by James Wisher
“What’s wrong?” She thought it best to let him tell her what happened.
“Sophia’s gone.” Kaylin could hardly understand the words, but the pain came through clear enough. She went over and put her arms around him and Xander slumped against her.
“Tell me,” she whispered in her ear.
The story came gushing out followed in short order by tears. Great wracking sobs shook Xander and she held him like a child until it passed. When he caught his breath Xander said, “I couldn’t do anything. By the time I got home the damage was done. She died in my arms.”
“I’m sorry, Xander. If I’d come home with you last night…”
Xander shook his head. “It wouldn’t have made any difference. She would have died anyway.”
“Come on, let’s go down stairs. You’re exhausted and I haven’t slept yet myself. There’s a spare room we can use.”
Xander followed her without a comment. He trudged along like a zombie, drained of any life. When they reached the room Kaylin guided him to the bed and helped him lie down. He slept the instant his head hit the pillow.
She smiled down at him and removed his mask, the scars underneath an ugly red. She brushed an unruly strand of black hair of his face. It was easy to forget when you saw him fight that he was still a boy of fourteen. When he slept and the mask was off he looked frighteningly young. Even knowing everything he’d done Xander still looked innocent to her.
“You saved my life, been my friend, stood between me and danger anytime I asked. I promise, whatever it takes, I’ll get you through this.”
Kaylin pulled Xander’s boots off then stripped down to her small cloths and slipped under the covers beside him. She put her head on his shoulder and draped an arm over her chest. Soon she fell fast asleep.
* * *
Xander had no idea what time it was when he woke up. He touched his face and found his mask gone. He looked over and found Kaylin curled up on her side sound asleep. Xander vaguely remembered her helping him into bed. He smiled down at her. She was a good friend. Xander slipped out of bed, put on his boots and mask, pulled the covers up over Kaylin and with a final fond look slipped out of the room.
He found Kraven at his usual post in the front room. He looked up from the paper he was reading when Xander entered. “Doing better?”
“I’ll live.”
“And Hakim?”
“He’s still going to die.” Kraven looked relieved, why Xander couldn’t guess. “I need something.”
“Anything I can do. I’m at your disposal.”
“What’s traditional here, you know, when someone dies? I haven’t seen anything resembling a cemetery.”
“Of course, you need to make arrangements for your friend. The locals cremate their dead, but if you’d prefer to bury her I can make arrangements for that.”
Xander shook his head. “Cremation is fine. We never spoke of that sort of thing so I don’t know what she wanted. Where do I go?”
“There’s a place on the next block north across from a tailor. Besides legal cremations they do disposals for the guild. Tell them I sent you and what you need. They’ll take good care of you.”
“Thanks Kraven. When Kaylin wakes up would you tell her where I’ve gone ask her to meet me at the inn?”
Kraven nodded and Xander left the hall. The sun sat low in the sky; he’d slept the whole day away. It took him a couple minutes to find the crematorium. The place was a big, square, stone building of only a single story. Xander wouldn’t have been surprised to learn a hidden tunnel connected it to the guild hall. The small wooden door in the front stood unlocked so Xander went in. There was a small reception area with a desk and several chairs. Behind the desk sat a thin man with an oiled mustache.
“Can I help you?”
“I need to make arrangements for a friend that died; Kraven said you’d help me.”
“Ah, say no more. Do you need a wagon or will you deliver the body yourself?”
“A wagon would be great.” Xander gave him directions to the inn. “When can you pick her up?”
“How much time do you need to get ready?”
“I’m ready now.” Xander didn’t want to think about it any longer than necessary. “I just need to bring her down stairs.”
“In that case you can ride along with my driver.” The little man looked back over his shoulder and shouted, “Han, I need you for a pick up.”
“I’ll hitch up the wagon,” A surly voice from the back room said.
“He’ll just be a moment. When you get back do you have any particular requirements?”
Xander shook his head. “I don’t even know which god she worshipped. Let’s keep this simple, okay?”
“Of course. Will you be the only attendant?”
“Myself and one other.” The clatter of hooves announced the wagon’s arrival. “That’ll be my ride.”
“Go on, all will be ready when you return.”
Xander went out and climbed up on the wagon. He gave the burly, bald driver directions and with a shake of the reins they were on their way. When they reached the inn Kaylin waited out front.
Xander climbed down out of the wagon. “Have you been waiting long?”
“A couple minutes. Why didn’t you wait for me?”
“Sorry, I needed to be moving not sitting and thinking. I made arrangements to have her cremated. Will you ride back with us?”
Kaylin nodded.
Han undid the tailgate. “Ready?”
Xander took a deep breath to steady himself then nodded. They went upstairs and when they reached the door to the suite they found a pretty blond girl standing outside the door. “Is everything all right?” she asked. “Sophia hasn’t been down all day.”
“She was killed last night.”
The girl gasped. “Did you tell the guard? What happened?”
“I found her when I came home last night. She’d been beaten pretty bad. You don’t need to worry about the guard. They couldn’t do anything to the animal that did this to her half as bad as what I’ll do.”
