Chapter 11

Candera and Tollburn stepped into Trindell's Trinkets. It was a quaint little store half way down Long Street. It had shelves and display cases stacked with curious items, such as clockwork pieces, malformed cutlery and unconventional jewelry. Hanging down from the ceiling were many wind chimes, bells and woodcarvings of birds, which the pair often found themselves hitting their heads into.

"Welcome to Trindell's Trinkets, store of wonders and oddities! What may I help you buy this fine day?" said the man behind the counter. He was short and overweight, and had a pale sort of skin only aquired by spending most of your time indoors. On his back he wore a long cloak in a regal purple, the clasp seemingly bejewelled - but Candera and Tollburn could instantly recognise that the jewels were fake and the material would fade after too much time in the sun. They had bought similar cloaks for their acts.

"We would require information, my noble shopkeep," said Candera, bowing theatrically. The man was clearly pleased by both the act and the title. "You are master Trindell, yes?"

"Oh yes, that is me. I am the Trindell in Trindell's Trinkets," he said, clearly pleased with the flattery layed upon him.

"Such a name deserves to be sung throughout the land," remarked Tollburn.

"Indeed, indeed. Until that day arrives however, we would like to inquire about some information that has come to our attention, and quite rightly so," said Candera.

"Information? Well I'll tell as best I have, and what I have should be rightly good for two noblemen such as yourselves," said Trindell, referring to the elegance of the actor's stage clothes.

"We heard you had a spare room, above the shop, and we would be emboldened greatly if you would give us the information as to how much we would need to pay to rent such a room," said Tollburn. They weren't going to tell Trindell that the real reason they wanted the room was to find out if it was going to be used in the heinous conspiracy. Although they could hazard a guess as to why anyone wanting to kill the king would want a room looking straight over the main road used in the upcoming King's Parade.

"Twenty kings a month, if it suits yourselves, good sirs," said Trindell. "Would you like to have a look, see if it suits your heightened tastes?"

"That would be most kind noble shopkeep," said Candera.

Trindell lead them through the back of the shop to a steep set of stairs. Up the stairs lay Trindell's room, almost as cluttered with oddities as his shop, and furthur up still the aforementioned room. It was more of an attic than a room, and had clearly not been prepared for living. There was no furniture bar a small stool underneath the singular window. Candera moved to the window and looked out. From the window Candera could clearly see all the bustling walkers and carriages on Long Street below.

"Is it to your fancy?" asked Trindell.

"To it, and more, my good man."

"When do you want it from then?"

"From now would be brilliant. I would so love to see the King's Parade from it's window," said Tollburn. Trindell shuffled and itched his neck, realising he had made a prior arrangement.

"Ah, well, you see, the thing is...I need a week or so to clean it out, you know, make it fit for ones such as yourselves."

Candera and Tollburn gave each other a look that said they had both found out exactly what they needed. Candera moved back to the stairs.

"If it is alright with you then, we shall take our leave, and come back when the room is more suitable."

"Oh, yes, if you must," said Trindell. "Would I be...would I be overstepping my station if I asked if you could consider me for any events that you and the gentry may be having?"

"Why of course not, sir Trindell. You shall be the first on our list."

* * * *

Talent and Hadiin guided the drunken Willkolite through the less busy streets of Daragoth. The light was already dimming - Willkolite had been less than mobile at times - but they were making a good pace. Hadiin had not spoken much, and Talent did not expect to have much in common with a paid killer at any rate. The sooner they sorted the whole mess out, the better. It was certainly a mess that Talent was in, that being assisted by an assissin was one of the better things to have happened to him in the past week. The Shadows wanted him dead, the Thieves Guild wanted him captured, and his new friends were fugitives from the magical community. He found it hard to imagine any way it could get worse.

"Oy, there he is!" yelled a voice.

"Damn," said Talent. "They'll be after me."

"Danger seems to follow you, Talent," Hadiin said while carefully leaning Willkolite against a wall. Three men approached them carefully, swords drawn. Talent recognised them as Cut-throats. That was worrying. They were supposed to be on his side, or at least not against his side, which was all that really mattered to Talent.

Hadiin quickly drew the two longer daggers that were at his waist, and moved to the right of Talent.

"Wait for them to make the first move," said Hadiin softly. "Then when you first get the chance, stab them quick."

Talent nodded, just before a Cut-throat moved to stab him. He parried, turning the blow out harmlessly to the side.

"Why-" said Talent, parrying another hit. "-are-" Clang! "-you-" Clang! "-doing this?"

His opponent pulled back, to consider the question.

"Cause our leader said so. Cause you killed the Big Throat," he said, not fully convinced.

Talent knew he shouldn't have trusted Snarrel. He had little time to ponder that thought as the attacker moved in again.

Hadiin was pressed, as the two other men attacked consecutively, trying to catch him off guard. Every time he had a shot at killing one of them, the other would be poised in a position to gut him, and one for one was not a desirable outcome. It was time he used some of the tricks he had learnt on his travels.

