by James Wisher
He’d have to get lucky and take one out fast. He saw no way around it; he’d have to kill at least one of them. Steeling himself Xander charged the man on his left. The attack caught the enforcer off guard, but he got his sword up in time to block Xander’s attack.
Kaylin screamed and he dropped flat on his back, the second enforcer’s sword whistled over his head. Xander stabbed up with his knife, driving several inches into the second man’s inner thigh. He twisted the blade and ripped it out. Arterial spray jetted out, good he’d hit the target.
Xander scrambled to his feet, ready to face the other man. Rather than attack the enforcer knelt beside his injured comrade. He looked up at Xander. “You killed my partner!”
Xander tightened his grip on his rusty sword. “Better him than me. Why don’t you two take a walk? No one else has to get hurt today.”
“Wrong.” The enforcer got up from beside his dead partner and advanced toward Xander. “You need to get hurt.”
“Are you that much better than him? The two of you couldn’t take me together. Do you think you can do it alone?”
“He was lucky!” The fat man shouted. “You can take him.”
“He might be right,” Xander said. “But you notice he’s not running up here to take me on. Why do you suppose that is?”
The enforcer looked back at the fat man and Xander didn’t hesitate. He took two long strides and swung. His blunt sword cracked into the enforcer’s head and he fell in the ground, unconscious or dead, Xander didn’t care. He turned to the fat man at the end of the alley. “Ready to go?”
“Yes.” The fat man spun on his heel and fled.
Xander sighed. “This is getting tiresome.” He retrieved his dagger where he’d dropped it beside the dead man.
“Are you okay?” Kaylin asked.
Xander’s back ached from landing hard on the ground and he rubbed it. “I’ll live. Let’s go before he returns with more friends.”
Kaylin rifled through the enforcers’ pockets and helped herself to the contents. They left the alley and headed back toward home. “I can’t believe how you handled those two. You said you’d learned how to fight, but that was amazing.”
“I didn’t play fair with those two. I stabbed the first one low and hit the other from behind, not the noblest victory.”
“You did what you had to. I bet your father would be proud.”
Xander snorted a laugh. She had no idea what Father had been like. “At times like this I’m glad he burned up in the fire. If he knew what I’ve done to survive he’d have dug himself out of his grave and come after me himself.”
She laughed and Xander looked over at her. She saw the look on his face and fell silent. “You’re serious.”
Xander nodded. “He would have rather starved than steal.” He smiled. “I’ve always taken a more practical view. That view often got me in trouble as a kid. Now it’s going to save my life.”
Kaylin grinned and they picked up their pace. When they entered the inn the keeper didn’t even look up. At the top of the first flight of steps Xander glanced in the dining room and stopped. He grabbed Kaylin’s arm. “Look.”
In the middle of the dining room Sophia served drinks and chatted with customers. She spotted them and waved a bright smile on her face. Xander smiled and waved back. He hadn’t seen her this happy since… He hadn’t ever seen her this happy come to think of it. They waited in the doorway until she got free.
Sophia came over to join them. “How’d you do?”
“All right,” Xander said. “How long have you been helping here?”
“This is my first day.” She chewed her lip. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Not at all, I’m curious how it happened.”
“After you left this morning I felt lonely so I came down to the dining room and over heard Mr. El-Kalim, he’s the owner, telling the head waiter one of the serving girls didn’t show up today. I offered to help. I don’t what came over me. Was I wrong?”
“No, no, it’s fine.” Xander patted her shoulder.
“How much is he paying you?” Kaylin asked.
“We didn’t talk about a certain amount. He said he’d give me a fair wage.”
Xander remembered the innkeeper’s effort to cheat them earlier and made a note to have another chat with Mr. El-Kalim if the wage wasn’t fair enough. “I need to get off my feet. See you when you get done.”
They left Sophia to her work and climbed the final two flights of stairs. When they had the door closed and locked behind them Kaylin dumped the contents of the three pouches she’d grabbed on the table along with a few coins and a ring taken off the enforcers. They did better, but not good enough in Xander’s mind to justify the risk. He said as much to Kaylin. “If we keep going to the market the thieves’ guild will eventually send enough thugs to get the job done.”
“You’re right.” She consolidated the loot into a single pouch. “The problem is I don’t know anybody in this city. If I were home we could burgle a house and fence the goods. Here I don’t know any fences much less which work directly for the thieves guild or even if there are any that don’t.”
“We either have to join the guild or get out this city and try our luck somewhere else.”
“I don’t see how we can join the guild. That fat thief made it clear we weren’t welcome. I say we go back to the market tomorrow, I pick every pocket I can, and we come back here and grab Sophia, and get lost.”
“I like it. They’d never expect us to try anything so soon.”
* * *
For what he hoped would be the last time Xander waited in a stinking alley for Kaylin to return. Last night when she came upstairs Xander explained to Sophia they had to leave the city and try their luck elsewhere. The disappointment on her face had broken his heart, but it was too dangerous to stay.
After lunch he and Kaylin had left the inn and headed toward the marketplace. They made a quick walk around and Kaylin pronounced all clear. Xander went to his hiding place and left Kaylin to her work. That was an hour ago and he was so worried he hadn’t stopped pacing.
