Ranloo, Felisei, and Listarl sneaked into the courtyard of a somewhat run-down big building. A new thieves guild had begun operating there, and there was a conflict of interest. The Iron Lock wanted other thieves guilds to stay away, and most did. But this new one, The Stonefists, had refused to move. They caused fights between the members and reduced the income for both guilds by stealing too much in the same area and attacking people that were under the Iron Lock's protection, making people think they didn't keep their word. Jackal didn't like it and wanted them removed immediately. They had to leave or be made into an example for others.

Ranloo was nervous, he'd never done anything like this before. It wasn't right, he thought. But then again, neither was thieving and killing, like both guilds did. They had decided to try a friendly approach at first. Knocking on the door and asking to talk with their leader. If they weren't allowed inside, they'd break in through a window later.

Listarl, being the most impressive looking of them, went first. He hit the door with his fist a few times, making it clear this wasn't just a friendly visit. A small hatch opened in the door a few seconds later and a bearded face looked out at them.

´What d'you want?` he asked gruffly, eyeing them suspiciously.

´We're here to talk to your guild leader,` Listarl said with an almost friendly smile.

´And who're you?`

´We're from the Iron Lock,` he explained to the man.

The lookout studied them without answering, then he closed the hatch. Listarl glanced to his friends. They shrugged. Ranloo stepped closer to the door, motioned for quiet and listened carefully. He heard them talk inside, discussing what to do. He relayed it to Listarl. Felisei kept an eye on the yard behind them, in case anyone got the idea of attacking them from behind. After a while, the hatch reopened.

´Wait here,` the man said and closed the hatch again.

Ranloo sighed. He hated waiting.

Felisei smiled and placed a hand on his arm. ´Don't fret, it'll go fast,` she whispered.

He smiled back but shook his head. ´Things like this always take a long time,` he muttered and fingered the pommel of his borrowed sword. ´I would rather just climb in through a window.`

She laughed quietly and nudged him. He made an effort to ignore that she stood so near.

´I'd like t' see that,` she whispered.

´You might,` he replied. Then they waited in silence. Ranloo looked up, trying to see if there were any easy ways inside. All the windows seemed to be shut. But there was a rickety-looking balcony down the side of the house. He could probably get in there, he thought. The hatch in the door opened again, making Ranloo twitch.

´One of yous may come inside,` he said gruffly. ´The rest gotta wait outside.`

They looked at each other and Listarl motioned for Ranloo to go. He shook his head, unwilling to go alone.

´You can do it,` Listarl said and pushed him towards the door. ´And you're less likely to get killed if they try anything,` he added quietly.

´I'm also more likely to go rampant and kill people if that happens,` Ranloo retorted in a low hiss.

Listarl smiled. ´That's okay,` he said. ´We believe in you.`

´What?` Ranloo said, exasperated.

The door opened, revealing three men inside with crossbows aimed at them.

´Just remember what we said.` Listarl raised his hands to show he wasn't a threat, and backed off. Felisei stepped back with him. Ranloo was grabbed by his right arm and pulled inside. He cast a betrayed look at his friends before the door closed behind him. The thugs in the room were big burly men with big beards, protected by chain shirts. Their crossbows pointed at him. Ranloo raised his hands carefully, not trusting them.

´So,` one of the men said. ´Who're you?` He reached out and pulled back the hood that covered Ranloo's face. The men stared in silence. Then one of them laughed.

´The Iron Lock sends a wimpy elf t' negotiate?` Everyone laughed.

Boiling anger rose inside Ranloo, but he remained still. Don't kill them, don't make a scene. Remember your task, he told himself over and over.

´Come,` the first one said and motioned for Ranloo to follow. They went through a door and deeper inside the guild. It wasn't as nice as their own, Ranloo noticed. The building was run down and less organized. But they did one thing right. Everyone they met were heavily armed, and they glared suspiciously at him as he passed by. They know who belongs here and who doesn't, he thought nervously. Soon, they entered a room with four armed men. They told Ranloo to leave his weapons in the room.

He complied, slowly laying down the bow and sword on a table. ´I need those back,` he said, thinking of his promise to Listarl.

´We'll see 'bout that,` the man who'd showed him the way replied with a laugh. ´Here you'll do as told, elf. An' if we say we wanna keep somethings of yours, we will.` The other men laughed and nodded, derisive sneers on their lips.

