by Jamie Davis
Now they needed a little more of Hal's luck ability. He thought he’d mastered the art of activating it. It was time to see how far he could press it.
The Merchant Warden’s home was set on a slight rise and surrounded by an eight-foot-high, wrought iron fence set in a low brick wall. The sprawling home itself was two stories tall, and there were lights visible in several windows despite the late hour.
Kay pointed to a large bay window lit up on the second floor. It appeared to open on a balcony overlooking the front lawn. "That's got to be the Warden's personal quarters; I'd bet."
"We'll have to see if there's a way to climb up there once we're inside," Hal said. "It'll make it easier than trying to sneak into the house and get upstairs past all the servants and others in the home."
The two of them were hidden in the shadows near the main entrance gate. There were two strangely dressed guards standing by the gate. They were both huge, standing nearly seven feet tall. The two guards were dressed in furs over chainmail armor, and they carried spiked axes. Hal pointed them out.
"They don't look like your usual guards."
Kay swore and shook her head. "No, those bastards are Orc Clansmen. They're barbarians. On occasion, they've been known to hire out as caravan guards and mercenaries. They're also tough to kill. Remember that cook back in the warehouse?"
Hal nodded.
"Well, he was just the cook. These are trained and experienced warriors. I'd be willing to bet there are more guarding the inside, too. They usually hire out in small family groups from their clan."
Hal and Kay shrunk back farther into the shadows when a pair of servants rolled a cart with a small cask on it down to the gate and handed two wooden mugs to the guards after filling the mugs from the cask.
"I’ve seen this before with the regular guards, when I was casing the home," Kay said. "They deliver the drinks every few hours. It must be in the contract for the mercenaries."
Hal stared at the guards for a moment longer, watching them drink, then snapped his fingers.
"I might have a plan that deals with them. It will depend a little on luck, but I think I've got that covered, too." Hal smiled in the darkness. "Let's pull back from here and work our way around to the orchard. I'll fill you in on the way."
------
IT WAS child's play for Hal and Kay to scale the fence and slip inside the property. They'd had to hurry a bit which increased their chance of detection, but it was necessary for Hal's plan to work.
Now they were in position to watch the two servants return to the rear entrance. They stopped and parked their cart by the door and went inside.
"Perfect," Hal whispered. "Come on and stay in the shadows. If we're detected at this point, the plan falls apart."
The two dashed from shadow to shadow until they'd crossed the orchard and manicured gardens of the Warden’s yard. Soon, they were standing next to the kitchen entrance. There were orc guards patrolling all around the home, but the two thieves were able to avoid them.
"Hand me the sleeping potion vials from your pack," Hal said and then watch the door.
Kay handed Hal a set of vials from her pack. Hal had levered the heavy cask up on its end with the wooden spigot pointing into the air.
He set the vials down on the upturned cask and worked at the spigot with both hands until it twisted free of the cask. Hal leaned forward and sniffed at the opening. The smell of whiskey or other strong spirits wafted up from the hole.
Being careful not to spill any, Hal dumped in the contents of each vial containing the sleeping draught Colin had supplied them. He hoped it was enough to do the trick. He thought it would be fine.
Back home you didn't mix sleeping pills and alcohol. Why wouldn't the same apply here?
He sloshed the cask around a little to mix the contents up a bit and then pounded the spigot back into the cask with his fist until it was seated tightly. The correct tool for the task was a mallet, but that would be too noisy, so he hoped his pounding fist was enough force to keep the spigot from unseating while the servants made their next set of rounds.
Hal and Kay moved away, taking positions in a thick hedge in the nearby gardens. About an hour later, the servants returned from inside and wheeled the cart away on their rounds with the whiskey ration for the guards. After another hour of waiting, the servants returned, dropped off the cart by the entrance, this time carrying the cask inside.
"It must be empty or nearly so," Hal guessed. "They hardly strained at all when they lifted it."
"Let's hope that doesn't mean they missed some of the guards," Kay said.
"Ye of little faith," Hal chided Kay. "What's a plan without a little excitement?"
"In this business, excitement can get you killed," Kay replied. Then she pointed to the nearby corner of the home.
A tall orc guard had come around the corner. He was stumbling as he moved, supporting himself on the house as he walked. He staggered only a few more steps then collapsed to the gravel pathway and lay still.
"I'd say that's a successful test," Hal chuckled. He delivered a mock bow. "Shall we go, milady?"
"Don't call me that. I’m not a noblewoman anymore.”
Kay led the way with Hal watching the rear as they moved around the side of the home until they reached the front. Two more orc guards were down, collapsed on the ground by the home's front entrance.
"We have an hour until the servants begin their rounds again," Hal said. "Once they do, it won't take them long to sound the alarm. I hope that gives us enough time."
Kay shook her head and shrugged. She obviously didn't have an answer. The only thing they could do was to push forward. They'd never get another chance with the same plan.
"Stay here, Kay. I want to finish off those orcs. I don't know how long that draught will keep them out and we don't want them down here awake and angry when we come back down."
