He didn't have time for this. He swore he'd kill him for this if he wasn't his only friend left. How the hell did he get here anyway? That damn Sweeper, if he had anything to do with it, it wouldn't matter how much esteem Time held for him that old man would reach the end of his line. Jayson fumed as he stalked the night alleys of the Shades carrying Dragon's ashes. The stupid fool had only gone and wandered into the roughest part of Ankh-Morpork, no doubt without any idea what he was getting into. His plans had taken too long for it to be messed up now like this, but if he were to die then it'd be for nothing.
Jayson growled to himself and sped up closing in on the scent. He waited in the shadows of a wall as the figure approached and then with lightning speed his arm shot out grabbing the figure and pulling him into the shadows with him, his hand clamped over his mouth. The figure struggled ramming an elbow into his ribs but he still held fast.
'What the hell are you doing here!' he growled into the figure's ear at which point the figure stopped struggling and Jayson released his mouth.
'You just disappeared so I had to find out what happened to you. This guy in a starry robe said you were here and helped me get here... Just what are you trying to do?' the figure told him.
Jayson shook his head 'Damn Lobsang.' He growled.
'You shouldn't have come Junior this isn't your city, it's so much different... it's worse if you can actually believe that.' Jayson said softly as Junior turned to face him.
'As for why I'm here, I'm here to take my life back.'
'Can't I help?' Junior said eagerly.
Jayson placed a hand over his eyes shaking his head slightly. 'I guess I haven't much choice do I? Luckily no one will recognise you here. Though you may not like what I'm doing.' He told him.
'And what's that?' Junior asked his eyes wide.
'Murder!' Jayson said grinning making Junior's prominent Adam's apple bobble in nervous surprise.
Carrot sat watching Angua sleep peacefully as he wrote his letter home. He still couldn't get his head around the recent news of his origins. It certainly changed things between himself and Angua as much as the werewolf thing never bothered him he knew it bothered her, that she couldn't trust the wolf in her. Funny how he should have a wolf in him, but he was lucky his was caged up tight. But a brother too, that was new, one who had no problems of letting the wolf in him run free. No wonder Vimes and Angua were a bit wary of what this Jayson said.
Carrot folded up the piece of paper, for once at a loss for something to write. He needed to go for a walk, clear his mind, but he didn't want to leave Angua alone in case she woke up.
Upstairs Vimes was nursing a swollen wrist and was smoking furiously on his cigar, when a knock came at his door.
'Come in!' he ordered and Reg Shoe sloped in offering a salute which ended with his hand on the floor.
Reg muttered an apology and picked the detached appendage up.
'What's up Reg?' Vimes asked hoping that this Jayson hadn't caused any more havoc.
'Someone broke into Vetinari's cells, sir.' Reg started.
'Someone's released a prisoner?' Vimes asked smashing the butt of his cigar into his desk.
'In a way sir...' Reg said slowly.
'What do you mean in a way?' Vimes asked suspiciously.
'Well they've killed him.' Reg answered solemnly.
'Well where's the problem?' Vimes' cynical mind asked itself. 'Who?' he asked aloud.
Reg coughed dryly. 'Dragon King of Arms.' He told him.
Inside his head Vimes' mind whooped in joy. 'So he's been temporarily dispatched?' Vimes asked.
'No sir, seems the assailant collected his ashes in a jar of holy water and took them with him.' Reg replied.
'So that suggests that they don't intend Dragon to be revived... but why are you
telling me this?' Vimes asked.
'His Lordship thought you may be interested to know.' Reg answered.
'Right, thanks Reg.' Vimes told him and Reg did a handless salute and sloped back out the door.
So Vetinari wanted him to know about Dragon? Well obviously Vetinari knew he'd relish the news but then again Vetinari usually gave you information for a reason. Vimes wondered what that reason was.
Jayson walked through the streets trailing a nervous Junior.
'Will you calm down? You'll attract attention to us!' Jayson hissed at him.
'But we're off to kill someone...' Junior whispered.
Jayson rolled his eyes. 'This is why I came alone... would it make you feel better if you knew they'd deserve it. Just act like you were at home... wait not too much though... no banging people's heads together if you see them doing something illegal.' Jayson added quickly.
Junior scowled at the slightly younger man's sarcasm. 'I don't always do that...' he mumbled.
'Yeah fine, now come on.' Jayson said searching for somewhere to hide Dragon while he continued his business in Ankh-Morpork.
The two of them continued to Jayson's next port of call which took them up a nondescript street off Treacle Mine Road. Jayson paused outside the offices of The Times, Ankh-Morpork's only daily newspaper. He peered through the window and noted the number of dwarves working the looming presses that printed the papers.
His lips curled back slightly, he never could stand dwarves after what they had done to Carrot. A tall thin sallow man carrying a strange contrivance was wandering through it all in a black waistcoat and even from here Jayson could smell the rich scent that marked him as a vampire.
'Otto...' he growled softly to himself.
'Hold this.' He told Junior passing Dragon's remains to him as he then walked straight through the door without knocking.
The dwarves looked up startled, reflexively reaching for their axes, whilst Otto continued carrying his camera back to his dark room.
