Business as Usual

Jamie strode into the Artisan’s Quarter, easily pushing his way through the crowds. He kept an eye out for cutpurses. Not because he worried about his coin, he didn’t have much with him, just enough to bribe a couple guards, but rather because you could tell a lot about how things were by their presence. He spotted a couple he knew as Red-Nosed Ned’s men, that was good. A turf war or a guard crackdown would send them scurrying off. Not that it really mattered, Ned had given him a job to do and Jamie was going to do it regardless. Jamie headed for a thin stream of smoke and the sounds of hammer on anvil. The smith would probably be the hardest of his marks today. Royan was a hard man and wouldn’t react well to bullying. But I know just where to push to break him. It’s why Ned sent me. I know these people and I know what makes them weak.

Royan was at his forge hammering away at a hunk of metal. A young boy stood by the bellows. Jamie leaned against the wall and waited, watched the smith hammer away. He didn’t know what the smith was making and he really didn’t care. This was all about how would Royan react. The smith continued to hammer furiously at the metal. A few moments later, Royan spoke “May I help you?” He didn’t bother to look up and his voice was thick with…anger? He knows why I’m here, good. And playing ignorant too. Probably wants to delay this as much as possible. Alright, I can play that game for a bit. Jamie smiled. “What? You don’t remember me? It hasn’t been that long.” Jamie put as much mock indignation in the questions as he could.

The smith finally looked up, contempt clear on his face. “Oh, I remember you, Jamie. Tell me, how is your father doing these days?”

The smile vanished from Jamie’s face. He just had to bring that up. Time to get on with this. “You know full well why I’m here. You owe Ned and I’m here to collect.”

Royan turned to face Jamie and took a step forward, hammer in hand. “Or what? You’ll beat it out of me?”

Royan was big, but so was Jamie. However, he knew the direct approach wouldn’t work here. Even if Jamie won Royan probably wouldn’t pay, at least not reliably. Instead, he smiled and softened his voice. “You ought to know, your payment isn’t just for your safety. It also assures the safety of your shop and your wife… and your daughter.”

Royan anger quickly turned to worry. He knew where this was going, even if he didn’t want to admit it.

“How is Rayna doing? She’s what, 13 years old now? And growing prettier every day I hear.”

Royan had turned pale. “If you touch her…”

“I wouldn’t hurt Rayna.” Unless I had to. The thought hung grimly in his mind. “But the streets are awefully dangerous these days. There are many cruel people out there who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt a little girl.”

Sorrow filled the big smith’s face. “You bastard… you really would…”

He was trapped. Even with all his strength Royan couldn’t protect his daughter from the hundreds of blades waiting in the darkness, ready to descend upon a helpless little girl.

“We don’t ask for much. Isn’t it worth it to know Rayna is safe? Isn’t your daughter worth more than that?”

Royan closed his eyes and quietly nodded. He dug into his purse and counted out some coins. As Jamie’s hand closed around the coins, Royan said “May you burn in hell for this.”

“Just remember your family’s safety depends on your cooperation.” Jamie said as he left. His job was done. He headed out, back into the bustling, oblivious crowds. Royan was strong and proud and Jamie had broken him. All it had taken was a few lies and some bluster. He was still glad they didn’t have to follow through with any of it.

Balibar was a gnome, a wood carver, and a coward. He was also late with his payments. Jamie didn’t know why and he didn’t care. Truthfully, the half-man was the last Jamie would expect to renig on this.

Jamie barely noticed the door handle as he slammed into Balibar’s shop. He didn’t notice the masterfully carved chairs or the ornate box on display as he stormed up to the counter and the little boy behind it. “Where’s Balibar?” he snarled.

The little boy whimpered and pointed to a small door behind the counter, his eyes wide and frightened.

Balibar looked up from his work as Jamie walked into the workshop. Balibar barely had time to squeak as Jamie grabbed the gnome by the collar and dragged him up level with his face.

“Ned wants his money!” Jamie snarled, putting on his best ‘I’m about to break you in half’ face.

Balibar quivered in his grasp. I hope the half-man doesn’t piss himself. “I can’t pay all of you!” he wailed.

Jamie’s grip tightened. It was time to either hurt the gnome or cause significant property damage. Except something was wrong. Jamie’s eyes narrowed, looking for any sign of deception. “What do you mean ‘all of you’?”

“Two men came by… a week ago… demanded I pay them.. They were going to destroy my work!” Balibar panted out.

