I made my way to a warehouse a couple blocks away from Grime Rod. Remy frequents here to meet with buyers and smugglers. At the very least I knew Remy had the money for this job, because of Piers' tip on his particular investment in Spastani Silver. I slipped in through the back, climbed the stairs up to his office and let myself in quietly. He was sitting at his desk near motionless, his eyes glazing over paperwork probably regarding today's shipment. "How many spoons did you get?", Remy asked glancing up. "36", I replied. I brought up the bag and jingled it slightly, sounding off the silverware.
"Did you get the goblets?" I slowly lowered the bag. "There were no goblets." Remy slowly closed his right hand into a fist. "I don't believe you." "I searched top to bottom. I overheard the guards say that Hereford sold those cups to a local merchant. Something about paying off a loan shark." Remy stood up and glared at me. "That's not what my source tells me", he said as he slowly stepped around his table. I was not having it this time. I strapped the bag back onto my belt and made to grip a flash bomb. "Well, your source is wrong. I assume he's the drunk guard that's been complaining about how much little pay he's gotten. Pity. I actually feel for that bastard." Remy stopped at the edge of his desk.
"You had one job, Oren." "So did you, Remy. Pay up for my services. Now." The room was deathly quiet as we stared each other down. Remy's eyes quickly shifted to the door and back at me. Wood began creaking as I heard Remy's cronies close in. "I own you, thief. I own this warehouse, the men in it, Grime Rod, and the merchandise. You own nothing. Everything you take, slips out your fingers and into mine. Now give me the goblets and I'll let your service continue." The door cracked open and I heard a sword slowly being drawn. "I never liked you, Remy. Unlike my other associates, you're at the top of my scumbag list." He scoffed. "I feel honored. But that's nothing compared to my list of henchmen." "Oh, they'll burn too", I said. Then I spun around and lobbed my flash bomb at the door.
Shutting my eyes, I heard it go off and the goons began screaming. I made a mad dash for one of the glass windows near the door. I spotted only 4 of Remy's thugs at the door and thankfully not more. I whipped out my blackjack and swung as hard as I could at the window. The window broke and I stepped back to leap through the opening. Fast footfalls approached from behind and I turned to face Remy. He must've seen the flash bomb before it went off! He had a knife in his hand as closed in fast. I stepped around him as he stabbed the air. Whipping my blackjack around, I whacked him good in the face. Dazed from the blow, he still managed to slash at me, cutting my hood. I wound up my blackjack arm and struck the back of his pretty head. He fell on the floor harder than a sack of potatoes.
His thugs began getting their bearings. Time to go. I leapt through the door, onto the wooden balcony. I lost my footing and hit the railing. I looked down and saw more of Remy's thugs running towards the stairs. I grabbed another flash bomb from my pack. Eyeing the first in the pack, I threw it a few steps before him and ducked behind the balcony rail. Cries rang out, giving my cue to move. I sprinted down the steps past the blinded goons and onto the ground floor. More chased after me from the dark corners, but not that many.
I spotted the open door and ran as fast as I could. Goons yelled out and were in a mad dash to catch me. I passed the threshold and into the street. Cutty was known for having lots of alleyways and thankfully I memorized the roads. I heard scrambling footsteps behind me and a bolt zipped passed my head and hit the wall in front of me. CLANG! The missile ricocheted and the bolt head went flying off, spinning towards me! I ducked down and the metal piece sped past me, dinging off the building wall. I wasted no time in turning the next corner.
Alternating directions in each alleyway or street, I was starting to gain more distance from Remy's goons. Their voices weren't echoing behind me at least for a time. Now I just needed to get my bearing. My apartment was on the other side of Cutty, past Galden's Tree. Getting there at this pace shouldn't be too much of a hassle. I made my way through the next set of darkened alleyways towards Cutty center.
A cramp hit my foot and I lost balance, stumbling into a brick wall. Damn not stretching my feet before being betrayed. My shoulder took most of the impact which luckily my pack took most of the damage but unfortunately the merchandise made a loud clanging noise. I started to grab for my short-bow from the sheathe. Shuffling footsteps echoed nearby making me scramble back to my feet. I veered to the next corner and nearly collided with someone walking in the opposite direction. "Pardon me," the stranger said as I passed him. He carried an accent I have not heard before. He also appeared to be wearing a chestplate under his brown cloak. But he wasn't one of Remy's goons so I kept fast walking down the alley.