He dropped to the floor and spun his right leg round, tripping the man to his right. He then tensed his legs and pounced for the other man coming in to the other side of his sword with his daggers poised out to the side of him. He landed behind the man and didn't stop to see him fall, with two cuts running deep into his side. Instead he turned to face the other man.

Talent was outmatched and he knew it. His eyes darted quickly in the short times between his desperate parries, looking for something - anything - that could help him. He managed to get his back away from the wall and pointing down the small street, and started backing away, physically ducking and dodging the even more dangerous attacks. He stumbled clumsily over an empty packing box and fell to the floor, slamming his back against the hard cobblestones. His attacker grinned and went in for the kill.

Talent furiously kicked the packing box into the Cut-throats face and jumped up, sword in hand. The man realised all too late that the stumble had been a ruse, used to give Talent the upper hand. Talent used both hands to sweep his sword down into the man's arm, causing the man's hand to jerk open, dropping his sword. The Cut-throat fell to the floor, and wimpered, trying to put pressure on the deep gash in his arm.

"Yeah, that sort of thing can hurt," said Talent, knowing all too well.

He turned to see Hadiin finishing off the other two men ruthlessly.

"What are you waiting for?" asked Hadiin, refering to the bleeding man on the floor.

"It's not as easy for me to just kill someone. There are many people in this world who can go an entire month without having to kill anyone," replied Talent sarcastically.

"If you don't want to do it, I will," remarked Hadiin.

"No!" said Talent, drawing a raised eyebrow from Hadiin. "Let's let 1 in 8 live today shall we? It's no better than the chance I gave you."

Hadiin eyes flickered at the last statement, and he said: "Alright. I suppose he may reform from his criminal ways and want to join you in your mad quest."

"Hey Talent, watch out for the other Cu-oh," said Etrack dropping from a rooftop above. "Hey Largin," he said sheepishly to the injured man. "So Snarrel saw this guy who had all shadow cuts in his skin, right, and then he got really mad and all and said that you did it to him, and that you also did in the Big Throat, and that we should all kill you and stuff, but I told him to shove it and left."

Hadiin stared in amazement as Etrack finished the sentence without drawing a breath.

"Wait a minute," said Talent. "So you're saying that the Shadows killed a Cut-throat?"

"Yeah."

"And Snarrel blamed me?"

"Yeah."

"And you?"

"I left 'em. They bin my friends an' all, but you ain't killed any Cut-throats....Apart from in self defence of course. So I thought I could help you out a bit. Maybe steal some important documents from whoevers bin trying to kill the king or something? Who are they?" he said, referring to Willkolite, who was snoozing in the gutter, and Hadiin, who was staring at him stoically.

"It's a long story. I'll explain on the way back to my place."

* * * *

The amount of friends and allies gathered in Swordeater's old lodging was almost more than the large room could comfortably fit. Most had to sit on the floor, or on old pieces of training equipment. Talent and the new additions to the group were the last through the door, and the one eyed assassin and the drunken ex-commander drew a lot of stares. Talent moved to the middle of the room.

"Hey guys. So, er, I think it may be best if one of us from each group explains what they did today in turn, and we can discuss the ramifications later. Who wants to start?"

Candera and Tollburn went first, embellishing their words with bold movements and theatrical voices. Then Meldar spoke of their encounter with Keveran, and the discovery of the flamboyant hat. Finally Talent spoke, starting with the meeting with Snarrel and the shocking words that he had told them, then moving on to his surprising new companion, the fight with the Shadows for Willkolite, and the discovery that Snarrel had gone back on his word, sending all the Cut-throats out to bring back Talent's head.

"...and that's when Etrack found us, trying to warn me about the very men we had just fought," finished Talent, moving to sit down on a mattress.

"So the Cut-throats want us dead now?" asked Arterus. Talent nodded. "And the Shadows don't want us to have Willkolite?" Nod. "And the Thieves Guild are probably still angry at us for breaking into their headquarters?" Nod. "And the M.O.A. have sent a violent warrior to take Sera and I in?" Nod. "And the Cut-throats want us dead as well?". Nod. "Well, is there anyone else that wants to kill us?"

"I had an ex-girlfriend who was particularly psychotic," Meldar chimed in. "Although she probably won't be that dangerous to you."

"Critics!" moaned Candera.

"Oh, the critics!" said Tollburn. "How they scathe and bite with their horrible reviews."

"Most of the people I stole from are probably a bit peeved," said Etrack, grinning. "But I don't think they know it was me."

"I have killed many men, and their family will want their revenge," said Hadiin, forcing an awkward smile. "But they may never know my identity."

The room went quiet. Someone coughed. Talent wasn't sure if Hadiin was trying to join in on the fun, or whether he'd just did it to shut everyone else up.

Right, well, um, lets get to the serious stuff now shall we?" said Talent. "So we can be reasonably sure that whoever controls the Shadows is part of the plot, and is in it deep."

"That's not a desirable thing," said Lady Sherinar. "We've all heard the stories, and if they are to believed, the Shadows could be anyone."

"That's why Willkolite is so important," said Talent. "He obviously poses some sort of threat to them, and if we can find out what that is, we may be able to get the advantage."

"Keep in mind that they know we have him," said Hadiin. "So the advantage may not be a surprise."

