Book One Chapter Nine: Thieves Guild Storyline

Book One Chapter Nine: Thieves Guild Storyline

Hail and well met, traveler! The gate guard said determinedly.

Thief. The Chosen One said.

What brings you to our cursed land? The other guard refused to be shaken.

Where thief. The Chosen One tried.

Much has-

Skip.

-will you?

The Hero sighed. Yes. Thief. Where?

I see youve heard about our problem with the Thieves' Guild. The original gate guard said eventually.

Yes! The Chosen One said. Where is it? Them. I mean them.

I dont know what theyve been feeding those rats, but theyre massive. If you can clear the rats out and let us know wed be grateful to you. Thieves are bad enough, I draw the line at giant mutant rats.

Cool, The Chosen One said and instantly turned and walked away, cutting off whatever the guard had been about to say.

Wait, Qube said, hurrying after him. He didnt say where the rats or Thieves Guild were.

In the sewers, of course. The Hero scoffed. Where else would you find them?

In warehouses? Or the docks? Basements in general? Lots of places have rats. Qube said, confused.

Trust me. Theyre in the sewers. The Hero said as they exited the alleyway theyd wandered through earlier and approached the grey hooded figure standing over the grate.

Youll want to move along. It said as soon as the Chosen One looked at it.

What do you want, target? The figure hissed as the Chosen One approached it. The Hero ignored it, instead walking directly into it and slowly pushing it off the grate with his body.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Youre in the wrong neighbourhood, pal. Why dont you keep walking? The figure said, ignoring the fact that it was slowly skating backwards due to the persistent pressure of the Chosen One rubbing against said figure.

Lift that, will you? The Chosen One asked Qube, pointing at the grate. Qube grabbed the grate and pulled. She wasnt able to lift it even an inch. Digging her heels in she pulled even harder, cutting her fingers on the metal.

I think maybe its locked? She said, slightly embarrassed by her inability to rip apart solid metal on the Chosen Ones command. The Chosen One clicked his tongue in irritation, then pointed at the figures pockets. The figure was now attempting to walk around to resume its place on top of the grate, but was stymied by the Hero stepping to the side every time the figure tried to get past him.

Come a little closer, if you dare. The figure snarled at the Chosen One.

Hes got the key. The Chosen One said.

Can we please have the key? Qube asked the figure, wondering how the Chosen One knew it was a male. The figure honestly sounded more like an angry snake on legs. Hes the Chosen One and we are on a quest to save the whole world, so its really quite important.

I never take my hands off my knives, target. It was hard to tell whether the figure was addressing her or the Chosen One. That was one of the downsides of wearing a hood.

Oh, Qube said, frowning in confusion. Is that because of a Sacred Oath? Shed heard of particularly devout people taking Sacred Oaths in order to gain access to power beyond that of mere mortals. Generally they involved not marrying, or never speaking again, but it made sense that a thief, especially a thief in charge of guarding, might make a vow to never release their weapon.

It seemed terribly inconvenient, but then that seemed to be the point of Sacred Oaths. The gods were only interested in helping you out if you made your life as much of a pain as possible.

Scram. The figure hissed in the Heros face, sounding even more snakelike.

Sorry, Qube apologised, I didnt mean to offend you. I know religion is a very personal thing. It must be a restriction while only on the job, she decided. That was the only thing that made sense.

The Chosen One looked at her in exasperation. Hes not look just take the key.

Oh, sure. Is that okay? Qube asked the figure.

Youll want to move along. It said from under its hood. Qube supposed that was a yes.

He cant take his hands off his knives, remember? The Chosen One said, his shoulders shaking as if he was holding back laughter. Youll have to help him out.

Timidly reaching out, Qube patted at the figures pockets. True to his (and she was now pretty certain it was a he) word he had knives in both his hands. This was the closest she had ever been to a stranger before.

Welcome back, kid. The figure next to the grate hissed. I hear the boss took a liking to you. Lets see how long that lasts.

