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Storm Nattas
‘Abominable Cripple’
‘Principal of Secrets’.
Lord of Moon’s Haven,
Ruler of Turtle Isles
Keeper of the Golden Forest
Ye pull yourself up…
Part I
-Not funny at all-
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image [https://i.postimg.cc/r8qGPFN0/Cartagen-v2.jpg]
Storm Nattas, the respected Lord of Moon’s Haven sort of –although some would argue against him even being qualified for that- had remained silent for a drawn-out moment after the King’s entourage departed his villa. A weird kind of numbness this, not brought on by a blow to the skull or drunkenness. Half-stooped on his cane, the Baron stood empty of thought and energy, but his resilient nature pulled him out of his stupor. The sight of Griet returning from the villa’s gates sparked his own return to action.
“Well, we completely missed that,” he murmured with an acerbic grimace.
“Yeah,” Sudi agreed tonelessly.
“Big fucking fail.” Storm remarked.
“Ayup.”
“Have we become arrogant Sudi?” Storm asked his trusted lackey.
Trusted… well, up to a point.
He cast a side glance at the thoughtful Sudi.
“You’re not sure?” Storm queried wryly. “Need I speak in simpler terms?”
“It’s a novel idea chief. I’m still working it in my head,” Sudi admitted.
“Whoa,” a flushed Griet puffed reaching them. “That was the good King himself! What a motherfucking hung!”
Oh, for the love of Abrakas’ busty spawns! Storm thought with a grimace of despair.
“I mean that was quite the fucking sight, hah… right? Almost broke my neck to get a better glimpse of him!” A grinning Griet continued shaking her head. “Cat got yer tongues ladies?”
“A priestess just murdered little Prince Alistair,” Storm grunted and Griet stood back losing the grin.
“It wasn’t me. I don’t kill children. I was just thinking to add to the royal batch fer crying out loud!” The young assassin protested as if insulted.
Eh. While this was too much detail…
“Cut the bullshit. You were with Maja at the ‘Virgins Wedding’!” Nattas snapped.
“I was sixteen at the time,” Griet retorted narrowing her eyes. “Never climbed up the tower. I was watching the entrance.”
“As the teacher goes, so does the pupil,” the Baron countered with a glare. “Maja told me the story.”
“Then you know the plan was to fire towards the wedding pavilion. A warning shot. Maja wasn’t handling the Scorpio. Rivers was. He claimed to be an expert marksman.”
“Potato, potato. And that was far from a bad shot. I fucking saw the whole thing!” Nattas retorted mockingly, then looked to get more out of her. “A priest you say.”
“Pfft. The other two were ‘priests’. Bishop ‘Rivers’ Kamden, is a Nord enforcer with a funny name. Robart Barlow’s man,” Griet replied dismissively. “Out of Blonden Burg allegedly.”
The man that came back from the blasted dead.
Fucking cock-slurping Priests of the Nameless god and the Silent Servants shady and zombie-of-sorts mediator.
The shit keeps piling up and I’m running out of a good turn of phrase to describe this whole mess.
“Where is he now?” Nattas asked through his teeth.
“With Dean Kutas? The man running Golden Bird in Altarin? Probably. Who knows?” Griet replied and scratched at the side of her head. The white hair cut short there. “Maja decided that this is Rhys’ problem now.”
“Fantastic. He’ll make a mess of that too! That is if he comes around to it at some point in the next three years! What happened with the bounty hunter?” Nattas growled irate.
“Selussa wrote us…ahm, the contract had glaring faults?”
Glaring faults my arse!
“What? The fuck does… why in Abrakas ogling eye would I care about her opinion?”
Griet stared at him soberly. “You better tone down the critique Baron. When she speaks you better listen. Selussa is Larn’s little girl.”
“I find that very hard to believe. The man is not human,” Nattas retorted. “Looks more like to me that Rhys scored a piece of that fine arse and is too much of a cunt now to go against her. Fucking all hells! That… is nigh unprofessional,” he added clenching his jaw.
“File a complaint with management?” Griet replied wryly.
