Burning Today Options

[Olen]

Some of you probably remember my last piece, Yesterday's Shadow and that it had a rather unsatisfying ending. I spent the summer rectifying this and now have a sizeable sequel/ completion to it which is itself now finished. It would probably be better to read Yesterday's Shadow before this as it would make more sense, however you should get by without it. If anyone wants I'll put a synopsis here, though Yesterday's Shadow isn't very long so you could just read it here (enough plugs yet?)

Anyway without further ado:

Burning Today

Prologue

Dervas wore boots while he worked. Shoes didn't last long in the decaying mixture of blood, vomit, drink and drugs which floored The Black Guar. The dark man had finally passed out and for the first time Dervas dared look at him. A worn man with a broken soul. Who are you? The Black Guar didn't get passing trade – the mixture of pushers, heavies and racketeers who made up most of his patronage didn't appreciate strangers. In the first hour the man, who now lay face down on the table, had knocked two out cold and broken another's arm. They left him alone after that and he them. Dervas wiped the remains of a line of sugar off the bar and nodded to the bouncer who went to move the man to his room.

Someone knocked at the door. Dervas ignored it. They knocked again, for longer this time. He cursed and went to tell whoever it was where to go. It was late an he didn't need any more trade. He pushed open the door, a curse dancing on his tongue. A sack crashed to the ground, gold clinked within. A Breton in black clothes stood in the doorway.

“What's his tab?” There was no need to ask whose.

“Sixty.”

The Breton showed no surprise, and counted out the gold. “Listen,” his tone offered pain if Dervas didn't, “You keep giving that guy drinks, drugs, whores, whatever he asks for okay? For him happy hour doesn't end, tabs never have to be paid. Push as much as you can into him. Don't worry - I'll be round a couple of nights a week to pay you. That sack,” he kicked disdainfully at the one he'd just dropped, “Contains a thousand drakes, payment enough I'd say. If he asks don't tell him, just give him more drink. Understand?”

Dervas nodded, his mouth was dry.

The man disappeared into the night.

Dervas walked back into the bar. He looked towards the dark man's room. Who are you? he thought again, And what have I gotten into?

[Olen]

Thanks for the comments, oddly the last chapter was more of a linker I thought than one of the ones I planned to be fun to write but I'm glad you liked it.

The underwater part was largly drawn from my own dislike of water, particularly being stuck under. The idea of swimming though something to get to air sounds awful to me.

I don't think Argonian's are perticularly prudeish, what would you say if a six foot naked lizard wandered into your room and said hello?

SubRosa: thanks I changed all except the grail one. I thought about it but couldn't think of a parralel which had the same depth of connotations and which didn't seem overly contrived. Things like stars could work but have more ideas of fate attached to them and lack the implication that it is a quest he's chosen to follow and could leave. So although not perfect I decided to leave the image as is even if it doesn't fit the lore its hard to find a suitable thing which carrys the same meanings. Thanks for the comments though it is good to have to consider such things.


29. Going South

They looked stunned. For a while nobody spoke, each trying to take in what had happened, while I tried to think of a way out of the situation. I had Vacius's details of the patrols and a map in front of me. What would I do to catch us? Where was the best strategy?

"There shall be vengeance. The slaves' deaths shall serve a greater good, but each shall be repaid in blood," said Keel-ha.

"Indeed. I say we strike again tonight," Hassde said darkly.

Okun said nothing and looked at his hands. I wondered how many of the dead he'd known.

"That would be unwise in the extreme," I replied, "The more immediate problem is where we go now."

"Not north," said Kieras, "Not pass Dres hunters." There were various murmurs of agreement.

"What about east?" asked Hides, "To the sea."

"Then where? No boat would take us, except to sell us," replied Keel-ha.

"If we killed the crew..." said Hassde.