Soon I heard a scuffle behind me and I turned to see a thug push aside the poor newcomer into the wall. However, he had stuck his leg out and judging by how hard his attacker had landed it wasn't by accident. Another goon turned the corner and drew his sword. The stranger pulled out a curved blade from beneath his robes and nearly crippled him with 3 calculated strikes. I noticed the other grasping a crossbow and about to turn on the swordsman.
Still gripping my short bow, I plucked an arrow, knocked it and drew. The goon, still struggling to lift his weapon, had slung it on his leg turning his frame slightly toward me. More clanging swords drew my gaze up and I saw more of Remy's men fighting the swordsman. A flash of movement brought me back to the crossbow goon who now turned his back to me. I released my arrow and it clanged against the brick and skidded next to the thug's leg. He turned to face me and brought his crossbow up. Drawing up another arrow, I aimed for the wooden shaft and released. The arrow hit the shaft and the force made the crossbow trigger the release. The rope slid up the slanted arrow and broke it in two while the bolt gingerly fell off when the thug looked down. The swordsman must've noticed because he finished off his last opponent, fully turned around and ran at the unlucky archer, still fumbling to get the bolt on. He swung his sword straight across the face of his opponent and the thug dropped dead.
I was able to see him more clearly now. He was a man of the Southern Continent. He turned to regard me, clearly trying to judge if I was a threat. However, booming footsteps sounded in the now quiet alley and the swordsman turned around. A dozen more of Remy's crew turned the corner and noticed 5 of their comrades lay slain and the swordsman holding a blade dripping with blood. Several of them pulled out short crossbows already drawn and started loading bolts. I still had 2 more flash bombs but I didn't want to put this stranger at risk. "Psst!", I hissed to him. Turning his eyes on me, he watched as I covered my eyes with one hand then uncovered them to see where to throw the bombs. With any luck, the swordsman got the universal sign to cover one's eyes. I watched as he continued watching the dark orbs flying. He must've put it together because he quickly slid behind an indent of the wall while I dashed behind the next corner.
Two bolts glanced off the wall nearby before a bright flash shown on the walls of the alley, followed by screams of pain. I leaned slightly to peak out and was nearly scared to death by someone almost running into me at a fast pace. It was the swordsman and he ran around me and leaned up against the wall to my right. He was panting heavily and I also heard more armor shifting on his person other than his chestplate. I found myself out of breath but I had to keep moving. After a couple deep breaths, I slinked past this good Zaharan. My apartment was still a good distance away, I just needed to get to the main street. As I got halfway down the alley, I heard rattling metal not far behind me. I turned to see the swordsman following me, but he was also looking over his shoulder. He soon turned to regard me, his dark eyes shimmering in the dimly lit alley. He didn't seem threatening at this point, but arm's length is what I want to keep with this stranger.
Since I was granted some breathing room, I started to think more clearly and began conjuring up a plan to get back at Remy. First, I didn't need this swordsman following me home. I took the next left, jogged towards the next alley, turned right, and headed to the main street. I heard heavy, metallic footsteps echoing in the next alley. The swordsman was clearly looking for me and making a great deal of noise doing so. I had a clear understanding that he wasn't too far and if any of Remy's goons found him, they'd be cut down.
I soon got to the main street and veered left, keeping pace so I could get to my place quickly. Thankfully, I didn't see anyone and nobody really walks this street late at night and there were barely any lamps. I weaved in and out of the shadows, checking my surroundings. No sign of Remy's goons or the swordsman. I certainly didn't hear loud metallic footsteps. I soon came to my street and turned left...and leaned back behind the corner.
Remy found my apartment and he had six of his thugs trying to cover it. Granted my landlord wouldn't give them the time of day to enter my place, but I didn't need my residence in the whispers of the Gray Trade, least of all in Remy's ring. As I sat behind the manor walls weighing my options, I heard the telltale metallic footsteps approaching. I turned to see the swordsman walking towards me. He could clearly see me as I was standing near one of the few lamps on the street. Pretty soon he was standing over me.
He was almost heavily armored, but didn't seem hampered by the weight. He bore a light brown cloak that wrapped around his neck and shoulders. He was of a darker brown nature and had a cleanly shaven beard and mustache. He held himself up like one of the lords. His eyes shown like a veteran warrior piercing me like a hawk's stare. What got me the most was the swords he had on him. Two hanging on both sides of his hips, one wrapped on the back side of his waist, and another on his back. All were differently shaped with ornate sheaths save for the one on his back which looked a lot older than the other three.
