Harridan Hamlet, Dread Country
Chavias was making the long trek to Dread Country. Evening was drawing close. As customary the demon had sent Chavias to raid Harridan Hamlet on the edge of Dread Country. Knowing by now they'd have a healthy stockpile.
Chavias caught the scent of a dead deer in an alleyway behind some booths. The slightly rotted stink of it immediately drew the attention of the demonic dogs, Targue and the demonic rodents, nonis, with him.
Chavias walked faster to the storehouse.
Just as he reached it, a voice from a nearby rooftop, stopped him outside the swinging doors. "There's nothing in there."
Thadeus, Chavias' crow, shrieked in objection. Turning his head to look at Savage Jaxson, the bird shifted restless feet.
"I thought not. He'll be displeased." Chavias rotated to spot Savage Jaxson crouched on the peak of the bakery roof. Next to the storehouse.
"Is he ever pleased?"
"No." Chavias grunted.
"Are the Firoque starving?" Savage rose and thoughtfully walked to the pointed peak to draw nearer the Southern edge. Peering down onto the road to see if the demonic beasts were catching up to Chavias.
"They are."
"Is it worth the torture?" He asked tonelessly, crouching again to watch the road.
But Chavias knew what he asked. "Yes."
"Good." He didn't move. Twisting a bit of leather in his fingertips. "Are you ready yet?"
"No."
Savage Jaxson didn't push the subject.
But he wasn't leaving either.
"What's on your mind, Lad?"
"I took the girl with the light."
Chavias nodded slowly. "Have you hurt her?" He felt the need to ask though he hoped he knew the answer.
"No."
"Are you fond of her?" Chavias probed.
"Yes."
"Good." Chavias nodded slowly. "She's important."
"She is." It wasn't a question.
"Where are you keeping her?"
"At the Blue Lark."
"Is she safe there?" Chavias asked guardedly.
"I keep her safe." Savage Jaxson looked up and met Chavias' look solidly. Blue eyes to gray eyes.
"What about when you're not there?"
"They don't cross me." He rose and walked the roof absentmindedly.
Chavias was sure Savage Jaxson did retain total control of the Assassin's Guild. "You'd make a fine King." He thought aloud.
"What fool would make me king?" Savage reached the back peak of the bakery and looked back at Chavias. "I like her."
"I'd gathered that."
"I want to keep her." He looked down and they both heard the Targue coming down the road. Savage's bait, the dead deer, consumed.
"Savage Jaxson?"
"Yes?"
"Be gentle with her."
"I try."
That made Chavias grimace.
He drew a shaking breath. Telling himself to trust the boy that'd never let him down. But he couldn't picture Savage Jaxson being gentle with anyone. Woman or man.
Cringing, he spun and looked at the doors of the storehouse. Throwing them open to reveal the barren interior as the demon dogs flanked him.
Howling in misery to see it was empty.
Blue Lark Guild, Dread HideoutRedbayne, one of Savage's more honorable assassins, had asked Savage for a very particular item. Poison.Savage had been waiting for his return to the Blue Lark to deliver the toxic bit when he'd spotted the large redheaded barbarian across the Undermarket courtyard."RedBayne!"Redbayne's head shot up to assess the blonde man. Though he liked the place, there were times of year when it was so dense with killers it was hard to move within the courtyard. Redbayne wished for nothing more than to find the nearest tavern and find a friendly barmaid.Savage lifted a vial of murky gray liquid above the heads of others milling the courtyard.Redbayne straightened happily. Pushing through the meandering assassins with all the grace of a battering ram. Lumbering shoulders forcing them apart.Other men cursed or spat threats but when they turned to confront him and glimpsed the sheer size of him, their voices faded to silence. They ducked their heads and returned t
*****"Have a man come at me with a dagger and I shall have a dagger. Have him attack me with a sword and I shall pierce him with a sword. Have him shackle me and I'll crush his throat with those shackles.I'm an exceptional killer. I'll kill my enemy with whatever gifts he brings me..."-Savage Jack has told many an assassin.*****Blue Lark's Guild, Dread Hideout“He’s here.” Markus tossed open the door of Dimurah’s hut to announce. Rain still running rivulets down his forehead.“Goddamnit all to hell!” The beautiful redhead looked like an angel but spoke like a sailor.Possibly a trait gleaned from her associates in the guild.She swept up her dirtied green cloak. And smeared fresh mud from the basin near the door, across her face as she headed out the door.“Where are you going, Mum?” Markus, one of her bodyguards asked.“To try to keep him from killing anyone.”“How so, Mum?” He fondled the hilt of the sword on his hip.“To distract him.”“Though you do distract him mightily well,
His look was shrewd. Blue eyes cutting her, starting with her toes and dragging up her length to the pulled down hood. “Remember, I’m the one that knows what’s you keep so carefully guarded beneath that oversized green cloak.”Giving her his back he strode around to the otherside and leaned on a stool to resume his drink.“Don’t make me call my men to remove you.” She warned.From the corner of her eye, Dimurah caught the barmaid, Belline, filling his drink. Thinking Dimurah wasn’t looking.“You know better than to threaten me…You’re going to regret ever saying that.” His blue gaze slitted.“I will summon them!”“Why?” He twisted to give the four of them a bored glance. “Do you wish me to kill them? Remember,” He lifted a finger, tsking again. “exactly how much you missed the last ones.”“There’s too many. Even for you.” She said acidly.“I don’t know how many that is. So you most certainly don’t...” He took a heavy dram from his newly filled tankard. Dismissing her.Belline, the barm
