Solo Castle Commons Conspiracy II

[Zandelia]

Spring 31st (Night) - The Warehouse District


She had left Carole to her own devices, to seethe and contemplate upon what lessons she had already been instructed in yet failed to fully appreciate. She could not fault her in that, it had taken her years to cultivate any true understanding of what she did and how she best operated. It was almost impossible to teach directly because the craft of intelligence was deeply rooted in the personal. Perceptions and thought patterns, instinct and awareness. She could give practices to improve abilities, counsel to expand the mind yet she could not truly teach what she knew. Merely plant seeds and see if the soil used was fertile enough to be cultivated and encourage the organic growth that such abilities required for development. She had given enough of that for one day and so instead had opted to go alone into the darkness, slipping through the streets behind her pitch black camouflage towards the initial target.

Four men, one Zandelia. Seems a little unfair but I can’t exactly cut myself in half to help them out can I? she smiled grimly to herself as she began to enter the Warehouse District and made her way towards the spot they had found previously that afternoon.

It was not so difficult a task, she knew where she was wanting to get to and she knew the warrens well enough by memory these days that it took her less then half a Bell to get herself into position. She remained careful, however, keeping to the shadows and peering around the corners as she went, footsteps light and hands keeping her cloak close about her despite its rippling desire to break free. As she came towards the edge of the two warehouses which she knew her targets would be confined between she slowed and tilted her head - listening for their location. She heard no footsteps as she paced slowly towards the edge of the last little alley and stood in its maw, leaning into the corner before crouching down as voices could be heard. They sounded merry enough and that was for the better, it meant they were thinking less about doing their jobs as guards and more about their own boredom.

Careless, yet deliciously so. Perhaps I have some luck after all. Need to get closer though, need to hear them properly. The damned echo is terrible here she told herself as she shifted forwards slowly, inch by inch until she was now out of the alleyway and skirting the edge of the open space and flicking her gaze towards the lantern light that gave illumination to her guards.

She slipped behind a rotting crate towards the corner and went to one knee, checking her weaponry quickly to make sure that if she were spotted she knew she would be able to defend herself. She did not wish to be but it always served to be well prepared for any eventuality. With any decent fortune, and the application of her skills, she would hopefully be able to learn what she had come to learn and be gone without them even noticing her presence. At least, she reflected, they were all gathered around the light of their hanging flames - it meant their night vision would be poor when peering into the dark after such brightness. She frowned and peered around the edge of the crate to see how many they were.

One.Two. Three….where’s the fourth? Where? Patrolling perhaps? Interesting, not the way I came somewhere else clearly. Caution, stay still and reveal nothing. Wait. Watch. Listen. she counseled herself as she strained her hearing. It was easier to hear them now but not by much, though the laughter was clearer now it also blocked out some of the more softly spoken words.

“Hey! Don’t be cheatin now ya hear Tim! We’re using the same dice!”

“You accusing me eh?! EH?!”

“Just shut up and roll em ye bastard. Keeping us waitn”

And whose gonna stop me? You Lee? Davra? Hah!”

There was laughter about the trio then, rich and deep. She shook her head before nodding to herself. They had spoken the name of her employer and as such she knew they were connected to him and by all accounts respected him far less than the shopkeeper believed them to. That bode ill for his dealing with them but left an opening for her own schemes if she could find a way to use it to achieve her goals. She furrowed her brow in thought as she continued to watch them, sat around a makeshift table from a crate and boxes used as seating. Gambling and the chinking of coinage met her ears upon the rough woodwork and she knew her assumption had proven correct - they felt safe, secure and as such were not on guard. The three of them there at least. She had yet to see the fourth.

She flicked her gaze to and fro and still saw no sign of him. She did, however, see a way to get closer. If she rounded the crate at a moment they were guffawing at each other like oafs she could make the small side passage that barely separated their warehouse from the next one. She was about to make her move, muscles tensed and ready for the opening, as the fourth man stepped from it with presence and she had to stop herself from the approach. She knelt, stock still as his gaze swept across her corner and then flicked away to turn to the other three. She let out a slow, deep breath.

“I tole you lot not to gamble! We’re here to guard not to muck about!”

“Oh come one Thane, nothing has even troubled us for scores of days. The plan is safe, it’s better than safe. We gots our people piling pressure on em and we aren’t touchable!”

“Don’t make damned assumptions. We aint been paid yet”

“Oh leave of it Thane, it’s fine. We gots our blades and our bows. We’re better at fightin than the rest of em and we’d here em coming. They aint exactly sneaky are they?”

