Keya lived in Riddleport for her entire life, and while she never skipped an opportunity to win gold, she knew that there were ruffians in the city that would rather ruin everyone's fun. She hoped that the security at the Gold Goblin would have been enough to ward off potential robbers but were always men foolish enough to try their hands at a heist.
Unfortunately, it appeared that these fools had an elaborate plan that could very well work out for them.
When Sarek called for everyone to close their eyes, Keya listened without complaint. When the sound of fireworks died down, she took a risk to open her eyes and see what was going on. A lot of the gamblers, dealers, and other employers were rubbing their eyes and panicking. The men at the table she was at were unaffected by whatever happened since they had their eyes closed but the same couldn't be said of their dealer. Keya turned to the four men that had their eyes closed and saw that they were now joined by a dark-haired woman with an eyepatch over her right eye.
"Drop to the ground and don't try anything, folks!" the one-eyed woman commanded. "If you do, we might just let you live!"
"Thieves," Ryland commented without emotion with his hand falling down to his sword's hilt.
"I think that spell blinded everyone in the room," Sarek said with a frown. "Tess, where are you?"
Sarek's quiet question reminded Keya that Madia was somewhere in the room, too innocent to bluff her way to victory in a game of cards but courageous enough to try something foolish. Fortunately, her short size as a halfling meant that she was missed by the criminals. Madia was hidden underneath a table with her mace in hand and was fortunately not blinded by the spell. She wore a chain coat and her long blonde hair fell across her back. Keya admitted that her best friend could pass as a knight if she wanted to and knew that she was a better person than many in Riddleport, including her.
"The spellcaster is by the hall leading to the privies," Ryland said quietly and pulled out his sword.
Keya spared a quick glance toward where Ryland was looking and saw a tall man with slicked hair and a dark goatee that certainly appeared villainous to her. He was dressed in dark green robes and held a scroll in his hand, likely meant to cast his next spell. Keya then looked over to the chest to see that the two bouncers were blinded and on the ground. Belar rolled his neck and cracked his knuckles with an eager grin.
"How about we show 'em how we do business in Riddleport?" Belar asked with a chuckle.
"Leave the spellcaster to me," Sarek declared, muttering a quick spell to form a translucent barrier over his body.
Keya nodded, knowing that at the very least, Madia would fight the thugs since it was the right thing to. She couldn't leave her friend alone and stepped forward, pulling her dagger out from her sleeve. While she came to the Gold Goblin to have fun, she knew Riddleport well enough to never travel around the city without a weapon. Keya interposed herself between the main group of thugs and the chest they were after. It was a dangerous position but she locked eyes with Madia briefly to see the halfling nod. The two had gotten into their fair share of fights and knew how to best work together.
"Sorry, but this chest is mine after I win the tournament," Keya told the thugs with a grin.
The thugs brandished clubs and the one-eyed woman laughed. "Get her, boys."
Before the criminals could advance on Keya, Belar screamed and ran forward. His short legs carried him far and he found himself in front of the first thug. Keya wondered what the dwarf intended to do without a weapon and her question was answered when he drove his fist into the man's gut. The thug doubled over in pain and collapsed onto the ground with a groan. Keya figured that Belar would be fine without a weapon.
Unfortunately, brawn could only do little against magic. The woman commanding the thugs snapped her fingers and uttered a quick chant. Keya couldn't see anything visible but Belar clasped the side of his head and had his eyes closed. One of the thugs circled around the dwarf to take advantage of him dropping his guard. A club strike to the back of his head was enough to knock Belar out.
Keya wanted to rush in and help her new friend, but before she could, a blue dart of magic struck her across the shoulder painfully. She gritted her teeth and turned to look at the criminal spellcaster, who couldn't stop himself from smirking.
"Do you still want my prize?" the man taunted.
"Sarek, Ryland, do something!" Keya called out.
The sorcerer blasted a similar dart of arcane energy towards the spellcaster, striking him across his arm. The man scowled and turned to face Sarek and Keya was glad that he wasn't focused on her. As for Ryland, although he had his sword out, he swung and pointed it through the air. Keya wondered if it was some sort of technique or if he was wasting his time when there were three thugs ready to charge her. Even though he was currently useless, Keya had to admit that the flourishes Ryland made were spectacular in their own unique way.
Between Ryland's sword maneuvers and Sarek's open use of magic, one of the thugs made their way to the table to engage them. That left Keya to face a single thug who swung his club wildly at her. She parried the blow with her dagger and whistled sharply. Following her signal, Madia emerged from her hiding spot, circled around the thug, and swung her mace at his shins. He gasped out in surprise and hopped on one foot. Keya didn't waste the opportunity and slammed the pommel of her dagger directly on his nose. The criminal collapsed down onto his knees and then onto his side, unconscious.
Madia smiled widely. "Great work, Keya!"
