Otelia and Rollo led me through the Lower City, their batons out, and eyes wary. We had already stopped a foist and a few street fights. I had stopped a little lad from stealing coins from behind a noble's back and helped with the fights but mostly I watched.
It was quiet now, as the sun slowly set and a chill settled into my bones. I shivered and tried to hide it but Rollo caught me. "We should stop here, we've all earned a drink." He said, clapping me on the shoulder, as Otelia nodded. I followed them, sending a silent prayer to the Goddess for giving me such kind Dogs.
There was an inn at the end of the street, so we went in, and the smell of ale and the noise of laughter was overwhelming, I thought I'd go deaf from the noise. So much so, that I wished we stayed out in the chilly night, walking back to my lodging house, so I could pick up something from Mistress Noll's and have supper with Beka and pehaps see Phelan.
But we were here, so we might as well stay. I shrugged and went to get our drinks. Ale for my Dogs and barley water for me, and when I came back, I was greeted by the spicy smells of roasted hare, bread, and warm soup. "So Verene," Rollo began, passing me a chunk of bread, "You like being a Puppy?" he asked.
I nodded, taking the bread. "Yes, Rollo. Protecting the city is a good thing you Dogs do."
Otelia chuckled, "It's a Dog's life."
0o0
I sighed softly. This was a crackpot's thing to do, going out into the night once both had been drinking. And it didn't help me that one of my training Dogs was well past drunk. I sent a silent prayer to the Goddess that we'd be all right and helped Otelia to stand as we walked through the Lower City.
Rollo put a hand on his baton and told me to stay quiet. I was confused before I heard it too. Noise in the alley. Carefully balancing Otelia's weight with my left hand, I reached and grabbed my baton with my right.
Holding it steady in shaking hands, I saw Rollo attack a thief from behind and another he kept at bay as I dragged Otelia to the shadows.
I joined in the fight, giving another thief the nip cop. He fell, out cold. More surrounded us and both Rollo and me were fighting hard when one brought him down and, as I tried to fight them back, killed him where he lay pinned.
My strangled cry was cut off abruptly as I felt a warm wetness in my side and sudden pain. I glanced quickly down and cursed, a blade wound had gotten me in the side. Looking up again, I dodged a blade but slipped as I tried to dodge again, using my baton.
Suddenly, I felt a blade rip through my back and fell to my knees, coughing up blood. The thieves then took what little valuables Rollo had, but left me there to die. I watched them fade into the black and tears sprang to my eyes as I reached out, my voice cracking, as I called for help.
"Please…" I whispered. My vision was growing dark. "Find him. Find the Shadow Snake, Beka." I felt a cool presence at my forehead and let the Black God take me to his mercy.
"Farewell, until we meet again. Farewell…"And the pigeon flew off until it faded into the sky, carrying Puppy Verene's ghost.