Nothing is more disorienting than jumping from world to world. It honestly makes no sense. And if you are not exactly prepared for what you’ll find on the other side, it is kind of a rude awakening. Sure, it had been raining where we had been, and it was cold, and this place even had its own funky smell, but jumping from some cool, futuristic tree on a gas giant to medieval, fantasy city really messes with your expectations and sense of equilibrium.

“Trickster, we might want to cover up the kid who sticks out in all the wrong ways,” Ru-lah said, pulling out a sack and reaching into it.

“Good idea,” Trickster said. “We need to get somewhere safe quick! But first, I need to orient myself.”

“Why do I need to cover myself? There’s no one else on this street,” I protested.

“Shut up and do as you are told!” Ru-lah threw me a cloak and told me to cover up. “You’re still in anime form. That clashes with everything that this place is.”

“No one appreciates a good, edgy character anymore,” I grumbled, throwing the cloak on. “I know it sounds naive to say this, and we were barely there at all, but I hope everything turns out alright back there.”

The other teens shared a significant look. I knew what they were thinking, and I was thinking it too. It just felt unceremoniously to go on without wishing for some kind of saving miracle for the people left behind. I mean, Hearny hadn't been all bad after all. They should have given a better send off to the people who very likely died, if they were going to be so pessimistic.

I heaved a sigh, my breath blooming in the air before me. So, I was now in Erralial, and it was a lot gloomier than I imagined. I told Trickster just that.

He chuckled as he gently pushed me along. “During the summers this place is extremely beautiful. And the early fall is about the same. However, we here in early spring. I can feel it all across my skin. It’s not the same biting chill as the late fall and winter. But the overall discomfort of spring waxing.”

“How eloquent,” I said in a clipped tone of voice.

As we walked along the slippery cobblestones, the rain started coming down harder and the temperature dropped a little bit more. My breath was now becoming a kind fog cloud before my eyes, continually. I was surprised at how sure Trickster was at being back in Erralial. Then again, I wasn’t sure how long it had been for the real Trickster, not just Trick, since he had walked these streets.

I jogged to catch up with him and said, “I am impressed that you can walk so confidently about. Aren’t you a marked man here?”

“You fake it ‘til you make it,” Trickster said with a big grin. “And yes, I am. Which is why we should be careful. I’m right now looking to see if I can find any building or street name that will give me a concrete clue as to where we are. With this weather I cannot say for sure. The clouds are hanging low and it is dark, so I can’t tell what quarter we’re in. But we will want to head for the Iron District.”

“Why?”

“Because we’ll find good protection there. The gangs are not welcome there, and those who enter usually find themselves imprisoned or dead very fast. The head sheriff there wields power and justice like Ru-lah wields her sword!”

The paladin spoke up, “But if the Blue Raven finds out that Trickster is here, they would not hesitate to assemble their forces and storm even the Iron District.”

Trickster grimaced and said, “You’re right. Which is why we should keep as low a profile as we can, and make our way down there speedily!”

“It’s you two who should be keeping that advice,” Ru-lah snarled.

“Even though I mentioned Erralial in my fourth story about you guys, I didn’t really know how I would even describe the place,” I admitted.

Trickster decided now would be as good as time as any to fill me on some exposition. The northern port city of Erralial was one of seven High Cities in Ukazki Empire. It was ruled over by a benevolent duke, whose family had worked hard to lower taxes and tariffs to encourage trade so far north. They specialized in shipping out gold, silver, iron, and steel. Much of the city’s lower districts were dedicated to smithies that worked the ore delivered from the higher mountains to the north.

Slaves from northern, hostile tribes were taken as prisoners during raids and campaigns, and then sold to farm lands further south where they would have no hope of returning or causing any further chaos or nuisance. The inner social justice warrior in me wanted to scream at that! There was also a lot of wool processing done right outside of the city at the rivers that converged from the mountains before running out into the ocean to the west.

