Vulpine Summer

'You certain you didn't screw her?' Elenore asked not for the first time as they made their way through the crowded and very loud market place in Broadstreet not far from his small home.

'Yeah. I'm sure. Pretty certain I'd remember, especially as she was a bloody fox the whole night.' Fox earned a cuff round the head from the sarcasm dripping from his voice. He glared at her and rubbed his head, annoyed. He hated how fixated she was on that assumption of hers but he thought he was getting through.

'You serious about that? About her turning into a fox?'

'Yes.' Fox stressed. 'She turned into one. She's cursed.'

Elenore hummed and bit her full pink lip. 'Maybe this Denver person caught Dupont in the act. Tried to subdue her and keep her from using magic.'

Fox tried not to care either way but a little voice in his head told him Denver was the threat, not Dupont. So far, Dupont was harmless. She huffed and puffed and paraded about but she hadn't tried to hurt him. He wasn't going to push her to find out he was wrong though. Could be she's just been in a nice mood these last couple of days.

He shrugged. 'Thought you said it don't matter?'

Elenore flushed. 'And it don't. The Eye does.'

And finally she dropped the subject of Dupont. Fox breathed a sigh of relief, glad he didn't need repeat himself again and defend himself. Yes, Dupont was a little bit attractive to him in a foreign way and yes, he was tempted when he saw her naked on his bed, showing handfuls her pale flesh in the morning light where his blankets failed to cover her, but he'd never fall that low. A Wizard was someone he'd never chase and his pride was greater than his lust.

The pair picked out old clothes and food throughout the Sunday Farmer's Market, haggling as best as they could to get the best prices. They had little money on them, Fox especially after his first spend. He was annoyed those clothes were long lost now.

Fox was standing beside Elenore, trying to huddle beneath the shadow of a tree, as Elenore was arguing of the price of some edam cheese, trying her best to haggle it down and not getting much headway, as he watched the crowd. He was uncomfortable and not from the sweat and heat. Slipping through the swarm of poor and sweaty folk of Lakeside were Wizards. They weren't standard Wizards. Normal ones were dressed like any other person. He knew they were not just from how the poor-folk parted and kept their distance but their attire. They wore robed suits white as the Ivory Tower itself with deep black undershirts and perched on their pompous heads were the traditional Wizarding hats marked with the Tower's black sigil. These Wizards were the Tower's Hunters; seekers and policemen of illegal magic and criminal Wizards. And there were way too many of them. Just from were he stood, he could spot three and the Market was massive. There were going to be more here.

Fox scowled at one particular one, a tall haughty man who flowed through the crowd like a hot knife through butter. His eyes were seeking and scowled at every man and woman with firm judgement. Fox didn't like how he stopped particular young men now and then and spoke to them before he flashed a blue spell. They always had red hair.

'Crap.' Fox hissed. He realised he was being hunted. The Denver woman didn't remember his face or knew his name but she remembered his hair. Luckily it was a common colour but it would only be a matter of time before they found him and checked his memory or forced out the truth. He needed to get out of the market. Now.

Fox turned to the neighbouring stool and gestured to the tatty hunting cap on display. 'How much gov?'

'Twenty coppers.' The gruff old man replied snappishly.

Fox wrinkled his nose. The hat was clearly not worth that much, it was frayed, badly put together and the material was cheap, but he didn't exactly have much of a choice. He slapped the money down with a glare and accepted his new purchase and pulled it over his head. The hat did the job at least, covering his vibrant hair and making him a little less obvious to the Hunters.

'Oi, Ellie.' Fox hissed as he grabbed her shoulder.

She ignored him, shaking his grip as she heatedly argued how the block of goats cheese was certainly not worth 2 silvers. Fox scowled behind and his eyes slipped to the black and white Hunter. He was coming closer, making his way through the sea of people with his seeking gaze not fixed on anyone particular. Yet. Fox topped his foot impatiently as his heart began to pump faster.

'Bah! Keep your cheese!' Elenore said sharply and turned her nose in the air.

The cheese-monger shrugged his shoulders, clearly not that unhappy at the loss of a sale, and turned to his next customer. Elenore wheeled about, her pretty features annoyed.

'He inflated it because I appear to have money.' Elenore hissed with certainty. 'Thief.'

Fox wanted to point out she did have money and she was a thief but, seeing the Wizard growing dangerously close, decided now wasn't the time to banter.

'With me.' He growled and snatched up her hand.

