“Tell me about it,” Markov said, setting the tray at the table where she was sitting. He sighed and began to pour the tea. “Are they planning revenge against the Thieves Guild?”
“Cimir is,” Erice said. “And it’s not going to be pretty. He’s been studying a series of powerful spells, ancient techniques created by long dead wizards who’s names are greatly reviled. He’s become obsessed with revenge.”
Markov nodded at that. “What’s he planning to do?”
“Kill the entire guild in a single spell,” Erice replied. She pulled a small scroll out from her coat and unfurled it. “I’ve been taking notes on the process. I don’t think it’ll make any sense to you, but the ritual he’s working on should chain from one person to another, killing them mercilessly.”
“And without any magical wards to protect them, they’re pretty much sitting ducks,” Markov said as he glanced at the scribbled notes. She could see that he clearly had no idea what any of the words meant, but he kept reading anyway.
“I’m telling you this so we can step in. Elias is blind to this plan. Cimir’s going rogue.”
“Sounds like he’s just thinking several steps ahead,” Markov replied. “Not a bad idea, come to think of it.”
“What?” Erice asked.
Markov shrugged and took a sip of his tea before replying. “This Guild is nothing to laugh at. Like it or not, we’re on their hit list. The moment we do something they don’t like, they’ll kill more of our people.”
“Then we rally our people, arm up and storm them! We fight like true warriors!” Erice protested. “Just say the word and I’ll lead them myself.”
“The size of the Guild is unknown, and their strength is a mystery to us,” Markov countered. “You’d be running in blindly. And to make matters worse, even if you were able to locate their headquarters and break in, they still have operatives scattered across Glimmer. We can’t fight them all at once. Then it will be a war of attrition and we don’t have the numbers.”
Erice frowned at that. “It’s not right to just snap our fingers and kill an entire group of people.”
“Group of criminals, mind you,” Markov said. “They carry blades, and not for the good of the public. This is the life you get when you live outside of the law. It’s part of the game.”
“So, you’re comfortable with a man having that much power in the city? What happens when some other group slights him? When Cimir decides he doesn’t like the people currently in the Magistrate?”
“That’s where you come in, Erice. He’s been teaching you all the magic stuff, right? Well, learn how to counter it. Just in case he starts to use it for something worse than killing a bunch of thieves and murderers.”
Erice shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”
“I don’t know what you want from me,” Markov replied. “The Thieves Guild is one of the few organizations in this world that truly scare me. They follow a code I consider evil. They have no qualms about harming anyone in their way. Eradicating them would be beneficial for not only our little operation, but also for the entire city. As captain of the watch, it is my solemn duty to protect the citizens. Not the criminals. Go back to Cimir, learn how the ritual works and how to counter it, but do nothing to stop his current course of action. Understood?”
“Good or evil, no one should be subject to assassination,” Erice replied.
“Not even assassins?” Markov asked. “Save your ideals for those who deserve it.”
Erice said nothing else. She merely stood and walked out of Markov’s home. There was little else to say on the matter. He was set in his ways and they did not share the same sense of morality. What then could she do to persuade him? She could appreciate, at least, that he didn’t bother to pursue after her. It showed that he knew that she could not be moved from her position.
As she began the long walk back to the Ruby District, she noticed a large, hulking Stonemar lumbering towards Markov’s home. It was Groth. Perhaps he would be able to advise her on such matters. After all, Groth had been alive longer than the entire city of Glimmer. No doubt he would have words of wisdom for her to hold onto.
“Stonefriend!” she called in his native tongue. From an early age, she had been trained in learning the Underlanguages, Stonemar, Serpentine, Gnomish and Iolki. Her parents had been outspoken enemies of many organized religions. For a while, there had been fear of having to flee the surface of human controlled lands. They had prepared their daughter, just in case.
“Ah, the Sun-Kissed Woman,” Groth replied. “It is good to see you. How do you fare?” He stopped approaching Markov’s home and instead approached her.
“Not well, I’m afraid. I stand at a crossroads. I wish for your wisdom, if you would gift it to me,” she replied.
Groth chuckled. “Stonemar wisdom is to sit and think for a century, human wisdom is to act immediately. What could I offer you?”
And so Erice shared the conundrum with Groth. She did not fear his loyalties, for she was a Stonefriend, a speaker of the language. Those who learned the language of the Stonemar were to be treated as if they were equals and the Stonemar culture forbid harming a brother or sister in any way. He would not betray her trust.
Groth looked at her and shook his head. “Markov prepares for direct violence. I have been tasked with piecing together an army of Stonemar to fight back. Cimir offers a better way. Lives will end regardless of what option we choose; the question is whether the lives of your own people are worth your ideals.”
“What would you do?”