"I'll go back around and take care of the other one we saw collapse on the pathway. I'll meet you back here under the Warden's apartments."
Hal nodded and started slipping from shadow to shadow until he'd reached the entrance. The two orcs were snoring so loud; Hal was afraid someone inside would hear them. Drawing his dagger, Hal stepped up next to each one and slit their throats, dodging backward each time to avoid the fountain of blood that erupted from the slash left by his blade.
1,000 EXPERIENCE POINTS
1,000 experience points
STEPPING CAREFULLY to avoid the spreading pools of blood, Hal crept back to the spot he'd left Kay. She returned a few seconds later.
"All finished," Kay said. "I found another one collapsed by the kitchen entrance. He must have realized something was wrong and tried to go for help. I dragged his body into the hedge. That might buy us a few extra minutes."
"The two by the front entrance are neutralized, too. Now let's figure how we get up there," Hal said pointing up to the apartments one floor up.
"The grapnel might make too much noise if someone is sleeping close by," Kay said. "We'll have to climb. The stone wall looks like it has enough handholds if we take our time."
"You go first and take the rope and grapnel. I'll boost you up to give you a head start; then you can lower the rope for me."
"That'll work, too. Give me a boost."
Hal bent down and formed a stirrup with his hands. Kay stepped into it, and Hal lifted her up as high as he could. She stepped on his shoulders and then reached up and pulled herself up onto the overhanging roof over the main entrance. There was a balcony there, and she hooked the grapnel over the railing and lowered the knotted rope to Hal.
Hal pulled himself up until he was standing on the balcony together with Kay, coiling the rope and putting it back in his pack. There were double doors off the balcony leading inside the apartments.
Kay gestured for Hal to go first and he walked over, testing the door's handles. They were unlocked, and he pulled the left door open and peeked inside.
It was a sitting room of some
sort, with a few comfortable chairs and a dressing table by the wardrobe in the corner. There was a large desk and chair against the right-hand wall, as well. An oil lamp on the desk was lit but it had been turned down low, so it only put out a little light.
Two closed doors led off the room. One was directly across from the balcony and Hal suspected it led to the rest of the home. The door on the left had to be the bedroom and the probable location of their target. Hal motioned for Kay to follow and he stepped inside towards the far door.
"Check out the desk over there while I check the two doors," Hal whispered.
"Got it."
Kay crossed to the desk and began rifling through the papers there after turning up the lamp to provide more light.
Hal checked the door he thought led to the rest of the house first. He was correct. A glance outside showed a hallway and the beginning of a broad staircase down to the lower floor.
Closing that door, Hal pulled a chair across the carpeted floor and wedged the back under the handle to brace the door closed. It wouldn't stop a concerted assault, but it might delay any nosy servant who happened by long enough for Hal and Kay to escape.
Hal moved to the other door and opened it a crack. Peering inside, he noticed a bed chamber. Against the far wall was a large bed with a man and a couple of naked women sprawled on it. Damn, he hadn't counted on anyone else being with the Warden.
Carefully shutting the door, Hal crossed to the desk where Kay was still searching through papers there.
"There’s some women in bed with the Warden. Did you find anything?" Hal asked.
"Not yet. These appear to be only household papers like orders for wine and food. I don't see anything about slaves or the Duke's family."
"I was afraid of that. He must keep his Warden's papers somewhere else," Hal said. "There's no other way but to wake him and question him until he tells us what he knows."
"That's risky, Hal. He'll figure we'll kill him either way, especially if he figures out who we are. If he has nothing to lose, he's likely to try and alert the guards rather than help us."
"I'm not sure we have a choice."
"You said he had women in with him?" Kay asked.
"Yes, two from what I could see."
"Let's see if they know anything," Kay suggested. "They're probably just slaves. We wake them all up. I'll bring the girls out here and question them, you stay in there and question him. One or the other may talk, and we can compare their answers."
Hal shrugged. "It's as good a plan as any other. Let's do it."
The two thieves opened the bedroom door and slipped inside. Hal moved to the side of the bed where the Warden lay sleeping while Kay went to be closer to the two women.
Hal waited until Kay was in place and then he drew his daggers and tapped the Warden on the nose. The slot machine began to rattle in Hal's head once again.
"Wakey, wakey. Time to get up and answer a few questions."
The Warden woke with a start but stopped himself when he saw the large dagger pointed at his face. The two women stirred and one opened her eyes to see Hal holding a dagger at the Warden's face. She drew in a deep breath to scream in alarm, but Kay grabbed her from behind and clapped a hand over her mouth, whispering something in her ear.
The woman only struggled for an instant then she calmed down and nodded.
The other woman woke more slowly but when she took in the situation right away. She smiled and nodded at Hal. Clearly, she approved of his holding a dagger on her master.
Hal noticed for the first time both women were covered in bruises and marks. The Warden was not a gentle lover.
"Why don't you help me tie up our guest here and then take the ladies into the other room, Kay. The Warden and I are going to have a conversation while you're gone."