“Go grab a fit horse from the stable. Pick a mare not to get any ideas because this can’t wait,” a scowling Nattas ordered her. “You’ll follow the King’s entourage and then report any new developments.”
“Like what?”
“Fuck I know? Another murder? We might lose the Augusta tonight although I won’t bet against the sweet old girl.”
“I don’t work for you,” Griet retorted brazenly.
“You eat and sleep for fucking free under this roof. This whole fucking guild is a gang of freeloaders!” The Baron grunted a response. “But you’ll get a chance to contribute.”
Griet groaned and brushed against him to head towards the villa.
Nattas waited until she got inside and then looked intently at the still thoughtful Sudi.
“Angering Lucius at this junction is a terrible idea chief. The King can fuck everything up,” Sudi finally said. “What idiotic amateur thought it wise to murder his boy? No serious player… everyone is laying low until things calm down. Do you think it’s an attempt to steer the narrative away from the bounty hunter’s report?”
We don’t know this was some grand plan in the first plaguing place!
“We have control of two things now Sudi. Jack and shit,” Nattas grunted pursing his mouth. “And Jack just left town.”
Sudi nodded in agreement.
A concern unto itself.
“Moore must keep Reganus and Epolonius in check chief,” his right hand man added and a tired Nattas had to agree absent other alternatives.
You are in the shit if Sudi has no time for a smart retort.
Still…
“We need to do better than that,” Storm said sucking at his teeth. “We need to find a way to pull ourselves back up by the bootstraps.”
-
> Moore started coughing violently, his lungs burning, as the putrid smell of rotting sick flesh mixed with that of burned corpses and bones, all this potent toxic odor brought on them by the strong breeze blowing through the desolate streets of Novesium. Old Dottore Epolonius didn’t seem that affected but then again he wore that austere expression on his wrinkled face which didn’t allow for much interpretation. Dottore Numerius Baro had the look of a man that had his humanity die in him and now stood an empty vessel. Hollowed out. Mayor Reganus didn’t look as bad but he had lost five kilos of body fat in two weeks becoming a leaner version of himself.
>
> Far from healthier though, Moore thought. He feared they could get sick as well despite taking precautions and turned to the frowned mask-wearing Grin that had just come out of the last ‘abandoned’ house in the neighborhood.
>
> “Empty,” Grin reported hoarsely.
>
> Of course it is.
>
> “Ayup,” Moore agreed quickly to get out of the hellish landscape. It had rained the day prior, more a drizzle really, but it was enough to collapse the mounds of petrified ashes and charred corpses, bones and the like… then cover the streets with a layer of stinky mire that now had dried up under the strong sun and turned brittle under foot. The toxic material creating clouds that hid parts of the coastal neighborhoods.
>
> “There must be more bodies here,” Epolonius argued.
>
> “Nah, them five… well,” Moore squinted his eyes unable to locate the dissolved pile of burned flesh and ashes. “Guess they are spread about some… anyways, most had abandoned the city afore typhus struck.”
>
> “Mister Moore why would someone abandon this house? Or the one next to it?” Epolonius countered. “The roof is sturdy, the fire stopped two streets south of here and the door looks smashed in with a hammer and not burned at all!”
>
> Grin recoiled, guilt written all over his face but managed to remain silent.
>
> Moore stood back pretending at shock as well with a bit of outrage mixed in. “Don’t know where you head with this Doc, but I’m not an expert in city-wide fires or structural ability—”
>
> “Stability,” Grin corrected him sheepishly. He had started reading books to improve himself and avoid Lord Nattas’ constant insults.
>
> “There…” Moore continued pointing at his masked colleague. “Mister Grin is obviously well qualified to give us his expert opinion. He knows all about doors and windows or stable roofs.”
>
> Grin had a solid ten year experience as a former burglar. Moore was more of an armed robber himself by trade in his youth, with the occasional knifing of fools in alleys job thrown in.
