Chapter 15: The Plan in Motion


You might be asking yourselves 'How would a fortmaster sneak a baxxid bodyguard and a yinglet companion out of their fortress home?' The answer is simple: secret tunnels.

Once I had napped after returning from my visit to the Lecknart Tradehouse, Arrinoka had woken me up and reminded me of our schedule, carrying an unlit torch and a short sword sheathed in his scabbard. It looked like the one he first carried during our first meeting. He told me that we would have to take the elevator. Thaladine was notified beforehand of our little classified mission and was asked to join us this evening, and was also told not to tell anyone of this. The elevator groaned as Thaladine slithered onto the elevator platform, but it thankfully held together and didn't collapse as we rode down the shaft. It descended for a fair bit before stopping past several levels below the ground floor. I saw other chambers I didn't recognize. Some were filled with soldiering men training for war and conflict. Most floors were boring corridors, their walls bare of any history, save for a few scars in some sections of the walls in random spots. Some floors looked like they were purposed to store equipment, armor, weapons, rations, and other supplies.

In the dungeon levels of the hold, where the most deplorable ne'er-do-wells and malicious villains are possibly kept, Arrinoka revealed to me and Thaladine a secret passage to the tunnel network beneath the city districts of Arisota's Hold proper. He did so by turning a torch sconce clockwise, which made a segment of stone wall push open. A hidden door was revealed. "There." Arrinoka said as the passage opened. "This passage will lead to a guardhouse, which is close to our meeting location."

"Wwwwwhere aaaarrrreeeee weeeee meetinggggnnnhhhh?" Thaladine asked in a rumble. I forgot how loud baxxids could be. I can feel my ears ringing slightly as she spoke. Also, the only reason she would be speaking here was because we were in the deeper parts of the fortress of Arisota's Hold, and there shouldn't be any eavesdroppers this deep into the fortress.

"We'll be meeting with the other group at the abandoned distillery in The Purse, near the Larrow Viggs statue." Arrinoka explained as he lit his own torch and gestured us to go through. He closed the hidden door behind himself once we got through.

"Willll Iiiii fiiiiight?" Thaladine asked as we traveled.

I shook my head at her. "I don't believe so. Zhey're friends of mine. Zhey have been looking into a string of disappearances zhat involves some mercenary groups."

"Hnn? Youuu haveee friendssss innnnn theeeee cityyyy?" Thaladine asked.

"Yeah!" I nodded. "You'll see what I mean when we meet zhem. Arrinoka has already met wizh one of zhem earlier today. He can fill you in on who zhey are."

"They are yinglets." Arrinoka spilled.

"Hnn? Yingggglets in your hollllllld? Whaaaaaat?" Thaladine replied.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't worry yourself over it. Zhe worse you'll do is scare zhem for a brief moment." I sighed a little. "But if I'm honest, I'm more worried about Zagoon."

"Zagoon? Is he one of your yinglet friends?" Arrinoka asked.

"In a sense, yes." I replied. "When I first met him, he was incredibly abrasive. However, he does have a nice, less abrasive side to him. I only hope zhat your first impression of him is moderately pleasant."

"Let me guess... He's also the patriarch I'm fated to meet." Arrinoka intoned.

"YEP!" I answered with a little pop to the 'p'.

"So what exactly am I supposed to do once I meet him anyway?" Arrinoka pressed.

Hm. That's actually a good question. "Honestly? I don't know. Zhat's zhe part I'm worried about."

"I thought you were supposed to be his friend?" Arrinoka asked in confused surprise.

I sighed. "Okay, well, I will confess to you zhat I haven't been part of his enclave for very long."

Arrinoka blinked at me. "Really?"

"Just... Just make sure zhat you and Zhaladine are mindful when you meet him. He can be a little... Intense." I said exasperatedly.

Arrinoka blinked again. Thaladine was unblinking, but rumbled her own response. Could be an equivalent of blinking, but I wouldn't know otherwise. Did I say something strange? Fek! Did I give away something important? ... Well I guess it doesn't matter now. We'll be meeting with Patriarch Zagoon and whoever else from Secret Enclave Sharp Rock.

I decided to change the topic. "Anyway, I feel zhe urge to ask you somezhing, Lord Arisota. Do you know every secret passage in your fort and zhroughout your hold?"