Qube looked at the figure in astonishment. How on earth did he know - oh! He must have listened through the grate. She smiled at him kindly.

Thank you for your key. She said politely.

Hey Sewer Bard, The Chosen One said as the newly nicknamed man crawled out of the hole. You can pick locks, yeah?

That was why I was the unwilling guest of our good friends the Thieves Guild. The Sewer Bard said. He paused and looked puzzled. Wait if you didnt know that why did you- He cut off, wincing.

Qube nodded grimly. She recognised that Prophecy pain induced expression. Not having felt it in quite some time, she could only assume that she was doing a flawless job as the Prophecy Approved Companion.

Yeah yeah, that thing. The Chosen One said, waving away the Sewer Bards confusion. Anyway, point being, can you break into that house? He pointed at the large mansion across the road that he had first tried to enter. I got a feeling its got some good stuff in it. Fancy windows, He said to Qube, who hadnt asked, is a sure sign.

Qube pondered the situation as she saw the Sewer Bard work the lock. She wasnt entirely sure about whether or not this was the right thing to do. The door popped out and the three of them snuck into the house.

Surely, she thought, taking things from people was wrong. That was why people locked their doors in the cities. There were strangers who might take their stuff and leave before they could take it back. Or might take things they hadnt agreed could be taken.

She idly sat down at the kitchen table as the Sewer Bard and the Chosen One split off in different directions.

Qube was aware of crime in a very dim, distant fashion. Rogues were needed to break into places and take things from bad guys. Therefore they had to be trained. And if you were an Evil Rogue, then you would presumably break into the good guys places and take their stuff.

The Sewer Bard was, besides being a beautiful creature, on their side. He had joined them. And they were on the side of the Golden Prophecy. Therefore he was Good.

She heard a thump-OW from upstairs, as if someone had tried to unsuccessfully kick open a chest.

Following that logic, the people whose house they were breaking into had to be Evil.

In fact, she remembered suddenly, the Hero had said that there was Good stuff in this house! That must be what they were looking for! Some artefacts of great Good power!

The basement! She cried, standing up abruptly and knocking everything off the table. Or the attic! Chosen One, it will be in one of those two locations! She spotted a trap door near the fireplace. I found it!

The Chosen One came clattering down the stairs.

Good job, He said, and she glowed at his praise. Sewer Bard! He yelled, "Come open this!

I dont think we should be yelling, The Sewer Bard whispered. Qube jumped. Shed had no idea he was right behind her!

Whatever, The Chosen One said, Open her up!

Your wish is ever my command, The Sewer Bard gave another impressive bow, before flicking open the trap doors locks.

Come on gems! The Chosen One said, dropping down into the darkness. The Sewer Bard looked up at the ceiling, briefly, and sighed.

I had rather been hoping to avoid any more underground adventures, at least for the minute. He sighed.

[Fiddle]. They heard the Hero say from the basement. Could use some backup here. The Sewer Bard immediately dropped down, Qube right behind him. The Hero was standing just to the side of them, sword drawn, staring at the pit before their feet. There, in the darkness, a dozen skeletons roamed, their unseeing eyes blood red points of light in the black. The whole pit was surrounded with candles which were somehow still lit, despite the fact it looked like no one had been here for some time.

In the pits centre was a large purple gem.

Called it. The Hero said with satisfaction.

The skeletons turned up at them, and hissed.

Qube delicately crouched at the side of the pit and looked down at the skeletons.

How can they hiss if they have no tongues? Or lungs? She asked.

Hey, The Chosen One said, crouching next to her. He seemed to glow slightly gold next to her. Those things would definitely count as Evil, right? Probably Evil Prophecy related.

Yes, She said, nodding. This undead horde definitely seems like the work of the Evil Emperor.

So youve got nothing to worry about. He said reassuringly.

Why would I-

Think fast! He said, and pushed her in the pit.