Victor Deus (Heritage of the Blood Book 1) (12 page)

There had been a time when he didn't look inside before opening a window. That had all changed one night when he crept into the bedroom of a rich merchant. Victor still wasn't sure if he had made a noise, or if it was just the draft that had awoken the man. Either way the man's first instinct was to look directly towards the window that Victor had been climbing through. He had barely made it off of the merchant's property intact that night.

The room he now looked into was not anyone's bedroom thankfully, but it was a display room, the kind where a collector might keep something like a special pair of manacles. Even better however was the fact that the room was currently empty. Victor checked the window, and of course it was locked. Luckily it wasn't a complex lock, just a latch, and he felt nothing odd about the window so he didn't believe it to have been manipulated by a Mage. He didn't think that he had enough experience to hold himself up and manipulate the latch with his will at the same time, so he would do it the old fashioned way. Victor concentrated on the connection between his boots and the wall, and grabbed hold of the window sill with his left hand so his right hand would be free to do it's work. Fumbling around in the pack at his waist, he pulled out several thin pieces of metal. Carefully he began to manipulate the latch, trying to do it quickly, but without any noise. It took him almost as long as it had to open the window as it had to climb the wall, and each one of those thirty seconds he had been vulnerable to being found out. He promised himself he would do better in the future. Getting in however, would prove to be the easy part.

Meanwhile

Shawnrik watched as Victor scaled the wall of the manor. It didn't matter how many times he had seen Victor do it, or done it himself with the aid of Victor's magic. Victor had tried to tell him that it wasn't magic, but Shawnrik, like so many others, couldn't seem to get his mind around the concept. To anyone who had ever seen anything like that being done, it was magic, and Shawnrik had always wished that he had that kind of power.
It's amazing the things you can do Victor. It's so hard to keep up with you. I may be over four years older than you, but I'll be damned if your size isn't the only thing that would make anyone think that. You're quicker than me, smarter than me, and you can do things that I don't understand. That doesn't mean I'm going to give up though. You said you would need someone by your side throughout your life, and I plan on being there. You are the magic and the brains and I'll be the muscle. That Shaylyn lady you're always talking about was right Vic. You are bound for great things, even a city rat like me can see that. I plan on being there to make sure you're alive to do 'em.
Wrapped in his own thoughts, he almost didn't see Victor slip into the now open window.

Realizing that his job was done unless an alarm was raised, Shawnrik leaned back into the shadows of the alley he occupied, and let his thoughts consume him.
Great, this is where it gets boring. Are you always going to leave me outside Victor? What will it take for me to be your equal? I wonder if you really meant that I was smart, or if you were just saying it to make me happy. Sure, I taught you how to move through the shadows so that you blend in, or what people make good marks, or how to gauge how much is in a purse by just looking at it. I taught ya' all about how to survive out here, but that will never compare to all the things you have taught me.

Learning how to read. I wish my ma' could see that, she'd be so proud of me. Sure, most of the people in the Protectorate are literate, but not down on these streets, and especially not the son of a barbarian. That one thing will open so many more doors for me when I'm older. Of course, unless I miss my guess, just being around Victor will probably show me more of the world than I could ever imagine.
Shawnrik attempted to find a more comfortable position with which to wait, once that was achieved, he began to survey the area, looking for guards or any other people who might cause trouble for the boys.

He noticed something moving through the yard of the estate, and soon recognized the shape of a guard dog.
'ello doggy, out for an evening stroll? Do you smell a human, well, half a human anyway? I wonder if it's the elven half of Victor that makes him so special... No, that can't be it. I've met a few half-elves who I wouldn't lend a hand to if they were drowning. What's so important about these manacles anyway? Why would a rich noble steal them, or have them stolen at least. Ol' Man Walkins wouldn't tell me anything about them. They must be magical, or the real owner would have just made a new pair. Since they are magical manacles I'd bet they are for holding slaves; Special slaves.

