City of Daggers (The Iron Teeth Book 2)

by Scott Straughan

  “I just got an interesting message from an information broker. It said they owed me a favor for services rendered by a subordinate of mine, and it was sealed with a lipstick mark,” she announced coldly.

  No one said anything as Herad slowly gazed around the room and at everyone there one by one. Her eyes lingered on some people more than others, and thankfully they completely overlooked Blacknail, who was still hiding behind his master.

  “I don’t know who exactly it was referring to, but I have my suspicions. Some people lack discipline, and have a bad habit of sticking their nose in things that don’t concern them.” Herad glared coldly at Saeter.

  The old scout was stone-faced and kept his expression carefully blank, but when Herad looked away, he gave Blacknail a dark suspicious look out of the corner of his eye. The hobgoblin quickly turned away and tried to look innocent. He thought he managed to pull it off.

  “That’s not of immediate concern though. What’s important is that the message contains a lot of details on Zelena’s movements and plans. Some of it is easily verifiable, but most of it isn’t. The sender also expressed concern about Zelena’s schemes to control Daggerpoint and wished us luck in defeating her,” the bandit chieftain explained.

  “We get tips and word from all kinds of information dealers almost every day, so what makes this one stand out?” someone brave asked.

  Herad nodded and smiled darkly at no one in particular. Blacknail thought she was trying not to look at Saeter, although he wasn’t sure why.

  “I’ve heard of this broker before, and the letter also contains information on my own movements. It lists things I’d thought I’d kept secret. Thus, I’m willing to believe most the information on Zelena is also reliable,” Herad explained.

  “I’m guessing it’s not good news,” an older female bandit commented reluctantly.

  “No, it’s not. As most of you know, I’ve managed to cripple or thwart practically all of Zelena’s schemes. She hasn’t been able to turn most of the other chieftains against me, or at least she hasn’t been able to get their direct support for any sort of attack. They’re too afraid of me to risk that,” Herad remarked arrogantly.

  “They should be afraid of you. You’re the deadliest fighter in the city, and from what I’ve heard, you’ve been dispatching Zelena’s pet captains left and right,” another man replied proudly.

  This time Herad’s dark eyes were hard and cold as she responded. “All very true, but I can’t do everything myself. According to the information I’ve received, Zelena has abandoned her plan to turn the other chieftains against me, and since her assassination attempt also failed, she’s now planning to simply purchase enough men to launch a frontal attack on us.”

  Some of the bandits gasped in shock, and others blinked in confusion, but most didn’t seem too concerned by the news. Blacknail himself understood what Herad had said, but he didn’t really know what to think about it. He had no idea how many people there were in the city or how many warriors each tribe had. He just knew there were a lot.

  “Even if she buys up all the loose scum and hired muscle in the city, and lures a fair number of hands away from other chieftains as well, she’d still have a very hard time defeating us in any direct attack. She didn’t bring all that many of Werrick’s men with her east,” Saeter remarked thoughtfully.

  “Without Werrick’s veterans to stiffen their spines, anyone they hire is unlikely to be of much use anyway,” another man added dismissively. Several of the other people in the room apparently agreed with him, because they nodded and made approving noises. Herad wasn’t one of them.

  “That’s true, and Zelena realizes this as well. Only an idiot wouldn’t, and while Zelena is many other things, she isn’t an idiot. That’s why she has purchased the services of a small group of mercenaries. According to the letter I received, they’re due to arrive sometime next week,” she explained grimly. The reaction to this news was more dramatic. Dark muttering and swearing filled the room.

  “Where in all the hells is she getting all that bloody coin?” someone asked in surprise.

  “Fuck,” someone else cursed.

  “It can’t all be from Werrick’s spoils out west. Even he couldn’t be making that much from robbing and pillaging. Zelena’s throwing gold around like it’s well water,” another bandit remarked in frustration.

  “Are the other chiefs going to allow that? No one’s ever brought a force like that into Daggerpoint. It’s going to make a lot of people nervous, especially the governor,” someone else added.

  “She seems to think she can get away with it,” Herad told them.