´Call it a tribute,` another man added with a grin.

Ranloo glared at them, his anger burning hot. They weren't afraid, but they were close, and it was impossible to avoid their smell. He wanted to kill them, wanted to feel their rushing blood. But he took a deep steadying breath instead and composed himself. Not yet, he told himself.

´Oooh, the fairy's angry,` one of the men teased and imitated Ranloo's pose.

Ranloo twisted his head around to glare at him, almost baring his fangs. They laughed.

´An elf with attitude. How quaint,` another said, shoving him in the back.

Ranloo stumbled forward a step, then spun around to face the man behind him, fists raised unconsciously, ready to fight.

´Don't push me,` he said with a cold voice. ´You'll regret it.` They laughed again.

´He's got spirit this one. Cute,` another one said.

´Careful now, fairy, or we'll clip your ears,` one behind him warned as stepped forward.

Ranloo seethed with rage, clinging desperately to his promise to not kill anyone unless attacked.

´Alright, that's enough,` a female voice snapped. They spun around to face the woman in the doorway. She was small, dressed like a rogue in dark practical clothes, and hardened leather armour. With her short cut hair, lithe body, and attentive eyes, she gave off a dangerous aura. Several knives attached to her clothes, Ranloo noticed.

´Come inside, elf,` she said.

He gave the men dark looks as he entered the room after her.

On a chair by a fireplace sat a young man in an open, sleeveless leather vest, black leather trousers, and boots. A large axe leaned against the side of the chair. Big, handsome, and strong, and likes showing it off, Ranloo thought as he studied him. The short dark brown hair and short-cropped beard that covered his chin and circled his mouth gave him a fierce look. Even seated, Ranloo couldn't ignore his height or the fact that his arms were as thick as Ranloo's thighs. He wore a leather cord around his neck with some kind of animal teeth attached to it, like an amulet.

He studied Ranloo as he entered, and grinned widely. ´What's this?` he laughed. ´An elf? Not what I had expected. Come.` He motioned for Ranloo to come closer.

He approached and stopped just short of reach.

The young man looked him up and down with a slight smile. ´Tell me,` he said after a while. ´Who are you? And what do you want?`

Ranloo didn't want to give his name to this thug, but he had to say something. He settled for part of his last name. ´I'm Amin, and I'm from the Iron Lock to talk to you about your guild,` he stated, trying to sound calm and sure of himself.

´So they told me,` he replied. ´Why send you? Are you special in some way? Or was it not to appear too intimidating?` He barked a laugh. ´It's original I suppose,` he added and rubbed his chin.

Ranloo was increasingly irritated with these people's attitudes towards him just because he was an elf. ´Yes,` he said in a low voice. ´I'm special. And if you keep insulting me, I'll kill you where you sit.`

The statement took the thugs by surprise, and for a moment, the room descended into a tense silence. Then the man laughed out loud and the rogue relaxed, a slight smile on her thin lips.

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´I like you,` he announced and clapped a hand on his thigh. ´You've got guts. Maybe you should join us?`

Ranloo snickered and shook his head. ´I don't think so.`

In the silence a moment before, he had heard the sounds from the guild quite clearly. In their own guild, he always heard sounds of people moving around, eating, talking, preparing for battles, cooking, training, coming and leaving. All the things of a busy guild with a lot of members. Here, it was fairly calm. There were sounds of people around, but not nearly as many. Their house was big they didn't have as many members. At least not present. That meant he had an advantage, even if he was alone. He could take them by surprise.

The guild leader fingered a big knife that lay on the table beside him, eyes narrowed. ´Then say what you came to say.`

´I came to ask you to leave.` Ranloo looked from the man to the woman and back again with an intense glare. ´You're trespassing on the Iron Lock's domain.`

The big man laughed again. Ranloo reminded himself not to kill anyone and clenched his fists.

´Elf,` the man began, ´Amin. You're a brave man to come here and threaten us alone. But we're not moving. We like this area.` He looked at Ranloo, his chin lifted and his arms on the armrests of the chair, giving off an air of superiority.

