Ravyna woke up, her head resting on Ches's chest, unsure of how she got that close to him to begin with; though it didn't upset her.
The one room living area was freezing as he had said it would be in the mornings. She burrowed deeper into the blankets and closed her eyes, listening to his rhythmic breathing.
She was sure that half of the Puckworld's special forces were out searching for her courtesy of Pu'C. She wanted to only assure Mallory that she was fine, but the freedom Ravyna had felt in the last two days with Ches was too much to give up. She didn't have to worry about what to make for dinner, no social visits followed by topics of discussion that personally didn't interest her in the least bit.
Ches made it easy, if she didn't want to talk then she wasn't obligated to do so, the same went for him. He was so much different than Pu'C, quiet and empathic, not after anything for his own gain. He was everything Mallory had grown up to be and Ravyna was silently proud of that fact.
She shifted a little into a more comfortable position and fell back to sleep.
…...
The Brotherhood of the Blade
Drebeer took in a lungful of smoke, before letting it exhale slowly as he studied his cards. Jazsper, Sanderson and Gil all glanced at him and the smoke as it dissipated. Drebeer noticed.
"What?"
"Nuthin mate," Sanderson stated quickly, his gaze sliding to Jenner sitting in between him and the black duck. "It's just-if you keep carryin' on with the two packs a day...you'll be a stiff from a heart attack."
Drebeer's posture became frozen as he stared at Sanderson without blinking. "Well, thanks for your concern Sander...are you ready to play now?."
Drebeer had just won his second game when Duke came in.
"Arren, I need to talk to you now."
"Gotta hand it to my little brother to always interrupt my streaks of glory. What do you need Duke?"
"Outside..."
Drebeer put his cards face down and turned around to gaze at his younger brother. "It's not something you can say in front of them?"
Duke's eyes flickered to Jazsper, Sanderson and Gil, all of who tried to make themselves look like they weren't listening. Only Jenner didn't hide his attention.
"This is a soundproof room Duke," Drebeer added, "one of the only ones in the Brotherhood."
"And its operated by who?" Duke snapped.
At Drebeer's confused expression, Duke continued. "We have no idea who designed the rooms so, they could have rigged it somehow...I'm not willing to take that chance."
"So you'd rather stand out in the hall where anyone can hear you?"
Clearly angry now, Duke threw his hands up, "what ever. You win." He stormed out.
"For drake's sakes, sometimes I think he's a woman..." Drebeer hissed. He got up and left.
…...
"Duke!"
Duke kept walking, ignoring his name being called.
"Duke," Drebeer caught up to him and got in front of him, forcing him to stop. "What's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem...We have a problem." Duke nonchalantly glanced around; it didn't appear anyone was around, but looks could be deceiving. He lowered his tone. "Flyght and Patterrn are plannin' to assassinate Ches."
Drebeer didn't show any emotion to Duke's intel. "That's ridicul-"
"No, it's not," Duke hissed through gritted teeth. "All they gotta do is rile up a few disgruntled blade members and tha rest'll be history."
"Ches hasn't even been around," Drebeer murmured, "and none of us know where he lives when he's not here."
"Listen to me, Patterrn's stupid, we know that. But Boron is much smart'a than we give him credit for...if he wants to take Ches down, then he has tha means to pull it off."
Drebeer listened to his words. "The only duck who knows where Ches lives is Denny."
"Then let's go."
…...
Denny had survived in the Brotherhood solely because of Ches Longtale. Not a killer, and too chicken to steal, he found his homage in the record keeping. With that job, he was one of the only ducks who could come and go from the Brotherhood as he pleased as long as he kept his nose clean around the members.
He was walking back to the record room when he was suddenly yanked into the shadows. He let out a high pitch squeak before a hand clamped down on his beak.
"Shut up you twit," a voice hissed.
"Let him go," another voice said near by.
A lighter clicked to life and Denny found himself staring at Arren Drebeer and Duke L'orange.
"Denny, we need to you to bring us to Ches, where ever he lives."
"B-bring you t-t-too Ch-ch- No I can't do that...I promised him-" He squeaked again when Drebeer grabbed him by his shirt front and hauled him a foot off the ground.
"Listen to me, you waste of feathers, those rules are moot. Ches is about to be slaughtered the moment he sets so much as a tail feather in here...you ain't gotta choice."
…...
Duke ignored Denny, as the smaller duck shook beside him. "He lives here..."
Duke took in the building. "The Ducaine museum?"
Denny shrugged, "you wanted me to bring you to him and here we are, now I wanna leave...and don't tell him I told you." He tried to leave, but Drebeer caught him under the arm.
