Skulduggery 2

by Logan Jacobs

  “You’re right.” I winced as my head started to spin.

  “I hope the dancers got out of there,” Cimarra said as she looked at the smoke in concern and gripped my bloody shoulder to keep me from falling out of the wagon. “What happened in there?”

  “The best-case scenario,” I said as I shook my head.

  “That’s the best-case scenario?” Dar pointed behind us where a vast plume of smoke mixed with the clouds.

  “Trust me,” I said, “this was definitely the best-case scenario.”

  “How?” Dar asked as he waved people out of the way.

  “We’re in the clear, the assistant panicked when the commander found the scroll,” I said as I steadied my breath. “If this doesn’t convince them the assistant stole the painting and murdered the three elves, then nothing will.”

  “I’ll say,” Dar chuckled as he steered us out of the Halfling District.

  “Penny planted it perfectly,” I said as I finally pulled myself into the front seat next to Cimarra.

  “Let’s not do that again,” Penny panted as her head hit the back of the railing with a thud.

  “We don’t have to worry about the commander anymore?” Dar wondered as he shot quick glances behind his shoulder like we were being chased.

  “He might be dead,” I mused, “and we didn’t even plan for that.”

  “Shit,” Dar smiled, “and the assistant is definitely dead.”

  “If he’s not already, he’ll be charged and executed.” I took a deep breath to calm the adrenaline still pumping through my veins. “He showed he was guilty better than we ever could.”

  “Even though he wasn’t guilty at all,” Penny laughed.

  “He’s guilty of being a fuckin’ elf,” Dar snapped as he looked back behind his shoulder again. “Also, fuck all of ‘em.”

  “I’m glad you’re both okay,” Cimarra said as she kissed my cheek.

  “Another day in the life,” Penny chuckled. “I need to get out of this costume.”

  “I think you look great in it,” Dar snickered. “You should wear it every day. What do you think, Wade?”

  “Fuck off,” Penny replied, but her lips also curled up into a bit of a smile as she glanced at me.

  “To the stables then?” Dar asked as he slowed the wagon down. We were now at a safe distance from the chaos we had just left behind.

  “Yeah, then I’ll need the wagon to go see our next problem, Hebal,” I said as I wiped my stinging eyes.

  “I’ll go with you,” Dar added and slowed the wagon down as the theatre came into view.

  “Look at that,” Penny breathed. “I can still see the smoke.”

  “You think the assistant is still fighting?” Cimarra asked as she turned around for a better view.

  “By the looks of how the elves are responding, yeah,” Dar said as a group of Elven Guard ran past us speaking in frantic Elvish.

  We didn’t talk for the rest of the ride back to the stables, but as soon as we got to the gate around the theatre, Dar stopped the wagon and we all turned to look back toward the smoke rising up in the far distance.

  “I feel like we just attacked them,” Dar whistled.

  “In a way we did,” I muttered. “No one gets in our way.”

  The pillar of smoke stretched above us for every creature in the district to see its smokey hand like a beacon.

  A beacon that signaled things were changing.

  Chapter 19

  “Don’t take this off until tonight,” Cimarra said as she wrapped my arm with a cloth beneath my cloak to make sure the bleeding stopped.

  “I won’t.” I smirked and hopped back in the wagon with Dar. “Make sure Penny is okay for me, too.”

  “I think Selius has already asked her that one hundred times for you,” Cimarra chuckled. “Also, I let Marver know a few days ago you’ll need Skam for the delivery tonight.”

  “He’ll be here to help us load up?” I asked and smiled. “You think of everything.”

  “Yes, looks like we’ll have another initiation,” she said as she blew me a kiss. “See you back here later, we’ll all be here.”

  “See you soon,” Dar said as he waved and urged the horses forward with the reins. “Next stop, Hebal’s.”

  “Be thinking of a story, Dar!” Cimarra shouted as the horses trotted onto the main road.

  “A story?” Dar wondered.

  “For the miners,” I smirked, “they apparently loved your last one.”

  “Of course they did,” Dar grinned as his pipe bounced between his lips, “but shit, at least we’ll have loading help this time around.”