All of these goods brought in a lot of cash and also encouraged shipments of fruits, spices, and fine woods from the southern regions, and special items from the southern and western islands. Though Erralial was honestly out of the way, the goods it offered, and the reasonable rates and prices included made it a strong center of trade. It was also the stronghold that oversaw the otherwise difficult to control north.

However, the city’s nobility wanted a larger cut of the economic pie. With all of the business that now came through the city, they wanted to increase taxes. The duke had not budged in any way on his policies, and now some of the lesser nobility were looking to take away control from the duke. They were aided in this endeavor by the Crimson Rook, another one of the Fingers belonging to the Black Fist.

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“These guys have a thing for birds,” I commented.

“No, the Crimson Rook isn’t a bird. It is a castle. From chess, you know,” Trickster said with a wave of his hand. “Anyway, unlike the Blue Raven, the Crimson Rook deals particularly with the nobility. They want to pull the strings of political power. That is what they enjoy. Not just wealth, but the power that comes with high birth and prestige.”

“What is the Black Fist anyway?”

This time it was Ru-lah who answered, “The Fist is the alliance between the five most powerful gangs. At one time they warred against each other, but they quickly realized that working together was far more efficient and rewarding. That doesn't mean that they don't try to backstab each other, though.”

“And all the better for it,” Trickster said. “If they got along all the time, they would have overthrown all sense of order and justice by now. It is also a good thing that other gangs stand up to them, though it does tend to lead to much more messiness. Take this city for example.”

He gestured to the dirty and wet buildings. “There are seven major gangs that exist here. Three of them belong to the Fist: the Blue Raven, the Crimson Rook, and the Death’s Shadow. There are four lesser gangs, and they all fight for control of different districts in this city. It has led to slaughter in the streets. The city guard is composed of noble guards and guild guards. Because the nobility is trying to undermine the duke’s authority at the will of the Crimson Rook, the noble guard does not step in when they’re supposed to. The Blue Raven and Death’s Shadow have bought out most of the guilds, and they keep them from employing their guards as they should, as well.”

“I get it,” I replied. “With there not being any law enforcement, then the gangs can fight in the streets. There’s no one stopping them. Except in the Iron District.”

“Bingo! They used to be the most crime ridden spot in the city, but then this new sheriff came in and cleared everything up. He left a trail of bodies in his wake that could wrap themselves around this entire city!”

“And you’re on good terms with this guy,” I asked incredulously.

“We’ve worked out an understanding,” Trickster answered. “I helped him bring down a group of thugs trying to set down roots in his place. I also fed him some information about the Blue Raven. Led to one of their best hit squads getting ambushed and captured. And that led to even more arrests. It was a brilliant power play for the nobility and it put the raven and Rook at odds with each other for months.”

He then giggled. “So many of them killed each other over the misunderstandings that ensued that they stopped hunting me for a time.”

“But then they redoubled their efforts to capture and kill Trickster,” Ru-lah reminded them.

I’ve got something to ask you,” I said to the paladin. “Are you a part of the same world as Trickster? Or did you both decide it was best to come here?”

Ru-lah answered, “We talked our characters over and decided it was best to share worlds. It just made sense to us. And though it is dangerous to come here, we believed it was best since we both know this world. We wanted a home field advantage, just in case.”

“I feel like we could have gone to a safer place than this,” I grumbled. “And less wet.”

It was just then that I saw three people walked towards us. They all wore cloaks and jackets, with the hoods obviously up. I saw something splashed across their chests and arms. I squinted in the rain and was able to make out what looked like a bird taking flight. It was painted in blue.

Before I could stop myself, I said, “So that’s the Blue Raven.”

Right as our groups passed each other by, one of them tapped the others. The spun on the spot and knives flashed in their hands.

“Dammit! They heard-” Trickster began saying as she pushed me aside and flung himself back at the same time. The blades narrowly missed us.

Ru-lah slapped her attacker’s blade away lazily. The knifeman jumped back and drew a short sword and wielded it with his knife. As Trickster fell, he threw a knife and it took the man now holding two blades right in the neck.

He dropped, clutching his throat and gurgling, as a woman shouted, “It’s him! Quickhand!”