>
> “They had to clear the fuck out…aye, because you see… the first thing needed is to avoid the smoke for health reasons. It is as dangerous as the fire,” Grin explained to the disbelieving Epolonius. “Or the typhus shit…” Grin added to round up his answer.
>
> “I had just this morning a Legion engineer inspect it and then swear you can house a family in there on the morrow Mister Grin!”
>
> “Hey!” Moore intervened. “Experts disagree all the time Doc and we can discuss it until we turn blue in the face, but the point is people left the city and that’s a good thing… because they escaped the worst.”
>
> There. That covers everything. Now… oh, he’s going to keep busting my balls, Moore thought sourly.
>
> “Sula gave us a number of around two thousand refugees,” Epolonius said with a grimace. “Half that is between Moon’s Haven and Elysium Fort. We are missing a couple of thousand people Moore! At least given the amount of empty houses.”
>
> “You assume the houses had families living inside.”
>
> Epolonius glared at him. “You don’t?”
>
> “Tourists,” Moore argued. “People come and go all the time in Novesium Dottore. Depending on the season. This is not the season to visit.”
>
> “Mayor?” Epolonius asked.
>
> “Can we move out?” Moore intervened afore Reganus could reply.
>
> “The streets need to be cleared and washed,” Epolonius advised the grimacing Mayor Reganus. “The houses aired out and cleaned as well. Those that have damage demolished and the debris cleared. All the dead bodies or leftover material burned and people should avoid drinking water from the river. Any of the rivers.”
>
> “What about the port?” Reganus asked.
>
> “I want a safe corridor created first, plus another inspection of the docks or any buildings there, before I give permission for ships or sailors to moor Reganus,” Epolonius replied and shook his head. “You are missing half your city Mayor,” he told Reganus. “You’ll have to do a hell of a job to convince people to return but they will.”
>
> Moore wasn’t of the same opinion about the whole citizens returning thing.
>
> They just couldn’t.
>
> “Let’s hope we survive this calamity Dottore,” Reganus croaked. “And people come back.”
>
> “They will. No one abandons their property,” Epolonius assured him with a last glance at the empty houses. “Unless they are dead.”
>
> Yeah, Moore thought with a nod of agreement afore catching himself.
>
> God damn it.
>
>
-
Days later
16th of Secundus 195 NC
Open to the public court session
“We appreciate the review Consul Veturius,” Lucius said from the throne. “Your nephew asked for an audience?”
“He has news about the situation in Novesium my lord,” Galio Veturius replied. “From Baron Nattas’ people.”
“I can see the Baron right there,” Lucius noticed. A very potent observation by the king as Storm was standing at the far end of the room even beyond the petitioners’ chairs, just a couple of meters afore the doors leading outside. “You wish to speak to us directly dear Nattas?” Lucius asked.
No, I woke up at first light to stand in the fucking line for four hours, on a bad blasted leg, with none of the stupid ruffians present even offering to give up their plaguing seat, as if I’m just another lowly beggar in the background or a nameless character in a bloated novella!
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
“Haven’t prepared anything your grace,” Storm replied in a clear voice hobbling fast through the narrow corridor left by the occupied chairs, brought in for this open session of the court. Far from an easy thing to do with one hand busy with the cane, the other holding the hefty pack of scrolls under an armpit. “Mercifully, I have a couple of notes with me, in case your Excellency wishes to dive into the numbers.”
(…)
An hour later
The Market at the Hippodrome
Across the Adventurers Guild Corner
Storm got his head out of the carriage’s window to check on the busy street. “Are you certain this is the place?”
“The Greasy Lake tavern boss,” Jove, the driver, replied turning on his seat to look towards Nattas.
“Which dirty lake be that? That sounds titillating.”
“Not really chief. It’s just a random name. An Issir runs it.”
“Right. Well, we don’t feel sufficiently illuminated Jove,” Nattas scolded him and then climbed down the few side steps to reach the street. “Maybe Sudi went to bet on the races or he meant across the street at the Adventures building?”
“This is the spot he told me,” the driver insisted. “I have to move. I’m blocking the road for the merchants’ wagons.”