Ranloo crossed his arms. ´You will move,` he stated, ´or you will be annihilated. We won't tolerate another guild this close to ours.`

The leader jumped to his feet, coming face to face with him. Ranloo stepped back to keep some air between them. He was taller than he'd though, Ranloo realized. Tall and wide and very strong and fast. The knife rested in his hand, its polished metal reflecting the light of the fire. Distracted, Ranloo admired the orange light as it gleamed along the sharp edge. The man mistook his stare at the knife for fear and sneered. ´Unless you have something else to say,` he threatened, ´you'd better leave, or I'll gut you like a fish.`

Ranloo looked up, eyes narrowed and mouth pressed into a thin line. ´You have one week,` he said. ´Or I'll come back and kill you all.` He snatched the knife from the man's hand, turned it around, and poised it against the man's throat. ´You'll either leave, or die. Your choice.`

The man stared at him, eyes wide from the sudden turn of events, his heartbeats fast and distracting. He wasn't scared but Ranloo could smell the adrenaline from him. His fangs extended, throbbing in his mouth. Annoyed, he forced his instincts to attack back.

A rustle of cloth was the only warning, but it was enough. He jumped back and heard two thuds from the wall to his right. A gasp on his left told him the woman had been almost as surprised as himself that he'd avoided both knives. He prepared for another one as she lifted her hand.

The man roared and lifted his axe from the floor. The heavy weapon was a much bigger concern and Ranloo focused on the man as he swung at him. Dodging back, he narrowly avoided the sharp edge.

A muted shout from behind the door told him he had precious little time left before he'd get overrun by the guards outside. Quickly surveying the room, he grabbed the table and flung it towards the door, blocking it.

The young guild leader stared at him, the axe lifted for another swing. He hesitated. Ranloo charged, ducked under the axe and grabbed his hands, feeling a slight sting in his side. They fell to the floor and grappled for the weapon. The man's size and strength kept Ranloo from simply pulling the weapon away as he had intended. The leader tenaciously refused to let go. They rolled on the floor, getting close to the fire. Ranloo's face stung from the heat, and fearing his hair might catch fire, he jerked his head aside.

A fist smashed into his face, and Ranloo roared, yanked the axe free of the man's grip and tossed it aside. Anger overriding his reasoning, he grasped a burning log from the fire, kicked the big man off from him, and stood, fangs bared. Something pricked his chest, and he turned his eyes on the woman. She stared back at him, disbelief in her wide eyes.

´What are you?` the man roared and flung himself at Ranloo who fell to the floor, landing hard. Ranloo hit him with the burning log, rolled aside, and bounced back up. The man reeled from the blow and swayed, stunned for a moment, panting and holding his right arm.

´I said I was special,` Ranloo hissed through clenched teeth, raising the burning log again. A strange stinging in his chest and side made him grimace at the discomfort. The man grunted and looked around for a weapon within reach. The men outside banged on the door, drawing Ranloo's attention. The woman was trying to move the table. Swiftly moving closer, Ranloo stepped down on the upturned table, keeping it in place. The woman backed off, lifting another knife.

´Don't,` Ranloo warned.

Her hand shook slightly as their eyes met. She slowly lowered the knife.

´Good.` He turned back to the man who had regained his axe and was ready for him.

´Come on then, elf,` he said with a fierce grimace.

Ranloo still grasped the log in his hand, the fire crackling brightly, the smell of burned wood around him. He glanced around and moved closer to the window. The man hefted the axe and approached. Ranloo smiled, a strange feeling stealing over him, and held out the log towards the curtains.

The thugs realized what he was about to do and shouted in unison, ´No! Don't!`

The man held out a hand as if to stop him and lowered the axe towards the floor. ´Don't.`

Ranloo's smile widened as he heard their hearts beating faster, their blood rushing as panic rose in the room. ´You need to leave,` he said, still holding the fire close to the curtains.

They nodded, and the man let go of the axe fully. The guards still pushed on the door and shouted. The table scraped against the floor and the door cracked open. Ranloo looked meaningfully at the door and back to the guild leader. He got the hint and shouted for them to stop.

´What's goin' on?` one of the guards yelled, but they stopped banging on the door.

´Just an argument,` the leader shouted in reply, keeping his eyes on Ranloo. ´Get back.`

Ranloo nodded and moved the fire a bit further away from the curtains. Fire, beautiful fire, he thought. Such a useful thing, such a scary thing to lose control over. Especially in a city, in an old dry wooden building. The flames crept closer to his hand, almost burning him. Worried, he adjusted his grip but didn't let go of the log just yet.

