PART TWO: Brid

Company Accounts:

Finances: £11 16s 5p

Mercenaries: 11

Assets: The Rose Inn in Avolo; the mine in Eisenberg

Manslayer’s death cast a shadow over Lothar’s defeat of Redblade. The morale of his remaining mercenaries had taken a hit. None were openly hostile. But their confidence in him was shaken, and several mourned Edmund, none more than Ashlyn.

Lothar felt terrible at first. Then he realised he didn’t have to pay Edmund’s wages for the mission. It was a distasteful, mercenary thought. But then, I am a mercenary.

In truth, saving a few shillings didn’t outweigh the strategic problems he faced from losing Manslayer. He had been the killer in the crew, the one whose fighting prowess had seen them through the tougher missions. Without him, the Apples didn’t have the capacity for the battles to come. He would have to leave those to one side until he could find some replacements. He had to take a fresh look at the available missions:

SELECT MISSION

DESTROY WARG DEN, £2

KILL SAL

PATROL AROUND EISENBERG

LOCATE BARROW

He held a meeting with Wilson, Ashlyn, Jaelin, and Christoph in The Pig and Iron in Eisenberg.

‘You four are staying here for the time being. There’s a new farm established in this area every day at the moment. It’s good news for Eisenberg. But the area needs patrolling.’

Lothar had established Pavel in Redblade’s hill fort. But he didn’t know how effective he would be at holding off the goblins to the west, or for how long. Humans could be a threat to law and order as well. If Lothar’s ambitions for this region were to bear fruit, he needed peace.

‘Just us four?’ Christoph asked. ‘What about Auntie?’

‘I want your aunt to keep training Mila. And I need Mila to return to Avolo. I promised Wade he’d get his rogues back. And The Rose needs looking after.’

‘Alright,’ Christoph acquiesced.

‘What is it?’ Lothar asked Ashlyn. She had a pet lip out.

‘Patrolling? I thought we’d be going for the warg’s den.’

‘Do you think the four of you could handle the wargs?’ he asked the others.

Twerk and The Explorer shook their heads vigorously.

‘We could if you came with us,’ said Ashlyn. ‘The Baron said it was you who took Redblade down.’

‘That was a one off. I’m not making a habit of doing missions.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I don’t fancy getting killed.’

‘But it’s alright if the rest of us get wasted?’

‘That’s the life of a mercenary.’ It was true, but harsh, and none of them appreciated the comment. ‘Look. I’m getting too old for all that. My job is to manage The Rotten Apples. I can’t do that if I’m running around on missions as well.’

‘I take your point,’ Jaelin said. ‘But what about finding the third barrow? I can make a start now.’

‘Not on your own you can’t. And I can’t spare these three to go with you right now, or there'll be no-one left to defend Eisenberg.’

‘I don’t need anyone’s help. I’m used to explorink on my own.’

‘It’s too dangerous. We know there’s goblins about, and probably a lot worse than that.’

‘I can handle myself.’

‘I said no. Any more questions?’

Thankfully, the gnome stayed quiet.

Lothar was fed up with Eisenberg. He’d envisaged a place where he was free of the reach of the Blades, or any other rival. Where he could build his own little empire in this corner of Gal’azu.

Now he just wanted to return to Avolo.

They got a drenching on the journey back to Avolo. When they got back to The Rose, the hearth was lit; Suzie had been baking bread; and it felt like coming home.

Lothar filled Wade in on the events in Eisenberg, and was pleased to hear it had been largely uneventful at the inn. ‘Save for the folks who’ve come looking for you.’

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‘What folks?’ Lothar asked, nervous that it was the Blades or some other trouble.

‘That swanky woman you fancy.’

‘Swanky? Who? Oh, you mean Rosalind. I don’t fancy her. I’m not a teenager.’

‘Whatever. She looked disappointed you were gone. Then there were two mercs from the Golden Blades.’

Lothar’s blood ran cold. ‘What the hell did they want?’

‘Wouldn’t say. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them back here later, they’ve come every day.’

By the time Lothar had freshened up, the two mercs had returned. It was Usa and Izil, the brothers he had tried to recruit back on his first day in the city. Usa, the older, looked pleased to see Lothar when he joined them at their table. Izil had a sceptical expression.

‘What are you doing here?’ Lothar asked cautiously.

‘Looking for work,’ Usa said with a wry smile.

Lothar relaxed. Recruiting a couple of fighters was just what he needed. ‘You’re not getting it from The Golden Blades?’

‘We get work when it suits them,’ Usa said. ‘Always the last to get hired, always the meanest of assignments, or the most dangerous. Alright, there are better, more experienced mercs on their roster. We get that. But we’re tired of being treated like dogs.’

‘You’d not be treated like that here,’ Lothar reassured him.

The brothers exchanged a glance. ‘We’ve also heard about your success.’

‘Success?’

‘Aye. Magic swords and the like. That would really up our profile if we were to share in that kind of loot.’