"Do you have any idea how to captain a ship?" I asked, "No? Then not East. And neither west, that just takes us right through Dres territory caught between slaver-hunters and mercenaries. If north is as bad as you say we go south. Try to pass the Fighter's Guild patrols."

"You're fighter's guild," said Keel-ha, "Couldn't you talk us past them?"

I laughed, "I was fighter's guild. They'll have thrown me out by now, if only for that money. Not even the guildmaster could stand between them and that much gold. No, if anything they'll want me more for embarrassing them."

Keel-ha spoke again, "If you think we can get through, then the run to the marshes is open."

"Yes," said Hassde, "We would be safe there. Perhaps I will eventually get home." There were murmurs of agreement.

"No," I said, "We go to Tear." The murmurs gave way to a shocked quiet. "They will not expect it, not for anything too spectacular but it would slow business a lot if a few slaves were rescued from under their noses." Varnan among them, I thought.

When the stunned silence broke it was several voices. None fully agreed though Grey-tail and particularly Okun liked the idea, not that the latter held much sway. Hides argued that we should just kill some Dres there, Keel-ha swung his arguments for making straight for the marsh to agree with her. Hassde was against it full stop. I let them fight it out, one way or another we were going to be heading for Tear. I turned to the maps. I had a strategy to find and a counter to devise. A counter which would lead to the capital of the Dres.

***

By the following evening I was well rested, if unsettled. Perhaps it was the certainty of it but the swim back out bothered me far more than the reports from Vacius. Even so they made troubling reading so I threw myself at them with vigour. There were eight patrols currently, though more were likely to arrive on the coast. The best strategy, as far as the guild was concerned, was to cut off the south and work north section by section using roads and the more open spaces against us to close us in. But our knowledge of that plan played hugely to our favour and personally I would have added some unexpected quirk just in case. But Alusan had a reputation for near obsessive method. It was a gamble but I had to work from something, and that seemed vastly more likely. The map gave it as fifty leagues to Tear where, regardless of their debate, I intended to bring them in a few days.

Leaving the lair wasn't as bad as entering and after drying myself off a little I lead them south.

"You said there was a Fighter's Guild group in town," said Hides, "Will we not run into them?"

"No," I said forcing confidence, "They will be well away by now and better think that we are not here." I half wished I'd set someone to watch for where they went but I'd been too distracted.


Midnight was well gone when I caught sight of a camp in some woods. Smoke from the damp wood glowed in the light of the embers, I had expected a patrol in the area. The first we had to slip past. I stopped the group motioning for silence. "Hides, can you sneak near enough to the camp up there to confirm that they're Fighters Guild?"

For once no one questioned, she just nodded.

"Don't be seen."

The look she gave me said more than any words.

"I should go too," said Keel-ha, "It would be safer."

"And twice as likely to be seen," I said.

"More than that," said Hides before vanishing into the darkness.

I settled to wait.

"I thought we were avoiding them," said Hassde.

"We are. But their leader isn't stupid, we have to pass them sometimes. Now is the perfect time, any watch they set will be at their least awake."

"How many more will we pass?"

"Depends on their strategy but I'd say, all being well, two, maybe three," people follow the illusion of certainty. My scheme was far from foolproof, it was merely what I judged to be most likely to work. The rest was up to luck, or whatever god pulled her strings.

Minutes later Hides reappeared, "A nord, two redguards and two imperials. They're filthy mercenaries." I nodded and didn't reply as I set a course that gave their camp a wide berth. The first pass was made.


We neared an abandoned cottage shortly before sunrise two days later. The argonians saw it as a gift from the gods, only Okun saw my grave doubts about staying there. It was a close thing between my arguments and their desire for a decent place and it was only a combination of my threatening to leave and the serendipity of stumbling over a, lucratively money-filled, smugglers' dropoff which swung it my way. The abandoned house was exactly the sort of place that would be searched. They wouldn't believe anyone would turn it down unless there was something much better and would make up time by ignoring the surrounding area. I certainly would have had I been searching. So we all packed into what was little more than a trench covered with logs. I didn't expect any patrols to pass us that night, but I certainly felt more comfortable in the mud walled pit. Even so I went to the house at dawn and put some fallen thatch against the door. Anyone opening it would have to disturb the pile.

