Chapter 9

The dark underbelly

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Three potions. Some throwing knives. A nondescript grey cylinder.

"Is that…what I think it is?" Elene asked, eyebrows raised.

Jan glanced over his shoulder from his workbench and giggled. "As Uncle Pappy always says, sometimes you need to ask the right questions at the right people. I got the mixture just right after what we discussed; you'll likely need a small catalyst to activate it. That's free for you if you come back and tell me if it works as it should."

"Uh…" Elene picked the cylinder up gingerly. "Thank you, I suppose."

Anomen frowned as Elene pocketed the items on the table, taking special care with the grey cylinder which she tucked into her utility belt. "What is it?"

A nervous chuckle preceded her reply, "Something I hope I won't need."

"Sounds…promising," said Yoshimo.

"Be a dear and send my warmest regard to Renal, won't you?" Jan patted Elene on the leg as he escorted them out of his workshop. "He still owes me a bit of gold for the turnips I ground into healing paste for his lads. They had a nasty run in with the ivy plant my Ma runs over the side of the house, you see." Jan leaned in conspiratorially. "It's a special breed, I don't water it with water, if you get my meaning."

As they stepped outside, Jaheira glanced at the creeping ivy in suspicion. "The Bloodscalp knows you?"

"Of course he does! He threatens everyone in the trade once a month or so. His way of being friendly, just like the great griffin herders of Calimshan. All spikes and hard edges but really they're all soft inside," Jan grinned up at Elene. "Best of luck to you then. I wanna know exactly how it goes with the little sparklers. Though I hope you don't have to use any of that, picking a fight with the Bloodscalp is the surest way to shorten your lifespan."

Exhaling slowly, Anomen frowned at Elene as she turned to lead them away from Jan's home in the slums. She at least had the courtesy to look sheepish in return. While he understood the need to cover all bases in her quest, he still thought meeting with this Bloodscalp fellow was an exercise in folly. No good could come out of consorting with thieves and murderers, especially those he suspected are linked to the nefarious Shadow Thieves. For years, the Order had done all they could to purge their stain from the Docks. In the end, it was futile – too many boltholes, too many greased palms to fully eradicate their ilk.

His gaze drifted to Elene as they traversed the city to the docks, while the morning sun was still pleasant to bask in. She seemed calm today, her hands easy her sides as she chatted with Yoshimo. He'd missed certain things about her at first, misdirected by her loveliness and impeccable manners. In truth, she had more in common with the shifty Kara-Turan than he'd first suspected. He worried that she would fall into the path of disrepute without guidance, as despite her sometimes reckless tendencies, she had a good heart. He could see that in the gentle way she treated the slaves they liberated at the Coronet, her earnest attempt to abide by the law at the start. So much of what she did was for the sake of those she vowed to protect. How could he begrudge her that?

Unfortunately, that compelled him to tag along with her group for an audience with 'the Bloodscalp', the feared master of the Docks. Even he's heard of the man. Every cutthroat and brigand in that section of the city paid their dues to the Bloodscalp, and he ran the ship with an iron grip. Though Anomen had heard rumours of his men breaking ranks of late, what with the rumoured guild war causing upheaval across the city.

He'd had the misfortune of discovering a victim of the hidden war. The woman's throat had been ripped out; her body left draped over a gate not far from the Temple District as a warning. Whoever the thieves were fighting with, the other guild gave no quarter.

Sister or no, he hoped Elene wasn't about to sleepwalk into that conflict.

The docks were still coming alive when they arrived. The wet market teemed with fishwives and common folk yelling and arguing to scrounge for the best deal. He supposed he'd been lucky to be born into a noble family, his mother and sister never had to stoop to this for them to have food on the table. Then he'd moved into a seminary outside of Athkatla to pursue his religious vocation, and never had to worry about such things since. Still, his miserable father had done nothing but given him grief for relieving him of the burden of another Delryn to feed. That, and finishing what meagre wealth they had left on more drinks.

His jaw tightened at the memory of his father. The world would be a better place when that wretch had breathed his last.

"Right this way," Yoshimo gestured as he led.