"You're stayin."
Denny whimpered.
Duke took his first steps toward the museum and heard a shot ring out. He yanked his saber out and around as it activated.
A second shot rang out as the three backed away. "Run!"
Duke grabbed ahold of Denny who was frozen and forced him to run along side him. The three dove over a fence and landed in a Su'kio bush.
Duke was beginning to feel the age of himself as he sat up. He was really going to have to stop doing such strenuous activities like running for his life.
"Everyone alive?" he asked.
"Yeah," Drebeer sounded cheery as ever.
Denny didn't answer.
"Denny?"
No answer.
"Denny-"
Drebeer sat up and turned the duck over. A bullet wound was to his head. "Holy shit-" he swore softly. "Den? Denny-wake up-"
Duke sat frozen, his brain couldn't commute the scene in front of him. "Is he breathing?"
Drebeer bent his head down to listen, "barely-"
Duke stood up, pain wracking his back and legs. "Get him up."
Drebeer managed to pick up the injured duck and carry him with some difficulty. Keeping to the shadows, the two made their way towards the museum.
…...
Ches paused for a moment as he listened to his surroundings. He could have sworn he heard shots fired, close.
Keeping his emotions to himself, he didn't alert Ravyna to any possible problems. Quietly, he opened a drawer in his counter and pulled out a wicked looking machete. He hid it behind a shelf close to his front door for quick access.
Frantic knocking pounded on his door making Ravyna jump. She got off the couch quickly, standing fearfully, her expression showing she knew she was trapped.
Ches grabbed the machete, not caring now about her reaction and released the deadbolt. Keeping his foot planted firmly against the bottom of the door, he eased it open.
"Ches open the door."
Duke.
Ches opened it a little more. "What are you doing here?" He stepped back to let them in.
"Denny's been shot..." Drebeer came in, still holding the duck.
Ches locked the door and turned to survey his barely alive friend. His eyes fell on the gun shot wound to the head.
"Lay him down." He jerked an old comforter out of a corner and laid it down on the floor before Drebeer put the duck down.
Ravyna found she couldn't take her eyes off the unconscious duck. Ches pulled some sharp objects out of a box and cradled Denny's head between his knees. "Get me a lamp."
Duke pulled a cord out of the wall and repositioned the lamp closer to Ches and replugged it in.
"Who did this?" their leader demanded.
"We don't know," Drebeer glanced at Ravyna. "Flyght and Patterrn are out to get ya Ches...you can't go back to the Brotherhood...we don't even know who's trustworthy and who isn't."
Ches didn't answer as he tried to carefully prod for the wound.
"You ain't gonna get that out Ches," Duke said softly. "You have to open his head up and we can't do that."
Suddenly, Denny woke up, crying out. After the initial shock, Drebeer sat on him as Ches tried to calm him down.
"Relax, Denny! Relax!"
Denny stared at Ches and listened. His eyes were glassy as he took in everything wildly.
"It might've just missed everything vital in his head," Ches took a piece of cloth and pushed it lightly to Denny's head. "I'm not seeing brains or anything. You're lucky."
They didn't move him, instead they draped a blanket over him and made sure to check on him regularly through the hours. Duke explained what Denisa had told him and then haltingly said how Mallory knew everything.
Ches didn't give away his thoughts or feelings towards his dilemma. Finally he said, "I refuse to be held in here like a some prisoner. If Flyght or Patterrn want to approach me with this issue they both seem to have, then so be it."
"No, they'll kill you before any words are said," Duke argued.
"Then let it be."
Beside him, Ravyna stared at him, horrified.
"You're honestly gonna do that to Ravyna?" Duke nodded towards her, "-or to Mallory."
"Mallory didn't even know I existed until about a week ago," Ches snapped. "I doubt she'll be crushed if I died tomorrow."
Duke shook his head, "you didn't see her when she was reading the birth certificate so you wouldn't know how she felt."
Ches didn't have an argument for Duke. "I want you both to go home."
"No, not until you tell me we're going to fight against Boron and Ceberus."
"I'm too tired to fight," Ches murmured wearily.
"If you don't make a stand then they'll know they've won. Are you going to let them kill us one by one? Denny was first, whose next?"
"Ches, you need to do, what you need to do," Ravyna finally said faintly. "I'm going to return to Pu'C," she forced herself to stare into his crystalline eyes. "-and when you're done...I'll be there waiting."
Ches bowed his head, his hair shielding his face. For the longest time he didn't speak, then he looked up. "Game on."