The one known as Thane growled and crudely gestured at them before continuing upon his patrol, thankfully away from the side passage he had just come from and towards the other side of the gambling trio. She would have to watch out for him she knew, he was more cautious and cunning than the rest it seemed and if he was patrolling it was likely he was circling the building.

She didn’t have much time to capitalize and so she took it, rounding the crate now and keeping low, flat almost to the rough stone walls of the warehouses and using a barrel here and there to stop and keep herself out of sight. Eventually she made it to the side passage, covered by their foolishness, and slipped in.

And now to get something more useful than names and hints she told herself as she stopped for just a few more moments.

“Eh, you think it’ll be done soon? We gots a buyer. What’s Thane waitin for?”

“Dunno, you know im. Always too clever fer his own good”

Clever indeed. Let’s see just how clever she thought as she slipped down the side passage and as quickly as she could got herself to its corner where it rounded towards the back of the building.

[Zandelia]

She peeked around the corner and saw no signs of movement, though to be fair her vision was not limitless. This Thane could have been a score of yards away and yet shrouded in the shadows. She had to move lest she be spotted as soon as he came back around on the routs she assumed that he was taking from her observations. There were more crates and barrels at the rear and she saw another wide set of sliding doors that were all but barricaded with more wooden constructs. She darted out and ran towards a set of them, jumping and heaving herself over them until she was upon the other side and panting, calming her breath so that she could better hear her surroundings. She was behind a kind of wall of crates now, the ones blocking the doors and she wondered if she could get into the building somehow, to the other side of the front doors where she could hear their conversations without being seen so easily. To get close, that was what she needed. She knew that she couldn’t take Thane down, his partners would notice his absence if he did not return.

Wait for him to pass, check the door and assess possibilities. Are there windows? Cracks to slip through? Anything? she asked herself as her ears finally began to pick up the soft trudge of boot upon dirt.

She held her breath and waited, waiting and readied herself for exposure but when nothing came and the trudging got louder she became more self-assure and instead waited to count. To determine his route length, the time she would have once he had passed her to work with. She heard the footfalls level with her, pass her and then grow distant. She began to count - one, two, three, four….one hundred-twenty four. He had returned again upon his patrol and she set about repeating the process once more. Five times in total she undertook it without moving from her position at all. She totaled them up - averaging around one hundred and twenty but with a variation of perhaps ten seconds either side that she would have to be careful of. Not to mention the fact that she could not start until he was around ten seconds past her and at the corner of the passage she had slunk down.

She waited with even breathing until she thought he had passed the corner and sprang up to pad to the door. She searched for its handle and found it, old and rusted as most of the metal exposed to the elements was in Sunberth. She pulled at it and it didn’t budge more than perhaps a finger’s width before it stopped, jammed perhaps of she just lacked the strength. Both were a possibility.

Twenty seven

She pulled out a dagger and traced it through the gap that had been create and drew it down until it thanked into an obstacle and she leant in to observe it. A chain, a damned chain held it closed. She slipped her dagger back and traced her fingers along the twisted metal, pulling at it slightly until she found what was keeping it in place - an old, rusted lock to match the sinuous linked metal. She cursed under her breath and bent down to examine it as best as she could in the dim light. She pulled at it to test its strength and wondered if there was a way to remove it without garnering suspicion.

Fifty Nine

She pulled out the dagger again and wedged it it the hook and levered at it with all of her strength. There was a faint scraping sound but the blade held despite her fears, yet so did the lock. She muttered to herself and knew time was shortening now, she retreated back to her position with her back against the rough woodwork of the crate until her next moment would come. She used the time to peer upwards, searching for another route. She thought she saw a window - or some form of opening - higher up the building’s exterior and there were stacks of old shipping crates that would allow an ascent.

Only if she were quick and agile enough though and she didn’t want to even contemplate the fall should she fail. Not to mention the fact that if she were spotted she would be left with nowhere to run and everything to fight for. They had bows, she assumed crossbows of the rough yet serviceable kind. She didn’t wish to be on the end of those vicious bolts. She heard the footfalls come back around again and closed her eye as she sought to find peace and the clinically logical mind that would be required for such a daring feat should she decide it was the only way to get her what she wanted. It was a matter of getting in she knew, not getting out. In the morning Davra would arrive to collect his goods, as would a few others, and she would be released. Sleeping in a warehouse would not be the worst bed she had ever experienced.

Still have to get in there first though she told herself and she needed to do it fast.

