Cards Reshuffled

There is one common principle that unites more or less all rogues. Stealth. The art of being able to say 'I can see you, you can't see me, nyah nyah'. Except in a slightly more dignified manner, for most of us. It is a sound principle, I think. For the most part, you want to avoid being seen, but sometimes it may just pay to make yourself visible to the right people.

Excerpt from 'Interview With An Assassin'

A large bat flitted across the face of the moon, obscuring it for a few seconds. Dekaras lowered his eyes from the window, smiling faintly to himself. He wouldn’t have seen the bat if he hadn’t been looking for it, of course, but it had been following him for quite some time now. Perfect. He dared another brief glance out the window. And yes…there was that fellow, still waiting for him down on the street. The man was quite well hidden, in fact. However, Dekaras knew that the other man had been trailing him all night, just like the bat, and he had spotted him concealing himself. So, they are finally taking an interest in me, he thought. Good thing. I almost thought I’d have to pull some ridiculous stunt like blowing up half the Promenade. And then again, that already happened, so they would probably be blasé about it.

The assassin had spent some time investigating the Cowled Wizards, but so far without any substantial leads about where they might incarcerate their unfortunate prisoners. Their organization was both big and secretive, and it was difficult to learn just who might hold the information he needed. Furthermore, he needed to be discreet in his investigations, or he might well bring the entire organization down on his head, something that he really didn’t need. Fighting droves of powerful mages wasn’t a tactic that was likely to lead him any closer to Imoen. However, there was another angle he meant to exploit as much as possible.

Bodhi. Not only had that mysterious vampire been involved with the original abduction of Imoen and the others, and might be involved with the recent development. But she was also a power to be reckoned with, and so she might provide him with a way to get closer to the Cowled Wizards, even if she had nothing directly to do with them. Dekaras had learnt enough to realize that this vampire-run Assassin’s Guild was a very real threat to the previously undisputed rule of the Shadow Thieves over Athkatla’s underworld. The guild war was raging all over the city, with casualties on both sides, and the vampires seemed the more powerful group. Shadow Thieves were disappearing daily. Some of them were killed, others defected to join their rivals or were killed by their superiors for attempted treachery. Day by day, little by little, the vampires were bleeding the Shadow Thieves dry.

And there were apparently Shadow Thieves fighting this mysterious masked Archmage, the one who was arrested along with Imoen. Shadow Thieves fighting him…Shadow Thieves fighting the vampires. It could be a coincidence, but I think not. Not when it’s coupled with what that other vampire I encountered in Beregost said about Bodhi’s companion. No, finding one should help me find the other, and eventually Imoen. The assassin’s sharp face took on a grim expression as he thought about the pink-haired girl. Hopefully before the poor girl suffers any permanent damage.

Of course, he couldn’t simply go knock on the vampires’ door in the fond hope that they would obligingly share their secrets with him. No, it would be necessary to make them come to him instead, and he thought he knew just the way. Efficient killers the vampires might be, but for them to really be able to get around the Shadow Thieves with ease they needed operatives who could move about in daylight. It made sense that they would recruit thieves for that.

So, he had followed the simplest and most logical course and started robbing houses, in order to make his presence known. It wasn’t exactly his normal line of work of course, but the basic principles were the same. Get in quietly and without a fuss, do your job, get out unnoticed. It wasn’t as if he could do assassination work here in Athkatla without great difficulty, lacking his normal contacts to provide him with possible employers, and he certainly couldn’t go to the Shadow Thieves for assignments. Robberies were far better suited for independent work, and would increase his funds nicely. Not only that, by making them as spectacular as possible he knew that he would eventually draw the attention of the vampires. Possibly the Shadow Thieves too…that was the risk. Neither guild would like infringement on their territory by an independent agent. But life is filled with risks after all, Dekaras thought, critically studying a pearl necklace before slipping it into the bag he carried. The house he was currently paying a visit to belonged to an Athkatlan merchant, and a wealthy one at that. And this risk I believe is a necessary one to take.

It was time to leave. Quiet as a shadow the assassin slipped through the dark bedroom, a cautious eye on the young woman sleeping in the bed. She sighed briefly in her sleep, turning over so her dark hair fanned out over the pillow. The daughter of the house, and her jewelry box had been extensively trapped. And then there had been the guards, not to mention the tame panther. All of them avoided, in and out neatly and quietly, just as it should be. He’d thought it would be enough to pique the interest of those he sought. And now…now there was the man down on the street, waiting for him, as well as the bat in the air.

There were guards still patrolling the hallways of the large estate, but bypassing them presented no particular difficulty. Dekaras took a few long and deep breaths before going out by the side entrance he had used to get into the house. Focus. Calm. Control. He felt the world narrowing, shifting into sharp focus, as it always did when he concentrated deeply on an assignment. And this was the real assignment, not the robbery. He checked the weapons he had with him, including a few special hidden ones in case the vampires decided to get frisky. Always prepare well for a possible battle…and take excellent care of your equipment. As he left the house he made himself move with a little less than his normal skill, so the man on the other side of the street would still be able to see him. The fellow was good, but not good enough not to need some help.

Dekaras smiled inwardly as he sensed the other man coming up behind him. Oh, the other one was silent, and moved quietly, but he was also tense, and the scent of his tension was almost palpable. He drew things out, waiting until the other man was almost upon him, waiting for the whistling sound of a moving blade, or the tiny noise of a drawn bowstring. But no such noises came, and once the following man got closer Dekaras spun around, planting himself firmly in his wake. “Good evening to you,” he said, keeping his voice low and perfectly polite, while his hands were ready to move immediately should the other one attack. “Is there anything I can do for you?” Politeness, that was important. It tended to seriously frighten people under this sort of special circumstances. The fact that they weren’t expecting it made if even worse. It made them uneasy, and more likely to make mistakes that could be taken advantage of.