A network of buildings loomed before them, on the first level of the Wave district. The way to the docks was through a grand staircase built through two more levels before arriving at the wharf. Ostensibly, most of the buildings here that are not taverns are either offices or warehouses. More goods were moved through this section of the city than in any region hundreds of miles away. Atkhkatla's strength lay in trade, and the ratty passages cutting through the docks form the artery of the grand construct keeping the city's heart beating.

Yoshimo led them to the large door of an imposing grey building, guarded by a man in red-tinted armour. Despite all the signages and markers at the door, Anomen doubted it was just a warehouse headquarter.

"Good morning, friend. Fine day for a meeting, is it not?" greeted Yoshimo.

The guard stared at him. Then shifted his focus to Elene. "You're the mercenary from the Gate."

Elene exchanged aglance with Jaheira. "Am I expected?"

With a nod, the guard pushed the door open. "First floor, to the right."

Curious. They were looking for Elene specifically, and not Jaheira or Yoshimo. Elene's hand hovered close to her utility belt as they crossed the threshold of the building, into a dim storage area laden with boxes and crates of all shapes and sizes. A packing warehouse, with workmen milling to and fro, hands and shoulders full of goods to be stored away in the containers. Some of them glared at Anomen as he craned his neck to peer at what they were carrying. He'd had to hide his allegiance coming here, the mark of the Order smudged under layers of ink and grime on his chest piece. Still, he almost wished they would take issue with his presence. Let them come!

The snaking path through the cluttered floor eventually led them to a staircase. Armed men lined the banister at the top, eyes glinting in the shadow of their hoods. Attempting an assault from the ground would be suicide, that much he could tell. He easily counted a dozen guards, and those were only the ones he could see. Verily, they were heading into the belly of the beast.

Anomen squinted as he touched the first-floor landing. They'd purposely kept the lighting scant here. Combined with the cramped corridor and odd layout, it became an awkward path to navigate, especially with hostile guards leering at them every step of the way. Jaheira walked with her back straight, utterly unimpressed with the display, yet surreptitiously shielding Elene half a step behind her. Much as she tried to put on a brave face, Elene looked uncomfortable, her head turning this way and that, checking the nooks and corners. Like a mouse looking for safe passage out. Or for a place to hide. Yoshimo behind him was as silent as a shadow.

Finally, they arrived at a dark oaken door. The pair on guard there gave the group a cool once-over, overtly making note of their weapons and equipment. To his surprise, they didn't ask for anything to be surrendered. Only a curt nod before allowing them into the spacious office beyond.

He'd expected an ostentatious lair for such a notorious man. Velvet furnishings, tacky gold, expensive wood. The works. Instead, the Bloodscalp's office was as plain as that of a priest. The walls were adorned only with a simple landscape painting, the carpeting is presentable but well-worn. Not a single gold sparkle anywhere in sight. Five people were arranged about the room, four men and a woman. All armed and dangerous, yet his eyes gravitated irresistibly to the unassuming man seated at the sturdy desk at the end of the room.

"Good day to you," said the man, canting his head politely at Elene.

Elene returned the gesture. "And a pearl to you, sir."

"You'll have to excuse me if I stare, as you're not quite what I was expecting. From all I have been told, I was expecting someone…" He paused in contemplation, then waved a hand, "…larger."

In truth, Renal Bloodscalp, if this was indeed who he was, didn't strike Anomen as impressive either. An Athkatlan of average build, with hair such a deep red that it appeared almost black in the dimness of his office. That explained the name, at least. Beyond that, nothing about him stood out as special, for a man who supposedly ran the black-market operation spanning half the city. Clad in dark leather armour, he watched his guests with a curious expression. A cat examining its prey.

"And what exactly have you been told of me?" asked Elene lightly.

His lips quirked at that. "Plenty. I heard you made quite a name of yourself in the north, Elene of Candlekeep. A right terror you were, if Husam's report was to be believed." A soft chuckle escaped him. "People do tend to remember the most gruesome details. 'Nice' doesn't quite stick in the imagination, does it?"

"Husam is your source. Of course," Elene murmured, her expression darkening.

"Now, now, don't be upset at your old friend. He was simply doing his job. You must understand, an organisation such as mine thrives on information above all else. He who is ignorant becomes a target, after all."

"And who exactly are you? The leader of the Shadow Thieves?" prodded Jaheira.

