Embedded Files
Part 2: The Contract
The countryside began to return to its green and lush state not long after Haz left the outer limits of the guild's influence, the trees had bright green leaves and the grasses were long and littered with wildflowers. The road turned from dirt to gravel and signs of life other than plants began to show themselves, a brown rabbit darting across from one side of the road to the other. He’d have to start to wander away from the well known routes, and all roads in general when possible as he came closer to Brima, his bounty wasn’t cleared just yet and he could almost guarantee a commotion.
Haz was being followed for a while so he decided to slip from the roads into a nearby forest and readied the barrelcaster, unhooking it from his back and loading a light blue canister that held ice magic; better not burn the forest down.
He weaved between the trees and fallen logs, deliberately crunching the dry leaves and twigs as he led his would-be predators to a more advantageous position. Finding a wide clearing dappled with the late afternoon sun he sat gently down on a stump and rested the barrelcaster on his lap. Five figures of various shapes and sizes all dressed in drab black leathers, with their faces obscured by black masks appeared from the woods. “Can I help you folks? You’ve been following me for a while”' Haz asked as he watched them encircle him.
“Haz Darwiiz, you have a bounty worth a fortune and seem to enjoy sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong” the voice seemed to say from inside his own head in a rough growl. The figures unsheathed their weapons before the voice spat one more command “Die!”
Raising the barrelcaster while sitting on the stump before any took a single step Haz aimed it true at the nearest enemy, as he pulled the trigger he could feel the air snap cold around it chilling Haz’s hands through his gloves, in a flash the target was encased in blue ice. Leaping from the stump towards the newly made ice sculpture in front of him he saw one of the assailants readying a spell with a familiar red glow, he pivoted in the air to avoid the bolt of magic and fired another shot of the barrelcaster in return, he narrowly missed his target, freezing the oak behind the mage solid.
Spinning quickly on his heel as his food hit the ground Haz cracked the rifle into the side of the nearest enemy that was trying to close in behind him, as they were thrown winded to the floor his next shot was ready for the troublesome mage, Haz baited the next spell they cast by aiming slightly too long, but keeping his feet light and anticipating the bolt he evaded it narrowly and fired. The mage was frozen solid from their feet to their neck, unfortunately for them they needed movement to generate spells; he’d need to question them later.
Haz wasn’t as easy to take down as a retired bounty hunter might be, the remaining combatants kept their distance, carefully circlingly Haz and they began to growl like hungry wolves. “I’ll give you one chance to leave with your lives.“ He threatened, rifle held at the ready.
“We either kill you, or suffer a fate worse than death” the tallest one barked at him. The two holding spears to Haz’s sides began to lung forward, snarling as they threw themselves forward, Haz waited not moving, keeping on the balls of his feet he waited until they were a hair's width away from skewering him he somersaulted backwards through the narrow gap between the two spear tips, landing with a quick roll and before his enemies could react fired an ice cold shot between them, freezing them together in a large entwined sculpture; only one remained.
The barrelcaster was now iced over at the trigger, Haz would have to wait to fire another ice shot or take the fight to close quarters, his final opponent didn’t give much of a choice as they began to dash towards him, twin daggers flashing with the dappled sun to which Haz drew his knife, it was a broad serrated piece of plain metal and he’d used many like it to great effect over the years, kept sharp and in proper condition by careful maintenance, he took a step back with it held out in front of him, other hand gripping his rifle by the mid section, his enemy closed in and slashed with wild strikes, Haz barely managing to evade each one as he felt them leave small nicks on his face, chest and arms, the barrelcaster’s trigger was just melted just enough for him to get a shot off, he let it fall and aimed towards his opponents legs, parrying a a strike one of the twin daggers, letting the other scrape him as he lunged backwards to fire the shot and freezing the enemies lower half, causing them to lurch forward attempting to smash the ice with the daggers.
Haz held the barrelcaster pointed directly at their chest, “Hood, down, now.” he ordered and was surprised when they complied to see a wolf-like head underneath, they were Hown? These dogs were far from their home in the forests of Dovax, how were they related to all this? questions tumbled through Haz’s mind. “Why are you here, Hown?” He asked sternly.
The Hown showed an expression of almost surprise before spitting “Why would I tell you anything, Braklit?” Haz pressed the knife tighter to the Hown’s throat “Do it, you’d be giving me mercy” The Hown began to press his own skin against the knife, Haz removed it and smashed the hilt against their head, as they slumped over unconscious he walked towards the mage he’d left frozen up to his neck. “Hope you’ll be more co-operative” using his knife to free the hood from his captee’s head.
“You Braklit never learn do you? There are far worse things in this world to be afraid of than death or pain, your species has only just begun to understand the smallest pains.” She spat and growled and began to chant.
“Good luck casting without-” Haz was cut short by the red glow that began to encircle the Hown’s eyes, Haz was about to slit her throat but it was too late, a curse took hold of her as her fur and skin melted away into ashes in the wind along with her companions, even encased in ice. “Shit”
Haz picked up one of the daggers left behind, only the hilt remained, a brutal looking instrument of pain itself for an even more brutal weapon. Placing it in his pack he started to move on through the forest in the direction of the rising moon.
He encountered no other people or Hown on his way to Brima, He stopped on the edge of a forest not far away from the town, maybe a couple hours. He climbed up into a sturdy old oak and nestled in the branches in his hammock hidden from anyone else who might’ve been following him, but he was certain that the Hown only tails. He got comfortable and drifted off for a short rest before finishing the journey in the small hours.
“So Turte, what am I doing here?” Haz said, wearily. They sat in an office that appeared small with the sheer amount of books, ledgers and chests lining the walls, floor and any furniture that was a decent surface.