“There comes a point where idealism must be tempered into pragmatism,” Groth replied. “But then it is a matter of whether your conscience can bear it. But you need not to be a part of this at all. Instead of complying, you could simply just walk away.”
Erice sighed at that. She was hoping for some kind of secret insight but walking away was the obvious choice. “I could warn the Thieves Guild,” she replied.
“And sign the death warrants of all of your people,” Groth said. “You break the Law of Alliances.”
Erice nodded. The Law of Alliances was a Stonemar principle. To live in the home of another being was to be an ally of theirs. They were to be treated as Stonekin, even if they were of other races.
“Can I ask you, why do you stick around? You’d be better off on your own than with these people, the way they treat you,” Erice asked.
Groth laughed heartily at that. “I work so that I may have a voice in this city. They are gaining power and with it, credibility. Just as the city quakes at the name of the Thieves Guild, so will they herald men who distribute Cimirite.”
“So, you’re in it for the power and the prestige?”
“No, I am in it for the ability to finally have a voice,” Groth said, pointing to his chest. “Within me emanates a crystal specially made so that I can speak the human language with ease. Before that, I wander the streets alone. Few would even speak to me, and those who did were common thugs, looking for a brute.”
“Now you’re working as a brute for uncommon thugs,” Erice said. “Come with me, let’s go do something else. Something better.”
Groth shook his head. “I have no reason to leave, but you? I would not blame you. Step away and wash your hands, so that your conscience is clean. Otherwise, you must fall in line and serve as is requested of you.”
Erice turned her back and took a few steps away from Groth. “Then I’m gone then. If Cimir asks, tell him I quit.”
“You make a wise choice, to live by your ideals,” Groth said. “But you must do right by your master. Speak to him and inform him, perhaps that would dissuade his conscience.”
“He’s a madman, set in his ways,” Erice said. “But you’re right. I cannot just slip out the backdoor, in silence. He deserves to hear my words.” No doubt Cimir would repossess her magic, so sooner would be better than later. The only question was whether she would survive the extraction process.
Captain Markov took a dee
p breath as he pushed the door to Cimir’s laboratory open. He knew little about the sorcerer other than the fact that he mostly kept to himself and was utterly obsessed with magic. His motivations were a mystery, his reasons for creating Cimirite didn’t even appear to be about money.
“That simply doesn’t work…” Cimir muttered to himself. Markov walked down the stairs to see half a dozen books open on a table. Cimir was busy walking from book to book, taking notes and mumbling about possibilities.
Once Markov reached the bottom of the stairs, Cimir whipped around. He scowled to see Markov and raised his hands. “What are you doing here?”
“Relax, Cimir. I’m here to talk business,” Markov said. “I’m unarmed.”
“Oh, like I’d be worried if you were armed,” Cimir said, turning his attentions back to the books. “You’re just another paid lackey of Elias.”
“Far from it,” Markov replied. “I’m no lackey. But I’m not here on the behalf of Elias, but rather on my own devices. I know what you’re working on.”
Cimir stopped reading and glanced at Markov. “Is that so?”
Markov nodded. He pointed to one of the books. “You’re trying to find a way to kill an entire guild in one spell.”
“And what if I am?” Cimir asked.
“Then I want to know when you’re planning on using it, so I can be ready to respond in case some people manage to survive,” Markov replied. “We’ll need to coordinate to kill this beast once and for all.”
Cimir grinned a little at that. “So, you’re not here to dissuade me?”
“You’re a man of action, I can respect that,” Markov said. “Truth be told, if I had the power to do so, I would have destroyed every last one of those bastards years ago.”
“Good, good,” Cimir said. “Perfect.” He turned his attention back to working on the books for a few minutes, organizing them a little. Markov watched in silence, unsure of whether the man was playing a game with Markov or was truly bad with social situations. After a while, Cimir looked back up at Markov.
“I’ve been working on this ritual for weeks now,” he said. “And things are just about in place. But I need something that will be difficult to get my hands on without tipping them off. I need some kind of paraphernalia. Like a signet ring, or a banner or a cloak. Something that is symbolically tied to their organization. That’s really the lynchpin. I was going to put Samuel on acquiring it, but you seem like you’d have an easier time obtaining what I need.”
Markov stroked his mustache a little. “There’s a coin that they use to identify each other. The only way to get it would be to take it off a body or join up. And since joining is nigh impossible, guess we’ll have to take one by force.”
“I doubt you would have any problem with force, Captain,” Cimir said.
Markov laughed at that. “We’ve managed to perfect the art over the last few decades. The real trouble will be with finding the man.”
“I’m too busy with this to create a spell to search for a medallion,” Cimir said. “Time is of the essence. I leave it to your capable hands.”
Markov watched in silence as Cimir worked for a few more minutes, leaning down and riffling through several books. Eventually, the boy spoke more. “I don’t think Elias needs to know about this,” he said. “The man might panic at the thought of my plan failing.”
