| Heartwood Logs |
2000-03-31
| Heartwood |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Den of Thieves
The horses clip clop down the narrow alleyways, as Brisa leaves Anuje to her post. And yes, from her shadow Anuje sees the warehouse investigated, sought for, and claimed. Indeed, a short and round shadow slowly draws open the door to sneak inside. But only, but only him. A heartbeat, two heartbeats, and then Anuje can hear Brisa returning, the two to keep watch upon the Circlet Warehouse.
Above, the two moons shine down upon the cold town, casting the buildings and hard earth streets in soft silvers and grays. Black shadows cut across the alleyways, and below the sleeping buildings are fields of absolute darkness in jagged patterns. Like sleepy, slow wraiths, one after another, a string of draft horses pace, their hoofbeats heavy, their breath frosting on the sharp harvest air. Just outside the Atteran Hospice, Benedict waits with the quiet cold-bloods. While within, Roxanna and Trystan's conversation draws to a close, deep into the night.
Brisa taps Anuje's shoulder lightly, once she's sure Anuje knows she's there and won't be startled. She points at the door, then makes a gesture like she's turning a key, then gently nudges Anuje... and then she nocks an arrow and looks around alertly, waiting for Anuje to go. Anuje glances at Brisa and holds up to fingers, side-by-side. Then she points off into the night and shrugs. She points with the remaining finger at the warehouse. Brisa nods, gesturing with the bow and arrow, as if to peg someone waiting in shadow... then nods Anuje again towards the warehouse. She waits alertly, scanning for someone in shadow that might follow or harm Anuje. Anuje nods and pads quickly and quietly towards the door of the warehouse, keeping to the shadows. She feels the key at her side and prepares to get it out quickly as needed.
Carefully approaching the warehouse, Anuje can peer inside. There in the shadows of the deep building she can see the hints of motion at the side of the carts, and hear the rustle of heavy canvas. Anuje heaves against the big door, holding her gut with one arm as she pushes it closed and quickly takes out the key and lock to secure it.
As the door slams home Anuje can swear she hears someone pound upon the other side. She wedges her foot and toes against the bottom of the door to keep it from moving as she quickly locks it.
Brisa looks suddenly extremely worried, as no one reacts to Anuje's sudden emergence... she darts quickly over to Anuje's side, then whispers to her, "Let the door open, but slowly... like you're struggling with it." She steps back and to the side, and sets up, targeting the door over Anuje's head.
Anuje is struggling with it. She releases the lock and her foot at the same time and grunts against the heavy weight. Brisa draws back on the bow and waits for the thief inside to start wriggling out. Anuje wonders to herself why they don't just worry about him later, locking him in and going after the other one.
In the shadows, in the slash of darkness between door jamb and door, Brisa swears she sees a dash of movement, a figure, just beyond the opening. Brisa shoots, and calls on her little light-spark, sending it flying swiftly into the warehouse to light up her target.
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A moments pause...
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Brisa quickly nocks another arrow, then steps in front of Anuje... then she'll look. She whistles as she looks, a long, carrying call. Anuje whispers, peeking around the door, "I think you got 'im..."
At first the starlight doesn't illuminate anything beyond the carts, until it moves back forward, and in the dim light one can make out the legs of a sprawled form, the rest hidden behind the door itself. They jerk, once, twice, and then they are still.
Brisa nods to Anuje, and murmurs softly, "Stay back, please..." She steps swiftly around, then swift and swinging wide through the door, bow up and arrow drawn, aimed at the body. Anuje nods, staying back but moving around the door a little to see better, hand near her dagger.
The fat pumpkin thief looks deflated, Brisa's arrow penetrating deep into his chest. He doesn't seem to breath, or if he does his breath is very weak. Brisa unnocks the arrow and draws her long hunting dagger, then checks to be sure the thief is dead. Anuje isn't too keen on watching that. She turns and looks around into the shadows, checking the approaches to her location.
Brisa will then swiftly search the body, asking Anuje, "Can you get me as quickly as possible to where you heard the thieves talking? The girl's life may depend on how quickly we can get there, I fear."
Anuje glances back and nods, answering quietly back, "Yes...I'm certain I can."