Already she feared she had missed too much conversation for her liking. It was now or never, she waited for the next window of opportunity.

[Zandelia]

The moment of tension came, then paused and intensified as the one known as Thane came to a stop right next to her. She held her breath hoping that he would pass but her luck had run out it seemed. She felt the pushing against the crate as his weight was leant against it in nonchalance as she heard the whisking start up from behind her. He was sharpening his damned blade whilst at the same time ruining what chance she had of overhearing anything worthy of note to help her fulfill her obligations and earn her the gold that she didn’t covet but knew she required if she were to make something of herself in Sunberth. Her money was far from inexhaustible and it was fast approaching running out. She tilted her head and caught the silhouette of his shoulders blocking out the light of the stars and the glinting of Leth’s rays upon the edge of the blade as it moved side to side in his movement.

She wondered how long he would stand there and keep it up fro, he had all night after all and she had nothing in the way of so much time available. She ran through the options available to her at that moment. She could neutralize him and then attack the other three, unprepared as they were but then she would discover nothing about this so-called buyer that had been alluded to and that would mean a job left unfinished and a trail defunct. She would need to avoid that or whoever pulled these men’s strings would end up finishing another group to fulfill their wishes and as such Davra would never be safe. She needed to find a way out of this with their lives in tact and if at all possible useable.

“I saw you, you know, wondered what you were up to” Thane stated simply and she pulled out a dagger and tore up from the ground to pivot and place it against his throat. Moonlight gleamed and his blade was also at hers also - either one could take each other’s life but would also likely die in the process.

“It seem we are even then” she stated flatly as she stared into his eyes and judged just how willing he was to go through with his slicing at his own risk.

“Not really, got three boys back there with one shout an-”

“And you’ll have your throat opened before they get here” she snapped at him as she controlled her fear but felt her anger at her own stupidity rise up.

“So would you”

“So we are even. Really want to die?”

“Nah, just wanted to watch and see what you were up to. If you’d threatened me then maybe. Not like them though, I don’t kill for pleasure. Only for payment. You ehre to steal?”

“And if I am?”

“Then we both die”

“And if I am not?”

“We can both walk away…if you like”

“If I like?”

“Well you was here for a reason so could be we can come to an arrangement”

“Arrangement? Whereby I have to?”

“Do nothing if you don’t want but you got the drop of those three idiots and almost on me too. you’re good, if not perfect. I’m very good and I almost lost right here. Could still lose”

“And what do I get out of this?”

“Your life”

“Which is immaterial to me. What do I get?”

“Profit. Perhaps a sword to call on if you help a man out if needed. In future. If we can agree to not slice”

“Perhaps I Like to slice”

“And perhaps you like to be rammed against a wall and get a bit of street loving like a lot of lasses here. don’t think you does though. Either one. You sneak, watch and listen”

“Killed many in my time”

“Sure you has, everyone around these parts has. Still want to press the issue?”

“No. You?”

“Nah”

“then we have an accord?”

“Soon as you put that little stabbing stick away”

“Ladies first” she smiled at him darkly.

“Hah! Fine. There ya goes lass” he stepped back and slipped his sword back into its sheath.

Slowly, ever so slowly, she slipped her dagger back also and jumped onto the crate before landing down upon the other side, still cautious and ready to pull her weapons at the slightest hint of treachery. She kept herself a good three paces away as she circled him, peering critically.

“So what do you wish to propose Thane?”


Perhaps there wasn’t an opportunity to get out of this alive and with something worth knowing, she suspected this man was clever indeed and truthfully had greater ambitions than to be a guard. If he hadn’t she would likely now be dead along with himself also. Instead he wished to negotiate with here and that, that was intriguing to say the least.

[Zandelia]

There was a long moment of considering silence, each watching the other warily as hands now unburdened of weaponry still failed to stray too far away from being able to pull them back out once more, fingers flexing as they almost dared each other to be the betrayer. Eyes did not break from each other, not wishing to miss anything subtle as a signal - the eyes always gave things away no matter how clever and practiced one was. The tension mounted, rising and pulsating as the air seemed to become charged for a time before smiles slipped across both of their faces, easing it away as it became apparent they both wished to talk instead of dance with death. Thane stepped forwards slowly, hands away from his weapons now and presented his hand for her to shake, she took it after a momentary pause and the beginning of negotiation had begun. They stepped apart once more and he spat to the side.

“I’m thinking that I could do a better job than this employer of mine, much better right. And you, you want us off of your merchant friend whoever they are. No one else stores things round this part. So…we both want something the other can give”

“We both get paid?” she asked softly.