"I couldn't have done it without you, Madia," Keya said, matching the halfling's enthusiasm. "Let's teach these jerks a lesson!"
"You bet!" Madia nodded eagerly. "I've got your back!"
Keya knew she could always rely on Madia and took a moment to assess the rest of the fight. An elven woman armed with a quarterstaff fought by Ryland's side, keeping him back from Sarek together. The one-eyed woman snapped her fingers in Ryland's direction, but unlike Belar, the spell didn't affect him. Her eye widened in surprise.
"How are you not dazed?!"
"The Inheritor protects me," Ryland declared.
"This is too much trouble," the male spellcaster grumbled. "We're leaving! Open!"
Keya heard the sound of a metal door opening above her and glanced at the ceiling. Old Scratch laughed and flew out of his open birdcage. He pointed at the thug standing over Belar and grinned.
"What are you waiting for?" Old Scratch told the man. "Strike that fool down!"
The thugs didn't seem to want to harm anyone, but with Old Scratch using magic to enhance his words, the man standing over Belar nodded at the imp's words. Keya and Madia both rushed toward the dwarf but the thug had already raised his club in the air. She knew that they would be too slow to save him.
Ryland, however, wasn't. He ran forward, and when the thug he fought swung his club at him, he rolled under the attack and kept moving. Ryland made it to the charmed criminal before Keya and Madia, and without hesitation, swung the hilt of his longsword against the man's forehead. He collapsed onto the ground and made no attempt to stand up. Ryland looked up and glared at Old Scratch.
"You die today, imp," Ryland said coldly.
Old Scratch laughed and disappeared from view. With Belar safe, Keya and Madia focused on the woman with the eye patch, who ran towards the exit. The criminal spellcaster tried to follow her in the escape but an arcane dart slammed into his chest and he fell onto the ground, groaning in pain. Sarek clapped his hands in victory and the elf by his side knocked out the remaining thug by slamming her quarterstaff against his head.
"Angvar!" the one-eyed woman called out in anguish.
Keya figured that she was close to the spellcaster, and for a moment, it appeared as though she wanted to stay and help him. Yet, with her and Madia getting closer, the one-eyed woman made her choice and ran outside. By the time Keya and Madia made it through the doors, there was no sight of the criminal. The halfling looked down both sides of the street and shook her head in disappointment.
"If only I had Marlowe," Madia sighed.
Marlowe was Madia's trusty dog that the halfling was known to ride into battle. Keya tapped her friend on the head with a supporting smile.
"Five out of six isn't so bad," Keya said to comfort Madia. "Whoever she is, she'll know better than to try to rob a business again."
"We'll get her next time," Madia declared. "Come on, Keya! We should see if everyone else is okay!"
"Right behind you, Madia!"
There was no one else in Riddleport that Keya would consider her best friend than Madia. The two had met when the halfling saved the gambler from a mugging a year ago and had stuck together since. Madia was a goodhearted warrior who always wanted to be a hero and Keya found herself inspired to do better by her friend's example. It didn't pay as much as her previous criminal enterprises but at least she knew she could count on her friend.
Keya and Madia entered the Gold Goblin to see that most of the crowd had recovered from the spell that blinded them. Ryland dragged the unconscious criminals to one pile while Sarek and the elf knelt by Belar. Keya and Madia made it to the dwarf just in time to see the elf touch him by the shoulder and chanted a quick healing spell to wake Belar up.
"What did I drink?" he groaned and slowly opened his eyes.
"You were dazed by magic and knocked out afterwards," Sarek bluntly told the dwarf. "If it weren't for Tess, you'd still be out cold."
Belar sat up and rubbed the back of his head. "My head…"
The elf, Tess, smiled in a comforting manner. "That was quite the blow you took. I could try healing you again if you would like."
"Don't worry about me anymore," Belar told Tess. "I just need a good night's rest."
"What happened?!" Keya and the others turned to see Saul entering the casino floor with a shocked expression.
"You were almost robbed, Saul," Sarek told him.
"But we saved the day," Keya quickly added. "Maybe you might have something to offer for our good deed."
"I'm done with this tournament!" a man called out from the recovering crowd. "I want a refund"
"We should be compensated for the pain we endured at your tournament!"
Other voices joined in on the demands and some of Saul's dealers and guards walked without a word, quitting on the spot. Keya sighed in disappointment. She was excited to compete in the tournament and now it was coming to a sudden end. The only way Saul could recover his reputation was to comply with the demands of his patrons, and even then, there would still be some who decide it would be best to never come back to the Gold Goblin again.
Saul grew pale knowing he was about to lose a profit but his eyes turned toward Keya and her friends. She could see the glint in his eye. Although Saul was about to lose a lot of gold, she could tell that he had a plan brewing in mind. He clapped his hands together and addressed the crowd.
