Death and Honor: Book 1 of 2 (14 page)

“Fair, you?”

“I’ve been in a scrap or two. You’d best let me take the lead, wouldn’t do to get you killed on your first day.”

“You Watchmen want to live I suggest you get lost,” the leader said.

Gabriel stepped forward, ignoring Griff’s restraining hand. “This man is under our protection. I order you to disperse.”

The leader laughed. “The Watch must be getting desperate if they let in a snot like you. I got a cousin your age and she looks tougher. Why don’t you run home to your mother before you get hurt?”

“My mother was killed a little less than four years ago and if you speak of her again I’ll cut your heart out and feed it to you. I challenge any of you to single combat, if you win you can have Lucky if I win the rest of you step aside.”

“There are five of us and two of you. Why shouldn’t we kill you and take him?”

“You can try,” Gabriel said. “In fact it’s what I’d expect cowards like you to do. I doubt any of you is man enough to face me one on one.”

The leader was no longer laughing. “It’s your funeral, boy. Which one of you wants to kill this kid?”

One of the bounty hunters stepped forward. “I got this, boss.”

“Bad luck for you, kid. Max here is one of our best.”

Gabriel nodded.

“You don’t have to do this,” Griff said in an urgent whisper.

“I made the challenge and I’ll honor it. If I fall do what you think is best.”

Gabriel stepped away from Griff. His opponent twirled his sword, a notched, wide bladed brute about two and a half feet long, in lazy circles. “Ready to die, boy?”

Gabriel ignored the crude provocation and continued to study Max. The bounty hunter was an inch or two taller than Gabriel and he looked like he outweighed him by at least forty pounds. Gabriel raised his sword so the hilt was at his ear and the tip pointed at Max’s chest. Max took a wide stance, braced to accept the charge Gabriel signaled he was about to make.

Roaring, Gabriel charged the bounty hunter, when he was two steps away he fell to his knees and slid behind Max slashing as he passed, severing the tendons of the bounty hunter’s right knee and sending him crashing to the ground. Gabriel popped to his feet swung full circle and slashed down at Max’s neck. Max’s head plopped the ground.

Gabriel flicked his sword to shake off the blood and turned to face the four remaining bounty hunters. “Will you honor your word and step aside?”

“What if I refuse?” the leader asked, a good deal less confident now.

“Then you’re free to join your friend.”

The leader swallowed and waved between fears, the fear of dying and the fear of losing his men’s respect. His face settled into a snarl “I will not yield to a child. Attack!”

He charged. Gabriel forced himself to relax, a task made easier because the remaining three men stood in place like roots had grown from the soles of their boots. The leader realized something had gone wrong and looked back to see what was happening. When he looked away Gabriel surged forward. The leader looked back in time to catch the tip of Gabriel’s sword in the throat. He fell, gurgling, to the ground.

Gabriel looked up from the dead man and the three remaining bounty hunters fled like flushed rabbits. After a tense minute Gabriel decided they weren’t coming back. He cleaned his sword on the leader’s tunic and sheathed it. “That went pretty well.”

Griff snorted and sheathed his sword. “So you’re fair with a sword, compared to whom? I’ve never seen moves like that.”

“Well compared to sword master Zin I’m barely competent to hold a sword.”

Griff laughed. “I’ve heard of Zin, he’s the finest weapon master in the city if not the whole kingdom, not what I’d call an average reference point.”

“He’s the standard by which I judge myself. Come on; let’s get Lucky into a cell before anyone else tries to collect the bounty.”

“Good idea.” Griff grabbed Lucky by the scruff of the neck. “Get a move on.”

The rest of their walk back to headquarters went without incident. Griff processed Lucky then met Gabriel in one of the interrogation rooms, which comprised a table, four chairs, and an alchemical lamp hanging from the ceiling. Griff deposited Lucky in a chair opposite Gabriel then sat beside his partner.

“All right, Lucky, we got you here in one piece, now talk,” Gabriel said.

“Sure, sure, what do you want to know?”

“Who wants Solan dead?”

“Beats me.” Lucky flinched like he expected to get hit.

“Try again.” Gabriel slammed his fist on the table making Lucky jump. “How were you getting paid?”

“Easy, easy, let me tell you how it works. First, whoever wants the old man dead contacts a broker. The broker puts the word out that the old priest is marked. Whoever shows up with proof the deed is done get’s the money, less the broker’s fee.”

