We followed Elizabet through the relatively clean and well-lit, but rank sewers for about a half hour before we came to a door set into the wall. She stopped, obviously afraid.

“Elizabet? Is something wrong?” I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, and she flinched. I swiftly removed it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She took a shuddering breath. “No, nothing’s wrong, Sir. You’ve just killed most of the people I’ve ever known, and will likely kill the rest of them before morning’s light.” She sniffled softly, and Ahte-ukum walked up to her and touched her hand gently.

“It’s okay, Miss Elizabet. Mr. Ivor will make sure the bad people stop being bad. Then you can come with us!” His smile was infectious, as it also crept across Elizabet’s face. “Mr. Ivor is taking us back to our mommy and daddy. Right, Mr. Ivor?” He turned and shot me the biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face.

I knelt in the slime, and cupped his little face. “That’s right. I most certainly am. Children and their parents don’t deserve to be split up by force.” Smiling, I looked up at Elizabet, who was simply bewildered. Standing, I addressed her again.

“So. Is there a reason we’ve stopped, Elizabet? I won’t make you wade out into what will be terrifying. In fact, as long as this is the exit to the docks, and I can leave safely, you four are to stay here. I will keep this door from opening. You will be safe, I swear it. The only things I’ll ask you to do is to make sure my boys here stay safe, and for any of you not to wander off more than thirty yards, or so. If you hear someone coming from behind, I want you to hide. If you can’t hide, use my staff.” I handed her my weapon. “Can you use that?” She nodded. “Is all that okay with you?” I looked her in the eye, trying to gauge her reaction to my request.

“Sure. I can do that. They’re just lizards. They’ll obey any order a human gives them, right?” She shrugged her shoulders.

I straightened to my full height, knowing I was still a good six inches shorter than she. “They are children, Elizabet. Children. Kids wander. Especially when they get bored. Whether they are Lizardfolk or Human, they are still just kids. I’ll not have you treating them as lesser or ‘other’ when they’re just kids. Who gives humans the right to rule over other intelligent species? Just what do you think makes you so much better? They’re simply different, Elizabet. That’s all. Just like I am. I’m different from you. Might want to do some soul-searching while I’m gone. Could do you some good. Understood?” She nodded glumly. “Boys, I’ll be back as soon as I can. Stay with her, and for goodness sake, don’t run off, and don’t do anything that could scare her. Okay?”

The three hugged me and said that they would be good. With that, I opened the door and stepped out into the night once more. I Locked the door behind me, and crept to a nearby tree, just outside of a circle of torchlight.

The river was lazily flowing by, making a soft burbling sound as it did so. I could smell long-dead fish and other aquatic creatures. Ahead of me lay four wooden piers, the two in the middle were currently occupied by small, low boats of an odd make. Both were being offloaded by several teams of dockhands. They looked to be about finished. Dawn was still several hours away.

I looked around for anyone standing out, but couldn’t see anyone. Everyone was busy offloading the cargo from the ships. I heard several curses and a moan, and decided to get closer.

“Shadow step.” I whispered, and then stepped into the shade of the tree, emerging behind several crates stacked behind a stone walled building. I strained my ears, trying to catch a snippet of anything said.

“...would give anything for a hot meal.”

“...I’ve not seen anything this fine since…”

“I think Amos will want to see this…”

I spun my head in the direction of the last comment, and peered through the fog. My true sight spell seemed to have worn off. May as well re-up it. I closed my eyes, and touched them. “Truth in vision.”

When I opened my eyes, I saw the docks clearly. Saw the cargo they were offloading, and began to get angry again. More slaves. Orcs, this time. Knowing I’d need it, I reached into my Bag and pulled out a couple of the fruit pies, and devoured them. I sat still, and listened for a response to the last bit I’d heard.

I didn’t have to wait long. Behind me and to my left, I heard a door open and close, and steps approached and receded towards the ship in question. That must be Amos. “What did you find?” He called out. Once he passed, I slowly raised my head, and looked into the window of the building he exited from. It was dim inside, and I intended to be there, waiting on him. I crept around the crates, and opened the door to his office.

Immediately an alarm sounded, and I panicked. Looking around, the only way out was up. I shut the door, and Stepped to an alcove near the top of the building nearby. I could go no further. Behind me was a dark room on the other side of the window. I slowly opened the window, and made my escape into the warehouse as five pairs of feet made a mad dash for the office. The rest surrounded the warehouses as a way to keep anyone there.

