by Brian Keller
He arrived in the Ruins without incident and immediately searched for Rukle. Upon finding him, he quickly brought the conversation to his intended topic, “Collections will be starting again within a couple of days. Pick which Journeyman you want to assist you, the others will be getting sent on Courier duties; two going north and two going west.” Rukle raised an eyebrow, “Just one?” Cooper nodded, “That’s all we have. I won’t send one out alone, nor do I want you going alone. If you expect violence, handle it. If you expect more than two of you care to handle, I can join you but that won’t be a regular thing.” Rukle shrugged, “As long as you don’t mind a few folks getting roughed up, I’m sure one Journeyman will do. When do you need to know who I want to stay?” Cooper considered for a moment, “We’re moving everyone tonight, so I’ll want to know sometime tomorrow. I’ll be sending out the Journeymen day after tomorrow, or the following morning at the latest, and they’ll need a little time to prepare. Time may start working against us, so we’ll need them back as quickly as they can manage.” Cooper turned to leave but then he added, “I’d like to talk with you, Loryn and Spen at the same time. When’s the best time for that? Lunch?” Rukle shook his head, “Dinner. We’re dividing our time between visiting the Houses, watching drugs sales and tracking the merchants back to storehouses or meeting places, and the occasional trip to the Dregs to check on the kids there. You know, those kids are doing a really good job of keeping an eye on that place.” Cooper nodded in agreement and replied, “We can probably relax the surveillance on that house. We know where it is and what they’re doing. As long as they don’t vacate the place and move elsewhere, I’m satisfied with what we know. Feed them again, and send them back to their normal activities.” Rukle seemed satisfied with that answer but added, with a grin, “They’ll probably meet that news with mixed feelings. Some of them have grown accustomed to watching that house. A return to begging and theft might seem like a step down.” Cooper answered, “Well, keep the most promising ones in mind. The same goes for kids in Batter’s Field and the Waterfront. Once the reconstruction has progressed sufficiently, we’ll start classes again. They can start just like we did; learning to read, write and use numbers while copying our own textbook.” Rukle snorted, “Who’s gonna teach?” Cooper smiled, “Maybe someone we’ve rescued, or will soon rescue, or Mister Ysel, perhaps. There’ll be plenty of time before he needs to start an Etiquette class, even if we had a classroom for it.”
He occupied his time until dinner by observing the construction crews and looking at the work they’d done so far. He was pleased with the quality but at the same time he knew that no matter how much they’d completed, he’d always impatiently wish they could somehow be further along. At least one team of masons would be occupied for several days as they bricked in the forge. They had to be particular about the stone they selected and the mortar. It all had to be able to withstand the continuous heat or that labor would be for naught, and worse, more time would be lost in rebuilding it properly if it failed. Still, having a forge of their own would be critical in the months and years to come.
He found Birt and spoke with him about how they should manage the enticement of businesses to the Ruins, once they were prepared to receive them. Birt must have already been thinking about this, as he had an answer ready, “I don’t think we should even offer to sell any parcels, at all. We should only lease. The length of the lease could be negotiated with each merchant individually, but I don’t think any lease should exceed ten years in duration.” Cooper nodded, “I believe we’re both thinking along the same lines. Just consider some of the details and write down some examples; something based on a fixed lease, and something else based on a percentage of a merchant’s net profits. Mister Ysel has considerable skill with swindling coin from supposedly astute merchants. He can look over what you put together and make sure we’re protecting our interests, but still appeal to a business that’s looking to expand or relocate completely. We should be able to offer unbeatable terms and still come away wealthy.” Birt nodded, “We might even offer flexible rates, based on who pays for the reconstruction of the building. A merchant might handle his own reconstruction costs, and build to suit his own needs, and we could offer a reduced rate for the duration of the initial lease, since we’ve saved on the costs of rebuilding it.” Cooper placed a hand on Birt’s shoulder, “Exactly. I am happy to know this task is in capable hands.” Birt scowled, “Don’t patronize me.” Cooper withdrew his hand, “Actually, I wasn’t. You’re probably better suited for this than I am, especially considering that my mind has to be on other things right now.” Birt ducked his head, “Right. Sorry. I guess we’re all feeling a little pressured.”