  “I know,” I muttered as I tried to adjust the bandage on my arm. “It’ll show the dwarf we don’t need him as much as he thinks we do.”

  “We don’t need anyone but ourselves, Wade,” Dar said as he lifted his scarred palm to me. “No one. Well, the five of us that is.”

  “You like Cimarra, huh?” I snickered.

  “Ya,” Dar admitted. “She’s super smart and has your back. Also, the way she looks at ya. She wants all of your babies right now.”

  “I don’t know about that,” I chuckled.

  “Well, regardless, we are a good crew,” my friend replied.

  “After today, I believe that with all my heart,” I said with a nod toward the whitening pillar of smoke in the sky.

  “With all the shit happening over there, we should have no issues where we’re going.” Dar shook his head in disbelief. “I never thought I’d want to be in the Dwarf District.”

  “Never say never, anymore,” I chuckled and shut my eyes to regain my focus. My mind was partially still at Madame Rindell’s every time my arm throbbed.

  We drove for a few more blocks and navigated into the Dwarf District. It felt like it had been a year since the last time I was here, but it was only a week ago.

  “Never mind, I take back what I said.” Dar sniffed the air and spat over the side of the cart. “They’re no orcs, but it’s still not my favorite stench in the land.”

  “And what is?” I chuckled.

  “The smell of coin.” Dar flashed a toothy grin as he tapped the tobacco out of his pipe.

  “How did I not know that?” I laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.

  “It’s on our left?” Dar nodded to his left and glanced at me.

  “Yeah, it’s right by that food wagon,” I pointed toward the shoddy looking cart, “and the big goof standing outside there, see him?”

  “Yeah, one of Hebal’s?” Dar asked as he tugged the reins to the left and parked the wagon.

  “Yeah, he was here last time, too,” I said with a shrug. “Let’s get this over with.”

  We both hopped down from the wagon as our feet squelched in the soft muddy streets.

  “Hello there, again,” I said as we approached the dwarf by the door. “Hebal in?”

  “Aye,” the dwarf grunted and spat at my feet.

  “Nice to see you, too.” I nudged the door open and cringed when the bell rang above my head.

  “I don’t remember that,” Dar said and pointed to the bell.

  “That’s new, too,” I replied as I approached the long dusty counter.

  “Is it that time again?” Hebal asked as he opened his office door and turned to lock it behind him.

  “If you can still handle it, that is.” I knocked on the counter and smiled at the burly dwarf.

  “Aye, I should ask you that same question, partner,” he said and overemphasized the “p” in partner. “I see you brought your friend with ya this time.”

  “We handled some business before this, so yes I brought my friend who is also your partner in our arrangement,” I said and nodded toward Dar.

  “Nice to see you again, Hebal.” Dar extended a tiny hand to the dwarf.

  “Save it,” Hebal grunted and faced me with a crooked eye. “Quite the day it’s been out there, huh?”

  “Isn’t every day in this realm?” I retorted.

 
; “Aye, but not every day does a building burst into flames,” Hebal remarked.

  “That’s true.” Dar shrugged next to me. “Heard it was some elf on elf action. You hear anything about it?”

  “That’s also what I heard,” Hebal said, “but there is little other news.”

  “Are we through with the small talk?” I sighed. “Do you want to know where we are meeting later or what?”

  “Fine, human,” Hebal said as he tilted his head. “Where have you decided to send me this time? My men are waiting.”

  “Nolandur Mining Hall,” I said as I leaned forward on the counter, “know it?”

  “Aye.” The dwarf leaned down beneath the counter and grabbed a rag. “What time?”

  “This evening,” I replied as I moved my arm out of the path of his rag.

  “Watch it,” Hebal scoffed and continued to wipe down the counter. “My ten barrels are all accounted for?”

  “You’ll see them later for yourself,” I said as I tapped the counter with my hand. “Unless you have more questions, that’s all we came to tell you.”

  Hebal stopped wiping the counter and focused on a specific spot. Then he rubbed the rag into the surface as if he were pretending it was my face.