“I don’t give a pair of used testicles,” Storm cursed whilst greeting a fellow merchant passing by with a smile. “How’s the lovely wife? Looking younger with each season ma’am,” he teased in a friendly manner but the merchant glared at him afore moving his wagon away as fast as he could. “A mistress then…” Nattas rustled wryly. “…I misspoke. Nice pair of tits on that lass. Aye.”
“Could’ve been his daughter chief?”
“Not with her hand on his cock,” Nattas retorted thoughtfully.
Although, some girls do start grabbing stuff early.
Next, he eyed the busy entrance to the tavern suspiciously. “Park in that corner alley Jove and be alert for a signal. If you need to take a piss, do it under the carriage. We likely get jumped in there and I want you ready.” Nattas ordered the driver and checked the blade on his cane before marching towards the open doors.
“What signal boss?” Jove asked from the carriage and Nattas replied without turning his head.
“An uncouth shriek.”
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“Move your arse aside,” Storm grunted and the thug moved a chair away in the crowded round table of the tavern.
“How was court chief?” Sudi asked while Nattas examined the three men sitting with them.
“Smuggled wine is more expensive now unless it’s local,” Nattas replied icily.
“Hah. That’s good,” a thin, dark-haired thug commented.
Who said crooks can’t be patriots?
Storm smacked his lips. “You are?” He asked with a grimace of distaste.
The burlier of the thugs stooped over the table. “That’s Spider Norton boss and the quiet guy is Barclay Bullseye. We’re… adventurers. Tristan Danger’s… group. I’m Tristan,” Tristan explained and sat back on the creaking chair.
The Baron scratched the base of his nape with a finger. He worked for a while under the collar to get at the spot.
“It’s the best group available,” Sudi elucidated with a shrug.
“Wars have strangled the trade to an inch of life and this is how adjectives die,” Nattas noted wryly looking at the thugs. “Mister Tristan, the guy we need… to apprehend is also very dangerous. Skilled and experienced on top of that.”
“Surprise,” Tristan interrupted him smartly, making a meaningless gesture. “Nullifies skill.”
Sadly for you, nine times out of ten it doesn’t.
“What if the person is skilled in sniffing out these surprises?” Nattas asked with a thin smile.
“Hah,” Tristan shook his dead. “Good one boss.”
“I’m serious,” Nattas grunted. “When I’m jesting people laugh eventually. If Hik spots you ahead of time you’ll get cut down. I don’t believe you’ll survive the encounter.”
“Let me worry about that,” Tristan assured him. “It’s not 185 anymore boss. That’s a decade ago.”
“Right. Now that we are all sufficiently informed on the blasted date,” Nattas grunted glaring at the frowned Sudi. “How are you lads going to take him out?”
“Watch the North Gates. We have a guard working there that feeds us info,” Tristan explained smugly.
“Ridding the Capital of visitors is a lucrative business?” Nattas taunted.
“You’ll be surprised.”
I despise surprises you darn imbecile!
“Any difficult targets or are you lot just beat up unsuspecting elderly folk?”
“Plenty of everything. Wagons, couples, mercenaries. Neat stuff. No witnesses left.”
“Bulbous? Is that you?” Nattas asked stopping Tristan from continuing. “Tristan Bulbous. The highwayman?”
Tristan frowned and glanced at his discomforted colleagues. “We opened a new leaf boss. It’s been a couple of years.”
“You murdering bugger,” Nattas chuckled and brushed at his goatee with his left hand. “Wasn’t there a bounty on your head?”
“Not for Tristan Danger. I go by a different name now,” Tristan argued pursing his mouth.
“You won’t find a judge stupid or corrupt enough to buy that, in the whole of fucking Regia,” Nattas retorted mockingly and let out a deep sigh of frustration. “You’ll pay them after they get the job done.”
“Half up front,” Spider Norton hissed and Nattas stared at him like a bug. “Half after.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “But I was thinking of throwing a bonus in. A third upfront, two thirds after the job is done plus the bonus.”
“How much?” Tristan asked.