“Who were they?”

“They didn’t give names. They were big and had clubs.” Great, the rat just described every thug in town.

“One of them had scars on half his face and was missing an ear. Looked like it had been ripped off. The other had a squished up face, beady little eyes and a big nose.”

Jamie recognized the descriptions. The first was just called One Ear, but most of Ned’s men called him Dog Meat. Apparently a pack of dogs tore off his ear and half his face. Everyone joked that One Ear had been so ugly before, he was prettier with half a face. Jamie didn’t know the name of the second one, but that didn’t matter. They didn’t matter. Who they worked for was the important part. Both men worked for James Skinner, one of Ned’s rivals.

“How much did they take?”

Balibar told him, a look of growing confusion on  the gnome’s face.

“You shoulda said something sooner. Pay what you owe Ned and I’ll deal with them.”

Balibar didn’t seem to certain of that. What guarantee did he have that Jamie wouldn’t just take the money and leave him? Guess he needs a reminder of who’s in charge. Jamie brought the gnome’s face in real close to his. “Or I could just smash your precious sticks and take what you owe us if you’d prefer.”

That made up Balibar’s mind real quick. When Jamie had the money he walked silently out of the shop. He saw no need to reassure the gnome. Balibar was under Ned’s protection. That meant no one else was allowed to shove the half-man around. Now Jamie needed to find one of James’s men. It was time for some payback.

Jamie got lucky and spotted the beady eyed thug a little while later.Jamie followed him as he entered an alley way. Jamie stayed a little ways back until the thug turned the corner. There, out of sight from the passing crowds, Jamie struck.

Jamie was far from the quietest, but the thug was stupid and wasn’t paying attention. He barely turned around in time to see Jamie’s club before it smashed into the side of his head. The thug hit the side of the alley, stunned by the blow. Before he could recover, Jamie swept his legs out, sending the big man sprawling.

“Gimme your money!” Jamie demanded.

The thug struggled to his knees, his hand going for the knife at his belt. He was far too slow. Jamie’s club slammed into the thug’s shoulder with the crunch of breaking bone. He screamed, but the crowds were plenty loud enough. No one would ever hear one more voice crying out.

Jamie kicked the man in his broken shoulder, rolling him onto his back. “Money. Now.”

The thug groaned, but tossed aside two purses, clinking with coin. Jamie grabbed them and pointed his club at the thug. “You tell James that Balibar belongs to us. You stay out of our territory or I’ll make another example of them.”  Just to drive the point home, Jamie slammed his club into the man’s knee. “Got it?” The thug nodded, tears leaking from his eyes as Jamie walked out of the shadows of the alley.

When he returned Jamie ignored the kid, heading straight for the door to Balibar’s workshop. Balibar cowered until Jamie pulled out a purse and started counting out coins, then he just looked on incredulously. “There,” Jamie said, “you’re under our protection. They shouldn’t have stolen from you. If they come back, don’t pay them and come find us immediately after.”

Jamie walked out of the store with Balibar stammering his gratitude. Outside, Jamie allowed himself a smile. Now this was some work he could feel good about. It was time to head back to Ned. He’d want to hear about James trying to muscle in on his turf. There might be some real fighting soon. Jamie was alright with that.

Night of Nightmares

Jamie leaned back in the warm, friendly glow of Ned’s hall. His brothers walked the hall, singing, laughing, and dicing. Gery had a group gathered around, his big hands deftly shuffling a pack of cards. Dave watched, a coin dancing idly across the back of his hand. The mageling swore it was just quick fingers, not a spell, but Jamie wasn’t so sure. Gery waved for him to come over. First Jamie took another look around.

Where was Bobby and Sam and Ari? They ought to be here. Where was Ned? This was his hall, his people! He ought to be at the front with a flagon in his hand, a girl on his lap and a laugh of his lips! Something was very wrong.

It was cold and dark. One of the men had a torch, but it gave off no heat and did little to hold back the darkness. They huddled together, fear marring their faces. Jamie had a knife in his hand, blood bright on the blade, but he didn’t know whose. The walls loomed close in the darkness, cold, hard and dangerous.

A shudder ran through the ground and their horrid cellar sprang to life. Men screamed, the walls exploded and hands left from stone, so cold and hard and dangerous. They clung to clothes, grabbed at flesh and dragged men to their deaths.