"My name is Renal, and you may address me as such. Though most people refer to me as the Bloodscalp around these parts. A little nickname I've earned over time. Rather grisly, but it keeps the fearful in line. As for your second question," he continued in a mild tone, "I lead enough that it makes no difference to you. Believe me when I say that you are here at my leisure."

Anomen tensed at his last statement, as though the temperature of the room had dropped without warning. Renal hadn't so much as twitched, but the cool look he gave them had enough menace in it to unsettle the strongest of men.

This man was not to be trifled with.

"Very well," said Elene. "What is it you wish of me, then?"

"Right to the point, eh? Refreshing. I do so hate prolonging the pleasantries when there's business to be done." He leaned forward, placing long-fingered hands on his desk. "To be short, Husam spoke highly of you, and I trust his word. I'm in need of mercenaries to perform a particular task, and you strike me as the right one to do it."

"I'm listening."

The threat of a violent and sudden death instilled enough caution in Anomen to hold his tongue despite his unhappiness with the situation. Frowning, his eyes flicked to Elene. Her stance had toughened, with chin raised, eyes hard and business-like. Did he really know this woman? Who was she to come here with a glowing recommendation from one of the Bloodscalp's own?

"What I'm about to tell you is to be held in the strictest of confidence. If I hear any inkling that you have not honoured this once you leave this room…" He trailed off with a benign smile. "Well, I think you get the idea."

Jaw clenching, Elene nodded.

Satisfied, Renal proceeded to share, "I have a…problem with one of my flock. To get to the bottom of it, I need someone equipped with our skillset, shall we say, but who is not one of the Shadow Thieves. An unknown quantity, but one I can trust."

Elene cocked her head at him. "What makes you think you can trust me?"

"Because an operator as intelligent as you would be interested to acquire the goodwill of the Shadow Thieves. And more importantly, working for me in this capacity will line your pockets quite healthily, if you get the job done right." His gaze sharpened as he put the full weight of his considerable shrewdness to bear. "I understand from Gaelan that gold would be a key motivator for you. How am I doing so far?"

Ringing silence from Elene. Which in itself was already an answer.

"What would the job entail?" Jaheira asked in her stead.

"Ah, yes, the details. How shall I put this? One of my guildhouses to the south is run by a rather ambitious fellow named Mae'var. Good thief, but I never liked him. Now I know why. I've had some hints that he is getting too big for himself. Thinking of taking my place, I suspect, but I've had no real evidence to support that." He sighed. "Now, you're likely thinking: why not just eliminate him? I suppose I could. But without proof of betrayal, this would anger the other guildmasters and then I'd have another war on my hands and, well, just let it lie that I don't want that."

Elene watched him for a beat. "You need the proof."

"You're catching on. I would like you to go to Mae'var and join his guild. You will have all the necessary transfer papers, naturally." With that, he nudged forward a scroll case by his right hand. "You will spy on him from the inside and find me the evidence that I need."

"That's all?"

Renal shrugged. "Well, once he's damned with proof, you can take care of him if you like. One less headache for a busy man such as myself to be concerned with."

A chill ran through Anomen at the nonchalant way this man spoke of killing his compatriot. His insides were screaming at him, telling him to back away, get out of there while his conscience remained clear. To work for thieves was low enough, to become a traitor among thieves…well, that was another layer of filth altogether.

"You'll need to get on Mae'var's good side, naturally. Not an easy task, mind you. The man is paranoid, with a mean streak a mile long, but I'm sure you've dealt with your fair share of that sort. You seem more than capable of handling him. So, what say you?" Renal asked, his gaze scrutinising.

Elene began to tug at her sleeve, head turning slightly to sneak a glance at Jaheira by her side. The other woman was as still as stone. Whatever sign she may have been hoping for, Elene wasn't going to glean much from her.

"I accept your terms," Elene finally replied.

Anomen's left molars began to ache from how hard he was grinding them.

Renal leaned back in his seat, satisfied. "Excellent. I knew this would work out for the best. Oh, in case you were wondering, Yoshimo, this will ease your 'freelance' activity debts. So long as you help Elene here, they will be overlooked…for now."

"You are too good to me, sire," responded Yoshimo, somehow with a straight face.