At dinner time Loryn was smiling as she told him what the Dreg’s kids had seen, “They told me about a meeting that happened in the house they’ve been watching, and that they’d seen you following the men. You stopped and watched the house for awhile and left.” Cooper replied, “Well, it’s good to know for sure that they’re watching the place. Any chance that one of them was close enough to overhear what was being said in this meeting?” Loryn shook her head, “Nothing of any use. A few raised voices is all anyone reported.” He’d hoped to have learned more, but hadn’t even considered asking what the Dreg’s kids might’ve seen or heard. His mind was being stretched in too many directions. He needed to get through tonight, if for no other reason than to clear one worrisome task from his overflowing list.
He got the attention of Rukle and Spen and waved them over. He explained, “As you know, we’re bringing everyone from the Dreg’s tonight. I want you three to watch over our movement. We’re leaving the Dregs by boat around eleven, so barring any unforeseen obstacle, we should be leaving the Wharf City about forty minutes after that, maybe a little longer, depending on how well the former prisoners can move. I don’t expect trouble but there’s no shortage of potential threats right now.” Spen began counting off using his fingers, “City Watch, Army, Secret Police, Lukasi scum, whoever’s tried following you, addicts, freelance thieves… have I forgotten anyone? Too many more and I’ll run out of fingers.” Spen smiled as Cooper replied, “Just make sure you bring enough arrows. But seriously, Balat’s injured so it’ll primarily be Gaff, Naro and me keeping watch on the ground. Miss Camilla can fight and I suspect Mister Ysel is more capable than he pretends to be, but if we’re attacked and they get into the fray, then we’ve either failed or we’re completely overwhelmed. Birt and Dailen will stay here and keep an eye on things, and be ready to receive us all. Have I forgotten anyone?” Rukle shook his head and Loryn replied, “Of course you haven’t.” Cooper shook his head, “Lately, I wouldn’t be too surprised if I had.” Spen asked, “What about sending Journeymen out on this journey you’ve mentioned? Who’s going?” Cooper glanced at Rukle, “We’ll decide that once everyone’s here. Any other questions?” No one spoke so Cooper stood, “I’ll collect another pouch or two of coin, then return to Miller’s Flats. Look for us leaving the Wharf City between eleven-thirty and midnight. We’ll bring everyone straight through the Waterfront and into the Ruins.” He shrugged and added, “If I don’t spot any of you, I’ll just assume you’re there.”
Chapter 14
Once he returned to Miller’s Flats, he revealed to everyone where they were going. The reactions were mixed, varying from apprehensive to wholly negative, “The Ruins?!” Cooper had seated himself on the hearth beside the dying fire. He extended his hands in a placating gesture, “Despite whatever you’ve heard or believe, the Ruins are now safe. We have already occupied the central and northern areas of the district and have been rebuilding.” One of the cooks voiced a concern they all seemed to share, “The Ruins’re haunted. Everyone knows that.” Cooper admitted, “They were. Despite the likelihood that it was only superstition, they actually were haunted…but not anymore. We own the land and we’re making it our new home.” There was a collective grumble, but one voice was heard above the others, “The Prince will just send the Army.�
� Cooper knew there was no way to allay everyone’s fears, but that didn’t mean he could simply brush them off, “You’re concerns are understandable. There will always be worries and fears, whether realistic or groundless. Just know that we have plans already in motion that should address most of your concerns. I won’t hide the truth. It’ll be difficult. Very difficult; but it’s possible. We can rebuild without you, but I’d rather have everyone here not just included, but actively involved in our future.