Arrinoka nodded sagely at me. "Yes, well, mostly. Between me and my brother, we know of every secret chamber and of every hidden passage inside my Fort, underneath the city, and around the stronghold."

"Possibly used for emergency situations, like if your fort becomes besieged by a force so terrible zhat you had no ozher choice but to make a getaway." I said as I rubbed a paw on the long hallway of the secret passage's wall. "Or if you need to keep very important people hidden."

"But the keys into those passages and chambers are only known to the masters of this fort." Arrinoka added, tapping at the temple of his head. "Known only to I and my brother, Zuddle."

"And speaking of Zuddle, how come I haven't seen him around?" I asked. I can't believe I forgot about Arrinoka's brother!

Arrinoka shook his head and sighed at the ceiling. "Oh, he goes through the inventory of my hold's emergency ration storage every week. That and a number of projects keeps him busy throughout the other days. However, with the trade agreement being reviewed during our greeting party, I suspect he would be less... 'introverted' in the near future." He then stopped at a steep staircase leading up to a short ceiling. "Ah. We're here." He quickly checked his person. "... Bribe money is right here. Okay. Let's head up. Thaladine. You'll have to remain silent for a bit."

Thaladine nodded with slow purpose.

"And that goes for you too, Roy. Don't speak unless I say otherwise." Arrinoka reached a hand to me. "Want to hold on to me as we climb up? I don't want you getting lost while we're in town."

Oh? Uh. Wow, okay, um... "Sure?" I replied as I hold onto his hand with both of my hands.

"Get on my back then." He grabbed at my hands and hoisted me onto him. That was when I noticed how strong he was. I mean I REALLY noticed. I probably weigh about fifteen or twenty pounds as a yinglet, yet he was able to lift me up with but one arm, and did it effortlessly! Not to mention that, while I was on his back, I felt like I was given a rare opportunity to be reminded of the height I once lost before I transformed into this rat-bird form. It was a passing flash of nostalgia, one that I sorely missed. I can feel myself yearning to become human again.

However, now is not the time to reminisce over times before my unanticipated transformation. Now is the time to ensure that the fortmaster collaborates with some yinglets.


After bribing-er I mean convincing- the city watch at the guard post to look the other way and forget seeing a fortmaster, their baxxid sentinel, and a yinglet pet, we were well on our way to the meeting spot.

Once the sun had set over the horizon, and the faint glint of stars could be seen, with the new night cascaded silently over Arisota's Hold, we found ourselves close to the destination of the agreed-upon meeting spot. There was a warehouse that looked like it had seen better days. Now it was but a husk of its former self, its walls and floors caked with ash and damaged by fire. Half of the building was gone, and was no doubt a frequent meeting spot for troubled youths or looters who would make a quick buck from the spoils of a ruined business. The building itself might have even been a target for arson. That or the alcohol the distillery was making was quite flammable, and an accident conflagrated most of everything.

Arrinoka, Thaladine and myself had to be stealthy in this part of the town. I figure that if we were spotted by someone now, there would be no end of questions and gossip. Why would the highest possible figures of royalty conspire with yinglets that are not registered as pets by the Exotic Animals Registry Guild? There would certainly be a demand for answers. Fortunately, we were lucky. Nobody saw us sneaking through this area. That's right. Don't mind us. Just a bunch of late-evening joggers armed to the teeth. ... Er, well, most of us were armed, unless you counted my shelltooth as a weapon.

We entered through the front doors of the distillery's warehouse. The first thing I noticed immediately was a blackened hole in the roof, followed by the remains of wooden barrels that were in various stages of disrepair. I guess this is where the fire started?

*Fweet*

"Hnnnh?" Thaladine looked up and around, as though something interesting flew around far above us.

"What is it, Thal?" Arrinoka asked.

*Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet* *Fweet fweet*

"It's zhem." I said, answering for Thaladine.

An orange-brown yinglet came out of the shadows and approached us. He wore wooden armor plated with thin metal on his person. It was in a quality and style I was unfamiliar with. It kinda made him look like a samurai, but I doubt it was of Japanese origin. He also carried four spears on his back, yet each one had a strange handle horizontally inserted into the middle of each of those spears.

