Morgan wheeled the cart into the foyer and parked it in the corner to check the contents were all accounted for whilst Kaleb worked through the documents with the Imperial commander. It took forty minutes to get through the first part of the wall, only to be led into a second foyer after passing through a beautiful court garden. Kaleb took residence at the desk controlled by Farlow Port Militia.

“Right let’s see, Paladin, don’t like your type here you know? Rather controversial was your arrival wasn’t it? Set the Imperials off didn’t you?” The squat lady looked up at Kaleb who was at this point at his wick’s end, for it was well documented within the deep reams of paperwork held in the Angelspree archives, lashed over many scrolls in scribbles pointed with broken quill tips that Kaleb, hated paperwork.

“We are ready to move through and be out of your hair.”

“Ah, I bet you are, I bet you are, what a nightmare, what a horror show, terrible stuff going on here you know? A load of political nonsense you know?”

“Please stamp my writ.”

The lady glanced up, her plump cheeks wobbled as they caught up with her face. “Oh, fresh writ here, we don’t accept this one, You’ll need to go back and get the correct one from the commander back there.”

Kaleb almost crushed his teeth as he ground them, he envisioned the many ways in which he could throttle the administrator.

Her cheeks lit up and she chuckled heartily. “Only jokin’!” she slapped the desk and stamped the form. “Gets 'em every time!” she winked at Iridia who herself was covering her mouth to hide the laughter. She liked it when people made their own fun.

Kaleb was not amused, he snatched the paperwork and led the party through into the welcoming plaza. The floor was a beautiful mosaic of yellows, blues, whites and reds, fashioned into swirling patterns that stretched out towards the main city centre. A fountain with a statue of Ardellow Farlow III stood proudly in the centre. Small white buildings encircled the plaza that bustled with activity.

The militia were shooing away beggars from the foot of the fountain as the party approached. One of the militia intercepted them and eyed them up and down. “Ah, you’re that Paladin, eh?” He was a stout Orc with a wide face, a deep shade of green and those beady white eyes.

“Depends on which Paladin you mean.”

“You know, we remember when people involve themselves in our business.”

Kaleb pushed the Orc aside and the party followed, he hadn’t the time to deal with what he considered a lesser being over matters that were more important than his existence, The Emperor's word was final, Orcs are heretics that may not share a foot of soil with the Empire.

The Orc moved back in front of Kaleb, “We should have the right to chase down sneak thieves.”

“I don’t know what you're talking about.”

“The filth you protected.”

Kaleb looked over his shoulder, Flencer, Morgan and Iridia, no Vince. “Where is he anyway?”

Flencer shrugged, “A dunno.” He looked around aimlessly.

“I’m sure I saw him a moment ago,” Morgan scratched his head.

Iridia looked up at Kaleb when they met glances, her face had dropped, “Kaleb.”

“Yes?”

“Where’s your chain?”

Kaleb felt his neck then his chest, he looked around quickly, a flush of heat filled his cheeks and the colour drained from his cheeks. “Tell me one of you has the vault.”

The party shook their heads in unison and then looked at each other.

Kaleb turned back to the Orc who was a picture of pure delight, Revenge in its purest form was always sweet, especially when one need not lift a finger. Of course, the Paladin did not see it as revenge but more of a construed effort against his quest. “Who was he?”

“Ah, well, you should ‘ave—”

“I’ll bring him to you personally.” Kaleb snarled.

Flencer came up beside him, “I know this place quite well, I’ll start making headway, meet me at Friggen-Bockers Drink Hole.”

Kaleb nodded to him, “Morgan, go with Flencer.”

Morgan nodded, wheeled the cart around and followed Flencer down into the city, they were quickly sucked into a crowd and Kaleb brought his attention back to the Orc.

The Orc smirked and kissed his teeth, “He’s called Thadius.”

“Stupid name.”

“Aye, well, he’s been fingered for enough to get him the rope, fair price on his head.”

“I’ll give him to you for free.”

“If you can catch the critter.” The Orc laughed, “Look, speak to Esme, Human rat catcher type, She’ll help you but it’ll cost.”

“Where is Esme?”

Kaleb and Iridia followed the directions the Orc offered. The city wasn’t as glorious as Angelspree, the wall that ran around its perimeter was the grandest feature, and the structures although small and misshapen had a bounty of detail packed into them. Each building had its own artistic flare and the denizens were just as colourful. “This is exactly what we didn’t want to happen.”

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Iridia nodded, her face was pale too, She hadn’t seen Kaleb so panicked, not even when they were looking death straight in the eye. “We need to get it back quickly, surely he’ll be looking to sell it on quick-time.”

“Not to mention my name is now in the books here, if we have enemies of our quest they’ll be hunting our heads while we hunt his.” Kaleb held the door open into a small building that was decorated by a mosaic much like the one found on the main plaza floor. The sign on the building read: “Esme’s” simple enough.

The first room was a couch with a high-backed chair facing it, they sat atop a bearskin rug before a fire. A smooth voice called from another room that was obscured by shiny beads, “Have a seat, I’ll be with you.”

