Building a Criminal Empire

by Logan Jacobs

  Even though the elves ruled over the realm, the dwarves still governed their district the way they saw fit.

  So, a courthouse, dwarven guard barracks, and the Miners Hall were directly in the center of the square.

  The Miners Hall was a round building made from black stone and copper and looked like a piece of coal wrapped in bronze ribbon. For the dwarves, this was an elegant building and one they were proud of.

  “Here we are,” Penny muttered under her breath as we approached the long stone steps that led to the front entrance.

  Every dwarf we walked by gave us the eye, and looked at us as if we were shitting down our legs. Humans rarely, if ever, needed to visit a place like the Miners Union Hall, so I’m sure we were an odd sight.

  “Human!” An armored dwarf shouted from the front door. He had dark features and a bright red beard that looked to be painted. “What’re ya doin’ here? As the Empire puts it, speak ya business.”

  “We have an appointment with Lobrem, the son of Vazmet,” I said as I approached the guard and stopped a few feet before him.

  “You and what army?” The guard laughed as he adjusted the iron helmet on his head. “You’re fuckin’ mad to think I’d believe dat!”

  “We do,” Penny added.

  “Oh, do ya, now?” The guard laughed again. “Get outta here before I have’ta remove your heads.”

  “I sent a messenger earlier today,” I began and noticed the guard’s eyes narrow. “Maybe you saw her?”

  “I haven’t seen a mess—”

  “It was a beautiful human woman,” I said. “Dressed a bit like a dancer. You had to have seen her.”

  “Aye,” the dwarf remarked. “She was relentless, so much so, Lobrem himself heard the commotion.”

  Ashlin must’ve forced herself inside the building. It looked like she was as strong and courageous as I thought.

  “So,” I said. “As I said, we have an appointment with Lobrem.”

  “Fine,” the guard snorted, moved aside, and opened the door for us.

  “Thank you,” I said as I stepped inside the state-of-the-art building and breathed in the earthy mineral smell. The floors were just as black as the exterior, but they sparkled like diamonds, and the walls were a mix of stone and copper fixtures.

  But the place was deathly quiet, which was very odd for a dwarven place of business. There weren’t too many dwarves around either, just one woman sitting behind the desk in the middle of the main lobby.

  “What can I do for ya?” the burly woman greeted us.

  “I sent a messenger earlier today and I wa--”

  “Oh, we know who ya are,” the lady dwarf cut me off and rang a bell. “Mr. Lobrem is waiting for ya down the hall behind me and through the large glass doors. He’s in the only office back there.”

  “Uh … thank you,” I said again as both Penny, and I walked around the desk and down the long hallway. I could see the set of tall glass doors ahead of us and two more guards standing outside of them.

  “Should be interesting,” Penny muttered. “At least he’s looking forward to chatting with us.”

  “Seems that way,” I said as we approached the glass doors and the two dwarf guards who wore all black armor and an iron mask that covered their faces.

  Then before I could even say anything to the guards, they opened the doors for us. So, both Penny and I walked inside the large office.

  Everything was black and copper except the purple drapes that hung across the giant window to our left. But the floors, desk, and furniture looked to be molded from the floor itself.

  I saw the Miner’s Association logo of two axes and a diamond etched onto the far wall behind the long black desk where a dwarf sat staring at us.

  Even the dwarf himself, who I assumed to be Lobrem, matched the room. He had a long black beard with purple braids along the tips, and his bright blue eyes almost startled me to turn around because they were so striking.

  “Wade and Cimarra?” the dwarf asked as he gestured for Penny and me to take a seat in front of him.

  “Uh … I’m Wade, but this is my business partner Penny,” I gestured to the beautiful pixie. “Cimarra is taking care of some business with the elves for the upcoming festival.”

  “Ah, what a fookin’ dreadful event that’ll be, eh?” the dwarf chuckled as he relaxed in his plush seat. “Please sit.”

  “Of course,” I said as I sat in one chair, and Penny sat in the other near the elegant desk.

  “I must say,” Lobrem tugged at one of the purple braids on his beard. “I almost killed your messenger earlier. Pretty thing she is.”