So that was why they were here. It didn’t make a whole lot of sense otherwise. News of the loot from the barrow had spread. I shouldn’t be surprised. ‘It’s not like I have a rack of magic weapons to hand out.’

‘I get that,’ Usa said. ‘We’re quite willing to wait our turn. But we’re hard workers, and I think we can help your outfit out.’

‘You’d get the respect you deserve, for a start,’ Lothar said.

It looked like Izil, though still silent, had come round to the idea.

‘I can hire you now,’ Lothar told them. ‘It would involve you travelling out west to a town called Eisenberg, picking up the remainder of my crew, and going on a mission with them.’

‘We can do that.’

‘Good. I’ll write a note for you to hand over when you get there.’

Rosalind arrived at The Rose early that evening. Lothar had a table laid out for them in the corner of the lounge with instructions that they should not be disturbed.

‘You didn’t tell me you were leaving Avolo,’ she told him. In the dim light of the inn, her white forelock stood out all the more amongst the raven black.

‘Sorry. It was all a bit of a rush.’

‘You were successful?’

‘I have a mine in Eisenberg. The local brigand chieftain is dead. And I’ve added to my stash of items.’

‘Well, congratulations are in order then.’ She raised her cup of wine and they clinked them together. She held his eyes as she sipped her drink. ‘Stiff, this is actually drinkable.’

‘I’m glad you approve.’

‘What items did you obtain?’

‘I’m not entirely sure about all of them.’

She tsked him. ‘You know I buy and sell all kinds of objects. Why haven’t you shown me?’

‘It didn’t cross my mind. They’re in my room.’

‘Then let’s see them now. We can take our drinks upstairs.’

Lothar wasn’t about to argue with that.

He unlocked his chest and placed the items he was unsure about on his bed. ‘Redblade wore this. It seemed to enhance his agility.’

‘Yes. A necklace of agility. Highly prized by warriors.’

High agility usually allowed someone to get in the first strike, which was often decisive. ‘Certainly.’

Rosalind picked up the staff his crew had claimed from the first barrow. She caressed its wooden length, as if stealing its secrets. ‘A Staff of Warning. It will tell its owner when any danger is close.’

‘And anyone can use it?’

She gave him a frown. ‘Only a wizard can use a staff, Stiff.’

‘Ah. I know nothing of magic.’

‘Clearly.’ she swapped the first staff for the second, which Redblade had owned. It had a purple gemstone fitted at the top. ‘Ooh.’

‘What is it?’

‘A Staff of Hither-Thither.’

‘Hither-Thither?’

‘It allows a wizard to establish two portals, and travel between them.’

Lothar stared at the carved wood and repressed a shudder. He wasn’t keen on such things. ‘It would fetch a lot of money?’

‘Of course.’

‘Then maybe you should sell it for me.’

‘I could. But you shouldn’t be giving away such powerful objects, Stiff.’

‘Why?’

She rolled her eyes at him. ‘If you’re going to expand your reach in Gal’azu, you’ll need a wizard or two in the Apples.’

‘I’ve never had a wizard in my crew.’

‘That’s not a reason not to.’

‘I suppose so.’

The final unidentified object was an amulet that had also been part of Redblade’s hoard.

‘An Amulet of Disguise,’ Rosalind pronounced. ‘It strengthens any disguise, making those who observe it believe it more fiercely.’

‘Ah. I should give it to The Baron then.’

‘You said there were more of these barrows out there in the wilds?’

‘Two more.’

‘Then you should make finding them one of your priorities. They will help you challenge The Golden Blades when the time comes.’

‘When? Not if?’

‘You really think you can avoid it?’

‘No. I guess not.’

‘That’s the reason I came looking for you, Stiff.’

‘What is?’

‘It’s past time you started forging relationships with the city councillors of Avolo. They’re the only ones in Gal’azu capable of standing up to The Blades, since they pay their wages. But The Blades are the only ones with the muscle to carry out the council’s needs. It makes the council vulnerable. You need to demonstrate that The Apples are a viable alternative.’

Lothar puffed out his cheeks. ‘But are we?’

‘Not in every area. Not yet. But you have a strong enough team to help this particular councillor I have in mind. Urkal Foberoy. Will you see him?’

‘I’ll meet him. When? Tomorrow?’

‘Tonight. Now would work. Better for it to be an informal meeting, without prying eyes.’

‘Now? Oh. Alright then.’

‘What? You had something else in mind?’

‘Well—’

Rosalind grinned as she approached him. Her perfume enveloped him. ‘You are a wicked man, Lothar ‘Stiff’ Sauer.’

‘I do my best.’

She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him. It was the most exhilarating feeling Lothar had experienced in years, as if he was a youngster all over again.

She pulled away. ‘A kiss is all you get from me at first, Stiff. I don’t do quickies in men’s bedrooms.’

‘Of course not,’ he said quickly. ‘You’re too classy for that.’

‘Classy. Hmm. I’ll take that compliment. Come on, let’s visit Mr Foberoy.’