"Sir Geras?"
Arredon's voice was like a knife cleaving through Geras's thoughts, the young stoat, prodigy and pupil of Davrag standing by his currently employer, the de facto leader with Davrag Joris absent.
"Yes, Arredon Toroth, what is it?"
Like Davrag, Arredon was tall and well built, his normal red-brown fur a stark contrast to Davrag's ebon black. His eyes were almond shaped and a deep green, adding to his almost exotic look.
Trained by Davrag, Arredon was an apt student in his mentor's teachings. Arredon had grasped the concepts of assassination and the dual- sword style Davrag loved. Honorable only by the low standards of their comrades and the crime world, Arredon's lack of morals advanced him quite well in the eyes of his companions and in the eyes of Geras.
"There is a letter recently arrived for you...written by a 'Lord Snowshadow.'"
Geras snatched the letter out of his underling's paw before Arredon could make a move with such swiftness Arredon nearly snapped out his curved swords in fear his leader might attack him, settling quickly when he saw the older beast was more interested in the letter then in attacking Arredon. Still, the stoat didn't relax, knowing bearers of bad news were often blamed for it. Arredon didn't fancy his chances if Geras ordered one of his bodyguards to dispatch Arredon but he wouldn't go down without a fight and such an action would incur the wrath of the rest of the Five.
Arredon took a prudent step back, watching as Geras's mouth tightened into a thin line before he crumpled the letter and flung it from him. "How dare he threaten me?"
"Sir?" The otter lieutenant Kardran dared to venture, the head of Crimson Tears' street army was certainly a bold one, Arredon noted, if not a necessarily bright one.
Geras waved an angry hand. "Lord Snowshadow believes he can rebuke me for setting Davrag on the hunt." The ferret leaned forward in his chair, folding his paws in front of him, "According to him I'm to pull Davrag out 'immediately' lest my organization suffer the consequences. Bah!"
Arredon traded looks with the ferret head of the crime group's espionage systems and business practices Sithrin before nodding to Geras, "Sir, as Davrag is a high member of the Five, perhaps we could discuss this between us?"
"Of course, of course," Geras replied, obviously deep in though, "You have leave, Arredon."
"Thank you, sir." Arredon bowed and exited the main hall, heading out to the great manor's hallways.
"So, how'd it go?" A familiar, feminine voice replied coolly. Arredon turned and nodded his greetings to not one, but all three of his companions,
"As well as can be expected from Geras, Verria," He replied to the female weasel poison expert, taking small note of Arithia's familiar grin as she replied.
"I take it that Davrag's doin' well, Arredon?" The ferret fem's throaty purr queried, left paw twisting as if holding her favored six tailed whip.
"As well as we can expect...the subject was not particularly broached, Arithia."
The sadistic ferret, her skills so valued during interrogations, scowled, her eyes glinting. "Maybe when Davrag comes back he'll have an idea of what to do. I do not expect Jald Nightson to return with Davrag, Arredon...maybe his ambitions will grow and we can be rid of that wretched Geras Iridanis forever."
Her paw twisted once more. After nearly two years of sharing Geras's bed, Arithia desired nothing more then to be rid of the wretch forever, by any means, but so long as Davrag forbade it, she'd not lift torture tool or paw to Crimson Tears' leader.
Verria gave Arithia a sharp glance. The females rarely agreed upon anything, Arithia understanding little but strength and cruelty, Verria considered her a showpiece, a buffoon, a trophy that tortured and was useful at times while Arithia considered Verria a backdoors sneak suited to nothing greater then whoring around with the groups' males and occasional kills, it was difficult work on Davrag's part to keep the two from one another's throats.
Hallic Thargo had not spoken up curiously; the weasel rarely missed the chance to ridicule his rival in the Five, most unusual. Hallic was currently dressed in his battle array, face painted red and blue with his large trident close to paw, the savage stood taller then any other and his crimson tinged eyes looked ready for battle at a moment's notice, "Davrag'll come back..." The berserker hissed, "Won't die to some vixen..."