"Uh..." I hesitated a little as this yinglet calmly walked towards us. "Hello?"

He pointed at me. "Shut up, you." Oh. Uh. Wow. I took a step back. He then pointed at Arrinoka. "Are you zhe master of Arisota's Hold?"

Arrinoka nodded. "I am Fortmaster Arrinoka Arisota. Am I to assume you are the patriarch I was said to meet in this abandoned distillery?"

Zagoon grunted an affirmative to Arrinoka. He then brought out his spear and pointed it at the fortmaster. "I want to see your battle stance. Draw your weapon."

Thaladine was about to react, but Arrinoka quickly motioned behind himself, telling her to stop. After that, he drawed his short sword and flourished it for a second. Widening his stance and holding his short sword's grip with both hands, he readied himself for battle. "You have some nerve drawing a weapon against me. Then again, perhaps you do not know that there are laws against drawing a weapon towards any one of the nobles of my hold?"

Zagoon said nothing for a few seconds. He merely began circling him. Arrinoka copied Zagoon. After a few seconds, Zagoon began nodding his head. "Mm hm. Mm hm. Strong stance. Aware of your surroundings, but your eyes are on your opponent. Good. Okay, I zhink I'm satisfied wizh my analysis." Zagoon then put away his spear.

Arrinoka blinked a few times before sheathing his own blade. "Hm. So that was a test?"

"Yes, but it ain't over yet." Zagoon said as he crossed his arms. "You brought a bodyguard and a weapon wizh you, just as Patriarch Flick asked. You also didn't bring anybody else or anyzhing else. A gesture of trust I can understand."

"Wouldn't Roy count as a somebody?" Arrinoka asked curiously.

"I'm not gonna bring him up just yet." Zagoon said with a small hiss and a leer at me. Uh huh. Have I done something wrong? "But more importantly, you just brought yourself, your bodyguard, and your weapons. A baxxid bodyguard, no less."

"You would assume that I simply wouldn't notify my men that my territory is being invaded by mischievous yinglets?" Arrinoka pressed.

"If you did, zhen we would have to clear out of zhe area. We have scouts all around zhis building, and zhey would raise an alarm if our meeting gets interrupted." Zagoon retorted.

"So what's stopping you from seizing the opportunity to ambush me?" Arrinoka asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh please." Zagoon said while shaking his head. "Zhere is no reason to attack you. If we did, zhen all of Arisota's Hold, your Hold I might add, would be hunting for all of us. I even expect zhe bounty for yinglets would rise drastically. We need to garner trust wherever we can find it, and we need every scrap of help we can get to help us find our missing females, or search for zhe identity of zhe clients who are hiring zhe mercenaries abducting out females. Preferably bozh."

"And who's to say that I'm not the client that is hiring those mercenaries?" Arrinoka asked.

"You'd have zhe resources to do zhat, yeah, but zhen we'd have to ask ozher questions. Like... Why would you be hiring mercenaries to poach zhe males and abduct zhe females of our frontier enclaves? Or... What would you get out of zhat? Being so rich among zhe ranks of aristocracy, you'd certainly have enough money to fill any niche or fancy your heart would desire." Zagoon shook his head again. "But is it really worzh zhe effort to satisfy your sick wiles when your fortress was built specifically to defend zhe humans of zhis area, and ozher people in zhe territories beyond your borders? I zhink zhat such a responsibility wouldn't allow you to have a harem of females to play wizh. Especially if word got out zhat you have been keeping zhem in some hidden parlor. If people learned zhat, your position as Fortmaster would be questioned, and your public image would be forever tarnished. How would people take zheir leader seriously if zhey're a yinglet-chaser?

Zagoon took a breath and shook his head once more. "But considering zhat you came out here under our directions, chose to spare Roy and listen to his side of zhe story, and is willing to believe zhat our females have been taken prisoner somewhere wizhin your hold, I'm staking my trust on zhe belief zhat you are not zhe mercenaries' client. Not to mention zhat zhis client had to have a lot of money and space to feed and contain so many of our females. I'd wager it's a noble or lord zhat's behind all of zhis."

I nodded along. "Makes sense to me. I zhink."