The girl looked into his eyes and shivered. “You should go down stairs now. You don’t want to see what he did to her.”
She hurried downstairs, pausing once to glance back at Xander. When she’d gone Xander unlocked the door and they collected Sophia’s body. It was still wrapped in the sheet where he left it. He and Han each took an end; they carried her down to the wagon, and loaded her in. When they’d all climbed on the wagon Han drove them back to the crematorium. They went around to the back of the building where a set of double doors stood open. Han drove through them and parked the wagon. A short ways away was a stone slab piled high with wood soaked in some liquid. The thin man stood beside the slab.
“Place the deceased on top.” He said.
Xander and Han managed this with a bit of straining. When it was done Han left Xander and Kaylin standing together, facing the pyre. “Since you didn’t know the deceased faith I thought I would keep the blessing short.”
“That would be best, thank you.”
The thin man moved to stand beside the pyre. “May the gods accept this departed soul that she may enjoy eternal peace. With a spark we send this mortal vessel to the four winds.” He took a piece of flint from his shirt pocket along with a small knife. He struck them together and sparks flew into the soaked wood which burst into flames. In moments Sophia’s body was engulfed.
“Maybe you should stay away from me,” Xander said.
“What?”
Xander nodded toward the pyre. “Everyone I care about seems to end up like that, one way or another. I’m not sure I can stand to lose you too.”
Kaylin took his hand and said in a fierce voice. “You’re not going to lose me, and we’ve been through too much together for me to walk away. No disrespect to the dead, but she and I couldn’t be much different.”
Xander didn’t argue with her, he didn’t want to. He squeezed her hand as they watched the fire burn.
CHAPTER 5
Kraven grunted when he hit the mat on the training room floor. Xander rested the tip of his sword on the older man’s throat. They both grinned. In the months following Sophia’s death Xander had thrown himself into his training with an intensity that frightened most of the others, but seemed to intrigue Kraven. In addition to running and weight lifting Xander and Kraven spared for an hour and half every day.
Xander reached down and helped Kraven to his feet. “Finally got you.”
“It was a good move.” Kraven stripped of his sweat soaked training gear. “You’ve come far in the last two months.”
Xander’s smiled deepened as he followed Kraven’s example and tossed his practice sword beside the rack. The intense training had burned away everything that wasn’t muscle, bone, or sinew. He was faster and stronger than he’d ever been. Even better, he’d reconnected with Kaylin.
After Sophia’s death Kraven made them a team again. They’d gone out on five jobs and pulled them all off without a hitch. It was like before they joined the guild, the two of them working together with no one else to depend on. They’d also moved to the hall permanently. Neither of them had the heart to stay in their old room after what happened.
Xander belted on his sword. “Same time tomorrow?”
Kraven rubbed his ribs where Xander had scored a hit. “I’m not sure I can handle two days in a row.”
“Guess you’re getting old.”
Kraven snorted. “I’ll see you here tomorrow. We’ll see if you can get lucky twice.”
Xander grinned. All he had to do was tease Kraven about his age and he’d return for more. He wasn’t even that old. Well whatever worked. “See you tomorrow.”
“Where are you going?”
“For a run around the city. Care to join me?”
Kraven frowned and shook his head.
Xander had known the answer before he made the request. When he said run around the city he actually meant to run the perimeter wall, a trip that took the better part of an hour. Xander left Kraven and went downstairs. Jayden stood by the front door. He hadn’t seen much of the thief since he and Kaylin spent more time together. Xander nodded to him and reached for the door handle.
Jayden blocked his way. “Can we talk for a minute?”
Xander nodded.
Jayden licked his lips as though not sure how to begin. After an awkward couple seconds he said, “Since you started staying in the hall I haven’t seen much of Kaylin. I was wondering if I’ll ever get to or if I should forget about her.”
“I love her,” Xander said. Jayden’s face fell in a sad frown. Xander grinned. “Like a sister.”
Jayden brightened. “So you don’t mind if I pay her a visit?”
“Not at all.” Xander frowned and his expression hardened. “If you get serious I won’t appreciate you running around behind her back.”
Jayden sputtered a protest but Xander raised his hand to silence him. “I know your reputation. If you break her heart I’ll cut yours out.”
Jayden blanched. “I swear I’d never do anything to hurt her.”
Xander smiled again. “Good, now I’ve got to run.” He brushed past the thief and headed out.
* * *
Xander found Kaylin waiting for him when he got back. “Where’ve you been?” She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the dining hall. “Everyone’s gathered and waiting for the guild master to speak. You’re the last one, come on.”
“What’s so important? We’ve been here three months and haven’t heard a thing from him.”
“Beats me, but everyone’s here except you, now come on.”
“Did you say everyone?”
“Yes, but please don’t do anything crazy. Hakim’s kept this long, a little longer won’t make a difference.”
Xander nodded, besides it wasn’t like he’d be able to kill Hakim in a room full of people determined to stop him. Xander would get one chance to kill the fat man and he would not waste it.