I awoke before sundown with an uncomfortably full bladder. I stepped over Okun and went outside to take a leak. I enjoyed the feeling of the sun behind me as I relieved myself and looked across the plains. It took a moment for thin pillar of smoke to register. My stomach lurched - the smoke rose from the abandoned cottage. I looked more carefully and saw two nords drinking by its door. Away to my right I heard the sound of an axe biting wood. I dropped. Behind me Okun, Tehei and Grey-tail had already emerged from the drop-off. Like a frenzied crab I scuttled over to them motioning down. They didn't see until I was close enough to speak.

"Down, get down," I hissed.

"What?" asked Okun from a low squat.

"People are staying in the abandoned house. Fighter's Guild."

"We could take them unawares," suggested Grey-tail.

"No," I said, "It would give us away if they disappeared." I didn't add that I was far from sure we'd win. These were experienced and well armoured, not fat guards who never had to face anything worse than a drunk or cave rat. I moved to the entrance of the trench, "We need to move. Now. And grab that gold."

I drew Hides to the side as she emerged, "Any suggestions? They're close. Two outside the house, at least one cutting wood to the south, maybe another with him."

"We could risk going closer in the woods, or loop west and hope not to be seen in the open country."

"Which?"

She paused for a moment. "The woods. There's too many of us not to be seen in open country with this much light. We'll make three groups but keep close enough to watch for each other. I'll take Kieras and Hassde, they're least competent at hiding; Keel-ha will take Tehei and Grey-tail. Okun's your problem."

I nodded, "Do it."

I motioned Okun to me, "You any good at sneaking?"

"Alright, not great though. I can learn..."

"Not from me you can't. I don't like this. Come on." I hunkered back towards the tree I'd pissed against. Past that was a small wood which would hide us once we were through it. But there were two Fighter's Guild men to get past first. Okun followed close behind. I got lower and moved partly on all fours, flitting between thicker patches of trees. When I reached a deeper bit of cover I paused. Okun moved in behind me. He kept his red snout low, his otherwise greenish skin and brown leather armour was far better camouflage than I had in my black armour. I looked back. I saw Tehei's tail sticking from a bush I'd just passed through. I couldn't see anything of Hides or her group. The thunk of an axe still came from somewhere ahead. There were a few bare fungal trees before a large ivy covered oak. I tensed then moved ducking from one to the next. My heart climbed to my throat, a beating lump. My breathing was a wild stallion I tried to calm. When I reached the thicket I dropped in and tried to calm myself.

There was too great an element of chance. The skill was one I didn't have. I didn't want to be here. I didn't know what to do. Okun flitted the way I'd just come far more gracefully than I and made less noise. I only hoped the beating axe, a calm bass to my fluttering heart, covered my own missteps. He stopped behind me.

"Where's your weapon?" I asked.

"I can't sneak with a four foot billhook."

He had a point, "Here, take this," I passed him my belt knife, "This is too close." He nodded and waited. I liked to be in control... but, "You lead," I said, "You're better at this."

"Fine. Keep close, move as I do." He shot forward using the shadows to blot out our own.

I followed. I prayed. I glanced frantically about. Then he stopped. I wandered at the scant cover he chose. Then I saw. A redguard and a dunmer, clearly an outlander, were chopping a felled tree into manageable lumps. I put my hand over my sword. Okun was utterly still. The two fighters continued oblivious. Maybe we could kill them before they rose any alarm. My mind raced. Was I a match for both? A couple of years ago probably. Not now. Where was Hides? No I couldn't rely on any help except Okun. I prodded him.