Zagoon growled and waltzed up to me. "But as for you... You... You bastard!" He shouted with a finger pointed at me.

"EeeeewhatdidIdo!?" I replied, slinking to the ground while confused and distressed. What?! Why was he angry at me all of a sudden?!

"You got caught and became a house-yinglet! Zhat's what!" Zagoon was now baring his teeth at me.

"Patriarch Zagoon, please understand zhat I was gonna be turned into a belt or a hat or a coin purse if I didn't agree to become a pet!" I pleaded.

"Zhat's enough, Zagoon." Flick said. Apparently, he had been in the shadows the whole time. "If it hadn't been for Roy's efforts, Patriarch Mazhink would have been mangled by zhe hill-dogs in the Beast Tamers' kennels."

I whipped my head suddenly to Flick. "Gyah! Where did you come from?!"

"I've been right here, Roy." Flick plainly said, shrugging as he crossed his arms. "It isn't my fault I turn invisible when I'm not being looked at."

I blinked a few times at Flick. "... Zhat is not how invisibility works." I then shook my head. "Whatever. More to zhe point, how is Patriarch Mazhink doing?"

Flick nodded with a friendly smirk. "He's doing better. We found out earlier zhat he had a small injury on his leg zhat made him clumsier zhan usual, but we fixed it up quick back at zhe enclave."

I nodded with a reassured smile. "Zhat is good."

Zagoon quickly stepped between me and Flick in a flash of frustration. "And I said shut up, you bastard! Didn't I say you should shut up, or did you forget already?"

"Why are you telling me to shut up?!" I whined out. "Why are you so mad at me all of a sudden!?"

After a second of hesitation, Zagoon spoke his answer. "I was worried about you!"

He then paused for several seconds before he turned away from me, growling. He seemed like he was growling at himself. Um. Wow. Okay. I'm not sure how to really feel about that. Arrinoka decided to cut into the conversation. "As touching as that was, I think we need to discuss other matters."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Agreed. If our matriarch were here, she would probably say somezhing about us acting like very unprofessional idiots or somezhing." Oh. And that reminded me of Rhondy. "Speaking of, how is she?"

"A worrywart most of zhe time." Flick answered. "But unfortunately, she is under a lot of stress, even when Mazhink returned to us. She even said she would personally smack you across zhe face."

I could feel my ears quickly flatten. "O-oh."

Flick shrugged boredly. "Whadya expect? She's grateful zhat you helped Mazhink, but she's mad zhat you ended up getting caught by zhe humans of Arisota's Hold. Not to mention she began to laugh when she heard you became zhe Fortmaster's pet."

"She laughed? Like laughed because it was funny to her?" I asked tilting my head.

"She didn't laugh because it was funny. She was angry laughing." Flick corrected.

"Oh..." That couldn't be good.

Arrinoka clapped his hands to get our attention. "Yes, well, let's get back to the topic at hand and stop derailing, please." He then gestured at Flick and Zagoon. "What do you know about the mercenary group?"

Flick uncrossed his arms and approached Arrinoka. "Initially, we first believed zhat zhe mercenaries were zhe guardsmen of a different city, since zhey wore zhe red clozh of ValSalia. But one of zhe luckier scouts tracked zhem back to zhis hold. We've had scouts listening intently to passing conversations between your people for weeks now, and we believe one particular trade-meet will contain an exchange. An exchange of yinglet ladies and money, we presumed."

"Do you know where the meeting will take place?" Arrinoka asked.

"Yes, and we know someone who is acting on zhe behalf of zhe client." Flick explained. "Zhe confidant's name is Lain Sharple. He'll be meeting wizh zhe mercenaries tomorrow at a seedy bar in Zhe Step, and it's called Zhe Muddy Flagon. We had our scouts carefully tail him, and we noticed zhat zhe places he most frequents is Ze Muddy Flagon and in Zhe March district. Unfortunately, our scouts are unable to follow Lain after he passes zhrough zhe checkpoint leading into Zhe March."

"So this Lain Sharple is the client's messenger? And he travels between the bar in The Step and back to The March in my hold? That sounds rather incredible, but not outright outlandish." Arrinoka said with a nod.