Trickster muttered something that I couldn’t make out, and spun on the spot, almost kicking out his attacker;s legs right out from under him. The lady raised a hand and cast a spell. There was a sudden ripple of air and the woman cried out. Her spell was canceled out.

Ru-lah stood in a boxing pose, having just thrown a punch. Her fist sizzled a bit in the rain.

“I like this trick,” she growled.

“Paladin,” the woman cursed, and tried to jump back as Ru-lah in a single, fluid motion drew out her large Sword of Heritage.

Ru-lah was quicker than the lady, and swung the sword with great might and speed. She caught the woman in the chest and smashed her against the wall of the nearest building. The hood slid down and I saw the shocked face of a female elf. Blood blossomed from between her lips and slid down her chin. She tried to move, but the attack had thoroughly crushed her. She would not recover.

The half-orc paladin ripped her blade free and let the elf slump to the cobblestones, expiring in the rain.

I turned to see Trickster having already used his Cloak of Transition. His attacker also held aloft a short sword, which was plunged into the street. Of course, Trickster was unaffected. That cloak is just way too OP! He turned and saw his companions down, and then turned to run.

Ru-lah threw her sword at his legs. He managed to jump up, but still got tripped up by the hilt. He twisted in the air and fell. I saw his hand reach for something in his coat. Without really thinking, I took out my pocket knife and threw it at him. He jerked his head to the side and then brought out a small crossbow. Ru-lah covered me as he fired off his quarrel, and grunted as it pierced her armor.

I heard the man scramble to his feet, and then gasp. I twisted out of Ru-lah grasp and saw Trickster slit the man’s throat. He dropped to the ground without another word. How many knives did he have on him?

He went right up to Ru-lah and told her to take a quick breath. I was about to protest and say she would bleed more, but it was too late. He ripped the quarrel out.

“It’s poisoned,” Trickster said. “A Raven tactic. We need to heal her quickly.”

He took out a small vial and poured it into the hole where the bolt had struck. Ru-lah grimaced and took a swing from another vial.

“There, that should be good. But we need to get going quick! No Raven is not without someone checking regularly on them, especially when they flock together.”

“I told you to not be an idiot,” Ru-lah seethed.

“Sorry! It was a slip up!”

“And we need to get you a better weapon,” Trickster said hurriedly. “Here! Take this short sword!”

He tossed me the blade before retrieving his knives and stealing some more from the corpses. We hurried along then and soon Trickster found a junction he knew. However, he was not pleased.

“This spot is always watched. They will mark three unknown figures passing through quickly. And when somebody reports three Ravens missing, they’ll guess it was us pretty soon.

“Will they know it was you, specifically?”

“Nah, I doubt it, but they will still give chase. The Blue Ravens hate any kind of sleight, and what we just did was the worst. But nice kill ack there, Ru-lah.”

The paladin just grunted and pushed me along. Trickster continue to lead the way. We ran downhill. Luckily, with an anime bod, I didn’t tire easily. I began to notice how the roads curved constantly to the right as we went.

“Just keep going! We’ll get there quick enough,” Trickster panted.

Soon we reached a high wall with two massive, arched gates. Trickster gave a series of knocks. A shuttered window above the gates opened up and someone called down.

“What do you want? It’s nearly midnight!”

Trickster called back up, “It’s me, Trickster! I have returned with the paladin, Ru-lah, and a friend, his name is Ruben!”

Ru-lah snorted when he called me friend. I shot her a dirty look. The worst I could manage. I bet my face was shaded epically for it!

The man in the window coughed. “Why should we let in trouble makers? We know what your presence could do. What it could bring!”

“The sheriff owes me a favor! I am calling that favor in! Please, grant us sanctuary!”

The man grumbled something and retreated. I was worried that he would not be let in, and the minutes passed by. But right when I feared that we would have to go somewhere else, I heard bolts moving. The farther away gate creaked open a bit.

“Come on,” Trickster said, pulling me along.

Quietly, we slipped into the Iron District.