Storm stared at Sudi who handled the mundane finances.
“Five golds pieces per head,” Sudi suggested.
“Deal,” Tristan agreed eagerly, spat in his palm and then tended the dirty slightly moist hand over the table.
“People are watching us. This is a secret deal,” Storm noted sourly clasping at his cane with both hands. He had the custom weapon/tool between his legs but was far enough from the edge of the table to use it if push came to shove.
“Right.” Tristan agreed and retrieved his hand. “Have it yer way boss.”
These illiterate fucks are gonna get killed fast, Storm decided. I need a better plan.
-
Ninety minutes later
Villa Nattas
Late afternoon
“Grab her,” Storm ordered, straight blade in hand pointing at the bed. Sudi put the sleeping Maja in a headlock, more a crude clutch that involved lodging his fingers around her throat and squeeze everything. The other arm wrapped around her waist.
Maja gasped coming about and twirled to escape with Sudi holding on tight. They rolled to the other edge of the bed and the long tunic she had worn to sleep folded upwards. The woman flashed the following after them Baron with a good view of the trimmed blond hairs covering her cunt and fit round buttocks. Nice exercise with a touch of lewd spectacle, Nattas noted hobbling fast after them. Maja gasped for air in the meantime and managed to smack Sudi at the left ear with her freed left hand, but failed to escape as she got stopped by Nattas. The Baron had managed to round the bed just in time to press the tip of his blade on her unprotected navel.
“Let’s talk,” Nattas said smoothly and gestured for her to calm down.
“I… can’t breathe,” the flushed Maja hissed.
“Nonsense. You can’t talk without air,” Nattas dismissed her protest.
“What… the fuck do you want?” Maja asked raspingly and stood up, her left arm delivering another blind blow between Sudi’s legs this time. The loyal lackey twisted to save himself from the worst but got nailed pretty hard and groaned in agony.
“Eh,” Maja gasped trying to free herself and Sudi’s forehead banged the back of her head so hard Nattas blinked in shock and then stood back as the female assassin collapsed on the floor tiles in front of him unconscious.
“Fucking hells,” Sudi growled touching the cut on his forehead with one hand while massaging his hurting jewels with the other. “The bitch could have done permanent damage there chief!”
Who would have thought Lotus’ head was so durable? The Baron wondered and stared at the woman sprawled at his feet.
If she’s dead that would be even more hilarious.
Maja stirred her right arm before the Baron managed to finish his thought and then let out a soft moan. It made Sudi immediately unsheathe a dagger from his waist.
Nattas sighed and hanged his head in despair. “For pity’s sake. Just tie her on the darn chair.”
“What if Sirio arrives?”
Now you think of him? You were about to knife her in the cunt not a moment ago!
“She’s my daughter.” Storm snapped irate. “I get to punish her however I want!” Abrakas curse her! “Fuck her up if I have to!”
Sudi blinked, his face distorting and then snorted audibly instead of replying. The bedroom remained silent for an awkward moment.
“I’m gonna get a rope from the stable,” Sudi finally said with another grimace of pain and walked funnily out of the room.
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“Eh. I think it’s cracked,” Maja hissed half an hour later, now tied on a high back chair and Sudi slapped her hard with an open palm. He snapped the woman’s head violently to the side.
“Argh! You ugly prick!” Maja groaned and glared at him.
“What are you doing?” Storm asked Sudi curious. “I haven’t gotten around to ask her anything yet.”
“Preliminary torture chief,” Sudi explained and pursed his mouth stubbornly.
“What do you want Nattas?” Maja hissed irate staring daggers at the scowling Sudi. “After all I’ve done to help you—”
“You poisoned me first,” Sudi grunted. “Messed up my face!”
“Your face was a mess to begin with!”
“Alright that’s enough reminiscing of past angsts,” Nattas intervened and stepped forward to block Sudi from hitting her again.
“Nattas I swear to gods you are insane,” Maja hissed and glared at him. “We have worked together for years you perverted fuck!”