Ignoring Yoshimo, Renal handed the scroll case to Elene. "Here are your papers, make sure to give them to Gorch the first opportunity you get, with the seal unbroken." He then gestured to the woman to his left. "Jassa here will tell you where to find Mae'var's guidlhouse. I'm sure I don't have to tell you to be careful, do I?" His smile flashed like a knife in the gloom. "No, I didn't think so."

Jassa, a heavy-set woman armed to the teeth, beckoned to Elene to follow, and she led them out of the office without another word. Anomen threw a final glance over his shoulder as they departed and nearly shuddered as he met Renal's eyes, the man still watching them with calculated interest until they left his sight. They say the eyes are the window into one's soul, but gazing into his, Anomen wondered if he was still in possession of one. He didn't have to wonder at the fate that awaited them if they displeased the Bloodscalp.

Instead of heading back downstairs, Jassa took them out to the first-floor balcony. From there, one could survey half the docks, a prime vantage point for scouts, yet hidden from casual observers from the streets. The swarm of activity near the wharf looked dizzying even from a distance.

"You see that red thatched roof over there?" Jassa pointed to a tall building on the third level, not far from the wharf. At Elene's affirmative, she continued. "Main entrance is through the front. Can't guarantee if the other doors are trapped, so I suggest you play it safe. Gorch should be right at the door flogging his goods. Big man, no subtlety." Jassa shrugged. "You won't miss 'em."

"My thanks," Elene ducked her head.

Jassa frowned. "Don't do that around Mae'var. He won't appreciate it."

Swallowing, Elene nodded. "What's in the transfer letter?"

"The truth, for the most part." Jassa twitched a shoulder, the closest thing she could manage to a shrug in her thick armour. "A mercenary recruited from the Gate by Husam, assigned to Mae'var's stable for 'quiet' work."

"Quiet work?"

The smirk curving their contact's lips was a singularly unpleasant expression. "You'll find out soon enough. From tomorrow onwards, you're to report findings to me at designated dead drops, we can't be seen together, or your cover will be blown. A note will be waiting for you at the Coronet with the details."

With instructions in hand, the trek back to the streets was quiet as each of the group occupied themselves with their own thoughts and misgivings. Anomen chafed for the opportunity to take Elene aside, implore here again to reconsider, to find an alternative. The practical side of him, however, suspected his pleas would fall on deaf ears. She had a dark history, that much he could ascertain. More important for him now was to find out who he really travelled with. Naïve of him to accept her at face value simply because she'd acted with best intentions in their brief acquaintance.

"How do you wish proceed?" Yoshimo asked as they gathered in an alley adjacent Renal's guildhall.

Elene fingered the scroll case now strapped to her belt. "Do you know anything about this Mae'var?"

Yoshimo shrugged. "Only that he's a piece of work. Cruel, clever. And ambitious, as the Bloodscalp said."

"In other words, a typical Shadow Thief," said Jaheira.

"No sense in delaying." Elene squinted at the sky in thought. "At least we'd get a better idea of what we're up against. And I know what you're thinking, Anomen," she raised a hand to forestall his next words. "Just…bear with me for now. I don't intend to bloody my hands at the whim of a criminal lord."

"And if you must?" Anomen asked.

Turning away, she avoided his gaze. "I'll cross that bridge when I get there."

Hardly comforting, but he held his tongue as she moved towards the staircase heading further down into Wave district. A winding walk to the wharf, to be certain. If this Mae'var truly wished to threaten Renal, he'd have his work cut out to stage a frontal assault on his superior. Renal would see him coming a mile away. So whatever scheme this Mae'var was running, must be one that relied on stealth and subterfuge. How he hated dealing with enemies too cowardly to face their opponents head on in battle!

Mae'var's guildhall was devoid of people as the group entered, the foyer bedecked in shelves of various mundane supplies. At first glance, one could even mistake it as a common store, specialising in office supplies and the odd bits and bobs for passing sailors berthing for a short stay. A broad, tanned man bustled about the lone counter in the room, cursing in two languages as he accidentally pushed his quill off the surface as he moved things about. His eyes lit up at the sight of their group, though, and he licked his lips before greeting them.

Elene, however, cut straight to the chase. "I'm here to see Mae'var."

The man, presumably Gorch, blinked. "Eh? Who are you then?"

"New blood, we've been assigned to this guildhouse," she replied.