"Anyone who wants to cash out now can do so with an additional ten percent added to your winnings along with a refund of your entrance fee," Saul declared. "And I can assure you that the men who ruined your wonderful night shall be turned over to the gendarmes. As for the brave men and women who stood up in defense of everyone, I ask that you stick around until after we close up so that we can discuss a wonderful opportunity in light of your actions."
It took Saul and his remaining employees over an hour to sort out canceling the tournament but Keya didn't mind the wait. She knew that whatever Saul had in mind was sure to benefit her in some ways. She passed the time talking with the others with Tess and Madia introduced themselves to the rest of the group. Only Ryland remained silent throughout the wait, looking around for Old Scratch, but the imp was nowhere to be seen. He also stood guard over the captured thugs until the gendarmes arrived to take the men into custody.
Keya thought about her new companions, knowing that Saul's plan may mean that they would have to work together. She had no problem with Madia given their past and the others have proven to be useful during the fight. Although Belar wasn't as bright as the others, he was strong and knew how to handle himself in a fight. Sarek's magic would be a valuable tool and even the intense Ryland was a skilled fighter. The only one Keya wasn't too sure about was Tess, but with Sarek vouching for her, she was willing to give the elf a chance.
Eventually, the group were led to the second floor of the Gold Goblin where Saul's office was. Keya had to admit that the office was rather impressive. Saul's desk was large and he sat on his own chair covered in a wyvern's hide. On the desk itself was a case full of cigars next to a mother-of-pearl snuff box. Behind Saul were numerous paintings with Keya in particular interested in the painting of several canines sitting around a table playing a game of golem. She sat on a cushioned chair facing Saul and between Madia and Sarek. Belar stood next to Sarek's chair while Ryland and Tess were standing behind the group.
Saul filled several glasses with red wine straight from the bottle. "To start our meeting, I'd like to thank all of you for putting a stop to those vile criminals. It may not have been enough to save the tournament but I still appreciate the effort."
Keya took a glass and took a drink from the sweet wine. Everyone aside from Ryland soon had a glass in hand.
"We're glad to have helped," Madia said with a smile.
"But you didn't pull us into your office just to serve us wine, right?" Keya asked.
"Worry not," Saul assured the group. "Speak with Larur, the floor manager, after our meeting. He's the bald dwarf with the large brown beard. He'll refund your entrance fee and will let you cash what chips you had with fifty percent added to your total winnings."
"Madia didn't compete in your tournament though," Keya pointed out. "Tess too from what I've heard."
"I don't need any reward for doing the right thing," Madia told Saul with Keya resisting the urge to sigh. "I'm happy to do the right thing for free."
"But I'd still like to offer all of you a deal for your heroic actions this evening."
"We're listening," Sarek said and scooted his seat toward Saul's desk.
"I'd like to start off the deal with a story of my shameful past," Saul said with a remorseful look. "When I was younger, I was one of Riddleport's great crime lords but those days are behind me now. I quickly found out that crime was far from lucrative and quite costly to his health."
With that said, Saul gestured toward the key attached to his stump. Keya knew that getting into the world of crime at Riddleport was dangerous the more power you had and she realized that Saul paid the price for something even if he wasn't quite willing to admit what he's done.
"I'm terribly sorry about what happened," Tess said quietly. "I can't imagine how painful losing your hand was."
"Not as painful as the loss of my wife or my children going into exile," Saul admitted but pushed through the pain in his eyes. "Still, I saved up what meager funds I had left to purchase the Gold Goblin. I wanted to become the owner of a legitimate business but I'm afraid that my criminal past still haunts me to this day."
"How so?" Sarek questioned.
"The leader of the thugs you caught was a man by the name of Angvar Thestlecrit," Saul explained. "I know that he and his lover, the woman who escaped from what I've heard, have had dealings with most of the other crime lords of Riddleport. I thought about throwing myself at the mercy of my old acquaintances but it could be that one of them wants to see me fail. It could be that one of them hired Angvar to begin with. I thought that you could help me."
"I will have no part in any criminal ventures," Ryland declared and crossed his arms. "You will have to turn for help elsewhere."
Saul quickly waved his hand dismissively. "I'm not looking to get back into crime. In fact, I want you to keep me on the straight and narrow. I'm prepared to make each of you junior partners at the Gold Goblin."
Keya whistled. "That's quite the deal, Saul. How much does it pay?"
"That depends on how well all of you do. During the day, I'd like for you to assist in the day-to-day operations of the Gold Goblin. You can be a dealer, bouncer, a spotter for cheaters…"
"Will there be a change in uniform?" Tess asked and Sarek chuckled. "I'd rather not expose myself like some of the women I've seen working for you tonight."
"The horns and wings are a little goofy," Keya nodded in agreement.
"The costumes were just for tonight," Saul answered quickly. "You can wear whatever you're comfortable with."