  “I … uh …” I cleared my throat. “We just needed to talk with you.”

  “And that’s why I didn’t kill her,” Lobrem chuckled again. “Especially when she mentioned a certain someone I do not like to talk about.”

  “Hebal?” Penny questioned.

  “Das right,” Lobrem said as he pursed his lips. “Now, I rarely have the patience for humans, but the messenger also said you’re in business with my father.”

  “We are,” I said. “He’s our most loyal customer.”

  And our most important.

  “That shocks me,” Lobrem replied. “My father is a stubborn and miserable dwarf, so it’s safe to say, ya have ma interest, Wade and Penny.”

  “Good,” I said as I tried to calm my heart and ease the tension in my arms and legs. “First, thank you for tak--”

  “Do not waste mah time, human,” Lobrem cut me off. “Why are ya both here in ma office?”

  “Of course,” I cleared my throat. “Hebal--”

  Lobrem grunted.

  “Let’s just say he’s been a pain in our side,” I said. “And I know he’s a pain in yours.”

  “Do ya know?” Lobrem smirked.

  “I do,” I continued. “And because I know that he’s a pain in your side, I think you should know something.”

  “What do I need to know?” Lobrem asked.

  “He’s planning on making a lot of coin off your territory,” I said. “Well, I should say he’s already made a lot of coin in your territory.”

  “How?” Lobrem straightened his posture.

  There was something about the dwarf that made me feel safe. I felt like I could share my true thoughts with him, and he wouldn’t bat an eye. Maybe it was because he was like me and probably did very illegal things on the daily.

  “Whiskey,” I said as I held my eyes on his.

  “The drink?” Lobrem questioned. “He’s makin’ and sellin’ whiskey?”

  “That’s right,” I said.

  “Hebal?” Lobrem tilted his head to the side. “The fookin’ forgotten mob boss?”

  “Yes,” I confirmed.

  “So, what’re ya proposin’ then, human?” Lobrem leaned forward. “I know you didn’t come here to just tell me that for shits and giggles.”

  “I know where he and his crew are doing a deal tomorrow,” I began. “And I’m offering you the chance to end his business for good. With some stipulations, of course.”

  “Stipulations that benefit ya?” Lobrem grinned.

  “That’s right,” I said with a nod.

  “Before I listen to those … stipulations you have, I gotta ask ya one thing.”

  “Sure,” I said.

  “Do ya think I’m a fool?” Lobrem pursed his lips.

  “Not at all. I--”

  “Then tell me, Wade,” Lobrem sighed. “Why are ya lyin’ to me?”

  “What do you mean?” I questioned.

  “I know you are the one really makin’ the whiskey, lad,” Lobrem began. “That’s the reason you’re here, isn’t it? You need to put a stop to your competition.”

  Fuck.

  I didn’t respond.

  “Don’ worry, I’m okay with it,” Lobrem said as he tapped the desk with a finger. “But don’ come into mah office and lie to ma face again, okay?”

  “I won’t,” I said as I clenched my fists. I didn’t want an
y trouble, and I also knew I had to play by his rules for now. “That may be true, but I also thought you’d like to deal with Hebal just as much as I do.”

  “And you’re right, human,” the dwarf said as he nodded. “So, ya know where he and his crew will be makin’ a deal, and ya want me and some of mah boys to take that opportunity and run with it, eh?”

  “That’s right,” I replied. “What do you think?”

  “I want to get back to the whiskey in a second,” Lobrem folded his hands on the desk. “But what do ya want in return for this quality information?”

  “There is a bakery in the Halfling District,” I started. “The owner owes you money from a loan his family took out over one-hundred years ago and I--”

  “What are ya?” Lobrem cut me off. “Some kind of fookin’ whiskey makin’ fookin’ hero?”

  “Huh?” I widened my eyes. “No, nothing like that I ju--”

  “You want to buy out some loser’s debt so he can live happily ever afta?” the dwarf looked at me as if I had a horn growing out of my forehead.

  “Quite the opposite,” I said. “I need that bakery for my own business.”