Brisa nods, wiping off her dagger and rising, "Let's get moving then." She hastens out of the warehouse, heaving the door open widely enough to let the carthorses in, then waits, looking impatiently back the way they came.
Roxanna tells Trystan she can't sleep, and heads outside for a breath of air, and to see if she can hear anything. She wanders out to the well and gets a drink, then walks around the block to stretch her legs. Around the back of the building, she is surprised to find a string of horses and Benedict. "Well, well. How are things going? Find the warehouse?"
Benedict looks rather haggard, and nods quickly. "We did, yes. There's been a problem, someone's hurt... badly..."
Roxanna says, "What?? And you're just sitting here like a great lump? Where?"
Benedict bristles just a little bit, then starts to describe the route to the Circlet Warehouse. "But they're going to be here themselves in a bit -- Brisa and... whomever it is are coming here directly."
Roxanna calms down. "Oh, all right. She's not hurt that badly, I guess, if she's still moving on her own... so what did you find out?"
Benedict shakes his head. "Not much, I'm afraid. We... saw something there, or somethings."
Roxanna says, "Oh... hang on a bit." She heads back into the Hospice for a moment, and returns with Trystan. "There. Now tell both of us."
Benedict says, "We arrived there, and ran into a... well, not sure he was. But he tried to kill this... lad. Brisa killed him. The young one is the one who needs your help, Roxanna. We helped her as best as we could, and she seems all right... but she could be better. We took a look around the warehouse, and found some containers that we couldn't open… along with these horses, oddly enough."
Roxanna says, "Lad? Her? A bit confused, are we?"
Benedict grimaces. "You'll see what I mean..."
Roxanna says, "Horses, unopenable containers, and a new friend. Sounds like an interesting story..."
Benedict looks back the way he had come, expectantly. "That it was... I just hope there's no trouble afoot back there.
In the soft moonlight the three can see Khari's ears suddenly prick up and forward. Khari then begins to walk back towards the warehouse, dragging behind her a line of horses. Trystan softly snares a wandering horse, and with a lightness that almost belies his form, he leaps onto its back.
Roxanna calls, "Khari! Wait for us!" She tries to scramble up on one of the Clydesdales. It almost bowls Roxanna over as she tries to mount it. Meanwhile, Khari turns the corner, walking down the street, the other six horses trailing after her. Roxanna runs after Khari, deciding to try for a smaller and saddled horse. "C'mon, girl. Let me ride along, then you can run."
It takes a bit, but Roxanna can pull herself up atop Khari. And then it's not long before the whole string slowly turns the next corner, approaching where Brisa and Anuje await.
Roxanna settles herself into the saddle. "Thank you, Khari."
Brisa trots quickly forward, untying the rope from the saddle and grinning up at Roxanna, "Am I happy to see you! Got someone you should look at -- that one, right there?" If Roxie lets her, Brisa will swing her carefully down from the saddle and point at Anuje... then she's gathering up the rope, tossing it over the neck of the first horse, then slapping rumps to get them moving swiftly into the warehouse. Anuje is looking a little paler than her usual skin tone as she holds the door open for the horses.
Roxanna is quite happy to get back down and straighten her skirts out. "This one?" She heads over to the pale girl and starts to check her injuries.
Brisa beams at Benedict, "Good job, bringing them along! I didn't think of that... we're going to have to really hurry now -- the girl's life may depend on how quickly we can run down the last thief!"
Benedict says, "Should we try to ride after him? I know I can't really ride a horse in any way..."
Brisa says, "Da, her name is Anuje." She glances at Trystan, "Can you steer a horse? One of these fellows? He can carry all three of you towards the merchant's building, and I can try dashing ahead with Anuje, and see if I can catch the last thief. If he gets there before us though..." she looks unexpectedly grim, then adds softly, "-well, we'll plan for that when it happens."
Anuje winces, catching her breath as Roxanna touches her belly. Roxanna shakes her head. "Nasty slash, there. Who patched you up?"
Trystan looks on with concern. Anuje gestures to Benedict. "Him...I might be dead otherwise." Trystan looks approvingly at Benedict, not knowing he had a talent for healing.
Brisa glances towards Roxanna and Anuje, then takes a lead rope from one horse, snapping it to the halter of the horse Trystan's on, leading it towards one of the carts, "Benny, come jump up behind Trystan. Here, Trys, two lead ropes to approximate reins. As soon as Anuje is all right I'm off. Put Roxie up between you both, all right?" She'll give Benny a boost up if he needs it.
