Prologue
Resh walked through the muddied street, black quarter length coat fastened tight around his body with its collar flipped up against the wind and the rain. His boots, shined this morning, were caked with mud and stuck into the wet earth with every step. The mud and rain had rubbed off the blood at least.
Walking up to the door of a popular pub on the end of the street, Resh made his way inside. Warm air and smoke washed over him as he entered the dimly lit common room. A hearth blazed in one corner of the room, illuminating the many tables half filled with patrons enjoying a late night ale. A bard played a soft tune at one of the tables near the door. The bitter scent of tobacco filled the air.
Resh trudged up to the bar, leaving a trail of mud behind him, and sat down next to a rough looking man lost in his drink. The man seated next to Resh looked up at Resh then sighed, swearing under his breath. The barkeep walked up then, but Resh waved him off.
“Nice work tonight, Denner.” Resh spoke to the man next to him without looking directly at him. “You saved a woman’s life, you should be proud.”
“Proud?” The man next to Resh shook his head. “You got me by the balls and I should be proud?”
“Yeah, you should. You’re doing good work for the community.” Resh said with a chuckle.
“Yeah, well it’s hard to see how this is a good thing when I’m under the threat of murder.” Denner took another swig of his ale.
“I’m your shadow, Denner.” Resh produced a knife from the sleeve of his coat and began polishing the blade. The barkeep gave him a wary glance, but continued about his business. “You can’t be murdered unless I am the one doing the murdering.”
“You call yourself a righteous man?” Denner spat at him, under his breath.
“I do.” Resh said, staring at his blade as he polished the fine steel. “I will do whatever it takes to make this world a better place.” He looked Denner straight in the eyes then, “You’d best remember that, next time you think about laying your hands on a woman again.”
“Hmmph,” Denner shook his head, “What about a man?”
“Depends on the man, I suppose.” Resh went back to polishing his blade. “Anything else you think I should be aware of this evening?”
“Well, if you’re my protective guardian angel, then I suppose you should be aware of something I heard this evening while you were out doing a righteous man’s work.” Denner sneered.
“And what would that be?”
“The Borderman knows that it was you who took out his best players last week. They’ve been shadowing you.”
“That’s impossible,” Resh said quickly, “A shadow doesn’t cast another shadow.”
“Perhaps, I can only say what I heard.” Denner shrugged, “The Borderman has hired men from the Ravenclaw to kill you. Tonight.”
Resh smiled, “Did he now.” He slipped the knife back into his coat. “Well, I’ll have to give them a little show then.”
“The Ravenclaw do not scare you?” Denner asked, not bothering to hide his surprise.
“I’ve seen too much evil in this world to be frightened anymore.” Resh told him as he got out of his seat. “Thanks for the news, friend. Be sure to have some more work for me tomorrow.”
Resh slipped away and left the pub.
The rain had slowed to a drizzle mist as Resh walked through the streets of the city. It was pitch black but for the lit lanterns that were dotted throughout the streets. Resh’s plan was simple enough. All he needed to do was wander through the streets, making it seem like he was going somewhere, and the people out to get him would appear eventually.
It didn’t take long for him to gain a tail, and when he did he was glad. It had been a long night already and he was wondering when he would be able to get this business done and go to bed. He led the group that appeared behind him on for a bit until he came to a corner in the street. Dashing around the corner, he hopped a fence of a nearby home and fished out two concealed long knives from inside his jacket. He then waited.
There were three that he had seen, all dressed in common clothes. Two came around the corner that Resh had disappeared around. They had drawn knives, much like Resh’s. Peeking from in between the boards of the fence, Resh watched them close in. They were wary, they had lost sight of their prey.
Resh wasn’t going to chance being taken by surprise, so he jumped out from behind the fence and faced the two men only paces in front of him. They reacted by tensing for a moment before rushing him both at once.
Resh whirled to the side as they closed in, putting one of the assassins in between him and the other. He parried the man’s knife with one hand, and slashed the man’s forearm with a quick follow up from his other hand. His knife bit deep into the forearm but to the assassin’s credit, he made no sound as he winced away.