Shawnrik had seen the man who hired Walkins to do the job, and he knew the man was Syndicate. If the Syndicate wanted the manacles than they were dangerous to someone. Who would the Syndicate try to hold prisoner though? Whoever, or whatever it was, it would be powerful, like a Protectorate Mage, or an Ogre Mage. That line of thinking made Shawnrik cringe, he didn't like anyone who would need to hold a Mage prisoner, and he really didn't like anyone brave enough to try to hold an Ogre mage.

Maybe they are just for Orcs, and they just make you weaker and more manageable. If they are for Orcs or an Ogre they will probably be pretty big and heavy. I hope Vic can get 'em himself…

“Uh, cough”

Shawnrik's head whipped around towards the depths of the alley. He didn't have to look very hard to see who had spoken. There was a man propped up against the opposite wall further down the alley, in much the same manner Shawnrik had been leaning only moments before. He said the first thing that came to mind, “Did you just say cough?”

The man behind him behind him let out a quiet, yet warm sounding chuckle. “I like that, most people would say something like... How did you get there? Or, who are you?” The man smiled before continuing in a quiet tone that reminded Shawnrik where they were as he moved across the alley. “But yes, I did say cough. I have a sore throat, and I didn't feel like clearing it to get your attention, so I said cough.”

If it wasn't for the fact that the man had snuck up on him in an alley, Shawnrik immediately got the feeling that he would probably like the guy. “Ok then, who are you, and how did you get there?”

“Ah, now we are getting to the heart of the matter. Well, when I'm on guard duty I try not to let my thoughts wander too much, it allows room for mistakes. It makes it easy for people to wander up on ya without hearing 'em. Also when I think too much it makes my head hurt, and it's not good to have a headache when you're on watch either.”

Shawnrik stared up at the man, not quite sure what to make of him. The man was of an average height for the men of the city, if not a little shorter. Shawnrik could see the man's arms, and he got the feeling that the rest of the man was made up of the same corded muscles. His hair was dark, either a brown or a black, and his eyes seemed to be a match for his hair. Shawnrik had the feeling that the man wasn't from the Dock's District. His clothes were of a fine quality, but tailored so that he could be easily lost in a crowd. The man's whole demeanor yelled guard, or soldier.

“Nothin' to say eh? You're a bit young to be on watch, what are you twelve?”

“I'm almost fourteen thank you.” Shawnrik said it without thinking, and cringed inwardly when he realized he had answered the man.

“Oh, you're
almost
fourteen eh? That makes you
almost
a man I suppose. Well young man, what's your name.”

“I asked you first.” Shawnrik was expecting was used to getting hit for being mouthy, but instead of getting angry the stranger let out another quiet chuckle with that deep voice of his.

“Well, I suppose you did at that, most people call me Ashur.” He held out his hand in a friendly manner, clearly expecting to shake hands. “My friends call me Ash.”

Shawnrik considered how weird this all was, but with the man's laid back attitude, and apparently friendly demeanor was putting him at ease. He grasped Ashur's hand and replied, “Names Shawnrik and my friends call me Shawn.”

“Well, Shawn now that we know each other can I ask ya' what exactly are you and your friend in the manor over there are doing here?”

This made Shawnrik tense up again, and he almost bolted into the street, but Ashur's grip held him firm, and he couldn't move. Ashur pulled Shawnrik deeper into the alley. “That's how you get caught kid, you don't just run out into a lit street. You are a rookie.” Ashur let go of Shawnrik's hand and held a finger up to his mouth before pointing towards the head of the alley.

Shawnrik was thinking about yelling at the man for manhandling him, before he heard the
clank, clank, clank,
of metal boots. Two men then became visible in the nearby street. They were wearing the purple, black, and gold of the city watch. They seemed to be absorbed in their own conversation, neither of them looking anywhere but the street ahead, marching down the street in blissful ignorance.
Some watch they are.
Shawnrik thought for a second, and nearly chuckled from the Irony. After watching the street for a few moments more, making sure the watch was still heading in the other direction, Shawnrik turned back to the man standing behind him as Ashur spoke.