  “It’s not that much different from hiring the normal thugs and riffraff. Half of them are deserters anyway. There are certainly no rules against it, and the rules around here are pretty fluid,” Saeter commented.

  “And if anyone complains about it, then she has a nice force of mercs at hand to silence them,” a scarred bandit added with dry humor.

  “What are you planning to do about it?” Saeter asked Herad calmly over the din. The old scout didn’t seem too concerned, and so neither was Blacknail. He trusted his master to know what to do.

  “There aren’t that many options. Ideally, I’d just have Zelena assassinated, but word is, the assassins have her squirreled away somewhere secret. That also means we can’t attack her before the mercenaries get here,” the bandit leader replied.

  “And we can’t exactly start a fight with every chief whose minions might join her, or all the free agents in Daggerpoint,” Saeter pointed out.

  “So we’re doomed?” another bandit asked nervously. Herad snorted disdainfully in response and threw the man a disapproving glare. He wilted under her attention.

  “Having a group of mercenaries at her side hardly makes Zelena invincible. Bringing them into town will make her enemies, and we can use that,” she told all her minions in a voice full of steady authority. Instantly, the room quieted and everyone calmed down. The panic hadn’t subsided completely though, a hint of it lingered in the room.

  “How?” someone asked expectantly.

  “Simple, we build up alliances of our own and then crush Zelena’s coin-bought soldiers. They’re mercs, so they won’t be sticking around. That means Zelena has to attack us, and that gives us the advantage. Now that we know they’re coming, we can fortify the base and prepare our forces. When Zelena attacks, she’ll be walking into a trap,” Herad answered.

  “Sounds like it could work. This is a nice defensive location,” Saeter added in support of his boss.

  “What do we know about the sellswords?” someone asked.

  “They’re an infantry company called the Leather Heels. The broker didn’t know much about them, except that they’re from down south and that they’ve seen a few battles,” Herad explained.

  “Too bad Vorscha isn’t around, she’d know more about this company,” Saeter mused.

  “It would also be nice to have her here for the fight. There’s no one I would rather have at my back,” another man added.

  “She’s needed where she is and couldn’t get here in time anyway. We have more than enough men for this plan,” Herad remarked confidently.

  “I’m guessing you want us all to keep this to ourselves?” Saeter asked her.

  “Obviously. A trap only works if the victims don’t know it’s a trap. None of you are to share this information with anyone, including your subordinates. I wouldn’t even be telling all of you this if it wasn’t necessary. Just remember, if you open your mouth, I’ll find out about it, and then I’ll seal your lips permanently. No second chances. I don’t care if you’re drunk or even being tortured,” Herad told them threateningly as she gazed around the room.

  There were grim nods of acknowledgement from most the bandits present. No one seemed to think she was exaggerating. Blacknail made a mental note to remember to forget this entire conversation had ever happened. He was taking no chances.

  A few minutes later, after Hera
d started explaining the details of her plan, Blacknail began to grow bored of all the talking. He sighed quietly to himself and stifled a yawn. That was when Herad spoke up in an excited tone that immediately caught the hobgoblin’s attention.

  “Some of you might be questioning me, and thinking that I'm a poor bet, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s Zelena that’s desperate here, not me. I’ve knocked that bitch on her ass every time she has tried something, and this latest stupid ploy of hers will be no different. When her last desperate gamble falls apart, and we flood the streets with the blood of every petty thug stupid enough to accept her coin, there will be no one left to challenge me. I will be the undisputed ruler of my territory and the top dog in Daggerpoint and beyond. Then, a new age will dawn in the North, my age, and all of you here will reap the benefits!” she announced eagerly. Her voice was full of absolute confidence.

  Loud cheering broke out in the room as the bandits’ greed and pride got the better of them. All trace of their earlier fear and uncertainty had disappeared. Herad saw their reaction and grinned hungrily. Her ambition and bloodlust were plain as day. Blacknail giggled and licked his lips as he pictured all the fun things that were about to happen. It seemed like his tribe was about to go to war. It was about bloody time!