Letting the man he just injured retreat a bit before slipping in the mud, he engaged the other as the second assassin leaped at him, trying to grasp him. Resh whirled again, slapping the man’s reaching arm away and parrying his following knife thrust. Resh kneed the man in the groin as he got in close, hearing an audible grunt from his attacker. Resh then stabbed with his right hand, piercing the man’s weapon arm and pinning it to his body as the tip of his knife went through arm and chest. Right after, he followed with a thrust of his other blade, plunging it into the neck of his opponent. With one swift motion, Resh whirled away, brutally slashing his opponent as he withdrew his knives, blood spattering the fence.
Just then a bow twanged and on instinct Resh ducked and whirled to his right. An arrow whizzed past him and he dashed towards the direction it was coming without even seeing the threat. As he dashed, he found the bowman only yards away, but the muddy alleyway made it difficult to find purchase on the slippery ground. With great speed the man with the bow redrew and fired again. Resh just managed to dodge the arrow, though it whizzed just past his face. The man with the bow was redrawing again when Resh wound up and threw his knife.
The bowman dodged the throw, but it stopped him from redrawing. In that brief time, Resh managed to get close enough to plunge his blade into the man’s heart, lifting his opponent off the ground and shoving him down hard into the mud. The man mouthed words, but they just came out as a groan of pain. Resh savagely withdrew his knife and picked up the bow. He took an arrow from the dying man’s quiver and drew it while whirling on the wounded man now running back down the alley.
Only giving a second for aiming, Resh loosed an arrow and it plunged deep into the running man’s thigh. The wounded man let out a scream and fell hard into the mud. He crawled on his arms toward the lit street only yards away but another arrow plunged into his back and he let out another cry.
Resh came up slowly behind the dying man, one more arrow in his hands. He set it on the bowstring and arrived at the man’s side. The man looked up, pain and fear plain on his face. He begged for mercy as Resh, stone faced, drew the bow once more.
The next morning, Resh was having breakfast at his favorite Café in the market square when he saw the news. He was going about his usual routine of reading the daily paper over a hearty breakfast and a hot steaming cup of Za, a bitter and hot beverage that he seemed totally dependent on to wake up in the morning. In the paper he saw two headlines that caught his interest. One was an article about some people found brutally murdered in an alleyway somewhere in the city. They had been found by the watch with no identification, and with wounds and a scene that suggested that they had not had a quick or merciful death.
The other article that caught his interest was one that announced the arrival of a high ranking Paladin to the city. The article announced that she was accompanied by a total of eight other Paladins. Such an arrival was something of note in a small city like this. The city of Barkton was too far south along the Sharp Coast to receive the bulk of trade happening in the Merelian Kingdoms right now. As such, it was less prosperous and smaller than the other coastal cities. Crime was high however and this might be a sign that the Order of Light had taken an interest in the region. More than it had before.
This is what a common citizen might think of such news. Resh supposed it was a possibility, but he knew it meant something different for him. It was a summons.
The weather had improved from the previous night. The hot sun rose high in the air, creating a muggy and moist atmosphere within the city. The heat and the moisture didn’t stop Resh from wearing his coat, though the sweat dripped off of his brow and into his stubble. He was glad he had ddecided to crop his hair when he came to this city years ago, it was much too hot here to have it any longer. He didn’t know how the ladies of this realm survived.
Resh’s boots shined in the sunlight as he navigated the lone cobblestone street running through the prosperous district. He had taken extra care to shine them again this morning, as he always did. Making his way down to the large stone building that housed the City Watch, he took extra care to avoid the still muddied parts of the road.
Walking inside the large and intimidating building with the honor guards eyeing him intensely, he strode up to the reception desk where a lovely looking woman greeted him.
“Hello, I’m here to see the Paladin squad that arrived yesterday.” Resh told the receptionist. “Will you send them a message that the Silver Serpent is here to see them?”
“Uh, yes Sir.” The receptionist looked at him oddly, “If you’ll please wait.” She motioned for him to have a seat on the bench near the window.