Gabriel frowned. “Who’s the broker?”

“If I tell you he’ll kill me.”

“Griff, I was mistaken. This isn’t the guy we want, you can cut him loose.”

“Wait, you can’t let me go. I won’t last the night.”

“The broker, or you can take your chances on the street.”

The life seemed to flow out of Lucky as he slumped in his seat. “He’s a fat tub of goo named Mooche.”

Gabriel leaned back and smiled. “Where can we find him?”

“You heard of a restaurant called the Dead Duck?”

Gabriel glanced at his partner who nodded

“Well Mooche’s office is in the basement. There’s a set of stairs in the back that go down to it.”

“Guards?” Griff asked.

“What do you think?”

“How many?” Gabriel asked.

“The most I ever seen is four, two outside and two inside, but there could be a dozen hiding down there.”

“Fair enough. I guess we need to pay Mooche a visit. Let’s go.”

Griff handed Lucky over to the Watchman waiting outside the interrogation room. “Make sure he’s in a cell by himself.”

“No problem Griff, sir.” He saluted Gabriel who nodded.

“What do you think?” Griff asked when the Watchman had carted Lucky off to his new home.

“I think it’s way past dinner time. Let’s get something to eat, my treat.”

“I meant about Lucky’s story.”

“I know what you meant, but I haven’t a clue yet. You know anything about this Mooche guy?”

They left by the back entrance and headed across the street to the tavern where the Watchmen hung out. It was named Tommy’s after the retired Watch sergeant that opened it years ago. None of the chairs had arms to tangle with your sword and the food was cheap, everything you could ask for. They found a table and sat down.

“I’ve heard of Mooche, but I don’t know much about him. He’s one of Lucy’s main competitors. She’s way better than him so he gets most of his business handling things she won’t touch.”

“Like contract killings?”

“You got it.” A chubby, middle aged woman with a mountainous chest came over to their table. “Evening Zelda.”

“Hi, Griff, new partner?”

“Yeah, Gabriel this is Zelda. She’s been serving Watchmen since she was younger than you. Zelda meet our newest lieutenant.”

“Pleasure, ma’am.”

“Aren’t you a little young to be a lieutenant?” she asked.

“I certainly am, but I try not to let it slow me down.”

Zelda laughed. “I like this one, Griff. What can I get you boys?”

“Usual,” Griff said.

“Same for me.”

“You got it, two beef stews and two ales, coming right up.”

When she left Griff asked, “How do you want to handle Mooche?”

“I was thinking of taking a direct approach, but I’m open to suggestions.”

“No, the direct approach is the best with someone like Mooche. Wouldn’t hurt if we scared the hell out of him too.”

Gabriel grinned. Zelda brought bowls of stew, a basket of rolls, and two mugs of frothy ale. They ate in silence for a while then Gabriel asked, “So why’d you join the Watch?”

“You could call it the family business. I’m the fifth generation of my family to serve. I was practically raised at headquarters, I helped make my first arrest when I was twelve, and I was hooked. I never looked back. What about you?”

“I joined because of my father as well. You heard about the attack on Duncan’s estate?”

Griff nodded. “That was a mess.”

“Yeah, well I’m hoping I’ll be able to learn who was behind it so I can bring them to justice.”

“How do like your chances?” Griff sopped up the last of his gravy and popped the roll in his mouth.

Gabriel looked up and met his partner’s eyes. Griff flinched back. “I like my chances very well.”

Griff licked his lips. “Right, well we should get going.” He raised his hand to get Zelda’s attention.

“That’ll be three silvers boys,” Zelda said when reached their table.

Gabriel dug four coins out of his pocket and dropped them into her hand. “That was wonderful, thank you.”

She pocketed the extra coin. “You boys take care.”

When they left Tommy’s the sun had set and the alchemical street lights were glowing. Gabriel wasn’t sure how they worked but somehow the liquid inside reacted to darkness by glowing. They did wonders to keep street crime to a minimum at night.

“How far?” Gabriel asked when Griff turned west and walked.

“About a quarter mile, but we’re taking a roundabout route so as not to announce our arrival.”

They meandered through the streets for twenty minutes before Griff came to a stop in a shadowy alley. He pointed across the street. “That’s it.”

