Chapter 115

Sabine was pacing back and forth as Tobias watched from one side and Riley from the other, looking at the map precariously pinned to the wall, then down at the floor.

"By the dead gods, I don't like it, but it makes sense. Are you certain?" She pressed.

"It's the only explanation I can see that fits the information we have. All of the victims with bite marks are confined to these two areas and very specific locations at that. With your permission, we'll breach into the sewers. I think they're hiding here," Tobias tapped an area on the map.

Sabine's eyebrows perked. "What has you so confident?"

"They seem to range. The first attack was up on the castle grounds, but they've not been back since. If you look, though, there's a pattern. Roughly every two weeks, they engage and attack, then switch sides. If this timing is correct, there are a number of bodies that we haven't found, which explains the gaps in the timeline.

Given that any creature or being can only move so fast or so far without rest, this range on the map is their hunting ground. It's therefore logical to expect they'd nest near the center of their activity. It works the same with people," Tobias explained.

Riley could feel the pride in him, fierce and strong.

"Logical," Sabine ran a hand through her hair. "Most people have their favorite shops and routes. Normally, that's close to their home, but that still leaves the outliers."

"It does, but those outliers don't have the bite mark, according to what I've gotten from the Abbot. It's clear we're dealing with two different hunters here. I'm certain of it," Tobias' words rang with confidence.

"Which means we're getting deeper, not closer to the surface. Either two criminals with two very similar methods are operating congruently, or one is using the other for cover, and somehow this all ties into an attack on both of you that happened on the other side of Ashenrealm. I do not like this," Sabine looked down at the ground and appeared to be cursing quietly to herself.

"Not just that, it at least has circumstantial ties to Chadrick via Mavora," Riley mentioned, doing her best to keep her tone neutral.

Tobias and Sabine's eyes met as the air seemed to frost with concern.

"Riley's right," Tobias finally said, shattering the silence.

"One problem at a time. How soon can you be ready to hit the sewers?" Sabine asked.

"Oh joy," Riley grumbled.

"Justinian is dropping off Riley's armor in a few hours. We could move just after that or in the morning," Tobias offered.

"Morning, please, morning. We just got our schedule straight," the hare begged.

Sabine snorted. "What's this schedule you keep talking about? You go when and where you're needed. That said, we have the benefit of time. Tomorrow morning is fine."

"Thank you, wise and benevolent ruler," Riley, as if emphasizing her fatigue, yawned then stretched.

"Just get it done, Rangers. I'll continue to make inquiries on my end," Sabine pulled a small pouch from her apron pocket and set it on the table. "Your bounty from your last mission. Good job bringing down the blue devil."

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Tobias picked it up with a thank you, opened it, turned pale, and dropped it.

A gold coin rolled out onto the floor.

"Paydirt," Riley boggled, beaming inwardly with pride.

"I knew the horns were valuable as alchemical agents, but..." Tobias trailed off, staring down at the coin, looking at it as if it weren't real.

"I can exchange it for silver if you'd like, but you may want to open an account with the local bank at the rate you're going," Sabine wore a curious smirk on her face, watching the scene with interest.

Tobias picked it up and looked at it. "This is more money than my Da makes in years. I could buy a cottage with this. A place for Granda." His eyes sparkled with possibility.

"Depending on the location, that and more. You did good work, Rangers," Sabine smiled, patted Tobias on the shoulder, and left.

"You know half of that is mine," Riley said, full of mischief.

"We're a team," Tobias replied.

"We are, and so we share," she continued.

Tobias sighed. "Alright, what do you want? Should I break it into fifty silver?"

"I desire..." she trailed off, letting the word hang in the air, pregnant with possibility.

"Fruit."

Tobias laughed. "Ok, fair deal."

"Are you really going to buy Darius a house?" She wondered.

"I might. Would you object to that? You weren't wrong about this belonging to both of us. He's shared a room with me, and now Harold. It would be nice to see him in comfort for his remaining years," Tobias sighed wistfully.

"Then let's do it. However that works here. I bet we could find something. Are you certain a gold would cover it?" Riley asked innocently.

Tobias raised his hand to his chin in thought. "It depends on the quarter. He'd likely not want to leave Ashenvale and want to be near Ma and Da, so I'd say it's doable. If not a cottage, at least a decent apartment. Maybe one of those tower jobs we passed so often on the way to the academy."

Riley pressed up against him. "You're a better soul than this world deserves sometimes, you know that?"

"Only sometimes?" He grinned mischievously.

"Well, I haven't gotten my fruit yet, but you're still on the side of good," she replied.

"Well, let's fix that. Up for a walk? There's a fruit vendor you like near the Castle," Tobias offered.

"If there's food involved, always," Riley replied.

"That's the spirit," Tobias checked his sword and strode across the stone with a bounce in his step.

Riley, too, could not keep his feelings of joy from mixing with her own. Her paws tingled, and everything seemed bright, regardless of the macabre nature of their job as of late.

They had survived. Faced off against zombies, demons, and devils, only to live and thrive, and now, because of their work, other people, good people might benefit.

"I could get used to this," she said to herself as they ascended the stairs.

"Remember to veil us at the end of the alley," Tobias prompted.

"Duh," Riley scoffed.

Opening the door, they skulked down the alley, Tobias with his hood up, as a familiar man stepped out of the shadows.

"Tobias. I thought I might find you here," the masked Ratcatcher said.

"So you've just been waiting here in this alley for me to show up?" Tobias spoke through gritted teeth, one hand on his sword.

"Oh, no, no, let's say I have an office in the neighborhood and that I've been watching your comings and goings, not that you make it easy," he said, offering nothing at all, banging his cane on the ground.

"You've been spying on me," Tobias pulled his sword.

"Peace, Lad, if I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. I come as a friend," he replied, nonplussed.

"What's that going to cost me?" The ranger growled.

"Oh, your bill has already been paid, but you should watch yourself. Your career hasn't gone unnoticed, and you have enemies around you. Some that have yet to make themselves known. The contract placed on you was only the opening move. There's still pieces to this game," the Ratcatcher smiled from behind his mask.

"And you're supposed to be my ally?" Tobias snapped.

"No, but you are interesting, and something of a client now," he replied cryptically.

"What exactly did Sabine agree to?" Riley asked, projecting to both.

"Oh, nothing she hasn't agreed to before. We're old friends, after a fashion. Information that's useful to stability is beneficial to both our lines of work, so we've developed an uneasy understanding over time, if not a friendship. Gold is one thing, but good information can be worth even more. Lately, so much of what I do has revolved around your activities and things you're getting too close to," the strange criminal banged his cane a few times upon the ground before turning to leave.

"What does that mean?" Tobias demanded. "You've hardly told me anything I don't already know."

"Oh, it's enough to make a man cautious if he has any sense," the Ratcatcher replied, turning the corner and vanishing from sight.