The shadows shifted, they were running, but something was wrong. Jamie looked back and Gery was on the floor, cold stone hands grasping his arms and legs, pulling him into the floor. He called for help, begged for it. Silent Tom’s voice cut through the darkness, steel through silk, “Run, you fool.” Jamie ran and Gery died, screaming.

They were in a wooden room. Safe wood, not stone, but nothing was safe anymore. Through the windows Jamie saw the world burn. Doom had come to Khadim with fire and darkness. Dave groaned, his flesh rippling beneath his clothes. His scream split through their minds as his body tore itself apart.

Jamie was on the stairs, watching as the grotesque mockery that used to be Dave walked up the stairs. His head and limbs were no longer attached to his body, instead floating several inches from it. Large strips of flesh were missing from his body and he left a thick trail of blood as he climbed, slowly up each step.  Thin rivers of flame ran down his arm as Dave reached a hand towards Jamie. There was a club in Jamie’s hand. His arm swung around and Dave’s head hit the wall with a wet thump. Silent Tom’s voice whispered from the shadows, “Run, you fool.”  Jamie ran as his friend’s body collapsed on the stairs.

Jamie ran and the shadows surrounded him. Gery's face floated in the darkness, staring accusingly at him, cold and grey like the stones Jamie abandoned him to. Dave's face stared with one good eye, the side of his head cave in where Jamie had killed him. They stared in mute accusation and the flames lept up to consume him.

Jamie woke up covered in a cold sweat, curled up under a ragged blanket. Someone coughed in the darkness. There refuge was cold and damp. They had survived the destruction of the world, but now what?

Captain Mal Wants You!

“Did I tell you to bring back money?” Tom said softly.

“Well, no…” The big man replied. He was new and Jamie didn’t remember his name, Boulder or Rock or something like that. Jamie didn’t trust him.

“Money is practically useless now. Everything costs ten times as much and you bring me a few grubby coins that couldn’t buy a crust of bread.” Tom always spoke softly. He didn’t need to raise his voice. They were all terrified of him. “Food, clothing, weapons, these are what we need. These are what you will bring back or these are what you’ll go without.”

Everything had changed and Jamie hated it. They stole from people who had nothing. Last time a woman had begged him to just kill her quick. It was mercy, but it still gnawed at him. There were a dozen men and women, ragged and weary, in their small hideout.  Silent Tom had kept the few survivors from Ned’s gang together and recruited more. Tom had saved his life, just like Ned had years ago, and Jamie owed him for that. Still, Jamie wondered if it was all worth it. Crawling along and preying on the helpless, this was no way to live.

Suddenly the door to their hideout crashed open and soldiers rushed in, swords and spears in hand. They bolted for the backdoor, but that opened to show more soldiers. They were surrounded and surprised. They could fight, Jamie had a club and dagger at his belt, but there wasn’t any point. He would just die and Jamie wasn’t quite ready for that mercy yet. The soldiers held them at sword point, but didn’t kill them.

In walked another soldier, tall and handsome with his armor well polished. Everyone recognized Captain Alec Mal. They all knew to avoid him like the plague. Silent Tom gave him a thin smile, his thin daggers still in hand. “Captain, to what do I owe this… honor?”

“Stow it Tom. I’m giving you a choice. I could arrest you right now and put you on trial for your crimes.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you’d kept some magistrates around.”

“No, the trial will just be me saying you’re guilty and ordering your execution. I’ve got no time for a proper trial. The other option is to work for the City Guard.”

“A pardon…”

“I said nothing about a pardon. You’ll still be a murderer, you’ll just be working for me. The same offer for all of you. You may work for the guard or you may pay the price for your crimes now.”

Tom paused, eyeing the Captain. Jamie didn’t need to consider. There was no real choice here. He wasn’t going to say anything before Tom did, but if Tom chose death, Jamie wouldn’t be following him. Tom came to the same decision. “Of course, it would be a pleasure to serve.” His mouth smiled, but his eyes stared murder at the Captain.  The others made the same choice.

They were still disarmed and tied up to be dragged off, but they were treated well enough and true to his word, Captain Mal allowed them to work for the guard. The gang was broken up, Jamie didn’t know any of the others they had him working with. They were regular guardsmen, other criminals granted Mal’s Mercy, or citizens that saw a better opportunity than dying in the gutters. Jamie didn’t trust them any more than he trusted what Ned’s gang turned into. Still, life was a bit better. Captain Mal had him on patrols and hunting down monsters. He hadn’t felt so alive in a long time. With his blood pumping and a sword in his hand, it felt good to fight to protect his city.