Elenore didn't have much time to argue as he dragged her away, pulling her through the crowd and down a narrow display of meat stalls filled with lazy buzzing flies that kept bumping into Fox's face.

'What's the hurry?' Elenore asked as she waved her hand unhappily at the stench now surrounding them.

Fox ignored as a butcher drained a hooked pig and yanked out its innards into a slurry bucket of blood and gore. 'Hunters. They're lookin' for me.'

Elenore's eyes widened briefly before she looked over her shoulder. The Wizard was currently at the cheese stall and had tapped a burly red-head on the shoulder. Clearly the Wizard had upset him as he was now stamping his foot and declaring 'You have no right to nose about in my 'ead!' with with moustahce bristling.

Elenore bobbed her head in understanding as the huge red-head was now raising his fists, as if to fight the Hunter. The Hunter looked very un-impressed as he raised his Grimoire and flashed a spell, freezing the man in place with a bewildered and gormless expression. With no more interruption, the Hunter set to work in fishing about in the memories.

Fox didn't want to see anymore, the sight of such power put his heart in his throat, and grabbed Elenore. They fled down the corridor of stink, freshly cut meat, gore and flies until they reached the end of the bloody corridor and veered towards the grey stoned and grubby fountain. They paused there for a moment, breathing heavily from the heat and sudden physical strain, as they gazed about for danger as inconspicuously as possible.

The fountain was filled with children who played about in its mildew waters, cooling themselves off. Elderly sat about on the benches while many unattractive grubby faces moved by, all looking sullen and sweaty. Not a Wizard was in sight.

'We need to get out.' Elenore whispered. 'If you get back home, I'll gather up the rest of what you need. Yeah?'

Fox nodded. It was better he slunk off alone and Elenore stuck out like a sore-thumb with her frilly expensive get up.

'Meet you later.' Fox murmured and readjusted his hat, making sure his head was covered.

'Meet you where?' A voice piqued up behind them.

Fox whirled about and frowned at the face of Ronald looking way too smug and oddly naked without some of kind sugary treat. 'I'm goin' home and I haven't got no cash for you.'

Ronald looked a little disappointed. 'Well I'm here on a job! She wants you. Both of yous.'

Fox didn't need to know who 'she' was. 'Now?'

Ronald nodded madly. 'In the shop. Urgent she says.'

Elenore and Fox glanced at each other. Urgent was never a good word.

'Go separate to me. I'll go after.' Elenore said as she swung up her parasol and sauntered off.

Ronald tilted his head. 'Why?'

Fox grunted and spun Ronald about to push him forward. 'Hunters about. Don't get seen.' Fox hissed.

Ronald tensed. He knew Hunters were bad. Doe always told them to avoid them because even she couldn't stop them pulling out secrets from their brains. Avoid them at all cost, she'd say.

So Ronald helped Fox traverse the market ground, scurrying off to signal safe passage with a pigeon cry. Fox walked through the crowd with as much nonchalance as possible, quietly veering in whatever direction Ronald called him to or the opposite of where a Hunter towered. Before long he was free of the crowd but not the Hunters as he hoped. Even in the emptier streets, a Hunter roamed, stopping people, asking questions and flashing spells. Getting through his home District was no longer easy and safe as it should be.

Fox turned down the road of the Doe's shop where people fizzled in number due to the heat and the open Sunday Market, and froze. A Hunter, the biggest guy he had seen so far and clearly didn't need to do magic to cause serious harm, stood with his broad back turned not far from him. Fox instantly slunk into a narrow backalley and hunkered beside a bunch of overflowing and stinking dustbins and peered out as safely as he could. Ronald joined him in a flurry of steps and curled up tight beside him the moment he realised Fox had vanished.

'What they lookin' for?' Ronald asked as they peered at the back of the pristine robes.

Fox knew what. Him and Dupont. He turned his features into a frustrated scowl. Curse that murderess.

'Don't know.' He said instead as he watched the Hunter observe his surroundings through the flow of people.

So many Hunters were out today. It was dangerous to be out. If he knew, he wouldn't have left his room.

Fox waited and waited until the Hunter moved on. His body was creaking from the lack of movement and his back ached from how he peered. Eventually the Hunter gave up and wandered down the road before vanishing from sight.

'Now, Ronald.' Fox said as he pulled himself up, ignoring the small aches, and hurried towards an antique bookshop in the centre of the road.