A few assassins in the crowd made awed sounds at the sight of her. Having never realized what she kept hidden under that hood.She expostulated in enraged profanity.He chuckled. Lazily jerking the dagger upward, to remove it from her throat. He released her and she hastily stepped from the warmth of his arms to turn a glowering gaze on him.“Barmaid! Bird leg!” He slapped the counter with a wolfish smile.Belline curtsied like he was some manner of king and backed from him to fetch the food.“This is my alehouse!”“You barter here. You own shares. But you don’t own the guild.” He corrected, taking another drink. Ignoring her ranting next to him. “Calm down, Murah.” He said from the corner of his mouth. “You still have all that mud hiding your face. They can’t see you.”She gave him a withering look. “Give me back my blade!”He still held it folded between his palm and mug. He set his drink down and expertly rotated it in his hand to stab it into the surface of the bar. The handle swu
“Why! Why’d he do it?” The girl’s gaze landed on the dead man in the middle of Winter Haven floor. She gasped in horror.Dimurah was staring at him, fists clench and jaw jutting.His unflinching gaze was levelled on her as he enunciated the words. “Because you’re mine. Everyone knows it. And no one interferes in my business or they die.”The crowd hushed. No one moved to intercede. And it’d be a long time until someone does again.“I’ll never be yours!” She screamed. But her eyes were fearful.***He laughed uproariously. Tossing back his head in a show of boldness as he nearly reached the door with her before him. “He brought me a blade. What did he expect?” He looked around the room. Nodding arrogantly. “What’s my policy, men?”They began to chant. “Have a man come at me with a dagger and I shall have a dagger. Have him attack me with a sword and I shall pierce him with a sword. Have him shackle me and I’ll crush his throat with those shackles.I’m an exceptional killer. I’ll kill m
He kissed her hard and deep.She shoved him back and slapped him hard.Making him toss his head back. Roaring with laughter like some dark demon.When his head fell forward. His eyes shined in slivers of moonlight. “Strike me viper. But it’s only yourself, you’re poisoning.”She twisted against his grip.But he backed her up through the mud. Walking through rain which now dumped wildly in the Courtyard. Making it hard to see beyond a few feet in the darkness of the night.In the dark of my Fortress. Savage was grateful for it now as his gaze was locked on his pretty prey.“Where do you think you’re going, Murah.”“Let me go!”“You had the chance years ago.” He whispered to her. “It’s too late for all that bluster now.”Finally, he saw the silhouette of a tree in the dark and guided her back against it.She grunted as she made contact. Giving him a venomous look.“Don’t touch me, Jax.”“Ah, now I’m Jax again, am I?” He crooned. Still holding her upper arms as his blue eyes roved her fa
Blue Lark Guild, Dread HideoutA woman entered the Blue Lark looking to hire an assassin.She’d passed the tower guards, passed the Courtyard Guards, and made it right in the front door of his fortress, and straight into the Winter Haven Alehouse for just that purpose.But Savage Jaxson saw her clearly for what she was. Royalty. His study zeroed in on her from across the room. Watching the way, she swept her cape and how carefully she stepped over a spilled drink.He glimpsed her hand as she gripped the hem of her cape. Not old. Not young. He caught a wisping curl of hair moving beyond the hood as she breathed.Dark brown. Female. Middle-aged royalty. In the Blue Lark to hire an assassin.He drew closer, watching her profile peer from under the red hood. Spotting a particularly weaselly man across the room.The Death Dealer. Though he didn’t look like much, he was a skilled killer. Not particular in whether he murdered women or children.“What are you looking at?” Dimurah whispered ov
She gasped in outrage. Slowly turning to see his unabashed grin. She tossed the pitcher at him.He casually deflected it with a forearm. Laughing uproariously as it sloshed another of the barmaids.“You unbelievable wretch!” Dimurah quaked with rage.“Tent it is!”The crowd in Winter Haven roared in approval.“You’ll have to be quiet this time! No rousing the courtyard again.” He waved a finger in cautioning.“You heathen! That’s not true!” She nearly shook with rage. Making her blue eyes glimmer.“You take it back!” She rushed over to order.“Clearly. As you wish. I take it back!” He announced. “It’s not true. It wasn’t the whole courtyard!” He laughed raucously. Dodging the tankard, she tried to splash on him next. Moving smoothly from its trajectory so is slopped harmlessly over the boards onto the floor.“Contain your fire!” He shouted laughingly. Tone softening, he ensured it was still loud enough for everyone to hear. “Save it for later.” He let the innuendo fill the alehouse.“