Thieves packed the dining hall and Kraven paced a few feet from the door. When he spotted Xander he said, “Where have you been? The guild master’s been waiting half an hour.”
“I went for a run. The same run I go on every day.”
“Well it’s not every day the guild master wants to address the whole guild. He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
“I went right after our sparring match. If you wanted me here you should have said something.”
“I didn’t know I would need you here.” Kraven said.
“If you didn’t know how was I supposed to?”
Kraven opened his mouth like he wanted to argue some more then clamped it shut. “Never mind, you’re here now. I have to tell the day boss everyone has arrived.”
“He seems worked up.” Xander wiped sweat from his face. “I wish I’d had a chance to wash up.”
“Aren’t you worried?” Kaylin asked. “Everyone’s on edge.”
“I don’t know enough to be worried. Maybe after the guild master speaks.”
The room fell silent when a robed figure swept in through a secret door in the back wall Xander didn’t know existed. The guild master stood a little above six feet tall and his, or hers, Xander couldn’t tell since the robe and cowl obscured everything, even the master’s hands were hidden in its folds.
“I have troubling news,” the guild master’s voice sounded far away; no doubt he used a device of some sort to disguise it. “One of our informants in the guard reports that one of our teams was killed last night. They found the bodies of two thieves outside a merchant’s house. On the wall above the bodies, written in their blood, were the words death to all thieves.”
Murmurs rippled through the assembled guild. The master raised his hands and everyone fell silent. “Until this threat is dealt with all teams will include an enforcer, no matter how simple the job.”
The master vanished back through the secret door. The thieves talked amongst themselves. Xander yawned and started toward the door. Kaylin fell in beside him. “What do you think?” she asked.
“I think from now on where you go I go.”
“I won’t argue. It’ll be tight with everyone staying in the hall.”
“It certainly will be.” Kraven had come up beside them and as usual Xander didn’t notice a thing. “What did you think of the guild master?”
“He has a flair for the dramatic, but I don’t see that he needed to tell us that in person. All we know is our people got killed.”
“Isn’t that enough?” Kraven asked.
Xander shrugged. He had no strong feelings for most of his guild mates. “I guess it’ll have to be. Just between us Kraven, does he know anymore?”
“I don’t think so. If you have any thoughts I’m all ears.”
Xander laughed. “My thought is that you’d best require regular baths, or this place will stink.”
Kraven’s grim mask cracked into a smile. “Get some rest you two. You’ve got a job tonight.”
Xander nodded and Kraven went off to deal with other business. When he’d gone Kaylin asked, “Do you think it’ll be just us?”
“I hope so. We’ll attract less attention that way.”
* * *
Xander and Kaylin slipped like shadows through the dark city. They’d passed the day napping and lounging around their room. Since the two of them already shared a room they’d avoided a third roommate. Kraven had stopped by their room late in the afternoon to give them the assignment, a simple burglary to convince a merchant new to the city to pay his protection money.
“That’s it.” Kaylin pointed to a three story home across the street from the alley in which they hid.
Xander ran across the street and crouched under a window on the right side of the building. Everything looked clear, so he waved Kaylin over. “What do you want to do?”
“Kraven said to grab the most obvious valuables. I’ll go in, rummage around, and grab the best stuff on the first floor.”
&
nbsp; “I’ll keep watch here. Be careful.”
Kaylin kissed his uncovered cheek. “I’m always careful.”
Kaylin took a small pry bar out of her satchel and in short order had the window open. Xander helped her inside then took up position in the shadows nearby. A few minutes later Kaylin returned, her satchel stuffed to bulging.
“That didn’t take long.” Xander helped her down from the window ledge.
“Are you kidding? I could have filled a wheelbarrow in the first five rooms. This guy must be loaded.”
“If he doesn’t pay his protection money you might get a chance to do that. Let’s go, we’re too exposed here.”
They retraced their steps to one of the guild’s hidden tunnels, this one behind a meat market. The stench of offal gagged him, but it kept the curious away from. Xander held the trap door open for Kaylin then followed her down.
They made their way down the tunnel by the light of Kaylin’s glowstone. He hoped everyone else’s jobs went as smooth as theirs. At the end of the tunnel a pair of nervous guards pointed crossbows at them. “What’s the password?”
“Rats in the dark,” Xander said.
Their fingers tightened on the crossbow triggers. “What?”
“Rats in the dark,” Kaylin said.
The guards lowered their weapons and motioned them through. Xander shook his head. He’d never seen the guards so jumpy.
When they got upstairs the night boss was pacing behind the counter in the entry hall. He stopped to take the satchel from Kaylin. “Any trouble?”
“No,” Xander said. “The most dangerous part was getting past our guards. You better calm them down before they shoot one of our people by mistake. We don’t want to do the killer’s job for him.”
“I’ll send Kraven down to talk to them.”
“Has anyone else gotten back yet?” Kaylin asked.
The night boss shook his head. “You two are the first.”
They left the night boss to his pacing and returned to their room. Despite the rest he’d gotten earlier Xander was tired. When they reached the door he said, “I’m beat.”
