The Thieves Guildhall of Ascorn was very lovely. Lots of chandeliers, and the torture chamber was behind a secret door in the basement, as of yet unused.

Arkan planned to have a significant presence once Lilas took control. It was disguised as a bank, of course, whatever that was. Some advanced form of money-lending where you couldn't hang the money lender. And in the back was a safe, kept under heavy guard, with a lot of money in it.

Although red and Vow weren't here, Arkan had ordered the group to disperse a bit.

Tavish knew several people already planned to rob it if the Thieves Guild went under. And he knew Arkan knew and had done nothing. Tavish wondered if Arkan had anything better to do with the money. Then again, most of it was heavy and solid gold.

But that didn't matter because Tavish Kern was in love. Theirs had been a whirlwind romance stirred up in two meetings.

Taking sight of the armor with the object of his passion, he lined up the sights. Then he fired, and the bolt sprang forward free and clear. It plunged deep into the armor, straight through where the heart had been.

Then he shot again and got the armor in the stomach.

"How is the target practice?" asked Lamech.

Lamech had ratted them out, and Tavish had used his anger to try and kill him so he'd be imprisoned. Neral Dinis could not have legitimately held him, and the moment he saw William, he'd known the game was up.

William had a way of showing up places and making things interesting. Seeing as Tavish despised most of the people, bad things happened too...

He wasn't so upset. He already had his money well-supplied.

"This crossbow is amazing," said Tavish with a smile. "It takes virtually no time to train with, is easy to aim, pieces through solid metal, and even has a second shot. Bags is a genius, and chivalry is officially dead.

"If we'd gotten this thing a few years ago, we could have forced terms on Atravain. But, as things stand, there is limitless potential. Any idiot can down the strongest knight in the best armor with a lucky shot."

Although, to be fair, chivalry had fought a much better battle than anyone anticipated. William had set off a chain reaction of a kind. Lots of the worst bandits were hunted down, and roads were being restored. Some more brutal taskmasters had been hung, and many organizations reformed. Tavish, meanwhile, had freed virtually every slave Atravain had. He'd shifted them to locations where they could be useful in the villages.

It had given him a lot of covers and appeased Rusara. She needed manpower. Now, at last, he had a chance to spend all that money he'd saved up. All because of knights trying to have shining armor. A good legacy.

"Not necessasarily," said Lamech. "Proper tactics could allow one to bypass the line of sight and engage them in melee. In addition, they violate the principles of personal combat. It would be useless against demons. Bows are difficult enough to kill supernatural creatures with. You have to swear an oath or make the shot special.

"These impersonal weapons are useless, not without expensive preparations. If you swore an oath or something to that effect to use a crossbow, that would be very impractical.

"Where did you get it?"

"Oh, Imogen helped me nab one of a shipment bound for Lord Kern," said Tavish. "Or Imogen, as she called herself here. It's a different name for any other aspect. Kern hopes they can help him put down the Furbearers for good.

"Imogen didn't like that."

"Nice," said Lamech. "Should be a lot of blood."

"Gentleman, I am pleased you think chivalry is not altogether dead, but we have a crisis to deal with," said Arkan. Arkan actually liked chivalry in an intellectual sense. Mostly because he'd done a lot of adventuring with Dunmoore, and it was nostalgic.

Tavish looked up from the firing range. It was a high-ceilinged room, and Arkan stood in leather armor. His spear was in place, and guards were around from his homeland. These were well-armed and loyal to something other than money. He looked much more admiral than thief at the moment.

"Some crisis," said Lamech. "All you're most reliable subordinates are only carrying legal goods. You kept all of them separate from one another. Not one of them had a discussion with you or anyone else directly.

"This is literally the first we've been together out in the open like this."

"Fine words from someone cutting and running," said Tavish.

"You cut and ran weeks ago," said Lamech.

"Well, obviously," said Tavish.

Arkan sighed. "Enough.

"Now that Cirithil has legal rights to our holdings, we'll have to play things his way for a bit, Lamech. However, our convoys are already en route and should replenish our cash reserves. They need to learn about the resources, and Cirithil has control of the fort.

"On the bright side, Cirithil will take most of the heat.

"Unless...

"Do they know about our outpost?"