Ronald stuck to him like glue and kept looking over his shoulder nervously and, even when they entered the cool musty shop, he locked the door and peered out the window.

'They won't find us.' Fox reminded Ronald. 'Doe has this place safe.'

Ronald grunted but refused to move from his watching spot. Fox left him be and headed downstairs.

The Doe was in her office and pouring over the Telegraph. Thick black headphones were over her head, squashing her grey hair down and covering her sagging ears, while her withered hand scrawled numbers and letters down. Fox waited. He knew she would hate to be disturbed and very aware he was in the room. A few mintues later, the Doe finished and pulled the headphones down to rest around her wrinkled neck.

'We have a problem, Kit.' The Doe said and sucked at her teeth. 'Two hundred and fifty Hunters are roaming out territory. Commons, Old Town, Wayside, East Port and Old Town are bein' swept. They're lookin' for somethin'.'

Fox shifted his weight guiltily and had a strong feeling like he was signing himself to be hung by the Doe personally by lying to her. 'Us?'

'From my little birdies, no. Not the Fingers. Somethin' to do with this Grand Wizard and her murderess.' The Doe rested her watery eyes on Fox. 'But they're lookin' in houses and shops. Gettin' too close to seein' things I don't want seen. So you get home and you get rid of anythin' that will point to me and us. Bring it to the hideout.'

Fox's shoulder sagged. Of course the Fingers would be in danger still.

'I'm movin' shop. Gettin' anythin' out.'

'Where to?'

'Beneath Elenore's whorehouse. As the sweepin' is only happenin' in the poor districts, it should be safe there a while. Good practice for her too.'

'Do you need help?'

Doe shook her head once. 'No. The tunnels are bein' opened for movin'. I just want you little folk keepin' any loose ends tied. Got it? If I have Hunters knockin' on my door, askin' questions they shouldn't, I will tan the lot of you.'

Fox nodded and mumbled a yeah, not feeling happy that his ties to Dupont were endangering his family, as Elenore came stumbling into the office out of breath. She very quickly rearranged her dress and pulled the strings of hair that was stuck on her makeup.

'What's happenin' boss?' Elenore asked with her face pink from warmth and exertion.

'Movin' house. Sweeps are happening in the poor Districts so who knows who long I'll be safe here. Goin' to yours Elenore so I need you to track the whispers and move word to me by courier.' The Doe said, making it clear Elenore didn't have a choice. 'Time for you to shine, my heir.'

Elenore looked a little stunned and paled, no doubt feeling the sudden pressure and responsibility. Elenore had been trained for the last five years but she'd never run the Fingers yet, only watched or helped out.

'I'll do my best, boss.' Elenore stammered.

The Doe didn't bother to offer any words of comfort or encouragement, only grunted. 'Then get to it. Spread the word Fox. Elenore, get back to your whorehouse. I want you there helpin' out and you'll need to choose you're own courier. Ronald sticks with me. He's lazy and deviates but he's trusted.'

Elenore stammered a yes as she stood there, dazed by her sudden temporary promotion. The pause made the Doe annoyed though.

'Get to it I said!' She repeated impatiently as she waved her hands.

The pair wasted no time and left the office.

'Get back to your home.' Elenore said softly in the stairwell as she glanced warily at Ronald who was hidden by the bookcases and still attached to the window. 'Get your stuff and get our friend out of there.'

'Where?' Fox said flatly. 'I can't hide her anywhere else.'

'Bring her to me.'

'The Hunters will find her.'

'Keep her away from them then. The hair and eye changes might do the trick. Just get her to me. Before the Hunters find her and then arrest and hang you.' Elenore hissed.

Fox's throat thickened and he touched his throat lightly. Hang. Of course he'd hang for being in cahoots with Esme Dupont, murderess of the Grand Wizard. It was stupid to not think he wouldn't.

'Right. I'll get her to you.'

Elenore grunted. 'Do it quick. Don't know when the sweeps will reach you.'

Fox didn't know either but he hoped he had more time than he felt he had. Getting Esme through the city, human-shaped and no longer a fox, was going to be very difficult, especially with the Hunters too close for comfort.

Fox wasn't confident he could do this. It was either hang or possibly not be hanged. Fox was going with the only option of possibly getting through the next day alive.

'Meet you in a few hours.'

'Just don't get caught.'

'Never do.' Fox said with a small smile that held very little of his normal confidence before a mission.

I'm dead, he thought grimly.