Gorch frowned as he read through the 'transfer papers' she handed him. Anomen quietly prayed that Jassa had not lied to them about its content. After a while, his prayers were answered, as Gorch shuffled to a side door and unlocked it with a key from his pocket. "Wasn't expecting you lot so early. Head down the stairs, then turn left and head on til the end. You'll find Mae'var on his morning rounds."

Nodding, Elene brushed past him into a lounge area. A hooded man looked up from one of the settees as they passed, his features wary. If Renal's guildhall members had given them a chilly reception, Mae'Var's was positively glacial. Unfriendly stares followed them every step of the way, until they faded from the view of the common areas as they descended the stairs to the basement. Funnily enough, despite Gorch's instruction, there was no way to 'head on' once they turned left past the stairwell. Only a small waiting area greeted them, and a resounding dead end. No sign of Mae'var or anyone else for that matter.

"Hmm. This could be the most anticlimactic meeting I've ever had," remarked Yoshimo.

Elene huffed a short laugh as she studied the brickwork. "Literally talking to a brick wall."

An exasperated exhale from Jaheira gave a good indication of what the druid thought of their little joke. Anomen shared her sentiment, he was in no mood for horsing around given the gravity of their situation. Even so, Elene moved across the wall with a ghost of a smile on her lips, scanning every square inch with the same quiet intensity she exhibited during battle. As though trying to figure out a particularly intricate puzzle. About two-thirds of the wall length, she suddenly crouched lower to inspect a portion of the wall around her waist-level.

"Clever. They even made sure to paint the area to make the catch less obvious," she murmured as she felt around what appeared to be an uneven brick.

Anomen watched as she worked, wondering how she managed to catch that in the first place. One would need exceptionally sharp eyes to notice it in the dim waiting area. Either that, or be accustomed to finding secret entrances.

She pushed the 'brick' inward, and the wall began to slide away.

"How tacky," sighed Yoshimo.

The way forward was a wide corridor, lined with lit torches, leading to a set of stairs descending further into the basement. Anomen wrinkled his nose at the smell that assaulted him. Chemicals, metal…and a discomfiting odour which reminded him of the slave pens in Copper Coronet under Lehtinan's management. The others seemed to have noticed the same, for they exchanged concerned looks as they hesitated at the threshold.

"Perhaps," Jaheira began, "Not all of us need to meet with Mae'var."

Elene swallowed, her gaze flitting to Anomen for an instant. "Maybe you're right."

Before he could gear up to protest, Yoshimo laid a hand on his shoulder, his grip deceptively firm. "Indeed, it would be a good idea to leave this to Elene and myself. We'd know how to navigate these dark waters."

Jaheira's eyes narrowed at him. "Do you now?"

"Please, let's not argue about this," Elene stepped in between them. "I'll head in with Yoshimo. We'll meet back at the Coronet. If you don't see us by sunset, then…do what you need to do."

"Are you sure about this?" Jaheira asked with furrowed brows.

"Yes. I'm sure."

For a tense few seconds, Jaheira merely stared at her. Gauging. Then finally, she shifted her attention to him. "Let's head back then."

"Jaheira, surely you don't agree…" he sputtered.

"I don't," she cut him off. "But if this is what it takes to see it through, so be it."

A part of him wanted to dig his heels in, protest until he was blue in the face. Something rotten was going on down in that basement, they could all sense it. He wanted to know what it was, maybe make use of the information, build a case for the Order to storm in and put an end to whatever devious work Mae'var was up to. Then he caught sight of Elene's face, the pleading slant of her eyes. And remembered what was at stake for her, why she needed to resort to such measures in the first place. The law had failed her.

Though he'd only known her for a week, he found that for some reason, he didn't want to fail her.

"Very well," he ground out.

"If anything happens to her, you will have me to answer to," was Jaheira's parting shot to Yoshimo.

"Have a bit of faith, dear druid," Yoshimo smiled.

Anomen took a deep breath as they emerged from Mae'var's guildhouse. It felt like a relief to breathe the open air again, though he'd only been inside for such a short period. Gulls circled overhead, though he was briefly distracted by shouting and clamouring from the wharf as a large ship moved closer to berth. Activity at the docks were in full swing heading into noon, when large crowds would start congregating at the taverns for lunch. For himself, he had no appetite to speak of, worried for Elene going into that den of vipers with only Yoshimo at her back.

