Kyon repeated, “We are gonna die.” I rolled my eyes “We are doing nothing because you are not going you, stubborn knife-ear dumbass, I'm not taking you along.” He grunted something under his breath “Listen Khyon, this is a stupid quest in the first place, we have to rob a bank set on the island off the coast of Louisiana, which is basically begging someone stupid ship to come near its cannons. Oh, have we mentioned that it's shared between two nations and three races, one of which is your own?” He snorted “And second is your own, also one of the nations too.” We stared at each other Ronald approached Santino laying on the other side of the fire with a saddle under his head and a hat under his eyes. “Have they settled does Elf going or not?” “Nope.” “Are they close?” “Nope.” “I'm going to sleep.” “Good call.” I sighed “O.K. Let's first find some lambs for slaughter then return to this.” He looked at me “Not more than three.” I raised an eyebrow. “Why just three.” “Because I know you, you already counted a minimal number of people for the job and my guess is a minimum of five if I give you more you'll just cut me out.” I smiled, he did know me well “True. So three then.” We both went through the list of people in our heads, more specifically those that fit very specific categories. Able to do the job, willing to work with me, and I won't miss them when they die. I did not kid myself a chance of even me making it was slim.

Target was the semi-artificial island 2 miles out of the coast of Louisiana Built specifically for this purpose. It was an impressive undertaking and would likely be impossible without high-level Elven Art users and Dwarven engineers, Humans provided the bulk of the funding and unskilled manual labor, mainly slave labor. It was approximated between 300 and 500 slaves died in the process, most likely still under the building itself. As Nations go it was an odd partnership. U.S.A and France...on paper. The technically French side was actually just one man who got, most likely with large bribes, persuaded the French to back him, but in practice, he ruled his half independently paying only yearly tax to whoever was in power across the pond. I think it was Republic now but they had more Revolutions than I did drunken benders. Anyway honored Adrien Bertrand Derosie third of his name was a piece of work, I saw him once In San Orleans during my brief stint there. He was filthy rich, ruthless as the worst guttersnipe, and had his own private army or “Security Detail”. Security Detail of at least 1000 people and some said possibly three times as much. Fort Rose was the name that the island was called by locals as a bastardization of his name, although Natives and Slaves had a much less flattering name for it “Blood Island” although “Fort” fitted it as a glove. Apart from the main dock that served as a place for customers to dock and was, well kept an almost pleasant mile ride to the entrance, both ferries that carried passengers and carriages that took them the rest of the way were both luxurious and complementary. Which alone told a lot about the clientele, this was not a bank some poor dolt chose to put his measly 20-30 dollars. Rumors were that the minimum amount to deposit was 1000 bucks or equivalent in precious materials. The place also held private lockers that were 100 dollars a month and available only to the clientele for at least a year. All of this was able to be requested because the place was touted as impossible to rob. But the first actual surge of customers happened when that was put to the test, and quite the test at that. Three Pirate Captains with 5 ships between them and around 700 men they recruited beyond that, gave it a go at the first year of the bank opening. Derosie purchased hulls after ships were sunk and left them there, now skeletal remains of both ships and crew still on them. Poor sods that were stupid enough to be caught were not lucky to be hanged, about 100 of them were skinned alive and placed on walls their screams and cries were heard for about a week, meaning they were kept alive on purpose through some means. Some say that on foggy nights one still can hear echoes of their torment. Between Ship crews and 700 mercenaries, a bit over 1000 people went in, and less than 100 came back, in the following weeks 70 more stupid enough to stay around were hunted by Derosie's men and tortured to death. Some 20 still lived albeit nowhere near Louisiana I had the opportunity to talk to two of them and if anything “Impossible to rob” was an understatement. Derosie shipped from France custom-made canons that were able to outrange anything even the largest of ships could carry, all 5 ships were destroyed before their crews were even near the range to even out of spite return the fire. Then came boats, low profile, sleek, built for speed, at least 50 of them full of men with rifles and long spears they spread around swimming crewmen and systematically slaughtered everyone they saw. One of the men was one of the few lucky to survive it, he said he first cursed his luck because he was deep in the vessel and he was sure there will be no more boats to flee, well he was right about not being boats but not because they were fleeing, All of them were already destroyed, he said he sailed, part as a navy man part as a pirate for 10 years and never saw that many dead bodies. Then one of the riflemen saw him, and a bullet caught him slightly right