“Check the cages! Make sure none of the greenies muscled their way out. It’s happened before.” The voice belonged to Amos. I looked around, trying to find some sort of cover when the warehouse doors opened wide, spilling torchlight into the area. Ten or fifteen rough-looking men and women spilled in, weapons drawn. I made myself as small as I could in the corner, wondering how I was going to get out of this. They wouldn't stop until the intruder/escapee was caught and dealt with, or they died. I knew that much. I had to find a way out.

Looking around the warehouse, I saw a lone spider in the corner beside me, and had an idea. Touching my boots, I whispered “Spider climb.” I felt them vibrate, and knew something had happened. I took a hesitant, experimental step onto the wall, and felt it as solid and attractive as the ground. Smiling, I crept around to the door, and looked out from the top. It was clear, but I would be awfully exposed if anyone was watching from the docks. Looking back, I saw that the group had finished their inspection and were turning back. I had to move.

I crawled quickly out the door, and quickly climbed to the wooden roof of the warehouse. I had remained unseen, and looked out over the area for Amos, who was most likely in his office. I could easily shoot him, but I’d not have enough firepower for the rest of the thugs. I crawled to the edge of the roof, and looked down into the alley between the buildings. I could see into his office, and saw him at his desk, writing into a ledger of some sort. He looked to be about forty-five years old. Not much older than me. I shook my head. This wasn’t going to be easy. I wanted that ledger, and I wanted his head.

By the time he had finished writing, the boats and the dockhands had all left, the moons had disappeared below the horizon, and dawn was near. He stood, and stretched. It was time. My mind raced with possibilities and hope. My eyes had returned to normal, and I assumed my boots had too. I initiated the Spider Climb spell, and crawled out onto the wall. The light went off inside the office and the door opened. Amos stepped out and locked the door, then I heard him Lock the door. This was bad.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I drew my knife and waited for him to continue down the alley, but he simply stood there for a moment. Then, he turned around, looked up at me, and I saw him smile.

“You should come on down. Talk like gentlemen. We are alone, and I’ll speak plainly. Please. Come down.”

“How do I know you’ll not kill me the moment I move?” I warily shifted my feet, ready to leap.

“Because I watched you vanish from my door, and saw you climb out of the warehouse moments later. I could have told my crew where you were, and they’d have peppered you with arrows faster than you can blink. I’ve let you live this long. I’m curious as to your motives. Come. Speak with me.” He held his arms wide in a gesture of peace.

Against the raving Anger within, I found myself standing, and walking down the side of the building. I leapt down the final few feet, knife held at the ready. “I’m here. Talk.”

“Remarkable. I want to know how you did both of those spells. As well as the others I see that you’ve cast on your clothing.” He walked around me, appreciatively eyeing me. “Simply fascinating. How long did it take you to develop your spells?” He walked back to his office and leaned against the wall.

“About four days.There are reasons you’re never going to be aware of.” I sheathed my knife, knowing combat was out of the question.

“Four days!? That’s it? Just four? Most people take decades to research the Tongue and develop new spells. And that isn’t counting the amount of experimenting they need to undertake. Tell me. How is it that you’ve been able to do this?” He had left his relaxed position against the wall, and seemed animated and eager to learn.

I smirked. “Didn’t I just tell you that my reasons were not going to be revealed? You may be able to command and control your crew, Amos, but I won’t be controlled. Not ever.”

He raised his eyebrow. “Well! It seems you have me at a distinct disadvantage. Who are you, if I may ask, sir?”

I crossed my arms. “I’m the man The Gnat tried to kill tonight. I’m the man who has disabled The Mosquito.” I leaned in, my face a mask of hate. “And I’m the man who has disarmed the one in charge of the flesh market.”

He clapped his hands once, a smile lighting up his face. “You’re the outsider! Ivor, was it? I’d heard you were a hunter, but this… this takes the cake. This is phenomenal. Why did you take in those boys as if they were your own? They’re just lizards, you know.”

“They’re children, Amos. Children don’t deserve to be slaves. Nobody does.” My hands balled into fists.

He scoffed. “Oh, you’re one of those people. Trying to end centuries of tradition. These creatures know their place, Ivor. And it’s beneath you and I. We are the rightful rulers of Chaia. Our gods have deemed it so. There is no place for humans that fail to see this. At best, even the Elves are just a bit below us. This is our world. And you will fall in line, or you will die.” He shrugged. “It’s just the way things are. You’ll see. Or, maybe you won’t. I can’t leave a dangerous man like you alive to spoil my plans, now can I? Goodbye, Ivor.” He turned to walk away, and I heard him mutter something.