  Chapter 28

  Now that all her minions were solidly behind her, Herad started organizing them. Her short black hair fell over her forehead as she leaned forward over the table in front of her sofa and gave out her orders. “Corveyn, you’re in charge of the defenses. I want work parties organized and this place fortified as much as possible. If you need funds, then you’ll have them.”

  “Not a problem. I already have a few surprises in mind for our guests when they arrive,” a man who Blacknail assumed was Corveyn replied.

  He was one of the men who had joined the tribe after they’d arrived in Daggerpoint. All these new hires were beneath Blacknail’s notice, unless they had something he wanted, so he hadn’t bothered to learn their names. He was Herad’s favorite after all, and they were just rookies.

  “Saeter, I want you to get in touch with some of your old contacts. See if you can recruit a few more good men, or at least convince as many as possible not to join up with Zelena when she starts spreading that coin of hers around. They can’t spend it if they’re dead,” the chieftain told Blacknail’s master.

  Saeter nodded calmly in acknowledgment, and Blacknail stepped out from where he’d been hiding behind him. The hobgoblin smiled hopefully at his mistress. He wanted a job too! However, Herad didn’t even glance his way as she issued orders to the other bandits. Blacknail pouted sulkily as he gazed Herad’s way. Why hadn’t she given him a job? He was far more useful than most of these lazy humans. Surely there was someone who needed killing, or maybe some pies that needed stealing?

  Herad happened to glance Blacknail’s way, and she noticed his demeanor. The bandit chieftain rolled her eyes but then gave him a wicked grin. The hobgoblin returned her smile hopefully.

  “Don’t worry, Blacknail. I’m sure an opportunity will present itself and I’ll find someone for you to hunt. It might even be someone in this room, if they disappoint me enough.” She chuckled darkly and loudly enough that everyone in the room undoubtedly heard her.

  Muted muttering broke out between the bandits as several people looked Blacknail’s way, and the hobgoblin heard his master grunt in disapproval. He wasn’t sure why Saeter wasn’t pleased though. Blacknail was glad Herad trusted him to hunt her enemies for her, and he enjoyed the fearful looks he was getting. The new members were barely part of the tribe anyway. None of them had been around nearly as long as him! He’d joined the tribe a whole um… lots of months ago! That was practically forever. Also, in a tribe, it was natural for the weak to fear the strong and for them to be kept in their place. Everyone was certainly very afraid of Herad! The fact that the chieftain had mentioned Blacknail personally, obviously meant she considered him to be only one step below herself in position and toughness. Maybe his master was jealous?

  “All right, that’s enough gabbing from you lot. It’s time to get to work. Get on out of here,” Herad announced loudly. Her voice cut through the commotion around her, and everyone else instantly grew silent and jumped to obey her. Soon, all the bandits were walking through the doors and exiting the room.

  Saeter let most of the other bandits leave, and get out of the way, before heading out himself. Blacknail followed him closely, and as soon as they were alone in the hallway, Saeter turned to him. “Listen, Blacknail, you shouldn’t be happy about being picked out like that by Herad.”

  Blacknail frowned at his master’s comment. He didn’t understand why Saeter was upset.

  “It means she trusts me and that I’m dangerous!” the hobgoblin bragged.

  “Maybe, but it will also make your own comrades afraid of you,” the gray-haired scout replied.

  “They should be afraid of me; I’m much faster and smarter-ss than them. None of them could challenge me,” Blacknail pointed out arrogantly.

  “That’s not the point, Blacknail. Herad’s words were meant to set you against the rest of the tribe. If they’re too afraid of you, then they will see you as a threat, and then they won’t have your back later, or they might even try to take you out,” Saeter explained.

  The hobgoblin gave his master a confused look. Wouldn’t most of them do that anyway? “Obviously I’m stronger than them, so I don’t-ss need their help, and they won’t dare attack if they’re afraid of me,” he replied as if he was stating the obvious.