“Hey.” Xander spun around sword raised. Kaylin walked down the alley calm as could be. No angry men with weapons chased her so he decided their plan to move fast had worked out.
“Hey, yourself. You didn’t run into any trouble?”
“No, didn’t see any sign of them. Guess we caught them by surprise.”
“Yeah, let’s get out of here while the getting’s good.”
They walked down the alley but hadn’t gone more than a couple steps when two men appeared and blocked their path. Swords hung at their belts, but they didn’t draw them.
“I knew this was going too well. Come on.” Xander grabbed Kaylin’s hand and they turned toward the other end of the alley. Two more men blocked this end. “Damn them to hell. I guess we fight.”
The enforcers blocking their way stepped to one side and a fifth man accompanied by the fat thief stepped into the alley. Xander stiffened at the sight of him. The fifth man was different than the others, just short of six feet tall, in his mid thirties. He had short black hair and a lean build. He carried himself with unconscious grace of a natural swordsman. If Xander had to fight him he was dead.
“Are these the ones?” The new man asked the fat thief.
The fat man nodded. “Yes, lord, they’re the ones.”
The new man drew his sword and faced Xander and Kaylin. “You two will regret not joining the guild when you had the chance.”
Xander frowned. “The thing is we were never given a chance to join. In fact we offered to join yesterday, but the fellow behind you said we weren’t thieves’ guild material.”
The swordsman lowered his blade a fraction. “Hakim, is this true?”
“No! They’re lying, kill them.”
He looked at Xander who stared back. “It’s clear one of you is lying. Let’s all go back to the guildhall and Hakim will take a truth potion. Whoever is lying will be execu
ted. What say you stranger? Does this strike you as fair arrangement?”
Since Xander hadn’t lied and he didn’t want to get killed he thought it sounded like an excellent arrangement and said so.
“Hakim, does this sound fair to you?”
Hakim’s dark skin got darker. “That sounds fair, my lord, but it won’t be necessary. They’re telling the truth.”
“I suspected as much.” The leader sheathed his sword. “Why is it you ignored guild rules and tried to kill these two without even giving them a chance to join?”
“They’re kids; I figured they’d be of little use to us.”
“When they bested that lunatic you call a friend that gave you some indication they were skilled. What’s even worse they offered to join and you failed to accept and you attacked them again.”
“What about him?” Hakim pointed at Xander. “He killed one of our enforcers and hurt two others. Aren’t you going to do something about that?”
“That’s on you.” The leader said. “What did you think would happen? Did you think he’d stand there and let your men cut him and the young lady down? You’ll answer for your foolishness later. Now get out of my sight.”
Hakim left in sullen silence. After he’d gone the leader said, “I apologize for Hakim. He’s a poor representative of our guild. Where are my manners? I’m Kraven, sub commander of the Thieves’ Guild.” He bowed like a courtier.
Xander called upon years of etiquette training and bowed as his mother taught him. “Xander Kane, my lord, at your service.”
Kaylin managed an awkward curtsy. “Kaylin, honor to meet you sir.”
Kraven smiled. “Excellent, now that we’re all acquainted let’s head over to the guild hall and you two can meet the day boss and see if he has any assignments for you.” He made a dismissive gesture and the enforcers guarding the alley slipped away.
Xander and Kaylin followed Kraven out of the alley and turned north. After they’d walked a couple blocks Xander said, “I’m not much of a thief; my skills lie more in the realm of combat.”
“That’s no problem.” Kraven glanced at him and grinned. “We have an opening for a new enforcer.”
Xander laughed, pleased Kraven didn’t hold a grudge.
* * *
Loaded wagons came and went from warehouses in the bustling merchant’s district. The curses and grunts of laborers filled the air as the wrestled heavy crates. Kraven led them to a large, well maintained warehouse with a sign over the door that read Olin’s Import and Export. Inside crates of all shapes and sizes filled every shelf. There was an office to the left as you entered, but Kraven ignored it and continued to the rear of the building. About ten feet from the back wall someone had piled crates almost to the ceiling. They followed Kraven behind the crates and he bent down and lifted a hatch built into the floor. The boards fit so well Xander hadn’t even noticed a seam.
The stairway led down into the darkness. Kraven took a glowstone from a vest pocket and rubbed it until the light grew bright enough to show the way.
“The guild hall is underground?” Xander asked.
“This is the back door. There are half a dozen passages like this scattered around the city. Watch your heads as the ceiling is quite low.” Kraven indicated they should go first then closed the trap door behind them.
Kraven took the lead at the bottom of the stairs. He led them down a rough hewn tunnel. The older man had to walk bent over, but Xander and Kaylin only bowed their heads. Xander counted three hundred and twenty-one steps before they reached another set of stairs going up out of the tunnel.
“Wait here.” Kraven went up the steps and a few seconds later a muffled conversation drifted down to them. “Come on up.”
