We walked through a dank and disused tunnel with cobwebs adorning the rotting wooden support beams that held the grey clay against whatever wall was behind it. The darkness was impenetrable; we could hardly see anything at all. Me and Alexandor had landed on a pile of fur, which hid a remobra nest; after we had killed the remobra Arran and Megan dropped down to see what had happened. Me and Alexandor led them around the pit and found the tunnel. The smell was awful, a mix of beer, sodding wet fur and rotting flesh. The air was so humid it was as if you could cut it with a knife. We saw a light, faint at first and then brighter as an outline of a door was clear. I reached my hand out slowly and turned the knob cautiously. It creaked open and warm candlelight flooded in. I blinked and looked around. It was an inn. We had come out behind the desk, the receptionist turned round with a surprised look on his face. He was a man who had seen some action, his weather beaten face was covered in scars and a large eye patch with a crest on it hid his right eye. His purple lips were broken, dead skin peeling upwards. "Ummm.... how 'bout a room each, on the house" he said nervously, his fingers drummed against the dark oak desk. There was enough ropey skin on the back of his hands to hang someone with. Not that the old man had any intention of doing so.
We walked up the creaky staircase; a man walked up to the desk and said in a hushed tone "about that tunnel, we really should..." that was all I heard before we got to our rooms. They had a water room each where we could bathe, wash and thanks to an invention by the receptionist, shower. This involved hot water being poured through a sieve from a bucket operated by a rope. The bedrooms were nice, for a 'merchants' inn. We knew what type of merchant they were but we didn't ask questions and they didn't charge. I lay on the bed; I hadn't slept on a bed for two weeks now. I embraced the cotton sheets, their warmth enveloping me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Alexandor awoke with a start; he needed to talk to Megan. He walked round to her room and knocked, the door opened with the light force of the knock. He looked in, no one was there. Just then Megan walked out from the shower in a light gown; her figure was a lot different to when she wore her armor. She uttered a quiet shriek, and slapped Alexandor across the face. He turned back and said "I need to talk to you, about Zak".
I woke up to the sound of pounding on the door downstairs. I crept down three of the steps, being careful not to make a sound. I peered into the lobby to see the receptionist trundle along the fur rug, he had been asleep. He opened the door and said "sorry, we're". He was interrupted as a bullet passed through his head; he fell down uttering a fragile, pathetic exclamation. A hooded figure stormed in, his black cloak open revealing a black tunic and skin tight trousers. His boots reflected the dim light as a brilliant shine. This was clearly a man of authority. Three more black hooded figures walked in behind him, creating an arrowhead formation. "Find them!" he barked, his voice was strong yet somehow calming. I carried on down the stairs, in my trousers and shirt I was defenseless, however he wasn't wearing armor either. I crept down a few more steps before I was spotted by one of the guards; he threw a throwing knife at my leg as I screamed in agony. I fell down the rest of the steps before pulling the knife out of my shin. A small amount of blood spurted across the Blangonga hide rug, its mouth opened in an endless roar. I jumped up ready for action, the leader took a heavy swing at me, and I dodged it easily. I grabbed the foil off the wall and spun round, he had drawn his rapier and we clashed swords. I kicked him away into the sitting area; he fell backwards over a large chair, tipping it up. He cried out in anger and stood up, throwing the chair out of his way, a slight grin adorned my face as he barged towards me. I lifted my pistol towards his face; he stopped about two centimeters from the barrels end. "That's not fair" he said in a deep, slightly amused growl. "Neither is coming to assassinate people in their sleep" I snarled. He seemed even more amused this time and said "you are a formidable foe; I would hate to be on the wrong side of you, my friend". I started towards him with the gun and said in a low tone "I think it's too late for that, you already are" and I fired my gun.
Nothing happened.
A still silence filled the room; I hadn't reloaded my pistol since I had been stabbed. "Ah" I said and using the element of surprise I ran back upstairs. I burst into Alexandor's room and yelled "THEREAREGUILDMENDOWNSTAIRS". He looked at me as if I had a straight jacket and ruffled hair. "What?" he asked, it was probably the only word he could manage. "There, are, guild, men, down, stairs" I said, using deliberate slowness. He sat up and said "Ah".
We woke up the other two and rushed along the corridor, passing other rooms with shady occupants. We heard the men coming behind us; a guest walked in front of them by accident and was cut down. We were approaching a dead end with only a window. I shouted, "Quick, through the window" over the marching of boots. We smashed through the glass and fell onto a canopy below; we slid off it and looked up, the guild men were peering down at us.
The leader of the guild squad turned to another member and said, "Give them a two day head start". He stormed out of the room with purposeful authority, the young member looked puzzled but replied "yes, commander Tiberus" and hurried after him.
We had left all our armor and weapons behind and the inn was probably under watch by the guild. We only had money for food and shelter and that was running out fast. There had to be a way of getting some supplies and I thought I knew how.