by Brian Keller
He wasn’t the first one finished, or even the second, but he finished early enough that afterward he went to the Smithy to see Master Loril. He thought he should check on what progress had been made with his token. Master Loril replied to his question, “All in good time, Mister Cooper. I nearly have the dies carved, but you won’t likely be considered a full Adept for several more months. Usually, tokens are awarded by the Guildmaster in something resembling a ceremony. He holds up the token for all in the Council chamber to see, then he passes it around so everyone can inspect it; so they’ll recognize it if they see it again. Once it finds its way back to him, the Guildmaster turns it over to its new owner.” The smith turned back to face the forge, “Dailen still takes a few classes in the mornings. Do you have a few minutes to help me with something?” Cooper stepped to the side of the room and picked out a leather apron, then picked up the gloves he’d come to think of as ‘his’ and joined the master at the forge.
Ten minutes later, they stepped away from the coals and Master Loril set the workpiece aside to cool slowly. Cooper took off the gloves and rolled them up in the apron and set the bundle under the bench at the side of the room. He spent enough time in this room, it made sense to him that he should set aside those items. They fit. He turned to face the large man, “Sir, I have a question. Before you fought Vorni you said something. Something about you being one of the few people who knew who I was. What did you mean by that?” Master Loril chuckled as he shook his head, “You’ve been carrying that question around awhile, haven’t you?” Cooper nodded, “I’ve been trying to figure out how to ask. Recently, I decided it was better to be done with it, and simply ask directly.” Master Loril nodded, “I accept that you have secrets, though I am confident that I already know many of them. Sometimes magic can become just as much a curse as it is a boon. You’ve asked a question and I know that you’d like the answer. I’ll just ask you to be patient and allow me to answer this one in my own time. Is that fair enough?” Cooper nodded. The man was a Master, he hadn’t needed to answer him at all. It was indeed fair.
*****
Circumstances were becoming desperate. Another team of sellswords had failed to return from completing a task. As Jarell walked along a street in Batter’s Field, he noticed a few boards that had been placed to make a bridge over a weed-filled, narrow ditch. The area beneath was still filled with water, whether it was welling up or left behind, shaded, following the last rain wasn’t even a consideration to him. What he couldn’t help noticing was that the water had grown fetid due to stagnation. If anyone opened up the ditch, rivulets of water would flow to wherever the ground was lowest. He considered how water was perceived differently if it was moving. It might be just as putrid as the tiny cesspool here, but if it was flowing it somehow seemed cleaner… It was time for him to move. Even if he remained the same person, changing scenery might somehow make him feel cleaner. He needed a couple more days. He’d secured passage on a ship and had started consolidating his valuables into chests and crates to be transported. There was still more to do but spending more than an hour or two at a time in the Ruins was more dangerous now, even for him. He’d considered transporting his containers piecemeal but once he’d started moving boxes onto a ship, too many of the people working for him were smart enough to recognize those signals. It would become a feeding frenzy and then he’d be fighting them on every front in order to escape with his accumulated gains, and his life. The Guild was drawing ever closer, hacking through his layers of protection with unexpected efficiency. He could feel the noose tightening and that boy, Cooper, was continuously working to pull in the slack on the rope. Perhaps he’d need some leverage against the boy…someone that mattered to him… and he knew just where to start.
