The tavern was quiet, as it always was. Only accessible after traversing through one of the city’s longest and narrowest alleys it had been a popular haunt of the Underground’s leadership since the beginning. No outsider ever passed through its doors. Any brave or enthusiastic city guards which ever thought to raid it faced a difficult journey in, by the time they reached the basement drinking hole their arrival had been long since foretold. All of this made it the perfect meeting point for Averan and Sandorn to meet any city guardsmen sympathetic to their cause.
The history of the City’s army and the Kings was long. Established in the earliest days of Gorias the force had traditionally been led by a close relative of the King, usually a brother, a cousin or uncle. The title had become hereditary in all but name.
Right up until the end the city guard were Kingsmen. The last commander however had proved a traitor. Father had often told them of all about the ‘black blemish’ on their Family’s House. Dagdan Aureate. He’d betrayed the Family and sold out his own blood for the promise of kingship of the small neighboring city of Andalen. Since then the Forty had done much to ensure the men in charge of the Guard remained loyal to their new governance. Despite this Averan knew that many of the old Guard and their families still held a fondness and nostalgia for the Kings. For House Aureate. If not enough to commit treason than certainly enough to aid them in small ways. Wendon was one such man. His family had produced many notable warriors, even some which had reached the Keepers. The old Royal Guard of the Kings.
His father had been one of those rooted out in the upheaval, going from the Commander’s chief officer to a simple Captain. Wendon had not forgotten that slight, and Fenadorn had brought him into contact with the twins. Averan was glad once again of the fact. He held great sway amongst the rank and file of the army. More times than Averan could count he’d helped clear a street or avoid a patrol with his influence.
They waited for him, he, Sandorn and Fenadorn. Only the barkeep kept them company. A man known only as Silent Ed, for the most he ever offered in conversation was a grunt or sigh. A man well suited to his surroundings.
He was a little late. Which was unusual, Wendon was never late.
They had been waiting for almost half of an hour before he arrived.
A heavy rain had been falling on the city since morning. Wendon looked like he’d been out in it for a long period of time. The water poured off him as he wiped himself down and entered. Shaking off his cloak he came up to sit beside the fire, pulling up a seat next to Fenadorn.
“I hear your real Lords now. Lords of the Underground. I’ll admit, I’m impressed. I did not think the Amata would be so easily removed. You surprise me.”
Sandorn shrugged, “We planned it long enough.”
“You did,” Wendon agreed, “No denying that.” He waved over at the barkeep for a drink.
“Another thing that surprised me is just how you did it. The old Amata was more capable than most, his men better trained, better equipped and better led than any Clan had a right to be. His lads were professionals, many were good men released from the Guard. Yet with your 20 you cleared them out. In a night. Might I ask how?”
“You might,” Sandorn shrugged, “But I don’t see why. I think you already know how we did it.”
Wendon eyed him sideways but slowly smiled. “So it is true then. Chimeras. Well that explains why I’m here.”
Averan called for another drink, “Meaning?” .
“Meaning you’ve drawn quite a lot of attention to yourselves. And not from the City Guard Chamber, I mean from above them.”
“The Forty?” Sandorn asked, “They have already tried using the Amata to get at us.”
“Well now they’ve moved on to the City guard. One of the Lieutenants from the citadel sent word to me. Seems they have big plans for you. Of course they ain’t putting it as such. Oh no, it’s coming under the pretense of clearing out the underground once and for all. Shutting down any illegal gambing, unsanctioned whorehouses, fighting pits, that kind of thing. You two aren’t mentioned specifically but it only focuses on the three quarters now under your control. Whatever they might claim this is nothing but a sanctioned attack on you, no one else. You’ve got attention of the wrong kind on you I’m afraid. That manor of your is being watched as it is. Men with eyes of everyone that comes and goes from your base of operations. That’s why I was so late getting here. I had to make doubly and triply sure nobody caught me lurking about. If I’m seen speaking or dealing with you then there will be hell to pay. For me and you.”
“Your wise to be cautious, I’d rather that than early. Tell us then, do you know who urged this attack? Were any Chimereans seen coming in or out of the citadel?” Sandorn leaned in close, cautious even despite the lack of patrons around.
Wendon shook his head, “None. All we know is that it came from the High city. From the Inner ring. Someone up there wants you dead, gone forever.”
“What exactly are they planning to do? When?” Averan asked.
Wendorn scratched at his beard, Averan regarded him closely. His face was an ordinary one. A forgettable one. One easily lost in a crowd.
It suited his line of work giving the Twins information. Everything about him was understated, average height, average build. A short well kept beard with a short cut on top. Had Averan not seen Wendon in battle he would never have thought him a dangerous man. Fortunately he had.
“Well, my man didn’t have all the answers, he’s just to have his men ready to go when called upon, but he and the others reckoned three days from now, on the moon turn. As for what? My guess is a simple raid and eliminate.”
Averan and Sandorn frowned but Fenadorn nodded knowingly.
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“Ahh,” Wendon realised, “I suppose it is a bit before your time. Raid and eliminate used to be the bread and butter for a city guard. Now it’s all bureaucracy, everyone is paying off everyone else so you can never tell who’s untouchable and who needs to be shown as an example. Makes me sick.”