"Jaheira, why are we…" he started.

His companion shook her head. "Not now. Wait until when we're back at the Coronet."

Needless to say, it was a long and terse walk back to the inn. He wondered at the paranoia displayed by both Jaheira and Elene, perpetually worried about being eavesdropped on or pickpocketed. While Elene had been reasonably sincere in her interactions with him, Jaheira was a black box. She would vanish for hours at a time, only to appear during mealtimes with no indication of where she'd disappeared to.

Jaheira signalled to Bernard that she wished to head to the private rooms upon their return to the Coronet. Nodding, the bartender sent one of his servers to assist, the young Calishite woman being none other than the hostess at the gladiatorial pit. She led them upstairs to the other set of backrooms, where a wicked woman named Nin kept rooms for prostitution. Hendak had since repurposed the area into private lounges for guests to have discreet meetings. Anomen suspected his group was the most frequent user of these lounges so far, making him wonder if Jaheira or Elene had suggested it to Hendak in the first place.

The second the door was closed, Anomen could not hold it in any longer. "This is madness. You saw how many thieves there were in there. If anything went wrong…"

"Pray tell, how much would it help to have us in there?" Jaheira cut in smoothly. "Maybe we can last a few extra minutes in a pitched battle, rather than be immediately annihilated. I recognise a thieves' den when I see one, we would not have been able to fight our way out of there, just four of us."

"Better than entrusting her safety to Yoshimo alone!"

"As little as I trust that seedy little man, he knows the terrain better than I," she admitted, her expression souring, as though the admission itself pained her. "Some familiarity could do Elene good as she breaches their ranks."

He glared. "And how is it that you're so familiar with the dealing of thieves? Who is this 'Husam' the Bloodscalp kept referring to? What did you do for him at the Gate?"

"That…is a long story."

Huffing, he settled into one of the five chairs set up in the small room. "I have time."

Jaheira remained on her feet, crossing her arms as she studied his mulish expression, like a temple priestess assessing a stubborn young acolyte. "Before I go into that, you will answer a question for me."

"Fine, what is it?"

"Why are you with us? What are you after from this…quest of ours?"

His brows pulled together in thought. "Why are you asking?"

"Because it's important," she bit out. "We may not always live up to the shining code of your Order in what we do. Are you willing to accept that for the greater good?"

"I agreed to the meeting with the Bloodscalp, didn't I?"

She raised an eyebrow at that. "You were outvoted, and I distinctly recall your agreement was only for one meeting. I need to know where you stand if we are going to rely on these thieves for our livelihood, at least until we get to Imoen. So, young Delryn," she smiled, a dangerous tilt to her expression. "What are you after from this quest?"

"I am on my quest for knighthood," he answered, not a trace of hesitation in his tone. "To pass the Test, I must prove myself worthy in Helm's eyes. Uphold his tenets of duty, vigilance, to protect those unable to defend themselves. If your quest runs contrary to my faith, I cannot be expected to stand by and let it happen."

"And if we must break the law to save a helpless soul?" she countered.

"I…" The words were there at the tip of his tongue. They'd been lashed into him at the seminary, and by the paladins he looked up to in the Order. The Law above all. And yet…he had just seen how the laws as they were written were twisted to favour the Cowled Wizards, those power-hungry cretins with the Council's ear. Powerful, unelected magic wielders who could make even the Magistrate skirt away from their domain. There was no question the Cowled Ones were abusing their authority for their own ends. His gauntleted fist clenched at the realisation. To repeat the tenet verbatim suddenly stuck in his craw.

Where does he really stand in this?

Jaheira pulled out a chair and seated herself opposite him. "Understand that I have a duty to Imoen. I swore a guardian's oath to protect both her and Elene after Elene's father died. Can we agree that our interests align to that end, at least?"

No matter his misgivings toward Jaheira, her devotion to Elene was never in doubt, like a lioness watching over her cub. He fingered his holy symbol as he mulled over her words. Such special individuals, Elene and Imoen, to inspire such loyalty in someone so headstrong. At the end of the day, even if they must walk a grey line along the way, was it possible that the end goal could still be worthy of Helm's praise?

"We are in agreement," he finally answered.

"Good." Jaheira gave him a curt nod. "Now…about what happened at the Gate…"