Miss Camilla stepped forward, “I made my decision days ago. I’m committed to the effort.” Mister Ysel joined her, quill still in his hand, and addressed the group, “I knew we were rescued from the quarry for a reason. I think we all did. Well, this is why. You couldn’t stop me from doing my part.” His words seemed to strike a chord with the others and Cooper saw their expressions change from uncertainty to determination. Cooper smiled, “We’ll leave from here just after ten-thirty. We’ll be traveling light.” He stepped away from the hearth and stood next to Mister Ysel, “Thanks for those inspiring words. For a moment there I wondered if we might be leaving some people behind.” Mister Ysel replied, “Simple enough to speak my mind, and it was all true.” They watched as Miss Camilla made her final rounds, administering doses of a rejuvenating tonic. Cooper asked, “Who has my Guild leathers? I’ll wear them for the move, as long as they’re not in pieces.” Mister Ysel pointed out the leather worker, “He has them. I think most everything is ready except for an elbow and one of the shoulder flaps. He said he’d try to replace some of the stitching, but didn’t have much hope for them. I assume they’re still in a usable state.” Now it was Cooper’s turn to worry and he went to speak with the man that Mister Ysel had indicated. The man saw him approaching and stooped to pick up a bundle and hefted it, “I expect you’re coming for these. They’re in better shape than when I got them, but without proper tools and materials I couldn’t do as much as I’d like to.” Cooper unrolled the bundle to examine the man’s work and said, “Perhaps you’ll get a shop of your own as part of the rebuild. There’s still much left to be determined, but we’ll need tradesmen and artisans from all walks of life, that much is certain.” The man scoffed, “A workbench, tools and materials is all I need. What would I do with a shop?” Cooper hadn’t considered that people would need to actually see what was happening in order to realize the potential for themselves. Then again, some folks just might not have aspirations. Time would tell. He changed clothing quickly and once he got his gear situated, he felt better prepared for whatever might happen.
The next few hours passed in a blink for some and dragged by as a series of drawn out minutes for others. For Cooper, it dragged. His mind was plagued by concerns and thoughts of what he might have missed. He wondered whether this move was happening too soon; all the while knowing there were Guild people in Serpent Tooth prison for whom each new day held only untold misery. How could his concerns and difficulties compare to that? Still, as Master Worthan taught, “Do not rush toward failure. Plan carefully, but allow for flexibility. Expect that things might not go exactly as planned… in fact, they seldom do.” The minutes passed slowly.
He watched the former prisoners move around the House, gauging how quickly they could move, estimating the time they should depart. Still, it would present even more risk if they should leave early, or the boats arrive late. A group of thirty people standing at the edge of the boardwalk in the Dregs was sure to attract some attention, especially an hour before midnight. And so it went for the next few hours.
He figured it would take him between fifteen and twenty minutes to reach the boardwalk, walking at a leisurely pace with no delays. Anticipating some delays and holding to the shadows usually called for that estimate to be doubled. Moving with a group, expecting some delays but unwilling to halt for any great lengths of time, yet still not wishing to take a chance on arriving early; he settled on leaving forty minutes before the scheduled meeting and boarding. Once they covered most of the distance, he’d send Gaff or Naro ahead to watch for patrols and make sure the boats were there, and were prepared to receive them.
An hour before they were to board the boats, he occupied his time by moving among the small groups, informing them that they’d be leaving soon. No one seemed to be concerned as they calmly went about preparing to leave, gathering up the few items they’d accumulated during their short stay. Mister Ysel carefully rolled up his papers and slid them into a bag of oiled leather. Cooper could see that the seams had been heavily waxed to make the bag waterproof. The man held the bag out to Cooper, “Perhaps this should be entrusted to you?” Cooper waved it away, “It’ll be better protected in your hands. If things go badly, I’ll be in the thick of it. That isn’t the best place for those documents.”
