Inside The Fire

Me and him are best buds. Even way back before we were even registered in the Academy. So, it"s good to know that even seeing him after 14 years, the friendship still hasn"t died.

However, he wasn"t the type who would show up just to greet an old friend. He needs something. Something very important. He was pacing, his heart rate was increasing. I could tell he was anxious about something.

"It"s very good to see you Ed.", I said, smiling. I moved in closer to give him a hug.

"It"s good to see you too bud.", He said.

I gave him a hug. Not too long though. I could tell he was fl.u.s.tered. Disturbed even. His palms were sweaty, from what I could see.

But after the hug, he was relieved.

I then opened up my palms, "The money.", I said.

He shrugged, as he took the pouch from his pocket. "Here.", he said, throwing it.

It was heavy. And not a coin was taken, as far as I"m concerned. He might"ve even put some as compensation, knowing his kindness.

"What"s up?", I asked, not showing that I noticed something was wrong.

"Not here Neil. Go back for your little escort first. I"ll explain everything at Dead Man"s Tavern near the gate.", He replied.

"Just like that? You lured me in here so that we can meet at a tavern?", I said.

"I had to make sure you were the Neil I know. And not some changeling.",

I nodded. "Good point.. Alright, see ya there.",

We went our separate ways. Ed scaled the walls, using the rooftops to travel. I went back towards the entrance, to get back to Ca.s.s. She was still there where I left her.

"And? The purse?", she asked, eyebrows raised.

I tapped my pockets, as the coins jingle from it. "Right here, m"lady.",

She smiled, and gave me a hug.

"He didn"t give you a hard time right?", She asked.

I shook my head. "Nah, he just tossed it back.",

Thinking more about it, it was a very stupid move. If someone was after her, she could"ve been kidnapped or worse, dead. I really need to read the "Bodyguard 101" textbook again from the academy.

We went back to the marketplace.. Ca.s.s was very happy to see the purse as I took it out from my pocket. She then perused the various wares, singing to herself and prancing around while she explored.

She mostly hung around the fashion isle of the market. Bracelets, clothing and jewelry from other kingdoms flooded the stalls, especially ones from the kingdom of Oavad. Where her mother was from.. I don"t know if she knew but, it"s probably just a feeling.

It took hours for her just to browse the wares, and another hour for the transactions. She bought so many things that the pouch of pepe"s the don gave her only had about two coins left.

What"s worse, is that I have to carry all of that to the manor. I had to lift a pile of boxes that were just as tall as I am. But, I do admit that I"m not a "tall" person.

Ca.s.s called a carriage on the city road just outside the marketplace, and I put the wares on the storage compartment on the back.

I stacked them, carefully. The huge boxes on the bottom, and working my way up until they all fit. Like playing tetris.

Ca.s.s was already comfy inside the carriage. And as soon as I sat down, the driver gave me nod.

"Where to?", the driver asked.

"Don Dominic"s manor.", I replied.

It was a b.u.mpy ride.. Unlike the vehicles I was used to before, carriages felt like there were potholes everywhere.. Still, better than nothing.

I looked out the window, trying to spot if there were people following us, but I found none. I kinda felt relieved. I was hoping the Don"s words were not as serious as I thought, and it seems I was right. Being a very wealthy and powerful man, he must"ve grown paranoid. That"s what I think anyway.

A bit of time later, we arrived at the manor"s gates. And somehow, I felt a tingle down my spine. Something was off. Way off.

"Ca.s.s. Stay close.", I said.

"But the boxes!", she retorted.

"Later.", I then walked over the driver"s seat, and tossed him coin pouch and said "I"ll give you more if you stay.",

The driver nodded rigorously.

I headed towards the manor gates. I couldn"t sense a presence in both guardhouses. No guards, but I saw multiple footprints on the ground. Looked recent, and heavy. The prints were made using metal boots, as it was buried deep. That wasn"t normal. The guards always wore leather boots and light armour.

Other sets of footprints were light, and were headed inside the manor. These were probably the Don"s men.

I was positive, intruders stormed the manor. Armored thugs or mercenaries. I won"t know for sure until I see them.

I peeked inside through the window. Nothing. I unsheathed my machete, and slowly opened the door.

And then, I noticed the telephone was left hanging. Paperwork was scattered on the desk and floor, and there were slash marks on the walls. "This is bad.", I muttered.

Ca.s.s was right behind me, and noticed what I saw.

"Ca.s.s. Stay close.",

This time, she nodded obediently, knowing what could go wrong. I still can"t hear anything. Either they"re way below underground, or that this place is abandoned. But the latter isn"t possible, I could"ve smelled blood in the air if any one was wounded.

I headed inside the manor through the yard. Should anyone was keeping watch, they would"ve seen me and opened fire. But still, silence.

The chill air surrounding the manor made things more tense.

I headed even further, until I arrived at the set double doors leading to the main hall. No signs of forced entry.

I slowly opened it.

The lights were still on. No signs of any struggle. It was quiet. Too quiet.