Resh stood rather than sat, hands clasped behind his back, and feet shoulder length apart. He didn’t wait long before the sound of boots could be heard along the hall leading farther into the building. Resh turned to the sound and found a woman clad in armor following the receptionist back into the room. The woman in armor had her black hair cropped short, no doubt for combative reasons. It somehow fit her stern but beautiful face. Her armor was polished steel, not too heavy to be a burden in combat but enough to provide necessary protection in close melee combat.
“So you are the Serpent?” She announced as she looked Resh over.
“Yes, and you are?” Resh bristled a bit at her tone, it was a tone suggesting that she did not relish the thought of conversation with him.
“I am Commander Valencia,” She waved him to follow her into the hallway, which he obliged. “I was instructed to come here and set up an office for the Order. I was also sent here to meet up with you.”
“And why is that?” Resh asked, “I sent word to the Order that I would be taking care of developments in this city.”
“Well, apparently your needed elsewhere.” Velencia stated as she entered an office off to the side. Resh entered after her and found a cozy office where eight others were seated or standing around. All of them turned to stare at Resh, who nodded his head nervously. Cups of Za were set on the table in the middle of the room and Resh couldn’t help but rush over and help himself to some as the others looked on in mild amusement.
“Ah, Za! This is truly the nectar of the gods. I can’t live without it.” Resh said with a smile, producing a few chuckles from the ladies in the room as he poured himself a cup.
“This is the Serpent,” Commander Velencia announced to everyone in the room.
“Silver Serpent, actually.” Resh smiled to the room then took a long sip of the bitter Za. “Resh to my friends.” He turned to Velencia, “What did you mean when you said I was needed elsewhere?”
“The order has also sent me here to relieve you of your duties here and give you your new orders.” Velencia said as she sat down at the main desk. The others watched silently. “You will be sent North, into the wildlands.”
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“Wildlands?” Resh asked surprised. “Why on earth would I be sent there?”
“I do not know, but you are to set up a base in the city of Brink and spread order among the region.”
“Set up a base?” Resh nearly dropped his cup of Za, “That means…”
“Yes, you have been given the title of commander and you will be taking command of four Paladins, of which are in this room right now.” Velencia waved to rest in the room. “Come forward.”
Four of the others in the room rose from their seats or came forward from their standing position, but Resh hardly noticed. “What the hell is going on? I’m not going to be commander of an order chapter!” Velencia froze, as did everyone in the room.
“I work alone, I do not command, and I certainly do not take orders from you.” Resh pointed at Velencia.
“These orders come straight from the Order of Light, as do we!” Velencia rose to her feet and glared at Resh. “The orders are not to be questioned, they are to be followed.”
“And that’s what makes you such a great Commander is it?” Resh spat at her, “To follow orders blindly until it gets you killed. That isn’t the way I do things, and that is certainly why this is a mistake or a joke. I am not a commander, I work alone and that is the best way I work.” Everyone’s jaws dropped open except for Velencia, who grinded her teeth in rage.
“Not anymore.” Velencia growled. “The Speaker of Light gave me these orders personally, and also this to give to you.” She said, grabbing an envelope on her desk and jabbing it forward towards Resh. Resh paused, set down his cup, and then stepped forward to snatch the envelope from her hand. He ripped it open and read the letter that was contained within right then as Commander Velencia sat down with a thump and let her face drop to another shade of red.
After a few moments of reading the letter, Resh folded it neatly and stuck it in his pocket. A look of resignation flooded his face as he picked up his Za again and took a sip. The room was silent, everyone in awe of what just transpired in the room.
“Very well,” Resh said before setting down his cup, “Whichever four of you are now my slaves, grab your stuff and meet me at the Devil’s Pier in a candlemark.” With that he turned stiffly to leave.
“You can’t just leave like this! I need a report on what is transpiring in the city!” Velencia shouted.
Resh opened the door and turned quickly to address her, “You’ll do fine, I’ve taken care of mostly everything. Just watch out for a man called the Borderman, and be wary of the Ravenclaw. If there are any left, that is.” With that he waved and left the room.