*****
Cooper met with Lash, Rayna, and another that he hadn’t met, to brief, plan and hopefully accompany during the outing. Rayna spoke first, gesturing first at Cooper and then to the one he didn’t know, “Cooper, Nix. Nix, Cooper, or ‘Kinsman’, if he’s contracted.” Nix raised an eyebrow, “Like the poem?” Lash cleared his throat, “Yes. Just like the poem. Now that introductions are done, can we get started?” Nix shrugged. He had a smaller build, much smaller than Lash, perhaps even smaller than Rayna. He had a narrow face, a slightly pointed chin and a sharp nose. In fact, Cooper couldn’t help but notice that most of his features seemed either angular or sharp. He appeared very lean, almost whipcord thin, which made his jawline more pronounced, all the way to where turned upward below his ears. His hair was dark, lightly oiled and pulled back tightly; and his eyebrows seemed almost shiny. The skin of his hands felt almost like polished marble and his handshake was cool but firm. Nix noted Cooper’s reaction, “Yeah. Earth. I don’t look the type, do I?” Cooper smiled and nodded, “I wouldn’t have guessed it, if that’s what you mean. Not until I shook your hand, anyway.” Lash sounded impatient, “Alright. Now can we get started?” Cooper gave nod and started things off, “First thing I’ll mention, before it gets lost amongst the rest of the information, is that Jarell is at the other end of the line. That means whoever goes out will need Miss Camilla’s antidotes for the poison.” Nix wondered, “Why worry about poison? No poison was found in that house in Miller’s Flats…?” Rayna shook her head, “There were also no ledgers, receipts, or documents of any kind. In fact, the only items that were there was furniture, groceries, and bandages.” Cooper nodded in agreement as he added, “I don’t think using that house was even part of Jarell’s original plan. I think he just went there as a place to put his feet up in comfort while he was healing. All the things he considered important were held somewhere else. I have my suspicions, but if I’m not going along, then I certainly don’t want to burden anyone with my guesswork.” Lash interjected, “You’re not going along? Who said that?” Lash looked around the table. No one answered him. Lash looked back at Cooper, “Well?” He shrugged, “Master Worthan expressed that in order for me to be included on this trip, there’d need to be a ‘compelling reason’ for it. As much as I want to go, I’m not entirely sure that I can think of a reason he’ll accept.” Lash shrugged, “How about this… You beat Jarell in a fight and that was before you Manifested. I’m pretty sure I can beat him, and I’m almost even more certain that Rayna can. Nix? Well, Nix has a certain flair, but he’s no brawler. Most times he’s not even in the same building when he satisfies his contracts.” Nix shrugged, “I fight just fine, but why risk it if there’s other ways to satisfy a contract?” Rayna explained, “Nix spends much of his free time studying.” Nix raised a finger, indicating he had something to add, “And tinkering. Let’s not omit that.” Rayna gave him a nod, almost condescendingly, “And tinkering, yes. There are those that feel that Nix is Master Darius’ understudy, though Master Darius is singularly unaware of this, somehow.” Cooper looked at everyone around the table, expecting more elaboration. None followed. He felt compelled to ask, “How could he study under Master Darius without his knowledge?” Nix smiled and shook his head, “I’ve asked about continuing to study under him. He is unwilling and the Guildmaster will not press the issue; so I study behind him. I observe what he studies, his projects, and I follow along.” Cooper felt confused, “But Master Darius is such a welcoming, nice man. He’s always been so happy to help with anything…?” Nix shook his head and muttered, “Not if he suspects that you’re planning to take his job.” Nix quickly amended, “And I’m not! And I’ve never said anything like that. I think it’s just because his position is all he has, and all he seems to want. He can’t bear to think that someday he might be replaced.” Cooper could see how that might be. Even the smallest creature can become fiercely protective over something it holds dear, and Master Darius was probably the most destitute Master of all. Cooper voiced this last bit aloud and Lash corrected him, “I suspect Master Darius has as much gold tucked away as any two Masters. He invents new things on a monthly basis. The Guild will sometimes register these plans, legitimately. The majority of those royalties go to Mas
ter Darius, the Guild takes only a small cut, as I understand it.” Cooper was stunned. He hadn’t thought anything like that was possible.
He shook his head, as if to clear it, “We’re getting off topic. We were talking about fighting Jarell. I think I can beat him now without almost dying in the process, but that’s hardly a compelling reason. In all honesty, right now I’m too tired to argue the point of whether I should be allowed to go along or not. I’ll tell you what I know. I’ll help with the planning; and if nothing “compelling” arises then I’ll just go sleep and wait to hear how it went.”