"Not to my knowledge," said Tavish. "William took no action against it there, and I think he's making this up as he goes. If he knew about it, why not just cross the mountain and go directly there? Jehair might be smart enough to do this, but she prefers us to the Antion nobility. And she's gonna need us for when she takes over Blackfear.

"Larxe could figure it out, but William is a Paladin, and somehow I doubt he was sitting at that table of his own free will. Just because he convinced Larxe to attack the undead doesn't mean she'll listen.

"And even if she does, his goal is to get to Gel Carn. He doesn't even know what we're doing out here."

"The Dreaming Goddess has been darting around," said Lamech. "She might alert him to Cirithil's operations."

"What if she does?" asked Arkan with a sigh. "William has no army to gather, and Cirithil's are, broadly speaking, in the worst of all worlds, legal. Even if he does ally with Neral Dinis to take out Cirithil and his merchant allies, what then?

"Is he really going to rush off simply because a few are from Haldren?

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Jehair is going to direct him elsewhere; she hates Harlenor."

"What if William has control of her? Redemption is a possibility," said Tavish. From a Paladin sense, anyway.

"If that were going to happen, it would have happened long ago," said Arkan. "Jehair is not going back on everything she has been scheming for because she likes a blonde kid." Tavish reminded himself that William was younger than him. Tavish was a genius to set all this up. He wondered if William was just a prodigy. "Maybe he'll convince her to be more lenient in her plans, but she's not a god, and William is no messiah."

"Master and Apprentice," said Lamech.

"What?" said Arkan.

"Blackguards have a philosophy," said Lamech. "You cannot learn everything by yourself. If you want to grow in strength, you must find a master. Someone you acknowledge is stronger and more varied than you.

"It is called the Code of the Sathri.

"William might acknowledge Jehair as a superior adventurer. He might regard her as necessary, even a worthy opponent. However, during the discussions I witnessed, he did not take her into his counsel.

"It is possible that William has already deduced Jehair's nature and has only been waiting to turn on her. He is simply waiting for the opportune moment. Most likely, when Larxe has savaged Cirithil and his men to death, leaving his hands clean. At that point, both he and Jehair' are on divergent courses.

"One of them must destroy or usurp the other. As the weaker part, if William does not usurp her now, his glory and honor go to her. So, defeat her in a sword duel or have Larxe arrest her. Or both. Send her to Antion as he did me, have her sell us out."

"He's wasting his time," said Arkan. "They'll never crack Jehair; she is a zealot, not a mercenary. Her goal has been to help Antion along with their inevitable suicide. She has no family, no strong personal connections who wouldn't be hung."

"She might want to take us with her," said Lamech.

"She'll die before she chooses the nobility over the common people!" said Arkan, angrier than he expected. He'd worked with Jehair long enough to understand what she hated, and parasites were one of them.

"She might hate both equally and see it as a chance to set them against one another," said Lamech, ever the cynic.

"What about Princess Oresa?" asked Tavish suddenly. "She could have value as a hostage. And she's near here. Her guardians are off raiding Babarassians while she is nice with children."

"I already have someone watching her," said Arkan. "If the news is bad, we head for Haldren. We take the gold reserves we stashed there, sell her for what we can get, then work things out from there."

At that moment, an officer arrived. "Admiral, sir." Arkan preferred being called Admiral when in ports. He was nostalgic for days spent patrolling the Islands of Power and battling pirates. Particularly Raj Danal and his nemesis, Kamar.

"What is it?" asked Arkan.

A letter was offered, and Arkan took it with a stoic face. Then, looking at the seal, he raised an eyebrow. "A letter from Maius of all people. A warning." He broke the seal and unrolled it. "Jehair has been arrested; Larxe is making an alliance with Korlac. Isriath is refounding a settlement in the old fortress. They are allied with Neral Dinis and the people of Blackfear.

"All of our convoys are being intercepted, and those with illegal goods are detained. They know our fortress, so it is useless as a smuggling operation. The Naker will not get their slave shipments; their goods have been taken as weregild. Wild animals have devoured their satyr contacts.

"Cirithil has gone insane after endorsing infant sacrifice. All of his merchant contacts are dead, killed by the satyrs. And the werewolves want to join the police. And William defeated Jehair in single combat before returning her scythe to Imogen."

