Den of Thieves

The Orcish gesture impresses Glar and he truly likes the color and cut, “you should sell me that before you ruin it with your Human stink.” He’s curious of the cost, “I’ll give you one hundred gold for it right now.”

From behind the iron bars the man and an unseen helper exit to have a look.

Being hungry Burt and Toad sigh and lean against the iron bars.

Vis squawks and gestures to the remaining men to move along.

“One hundred gold?” Carr scoffs. “Cost me more to get him started.”

Glar cheaply jests, “alright, one hundred and fifty.”

Carr tells them, “I paid six gems worth about two hundred gold each.”

“What!” Glar exclaims, “crazy ass Humans.” Joking with the group, “for a hundred gold I could pay an army of Goblins to do my killing for a year.” Pointing a warty finger at Carr, “you really did steal Darvel’s treasure. Didn’t you?”

Proudly Carr states, “I did. But the tale most have heard is greatly exaggerated.”

“As are most tales,” Glar seriously points out, “don’t smile too much about it. Your burglary has affected us here. Darvel had sent a group of horsemen to raid our den. Marten was able to prevent that by making a token gesture to King Darvel. I’m sure he’ll want to talk to you about it.”

Carr’s smile vanishes wondering if his life is in jeopardy, “Oh, I see. It’s King Darvel’s tax collector Lord Piate that is the real thief. He’s using my burglary to keep the King’s tax collection for himself.”

Glar informs Carr. “Lucky for you Marten respected your father. If you have any proof it’d help. But I’ll tell Marten what you’ve told me.”

“Well,” Carr digs out the jeweled handled dagger. “I took this from the Lord’s bed chambers.”

“Not much proof.” Glar takes the dagger, “it is an expensive weapon though. I’ll show it to Marten.” Speaking to Burt, “check your weapons and take Carr to the dinning hall. Wait there for Marten.”

Burt nods, “sure thing Glar.”

The two men return behind the iron bar wall taking Burt’s and Toad’s weapons.

Turning to Vis, Glar says, “stay and keep watch.” Turning right takes a few steps into a large dark open space. Pausing turns back, “and Carr,” pointing the direction going, “only with Marten’s say can anyone travel this way. The guards are instructed to kill anyone who doesn’t belong.”

“Okay,” Carr watches Glar walk into the large area towards a light at the far end.

Setting a quill pen in its well the man behind iron bars hands Burt a copper coin, “one hundred twenty-two.”

Burt takes the coin and waits for Toad to get his, “Cal makes sure Carr makes it down to the dinning hall.”

“Sure,” Cal nods.

Handing Toad, a coin the man utters, “one hundred twenty-three.”

Toad takes the coin, “thank you.” Allowing him self to be sniffed by Vis, “hurry up boys,” then jogs with Burt, down to the dinning hall.

Cal hands the man a bow with three arrows and a short-sword speaking to Carr, “if you’ve got hidden weapons Vis will turn you upside down and shake them out of you.” Reaching into his boot he pulls out a small knife, “like he did to Toad the first day here.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Carr pulls out his throwing daggers, “what about a grappling hook?”

The man sets down his quill, “yeah you best turn that in too,” handing Cal a coin, “one hundred twenty-four.”

Carr sees the marking on the copper coin but can’t place them, “here you go sir.” Handing the man his sheathed long-sword, two daggers, the grappling hook and rope, the quiver of arrows and the bow, between the bars.

The man studies the bow before handing it off, “is that Elven made?” He continues to write down the items.

Feeling the need to clarify he informs the man, “no, half Elf actually.”

The man hands him a coin, “one hundred twenty-six.”

Taking it Carr studies the markings while querying, “what happened to twenty-five?”

The man replies, “some never return them. Or they never return themselves.” He points to Carr’s armor, “you may want to put your cloak back on. Too many wanting eyes here.”

“Oh sure,” Carr slips the coin into his pouch, “these coins, what nation are they?”

He states. “That’s not from a nation. They’re from Glar’s clan.” He speaks Hobgoblin, “Slow Death.”

Not understanding Hobgoblin Carr figures out the words, “Oh, Slow Death Clan.”

“Yup,” the man closes the logbook and puts it away.

Cal asks Carr. “You speak Hobgoblin too?”

“No.” Carr says approaching Vis to be sniffed, “the language is similar to Goblin and Orc. I can speak Orc.”

The skunky smell messes with Vis’s senses he’s not able to smell the small knife and lock picks in Carr’s backpack. So, he waves them along.

Leading Carr to the torch lit tunnel Cal inquires. “Do you know any other languages?”

“Just an old human language,” Carr notices the tunnel turns slopping steeply downwards.