of his collarbone, shattering it and deflecting into his shoulder also knocking him back into the ship, he stayed there, neck deep in the water until night then found a barrel and used it to get to shore. Lost the use of that arm though, something went bad with the wound. When I saw him about 3 years passed. His right arm was shrunken like a twig like even bone died and withered. The second one was, arguably luckier. He was one of 700 mercs, and they arrived in their own ships due to the amount needed he was in the second wave to land, first-party advancing unchallenged already half a mile up the road. He manage about 100 feet though before all hell broke loose. They were unchallenged because the enemy waited for all of them to land and then opened from prepared hidden bunkers from both sides, It was the massacre. Part of the men bounded into the wood to challenge the enemy they were immediately caught in hundred of traps. He saw men dismembered by an invisible wire, sharp as knives, people vanishing into holes that opened underneath them never to pop up again. People were beheaded by blades strung around trees and activated god's know-how. All the while peppered by the rain of bullets and buckshot. He ran back to his boat and together with a dozen more men get the hell out. He thought they were clear when they reached land. Derosie's men catch up with them on the third day. He got a bullet through the eye but it went sideways and exited through his temple. One of the worst head wounds I saw on a living man, that's what saved him. When they caught survivors it likely didn't even dawn on them that someone with such a hole could still be alive. When he came through he was still near their fire and 4 more corpses were where they fell. They took 7 other men with them, they were unlucky ones. He patched himself up the best he could, then sprinted to the Indian village he had distant cousins in. His grandmother was from the tribe. They did what they could, it was touching and go for a week but he survived and immediately as the other man bailed from the state. So why there were so stupid to land there? because they had nowhere else to land. The main approach was the only one that had more than 30 ft of ground before the walls started. It would take an actual Army to take the place, and likely not through attack but a slow and likely very costly blockade until inhabitants run out of something. But they likely had years worth of supplies inside, possibly even an independent food source, water source they had for sure, several.

This job is a nightmare. “Tenner.” Khyon brought me back I first blinked, and my mind completely went of course. “Locked up. And he'd likely kill me because he's locked up for a string of coach robberies I did. Nobody was hurt so he evaded a rope but 10 years sentence, 2 already served don't endear you to a man.” Khyon sighed “Is there anyone besides me that for sure wouldn't stab you in the front or back?” I seriously thought about it “I think the bulk of them is in this camp.” “Who'd thought? Because you are such a likable guy.” I waved him off “Amsel Three Feathers?” Khyon made a face as he stepped in fresh horse dung “He's a Viper that's expelled from his own father's tribe, and his father is a Chief.” I nodded “Yeah, he's a nasty piece of work, but I never saw someone that good with a knife, also I'm fairly sure he could scale walls without the help of Arts, and since that is the approach I'm thinking about he basically covers the spread. Negatives are that if Derosie offers a substantial reward he'll absolutely find a way to rat us out if he doesn't kill us before and take all loot for himself.” I shrugged “Of course, that is predicated on the notion he will survive robbery, and the margin for that is as thin as it can get. And the worst-case scenario I can make it certain.” Khyon shakes his head “You officially have no right to call someone a nasty piece of work.” “Sure, but I'm not disemboweling innocent women and children either.” “Fine, we have one. And if we're taking such fine characters there is also Dal'Ena Amursil” I raised an eyebrow “Never heard of her.” “And you shouldn't, the former assassin of the High Court, stripped of that honor because of the collateral count, frankly I think she just kills because she likes it. Can give Amsel a run for his money in blade work but instead of Tomahawk and Bowie she's more poisoned short knives and Elven Curved Blade, the closest thing to a two-legged serpent you'll meet excluding Yuan-Ti, and, in my opinion, more coldblooded. Also a competent Arts user, she prefers Illusion, but decent in any school.” I gave a half-grin “We pick all the winners, aren't we?” “Why stop now, Angrok Skulltaker if you think you can keep him on a leash.” I scratched my chin “The Bull? I don't know, that Half-Orc piece of shit is legitimately insane. The other two might be psychos, but they are coherent psychos. When The Bull snaps he'll plaster anything in the way friend or foe. If I could just drop him in the middle of the fort and then let him do his thing he'd be gods given distraction. But traveling with him to the Fort is at least a couple of guaranteed bloodbaths. Even if we somehow keep him away from innocents you think Derosie won't at least raise an eyebrow if several bloodbaths randomly erupt closer and closer to his beloved bank?” Suddenly Santino cuts in “You already have a solution.” Both of us look across