When he was gone, Velencia unleashed a stream of the worst profanity anyone in the room had heard in a long time.
“Maa’m,” One of the people who had stepped forward, a man with a goatee, said awkwardly. “Do we do as he says?”
“I’d damn well keep you here myself if I could, but he’s been given authority by the Order to command you, so you’d better do as he says.” Velencia waved them off. “May the Light bless you all, you’re going to need it.”
Devil’s Pier was a ramshackle of splintered and rotten wood, jutting out into the waves of the ocean. At the end of the pier was a modest ship, floating upon the waves with the crew lounging about on deck, exchanging glances with the four people standing at the entrance to the pier. The four Paladins each wore worried and concerned expressions on their faces.
“Do you think this guy is even the real Silver Serpent?” Said one of the four. He was a lean man with shoulder length brown hair and a stylish goatee. He carried a light travel bag and an unstrung bow with a quiver.
“I hope not, Grey.” Said the other man in the group. His name was Felix, and had made quite a name for himself as one of the best fighters in the Order. He had a shaven head, dark skin, and was nearly as tall as the man they were talking about at nearly six feet tall. Next to him was a large trunk full of armor. “If he is, then we are in big trouble.”
“Maybe not,” Said one of the women in the group. She was known as Bella, a mage gifted in healing magic. She wore light cream coloured robes and carried a staff of bleached white wood. Her long hair was completely white, as was all the hair on her body, despite her young age. This was not an uncommon trait, but common among those that came from the People of the North. “I’ve heard rumours of him, he is supposed to be one of the best Paladins in the realm.”
“Bella, the man called us his slaves and he doesn’t even want to command us. I’d say we’re in trouble too.” Said the last member of the group, a slim woman wearing light armor of leather and steel. She had a longsword attached to her belt, one of exquisite craftsmanship. Her long red hair flowed softly in the wind. Phylla was her name..
“Well, whatever we might think, we are in for a long ride at sea. Brink is far to the North. It will take us about twice as long to sail there as it did getting here from the capital and it’ll be most likely blanketed in snow when we get there.” Grey said.
“Snow!?” Bella asked excitedly, “I’ve never seen it! That will be wonderful!”
“No, it will be damn cold. So you’d better wear something warmer than that.” Came a voice from afar. The group swung around to find Resh approaching with a large chest he wheeled along the deck behind him.
“Oh, Yes Commander.” Bella looked down at her shoes as he approached.
“Hmm, Commander. I could get used to that title, I guess.” He smiled at the four when he stopped beside them. “Names.”
They all named themselves and to their surprise Resh shook each of their hands as they introduced themselves.
“Good,” Resh said once they had finished. “I am Resh, your new commander. They call me the Silver Serpent, though I do not prefer that title. Resh will be fine, as well as Commander, apparently.” Resh then waved towards the ship. ”Let’s get a move on it then, we have a long trip ahead of us.” The others picked up their stuff and made to move off.
Grey was just about to ask a question, but to everyones surprise Resh picked up Phylla’s travel bag with his free hand before she could reach for it. “Felix, grab Bella’s bag will you?”
“Uh, Yes sir.” Felix said with surprise and picked up her bag with his free arm.
“Commander,” Said Phylla in an even tone, “I can carry my own things.”
“Sure you can, but just because I can kill a man while he begs for his twisted and immoral life, doesn’t mean I can’t be a gentleman.” He smiled at her as he passed. Everyone paused at the unusual and quite disturbing thing their commander had just said, and then warily followed him across the rickety pier towards the boat.
Resh brazenly walked up onto the plank that led the way onto the deck of the ship and walked onto the boat as if it were his own. He stood on deck then as the others followed him onto the ship and roared at a man wearing a blue bandana near the main mast. “Tell the Captain we’re here and that we can leave as soon as he’s able.”
The man that he had yelled to nodded and disappeared through a door leading into the Captain’s cabin underneath the poop deck. Resh waited on the main deck with the others as the sailors on board attended a multitude of chores while watching them curiously.