"It's enough of one to get the Shadows scared," said Talent. "So what else have we got? Candera and Tollburn, you think that the room above Trindell's shop is going to be used for the assassination?"

"It all makes sense," said Tollburn.

"See the room above long street, with a singular window," said Candera.

"Picture the King's Parade - the dancing, the marching - and finally the King!" said Tollburn.

"And then, a lone assassin, poised to strike, crossbow in hand,"

"Ok, ok, we can see where this is going," said Arterus. "But what about this M.O.A. guy? If he was going to kill you just to get to us, what does he want to do to us?"

"He'll probably just capture you so you can go to trial for killing another wizard," said Meldar.

"Will someone just remind me again why this guy is so dangerous?" asked Talent.

"All the members of the M.O.A. are sort of...half wizards," said Sera. "They lack the ability to cast any spells, but they have the same 'magical understanding' as we do. It means that with training, they can hone themselves to recognise when a spell is going to be cast - and dodge it."

"Ah," said Talent. "So he could get past a wizard's defences easily then. How are they against assassins?"

"I can see where this is going," said Etrack, with a grin.

"They're supposed to be highly trained in combat," said Sera.

"A challenge?" asked Talent, looking at Hadiin.

"We shall defeat your M.O.A. agent," said Hadiin. "We must find him first of course. Maybe if he sees you two, he will be more likely to strike."

"Wait, you want to use us as bait?" asked Sera, her eyes narrowing.

"Let's do it," said Arterus.

"What?" said Sera.

Arterus shrugged. "Either we get this guy on our own terms, or he gets us when we're not expecting it," he said. "And I don't want to come across an M.O.A. agent without protection. It would be nice to not have to watch our backs. At least until they found out this guy's missing..."

"Okay, then we can put this on the to do list for tommorow," said Talent. "Next issue is the question of the hat. Yep, there it is, as Meldar is showing. We need someone to ask around and find out who the hat belongs to. Anyone have any thoughts?"

"We might be in a position to acertain the hat's person," said Candera.

"Yes, we have studied it, and decided it is quite an expensive hat," said Tollburn.

"So naturally, we shall use our acting skills to blend in with the gentry, and see what we might find," finished Candera.

"Right, so you guys can do that tommorow then," said Talent. "And Arterus, Sera, Hadiin and I will ensnare this Keveran. Someone needs to make sure that Willkolite doesn't go anywhere - or drink anything."

"I'll do that," said Lady Sherinar, happy to have something to do.

"Okay, then. What about the rest of you?" said Talent.

"I think we'd better do some work, dear," said Leia. "If there's nothing else needed doing."

"But dear, there's excitement to be had!" said Meldar.

"And there's rent to be paid. We can't be having fun all the time, dear."

"Oh, alright. But we can do something the day after, right?"

"If there are things that need doing," said Leia.

"And you, Etrack?" asked Talent.

"What?" said Etrack.

"What are you going to do tommorow?"

"I hadn't really thought about it. I guess I could try and track the Cut-throats movements, make sure you don't cross paths with em."

"You can do that?"

"Yeah, well Snarrel's not really using the talents of the boys eficina...efficiaent...not using their talents rightly. They're grouped up and wandering round the streets in enclosed circles, when really they should work more on reconnoise...finding stuff out about you, and using that stuff to find out where you go. And then I'd send a larger group at a place you'd be vunerable and...well lets just say I'll be able to lead the Cut-throats on a wild goose chase."

"Wow, Etrack. Where did you learn that stuff?" asked Talent.

"The Big Throat kinda took me under his wing for a while. Taught me how to run a group like the Cut-throats."

"Great, well I guess you can do that then. And I think that's all really. So you can all go back to your homes and get some sleep. We've got a long few days ahead of us."

* * * *

"Damn," said Talent, looking at the two trainee wizards, one assassin, one theif and one sleeping ex-commander in front of him. He'd forgotten that none of them really had anywhere else to go. "I guess you can all sleep here tonight. It's certainly large enough. Although I don't really have enough mattresses and blankets to go around."

"I'm no stranger to sleeping on the ground," said Hadiin.

"Me neither," added Etrack. "And that Willkolite guy looks pretty comfy down there."

"Well that's alright then. I'd best be getting some sleep," said Talent.

"Not quite yet," said Hadiin. "I glimsed you fighting today. You have potential, but your movements are too rigid, too seperate. You must flow from thrust to thrust. And the short sword is such an unwieldy weapon. One as nimble as you would do better with knives, or scimitars. I shall show you."

Hadiin took one of the training swords and used a knive to deftly split the wooden blade straight down the middle, so that he was then holding two thinner swords. He passed them to Talent and did the same with another, this time holding the two thin wooden blades in his own hands.

"Come at me," said Hadiin.

Talent reluctantly moved forward with a thrust from his right hand sword. Hadiin parried the stab aside and spun round Talent, pushing Talent's other sword aside and bringing his own swords to rest around Talent's neck.

"Speed is the key," said Hadiin. "Make every move a part of every other move. Keeping in mind the final move - the dispatching of your enemy. Now, again."

Talent moved for another attack.