As he explained all he’d learned while out on the bay, everyone listened raptly. When he described the location of the sellsword’s meeting place, Rayna interjected, “How this for ‘compelling’? That area is way too big for just three of us to cover. Even if you do come along, we’ll still want to have at least three or four more sets of eyes. We don’t even know how many men we’re looking for or exactly where they’re staying.” Cooper waited until she’d finished speaking, “And just how many buildings in the Ruins do you suppose have been fixed up as dwellings? I think once the area’s been scouted, the location will be apparent.” Lash raised a point, “Considering the location, there may be some difficulties finding volunteers to help us. The Enforcers are the obvious choice, but they’ll remember Boyd’s recent death all too well. That kid’s death was completely unnatural.” Lash faced Rayna and Nix, “And here’s Cooper, wanting to go and being told that there needs to be a compelling reason for it.” Cooper leaned in, “Thanks for trying to help justify taking me, but shouldn’t we be planning?” Lash chuckled, “What’s to plan? We go in, assess how many we’re up against and decide whether to go ahead. If we do attack, then we take as many alive as we can so we can interrogate them. We don’t have enough information to put together a solid plan. We don’t know where they are, exactly; and we don’t know how many there are, or how they’re arranged or equipped.” Nix picked up the thought stream, “And there’s your compelling reason. Assassins are better trained to build a plan as events unfold. We don’t know how many sellswords there are, but these men are trained, experienced fighters and we’re all unfamiliar with the location. There should be more than just three of us.” Everyone considered Nix’s words and Rayna concluded, “He’s right.”
Lash nodded, “So are we asking for permission?” he grinned mischievously, “Or forgiveness?” “Permission!” Cooper blurted, his expression showed embarrassment as he explained, “I’m pretty sure my reserves of ‘forgiveness’ have run dry.” Rayna got up from the table, “I’ll go and ask permission then.” She looked at the two other Adepts, “Either way, we’ll go tonight.” She looked at Cooper, “It’s just a question of how many of us there’ll be.” Cooper nodded, “I’m going to try and sleep a little. Wake me if I’m going along.”
His arrival in the sleeping bay was met with the usual questions. He waved them all off, “I’m going to try to sleep. If you won’t let me, I’ll just go somewhere else. Then tomorrow, once I’ve rested, I’ll let you know how displeased I am that you wouldn’t leave me alone.” Kolrem grunted, and for the benefit of the rest of the roommates, “Let him sleep, or you’ll answer to me right now.” As Kolrem ushered everyone towards the door, Marna protested, “What are we supposed to do in the meantime?” Kolrem growled, “Don’t care. Keep moving.”
Chapter 32
Rayna woke him in time for dinner. As Cooper opened his eyes and recognized her, she chuckled, “So much for a ‘compelling reason’. As soon as Master Worthan saw me enter his room he simply told me, ‘Fine, take him along’. I didn’t even get a chance to speak.”
After eating, the Assassins gathered in the Arena. They spent a few minutes limbering up and then all mounted the Trap. Lash leapt from mid-point on one of the beams to a spot near the center. This movement caused the entire configuration to react violently and everything began to heave and toss. They pursued each other, without drawing weapons, and would exchange periodic unarmed combinations when two or more drew close enough to make sparring feasible. After a few minutes, Cooper realized it was almost more ritual than practical. It was more like a way of celebrating their shared affiliation. ‘Friendship’ was too strong a word for it, but in other ways, what they shared ran just as deeply. After a few minutes, it dawned on him… they were family. It was only a few minutes later that Lash jumped to the outer reach of one of the beams. His action didn’t quell the movement, but it certainly diminished it, “Alright. Enough fun and games. We have work to do. We’ll stay together until we reach the northern boundary of Batter’s Field. Then we’ll split into pairs; Nix with Rayna, Cooper with me. Pairs spread out, but stay within view. We’ll converge if there’s fighting, otherwise this is reconnaissance first. Don’t forget, the guys we’re looking for work for Jarell. Everyone come over here, I have antidote for all of you.” As he handed out the vials, he continued, “Tonight won’t become a raid unless it looks suitable.” The other three nodded that they understood and Rayna turned to climb the rope leading to the hatch.
As they made their way to the Whitefoam, they made no efforts to avoid City Watch patrols. Soldiers of the Army, however, were a different matter. As they left the southern Trade Quarter, Army soldier presence diminished but as the river crossings came into view, soldiers frequently were sighted amongst the City Watch patrols. No alarms were being raised, but it might become problematic if they were to discover the bridges blockaded upon their return. Rayna commented to Nix, “We might need to implement those portable, floating bridges your mentor devised.” Nix muttered, “Not funny.” Lash replied, “Not practical either. We’ll just pay Kinsman’s new friends to shuttle us back through the bay, if it comes to that.”