They didn’t wait long until a large man exited the Captains quarters alongside the first mate that Resh had called to. The big man wore only beige slacks, his bare chest showing a very muscled and tone form. The pair strode along the main deck and The Captain smiled at Resh before they shook with both hands.
“Happy to have you aboard, Resh, you slippery devil. Does this mean your finally leaving this dump?”
“Yes, Blake, I’m off to trouble another part of the world.” Resh grinned back at the Captain. “Thanks for taking us on such short notice, and for going out of your way to get us to Brink.”
“Oh, it’s nothing at all.” Captain Blake waved his hands in the air, “I owe you big, remember?”
“Let’s call it square after this.” Resh chuckled.
“Not on your life.” The Captain pointed a finger at Resh in mock warning. “You saved me a lot of money when you caught those thieving scumbags a while back. I’ll owe you for a long time.” Resh merely chuckled some more and waved his hands in defeat. “Come on, I’ll show you to your quarters.” He waved them to follow as he led them toward a set of stairs descending below deck. “My first mate graciously offered his cabin to you all while your with us.”
“That was awfully nice of him,” Resh said as they descended into dark underbelly of the ship. The Captain led them down to the stern of the ship and opened the door to a large cabin directly under the Captain’s Quarters.
“This will be your home for the fifteen day journey.” Said the Captain, “Think of this as a sea faring vacation. If you need anything, just tell my first Mate, Conner, and he’ll be happy to help you. We’ve already loaded our hold with goods, so we’ll be off in no time. Any questions?”
Everyone shook their head or were silent, so the Captain said his farewell and disappeared.
“How were you able to get us a ship so fast?” Asked Grey as they set their stuff about the cabin.
“I’ve been working in this city for years, I know everything that happens here.” Resh said, setting Phylla’s things down next to the bed and motioning for Felix to do the same with Bella’s stuff.
“If you know the city so well, how come you didn’t brief Commander Velencia?” Grey asked.
“Because from the moment she saw me, she looked down on me. Maybe because of my reputation, or because I don’t sleep in shining mail, it doesn’t matter. She treated me like a common thug, and I’m way too damn proud for that kind of treatment. She’ll get no help from me.”
“So here’s the plan.” Resh spoke after a moment of silence. “The ladies will get the bed, we guys will set up some hammocks. We will help as much as we are able during the voyage, but most of all we will treat it like a vacation as the Captain said, because once we get to Brink we will be working our asses off. Understood.” Everyone nodded.
Bella raised her hand. Clearly amused with this behaviour, Resh waved at her to say what she needed to say.
“Where do we go to the ladies room?” Bella asked innocently. Phylla stifled a laugh.
“Uh, well you see…” Resh was saying.
“You go in the bucket.” Phylla blurted, pointing to the bucket in the vorner of the room. Phylla watched in amusement as Bella’s face drained of color.
“Oh,” Bella said, not hiding her disappointment. “That’s what that smell is…”
“Let’s just keep this out here for now,” Grey said as he picked up the bucket gingerly with two fingers and set the stinking bucket outside the doorway.
“But what if I have to go in the middle of the night?” Bella asked.
“They have rooms that we passed in the hold for that kind of business,” Resh smirked, “Just be sure to take Phylla with you when you go.” Phylla frowned.
“It’s going to be a long fifteen days.” Said Grey. Everyone nodded.
“So, going on a voyage are we?” said the man known in the underworld as the Borderman. He stood on the balcony of his safe house, overlooking the docks. His spyglass showed him the Silver Serpent as he made his way on to the ship at Devil’s Pier. “We’ll have to send you off with a farewell present.”
The Borderman turned his scarred face to his second in command, “I want you to take all the money we earned from the Second Street Brothel in the past moon and use it as a forward payment to Death’s Hood Pirates. They will sink the ship that the Serpent is leaving on, the Blue Folly, and they will make sure all the crew aboard is lost. Understand?”
“Yes sir.” The man said before he left the room.
The Borderman turned back to the docks and watched with his spyglass as the Serpent went below decks with the Captain. “I’ve been waiting for you to set sail on a ship for a long time. Farewell Serpent.”