The other man wasn’t quite what Dekaras had been expecting. A Kara-Turan? Here? Well, I suppose I’m a long way from home myself. He was shorter than Dekaras was, and younger too. Old enough to have a mustache though…probably somewhat older than Edwin. And he certainly moved in the manner of a skilled rogue, who in time might well become very skilled. Dark brown leather armor and cloak hid much of him, but there was the sparkle of an alert pair of slanted eyes within the confines of his hood. “And a good evening to you too, honored colleague,” he said in slightly accented Common. “It is to Yoshimo’s great shame that he must disturb you on a beautiful night such as this, but there is need for a word with you.”

"Is there now?" Dekaras asked, raising an eyebrow. "And just what kind of word might this be…Yoshimo?"

The Kara-Turan smiled, a friendly and non-committal smile, with just a trace of foolishness. Camouflage, Dekaras thought, inwardly amused. I'm sure more than one person has been misled into underestimating him.

"Ah, I am afraid I am not the one to tell you of this, at least not in detail. I am but here to tell you of a potential opportunity for profit. You have been watched, my friend, and there are those interested in your potential. My employer wishes to speak with you about that, and the possibility of mutual interests." Was there a very faint twinge to his voice as he mentioned 'my employer'?

"I see," Dekaras drawled. "And in the hypothetical situation that I had no interest in meeting your employer?"

Yoshimo's face might as well have been cut in stone. "Then, it is my sorrow to say that my employer would be very much upset. You would not wish that, and I know of which I speak."

Hmmm…He doesn't seem entirely happy about that. Interesting. "Very well," Dekaras said, giving the other rogue a brief nod. "The night is still young - I suppose I might have a few moments to spare for your employer's suggestion. Where does he wish to meet with me?" That should hopefully convince him that I have no idea about who his 'employer' might be.

"Her," Yoshimo said in a toneless voice. "And she awaits you in the Graveyard District. Follow me, please, and I will lead you there."

"I should think I'm capable of finding the local cemetery on my own, darkness or not."

"I am sure of it. But not, I fear, the meeting place itself. Now, come with me, and you will soon be before her." Having paused only long enough to make certain that the assassin was following him, he walked off. Dekaras thought he heard him mutter something under his breath though, that sounded suspiciously like 'And may your ancestors protect you.'

Now that is what I call irony, Dekaras thought to himself. I'd really rather not drag my ancestors into this, thank you very much.

The Graveyard District was a city unto itself, a sprawling necropolis of tombs and crypts, vast and confusing. As he followed Yoshimo along a gravel path, Dekaras couldn't help but notice that there also seemed to be a large number of bats about. He suspected that the one he had seen before was probably among them. Finally they reached a large crypt, and here Yoshimo drew to a halt. The Kara-Turan hadn't said anything at all during the entire walk, but now he spoke, and his voice was deadly serious. "This is the main entrance," he said. "I will show you the way inside, but first a word of caution. In this place, a single misstep can be deadly. Be careful what you say or do, or you may regret it." For a moment he seemed about to say something more, but then fell silent, a small grimace twisting his mouth. "I can say no more. You will have to see for yourself."

"That," Dekaras said, "suits me very well." As he descended the narrow staircase that led underground from the tomb, he suddenly felt a disturbing sensation on the edge of his mind. It was a little bit like having an itch, and being unable to scratch it. It also resembled the nagging feeling you get when you know you have forgotten something, but can't quite remember what. But more than anything else, it was the feeling of being watched, without knowing who was doing the watching.

Scrying…it has to be.

He had felt unseen eyes searching for him on several occasions recently, and it was growing more frequent, and more difficult to avoid. True, he had always been good at avoiding detection, and blanking his presence to divination spells. It wasn't magic, it was simply a trick of the mind. But there was a limit to how much he could do. If it had only been the one person searching for him it shouldn't have been a problem, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there were several, though he couldn't say exactly how many. I'm a popular person, it seems. Lucky me.

One of the unseen watchers was a familiar presence, one that he had felt before. Shutting her out tore at his heart like poisoned daggers, but he didn't have a choice. Allowing himself to be known would risk revealing himself to the others as well, and that could be extremely dangerous. Beloved…I am sorry. I know you must worry by now…but I dare not let you close. Not when these others are about and searching for me. Hopefully she would understand that.

There were others…malevolent ones, he was uncertain how many. The distance was hard to judge, but there were definitely more than one. So far he was keeping them out, but for how long? The tiredness was creeping in, slowly but certainly, and one slip at the wrong moment could well prove fatal.

And then there was a final presence, one that was simply…odd. It didn't feel like a regular scrying at all, but somehow more…personal? The sensation had so far been very brief and fleeting, and hard to describe, but it had disturbed him immensely. It was far too close for comfort, like a strange hand brushing against his soul, examining it like a pretty bauble. He had blocked that out too, but it had been extremely disturbing, an outrageous intrusion.

Yet there is nothing I can do about it now. I have to focus on what is ahead…I dare not be other than in perfect control when I face this 'Bodhi'. I have to, for Imoen's sake. And then, once I know more, for Edwin's. I will not betray their trust.

And still…despite his best efforts not to think about it, one nagging thought of his own kept floating up to the surface of his thoughts. I cannot block them out forever. And when my guard drops, they will come.