Flick nodded with Arrinoka. "My scouts can't get into Zhe March or Zhe Crown. However, you can hire spies to observe people in secret and inside zhose districts. As it stands currently, discretion is our best weapon against zhe mercenaries and zheir client."

Arrinoka crossed his arms and scratched his chin. "Hmm... Lain... Where have I heard this name before?" After a few seconds, Arrinoka shook his head and shrugged. "I'll see what I can do on my end. I can't use too many of my resources without raising suspicion, so I might need to hire a sleuth."

"A sleuzh, huh?" Flick parroted in curiosity.

Arrinoka nodded. "A sleuth is a type of person that can be hired to eavesdrop on gossip and hearsay. Many professionals tend to be employed to steal trade secrets between the guilds and tradehouses." Arrinoka then scratched his chin in thought. "I know of a maid that retired from that line of work, in fact. Perhaps she can help me in this?"

"Zhen let's meet here again tomorrow at zhe same time. Have zhis wizh you." Flick then handed out a wooden pipe object with a grass blade stuck in its middle. It was a grass whistle. "If you are here and zhe coast is clear, blow two quick notes into it, make it go 'fweet fweet', so we will know if it's safe to come out."

Arrinoka picked up the small bauble, analyzing it with uncertainty before turning his gaze to me. "Would it be fine with you if I allow Roy to carry this for me?"

"Wuh?" I uttered in surprise.

Flick shrugged. "Sure, I guess. So long as one of you carries it to signal us, I don't see what difference it makes to me."

"Uh..." I was handed the grass whistle. Kind of a grubby little thing. At least it was small enough to fit in one of my bigger pockets. "Maybe each of us should have a grass whistle? Just in case if zhis broke, we'd at least have a spare ready."

Flick sighed and rolled his eyes. "So Yogs didn't teach you how to make your own grass whistle? I'll have to have a talk wizh him about zhat zhen."

I quickly gestured to Flick. "Uh! Um... Could you please tell Rhondy and everyone at zhe enclave zhat I'm okay?"

"Very well." Flick then yawned and went back to his dark corner. "So are we done here? Conferred enough info to ensure our successes in zhe future? Because I'm getting tired."

Arrinoka nodded. "Very well." He then turned to Thaladine. "Make sure to remind me to have you ask for Teecam's assistance later."

"Hnnh." Thaladine nodded slow and determinedly.

"And we'll keep our ears to zhe ground and listen for ozher stuff happening in your city. We'll tell you ozher important stuff as we learn more." Zagoon said, deciding to be part of the conversation again. He then turned to me. "Keep yourself safe, Roy." He then turned away and blew into his grass whistle with two long notes. *Fweeeeeeeeeet fweeeeeeeeeet* Zagoon then scampered away.

I guess that is that. Zagoon and Flick were doing fine, from what I learned from talking to them. At least we now have more information regarding the client and the mercenaries they were hiring. I turned to Arrinoka with a sigh of relief. "Zhat went well." I said with an enthusiastic smile.

Arrinoka seemed to be focused on his own thoughts. "Lain... Hm..."

Thaladine nudged the blunt end of her claw gently onto Arrinoka's back. "Lllllets returnnnnn hommme. Theeerrreeee issss muuuuch toooo beeee doneeeee-hn."

Arrinoka looked up at Thaladine, nodded, and then nodded to me. "Right. I suppose we learned all that we can. Let's head back."

I think this afternoon turned out swell.


I think this afternoon turned out differently than I hoped.

Let me paint the scene for you. Here I was with Thaladine and Arrinoka, walking back to the fortress of Arisota's Hold using the roadways on the surface. We were about to make our way right through the front gates, but we were intercepted by someone I hadn't seen several chapters ago. Zuddle Arisota. Yeah. That guy who tried to purchase me for a thousand gold grains.

Zuddle's eyebrow was inquisitively high as he cut us off from entering the stronghold. "Isn't it a bit late in the day to take a stroll through the outer districts, brother?"

Arrinoka rolled his eyes. "Oh please. At least I brought Thaladine with me this time."

"And your scav pet." Zuddle added, staring down at me bemusedly.

Uh... Okay, what do I say here? "Zhat's Roy, mister." I said while crossing my arms.

"Uh huh." Zuddle made a tactful pause before speaking again. "So what have you three been doing this evening?"