the fire at his prone figure, he hasn't moved or spoken since Ronald was here. I thought he was asleep. “We do?” “Well, you said it yourself airlift him and drop him into the Fort. That Elven assassin is good at illusions, she makes him invisible, you brainiac keep him airborne and move him with you. At the right time drop him and enjoy the mayhem...from a safe distance.” Khyon pipes in “And keeping him non-murdery until we get there?” “Anne lived 3 millennia praying on non-geniuses like him, she'll figure out how to keep him docile.” I was slightly surprised “You are coming with us?” “Not the heist part, but seeing how pair of you saw fit to gather bloody backstabiests, duplicitous, murder-happy people in existence I figure you might need some assistance at least as far as the boat can take us.” I won't lie there was a second there when I almost liked the bastard, scary thought. Khyon as always was more malleable “Thanks there will be a handful, especially when we gather them all together.” I looked at him “We still haven't settled you coming.” “Are you sure you'll be able to navigate the wall and The Bull?” I felt I was on the verge of losing the argument and I didn't like it. At my silence, he smiled “There it is, admittance, let it out you'll feel better.” Now it was my turn to smile which immediately brought some worry into his eyes “You'll go as far as Red, Santino, and rest unless you beat me in a game.” His eyes narrow “A game?” I raised my hands in a placating manner “Nothing like gambling where I can cheat the boots of your feet. Simple straightforward bet.” I pulled the coin out of my pocket “I throw this coin in the air, whoever can shoot it first before hits the ground wins. Simple rules. You can use Arts, in turn, I start with Helen already drawn. Do you understand the rules?” He snorted “You know I have superior night vision, right?" I shrugged “And you know I'm a better shot. I asked do you understand the rules.” He was half annoyed “Yeah, yeah.” “Santino will be witness, name the winner, and throw the coin. Agreed?” “I'm glad others are asleep and won't see this embarrassment.” Khyon smirked. Santino sighed under his hat and got up and took the coin from me and offered it to Khyon “Wanna check it for tampering?” “I already did it's just a coin, let's get this over with.” Santino shrugged I drew Helen and removed all bullets placing just one normal one inside and then cocked the revolver. Santino looked at us a glow started forming around Khyons two fingers “Ready?” I nodded holding Helen slightly downward Khyon almost grinned looking me in the eyes “Yup” Santino started the countdown “Three, Two, One.” Several things happened almost at once, the first coin started up, then Khyon's wrist and eyes began to follow it, and at the same time, I launched a small ball of force into Khyons crotch. Nothing drastic, I guess it felt like a decent knee between the legs. His eyes bulged as concentration left him and he doubled over, shot rung half a second later as a coin rose where Khyon's head recently was and caught the light from fire it flew into darkness hitting a rock somewhere out there Khyon looked at me. “You cheated bastard.” I looked at Santino “Judge?” He shook his head. “Rules were: you will use Arts and he will use Helen, I will throw the coin, first one who shoots it out of the air wins. Thats all. Which of those rules was broken?” Khyon looked at him in disbelief “He fucking attacked me.” Santino remained infuriatingly calm "And where in the rules says he couldn't? Why the hell do you think he asked you do you understand the rules, twice? Exactly so he can get away with crap like this, you were so concentrated on all benefits you have over him that you thought of nothing else. Like why he'd asked to play the game that favors you, why would he ask you do you understand the rules twice? Because he wants you to win? When you sign a deal with a devil you always read fine print. If he wanted, he could have shot you in the knee and prevented you from going even to Louisiana with us and still win. You are too honest to play games with him, trade yeah, play games not even close. Now don't pout, you will come a mile from the target, gauging your power you still can help him part of the way.” He took a deep breath and straighten up looking at me, I saw he was sorry, and for some reason so was I. “You are so sure that all of you will die that you'd risk our...busyness partnership?” I looked at him “We're friends. It's odd, I never really had one, it's awkward and messy. But I don't want you dying if it can be avoided.” “Then try to avoid that for yourself too.” I grinned “Oh you can bet I will” “Good.” ball of force slammed me in the balls, and I doubled over and fell on my knees trying not to puke “Now we're even as friends should be.” Chimed in Khyon and walked toward his tent. Santino looked at me from above “You good?” “Oh like a naked babe on the sunny morning.” I groaned from the ground “Ever occurred to you that having someone so powerful with you would drastically diminish the possibility of all of you dying?” I exhaled as worse passed and turned on my back breathing deeply while looking at the stars. “Yes. Ever occurred to you that I don't think that's worth the life of my only friend?” The answer obviously took him aback slightly. After a short pause, he returned back to his place by the fire but before lying down he answered “No. No, it didn't.”