“We have,” Nattas agreed and drew a deep breath to put his thoughts in order. “But Rhys has decided to amend the contract and I’m running out of options to fix this mess.”
“It can happen! The Servant must agree but also check the scales in order to proceed. Something didn’t add up. We are not thugs!” Maja snapped. “What is that have to do with me? I can’t believe you old sacks of shit attacked me in my sleep!”
“Why were you napping so early in the day?” Nattas asked her curious.
“I stayed up all night caring for your son!”
“Why?”
“His stomach hurt. He’s fine now,” Maja hissed. “Untie me.”
“Not yet.”
“What the fuck Nattas?” Maja snapped. “What do you want?”
“We need to make sure Hik and Rhys don’t say anything stupid to the King,” Storm explained.
“Why would they?”
“To blackmail me, out of spite… pick a reason,” Storm grunted.
Maja sighed and moved her head right and left with a grimace of pain. “You are losing it Baron. Rhys has his plate full to waste time getting rid of you and if he decided not to fulfill the contract then that just means your whole reasoning was off or wrong to begin with.”
“You finished the contract for the priests. Where was that same consideration then?” Nattas argued hoarsely. “Come on now. You don’t expect me to believe this?”
“The kings were not innocent. Had I known they wanted to hurt the kids I wouldn’t have agreed.”
“You’re lying.”
“As you recall, unless your brain turned to mush from all the gonorrhea you scraped off all those harlots, I immediately came to find you instead of leaving the city. Told you that something was off and tried to steer you the right way,” Maja countered. “You think I liked you back then Baron? Not even close. But I knew that shit was wrong!”
“You like me now?” Nattas grumbled.
“At this moment? Fuck you and fuck that creep that you have there! He spies at Miranda when she bathes!” Maja snarled and Nattas glanced at the silent Sudi who avoided his eyes guiltily. Maja made a grimace of pain and then shook her head tiredly. “I like Silvio. Your boy is the smartest kid. Truly and in many ways.”
“Of course he is.” Nattas retorted proudly and then pursed his mouth deep in thought for a moment. “Still, we need to get rid of Rhys,” he continued. “Have a talk with Larn to get you back in charge of the guild.”
“Are you completely insane? Have a talk… with Larn? What gave you the idea…? You actually think he’s the type that gets convinced or talks things through? He’s an ancient monster you crippled idiot! He cares about a couple of things and that’s it. Oras shades. Everyone else is food or prey for him! And get rid of Rhys? Wow. Rhys has Selussa with him! If we move against Rhys and she gets involved or gets hurt we’re fucked! We need to change continents. Ralnor will never forget or let go afore delivering a death blow! You think you can survive a blade damaging a couple of major organs? Because I don’t know anyone that has done it recently! Oh, wait. Never!”
Nattas scratched at the tip of his nose irritated for a silent moment.
“Do I give her a good punch now?” Sudi asked in a reasonable tone and Storm snapped his head to stare at him incredulous.
“What?” Sudi retorted.
“Will you calm the fuck down?”
“Ahm, why? The bitch is uncooperative?”
“The bitch made some pretty good points!” Nattas grunted.
“Fucking chauvinistic pricks!” Maja hissed irate.
“What good are these ‘good’ points if Lear Hik decides to implicate you in the king’s murder?” Sudi asked disregarding her outburst.
“Baron untie me. Sirio might be here at any moment.” Maja pleaded.
Storm narrowed his eyes. “Why do you care about him?”
“He’s a gentle soul,” Maja replied. “And he likes me.”
“I might have to get rid of him,” Nattas said testing the waters.
Maja’s expression changed.
Hmm. Who would’ve thought?
“I don’t understand the appeal,” he admitted walking to the edge of the bed to sit down. Maja’s cold eyes following him intently. “The truth is that strangely I do like the young cocksucker.”
“He thinks the world of you. The most important man under Lucius Sirio always says,” Maja said evenly. “Politics are a dirty unholy business that someone must take care of. Someone that can see the right move ahead of time irregardless of morals or if it’s right.”