Anuje looks up at Brisa. "We should lock the door, right?"
Benedict nods, and slips off of the horse he's on, then pulls himself up onto the horse with Trystan. Trystan reaches, balancing on the horse's back as he grabs the improvised reins.
Roxanna nods. "Not bad, Benedict. This should hold her for now - but no strenuous stuff for you, understand?" Anuje smirks, but nods.
Benedict bites his lip a bit, and inclines his head. "We... learned some patching in the novice house. Nothing even approaching true Healing, though, Roxanna.
Brisa makes sure Benny's up safe and sound, and gives Trys very rough directional instructions on which way to head... she nods to Anuje, "Give me the key, I can do it if you'll pull the door shut once everyone's out." She mounts up swiftly on Khari, kneeing her around to stand beside the doorway. Trystan nods, listening to Brisa's directions.
Roxanna grins at Benedict. "I'm not going to complain. I'm quite happy that your folks take the time to learn something useful after all."
Brisa makes a short, coughing sound at Roxanna's comment -- then tries hard to look calm and unflappable! Roxanna lets the others help her up after she's made sure Anuje is seated as comfortably as she can be. Anuje nods and moves to peer out the door for a moment, then steps aside, holding it wide.
Brisa waves everyone through, "Let's go, quickquick, da?" Anuje tosses the key up to Brisa. She points the first person through the door at the correct alley. Brisa catches the key, then waits for Anuje to close the door.
Benedict just gives a soft sigh. He'd like to argue, he really would, but the urgency of what's going on and the less than stellar reaction he had from Judge Hawthorne only leads him to answer rather sullenly, "It is not of the same use to all people as healing abilities, that's true."
The lock snaps home as Brisa secures the door. Now the Circlet Warehouse is like all the rest, locked up tight, with a big padlock on the door. Though the other warehouses locks are much more mundane. There, where Anuje points, there is a break in the buildings where a narrow alley cuts through the long block.
Brisa leans down and scoops Anuje up, hands under her arms, and swings her carefully up behind. Anuje bites her lip a moment as she's lifted. Brisa nods to Trystan, "See you there... wish us luck." Khari whirls even as Brisa's speaking, and dashes swiftly off down the alley, tail fluttering like a banner behind her, Anuje clinging tight to Brisa.
Roxanna says, "Well...shall we be off? Go, horsy!"
Benedict takes in a soft breath, and tries to remember what he can of horsemanship...
Brisa murmurs to Anuje, "Direct me... and keep an eye out for our quarry." Brisa is nocking another arrow as she speaks. Anuje nods, remembering her quick chase earlier in reverse order, directing Brisa occasionally with a quick point as she looks around. This is hardly the way she'd choose to be sneaky, though...
One cannot move quickly through the narrow alley. It is tight, and so very dark... Brisa calls up another little spark light to show the way, and keeps a wary eye out for the last remaining thief. Anuje leads the little group back out to the main street, and then back towards the east and the town center. The streets are empty, save for the happenstance skitter of some small creature. Eventually she reaches a small sheltered alleyway, next to the Mercantile Association Guildhouse.
Anuje speaks quietly, "Should I get off and look around?"
Brisa sighs, drawing Khari to a quiet halt next to the building, and swears softly, "Krysta's cold on him for beating us here... might as well, lass. I'll wait for the others to arrive. The girl's name is Elise, should you see her." She hands the iron key the first assassin had been carrying to Anuje, "I don't know if this will be useful or no... but your attempted murderer was carrying this. Be careful, lass."
Anuje nods and takes the key. "Give me a help down, please, Brisa."
Brisa swings a leg over Khari's neck and dismounts... then carefully and gently lifts Anuje down. "Easy now... I'll pray for the girl to still be alive, while you search. Sing out if trouble finds you, and I'll do my best to get to you."
Benedict's horse trots up, with the priest astride it somewhat uncomfortably. Brisa's expression, and the fact that she's not galloping madly through the streets, or pulling her arrow out of someone, tells him all he needs to know. "Blast," he murmurs.