“Think of it like ridding some trash from the streets”

“So you want this…employer…killed”

“Just gone, don’t need to be dead. Just out of the way. I’d never say I want to kill someone who pays me”

“You mean you don’t want to be distrusted by others”

“Knew you was sharp”

“Sharper, in fact. So you will leave my friend alone in exchange for me…assisting in a disappearance?”

“Could be, could be. I’d have no reason to steal the cargo in these walls anyways. Not for a little while yet”

“How much longer?”

“Depends on you right?”

“You’re talking about a coup, it ill take some time to arrange”

“You’re the expert, you tell me how long miss”

“Two seasons. You charge my client fair prices and don’t steal or ruin him and you’ll get what you want”

“Long time”

“Think of it like testing the waters”

“You won’t help me until you knows you can trust me to keep my word…you doubt my word?”

“Don’t take it personally, I doubt everyone’s word until they prove otherwise. Aside from that it’ll take time to learn things without giving your position in it away. Then there’s the planning, eliminating certain obstacles, relaying information back to you and your friends, the wa-”

“Alright, alright! I get it for Hai’s sake. Long time” he snapped at her, grimacing and rubbing his jaw in apparent deep thought.

She watched him think it through, it was not difficult to see the cogs working there. That did not mean she thought he was a fool, fa from it. He had earned her respect slightly by not immediately rushing into a fight and instead choosing the more civil option - few mercenaries o guards did so though it was not unheard of. Even more had been gained when he had lain out his meager scheme. He had ambition and she respected that, though he clearly knew he’d never do it alone, another point in his favor. He needed her more than she needed him. She could just run, or kill him and take her chances with his comrades. He had no idea how skillful she was and so had to at least conclude the possibility she was capable of doing so. It was interesting to see a man of method rather than of violence.

“So you’d help me get more than I got for two season’s of quiet for this friend of yours?”

“Going once” she counted out a digit.

“And then you’ll let us be and even perhaps help out in the future too?”

“Going twice,” she counted a second finger as he thought rapidly, “going…going…go-”

“Deal!” he stated flatly at her before the last syllable could be uttered and she grinned at him, she had used a little pressure but he had been reasonably stable under it, that was good.

“Deal Thane” she extended her hand, spitting into it as he did the same before they shook.

“Good…good! Two season you hear? Nothing heard after than and your mate is cut to pieces…slowly. We’ll take everything he’s got. Fair prices until then too as stated”

“Davra, his name is Davra”

“Hah! That limp neck hired you?! Got more stones than we thought then. Good on him, good on him. And yours?”

“Web. You’re quite happy for losing a lot of gold it seems”

“Gold? Gold?! What’s gold when put next to some real clout in this town?” he asked her as he winked and turned, walking back the way he had come slowly, carefully listen to her she assumed.

“What indeed…” she asked the darkness with a squint.

The Bell was getting late indeed and she had managed to finish her contract without so much as a single drop of blood spilled. She could get used to that. Deal instead of death. It was more profitable that was for sure. She would keep her end of the bargain and she was reasonably confident Thane would keep his. He wanted out of the guarding business as quickly a possible and she doubted he knew anyone else with her talents. He was taking a chance on her but then if she didn’t hold her end he’d just take what was already his. He was losing nothing by waiting a little while and he’d make the difference by squeezing a few others slightly harder until then.

A smart guard, who knew they existed she asked herself with a smile as she melted back into the shadows and stepped out into the night once more.

Tomorrow she would let Davra know he was safe, he would not learn the details of the how but he would be grateful. She could use that, she didn't want gold she wanted helpers. Helpers were far more useful to her. Then the wider game of chess would begin.

[Zandelia]

The market was as busy as any other day, the bustle reaching feverish heights as the middle of the day came into view and the sun graced the sky and approached its apex. She had no concern for business of purchase this day, she was here for one reason alone and would be gone soon enough. She disliked the crowds at any rate, too many unknowns and the oppressive combination of sound and heat made her neck itch. She was paranoid up to a point but it paid to be paranoid, anyone could be in the throng wishing her harm and she’d not know it until they were right next to her and slipping a dagger between her ribs. As it was she was careful to make sure she followed the natural tide of people, stepping into as open a space as possible - little islands that appeared and disappeared as quickly as they came. She had her direction and she made her way towards Davra’s stall without incident.