The waxing, half-moon illuminated their crossing and as their path led them along the Waterfront, the air became a little hazy as the evening fog rose from the ground. The Trade Quarter had been mostly silent, with a few pockets of liveliness contributing additional sounds to the night air. The Waterfront was louder by comparison. It seemed that the denizens were enjoying the milder evenings while they lasted. In a couple of months, or perhaps even sooner, the breeze coming off the water would become a chill wind. The cold moisture carried by those winds could strip the warmth from a person’s bones in a single gust. Cooper recalled, while he’d been training in the Forest, Utsef had told him stories about tribesmen in the north clothing themselves with layer upon layer of furs to keep warm when the cold seasons came, just to stay alive. He’d decided he didn’t want to live anywhere that was necessary. Cooper’s thoughts were interrupted as a man stumbled out from a space between two buildings and onto the wooden boardwalk. The man was mumbling, “Char-i-tee. Give. Give coins. No hurting. Can’t hurt. Give coins now.” The man hadn’t taken more than five steps towards them before Lash had crossed to him, holding a short length of cordage. The Assassin quickly whipped the end of the cord around the man’s wrists, first one and then the other in a practiced movement. Lash then pushed the man, half-turning him as he brought the running end of the cord up under the man’s arm and then around his neck before pulling it taut. The man began to choke a little as Lash gave him a shove to the edge of the boardwalk and beyond. The splashing noises and shouting that followed made it evident that the man was still alive and trying to keep his head above water. Lash stepped away from the edge of the boardwalk muttering, “Apex. Dissociative they say? Seems to me that, at this moment, the guy is fully aware of what’s going on around him.”
As they turned northwest and left the boardwalk behind them, there were no more patrols to avoid, and the raucous noises of musicians and revelers gave way to the subdued nighttime sounds of nature. In the dim light, they could see the haphazardly repaired shacks of Batter’s Field to their left and Lash gave the signal for them to split into pairs.
As they crept into the Ruins, the breeze disappeared and the noises diminished almost to the point of being nonexistent. It felt eerie to be moving from structur
e to structure, knowing the desolate area was almost completely deserted. Some noises were still audible from the Waterfront to the south and east, but here even the bugs seemed uncharacteristically silent. The greatest benefit he could see was that it made the building they were looking for all the more obvious. They were still a few buildings away when they noticed slivers of light piercing through gaps in the shutters, lancing through the darkness to rest on the ground nearby. Lash stood to gain the attention of the other pair, but Rayna was indicating that they’d already spotted it too. They positioned themselves along adjacent sides of the building and settled in to observe.
If not for the fact that everything else was largely silent, Cooper wondered how much they’d be able to hear. The men inside seemed to speak very little, and when they did speak, they kept their voices low. They could hear the occasional sounds of a chair being slid, or a door opening and closing, or the sounds of a drawer being noisily pushed closed.
A little over an hour later, Lash signaled to the others to withdraw and gather up. After placing a few buildings, or what used to be buildings, behind them, they drew in close and spoke in hushed tones. Lash started off, “We need to make at least one wider circuit, just to make sure they haven’t posted lookouts.” Nix replied, “I don’t think they have.” Lash told him, “I agree, but that’s still no reason not to confirm it.” Nix nodded as Lash continued, “Once we’ve cleared the surroundings, we’ll move in closer. We all know what we need to learn before going in, but let’s not rush anything. There’s no bonus for finishing early.” Nix almost snorted, “For this? There’s no pay at all.” Rayna gave him an almost ungentle nudge with her elbow before stating, “From the way the light’s streaming out, I’d almost guess that they’ve pointed the lanterns to the walls and are working off the reflected light, rather than using the lanterns to highlight what they’re doing.” Nix was still scowling slightly in response to the elbow, “That means they aren’t concerned about hiding their presence, and why would they? No one comes through here.” Lash smiled grimly, “Except us.” Rayna glanced around and asked, “Where’s the cart?” She turned to Kinsman, “You said they had a cart.” He shrugged, “I suppose it might still be out on the pier. I wasn’t going to haul it back for them.” Rayna looked meaningfully at Lash, “We have to assume these guys know the others aren’t coming back. But why wouldn’t they have retrieved the cart?” Lash shrugged. It seemed that no one had an answer for that.