Xander went first just in case. The stairs led to a small, square room with a pair of guards armed with crossbows. If anyone tried to break in the two guards would have little trouble holding the narrow entryway. Neither guard looked threatening so Xander reached down and helped Kaylin out of the tunnel.
Kraven shut the trapdoor behind them. “Follow me.”
He led them through the room’s only door and down a short hall. The outline of several murder holes gleamed in the dim light. “I’d hate to fight my way in here,” Xander said.
Kraven stopped in front of the door at the end of the hall. “You noticed the murder holes, good, I hoped you would. No one has ever tried to force their way through these tunnels, but the guild master thought it wise to be prepared.”
“A sound philosophy, I look forward to meeting him,” Xander said.
“You won’t meet the master, at least not right away. He seldom visits the hall. The day boss and the night boss run things along with me and another lieutenant.”
Xander nodded and glanced at Kaylin who looked bored. She must have known all this stuff from her old guild. Kraven opened the door and they stepped through into what looked like the lobby of an inn. A heavyset bald man without a shirt sat behind a counter with a ledger on it. Kraven cleared his throat and the man looked up.
“Ah, Kraven, back already.” He looked past Kraven at Xander and Kaylin. “What have we here?”
“Sir, I’m afraid Hakim, as usual, provided us with bad information.” Kraven summarized what happened in the alley.
When he finished the man behind the desk, the day boss Xander assumed given Kraven’s deferential behavior, groaned. “Remind me again why we let that fool do any thinking? His brain is clearly defective. Why did the night boss insist we give him a third chance to screw up?”
“I believe Hakim and the night boss are cousins, sir.”
“Oh, well if that’s the case have the idiot assigned to night duty. At least I won’t have to deal with him. As for you two.” He waved Xander and Kaylin closer. “We don’t have many rules but they are rigorously enforced. Pay attention as I don’t want to repeat myself. First you can’t harm another guild member. Second you can’t conduct any business without guild approval and upon completion you will surrender all proceeds from which you will receive your cut. Third—” The day boss paused his bored recital to look closer at Xander. “Did you really best three of my enforcers?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Remarkable, you hardly look up to the task. Where was I?”
“Rule three,” Kaylin said.
“Right, rule three, all members are equal save the master, bosses, and lieutenants, they are to be obeyed at all times. Day shift members report at midmorning and night shift members report at midnight. Since I’m three men down you’ll both be assigned to the day shift. Questions?”
They shook their heads.
“All right, do you have rooms in the city or will you be staying at the hall?”
“We have a room in the city,” Xander said.
“Fine, you can get a meal in the dining hall after you hand over whatever you nicked this morning.”
Kaylin grudgingly handed over the three purses she cut that morning. The day boss counted it then handed her back a single purse. “Not a bad haul. What else can you do?”
“I can pick locks and sneak around. Most anything a burglar might need to do I can manage,” Kaylin said.
The day boss nodded and turned to Xander. “What about you?”
“I can pick a simple lock, but mostly I fight.”
The boss waved a hand at his lack of traditional skills. “Never fear, my boy. We always have need of men with your skills. In fact as you’ve already defeated several of the enforcers I considered the most skilled I think your talents are more needed than I first thought.”
Xander bowed at the compliment. “I hope I can be of service.”
“I’m sure you can. There’s a job for you right now if you’re ready.”
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” Xander’s stomach did a summersault. Now he had a chance to prove himself. He couldn’t blow it
“Good.” The boss eyed him. “Let me see that weapon.”
Xander handed over his blunt, rusty sword. The da
y boss looked at the cheap iron and clucked his tongue. “This won’t do at all. A blunt sword isn’t much of a threat.” He ducked into a door behind the counter and emerged a minute later with a curved, single-edged sword that seemed popular in the city. He drew the weapon and handed it to Xander.
Xander accepted the weapon and made a couple slow cuts. He shook his head. The blade weighed too much for the counter weight. He’d overbalance if he made a full swing. If he were six inches taller and fifty pounds heavier it would be perfect but as he stood it would get him killed in a fight.
The day boss must have seen the dislike on his face. “Is the sword not to your liking? I assure you it’s made of the finest steel.”
Xander couldn’t argue that, the blade was one of the finest he’d ever seen. “The sword is well made, but the balance is too far forward and it’s too heavy for someone my size. If you have something lighter with the balance more toward the hilt I would be grateful.”
The day boss snorted. “Anything else?”
“Well sir, since you asked, I prefer a straight blade.”
“And if I can’t find a blade to your specifications?”
“In that case I’d like my old sword back.”
“What? You’d rather have that rusty hunk of iron than the fine blade you hold?”
“While I don’t wish to offend you, sir, all this fine weapon will do is get me killed. Better a poor blade that suits me than a fine one that doesn’t.”
The day boss took the sword back and went back into the back room, muttering all the while. Xander noticed Kraven watching him and sometime during his discussion Kaylin snuck off. “I meant no offense.”
Kraven smiled. “I didn’t think you did. In fact you were well spoken and I couldn’t find fault with a single word. My sword master used to say ‘a great sword doesn’t make a great swordsman but the wrong sword will make a dead swordsman’.”
“I suspect your master was a wise man.”