Kay produced several strips of leather from her pouch and bound the Warden's hands and feet, stretching him out and securing him at either end to the bed posts.
"Call me if you need help," Kay said as she climbed off the bed. She took each naked woman by the arm and led them out to the sitting room, closing the door behind her.
Hal turned his attention back to the man in the bed before him. His muscular upper body was covered in tattoos of complex design. Many looked like runes of some sort.
"Do you know who I am?" The Warden asked. "You've made a grave error that won't just cost you your life; it will cost your soul, too."
"Good thing I'm an atheist, then," Hal quipped. "But in all seriousness, you should be asking who I am and what the cost will be to you if you don't listen to me."
"Who are you, then?"
"I have many names, but lately people have taken to calling me the Hood."
Hal watched the man's eyes widen when he dropped the moniker on him.
"Yes, that's me. You might be in luck, though. I came looking for something specific, not just you. If you give me what I want, perhaps I'll leave you alive," Hal lied. "Otherwise, I'll kill you outright and find another solution to my problem. In the end, it doesn't matter to me."
"You've got a price on your head, you know," the Warden said. "You should get out of town now while you still can. There are going to be a lot of people looking for you soon."
"Yeah, I don't know, Mr. Warden," Hal said. "I kind of like it here in Tandon. There's lots of opportunities for upward mobility."
"Fine, suit yourself," the Warden said. "What is it you want to know? Perhaps it is of little value to me, and I'll let you have a tidbit before I hunt you down and kill you."
"I discovered a little book that told me where to find certain people. The Slaver Boss had it. I took it after we killed him. It listed all sorts of things, among them, where to find the Duke's family. Now I'm thinking that the man who recovers the Duke's family for him would have a lot of power in this town. What do you think?"
"What makes you think I know where they are?"
"Because the little book says so," Hal replied. "The book has no reason to lie, whereas you do.”
Hal tapped him on the nose with his dagger’s tip.
“Tell me where to find the Duke's family, Warden. Are they here on this property or are they stashed somewhere else?"
"That is something I cannot tell you, Mr. Hood," the Warden said. "The Emperor himself has decreed the noble families be kept from their loved ones at all costs. It would mean my head on a spike if I gave that information up to you."
Hal leaned forward and pricked the dagger against his captive's throat, drawing a bead of blood.
"How about your head on my dagger, you fool."
"It makes no difference to me. The result is the same."
Hal thought for a moment. How could he convince the Warden to give him the information? The slot machine began rattling away in his brain. He decided it was time to take a chance and see if his luck still held.
He remembered something he'd read when he was younger. It was something about soldiers being afraid of women and their knives. It was from a Kipling poem he thought.
Hal began reciting the last stanza of the Kipling poem, The Young British Soldier.
"WHEN YOU'RE WOUNDED and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier."
"WHAT THE HELL are you talking about?" The Warden asked.
"Oh, just remembering something from home. A wise old poet wrote those words, pointing out the thing men in your position are most afraid of. I've decided we'll take our chances with what those two ladies can find out from you.”
Hal pulled one of his razor-sharp throwing knives from its sheath.
“I have plenty of sharp knives to spare. I'm sure if we hold you down while they question you, you'll start talking pretty quickly."
Hal was rewarded when the slot machine stopped rolling. He heard it chime and the Warden's face went pale as a sheet.
"You wouldn't dare. T
hose women are just animals; they're nobody important. You want the important women, the Duke's women, his wife, and daughters."
"WHEN YOU'RE WOUNDED and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains..."
HAL GAVE the stanza a sing-songy lilt in a horrible approximation of a British accent as he recited it again.
"...JEST roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier."
"FINE, fine, I'll tell you what you want to know. A merchant I owed money to keeps the duke’s wife and daughters as concubines. I can tell you the address, just let me go."
"I don't suppose you have records to support that in writing, do you?" Hal asked. "It's not like I doubt your word, except, oh, yeah, I don't believe a word you say."
"Yes, it's all written down in my ledgers. They're kept in a false bottom in the wardrobe."
"Excellent, Mr. Warden," Hal said. He grabbed a handful of the sheets and cut them away with the dagger. Stuffing the makeshift gag into the Warden's mouth, Hal tied it in place with a leather cord.
"You stay here and keep quiet. I'll be right back after I check on what you said."
Hal stuck his head in the other room. Kay must have gotten the women to cooperate. The wardrobe was already open, and Kay was going through a stack of books there.
"Ah, good, you found them," Hal said. "He just told me where to look."
"There's a bunch of gold and jewels in here, too," Kay said. "I'm looking for some record of where the Duke's family is being held."
"Look for an entry listed for a set of concubines to a merchant," Hal said. "That's the Duke's wife and daughters."
The two women stood nearby, watching Kay go through the books. They'd donned robes to cover up, but Hal still saw the bruises on their faces and arms.
"Are you finished with these ladies. I'd like to offer them a chance at some post-traumatic stress therapy for what that bastard did to them."
Kay looked up from where she was leafing through the ledgers. "Sure, be nice to them. They've been through a lot."