"So, from what I hear, we get to work your casino during the day," Belar said, stroking his beard in thought. "What are you going to have us do at night?"
"I can see that you're quite the insightful dwarf," Saul smiled. "After hours, I may require your services as specialists. You won't commit any crimes but I may need you to deliver messages, protect my assets, and whatever else may come up that might require your skills. For this, I am willing to pay ten gold a week plus a cut of the Gold Goblin's profits, hence why you'll also need to do well for your day jobs."
"Good enough for me," Belar nodded and downed the rest of his wine. "I needed a job anyways and this sounds promising enough. I'm in."
Saul's offer wasn't what Keya was expecting. Truth be told, she would rather take a flat sum of gold for fighting against the criminals and not have to work. Still, she couldn't deny that there was promise in Saul's deal. There were worse businesses in Riddleport to work at and she would be a perfect dealer at the Gold Goblin. She wasn't sure what the others would do but figured that they had to have some sort of skills to work a day job. There was also potential to turn a profit from completing any of Saul's more dangerous tasks.
It was a good deal yet Keya still had one doubt. She couldn't help but feel that Saul was too thankful with his offer. There had to be a catch to what he was offering that Keya couldn't see. She knew that he wouldn't open up anymore and decided that figuring out what Saul was like as a crime lord would be her best bet to figure out what his true plans were.
"What would the lodging situation look like if we do work for you?" Sarek asked. "If it's not too much to ask, I'd rather not pay for a room while working at the Gold Goblin."
"That's understandable, Sarek," Saul said with a nod. "While I can't put you all in the inn rooms on the first floor, I have a private apartment on the second apartment I save for business partners. There are three bunk beds and plenty of space for the six of you and food will also be provided."
"Tess, does that work for you?" Sarek looked over his shoulder at the elf.
"It might," Tess answered and closed her eyes in thought.
"I can say that it works for me," Keya grinned. "I won't pass up free lodging."
"If Keya's in, then so am I," Madia joined in. "And that actually reminds me but would you also be willing to provide space for Marlowe?"
"Marlowe?" Saul questioned and blinked in confusion.
"My pet dog," Madia explained. "I promise that he can help."
Tess opened her eyes. "I would be interested in hearing about a space for animals at the Gold Goblin as well."
"You really want to bring Cassiel into Riddleport, huh?" Sarek chuckled.
"Of course I do," Tess nodded without hesitation. "While he has the benefit of staying outside of the city, he doesn't like to be alone for too long."
"We have space for pets down in the area below the first floor," Saul answered. "I'll look into making sure they're well fed while you all work for me."
"That's the only concern I had left," Tess said. "I would be willing to work for you."
"As would I," Sarek said with a nod.
A few seconds passed and everyone turned to look at Ryland. By now, the man leaned against the wall with his intense gaze focused on Saul. He was the only one in the room that didn't have a glass of wine
"If you intend to become a better man, then you will need to cut all ties you have with Old Scratch as well as any other infernal connections that you may have," Ryland told Saul in an emotionless tone.
"Of course," Saul said with a nervous chuckle. "It might take some time to do so in a safe manner. You understand, don't you?"
"I do, but should I see Old Scratch or any other devil or demon in the Gold Goblin, I will do everything in my power to cut them down along with anyone who tries to get in my way as it is what the Inheritor would want of me," Ryland said in the same monotone tone. "You understand, don't you?"
Saul grew pale, and while Keya thought that cutting Ryland out of the deal was the smart move, her new boss instead nodded at his demands. 'I do. I assure you that you won't ever see Old Scratch again. I'll take care of him myself."
"Then do so. If you meet my terms, then I will work for you."
"Are you sure about that?" Belar questioned Ryland. "I'm not sure if this line of work is best for you."
"You are right but I will do so to ensure that Saul stays on a righteous path," Ryland explained and clasped his hands behind his back.
"And if he doesn't, you'll have a problem with him," Sarek pointed out.
"That goes without saying," Ryland nodded.
"I can assure you that there will be no problems," Saul said and ran his sleeve across his forehead. "I am glad to have you as my guardian angel, Ryland."
"I am human, not an angel."
"He didn't mean it literally," Keya rolled her eyes and laughed. "At least you're not as boring as I thought you were."
Sarek and Belar both joined in with Keya's laughter and Ryland blinked twice, unsure as to why they were laughing.
"Then from this point on, all of you are my associates in business and specialists for matters that need your skills," Saul declared and finished off his glass of wine. "Be sure to have Larur show you to your quarters. We'll open the Gold Goblin back in a few days so be ready!"
A/N: Not much to say about this chapter. When it came to my notes, I actually ended up combining parts of what were supposed to be two separate chapters into this single chapter and think that I'll end up doing so again for the next chapter.
Until next time.