  “And if they gang up against you or simply leave you to die somewhere?” Saeter asked. Blacknail squinted and scratched his long green nose as he considered that idea. He didn’t like it. Humans sure were a sneaky race. How was a poor hobgoblin supposed to keep himself safe?

  “What do you think I should do?” he asked his master reluctantly.

  “You need to show them you’re more than just a killer, and that they’re your comrades and friends,” the old scout replied.

  “So I need to outsmart and trick-ss them…” Blacknail mused aloud. “That should be easy; I’m a great actor!”

  Saeter sighed in resignation and shook his head. “Sure, whatever works.”

  “You sure are tricky, master!” Blacknail replied happily.

  “Go get your mask and gear, Blacknail. I may as well get started on recruiting for Herad right away, and that means you’ll be coming with me,” Saeter told him irritably as they moved.

  “Where are we going?” the hobgoblin asked curiously.

  “We’re going to a bar. There’s some people there I should talk to,” Saeter replied.

  “Why?”

  “I need a drink. Talking to you has given me a headache. Also, I used to move between the smaller bands a bit before I joined up with Herad, so I know some of the people. The kind of coin Zelena has will seem awfully tempting to them, but most should listen to reason,” Saeter explained.

  “Bah, why is Herad worried about a few tribeless humans? She should just kill them all if they’re going to become our enemies,” Blacknail suggested.

  “That’s a bloody stupid idea! Try to actually use that skinny green head of yours, Blacknail. Fighting them would just hurt us, and we’re trying to recruit some of them, remember?” Saeter replied heatedly.

  “Oh, you’re right. Sorry, master,” Blacknail responded. “So first we recruit, and then-ss we make the new members fight for us. If they die, we don’t even have to give them shinies!”

  Saeter turned around and swatted the hobgoblin atop his head. Blacknail hadn’t been expecting it, so he didn’t manage to dodge the blow in time.

  “Ouch,” he whined, as he took a step back and rubbed his now sore ear.

  Saeter glared at him furiously, and Blacknail wilted under his gaze. What had he said wrong? He’d thought that was a great idea…

  “We’re trying to avoid making more enemies, Blacknail. Daggerpoint is a pretty immor
al place, but even here bloody killing sprees in the streets are frowned upon,” Saeter explained.

  “Why would anyone-ss care what we do to our enemies?” the hobgoblin asked with honest curiosity.

  Saeter sighed in frustration and gave the hobgoblin a brooding look. Blacknail met his gaze with a confused expression. It seemed like his master was thinking deeply about something unpleasant. He hoped he wasn’t about to be smacked again…

  “You can’t just go around killing everyone, even in the North,” Saeter explained a few seconds later. “This piss-poor excuse for a city is still a city, and it needs to stay at least somewhat civilized. If everyone just started killing everyone else, then Daggerpoint would fall apart. No one would be able to buy food, clothes, or build shelter. Soon after that, almost everyone would be dead or have left.”

  “But the strongest would-ss hold the territory; it would all be his.”

  “So what? It’s the people that make the city valuable,” Saeter replied. “It’s not like the wilds, were you can make most things for yourself. In a city, you need lots of people to buy, sell, and make things. An empty city is worth less than a mud pit.”

  The hobgoblin tried to wrap his head around that. It sort of made sense to him, maybe. “So, if I were to kill-ss the maker of tasty pastries, then he couldn’t make any more-ss of them, and if I were to start killing too many people, he might run away.”

  Saeter rolled his eyes at the use of the pastry example. “Kind of, it’s a bit more complicated than that though. If you scare away or kill too many other people, then who will buy his goods? If there’s no one to sell pastries to, then he’ll leave. The city is sort of like… an animal. It can take a few cuts and scrapes, but if you wound it too deeply or hit the wrong spot, then it will die.”

  Blacknail nodded at his master’s words. He could picture that. All the people in a city were kind of like the different squishy bits inside a rabbit, they were even the right color. The hobgoblin frowned as another thought occurred to him. Were there green bits inside animals? He shook his head to clear his thoughts. That didn’t matter. He should probably concentrate on Saeter’s words for now. He could always search through the insides of a rabbit later.