“You should have seen the look on your face kid. I'm guessing you want the watch to find you here about as much as Nim and I do.”

“Who's Nim?”

“That is a good question kid, and if you ever figure it out why don't you tell me.” Ashur's manner told him this was a long running joke for the man, but the way his eyes went slightly out of focus for a second after he said it told the boy he wasn't entirely kidding. “Just a joke kid, he's my associate, or I guess I'm his associate. He's kind of like that little Gnome your working for.” He paused to see Shawnrik's reaction.

Shawnrik tensed and tried not to let anything show on his face, but he knew that he had given too much away already. “What Gnome?”

Ashur's smirk returned. “The one I saw scale the manor wall a little while back.” He then pointed to the exact window that Victor had gone into a few moments earlier.”

Good.
Shawnrik thought,
they think Victor is a gnome. Wait, they…
”Where's this Nim Guy?”

“He's around.” Ashur said, as he leaned back against the wall, before adding, “So, want to compare notes on employers?”

Chapter 4

Easy as Pie

Year 3043 AGD

Month:   New Year

Early Morning of First Day

Continent of Terroval

City of Safeharbor

Nobility District

Nim flowed through the open window on the second floor with the ease of a breeze blowing through a meadow. There was a dog outside, but it hadn't seen or heard Nim as he entered. The dog had smelled the two intruders of course, yet it's attention had been distracted by a large chunk of meat that it found while searching the yard. Nim followed the small cloaked intruder through the room. He watched as the figure, which he assumed to be a Gnome or a Halfling, stared at the jewels that were on display with open admiration. Nim knew that this was not the room he wanted, so he slipped out ahead of the would-be thief.

Nim would have once gawked openly at the jewels and other niceties, but he had seen their like many times before now. Not only had he seen them, but he now owned quite a few like them. He had acquired quite a few pieces of property throughout the lands of Terrazil. Most of the property he now owned had come fully furnished; some even came with a full staff. While walking through the halls he did see a few things that he wouldn't mind having, but Nim had never considered himself a thief though, just generally lucky. From time to time he would take things from individuals he thought untrustworthy, or remove something dangerous from someone who couldn't protect it properly. There were just certain things in the world that some people should never get a hold of. Tonight was an instance where a dangerous item was owned by the wrong man.

He knew that the manacles that he was looking for would be in one of the rooms on the back side of the wing. Nim could hear the footsteps of the other intruder rather well, and knew that it was only a matter of time before someone heard them as well. He heard the door to the room that he had just exited open, and he moved against the wall to hide in the shadows of the corridor. The little figure moved out of the room and checked the door directly across from the first room. Nim watched the figure quietly open the door and slip inside. Nim was still moving down the hall when he heard the door open again, and he quickly ducked into a corner. It appeared that the little one was done gawking, and was now getting down to business.

The next door down the hall that the little thief tried was locked, but that didn't seem to dissuade him. Nim didn't see any telling movements, but the thief must have picked the lock, because a moment later the door swung open silently on it's hinges. He watched the thief open the door and slipped in, Nim following closely behind. The small figure looked around, apparently sensing the movement behind him, but Nim was already moving through the room. The figure shrugged, as if telling himself that it was just his imagination.

The room was lined with ancient armors and weapons; Some of which Nim had neither seen, nor heard of before. Nim knew the owner of the mansion was quite the collector, but he didn't understand how much of an obsession it was for the man, until now. He saw armors that were made out of bone, wood, rock, and various other elements that armor was rarely made from. He saw swords, daggers, axes, and hundreds of other blades in all shapes and sizes. Some of the weapons and armor gleamed as if they had never been used, but Nim could tell by their design and craftsmanship that many of them were too old to have maintained that luster even with the best maintenance. From this he garnered that some, if not all, of these had to have been manipulated by master Shapers or Clerics. Nim also knew that anyone that could have a collection like this, would likely be able to afford the best security for their collections.