Turte, a portly man with a mess of brown hair threaded with gray smiled from his blue eyes at Haz “What you are always called here for, a job of course.” Haz gestured for him to continue “You see I need a few bodyguards to accompany me on the way to a very important Gala held in Brima, and I’m afraid my generosity is starting to ruffle the feathers of some less than savory characters over there.” He then produced a small envelope from his desk and handed it to Haz, inside was a small rectangle made of a shiny sort of paper with Haz’s details on it.
“A Gate Pass? Don’t see these everyday” Haz said, turning it around in his hands before placing it back into the envelope. “This all or part payment?”
The merchant's eyes closed for a brief moment. “That is part payment Haz, of course I wouldn’t just give you a gate pass and be done with it, especially for this assignment.” Haz nodded in agreement and shook Turtes hand while maintaining eye contact.
The preparations went well and their journey towards Brima was clear of anything unusual, Turte traveled by a plain looking wooden carriage, while Haz alongside the other four mercenaries were on horseback. The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon as they got through the gates with their passes, hitched their horses and transferred Turte from his carriage to a palanquin.
The evening in Brima was slightly warm and humid from the sea, plenty of people were in the streets to stare at the palanquin as it slowly waded through the streets. A large crowd was gathered in one of the streets they were going to travel in; it seemed like a drunken brawl had started between a couple of young men with their friends eager to join the fray. “This way” one of the other mercs hired alongside Haz motioned down a wide alleyway that would lead them to the same place, albeit a more dangerous route.
Entering the alleyway the smell of vomit and damp assaulted the noses of everyone in the group, Haz had noticed a few shadows move here and there in the corner of his eye, too swift to be drunkards and too big to be feral cats. A figure appeared at the end of the alley, then another, and another while behind them the same scene was unfolding. “Defensive position!” Haz called, resting an arrow on his bow as he drew it. The other mercs took out shields, swords, axes and maces, ready for any fighting.
The first figure to appear took a step forward, and drew a long dagger, their companions followed suit and they began to walk toward the palanquin, they were covered in black leathers from head to toe, no visible features other than the weapons they held, Haz lined up an arrow and fired towards the leader, who deflected it away easily and threw their own small knife towards Haz who barely managed to dodge before it could leave more than a shallow cut. Haz nocked another arrow and twisted to shoot towards an enemy that was approaching the palanquin from behind, catching them off guard the arrow hit true forcing them to the ground with a gurgling sound.
The other Mercenaries were locked in combat while Haz sniped the assassins whose numbers thinned slowly as did those of the mercenaries, a knife thrown here, sword ringing sword, shouts from the mercenaries, but silence from the assassins, if Haz didn’t see the silver glints of weaponry he would’ve thought they were trying to fight the shadows themselves.
The fierce fight continued until only four remained, Haz and a Merc by the name of Bruut clad in heavy armor with a shield and mace, and the assassin leader and their second in command both armed with long knives in both hands. “You can still walk away.” Haz said, holding his bow drawn and aimed at the leader.
“Same goes for you, leave the merchant and keep your lives” The leader replied, it was a woman's voice.
“Can’t do that” Haz’s confidence in his prowess oozed through his words, and loosed his arrow at the second assassin’s throat, they went down to the ground instantly. In the same breath the leader had thrown a handful of knives at Bruut, who managed to deflect most, but the rest managed to tear his neck protection away just enough. The assassin launched into the air and flipped over the tall man and before Haz could fire another arrow, she had her dagger in the man's throat; Only they remained.
They circled each other slowly, knives drawn, neither could find an opening in their opponents guard “whats your name?” The assassin asked.
“Haz, yourself?”
“Lillian”
“How are we doing this Lillian?”
“Well, I can see you're fairly competent but I can still take you. We can do this the hard way or the easy way”
“And that would be?”
“Easy way, I take one of the merchant's fingers as proof he got the message, and you can walk out a big hero. Hard way, I kill you both and bleed out in the alley, me failing this job for the guild would make me wish for death anyway. ”
“Nice to know that I wouldn’t be alone.”
Her cover had fallen down sometime during the combat, violet eyes set in a pale face, Haz saw her smirk. “I’ll be quick with the merchant.”
Haz awakened from his memories and he checked to ensure he still had the gate pass tucked away in his pack, a small envelope with a shiny paper card; Sorry about the finger Turte.
Approaching Brima he could hear the cawing of gulls and the splash of waves, the shouting of sailors and the washing of hulls. Brima was a busy port, even now so early in the morning. Pulling his hood and hat over his head and hiding the barrelcaster closer to his back under his cloak he moved on the front gates. The town was surrounded by tall gray walls, iron bars and railings rusting with the sea air, there weren’t many seeking entry at this time but still a fair number of folks queued up, passes out, merchants, mages, adventurers and thieves all seeking passage on the many ships moving in and out.
“Gate Pass” A sturdy looking guard demanded of Haz, holding his gauntlet clad hand out.
Haz handed the guard his pass and moved through without much hassle, the town hadn’t changed at all since the last time he was here a while back. He winded his way through the streets, sailors were just now starting to trickle through to the docks, some food carts stood on the streets at various points with, fish on sticks, loaves of bread, or fresh fruits hoping to secure a purchase or two from the bleary eyed seafarers.
Haz made his way to the ticket office and purchased his way onto a ship called “The Pale Wave”, it was a medium sized ship built for hauling cargo across the blank sea, equipped with a large ice piercing blade on the front. He made his way up to the gangplank and handed his ticket to the crewmate and headed on up to the deck, and it was there leaning on the railing he caught the sight of a passenger dressed head to toe in black leathers, a white mask covering their face, Couldn’t be, could it?
Written By Luke Hauser
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