Now, with the announcement made, time passed quickly. He made a final count of people, informed everyone of the intended route, and gave Gaff, Naro and Balat their specific instructions, “I’ll stay at the front of the group. Gaff and Balat, stay near the rear and make sure we stay together. Naro, scout ahead but not more than one street away. Once we get closer, you’ll go ahead to the boardwalk, I’ll take your place as scout and Balat will move to my spot at the front of the group. Miss Camilla and Mister Ysel, please stay near the center of the group.” He paused to scan the faces in the room before asking, “Ready?” The people in the room seemed to take a collective breath and let it out slowly and Cooper opened the door and stepped out into the night air.
He embraced the feeling of excitement and anticipation as he waved Naro forward and then counted each person as they passed the doorway. Once he was certain they had everyone, he quickly moved to his position at the front. Naro was already observing the next cross street along their route. As they approached each crossing, Naro would either cross ahead of them if it was clear, or gesture for them to halt their progress until he was satisfied. On only one occasion did he wave them back to find shadowed spaces before hiding himself as a patrol made their leisurely way down the street. Everyone shared a sigh of relief when Naro resumed his vantage point and waved them forward again. Cooper was thinking how fortunate it was that the patrol continued along that street rather than turning toward them. There would’ve been no way to avoid a confrontation and the inevitable questions.
Once they passed from Miller’s Flats into the Dregs, the nature of the threat changed. The Dregs didn’t get the same attention from the City Watch that other neighborhoods did; something about the stench, no doubt. Or perhaps it was the likelihood of stepping into one of the dozen or so open trenches along each city block. Trenches that served as the drainage system for half the city’s sewers. Even the term “city block” was termed loosely, since there was nothing that suggested an actual arrangement of streets and buildings. In the entire neighborhood, there were fewer than twenty paths that could actually support a wagon, and therefore be called an actual road. City Officials called this neighborhood the South Warrens, and for good reason. Most folks simply called it The Dregs. Both names were well-earned. The trenches were meant to be navigated by a series of bridges, constructed once it became apparent that neighborhood residents had resolved to remain. These bridges had decayed and collapsed into the trenches long ago, only to be replaced now by boards, often rotten lumber, arranged like scaffolding. It was a wonder that more drunkards didn’t die from falling in and drowning, but then again who could know how many actually did?
Even so, the greatest threat wasn’t posed by crossing the trenches, though that was a danger of the most unique and hideous sort; it was the small bands of ruffians that had formed in response to the Guild’s sudden absence. As Naro approached a trench he looked doubtfully at the arrangement of boards that spanned its width. He tentatively placed a foot on the man-made path and applied some weight. The small structure groaned and shifted. Naro quickly withdrew his foot. He turned to look behind him and shook his head. He then pointed north, indicating one of the few actual thorofares in the neighborhood. Cooper nodded his assent. The
Guild members that accompanied them were challenged enough by simply making the trip. Attempting to cross these trenches would be akin to an Apprentice attempting to tame Master Brais’ obstacle course.