Curious to Carr’s experience Cal questions, “how do you rank as a thief?”

Not sure how to answer that Carr shrugs, “I’ve never belonged to a guild. My Pa taught me how to pick locks. Looking for hidden compartments and traps. A lot of trying and mistakes got me this far. I’m certainly no master but I’m definitely better than Burt.”

As the tunnel turns right Cal grins giving a compliment, “I’d agree your way beyond Burt. So, you’d never want to be a guild member?”

“Nah,” Carr explains his point of view, “it’s like Pa said to me. Why only get a small portion for a job you did, when you can get the whole thing. Plus, you don’t have to worry about partners stabbing you in the back.”

The tunnel into the lower level straightens out. Echoing to them a den of thieves talking and eating.

Cal mulls over what was said about not trusting those around, “so Toad and I, should we trust Burt?”

“Definitely not,” Carr counsels the young wannabe, “Burt’s concerns are his own. Guys like him are never to be trusted. And because you’ve warned me. Never trust any thief. Always worry about yourself. And worst of all, you may not be able to trust your brother one day either.”

“Not Toad,” Cal’s only family, “he’d never wrong me.”

“Not yet,” Carr warns, “if you two spend too much time here sooner or later someone will try to turn you two against each other.”

A cold confirmation to a couple of Cal’s concerns, “does that mean you can’t be trusted?”

Carr smiles at him, “I have my own goals in life. But I would never try and turn family against each other. Family’s the only ones you are suppose to trust with your life.”

Further concerns begin to flood Cal’s mind, “you think Toad and I should get out of here?”

Nearing the bottom Carr suggests. “Save what ever coin you get. In the spring find a quiet way to slip away. If possible don’t even tell Toad. If your brother hasn’t been corrupted, he’ll follow without question.”

Sighing Cal is starting to accept life in the guild, “I don’t know?” Turning left leads them out of the passage.

“You got time to think about it,” Carr pats his back taking in the sight.

They enter a large cavern with reasonably high ceiling. Inside a myriad of scoundrels eat at many assorted tables.

Directing Carr to the right Cal takes them into the kitchen area. Long tables and many barrels make up a serving path.

A storage room at the far north end of the kitchen can be made out. A large fire pit sits in a nook of the south wall with a large black cauldron hanging over it. The smoke from the fire rises up into a natural hole in the ceiling. Carr wonders where it leads.

Several males are working the area. One male behind a long table draws out a hot bowl of stew for each of them.

Along the table are almost empty baskets of small hard buns, vegetables and assorted fruits. Carr finds a not too bruised apple, and carrot to go with his meager meal.

Inspecting the two burnt buns that are left they both shake their head no.

Carr and Cal take a wooden mug each and scoop out water from a barrel.

Exiting through a different opening the sound of a dropped bowl attracts Carr’s attention, along with most of the dinning hall. A young apprentice is picking himself and an empty bowl off the floor. A nearby laughing Goblin appears to have tripped the young male.

Scanning the room for Burt and Toad, Carr determines half the hall is Human. A group of twenty Halflings sit in the middle almost unnoticed. To Carr’s surprise there is even a few Dwarves inside and they seem to be getting along with the Goblins and Orcs.

In a niche close to where they entered the hall Carr sees a rarer sight eleven dark Elves sit quietly observing the rest of the hall. Looking too long trying to recognize any of the Elves, they take notice of the new young rogue.

Carr thinks to himself. Great that’s all I need, attention from dark Elves. Assassins most likely.

“There’s Toad,” Cal points out the pair.

Making their way through the room to a table close to the Haflings, they join Burt and Toad.

“Hey you didn’t miss out,” Toad kicks out a stool shoveling down the stew.

With only the one seat Carr gestures to Cal to take it. Already feeling awkward being checked out by the guild. Carr sets down the water and bowl, gnawing on the carrot.

Eyeing Carr’s bowl Burt remarks, “see what happens when you’re showing off here. I at least got some meat in my bowl.”

Carr looks at him funny, “I’m not in a hurry for rat meat.”

A nearby crusty thief overhears, “hey, what’s the matter with ya? Rat meat not good enough for ya?”

Glancing at the male Carr replies, “it’s certainly not my first choice.”

“Rat?” Questions someone close by.

Toad looks up at Carr, “so, you don’t want it then?”

“Easy, guy,” utters Carr before picking up the bowl. Drinking down a couple big mouthfuls he passes the remainder to Toad. “Here then.”

With a smile Toad takes it eagerly, “thanks Carr.”

Not really caring for the taste of it Carr replies, “no, thank you.”

Burt and Carr watch in disgust as Toad slurps back the bowl.