None of the others saw fit to correct the simpleton as Hallic growled softly, thankfully using the sense to speak quietly, "If Davrag comes back, we take over...Davrag dies, we don't. Won't work without all five of us..."
Even the giant's simple logic sounded good to the other three. With brief nods, Arredon replied, "Separate ways for the night."
"I go," Hallic nodded, Arithia and Verria duplicating the gesture, sticking his forearm out.
Arithia grasped the huge arm best she could, Verria positioned herself and took hold of the ferret's arm, Arredon moved to grab Verria's and be grabbed by Hallic.
"We are the Five..." They said together, a bit ironic as Davrag wasn't around to complete the full symbolic square.
"No others have ever been crueler or more feared," Arredon replied, a smirk appearing at his lips, the grin duplicated by all the others.
They went their separate ways for the night, waiting for their errant leader to return and to dream of the hopeful conquest awaiting them.
***
A different part of the land had the same night, and the night brought sleep, sleep that was rudely interrupted by Davrag Joris.
Eroket was awakened by the cold steel of the knife pressing against his throat, amber eyes snapping open as he looked into the gleaming amber eyes of Davrag Joris.
"If you move, Eroket Nightblade, I shall be forced to kill you; you and your lover both."
Eroket did nothing, didn't reach for the dagger hidden beneath his pillow, knowing that would be tantamount to suicide, for he believed Davrag's threat and so he did nothing but relax his tensed limbs.
"Good boy. I knew you had sense..." The cruel voice seemed to mock him, speaking quietly as not to awaken Boneflower who seemed to have the sleep capacity of a creature in hibernation.
"Come to kill me then?" It was more a goad then a question, Eroket firmly doubted Davrag would have let him live this long if he intended to murder him.
"Of course not...I actually need your help, Nightblade..."
"The great Davrag Joris needs my help? Gee, I'm touched."
"Shut your mouth," Davrag hissed angrily, "Or I just may forget myself and my discipline..."
Eroket decided to not beat around the bush. "Why do you need me?"
"Jald...those bastards from the Academy caught him."
"Jald was captured?!"
"Not so loud, idiot!" Davrag hissed irritably, pressing the dagger a bit closer to Eroket's windpipe, "Yes they captured him...I managed to kill five of them, along with one I think was the leader, but even I wouldn't go against a whole score of them."
"Jald? So you need my help to rescue Jald from the Academy?" Ero could have laughed, "Sorry, Davrag...you're talking to the wrong person to look to for rescuing Jald Nightson from whatever mess he surely deserves,"
"Now, now...I'm certain you do not mean that." Davrag's voice gained a crooning edge, a grin creeping along his face, "I believe self preservation is an instinct you possess and it is vital for your well being you aid me...I want Vandashira's head and Jald is the best way to help me out with that. You I'm only interested in for a fight, but that can wait until after his hunt. So, what'll it be?"
Eroket said the only two words that could keep his throat from being sliced open: "I accept..."
"Good. Meet me by the city square tomorrow at noon. You can choose to bring your whore along or not, I don't care if she helps. I'll see you then..."
The dagger was gone and Eroket could breathe normally again, reaching up to brush away the ruby droplets of blood. When he next looked up, Davrag was gone.
He cold care less about Jald Nightson's fate but the ferret was a valuable asset and on jobs, personal feelings often came last...
Sleep was a long time back in coming and when it did come, the dreams were so disturbing, Ero wished he stayed awake.
***
Jald was knocked back to reality by icy water being dumped over his head, tearing him from the bonds of unconsciousness.
"Hello, Jald...it's been, what, twenty years now?"
Jald's emerald eyes focused, his mind registering he was naked from the waist up and his sword and daggers were missing. The next fact he noted was that he was chained to the wall...must have been some holding cell or some such.
