Chapter 4 - The Docks (temporary title)

The afternoon passed quickly and pleasantly, as they prepared for the Dawn Stealer's arrival. Sime worked and chatted with Mook as they reviewed the warehouse's security, with Mook implementing a few of Sime's suggestions about the roofline approaches. With security as tight as they could make it, the two settled into their respective chairs and talked about old times and new, with Mook very interested in her interview with Aran. Eventually, it came time for Sime to meet up with Aleria's company, so with a last hug and admonishment from Mook for her to behave, Sime left the warehouse for the Sea's Bounty.

The Sea's Bounty was far from her favorite place. It wasn't that it was populated with hordes of sailors. Sailors for the most part didn't bother her. Most were funny or at least amusing, and few even managed to be cute in a nice weatherworn way. No, the problem with the Sea's Bounty was that it was full of -drunk- sailors, a generally unpleasant bunch busy pouring gallons of cheap, foul ale down their throats while hunting for a likely doxy to toss a few coins for a quick lift of the skirts.

This meant, as she waited for Aleria and her compatriots to show up, she had to endure any number of propositions from the almost respectable to the disgustingly rude to the physically impossible. The propositions she could deal with. Raised in a harem and a guildhall gifted her with a razor sharp tongue which she used with reckless abandon. The problem was that the sailors didn't always stop with propositioning.

Now, the Thumb's bouncers were usually quick to act, especially when one of the Guild was present. But it was a bustling night and a few disputes already had them running ragged. So, Sime had to dissuade a few would be suitors directly. As Jocana told her, a man's most precious possession hung between his legs and was the key to ruling them. So, a little flashed steel aimed at the right place took care of those problems. Still, it was growing more and more frustrating to deal with.

That's why, when a hand came down on her shoulder, she spun around with a growl and a knife already in her hand. "No, I don't want to go upstairs with you or give you a good time and no, I don't want to help you lash the rudder, or run up the mainsail or whatever it is!"

"Understood," replied a woman's voice with just a hint of amusement. "Thankfully I do not need any assistance in nautical matters or… matters of another sort. Sime, I presume?"

The figure she turned to face was a woman from the voice, but the heavy cloak she was wrapped in kept her from telling any more. A set of green eyes calmly regarded her from beneath the shelter of a drawn up hood and a faint smile hung on her lips. The faint scar running bisecting the right eyebrow and cheek marked her as Aleria of Candlekeep. Reversing the knife and slipping it into her wrist bracer, she nodded. "You took your time."

"I was told evening. It is evening. We are here," Aleria said, nodding politely as the knife disappeared. "Shall we go? Or are you waiting for that special someone amongst all these fine ladies and gentlemen?"

She arched an eyebrow at the 'disguised' knight. Two other figures flanked her, a man and woman. The dark skin marked the man as Lord Corthala and the woman obviously had to be Jaheira. The rest must be outside. Getting up off her barstool, she shook her head. "No, I think the depths of this ocean have been plumbed. Shall we?"

"Certainly."

The taller woman fell into step with her as she led the way out into the night. Three of the others, dressed in similar heavy cloaks, were waiting by the street. They were trying to be inconspicuous, which only made them easier to spot. As they approached, a fourth stepped out of the shadows. She hadn't even spotted Yoshimo until he moved. The man was reputed to be skilled, and he certainly appeared to be as advertised.

"You know, those are some impressive disguises," Sime jibed.

"I am aware. But there was no way we could be inconspicuous. So, we figured that being obviously inconspicuous would be better than trying to sneak through this particular district."

"Not a bad plan," Sime admitted, cocking her head to study the redheaded knight. The woman definitely had a point. The Docks district had earned its reputation for nefarious characters, clandestine meetings and illicit dealings. It should, the Guild was headquartered there. However, because the district had that reputation, it was certainly not uncommon to see heavily cloaked individuals making their way through. People ignored them, assuming they were up to something and knowing getting involved usually ended badly.

Part of her was pleased that their new ally had the forethought to come up with such well chosen camouflage. Another part was less than thrilled. The idea that the shiny armor set might actually use tactics other than 'Charge!' and 'Smite!' made her a little uncomfortable. She liked it better with the Tinplates having the brawn and her having the brains.

"Most tactical manuals do include pages detailing more than the frontal assault," Aleria replied lightly as if she'd read her mind. A few chuckles sounded from behind them.

"Really? You seem to be the first knight who managed to get past that page," Sime retorted.

"Well, I will admit it is rather difficult to do," Aleria replied with a false sigh. "I feel it has something to do with all the heavy armor we wear," She tapped her head and winked. "Overheats the brain."

A guffaw, likely from Sir Keldorn, joined the chuckles. Mouth scrunched and eyebrow arched, she eyeballed the knight balefully. It was distinctly annoying when your opponent stole classic material like that. On the flip side, at least the woman had some sense of humor. She figured all that praying and armor beat that out of a person. Shrugging, she chuckled. "Well, you could try lighter armor you know. Lighter, more stylish."

"But how could we survive all our frontal assaults?" Aleria replied incredulously.

"It would predicate a change in general tactics," Jaheira chimed in.

"Ahh, but Lady Jaheira," Sir Keldorn replied with perfect courtly courtesy, "the Order has worked for centuries in designing the perfect charge. Whole libraries are dedicated to it. What would we do with those centuries of lore?"

"I'm sure a use could be found for it." Jaheira replied. "Archery butts perhaps?"

This time the laughter spread through the entire group and Sime found herself joining in. Looking over her shoulder, she could clearly see the strong camaraderie of this group. Shaking her head amusedly, she stole a few more glances at their leader and chuckled. Perhaps they were not as rigid and hidebound as she'd feared. This might just work.