  “Alright then.” Dar gestured to the door as he backed away.

  “We’ll leave you to it,” I said and turned to walk out the door.

  “I’ve heard some rumblings,” Hebal grumbled as he swung the stained rag over his shoulder.

  “You’ll have to explain what that means,” I said as I faced him with my hand still on the door handle.

  “Could be a storm later.” Hebal smirked and stroked his beard.

  “You talking about the elves in the halfling--”

  “When the storm comes, it washes over all ‘ah us,” the dwarf grunted.

  “Well, I appreciate the heads up,” I said flatly. “Is that all?”

  “Aye.” Hebal narrowed his eyes. “Don’t spread yourself too thin, Wade. It’s showin’ on your face.”

  “You ain’t looking too hot either,” I huffed and tried to ignore the bell as I opened the door.

  “How come everyone we work with is a fucking cunt?” Dar pondered as we walked back to our wagon.

  “Because we’re fucking cunts, too?” I laughed.

  “Looks like he was right, though.” Dar gestured toward the sky, where dark clouds were gathering. “Rain is coming.”

  “Let’s go load up those barrels,” I muttered and raised my hood over my head.

  The smoke pillar had blended within the graying sky, and it looked like the fire and the battle was over in the Halfling District. I wondered who had survived. Elves fighting elves was something I wished to see more of. I just hoped the citizens avoided the crossfire.

  As Dar drove, the familiar pull from the keys’ magic tugged at my eyes.

  “I’ll wake you when we’re back at the stables,” Dar nudged me, “your head is bobbing like a drunkard’s.”

  “Thanks,” I slurred as my eyes finally shut.

  As soon as they did, I could see a figure form within the darkness. Then a multicolored beam cut through the black like a knife and began to form a shape on my closed eyelids. Five lines slanted upward at an angle and combined to create a point.

  “A pyramid,” I groaned and jolted myself awake, just as Dar turned down the theatre’s alleyway.

  “Pyramid?” Dar chuckled. “What were you dreamin’ about?”

  The keys burned the multicolored image into my memory.

  “The glass pyramid, in the Elven District,” I muttered.

  “Did the keys show you something?” Dar locked his eyes with mine as he turned the rear of the wagon to face the stable doors.

  “You remember when we drove to the White City and saw--” I began, but Dar cut me off.

  “Yeah, yeah, the pyramid where you thought the night and day elves debated.” Dar pulled the cart snug against the stable door. “Is that where the chest is?”

  “I think so,” I breathed and felt my heart jump in my chest.

  “Shit,” Dar said and rubbed his hands together. “Could this day get any crazier?”

  “Let’s hope not,” I sighed as I rubbed my neck, and then I hopped down from the wagon.

  “Aye, Mr. Wade?” Skam, the tattooed dwarf, said as he opened the stable door from the inside. “Nice to see you again.”

  “Skam … ” I extended my hand out to our own much nicer burly dwarf. “Well, looks like you have gotten a better idea of what we do?”

  “Aye, I have,” Skam said as he squinted his eyes and smiled. “Not what I expected, but you don’ have to worry about me mouth.”

  “Come back inside, I’ll give you the rundown,” I said with a reassuring smile to the dwarf.

  Once inside, Dar, Selius, Penny, Cimarra, and Skam were all near the vats.

  What an oddball crew we made.

  “Skam, I’ll keep it short and sweet with you,” I began, “this is your last chance to back out and remain innocent.”

  “Innocence has never suited me well,” Skam said as he folded his hands in front of himself. “I want an honest living, but it’s impossible after going to prison. You gave me a chance, Mr. Wade, so I’m in. You’re makin’ some kind of spirit, aren’t ya?”

  “That we are,” I said as I approached him, “and I know you know the trouble that can bring upon us.”

  “Aye, I do,” Skam began, “I’m assuming my past made me a front runner for this job?”

  “It helped.” Dar shrugged and gestured for me to continue.

  “And you hate elves?” I asked as I raised an eyebrow.