Brisa nods a touch grimly to the others, "Too late, I fear. Anuje is going to do some searching." She backs the big Clydesdale into shadow, Khari following quietly behind. Anuje nods seriously. She glances at Benedict's arrival and then slips into the alley quietly.
Roxanna slides down from the horse as well, with a little help from Trystan. "Elise is in there, you think?"
Brisa whispers, "I have no idea, Roxie... but this is the building Anuje was by when she heard the thieves whispering about the girl." She adds a tad grimly, "Pray to your gods, as I will to mine, that the girl still lives."
Roxanna nods, and replies quietly. "With a little luck they have to go somewhere else to give the orders to do away with her. Gives us more time, eh?"
Brisa shakes her head, "I don't know, Roxie... I worry we'll come back from either rescuing or avenging the girl and find the warehouse stripped. I'm afraid our options are running out, at least as far as saving the girl and preserving her property for her."
Roxanna says, "Saving her is more important. The property is nice, but a secondary consideration, I would think." Brisa nods quietly, just listening and watching their surroundings with wary intensity. Benedict frowns slightly, and looks around. There's got to be something... but none of Hastur's gifts seem particularly oriented towards this.
Anuje appears from the shadows, breathing short and eyes twinkling. Brisa looks worried, whispering, "Anuje, are you all right?" She steps quickly to Anuje's side -- is Anuje about to faint or something? Benedict blinks, looking to Anuje, and sharing Brisa's worry, though the young one's twinkling eyes seem to belie a different condition.
Anuje keeps the excitement in her voice from making her too loud, "She's still alive!"
Roxanna looks relieved. "What's happening?"
Brisa brightens! -then looks immensely relieved, "Thank Dayalla. Where is she?"
Benedict blinks. "Oh, thank heavens!" he says softly, letting out a breath.
Anuje moves closer. "I don't know, but...I think we have the key to the warehouse she's kept in already. And I think there's one more than the three we know about."
Benedict thinks. One more... that would make four of these cutthroats. That evens the perceived odds considerably!
Brisa nods quietly, "Not surprising... there had to be more than three thieves and assassins in a town this size. How do you know she's still alive if you don't know where she is?"
Anuje says, "The one that was telling the other about the Circlet... I think that's the building with the magic key. He said that they would kill her after someone named Marty returned. Marty and Jack and lahris or something like that were left to guard the building."
Brisa says, "To guard which building, Anuje? And are the two assassins alone in a room together?"
Anuje nods to Brisa. "The one we locked. They own one of the buildings next to it." She continues a bit breathlessly, "The building belongs to someone named Kelleni and the other one next to it belongs to someone named Dalton. They plan to go through the side wall when things quiet down a little if they can't pressure Kelleni into letting them in."
Brisa nods, "The warehouse is Samara Kelleni's Circlet, yes. So... they've already discovered the pumpkin man has gone missing... but if we're lucky they've not yet discovered he's dead."
Benedict frowns slightly. "What do we do, then?
Anuje looks confused. "I don't think they know. They're waiting for them to return...or one of them at least. I think the one we were chasing must be the one who was telling the fifth person...and there is one we haven't seen."
Brisa says, "We have the key to the warehouse the girl is in... they own the warehouse next to Circlet! Do you suppose she's been there all this time?!"
Roxanna says, "So... back to the warehouse again?"
Anuje looks at Roxanna. "You don't think their warehouse next to the circlet is the one with Elise, do you?"
Brisa says, "Maybe, Anuje... so, where was the thief we followed here and the man he was talking to? Did you see them? Were they alone in the room?"
Anuje takes out the key and looks at it. "We don't know that this is the key they were talking about."
Brisa says, "If we can kill them then we won't have to worry about the secret getting out any further... especially if we can also catch the two on guard at the warehouse. I'm guessing Marty is the pumpkin man."
Anuje touches the wall with her fingertip. "In a room on the other wall from this. I only heard two voices, but I didn't recognize either voice and I couldn't see them. Two? Wouldn't that be six? And there could be a lot of dozing people in here."
Benedict frowns slightly, "Should we be just up and killing anyone we run into? Are we sure they're involved with the kidnapping?
Anuje frowns at Benedict. "They were making plans to kill her. I heard them."