When his eyes adjusted to the gloom he could see the tall, arrogant fox, dressed in the tunic with the insignia that marked him as the Academy's High Master, his red fur and dark eyes betraying his identity to the ferret, even though Jald didn't recognize the four guards flanking him on either side.
And the bastard had his sword! Jald noted with sudden fury that he wanted to bite the fox's throat out but he managed to contain himself and reply coolly, "Tarl Argith...and somewhere around that long. By the way, how many problems did I cause for Ulrich?"
Argith shrugged, "A lot...let's leave it at that."
"Whatever. So what dirty trick did you use to become master of the Academy?"
"I won quite fairly actually," Argith smirked, "I don't take well to beasts hunting my mate by the way, Nightson."
"Your...oh, you have to be kidding me; Vandashira is your mate?"
"Indeed she is. She gained a new partner and a steady pawhold in Meridian. I gained a beast of beauty, intelligence and power to keep my position strong. It's mutually beneficial and I have no desire to let you end it."
"So, what're you going to do with me. Argith?"
Argith's chuckle was neither pleasant nor friendly, "Repay you for all the pain you caused me when we were students together little by little plus maybe a little extra. In short: I really want to torture you..."
"Still the stupid, spoiled child," Jald mocked and received a hard blow across the face for his trouble.
"I'll leave you hear to ponder your fate. I do commend your ally though for slaying Jast, though it'll only be a matter of time before we have him caught as well."
Argith and his guards exited. The cell doors shut, leaving Jald in the darkness.
Davrag was free and he had slain Jast! Well this would be good news except Davrag had more then likely bid a very hasty retreat from anywhere remotely Meridian and that probably included the Academy.
Well, let the coward run...Jald would show Argith, show Vanda, show them all why The Manticore was the best. He'd teach them all exactly about fear.
Jald Nightson would yet escape and when he did, he'd repay Argith and Vanda and Davrag doubly for whatever pain they caused him.
He'd hold onto that one comforting thought. He had to.
Arredon's voice was like a knife cleaving through Geras's thoughts, the young stoat, prodigy and pupil of Davrag standing by his currently employer, the de facto leader with Davrag Joris absent.
"Yes, Arredon Toroth, what is it?"
Like Davrag, Arredon was tall and well built, his normal red-brown fur a stark contrast to Davrag's ebon black. His eyes were almond shaped and a deep green, adding to his almost exotic look.
Trained by Davrag, Arredon was an apt student in his mentor's teachings. Arredon had grasped the concepts of assassination and the dual- sword style Davrag loved. Honorable only by the low standards of their comrades and the crime world, Arredon's lack of morals advanced him quite well in the eyes of his companions and in the eyes of Geras.
"There is a letter recently arrived for you...written by a 'Lord Snowshadow.'"
Geras snatched the letter out of his underling's paw before Arredon could make a move with such swiftness Arredon nearly snapped out his curved swords in fear his leader might attack him, settling quickly when he saw the older beast was more interested in the letter then in attacking Arredon. Still, the stoat didn't relax, knowing bearers of bad news were often blamed for it. Arredon didn't fancy his chances if Geras ordered one of his bodyguards to dispatch Arredon but he wouldn't go down without a fight and such an action would incur the wrath of the rest of the Five.
Arredon took a prudent step back, watching as Geras's mouth tightened into a thin line before he crumpled the letter and flung it from him. "How dare he threaten me?"
"Sir?" The otter lieutenant Kardran dared to venture, the head of Crimson Tears' street army was certainly a bold one, Arredon noted, if not a necessarily bright one.
Geras waved an angry hand. "Lord Snowshadow believes he can rebuke me for setting Davrag on the hunt." The ferret leaned forward in his chair, folding his paws in front of him, "According to him I'm to pull Davrag out 'immediately' lest my organization suffer the consequences. Bah!"