"Tis a grand night for a stroll along the docks," called a voice from the darkness as they approached the warehouse. "Even if the night reeks of fish guts." The blade thin figure of Mook stepped out of the darkness, flanked by two of her people carrying hooded lanterns. Extending a hand, she grinned. "You must be Aleria o' Candlekeep."

Aleria recovered from the shock of seeing Mook suddenly appear from the gloom quickly and grasped the older woman's forearm. "I am. That would make you Mook, would it not?"

"That I am." She grinned. "If you don't me saying, bloody fine to have some backup. I've heard a fair bit about you. Made quite the impressive name for yourself as an adventurer. Hero of Baldur's Gate and all."

"I've never claimed such a title. I just try to do my best," Aleria smiled pleasantly and nodded. She had to be uncomfortable, but if she was, it didn't show on her face.

"Claim or no, it's stuck," Mook replied, shrugging her shoulders. "If you don't mind, aren't you a bit too much the hero to be guarding shipments for Aran?"

This time the façade cracked. Aleria's lips thinned slightly as she replied, "Linvail and I are trading services at the moment. That explains my presence in this operation."

Mook pursed her lips and nodded. "Fair enough. We're happy to have you, no matter what the reason."

"Indeed. Perhaps we should get to the details of the matter?"

"Definitely," Mook said, nodding to the door one of her men was holding open. "But, perhaps inside? Just in case there are prying ears to hear."

------

Mook's office may have been large, but with so many people inside it, it felt like the inside of a broom closet. She had to slide in next to Mook's left hip to get a place around the desk. Mook stood behind it while Lady Aleria and her companions ringed around it. Spread out over the battered surface was a scale representation of the warehouse with its accesses marked and their dock.

Mook, a wooden stylus in hand, was quickly going over the set defenses and the positions of her people. Aleria and the others were nodding along, absorbing the details. There were no frowns or scowls and she caught a look between Lady Aleria and Sir Keldorn that looked downright approving. Which was a good sign. While the Guild knew security, the Order, for all their reputation as a bunch of thoughtless knights, were a force to be reckoned with. If they approved, this might just work.

"So, Mook, just to be clear, your vessel will be docking at this pier and your people and the ship's crew will unload the supplies." The corners of Aleria's mouth quirked as if she'd bitten a lemon. "They'll bring them inside. How do they get moved to your guildhall?"

"You don't expect me to be giving up all the Guild's secrets to an Order knight, do ya?" Mook asked with a grin.

"No. I just ask to know if we must provide security from the warehouse."

Mook grinned and waved dismissively. "Not a problem. Once we get it in the warehouse, we've got the route entirely controlled and secure. Blocked off some of the old sewer system. We just run them right into the guildhall, no need to ever sniff the streets."

Aleria, Keldorn and Jaheira exchanged a quick glance. Their shoulders all had tightened and frowns had replaced their neutral expressions. Jaheira arched an eyebrow at the two knights and Aleria nodded. The half elf leaned in a little closer, a few braids swinging lose. "So, what you are saying is that there is a direct route right into the heart of your stronghold right here inside this warehouse."

"Wouldn't be much good as a transship point if we gotta take everything street side. Some stuff's a little too… bulky to move that way."

"So, we've got a critical shipment coming here, one likely going through tonight in your tunnel system?" Aleria asked.

"Course. The 'supplies' are needed pretty badly," Mook said, a little tension showing in her voice.

Aleria rubbed her chin in obvious concern. "How secret is this tunnel?"

"It's not public knowledge, but my crew knows about it. Course, only a select few know where it is. And what the passcodes are. And where the security is," Mook said, her hackles starting to rise.

"And a few of those people are missing," Sime said, a cold feeling settling in her stomach.

"What are you talking about?" Mook asked hurriedly.

"Jothan and Marta are both missing," Sime said quickly. "And enough people who at least know about the tunnel are as well."

"You don't think?" Mook asked, the color draining out of her face.

"It is what I would do, Madame Mook," Keldorn said grimly. "If this shipment was important, it is worth hitting. And if they are truly out to finish you, striking hard here could give them your own weapons to raid your base."

"And since your people would know that supplies are coming in, they won't be cautious about who's using that tunnel," Aleria added.

"They're always cautious!" Mook growled.

"But if they're expecting people coming through, they'll be less wary. If they hit you fast enough, you might not get a chance to get off a warning. Then they just come down your tunnel and hit your people from within," Aleria said calmly. "Tactical surprise. You might fight off the assault, but it will do damage."

"And make us look even weaker," Sime said hurriedly as took the calculations to their logical end. "In fact, they don't even need to do that much damage. If the Guildhall gets hit, confidence will take a hit. We'll start bleeding people to the other side if even our heart is vulnerable."

Mook slammed her fist into the table. "Cyric take em all for a bunch of bastards. We are going to get hit. Bloody glad we've got you with us, Aleria."

One of Mook's people, Denthik, stuck his head in. "'ey Mook? That guy, he came back 'gain. Thought ye'd want to know."

One fine red eyebrow arched upwards on Aleria's brow. "What man?"

"The situation is that we've seen the same man pass by four times," Mook cursed. "He looked a bit different each time but I knew it was the man. So, I set my boys to look and see if he came back."

Aleria grimaced. "Did you notice anything else odd about him? He could live here."

"No one we don't know lives here," Mook shook her head. "No. He was casing the area and studying me. Now that you're here to watch our backs, I should be able to learn something from him next time he passes. Maybe find out who is playing games with us."

"That sounds like a workable plan," Aleria said with a nod. "The more we know…"

"Yeah." Mook tightened her sword belt and grabbed her crossbow. "If this is the man we want, it shouldn't be too long until he shows up again." She flashed a wide, mirthless grin. Enough to make Sime shudder slightly. "Then we ask him a few questions."