“Indeed.” Nattas agreed. “But to survive you need all the ammunition you can have. Because at times you’ll be left to fight alone against everyone else. You need power that no king will willingly give. The bad kings want the power for themselves and the good ones fear what you’ll do with it.”
“Just to be clear. I don’t agree with Sirio on this.” Maja noted. “Nattas cares for himself first and foremost.”
“You are wrong but not by a lot,” Nattas yielded and pushed himself up with the help of the cane. He’d sheathed the blade again in its hidden scabbard. “Regia needs Nattas and Nattas needs Regia.”
“Oh, please just kill me now,” Maja pleaded mockingly. “I’m not so naïve as to actually fall for that Baron!”
“I was speaking candidly,” Nattas said and stared at Sudi. “Tristan is at the North Gates?”
“Thereabouts,” Sudi replied vaguely and Maja narrowed her eyes.
“You actually moved on Rhys?” She asked.
“I moved on Lear Hik,” Nattas grunted. “Is Rhys his bodyguard now?”
Maja groaned in frustration or pain. Perhaps both.
“There’s a Circle assassin with Rhys,” she finally revealed.
“What the fuck is that?” Nattas snapped.
“An Imperial assassin. Larn was one in the past. Could be a Zilan, but it could be something else. Anything.”
“Like what?”
“Pfft. I don’t know. A Gish? A Ticu? A werewolf? A bit of everything? Larn has scared the skin off my bones with their tales.”
Eh. Things are looking pretty dire for Mister Bulbous.
Oh, well.
“I thought your guild was the ‘mystic’ guild of the bunch.”
“Not really and even so it is not the only one. Your friend Flavia has her own. Although Imperial Assassins probably predate all other guilds but for the League of Forsaken Slayers. Lar O’ Talas Dagnir, Larn had called them.”
“And thus we learned the fascinating lore of all the erudite murderers roaming the realms,” Nattas said mockingly. “What about this Circle dude?”
“I don’t know him or her.” Maja replied defensively. “Better stay well clear Baron.”
“You convinced me.” Nattas decided. “Sort of. I’m having trouble trusting you.”
“Seriously? You’ve assaulted me in my sleep and tied me up!” Maja protested with a shriek. “Get me out of those bonds Baron, my head fucking hurts!”
“Sudi,” Nattas said intending to order him to free Maja. Before Storm could utter another word, Sudi stepped forward and punched the tied up female in the face breaking her nose. The hefty punch toppled Maja backwards along with the chair. The woman and the breaking-apart furniture met the tiled floor with a clattering ruckus so great, it appeared to shake the foundations of the villa. “You blistering idiot!” Nattas roared and hurled the cane at Sudi, who ducked and narrowly avoided the flying weapon. The cane hit the wall behind the nimble fake cripple and clattered down raising another uproar. “Why did you do that for?”
“I thought you had enough of her bullshit!” Sudi defended his actions, moving away from the irate Baron.
“Yelp. Some help… ouch! Flaccid-cocked… piece of shit!” Maja was heard protesting from the floor in between moans of agony. “Broke… my nose! Curse you… to seven hells!”
“Fix your mess,” Nattas grunted stooping to pick up his cane from the floor. “See to her you cretin!” He snapped and they all heard the patio door open with a loud creaking sound. Sirio’s voice rang inside the villa.
“Where is my gifted girl?” The tired-sounding Sirio asked, his voice holding nonetheless a mischievous tone. “Guess what I brought you from the market? A bottle of coconut oil!”
Abrakas you ridiculous deity! This ain’t funny at all!
“Quickly. Grab her by the legs and drag her out of the room.” Nattas ordered the grimacing Sudi and turned to the blood-covered thrashing on the floor Maja. “You! Not a word else I’ll kick you in the tits! I’ll stall the historian. Move you idiot and clean some of the blood from the tiles!”
“Where is my little Maja with the big phallus? I need you to lift my spirits milady,” Sirio sang as he approached and the shivering at the disturbing images birthed from Sirio’s words Baron, hobbled fast towards the door of the couple’s bedroom to prevent the younger Veturius from entering.