Arredon traded looks with the ferret head of the crime group's espionage systems and business practices Sithrin before nodding to Geras, "Sir, as Davrag is a high member of the Five, perhaps we could discuss this between us?"
"Of course, of course," Geras replied, obviously deep in though, "You have leave, Arredon."
"Thank you, sir." Arredon bowed and exited the main hall, heading out to the great manor's hallways.
"So, how'd it go?" A familiar, feminine voice replied coolly. Arredon turned and nodded his greetings to not one, but all three of his companions,
"As well as can be expected from Geras, Verria," He replied to the female weasel poison expert, taking small note of Arithia's familiar grin as she replied.
"I take it that Davrag's doin' well, Arredon?" The ferret fem's throaty purr queried, left paw twisting as if holding her favored six tailed whip.
"As well as we can expect...the subject was not particularly broached, Arithia."
The sadistic ferret, her skills so valued during interrogations, scowled, her eyes glinting. "Maybe when Davrag comes back he'll have an idea of what to do. I do not expect Jald Nightson to return with Davrag, Arredon...maybe his ambitions will grow and we can be rid of that wretched Geras Iridanis forever."
Her paw twisted once more. After nearly two years of sharing Geras's bed, Arithia desired nothing more then to be rid of the wretch forever, by any means, but so long as Davrag forbade it, she'd not lift torture tool or paw to Crimson Tears' leader.
Verria gave Arithia a sharp glance. The females rarely agreed upon anything, Arithia understanding little but strength and cruelty, Verria considered her a showpiece, a buffoon, a trophy that tortured and was useful at times while Arithia considered Verria a backdoors sneak suited to nothing greater then whoring around with the groups' males and occasional kills, it was difficult work on Davrag's part to keep the two from one another's throats.
Hallic Thargo had not spoken up curiously; the weasel rarely missed the chance to ridicule his rival in the Five, most unusual. Hallic was currently dressed in his battle array, face painted red and blue with his large trident close to paw, the savage stood taller then any other and his crimson tinged eyes looked ready for battle at a moment's notice, "Davrag'll come back..." The berserker hissed, "Won't die to some vixen..."
None of the others saw fit to correct the simpleton as Hallic growled softly, thankfully using the sense to speak quietly, "If Davrag comes back, we take over...Davrag dies, we don't. Won't work without all five of us..."
Even the giant's simple logic sounded good to the other three. With brief nods, Arredon replied, "Separate ways for the night."
"I go," Hallic nodded, Arithia and Verria duplicating the gesture, sticking his forearm out.
Arithia grasped the huge arm best she could, Verria positioned herself and took hold of the ferret's arm, Arredon moved to grab Verria's and be grabbed by Hallic.
"We are the Five..." They said together, a bit ironic as Davrag wasn't around to complete the full symbolic square.
"No others have ever been crueler or more feared," Arredon replied, a smirk appearing at his lips, the grin duplicated by all the others.
They went their separate ways for the night, waiting for their errant leader to return and to dream of the hopeful conquest awaiting them.
***
A different part of the land had the same night, and the night brought sleep, sleep that was rudely interrupted by Davrag Joris.
Eroket was awakened by the cold steel of the knife pressing against his throat, amber eyes snapping open as he looked into the gleaming amber eyes of Davrag Joris.
"If you move, Eroket Nightblade, I shall be forced to kill you; you and your lover both."
Eroket did nothing, didn't reach for the dagger hidden beneath his pillow, knowing that would be tantamount to suicide, for he believed Davrag's threat and so he did nothing but relax his tensed limbs.
"Good boy. I knew you had sense..." The cruel voice seemed to mock him, speaking quietly as not to awaken Boneflower who seemed to have the sleep capacity of a creature in hibernation.
"Come to kill me then?" It was more a goad then a question, Eroket firmly doubted Davrag would have let him live this long if he intended to murder him.
"Of course not...I actually need your help, Nightblade..."
"The great Davrag Joris needs my help? Gee, I'm touched."