The ground around my feet began to vibrate, and I leapt to the wall. Standing there, I watched in horror as the stone walkway crumbled into nothingness. I looked down the alley to see Amos standing there, a look of concentration on his face. He was casting something big. I started running towards him, and he began to shake, beads of sweat rolling down his cheek. Drawing my pistol, I leveled it at him, and pulled the trigger twice. Two crows exploded from the roof of the building I was standing on, cawing raucously. The rumbling ceased, and I cautiously approached Amos, who was standing there, arms outstretched. When I reached him, he seemed to deflate, and collapse. When I held my arms out to catch him, I caught only air. The illusion vanished immediately.

“Shit.” I turned and walked back down the alley, peering into his office. All was as I recalled. I touched my eyes and once more enhanced my vision. I saw nothing unusual in the office, nor down either direction of the alleyway. I muttered “Portal between.” and stepped into a shimmering doorway, and out into the Locked office. Picking up the ledger, I leafed through it, seeing nothing unusual. The entries looked like simple shipping entries for foods and cloth goods. I Duplicated it, and touching each, I whispered “Mine be yours and yours be mine. Twin Image.” I turned to the back of the ledger, and made a mark with a bit of ash from the fireplace, and watched as it turned up in each. Regardless of which one was used, the other compiled it perfectly. I tucked the duplicate into my Bag, and Stepped from the office to the space behind the tree. It was time to get the boys to the inn. I may have failed to dismantle the Guild tonight, but I knew I would return and complete the job.

I Unlocked the door, to see Elizabet asleep, propped up against the wall, the boys curled up next to her, dozing contentedly. I cleared my throat, waking the four of them. “It’s time to go back to the inn, everyone. Come on.

“So. What kind of carnage lay on the other side of that door, Sir?” Elizabet crossed her arms and shot me a look full of daggers.

Gently taking my staff from her, I replied. “None, actually. I was able to sneak in and confront Amos. He somehow managed to cast an illusion on me, and escaped. I’ll have to find a way to remove him from a distance. For now, however, I need rest before we continue on our way to their homeland. Let’s get back to The Sleeping Dog.” I pushed my way past her, and the boys all clambered on top of me, Ahte-ukum peering over my shoulder.

We walked back through the large room, where Artos was still attached to the wall. He roused as we passed by. “Help me. Let me down. Let me die.” His whimpers were pitiful, and I felt no remorse in my choice.

“No, Artos. I told you. I wasn’t going to hurt you. If you want down, you’ll rip your flesh from the wall. And that hand, too. Goodbye.” We continued walking, and Elizabet tried and failed to repress a shudder.

“Something wrong, Elizabet?” I asked as we walked out through the doorway.

She hugged her arms to herself. “Yeah. He’s going to either rip himself off the wall, or die up there. While I’m not sorry that you placed that hand where you did, I don’t think he deserved the rest.”

I stopped and faced her. “Elizabet? Did he touch you? Did he force himself on you? Please tell me.”

The only response was a nod and a tear falling down her cheek. I reached out and gently took her cheek, looking into her eyes. “Hey, now. You don’t have to worry about that anymore. I’ll not force myself on you, nor will I let anyone else do the same. I’m not quite the monster you think I am. When I said you would be under my protection, I meant exactly that. My protection. If anyone tries to harm you, they’ll answer to me. I think you’ve already seen how well that will go for them. I protect the people around me. It’s in my nature. Okay? You won’t ever have to do that again unless you want to. The way it should be. I promise. Let’s go.”

She nodded and sniffled, and we walked on through the sewers. Eventually, we emerged at the flesh market. The air was quiet and still. No conversations could be heard, and I led the group down onto a main street, where the morning vendors were just getting set up.

Turning to Elizabet I asked “Can you take us to the Sleeping Dog? I know it isn’t too far.” She nodded and looked around, then began walking at a brisk pace. Following her, we found the Inn, and I walked in to Master Colben just setting up.

“Ivor! I see you have your slaves back. Was there a problem? And who is this beautiful young lady? A damsel you rescued, perhaps?” He chuckled at his words.

Smiling, I replied “Yes. The man left behind his audacity. I returned it to him, in spades. This is Elizabet. She will be accompanying us on our journey. We are all very tired, and in need of a bath and a rest. Do you have baths available?”

Colben appeared confused, but let the matter drop. “Of course! I’ll have Miriam draw some water in the tubs. I will fetch you when they’re ready, Sir.”

“Thank you, Master Colben. We will be waiting in our rooms.”