Dead silence.

"So much for organized crime," said Lamech in amusement.

"Time to cash out," decided Tavish, retrieving the bolt for his crossbow and rewinding it. None of his merchants had been involved in that. He'd figured it better to just own the fortress.

"Henceforth, gentlemen, it is every man for himself," said Arkan as Tavish returned it.

"Secure what escape routes you can and get out of Antion. No political protection will be of use; Korlac is out for blood. Take what money you have and go to locations that need it. Places with little respect for Antion law.

"Try seeking passage on slave-ship; they will have a lot of empty cargo holds.

"And stay off the road.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm missing my exit plan.

"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!"

Arkan Lantan hurled the scroll into the air, sprinted out the door, and Tavish and Lamech bolted after him. He was unsure whether to stab him, shake him down, or demand a piece of the action. Everyone in Ascorn around them also scattered. He either rushed for the door or started looting the place. The safe where the Guild Finances were kept was being ransacked as they sprinted out. Apparently, they'd started after the message got through.

Arkan opened a side door that was kept locked, opening it with a unique key. They walked through calmly while everyone was panicking. From the looks of things, the entire street was falling into pandemonium. Maius had sent several letters.

Coming to the place with the healers, they saw the member of the Guild who had been watching Princess Oresa. The auburn-haired had huge breasts, but nobody cared about her as a person. Finally, she looked up, and Lamech knocked her off the head, so she fell as a swoon before being carried out.

By now, people were rushing out into the streets, trying to sell off valuables they'd had before. Others were trying to rob what stores they could before they went for the docks. Still, more were rushing straight off to get on the ships out. The gold and silver were sold, only for many people to come out and try to loot them.

Dodging through the crowd, the three saw lines and lines of criminals. They were rushing to try and get through the ships. Tavish recognized them as some of the worst people he knew.

"We'd better hurry," said Tavish.

"No, don't panic," said Arkan, walking. "Remain calm and composed and use the escape route I've set up. I have a small ship with enough finances to start somewhere else."

Coming to the ship, Tavish halted.

A minotaur and a group of cloaked men were sailing off in it. The minotaur had an eyepatch and a hook for a hand and wielded a cutlass while ships were departing. Bankers and longtime extortioners were bargaining years of ill-gotten gains. All for a place on slave ships.

"Kamar!" roared Arkan. "What are you doing this far north? You don't even sail outside the Islands of Power!"

"I'm a minotaur pirate!" cried Kamar back with huge hands before his snout to magnify a gruff voice. "I sail all seas! Kafka sends his regards!"

Arkan drew up his spear, hurled it, and caught the minotaur in the should, so he fell. But the minotaur hurled his cutlass. Arkan ducked under it and caught it before seeing it in hand. Then he broke it on the stones and tossed it away.

"No matter," said Arkan, going to an entrance to the sewers and opening it. As he did, many money-lenders fled angry mobs, as well-liked merchants sold tar and fathers. Lamech raised a sword, and the mobs fled. "Follow me."

And hurrying down the ladder, Arkan scaled the ladder. Meanwhile, a troop of circus performers ran off with the Guild Finances. Meanwhile, the enraged thieves went after them with pitchforks. Finally, making a stand, a bearded strongman in a dress beat them up while they seized a ship by force.

Lamech was down, and Tavish scaled down and shut the hatch. Then they got into the filth. Landing, he turned as Lamech shut the door. "I have another ship moored here. It should serve us well."

"Why wasn't the hatch locked?" asked Tavish.

Coming around the corner, they saw the ship sailing out of a secret cove hidden from sight. At the back was an overweight, Babarassian clad hood to toe in brown and a cyclops wielding a huge sword. "Gentlemen, we are but poor lost circus performers," said the man. "And we're taking your ship."

Tavish raised his crossbow and fired two bolts. Both of which were deflected by the man's sword. "You cheating...

"That's not fair!"

"Calm yourself, Tavish," said Arkan. "This was always a possibility." And pressing a stone, the wall opened to reveal a secret door into the darkness. "This will bring us to a secondary ship I set up. One guaranteed to remain in good order and unstealable by all the Gods of Antion.

"It was a condition of coming in here.