I rolled my eyes dismissively. "I don't see why I'd want to tell you anyzhing, since you almost bought me for a zhousand grains once and nearly got me turned into a rug."

Zuddle gave me a stern glare. Arrinoka decided to cut in at that moment, standing between me and Zuddle. "Lads. Please. If we're going to live together in this fort, we'll have to learn to tolerate one another. This is a fort after all. Filled with soldiers and weapons. Our task is the sworn duty to protect the people beyond the borders north of the Southlands. Rather than backstab our honor-bound fellows, we must use our weapons to protect our servants, civilians, and blade-kin. To remind people of this code of honor is part of the duty passed down to me by my father's bloodline. The other part of my duty is to be the leader that manages this fort. I shall ask this from both of you just this once, and it will be the only time I will be asking this: Can you please act like neighborly gentlemen with each other?" He then turned to me subtly. "We need to keep ourselves safe, after all."

... Oh! Right! I think that last sentence was directed at me, and it was referencing to Zagoon and the thing he said to me before he left! Plus, this also means that Arrinoka is not about to tell Zuddle about the yinglet lady abduction plot happening under our noses just yet, not with everyone here being so out-in-the-open and everything.

There was an awkward, pregnant pause between me and Zuddle. I think we're supposed to say something to each other? I sighed and decided to be the bigger man. ... I mean yinglet. "Fine. Will zhe vice master of Arisota's Hold be willing to shake hands wizh zheir new neighbor?"

Zuddle was still for a moment, but after a surrendering sigh of his own, he stretched an open hand to me. "Very well. I hope we can get along in the future."

Once we made a prompt shaking of hands with each other, we broke away without any further fuss. All was well. Yay, I suppose. I stretched my arms out a little and yawned. "Welp. I don't know about you zhree, but I zhink I can go for a meal and a nap."

Zuddle blinked a few times at me. "I would still prefer to know what you three did out in the town."

I shrugged. "Eh, nozhing much. We just went around Zhe Purse and began talking nonsense. I zhink we started talking about yinglet worshiping cults or zomezhing?"

Arrinoka shook his head. "Uh... No, I don't think we talked about that."

"Uh..." I looked down and rubbed the side of my head. A sigh followed. "I guess zhe conversation we were having was so boring I forgot about it."

"Then perhaps Thaladine could rehearse your conversations to me?" Zuddle suggested.

Whoever put that lump in my throat better stop it.

Thaladine performed her equivalent of a shrug. "Hnnnnmmmmaybe laterrrr. Iiiiii ammmmm tiiiiiredhhh. Sssssleep soundsssss good-nnh."

Zuddle blinked a few times. He then turned to Arrinoka. "Brother?"

Go away, lump-in-my-throat!

"Zuddle, Zuddle, Zuddle!" Arrinoka said in sing-song. "What is with this line of questions? Is it wrong for a fortmaster to take his pets out for a walk?"

"Hnng?" Thaladine grunted.

Arrinoka blinked before turning to his baxxid bodyguard. "Oh, ah, I didn't mean to call you a pet. I misspoke. Sorry."

"Hnng." Thaladine grunted.

Arrinoka then turned to Zuddle. "Anyway, I think we should head back inside the fortress now. We're making a scene here at the front gate."

And that's when we noticed that the guards at the checkpoint, and the lords of the guild-houses safely tucked inside The Crown, and the go-getting fetchers that fetches things for those that hire their services, were stopped all around us. A small gathering of onlookers had apparently surrounded us without our notice. These eavesdroppers are undoubtedly eager to listen in on us. In all honesty, we weren't exactly being very discreet either.

Zuddle quickly looked around himself and then huffed derisively. He then gestured to everyone in a loud announcement. "Go about your duties, everyone."

I guess that was everyone's cue to disperse. And as for my opinion of Zuddle, he seems like the kind of personality that is prone to leaning towards a 'serious business' type. He's quite unlike Arrinoka, who is more lackadaisical, yet more keen with his cunning. The archetypal brain-and-brawn duo, who are the leaders of Arisota's hold.

I'm getting the feeling I should keep a cautious eye on Zuddle.


A/N: This chapter took a little bit longer than I expected. Will revise later.

EDIT: Revision complete.