It makes you want to lower your guard, but if this attack was the work of the Church, they have plenty of men capable of doing a silent attack like this. But I can"t even sense a single person. Not the don"s men, or the enemy. Just little Ca.s.s tailing me.

I kept sniffing, all the while holding my weapon.

"Psst. Ca.s.s.", I said.

"What is it? ", She whispered back.

"Does this manor have an underground network?",

She nodded.

"Where"s the entrance?",

She shook her head. "I don"t know... Only dad and a handful of personnel know about the entrance..",

I let out a sigh. "What luck.", I said.

I still couldn"t hear or smell anything.. We went towards the Don"s office. It seems logical that the entrance was there.

Maybe it was one of those secret pa.s.sages that open when you twist a candle, or a pulling a book from a bookshelf. I encountered some of those before, and it was always easy to spot them if you focus your senses. The floor was so shiny, it"s almost impossible to see footprints anywhere. I will have to find some kind of clue as to where that entrance is.

Ca.s.s was trembling when we arrived at the doors to the Don"s office. I reached out to ask what"s wrong.

She shook her head. "Nothing.. I"m just worried. It"s just.. dad doesn"t like someone snooping around his office without permission.. Even me.",

I patted her on the back. "But it is important we find that underground entrance, they could be in danger.",

Seeing no other choice, she nodded, and started looking for anything that may lead us to that entrance.

I searched the Don"s desk for clues. A lot of important looking papers were there, untouched. Some deeds of sale, ledgers, and other important business papers. Seems the intruders were after something different.

I rummaged through his desk. Nothing. Ca.s.s helped as well. We searched the bookshelves, his bed, compartments, and still came up emtpy handed.

"s.h.i.t.", I said.

I turned to Ca.s.s, tapping her shoulder and taking one knee down. "Ca.s.s.. A cellar, do you have one of those here?",

She nodded. "Yeah! We do!", She then ran out of the room.

"Ca.s.s wait!", I yelled, as I got on my feet and ran out after her.

That was foolish of me. I yelled, they might"ve heard that and was coming to get me. With Ca.s.s on the run they might get her first. I can"t let that happen.

The kid was fast. I was able to track her due to her scent though. She wore the same cologne as her mother.

I sprinted through the corridor, turned left, and found a staircase leading below. I could see Ca.s.s at the bottom, waving at me. I wanted to sermon her right then and there, but there were more pressing matters at hand, so I kept it hush.

The stairs was too long. If you were tasked to get wine from here to the dining room, it"s like you"ve never skipped leg day.

As I went further down the stairs, I could already smell blood.

At the bottom of the stairs, there was a bulkhead. A wine cellar with a bulkhead. It explains why the scent of blood was weak

I opened it.

Inside, there was another door, but normal looking this time

I put my head at the door, tried to listen in. I could hear faint voices coming from deep underground. I couldn"t make out what they"re saying, but it"s something.

"This is it. Good work Ca.s.s.", I said.

She smiled, and held my hand again.

"I"m coming with you..", She said.

"No.", I replied. "It"s too dangerous. Stay upstairs, bar the door and wait till I come out. If I don"t come back within 30 minutes, go to the carriage and ride for Dead man"s Tavern and ask for Edgar Misabi. Tell him I sent you.", I added.

She shook her head. "No!", she yelled.

"Dammit Ca.s.s, you"re going to reveal our position!", I said.

"b-but",

Before she could say anymore, I drew a rune in the air using my fingertips, and calmed her down.

"Now.. Go upstairs, and do what I told you to.",

"..right..", She responded obediently, and walked up the stairs.

I hoped they didn"t hear Ca.s.s yelling. It could go so much differently if they don"t know I"m coming for them.

I opened the door, and behold 3 corpses were laying down on the floor. 2 were the Don"s men. I could tell from the uniform.. Leather, cloth. And one was wearing steel armor, I couldn"t tell whose it"s from. The corpse was laying face down, it"s back exposed, and no insignia was put there.

I moved in closer to inspect it.

I turned it, and was greeted with a cross insignia on the chest. One thing came to mind. The Church.

But this wasn"t a Paladin. I couldn"t sense a bit of magical essence from the corpse. Just a lackey.

He had several stab wounds, all over the chest.

"Huh. Alrighty then." , I said.

I put the corpse back. Said a few prayers and took the dog tags from his neck.

"Mark. Trinidad.", I muttered, looking at the tags. "I"ll tell your family about your loss. If you have one.",

I turned it , and found that he was in fact, a soldier on the payroll of the church. These weren"t mercs. They raided this place in the Pope"s name.

I stood up, and walked towards the wine stalls just beside the corpse.

The scent of alcohol was quite distinctive, but the scent of blood was even more so. It emanated from a small hole on all the wine shelves. I grabbed the bottle of wine that was socketed in it, and gave it a turn.

"Click",

Then, the shelf became loose, and it can be slid.

"This is it then.", I muttered. "Here goes."