"Are you in need of help?" I was not expecting that from this type of Zaharan. His voice was calm yet he was breathing heavily probably due to his recent fight and trying to follow me. I really didn't need this armored noisemaker around. "I'm fine, thanks for the help back there", I whispered. The swordsman didn't let up. "Are you in need of help?" he asked again and a bit louder than I hoped. I leaned towards the corner to make sure those goons weren't hearing this conversation. "Will you keep your voice down?" I hissed at him as I leaned back behind the wall. When I turned to face him, his eyes were narrowed and pierced into my gaze. "You failed to mention that you were being chased by heavily armed men when you crossed my path. The least you can do is explain your predicament."
For a Southern man he was pretty articulate. He continued. "I know you're an unsavory character, but I don't think you're too far gone like those men I dispatched. Out with it." I turned back to road to my apartment. The thugs were still there. "A deal went wrong. This scumbag owed me money and he wanted to silence me." The Zaharan peered down the road and spotted the thugs. "Do you want me to take care of them?"
Again, I was stunned, but I shook it off. "Just distract them. I need to get my things inside that building. The last thing I need is bloodshed on this street." The Zaharan's eyes glistened as he looked down the street again. "If your friends wish to do me harm, there will be bloodshed. That is my truth." "Fair enough," I said. "But make plenty of noise before you draw your sword. It'll make you less guilty." He nodded and strode past me. I watched as the swordsman walked slowly towards the 6 brutes who then started turning towards him.
"Good evening," said the swordsman. One of the thugs tilted his head. "I was wondering if any of you happened to see a thief lurking about here?" I stopped myself from palming my face. Is this Zaharan actually being serious? Several of the group looked at each other in equal confusion. "You see I was walking down an alley when this thief bumped into me and stole my purse right from my belt. Of course, he was quick but I managed to track him here. Are you men waiting for him?" Truth be told, I never took anything from the swordsman.
Three of the thugs walked up to him. "What's it to you?", one of them asked. "I told you; he stole my purse! You're not hiding him, are you?" The swordsman was starting to raise his voice. A light turned on from the house with my apartment. "I asked you, what business is it of yours, South Man? How do you know we're looking for a thief?" The thugs slowly began to surround the swordsman. "I was just asking if you've seen him?! So, I assume you do know where he is and you're just not telling me!" The swordsman started putting his hand on his sword hilt.
More lights turned on up and down the street. Several windows slowly creaked open with people peeking out towards the group. Two of the thugs looked up at the witnesses. "He's not coming, Braggart," one of them shouted. "We should get back!" "Shut it!" They started arguing and getting fidgety. "There are too many people watching!" "To hell with this!" One of the thugs started running up the road. The leading thug groaned with increasing anger. "I'll rip your damn scalp, Zaharan!" The swordsman was not amused. "We don't do that down South, you know that right? Not even when you came to raid."
The door to my apartment building opened. Tinclair's unmistakable roaring voice called out, "What in Burndock's Blazes is going on out here!?" The swordsman wasted no time. "Good evening, sir! I was just looking for a thief and these men were about to jump me. I think the thief is colluding with these men to try and rob me blind!" Before the thugs said anything, Tinclair flew into another rage. "No one is killing anybody on this street again! You lot clear out of here before I get the constables!" At this, three of them started running. All was left was the head thug and his last follower.
"You're not calling any Bulls down here, Tinclair," bellowed the leading thug. "We know you and your family! And Cillian was poking his nose in too many holes for his own good! Perhaps you should do the same before I tell my boss!" So, Remy was behind Cillian's murder. Tinclair's face went pale in the lamplight, but the swordsman had a different reaction. He drew his sword, the one that clung on his back, and held it over his shoulder. "You're not threatening anyone in this good city, least of all these fine people, you filth." His voice was quieter now, but the calmness did not hide the tension behind that sword. The leading thug turned back to regard him.
"You should go back to where you came from, brown man. There are more of my henchman all over this province. And my boss has plenty of money to hire more." Again, the swordsman was unfazed. "You better hope so. Because I left a great many of your henchmen dead in an alley back there. You might want to clean that up." He set his sword to where it shined with the lights in the street. I looked at it and so did everyone else there. There was still fresh blood on that sword and a lot of it.
The two remaining thugs stepped back and Tinclair came back to his senses. "Get out," he shakily said in a loud voice. The swordsman took a step forward. The leading thug spat back, "We won't forget this Tinclair!" and he with his last fellow goon followed the other four up the path. I stared on with interest as the swordsman put away his sword and went to comfort Tinclair. But I soon snapped out of it.
As much as I wanted to get back into my place, a new thirst for revenge was starting to form in my mind. Remy was on the hunt for me and he made Cillian an example for his competitors, leaving me with no other option for a source of income except for Piers. This was damn well personal. I sprinted away down the same direction I came from. I'm going to need Piers to help me out on this.