Brisa frowns, thinking... "Well, if they think they can get into Circlet from their warehouse... then why can't we try getting into their warehouse from Circlet?" She glances at Benedict, "They were talking about killing the girl when Marty got back, Benedict. Does that sound like innocence to you?"
Roxanna says, "Not on the part of those two. But what about random people in warehouses?"
Brisa nods reluctantly, "I'm afraid we should probably leave the thieves here alone... so, do we want to try seeing if we can get into the other warehouse from Circlet? If we can do that, we don't even need to cross their path."
Roxanna says, "Can't hurt to try."
Anuje thinks quietly. "We've got a key... uhm... I don't think it's the one next to it."
Benedict sighs softly. "I don't mean the ones who kidnapped her... thank you, Roxanna, that's what I meant..."
Brisa sighs, "Ah well. So we're going to have to deal with the thieves to find the girl... pity."
Roxanna says, "No? I thought you said they were holding her next to Circlet?"
Anuje shakes her head. "I didn't...I asked if it were possible."
Brisa says, "All we know is she's being held in some warehouse, and we may have the key for it." Benedict nods slowly.
Anuje says, "I think it won't be so close to the one they followed you to. They were hoping you would lead them to it. Wouldn't they know if the one they wanted had been their neighbor's?"
Brisa thinks for a bit, then shakes her head, "I'm sorry, but I'm out of ideas. As I see it, if we're to save the girl we're going to have to go kill one of the thieves inside this building, then get the other one to show us where she's being held. Do any of you see something I'm missing here?"
Anuje bites her lip, thinking. Benedict frowns slightly. "Wait... maybe... maybe there's something I can... well, read off of in there, like I did with the key..."
Anuje blinks at Benedict. Brisa brightens, "Oh! That's right -- Benny, you're marvelous! Anuje, give him the key, please? Hm... let's back up a bit, out of easy sight of this building, shall we, before Benny tries this?"
Anuje hands Benedict the key, looking dubious. Brisa backs the horses up, gets out a blanket for Benny, and has her canteen ready.
Roxanna says, "A good point..."
Anuje chews her lip, "...uhm..." then says quietly, "…uhm... I have a really dumb idea..."
Brisa glances inquiringly at Anuje. Roxanna says, "At least it's an idea..." Brisa nods ruefully at Roxie's comment.
Benedict accepts the key and takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. It takes a few minutes, but finally... he opens his eyes, shaking his head. "I don't think I'm in Hastur's good graces of late," he says softly, handing the key back to Anuje. "Nothing, I -- I got nothing."
Brisa puts an arm around Benny for a quick, gentle hug, "It's all right, Benedict... you gave it your best shot."
Anuje glances at everyone. "Just how many warehouses are there? We could just try the key on all of them."
Brisa nods wearily to Anuje, "Might as well... we're going to be noticed whatever we do. Let's mount up and go." She'll give boosts up to anyone that needs it. Benedict sighs and nods, pulling himself up onto the horse who had brought him here. Anuje looks around warily, knowing there's at least one more of those assassin/thieves around. Her belly twinges with fear and remembrance and pain.
Brisa will lift Anuje up last onto Khari's rump, riding pillion to her... very carefully. Then she'll take the key and head on out... she can try locks from Khari's back, and move things along a little more quickly that way. She swings Khari around so they can start at one end of the warehouse section and work down towards Circlet and the Hospice. Anuje keeps an eye out for rogues.
The warehouse row makes quiet and silent company, like sleeping watchdogs this late in the night. The palest time of night, when life is at its most deepest ebb. It is not the first padlock that the key opens, nor the second, yet it is quickly discerned that the key seems to closest fit a certain type of padlock, making it easy to skip over locks of a different manufacture. Then, almost in the shadow of the Jvrillian guildhall, in fact, under the guard of the mercenary's training hall... if there was still a guard in town... the key slides home and the padlock opens.
Anuje glances quickly at the sound. "There... that's it..." Benedict takes in a sharp breath. At least they found it... Brisa sighs in relief, and slides quietly off Khari, drawing her bow and hauling the door open. She calls a small spark to dance in ahead of them to light the place up... Roxanna nods, remembering her days in the Alley, and walks silently behind the others.
Drawing open the door finds a smaller warehouse, its open space crowded with wooden columns and stacked with wooden crates. And bound to one of the columns is the figure of a young girl...