He was dealing with some custom as she approached, she had enough time to let him conclude it and though she saw him eye her warily in between his dealing he said nothing and seemed to be trying to ignore her. It suited her purposes and so she did not press the matter. She simply watched and waited, time slipping slowly by from the position she took up against the wall behind him. To the passing curious observe she would appear to be a guard - armour and weapons signaled her as such at least. She was casual in her leaning, carefully holding the hilt of her weaponry and glowering intermittently at those passing the stall to reinforce the suggestions of their own minds. Time dragged on and she kept up the minimal act, pleasing those around them enough so as to be nearly invisible as the time came for him to close his stall for a break and wander over to her. He took up the portion of the wall beside her without a word.

“I had a little visit this morning”

“Did you now? Good news I hope”

“It seems that someone is as good as their word, I have been given leniency. It was…unexpected”

“You expected that they would do as was asked or that they would still be there to do so?”

“Both…actually. Our last meeting was not…an indication of pleasantry”

“I find a way to do as my clients ask me to. I thought you would be happy there was no messiness”

“Oh I am! Please, don’t think I’m not. Would you though?”

“Can you be more specific?”

“Killed them?” he whispered at her then as quietly as he could.

“Yes. The client gets what they want, one way or another. This time I got it without doing so. Next time, well next time is next time”

“I see…” he stated as he looked into the crowd thoughtfully.

She allowed the moments o silence to expand, a bubble of peaceful reflection amidst the tempest of commerce still unfolding before them. Clearly the matter weighed upon Davra more than he had previously indicated. There was a change in his posture she saw now, he was standing tale and with more confidence now. More at ease with himself and his conscience perhaps. An ethical businessman. Well…ethical up to a point. A rarity to be appreciated and kept safe where at all possible. She had a growing soft spot within her for such people, downtrodden and trying to survive any way that they could and yearning for a world where dark choices did not keep them awake at night in their beds. It was a shame, in some ways, that she had to use such people for her own needs.

“You have my thanks at any rate Web”

“And you have mine”

“I do?”

“Of course, I get paid and I was provided with something else to pursue. I’d call that praise worthy”

“Something else?”

“Immaterial. Suffice to say that to get you what you wanted I have to give others something they want”

“You are a business woman then”

“I wouldn’t say that”

“I would. you’re trading, just not goods. Services” Davra shrugged as he slipped her the purse of fifty gold that had been previously agreed to - a small price.

“And the rest of our bargain?” she asked him softly.

“I will od what I can. You can come to me for what I might learn whenever you want. I have no runners to send you things so you’ll have to come to me”

“And if I call?”

“If I hear your song I will come, when I can. I can promise no more than that. I have a family to feed”

“Acceptable. And remember Davra”

“Remember what?”

“No one can be trusted”

“Even you?”

“Oh you can trust me so long as I can trust you. Understand?” she looked at him directly then, pointedly.

“I…understand”

“Good. May your business be fruitful Davra. I have the feeling you will be putting the new extra gold you have to good use. May I make a suggestion?”

“If you like”

“Stockpile your goods whilst the prices are good for you. it’s just good business. If you have a surplus you can charge lower prices. What with your associates likely to charge others more as they agreed not to squeeze you it might give you the chance to put them out of business”

“A…good idea” he stammered at her.

“Surprised?”

“No…you are a business woman after all”

They smiled lightly at each other and she pocketed the purse before nodding at him and slipping back into the crowd. Her job was done…for now.

[Avarice]

Succumb to Your Desires . Zandelia : Skills: Stealth +1 Intelligence +1 Climbing +1 Running +1 Investigation +1 Deduction +1 Negotiation +1 Navigation +1 Socialization +1 Rewards: A New Client: Thane Consequences: N/A Lores: Darva: A Client of Mutual Trust Darva: A (Mostly) Ethical Businessman Darva: Thought Poorly Of Moving With the Flow of the Crowd Thane: Aspires For More Than Guard Duty Thane: Seeks the Removal of His Employer Thane: A New Client Negotiations Can Be Tense Thane: Calm...Even With a Blade to His Throat Identifying the Pros and Cons of a Risky Leap Timing a Patrol Route Thane: A Smart Guard The Warrens: Known Like the Back of My Hand Comments : Oh. My. Goodness. This was easily one of the best reads I've had in a long time. The detail and the dialogue were captivating and I enjoyed every second! My metaphorical hat is off to you Zandelia! If you have any questions, concerns, or things you'd like to throw at me regarding this grade, please do not hesitate to shoot me a PM! Also, don't forget to edit your post in the grading thread to reflect this grade! Thank you!