  “With a fiery passion,” he growled, and his face turned red enough for me to guess there was probably a lot more to his prison story than I’d first guessed.

  “And you were a thief.” I motioned toward the others. “Everyone in here, minus the blue-eyed beauty next to you, is a thief.”

  “Like-minded, then, too?” Skam smiled at the others and stroked his beard. “I’m here to help ya, lads.”

  “I sure hope so,” I said as I touched the dagger at my side. “If you decide otherwise at any point during our relationship, there will be no hesitation on my end to hunt your dwarf ass down and end you.”

  “I like you, Mr. Wade.” The dwarf’s leathery face twitched into a smile. “And like I said, you gave me a chance at honest work. I understand the terms. I’ll do whatever job you want me to do.”

  “Good,” I began as I unsheathed my dagger, “then before we load up those barrels into the wagon, I need you to do something for me.”

  “Name it,” the dwarf muttered as his eyes focused on the blade.

  “It’s a simple oath we’ve all taken.” I raised my scarred palm for him to see. “One slice across the palm.”

  The dwarf’s beady eyes looked at the others and then back to me.

  “Aye, let’s have it.” He nodded. “We’ll be family in this, and I’ll protect ya all until the end. Hopefully, that ends with us all becoming rich.”

  “That’s what we are hoping,” Dar snickered.

  “Cut just enough to draw blood,” I said as I handed him my dagger, “and repeat these words: until death claims us.”

  Skam flipped the blade within his hand and glanced up at me before he aimed the point at the center of his palm.

  “Until death claims us,” the dwarf muttered as he scraped the blade against his palm, and blood dripped onto the floor.

  “Welcome to the whiskey life!” Selius shouted and clapped the dwarf on the shoulder.

  Two halflings, three humans, and a dwarf had spilt blood for our cause, and this was only the beginning.

  “Let’s get that cut wrapped up,” I said as I shook the dwarf’s good hand and wrapped the other carefully with some cloth.

  “Aye, thank you for this opportunity, sir.” Skam nodded.

  “No need to thank me,” I said as I turned to the others. “Looks like rain is coming, so let’s load
up the barrels and get outta here.”

  “I’ll tie down the wagon cover,” Dar said as he went back outside.

  “I’ll help him,” Selius added and joined the other halfling.

  “Penny, was it?” Skam nodded toward the pixie. “Can you get the door for us?”

  “Sure,” Penny replied and then jogged over and held the stable door open.

  Skam rolled a barrel onto each shoulder and jogged toward the wagon. His strength was beyond impressive, since I knew I’d really have to put my back into lifting one of the barrels, and there was no way I could haul two on my shoulders.

  “This will make things go smoother for sure,” Cimarra said as she checked the bandage around my arm.

  “I know, I can’t wait to see the look on Hebal’s face,” I said with a grin.

  “Did he give you any trouble this time around?” Cimarra asked as she tightened the bandage.

  “Not like last time.” I winced as her finger brushed against my cut.

  “Good,” Cimarra nodded, “we can move on from him soon enough.”

  “Until then, let’s keep collecting coin from him.” I smirked.

  “Few more to go,” Skam whistled as he blurred by with two more barrels.

  “I’ll replace the bandage when you get back,” Cimarra said as she kissed my arm.

  “Thanks,” I breathed, “for everything.”

  “I’m here to help,” she said and squeezed my hand.

  “All loaded up,” Skam panted up at us and dabbed the sweat from his head.

  “Hop in the back with the barrels.” I nodded toward the wagon. “We’re headed to Nolandur Miners Hall.”

  “Aye.” The dwarf jogged over to the wagon and hopped in the back with the barrels.

  “See you when you get back,” Cimarra kissed my cheek.

  “Deal,” I said as I moved to the stable door.

  “Let me know how I can help,” Penny said as she stopped me with her hand and held my eyes the way only she could.

  “Rest up, and save that dress from earlier for a rainy day.” I smirked.

  “You’re lucky I like ya.” Penny smiled and shut the stable door behind me.

  “Ready?” Dar asked from the driver’s seat.

  I hopped in the front, and we were off.