´You are going to promise me that you will leave this area,` Ranloo said and glared at the man who nodded and licked his lips nervously, keeping his eyes on the fire. ´Say it!` Ranloo shouted, startling them both.

´Yes, yes,` the man replied. ´I promise. We'll leave.`

´You have one week. Then we'll come back, and if you're still in the area...` he didn't need to finish the sentence. The man nodded. Ranloo glanced towards the door. The woman stood there with her knives, the guards tense behind the slightly opened door, swords drawn. The man's axe lay on the floor, but within reach. I'll never get out alive, Ranloo realized. The moment he'd try to leave, they'd be on him again.

Only one way out. He smiled and fed the fire to the curtains. They flared up, bathing the room in a beautiful golden colour. The thugs screamed and reached for him. The man grasped the axe as Ranloo threw the burning log on the stuffed chair, igniting it. The log rolled down onto the carpet with a thud, sparks flying.

The woman threw a knife and he sidestepped. Grabbing another chair, he hurled it into the window with a loush crash and followed it out. Behind him, narrowly missing, the axe connected with the wall with a thump.

Then all Ranloo's thoughts were occupied by the ground rushing up to meet him. The sudden drop made his stomach churn. This was it! He hit the gound on all fours, feet and hands scraping against the cobbles, his knees connecting hard. He rolled and ended up on his back, flat against the rocks, panting. He couldn't believe he had survived the fall.

His eyes lifted to the broken window where the dark figure of a man looked out, the room brightly lit by flickering orange. He laughed and sat up, admiring the sight. Shouts interruped him as Felisei and Listarl come running around the corner of the house, yelling for him. He got back on his feet, hands and knees bleeding and with a strange tingling in his side and chest, but otherwise he felt fine, great even.

´What's going on?` Felisei called as she got closer.

Ranloo pointed to the window, and they could all see the fire inside, flames flying out through the open window and licking the eaves. Soon the entire house would be burning.

´What have you done?` she gasped and turned back to Ranloo, who gazed up at the burning building with admiring eyes.

´We have to leave,` Listarl prompted them. ´Now! They're coming out.` He grabbed Ranloo's shoulder and spun him towards the street, breaking his trance.

They ran, leaving the courtyard as the thugs inside filed out of the house, yelling and pointing. Some carried valuables, others only held weapons. They pointed to the trio and shouted for them to stop. Ranloo couldn't help but laugh and got some curious looks from his friends as they fled. He was elated, full of adrenaline and a receding fear of death. He felt alive, but also scared of the fire, what if it spread?

They ran until they couldn't hear their pursuers anymore before slowing down to a fast walk to avoid drawing attention. Ranloo glanced behind them now and then, hearing better than the others. He pulled the hood back up over his head, hiding his smile in the shadows. Soon bells tolled, warning people of fire, waking them up. A call to aid in the extinguishing of the flames before they spread beyond control.

´You are one crazy bastard,` Listarl commented when they were safely away.

Ranloo grinned, his eyes wide with a slightly wild look in them. ´It was effective.`

´You could burn the whole city down,` Felisei whispered, glancing back towards the burning house. They could faintly see smoke rise behind the many rooftops in the distance.

Ranloo nodded, fear fluttering in his stomach again. He sincerely hoped that wouldn't happen. Lucky for them it had rained for days.

´What's that?` Listarl asked and pointed to Ranloo's chest.

He looked down. A small throwing knife sat embedded there. He frowned and pulled it out. They stared at him in fascination as he held up the small knife.

´She hit me.` Ranloo shrugged. The knife was so small it hadn't hurt much. He remembered another sting and felt his side. Finding the other knife, he pulled that one out too.

´Didn't it hurt?` Felisei asked, her face pale.

´Not that much,` Ranloo replied with an amused smile even as he became aware of the strange tingling again. It felt like it was spreading. Then he dismissed it as just his imagination. He let the small knives fall to the ground.

´Tell us what happened,` Listarl urged, studying him carefully. ´We weren't sure how you'd handle it, but burning the house sure wasn't what we imagined.`

Ranloo chuckled and told them what had transpired as they walked back to their own guild.