  “Ahh,” Lobrem tapped the table with a finger again. “Dat makes a little more sense to me.”

  “Exactly,” I said as I glanced at Penny and then back to the dwarf. “So, I’d need that debt erased if I give you Hebal.”

  “That’s it?” Lobrem shrugged.

  “And I’m the one who kills him,” I added.

  “Whoa,” Lobrem said as he widened his bright eyes. “What did this dwarf do to ya, lad?”

  “He tried to steal everything I’ve built,” I replied.

  “Okay, but I want to talk about the whiskey again,” Lobrem began. “If I do this for ya, then I can’t have ya sellin’ your product in my district without me knowin’ about it first.”

  “Makes sense,” I said, even though I knew where this was headed.

  “So, you have two choices,” Lobrem sniffed. “Ya either don’ fookin’ sell it on my land, or ya bring me in, and I take a little cut. Ya see, I don’ have any time or interest in makin’ that kind of shit, but I know a lot of coin can be made from it. So, what say ya, lad?”

  Fuck.

  “If I cut you in, would you be able to call off the dwarven guard as we distribute?” I asked.

  If he could do that, then it would be worth it. I would have some pull in the district and not have to worry about getting caught.

  “Hmm …” Lobrem tugged at the braids on his beard again. “I can see what I can do about that.”

  “Is that a yes or no?” I asked.

  “It’s a maybe, lad,” Lobrem chuckled. “This can be a discussion we can continue after we deal with Hebal if you’d prefer.”

  “That’s fine with me,” I said and took a deep breath. “What about the bakery and the debt?”

  “Ya have a deal,” Lobrem replied. “What’s the name of the place and the name of the baker?”

  “They are both called Eloy’s,” I answered.

  “Ah,” Lobrem said as he reached for his ink pen and made a note. “I know that place well.”

  “That’s the place,” I said as I watched the dwarf look up at me with his eyes.

  “Is that where you’ll be makin’ your whiskey?” Lobrem asked.

  “What about me being the one to finish off Hebal?” I asked without answering his question.

  “Fine, lad,” Lobrem snickered. “I hate the fooker too, but if that’s what ya need, then I have no issue.”

  “Good,” I said as I imagined Hebal’s face in my mind. But it was not only the fact that I wanted to kill him that mattered to me, but I also wanted his necklace and gold too.

  “Now,” Lobrem said as he placed his pen back in its well. “Where will the deal be takin’ place?”

  “Behind the spice market,” I said. “There are two warehouses, you know them?”

  “Aye.” Lobrem nodded.

  “It’ll be in the alley between the two buildings,” I said.

  “When?” the dwarf asked.

  “The start of the Eclipse Festival,” I said. “So right around noon, but get there a little after, so you can surprise him and his crew.”

  “Very good,” Lobrem replied and then paused as he thought. “It looks like I am just like mah father, eh?”

  “How’s that?” I asked.

  “Goin’ into business with a human,” Lobrem answered. “You’re the first one I’ve ever dealt with, and to be honest, if ya didn’t work with mah father, I would’ve killed ya both as soon as ya walked in just for knowin’ Hebal.”

  “Well,” I cleared my throat. “I’m glad you didn’t do that.”

  “I hope so,” Lobrem eyed both me and Penny. “Let’s also hope that our little relationship isn’t the same kind of one that you and Hebal formed, eh?”

  “I’d hope not,” I said. “I don--”

  Before I could finish, the double glass doors swung open.

  “Lobrem, sir, the human has a visitor causing trouble at the front desk,” A dwarven guard said and then saluted.

  “Seems you have a lot of interesting friends, Wade,” Lobrem said as he reached his hand across the table to shake mine. “Go take care of that will ya?”

  “Of course, I’m sorry,” I furrowed my brow as I shook his hand.

  I had no fucking clue who that could be.

  Maybe Rindell?

  Cimarra?

  Selius?

  A sense of panic started to wrap around my heart like a boa constrictor.

  “I’ll be seein’ ya tomorrow at noon,” the dwarf said as he spat on our interlocked hands. As disgusting as it was to have dwarf slime running down my arm, I completed the deal, and that made me a very happy man.