A young woman looked up from her pile of paperwork with a slightly harassed expression on her face.
'What's the meaning of this?' she asked haughtily.
'I'd like to speak to Mr. De Worde, I have a story for him.' Jayson said smiling.
A young man appeared from around a screen. 'I'm Mr. De Worde. What do you have to tell me?' he said eagerly, holding a notebook and quill pen.
'In private.' Jayson told him.
'Very well. Come this way...' Mr. De Worde replied motioning him behind the screen.
'The information I have is conditional.' Jayson told William.
William de Worde sighed. 'How much?' he asked dryly.
'I'm not seeking money, just information.' Jayson replied.
'About what?' William asked.
'The whereabouts of your father.' Jayson said softly.
William's eyes widened. 'Why would you want to know that.' He asked in a whisper.
'I have a little business to attend to with him.' Jayson said curtly.
'I can't do that.' William said simply.
'Really?' Jayson said and reached out to Junior taking the jar from him. 'Then you wouldn't be interested in whose ashes we have in this jar?' he asked holding it out in his hands.
William peered at the jar seeing the black ashes floating in the water. 'That could be just dirt.' He retorted.
'Ask Commander Vimes if it's just dirt. No doubt Vetinari would have told him about the disappearance of one of his prisoners especially this one. Vimes has had a special interest in the owner of these ashes for a few years.' Jayson replied handing the jar back to Junior.
'Very well whose ashes are they?' William replied dryly.
'A very important figure's once upon a time. Especially to you rich folk. You get a name when I get an address.' Jayson said grinning showing his sharp teeth.
William gulped. 'I can't just do that. He's my father and even if you're telling the truth Vimes won't speak to me... we have this little arrangement. I don't bother him and he doesn't have me arrested.' He replied.
'He will if you mention my name. Tell him that Jayson has the ashes and you'll soon have his ear.' Jayson told him in a friendly manner. 'However... if you don't tell me where your father is I'll have your ear.' He added changing to a snarl.
William paled. 'You realise that there is a large number of dwarves out there with axes and a vampire.' He retorted.
'Dwarves don't bother me and the vampire's a black ribboner... even if he wasn't vampires aren't a threat to me either as the owner of the ashes found out.' Jayson snapped back.
'My patience is wearing thin Mr. De Worde. How much longer will you protect your traitorous father?' Jayson demanded.
William looked at him in shock. 'H-How...' he stammered.
'I know many things Mr. De Worde... just like you I find things out. Now you can either tell me or write it down and I'll be on my way and you'll never see me again. I know you're a good man... so was my father... things change within a single generation don't they... I can be a bastard when I'm crossed.' Jayson answered for him.
William scribbled down the address, shaking in fear and handed it over sadly.
'Thank you very much Mr. De Worde. As for the story I promised. The ashes belong to the vampire Dragon King of Arms... who as you may know once ran the Heralds and was arrested by Commander Vimes for a plot on Lord Vetinari.' Jayson said taking the paper and folding it.
'What are you? A vigilante?' William asked unable to stop himself taking notes.
'You may call me that... however I'd be much obliged if you didn't print my name but if you feel the need to I won't stop you... freedom of the press and all.' Jayson said with a wry grin and Junior in tow left William's office who sunk into his chair, feeling faint and a cold sweat breaking over his forehead.
'What?' Jayson snapped not even looking over his shoulder at Junior as they walked to the address.
'I never said anything.' Junior replied.
'You didn't have to... I can feel your look. I don't know what you're acting like that for. I didn't hurt the guy.' Jayson told him.
'You threatened to...' Junior said sulkily.
'I sometimes wonder about you... I had to, to get what I wanted to know. You do just the same.' Jayson retorted.
'That's different.' Junior snapped.
Jayson sighed. 'You and your delusions. Look if you're not happy just go home.' He said wearily.
'Who else have you threatened or gone to?' Junior asked unrelentlessly.
'You really want to know? The Watch.' Jayson said grinning.
Junior gasped and scowled at his friend 'Has your mind been warped? I thought you came here to save the Watch?' he snapped.
'For the god's sakes, you think I can just come here and do this myself? They have to be prepared, if I have to lie, deceive and hurt them to do so then so be it. I left you behind because I knew you didn't have the heart for such a thing.' Jayson said evenly.
Junior covered his eyes. 'What did you do?' he groaned.
'The truth? I met with people I haven't seen in a long time and vented some issues with them, whilst in my round-a-bout way prepared him for what he'll have to come to realise about himself.' Jayson replied and continued on.
Junior grabbed his shoulder tugging him back. 'Who?' he growled.
Jayson shrugged him off keeping his back to him. 'Not Vimes before you go all suicidal on me.' He retorted.
'What do you mean suicidal?' Junior asked subsiding a little.
'You know exactly what I mean Sammy boy.' Jayson said sarcastically.
'Don't call me that.' Junior whined.
'Why? You going to tell your mother to chastise me?' Jayson said grinning and pointed to the gates of the Morpork Sunshine Sanctuary for Lost Dragons.
Junior stood still and paled at the sight of them. 'I can't be here.' He murmured.
'Well I did warn you... now come along.' Jayson said softly and the two of them continued on.