"And I checked it in myself a week ago."

And hurrying down a passage, they came through and found the ship rotting as if under a century. Its mast had broken, and it fell apart to descend half-submerged.

"What the hell is this!" said Lamech. "Even in Antion, nothing is sacred!"

At that moment, Kiyora Yagos appeared in a flash, blue hair flowing and clad in white armor. "Blessings of Laevian and the Dreaming Goddess, jerk." Then she sent a wave of light at Lamech, sending him reeling back. His armor cracked against the stone, shaking while Kiyora spun around and struck a pose. "See you!"

Then she vanished in a flash. Lamech groaned in pain.

"We'd best get well beyond the city's walls," said Arkan, not helping Lamech up. "The panic will not have spread that far."

And they hurried off as quickly as possible, Tavish halting to help Lamech stand. They rush up a series of steps and come out. Behind them was a scenic little village. And they were busy hanging several crooks who Tavish had played them again. Looking back, Tavish saw piers stocked with many known thieves fighting to get onto a ship. There was also a heavily guarded ship.

Heading down, Arkan came down the hill and walked toward it.

"Hold it right there, Arkan Lantan," said the guard. "You're under arrest for-"

Arkan snatched his spear and whacked him over the head with it. One of the guards went at him, but Tavish knocked him over the head with the butt of his crossbow.

"Wait," said the guard. "That vessel isn't seaworthy!"

"He's lying!" said Arkan loudly so the crowds could hear. "Onto the ship, quick!"

Instantly a large group of fleeing people rushed past him to pile onto it in a panic. But, even as they piled on, the vessel broke beneath them and spilled them into the ocean. They plunged into the sea, spluttering and yelling in a fury. Meanwhile, Lamech cracked his knuckles. The merchant had transported some of the malas that got them here.

"Admiral," said the man. "My ship is yours."

Lamech punched him out and sent him to the ground. Then they took his ship and crew.

Thus they cast off as floundering men tried to scale up the side of the ship, and Lamech laughed. The crew, meanwhile, beat them off with whips until they were forced to swim back alone. Tavish reloaded his crossbow.

"What do you want to be done with the crew?" asked Lamech.

"Lamech, please," said Arkan as they gathered. "These strangers have befriended us through faith alone. It would be unbecoming of gentlemen thief like ourselves to mistreat. We must use the utmost respect.

"Indeed, a true thief must be akin to a King, first in every dangerous pursuit and last to"

"For Viokinar!" cried Kamar. "For Kreshlak!"

Beside them came Kamar's pirates, waving swords and crying out in battle. The crew raised the blade to meet them. Tavish, for his part, leaped over onto the empty vessel and shoved it off with an oar. Lamech and Arkan leaped after him as the last pirates entered the vessel and halted. The crew and pirates turned in surprise as they realized what was happening.

"Thank you, Kamar, for your gift of an unoccupied vessel!" said Arkan. "I pray that you receive the same hospitality and adventure I did with these fine men!"

"ARKAN!!" roared Kamar. "Another time! I'll see you dead!"

And the fight for the vessel started. Shortly before, it capsized, and everybody had to swim back to shore. Meanwhile, Arkan got away with all his plunder, laughing.

But Arkan was done, and they sailed as quickly as they could, not knowing or caring for the crew's fate. As they did, Arkan looked to Tavish. "Tavish, as soon as we arrive in Haldren, begin your masterstroke. It's the last chance you'll get.

"Lamech and I will initiate a plan of our own. You can get us protection until we can reform our operations. Korlac cannot be allowed to run Antion indefinitely; we'll have to unseat him. Once he gets started, he'll make a noose of the world.

"Tie up Oresa, and let's go."

Tavish had to admit; he liked this sendoff. But it would have to be paid for.

"Are you sure no one is following us?" asked Lamech.

Arkan laughed. "In the chaos of the evacuation, everyone is looking after their own skins. He has no connections or preparations and is late to the party and is late to the party. William will be hard-pressed to even know we were here."

"William works for Kiyora Yagos," noted Lamech.

Tavish didn't care.

This had been a bad month. But at least he'd got to see the thing collapse in spectacular fashion. It had been... fun.

Now they had to deal with the aftermath, and that was not going to be fun.

Three.