  “Thank you,” Penny muttered next to us as she looked disgusted at our hands. “We should see who that is waiting for us before they kill them.”

  “She’s right,” Lobrem said as he pulled his hand away.

  “Until tomorrow,” I said as I wiped my hand off on my trousers and turned to walk out of the office.

  Now, who the fuck was waiting for us up front?

  Chapter 20

  Penny and I emerged from the office and heard a familiar voice shouting my name near the lobby desk.

  “Dar?” I guessed as I turned to Penny, who had the same look on her face as me.

  So, we picked up our pace to see who awaited us.

  “Wade!” Dar scrambled over to me as soon as he saw me.

  “What the--”

  “We’ve gotta go,” Dar tugged at my arm and then grabbed Penny’s. “We gotta go!”

  “What’s going on?” Penny resisted at first.

  “Get him out of here!” The dwarven receptionist shouted over all of us and pointed to the door. “Before I have ya all killed!”

  “We’re going,” I said as I tried to calm the dwarven woman down.

  “I’ve got the wagon outside,” Dar said as he ran toward the door and almost knocked over the guard standing outside, then he trotted down the steps and gestured for us to hurry.

  “What the fuck is going on,” Penny muttered as we both followed our frantic friend to the catering wagon.

  “Dar ...” I climbed up the wagon that looked to have some new damage. “What is going on, and how did you know we were here?”

  “Just get on, and I’ll explain,” Dar panted as he waited for Penny to sit. Then he clicked his tongue, and the horses trotted forward.

  “So?” Penny said as she hung onto my arm as Dar steered the wagon to the left.

  “We gotta hurry,” Dar said. “The assassins have overrun the cottage.”

  “What do you mean, overrun?” Penny scoffed.

  “The assassins invaded us, pixie!” Dar sneered as he gritted his teeth. “Ava sent me to get help, so I traveled to the stables and hoped you were there, but Selius told me you had a meeting but didn’t know where, so I found Cimarra, interrupted her meeting with the fuckin’ el
ves an--”

  “Wait, wait.” I waved my hand. “The elves were still at the theatre? What did you say to Cimarra?”

  “I played it cool,” Dar said as he looked at me with intense eyes. “But she told me where you both were, and that’s that.”

  “Shit,” Penny hissed. “So, Skam and Ava are still fighting now?”

  “They were,” Dar sniffed. “The only reason I was able to get away was because Ava is a fucking killing artist.”

  “I know she is,” I added. “Well, you did good coming to get us.”

  “I just want to get back there,” Dar said as he leaned forward, maneuvered the wagon to the left, and then to the right, and then dodged a few sluggish dwarves in the road. “They were fending off another wave of assassins when I left.”

  “How many attacked you?” Penny questioned.

  “I lost count,” Dar said as he made a sharp right turn and nearly tipped the wagon over. “They’ve proven they are determined to kill Ava and then the rest of us no matter the cost.”

  “Are they all halflings?” I asked as I remembered Ava’s concern of her guild leader informing the other guilds of the situation. I already knew the answer in my gut, based on how many assassins were attacking us, but I didn’t want to believe it.

  “The assassins?” Dar asked as he shot me a glance before he made another turn.

  “Yes, are they all halflings?” I asked again.

  “Uh …” Dar shut his eyes for a moment as he thought. “Not anymore, they were until this last attack.”

  “Fuck.” I punched the front of the wagon.

  “The other Assassin Guilds know?” Penny guessed.

  “It looks that way,” I muttered.

  We were now at war with every Assassin Guild in the city.

  “Ava just kept repeating that we needed to kill that … Fallow or Fallor guy,” Dar said as he pushed the horses to go faster as soon as we exited the district and came upon the dirt roads in the countryside.

  “Her guild leader, right?” Penny asked. “She mentioned his death might slow the other assassins down and cause them to reconsider dying for a dead man’s hit.”

  “This is more than a hit,” I said. “Ava broke their sacred code.”

  “We broke their fucking code, too,” Penny said. “But when Hagan died the hit against you died with him, didn’t it?”