you and Leopold talk about before I got here?”

Very calmly Delilah shrugged her shoulders and sat down, “A little bit of this a little bit of that, nothing really. He told me about that girl that he wants to get to know and he asked about the garden we rented. Chit chat mainly.”

Titus frowned, “How did you get on the topic of Cameron’s legend?”

Delilah pursed her lips in thought, “Mmmm, we were just talking about news around the town and he happened to remember that he had heard about the Delane brothers and thought that I would be interested.”

Seeming to be satisfied Titus nodded his head, “Oh I see.”

Trying to ignore the fact that she was being interrogated Delilah attempted to cox him away from the topic, she looked out the window and said, “The stars look so bright tonight, come sit a enjoy them with me.”

Happy to oblige Titus sat down next to her and put his arm around her. He cradled her onto his chest and kissed her softly on the fore head. For a moment Delilah felt at peace.