"Shut your mouth," Davrag hissed angrily, "Or I just may forget myself and my discipline..."
Eroket decided to not beat around the bush. "Why do you need me?"
"Jald...those bastards from the Academy caught him."
"Jald was captured?!"
"Not so loud, idiot!" Davrag hissed irritably, pressing the dagger a bit closer to Eroket's windpipe, "Yes they captured him...I managed to kill five of them, along with one I think was the leader, but even I wouldn't go against a whole score of them."
"Jald? So you need my help to rescue Jald from the Academy?" Ero could have laughed, "Sorry, Davrag...you're talking to the wrong person to look to for rescuing Jald Nightson from whatever mess he surely deserves,"
"Now, now...I'm certain you do not mean that." Davrag's voice gained a crooning edge, a grin creeping along his face, "I believe self preservation is an instinct you possess and it is vital for your well being you aid me...I want Vandashira's head and Jald is the best way to help me out with that. You I'm only interested in for a fight, but that can wait until after his hunt. So, what'll it be?"
Eroket said the only two words that could keep his throat from being sliced open: "I accept..."
"Good. Meet me by the city square tomorrow at noon. You can choose to bring your whore along or not, I don't care if she helps. I'll see you then..."
The dagger was gone and Eroket could breathe normally again, reaching up to brush away the ruby droplets of blood. When he next looked up, Davrag was gone.
He cold care less about Jald Nightson's fate but the ferret was a valuable asset and on jobs, personal feelings often came last...
Sleep was a long time back in coming and when it did come, the dreams were so disturbing, Ero wished he stayed awake.
***
Jald was knocked back to reality by icy water being dumped over his head, tearing him from the bonds of unconsciousness.
"Hello, Jald...it's been, what, twenty years now?"
Jald's emerald eyes focused, his mind registering he was naked from the waist up and his sword and daggers were missing. The next fact he noted was that he was chained to the wall...must have been some holding cell or some such.
When his eyes adjusted to the gloom he could see the tall, arrogant fox, dressed in the tunic with the insignia that marked him as the Academy's High Master, his red fur and dark eyes betraying his identity to the ferret, even though Jald didn't recognize the four guards flanking him on either side.
And the bastard had his sword! Jald noted with sudden fury that he wanted to bite the fox's throat out but he managed to contain himself and reply coolly, "Tarl Argith...and somewhere around that long. By the way, how many problems did I cause for Ulrich?"
Argith shrugged, "A lot...let's leave it at that."
"Whatever. So what dirty trick did you use to become master of the Academy?"
"I won quite fairly actually," Argith smirked, "I don't take well to beasts hunting my mate by the way, Nightson."
"Your...oh, you have to be kidding me; Vandashira is your mate?"
"Indeed she is. She gained a new partner and a steady pawhold in Meridian. I gained a beast of beauty, intelligence and power to keep my position strong. It's mutually beneficial and I have no desire to let you end it."
"So, what're you going to do with me. Argith?"
Argith's chuckle was neither pleasant nor friendly, "Repay you for all the pain you caused me when we were students together little by little plus maybe a little extra. In short: I really want to torture you..."
"Still the stupid, spoiled child," Jald mocked and received a hard blow across the face for his trouble.
"I'll leave you hear to ponder your fate. I do commend your ally though for slaying Jast, though it'll only be a matter of time before we have him caught as well."
Argith and his guards exited. The cell doors shut, leaving Jald in the darkness.
Davrag was free and he had slain Jast! Well this would be good news except Davrag had more then likely bid a very hasty retreat from anywhere remotely Meridian and that probably included the Academy.
Well, let the coward run...Jald would show Argith, show Vanda, show them all why The Manticore was the best. He'd teach them all exactly about fear.
Jald Nightson would yet escape and when he did, he'd repay Argith and Vanda and Davrag doubly for whatever pain they caused him.
He'd hold onto that one comforting thought. He had to.