Iridia and Kaleb swapped glances and sat, their knees bounced anxiously, desperate to see that vault which contained the blade. Kaleb tried to calm his nerves, even if the gem was stolen they could not get to the sword, not without the words. Kaleb had repeated them in his head many times to ensure he would never forget, how he longed to feel its weight upon his chest and how he rued the possibility it was stripped from him without him noticing. The chain was made of singing steel and could not have broken away during the melee, someone had undone the clasp ingeniously, and what a job they had done.

A woman pushed her way through the beads, she was strikingly pretty with sharp features and dark eyes, her hair was black and her body reminded Kaleb of those slender hourglasses kept in the council meeting rooms back at Angelspree. “Well then, look at you, you’re a big fellow, what could you possibly need from a lady like me?” She sat on the chair across from them and crossed her long legs. Her leather pants had ties up the side and her boots were heeled elegantly.

Iridia was a little envious of the woman's figure, how she wished to be that tall, what an advantage she’d have on the field and how much more imposing she would be. She frowned, harkening back to the moment she was palmed away by the rude commander at the walls registration room, I bet he wouldn’t talk to this lady like that.

Kaleb enjoyed her beauty but silently and with great covertness, not a fleck of flush in his cheeks or a crack in his voice. “I need help finding someone.”

She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. “Why would you come to me for that?”

“I was given your name, do you know Thadius?”

“Oh my, oh my, Thadius, he’ll cost you.”

“You can have all the reward.”

“Do you know how much coin that is?”

“Coin is used to operate the weak and wet the cock of the degenerate, I am neither, I need him, now.”

Esme adjusted in her seat. “Well then—”

“Can you get him?”

Esme frowned and screwed her nose up, “May I speak?” she watched Kaleb, “Thank you, I can help you, but I’ll need to know where he last was.”

Kaleb looked at Iridia, “He came into the gatehouse didn’t he?”

“Yes, I saw him.”

“There is your answer.”

Esme placed a finger on her chin, “He has stolen something from you.” Her eyes flashed with dramatic lust.

“None of your concern.”

She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, “Oh my, oh my, well then!” she put her long black hair up into a scruffy ponytail and rose.

“No one will be helping the Paladin.” The new voice parted the beads before the owner followed through and into the room, A tall Orc folded his arms and looked over Iridia and Kaleb. “Not without my say so,”

“Who are you?” Kaleb’s eyebrow quirked.

“You treat my boys poorly,”

“They broke the law.”

“Stickler for the law won’t do no good in this place.” He approached and stood by Esme’s side, his large hand resting on the back of the chair. “We already have two filthy Paladins siphoning this place, we don’t need a third.”

“The quicker I find this Thadius the quicker I am out of your hair.”

He laughed and looked at Esme who returned the glance. “I can have you tossed out.”

“Good luck trying.”

“I have heard news of your heroics at the gate, beating up peasants, I can see you would be trouble, I can fetch you Thadius, or at least Esme can.”

“Why haven’t you got him already and cashed in the reward?”

“He works for me.”

Kaleb stood so quickly the couch nearly tipped with Iridia still seated.

Esme recoiled at the sight of the furious Paladin.

“A blade dangles above your head Orc, I hold the hilt, tell me what I wish to hear.”

He smiled a toothy grin, “You will do something for me, I shall do something for you.”

“You set us up.”

“Well, an opportunity presented itself, and our resourceful Thadius took it, he’s quite the asset.”

Kaleb clenched his fists and glanced at the hammer he had set on the floor.

“Go ahead, kill me, kill Esme—”

“Hey now.”

“If you do, you’ll never see what Thadius took from you, he’ll be gone like piss in the wind.”

Iridia looked uncomfortable and crossed her legs, She had no idea what decision Kaleb would make but she held her spear upright and was ready to follow her master into battle.

“How can you assure me?”

“You must take my word for it, it’s all you have.”

“What would you ask of me?”

“Kill Trinius and Saldagor.”

“Paladins?”

“Indeed.”

“I may only kill a Paladin if they have broken their oath.”

“Find a reason to kill them.”

Kaleb picked his hammer up and inspected it, Esme and the unknown Orc watched, for a moment their faces betrayed their cool confidence and their mouths dropped when he half-swung the hammer, “I cannot trust you, you wish for me to have at two Paladins…”

Esme moved to stand.

“Sit down.” Kaleb’s eyes flared.

She did so, elegantly all the same.

“What did Thadius pinch from me?”

The Orc chuckled, “What?”

“Tell me what he took, prove to me you know.”

His head wobbled, “A necklace.”

“Describe it.”

“Had a pendant, blue.”

Kaleb gave nothing away and looked past them through the beads and then studied their faces. Iridia rose slowly, her spear could cut through the tension.

The fire crackled and they remained silent for what felt to them a long time, in reality, it was just thirty seconds. Kaleb's eyes shimmered gold and he approached the Orc with his free hand outstretched to shake it.

Iridia bit her lip, concerned that Kaleb was willing to make a deal with an Orc to kill a Paladin. The Orc looked at the large hand of Kaleb.

“You have a deal.”

The Orc smiled at Esme and his palm met the Kalebs.

“Vince.”

The orc's eyes widened and he went to his knees as his hand was crushed by Kaleb’s grip. He brought his other hand on top in a pathetic attempt to prise those fingers from him. His face shifted and melted as he took upon the appearance of several races and people.

Esme hopped up and behind the chair, making to leave, Iridia was one step ahead of her and had blocked the exit. “Stay put, Esme.”