So slowly he reached back and directed my pointing finger at a small but dense bush about five yards behind. He gave a sharp tug. I got the message and crept towards it desperate not to make a noise. He too moved to a patch of ground vegetation. It was a far inferior spot. I dashed the last bit and dropped down in the bush. A couple of branches cracked.

My nerves almost broke with the wood. My heart redoubled its efforts to crawl out my mouth. My breathing was ragged. My grip on the sword iron. The dunmer who'd held the piece said something I couldn't hear over my pulse and turned away. What had he heard? Or seen? Okun was between me and the dunmer, a log and some leaves all that separated them. I tensed like a coiled spring and started to draw my sword. But stopped. If I did he would almost certainly see me. But if I didn't it would cost me time. I wanted to draw. I held off. He looked. I tensed, my nerves taut as a crossbow string. The slightest hint of recognition would trigger me. How could he not see? Strangely the prospect of being found calmed me. My mind cleansed for a fight.

"Renil get your carcass back here and take a shot. This damned wood is solid as hell," shouted the nord. The dunmer turned away from us. "And keep and eye on where you're swinging it, Hagar still complains about headaches..."

The dark elf called Renil swore at the nord and took the axe. As it first fell Okun got up and motioned me past the woodcutters. I crept on and managed not to make a mess of it this time. Once the steady fall of the axe was well behind us Okun slumped against a tree.

"That was close."

"Yes," I said.

"I should have heard them, taken us round them. I was too focused on where to hide and not on where they were."

"It wasn't your fault. I made the noise." I stood for a moment recovering then put out a hand, "We'd best keep moving." He took the it and I pulled him up.

We moved faster after that, the sun was down and we were past the major threat. At a large tree at the far edge of the wood we stopped and waited. I took out a skooma bottle while Okun poked at his slave bracer with the knife. A few minutes later Hides appeared with Kieras and Hassde. I returned her nod before they sat down to relax and wait. Okun glanced over to me.

"When I cut the hole for my tail I didn't get it quite right," he said, slightly awkwardly, "There's a strap chaffing it. Could you... remove it for me..."

I nodded and took the knife. The strap didn't do much so I cut it where it left the armour. As I followed it to find the other end I brushed the pink mass of scar at the base of his tail and he shuddered. I cut the other end of the strap off. "What in hell happened to you?" I asked when he sat down.

A shadow crossed his expression. I kicked myself for asking, it wasn't my business to bring up a past which loomed too large to tell. Then he spoke, quietly so only I could hear. "I was punished." He paused again, I thought that would be all but then he continued, "When I was young, not long after I was taken from the swamps, I served a young noble. He was cruel but also larger than I... Well you can guess, there was little I could do except dress any larger injuries. It got worse but I got stronger. In the end I hit back, maybe too hard. I bit him well, mangled a hand," the satisfaction in his voice was a shade compared to the pain, "His father, the noble, prove worse than him. I think he intended the punishments to kill me, eventually. But he was in debt and was forced to sell me before then. I am grateful of that at least..."

I think he wanted to continue, to unload more. But I'd heard enough and I didn't draw it out, for all the guilt I felt my hatred of the Dres burned bright enough to illuminate that dark place. The silence lengthened until I stood looking for something to do. The look of the straight tree branches gave me just that. I cut one down and stripped it then split the end. The two side lay well along the knife handle. A wrap of the severed strap and it was secure. I passed it back, "Another spear, more a stabbing one than a hacking one but you'll get the feel of it."

"Thanks," he forced a smile and took it.

"Try wiping it in some foul smelling fungus. At worst it will pit the blade, but some of them must be poisonous."

A couple of minutes later Keel-ha appeared.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Good, I doubt we'll run into any more for a while not so we can make some distance tonight. I'd like to get south of the River Kithen. There might be a patrol there but they should be a way west and asleep." I gave them a grin and set off south confident that there would be no more trouble that night.

That was a mistake.

This post has been edited by Olen: Apr 7 2010, 11:21 AM