Two men with clubs stood in front of a door that looked like it would blow in with a slight breeze. “What a dump,” Gabriel said. “How come none of the information brokers work out of someplace nice?”

“I’m sure it’s nicer on the inside,” Griff said. “Let’s go introduce ourselves to those guards.”

Gabriel gave his sword a wiggle to make sure it was loose in its scabbard then followed his partner across the street, the guards spotted them about half way across. “Drop your weapons and stand aside,” Gabriel said. “Watch business.”

The guards looked at each other and when they looked back Gabriel and Griff had their swords drawn. They hesitated a moment longer then charged, clubs raised. Gabriel side stepped his opponent’s clumsy blow then stuck his foot out. The guard tripped, staggered a couple steps then fell on his face. When he rolled over he found Gabriel’s sword at his throat.

“Drop the club,” Gabriel said. “And get up, slowly.”

The guard obeyed and when he was on his feet Gabriel hammered him across the back of the head with the brass counterweight on his sword hilt. The guard crumpled back to the ground. Griff had his opponent down as well; the guard bled from a cut on the wrist and didn’t look like he’d be holding a club in that hand for a while.

“Not very friendly, were they?” Gabriel said.

Griff grunted and kicked the guard in the side of the head, rendering the man unconscious. “That’s two. If Lucky had a clue what he was talking about there should be two more inside. You didn’t kill yours.”

“You sound surprised. Do I seem the bloodthirsty sort to you?”

“Well the way you handled those two this morning I figured maybe you preferred it that way.”

“No, I prefer not to get cut up,” Gabriel said. “I’ve no interest in killing a man that surrenders. I didn’t even want to thump him but I didn’t bring manacles.”

“Nothing wrong with a little thumping, but I hate having to kill,” Griff said.

Gabriel started toward the building. “Let’s hope the gentlemen inside share your distaste.”

Griff chuckled and followed him over to the door. “I don’t hold out much hope for that.”

The door was unlocked and opened at Gabriel’s touch. Inside was a hall three strides long that ended in a second, sturdier door. “Think it’s locked?” Gabriel asked.

Griff leaned against the door which didn’t budge. “Yep. Stand back.”

Gabriel went back outside to give his partner room to work. Griff reared back and kicked the door, it cracked but didn’t budge. He hammered it again, the hinges came free of the wall, and the door clattered down a flight of steps. At the bottom was a doorway with light spilling out.

Griff bowed and indicated he should go first. Gabriel trotted down the steps, seeing no point in being stealthy at this point. He stepped over the ruined door and into an office lit by an alchemical light hung from the ceiling. The far end of the room was dominated by a desk behind which sat a corpulent man dressed in a crimson robe, gold chains dangled from his neck and gem encrusted rings glittered on his fingers. On either side of the desk stood a broad shouldered man in leather armor and carrying a two bladed battle-ax.

“You must be Mooche,” Gabriel said when Griff had joined him in the office.

“What are you doing here?” Mooche asked his voice high and squeaky. “Didn’t you get this month’s payoff?”

Gabriel frowned at the implication that the Watch accepted payments from scum like this. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. Tell me who hired you to broker the murder of High Priest Solan.”

“Boys, throw this riffraff out, in pieces if necessary.”

The guards started towards them, weapons raised. Griff looked at Gabriel. “You going to kill yours this time?”

“Only if I have to,” Gabriel said, his voice grim as he drew his sword.

The guards paused, looked at each other, then at Gabriel, then they laughed. Not for the first time Gabriel wished he looked more intimidating.

They paired off, the right hand guard going for Gabriel and the other for Griff. Gabriel didn’t try to block the battle-ax, the force would more likely snap his sword than anything. The guard was good. He kept the ax spinning, changing angles and giving Gabriel no opening to counter. Gabriel kept dodging, swing an ax was exhausting and he had nowhere to be, soon enough the force of his opponent’s blows lessened. He made a weak right to left slash at Gabriel’s midsection. Gabriel jackknifed clear and stepped in behind the blow with a slash at the man’s wrist.

The keen edge of Gabriel’s sword combined with the momentum of his swing half severed the guards hand at the wrist, his ax clattered to the floor. Gabriel finished his with a blow to the temple. He turned to check on Griff and found his parter on the floor, his opponent’s ax above his head. Gabriel sprinted across the room and lunged, piercing the guard though his armpit and driving the blade into his heart. The ax fell from limp fingers before the guard collapsed.