“Agreed,” Markov said. “He’s not fit for decisions such as this. He’s a civil servant, not a wartime leader.”
Cimir nodded and gestured towards a chair. “Have a seat, if you will. There is something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Of course,” Markov said, sitting down and sliding a few of the books out of the way. One book was titled Murder Through Magic; A Most Despicable Tome. A chill ran down his spine as he read the words.
“Elias has displeased me,” Cimir said. “His greed put us in a dangerous position. By going after another operation, trying to consolidate our products, he angered powerful people who were otherwise content to leave us alone.”
Markov nodded at that but said nothing. He knew where this was headed.
“Then on top of that, he sends two of our own to die, just so he can save his own skin. That is an egregious betrayal.”
“And so, you want my opinion on the matter?”
“My mind is already made up, Captain,” Cimir replied. “He will be removed from his position in this organization. The question is, who would replace him? Neither Samuel or I want to see this get out of hand again. I thought a man of your connections would have some ideas.”
“You are just as complicit in this as Elias is,” Markov said as he stood up, causing the chair to slide back quite forcefully. “You and your bravado led you to walk out to challenge those men. They were there to retrieve a man who they considered to be their own property. Don’t act as if Elias is the sole reason to blame here. He might have given the orders to find the man creating the potions, but his intentions weren’t to do any harm. Might I remind you his plan was to simply buy the man out? You were the one to try and fight them.”
“So, you blame me?” Cimir asked. He looked more amused than angry.
“In truth, we’re all to blame. Elias for issuing the order, myself for grabbing Fredlin with such a dramatic flair and you for picking a fight that led Groth to kill in order to keep you alive. It’s terribly short sighted to shift all the blame to one man,” Markov said. “And worse, it shows you are not much of a leader.”
“How so?”
“A man who cannot accept his own failures and shoves them onto others is not fit to lead,” Markov replied. “I will not entertain any ideas of subverting Elias with someone like you.”
Cimir chuckled at that. “It’s going to happen, regardless of your approval or not.”
“I would think carefully before you make that move,” Markov said. “You don’t want to make an enemy out of me.”
“You think I can’t kill you?” Cimir taunted.
“I know for a fact that you won’t. I’m the only thing standing between you and the wrath of the city guard. And I work with Elias, with certain rules and stipulations. I would rather see him stay in power, because I can trust that he works in favor of this city. You? I don’t know who the hell you are. But I’m certain you wouldn’t much care to follow my directions.”
Cimir pointed to the collection of books on the table. “Are you sure I won’t kill you?”
Markov folded his arms. “If you mean to do it, do it now. Save us both the trouble. Otherwise, I suggest you put away any talk of supplanting Elias. Your little operation would collapse without his support.”
A moment passed, Cimir stared at Markov, defiance in his eyes. The captain returned the gaze, unimpressed by the threats and antics of the young man. Eventually, Cimir broke his gaze and glanced downwards at the ground. “I will consider this,” Cimir said. “But I suggest you have a serious talk with Elias. He needs to know that he can never trade our lives again.”
“We are all just men, Cimir,” Markov said. “No doubt he has learned his lesson. But I suggest you learn to take responsibility. If you have a vote, if you sit at the table and make decisions, then you are just as culpable as he is.”
Cimir shrugged at that. “Do you want a vote then, Captain? A man of military skill such as yourself would be valuable sitting at our table.”
Markov let out a deep sigh. “I have pondered that before. It is unavoidable, I think, in the long term. Once we have finished our business with the guild, we can discuss that.” It was a relief to hear that Cimir saw value in Markov’s contributions. At the very least, it would keep Elias alive. Markov wasn’t quite sure what Cimir meant when he said he wanted to ‘remove’ the man from command.
Elias stared through the peephole, shocked by who was on the other side. It was the potion maker, Fredlin, banging on the door to their new headquarters in the Golden District. How the hell did Fredlin find them? Markov had insisted they move to another warehouse, to throw off the
Thieves Guild, but apparently it did little good.
“Come on! Let me in, damn it! I could die out here!” Fredlin shouted. He pounded on the door a few more times.
Elias glanced back at the curious Snake man who was hovering over his shoulder. “If he tries anything, can you take him?”
“I’m a diplomat,” Krissaw hissed. “Not a warrior. But I suppose my natural size advantage would be of assistance. Let him in.”
The warehouse was unprotected. Markov’s men weren’t around, to lower the chances of the location being leaked, and Groth was out and about. Sure, Elias had a few dozen crystals for protection, but crystals hadn’t helped Cimir out, had they?
Taking a deep breath, Elias opened the door. Fredlin pushed past him and stumbled into the hallway.
Theft, Murder, and Crystals Page 34