Once committed to using a main road, they wasted no time in entering the roadway and moving along it. They’d walked the equivalent of two blocks before some residents of the neighborhood introduced themselves. Five men dressed in clothing that more closely resembled rags than anything else stepped out and barred their way. Naro had already passed and must have slipped into the shadows since there was no sign of him. One of the men spoke, “Drop off yer valu’buls an’ we’ll let ya pass. Otherwise, me an’ me boys ‘ere’ll gut ever’ last one-a ya.” Cooper glanced around. Surely these men didn’t expect to stop thirty people with only five men, despite the fact that they were armed and most of his fellow Guild member were not, nor were they fighters. He scanned rooftops and spaces between buildings and counted at least seven more, perhaps as many as ten; none on rooftops and, gratefully, he noticed no crossbows. Cooper pushed his cloak back behind his shoulders and leaned forward, “We don’t have time to deal with you right now, but expect to see some of us again in a few days.” All five men took a step backward and an expression of uncertainty crossed their faces, “You’re Guild?! But the Guild is all gone!” Cooper allowed himself a small smile, “I disagree…” He rolled his shoulders and let his hands hover at his hips. He heard the people behind him shuffling, supposedly arranging themselves to better face their attackers. The five men in front of him were trying to figure out what to do now. One of them men whispered loudly, “We gotta kill ‘em all. If he’s really Guild, then he’ll come back wit’ others. There’s jes’ him an’ a coupla others now. We c’n take ‘em quick an’ no-one’ll know what ‘appened to ‘em.” A wicked smile formed on the face of the man who’d spoken first, “An’ we’d be the gang that fought the Guild an’ won…” He squinted at Cooper, “Whaddiya say to that?” Cooper said nothing. His hands flashed backward as he stepped forward. He hadn’t fully completed his first step before he had a blade firmly gripped in each hand. Naro had apparently heard the exchange and taken his signal. All five men were facing Cooper so none of them saw Naro emerge from the shadows behind them. He heard some of the men from the side streets call out a warning but they were much too late. Cooper hadn’t even killed the first man, the one who’d done most of the talking, before Naro had killed two and was moving to his third. The two remaining men had the presence of mind to position themselves back to back once they realized the odds had suddenly become even. Cooper muttered loud enough for Naro to hear, “There’s many more behind me. You either handle these two, or go help our people. It’s all the same to me. We leave the bodies where they fall, and we let one or two of them live. Word will get around.” Naro replied as he moved, “Balat will need a hand. I’ll go.” Cooper dropped his head and slumped his shoulders, as if in regret, and faced the two men with a chilling stare, “He just killed you. He shouldn’t have spoken a name for you to hear.” He took three quick steps forward, quickly moving inside the guard of the closest man. As he moved he made a specific mental note, the man was left handed. The man stepped backward and pulled his hands closer, defensively. The other man swung his dagger in a wide arc, as if he had a full-length sword, attempting to reach Cooper. Cooper’s left hand slashed his blade from left to right, making a deep cut beneath the man’s ribs. His right hand raised almost to shoulder level to block, as much due to the training as to the position of the man’s blade. Cooper was now in the midst of a practiced routine and he stepped to his right, using the wounded man’s stature to shield him from the other man. As the wounded man started to crumple, to protect his injured side, he half thrust-half slashed with the blade in his left hand. Cooper met that blade with his own and guided the movement downward, twisting his wrist as he moved, capturing the other man’s blade and almost disarming him in the process. He quickly raised his own left hand and, rather than shifting from a reversed grip, he simply punched with his pommel into the soft tissue behind the man’s chin, snapping the man’s head back and exposing his throat. A quick direction change and shift of the wrist caused the blade to open the man’s throat. As this man fell, the other man dropped his weapon into the mud at his feet, “Mercy! We didn’t know!” Cooper shook his head, “At first. You didn’t know at first. You’ll find no mercy here.” After leaving the last man bleeding from no less than three fatal cuts, Cooper quickly turned to face the rest. Balat, fighting with one hand, had been joined by Naro. They were faring well but on the other side of the group, Gaff was severely pressed and was being assisted by Miss Camilla, with a short blade of her own. Her movements were practiced, but not smooth. It was obvious that she hadn’t used a blade in this fashion for quite some time, but still it was enough to protect herself and help shield Gaff on one side. Cooper sprinted to assist them, fearing what might happen to either of them. His sudden arrival came as surprise to all involved as he simply waded in amidst their attackers, striking at any target that presented itself. This rapid series of short jabs and punishing slashes left him unguarded but the sheer viciousness of his attack created an empty space around him almost immediately. Gaff had killed another while the attackers had shifted their attention to deal with this new threat. Cooper took the opportunity to speak, “We’ll leave one or two alive. We’ll let them decide which one or two.” Considering there were only three men in front of him, it came as no surprise that all three turned and ran. They turned to look across the group only to see that they were no longer being assaulted from that side and that Naro and Balat were already moving to come assist them.