Averan raised a brow, though Wendon was certainly against the disposal of the Kings and House Aureate, his feelings only went so far. He still needed gold to keep his information fresh, as they had learned from their past dealings. Without the incentive of coin he was far less willing to share secrets of the citadel. Still, now was not the time for questioning morals, whatever his reasons Wendon had always proved valuable.
“Look, it’s like this. Basically, they are going to come in, search every known and unknown premise of yours, rough up a couple of your clientele, get some dirt, anything they can stick on you. Then they’ll attack that manor of yours. Of course the Twins of the Underground can’t just let themselves be taken, oh no. You have to resist. And when you do…BAM.”
Wendon slammed his fist down on the table. “They’ll take you out. Without anyone able to say a word against it. Not that they would, it would only expose them to danger.”
“If they knew about the Chimeras then surely they must have safeguards in place? What exactly do they expect will happen if we transform?”
Averan nodded ast Sandorn’s question, it would take more than the city guard to stop them.
Wendon shrugged, “That I am afraid, is classified. All I know is that they know about your Beasts. So, there’s no way they haven’t planned it out. Or more likely there is no way those who ordered them would send them in without having some way of killing you. Whatever it is they’ll have something ready. I’m sure of it.”
A silence fell over them then. Averan was the one to finally break it, tired of thinking without any sound bar that of Wendon and his mead.
“First of all we need to find out who it is that’s ordering this. It’s someone from above, we know that, someone from the Forty, question is who?”
“Not who,” Sandorn shook his head, “We’re dealing with more than one person remember, more than one family even. Most of the Circlets owe their power to our Family’s demise, they would be sure to want us kept down. I don’t think we are facing one enemy. We’re facing an entire regime.”
Avern wiped down his face, Sandorn had lectured him often enough times on the current political landscape. The Forty Houses had always been divided into levels, though it had only really became important in the latter years of his Family’s rule and formally adopted into High society with the end of it.
Of the Forty, 6 were considered amongst the most powerful. They were referred to as the Circlet Houses. Then came the Garnets, of which there were 12. And finally the Wreaths, made up of the remaining 22 Houses. In theory Houses could rise and fall, but such occurrences were so rare that it was almost considered impossible by most. Or at least they were rare, before the Disposal.
“So that’s that then,” Averan frowned, “Forgetting about what allies they’ll have in the lower Houses let’s focus on the 6 Circlets. Each one 100 Household Guard, that’s 600 there. Each House probably boasts what…..6 adult Chimeras? 7? A fair challenge that.”
“Not all the Circlets are prospering. Though the politics of above are a closely guarded secret I have heard rumors.” Fenadorn paused to take a sip of his mea. “The Forty are not so well unified as they would claim. The problem is knowing who to approach and who to be wary of.”
“Hmm, well at least we know.” Sandorn placed a hand on Wendon’s shoulder, “I thank you Wendon. Tell me, if it came down to it. If there was an ultimatum in front of the like minded men of the City guard to yourself. Would they give us support? The Kings Aureate?”
Wendon raised a brow and looked at Sandorn and back to Averan.
“Many would yes, I’d bet a fair fare on that. Especially with all the new regulations that are being introduced, they have not gone down well. Commander Grevus has alienated a great deal of his men with his constant seeking of change and modernization. That and there’s still a core of boys distant cousins and family friends to the Houses which fell when the Kings died out…..well I mean…not died out, died out….but you know. Fell. They’d be willing to risk a great deal if they thought they might be reinstated in their old posts, posts that their fathers and grandfathers held. But I warn you, they will only risk so much, pride and loyalty is great and all, but you’d need to show them some chance of winning.” Wendon wagged a finger at them, “You would.”
Sandorn motioned over the barkeep,“Well, that’s enough talking for today Wendon, you best be getting back. You know what these streets are like past dark. And even our protection can only go so far. You are still a city guard after all. We’ll be in touch. Soon.”
Averan downed his drink and Sandorn and Fenadorn followed suit. Wendon looked on confused until Averan gave him a nudge and nodded at the cup in front of him. Wendon looked down at his almost fresh drink and sighed. He smiled grimly.
“Cheers.”
With that he pulled back up his hood and wrapped himself up once more. Wordlessly he left them and headed back out into the streets.
Averan tossed the barkeep a few silver coins and handed up his cup for another.
“We could leave?” Fenadorn placed his cup down carefully, “You know your father planned to before the end. To leave the city and start anew. You have the opportunity to do what he couldn’t.”
“We aren’t going to leave Fenadorn.” Averan said quietly. He didn’t need to see his Brother’s face, he knew he agreed.
“We knew what we were doing when we started our rise. This is unwelcome but inevitable. At least we have warning and some power from which to fight back.”
“Averan is right Fenadorn, and you know that leaving is not an option, no more than it was for our father. For better or worse Aureate is tied to this city, as are we. We won’t run.”
Sandorn turned to Averan, “Remember what you said, about Commander Grevus? About that establishment that he likes.”
“I remember,” Averan said, “and I’ve got people in there now who can help us. You think it’s time?”
“Yes, yes I do. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that.”
“We’ll need the other clans. .”
“Then it’s good that we have them.”
Fenadorn coughed loudly, “Will you be informing me about this desperate plan at some stage?
Averan smiled as the barkeep brought him over a fresh round. He clinked his own cup off their old protector’s.
“Ready yourself. We’ve got some work to do.”