Chapter 20

“So, how come a Thieves’ Guild set up in Dobra?” Darras asked. “Because such an organisation in a lot of Kingdoms would bring about a violent response from those in charge.”

“Dobra is very weak militarily as it doesn’t have a great deal of resources through the Nobles to build up wealth,” Amina explained. “That and a reluctance to spend anything on anything other than themselves.”

“Ah, they just abandoned the ordinary folk?” Darras queried.

“Yes. Towns pay for their own guards, people pay for their own protection.”

“And the Thieves’ Guild?”

“Think of us as revenue raisers for the towns in that we keep to a code of honour that precluded robbing the less well-off and keeping those who would, somewhat contained.”

“Wealth re-distribution?” Darras chuckled.

“In a sense. We aren’t saints after all and if we’re caught by a Noble or merchant, we’re hung.”

“Well, I won’t enquire any further on that aspect,” Darras nodded. “Do you operate in other Kingdoms?”

“A few, why?”

“Information on the evils men do will be of interest to Erren.”

“Evil as in murder and these shadow things?”

“Yes.”

“How would we do this?”

“You have a shrine to Crannock?”

“Yes, we do, though no priest,” Amina admitted.

“Just pass on the information as an offering and Erren will do the rest,” Darras explained.

“They talk?” Amina asked looking confused.

“In a sense,” Darras explained as Erren explained it to him. “Crannock in other Kingdoms is the god of lost causes and missing items, not thieves, hence has a small, if loyal, priesthood and following. Therefore as he’s not a follower of the dark lord he will deal with Erren on a case by case basis.”

“Ah, I see ... sort of,” Amina nodded as a guild member knocked and entered.

“There’s a Dwarf outside, they mentioned his name,” he informed Amina, pointing at Darras.

“It’s likely Linota,” Darras said.

“Allow them entry and guide them here, also arrange for beer to keep her happy,” Amina told the messenger.

“Her? It has a beard!” the messenger exclaimed.

“That’s Dwarves for you,” Darras chuckled as Amina smiled as well.

“Trust me, she’s a female,” Amina added. “Be very polite.”

“Sure, boss,” the guild member replied then headed off to return a minute later with Linota.

“Be welcome, Linota the Dwarf. I am Amina, head of the Thieves’ Guild,” Amina greeted her.

“The Amina?” Linota cried out in surprise.

“Probably, I’m not aware of another Amina here,” she chuckled.

“Interesting, we have details on you from our traders, though none had seen you.”

“Nothing bad, I hope?”

“No, they were impressed at your protection rates for long term trades.”

“Ah yes. It pays to have repeat business, though this has been strained lately,” Amina replied.

“Aye, though it seems young Darras there has resolved things in Sorrak and Dobra,” Linota commented.

“So I’m told, though we had casualties here when he sprung a trap.”

“Casualties?”

“His target had acquired Durglin and they attacked on command.”

“A deadly foe to the unwary.”

“They are and are now on the loose in town.”

“If you can find them, we’ll help deal with them. They are less of a nuisance to Dwarven Temple Guards,” Linota offered.

“I thank you, we will,” Amina politely replied as the guild member brought in several tankards and jugs of ale.

‘The surviving Durglin have gathered in the empty tower of Sunnoc, ’ Erren informed Darras, who passed on the information to Amina and Linota.

“Not easy. They will have access to a lot of roofs to escape from,” Amina grimaced, before summoning a guild member and passing on instructions to inform the town guard.

“I’ll aid with my bow,” Darras offered.

“My squad will lead the way,” Linota added. “The city guard, such as it is, can back us up. Your people can ensure none escape.”

“Very well,” Amina agreed and left to arrange for her guild to take up arms.

“So you have removed the darkness from Dobra?” Linota asked as they supped their ales.

“I have, this is just tidying up a nuisance that the shadow brought with it,” Darras replied. “I suspect though that I might be going to where these creatures come from, to find out what the shadows might be up to there.”

“Will you need help?”

“I don’t know. It will be Lizardmen territory and the presence of Dwarves might be noted,” Darras chuckled.

“Along with a Human,” Linota joined in the chuckle.

“True,” Darras smiled. “I’ll let my Erren decide though as to how we’ll be going about it, assuming we do.”

Several hours later, Darras, Amina and a few Nobles and merchants stood on a high rooftop as various elements of the city guards, including a good few of the private guards of various traders, merchants and Nobles, prepared to enter the tower of Sunnoc, the property of a former Dobran merchant who had been assassinated for his attempt to lead a coup against the former King. Darras gathered that assassination and intrigue were how the ruling classes of Dobra sorted various issues between them and while there was currently a King, he was some sort of a dull nonentity with little other than ceremonial duties.

Still, it somehow worked as Amina had managed a co-operative effort from the city rulers with few if any delays in doing so.

“So, all this will end up as a paying off or granting of favours?” Darras enquired of Amina.

“Yes, though all were pretty much aware of the Durglin threat when you released that thing’s control of them when you dealt with Chagra,” she replied. “Durglins would go after any exposed at night, not just the poor.”

“There were only ten that I spotted escaping after the fight,” Darras noted. “This seems like overkill.”

“He brought fifteen with him. We do not know if he had others and was known to store various goods in the buildings around here, but not the tower for some reason or other.”

“Ah, I see,” Darras nodded. “Plus from what you were told, they made straight for here, killing any in their path.”

“Yes, there could be quite a few,” Amina replied. “Perhaps other nasty surprises too.”

“Let’s hope not,” Darras sighed. “But you may well be right.”

“There they go,” Amina indicated the now fully armoured Dwarves leading the way into the lower level of the tower.

“Erren protect them,” Darras replied.

Other soldiers followed them in. Initially there was no indication of anything amiss until the clear sounds of fighting broke out in the form of screams and the clash of metal. Darras had drawn his bow and kept observing before he levelled it and loosed an arrow at a Durglin scuttling down the length of the outside of the building, causing it to fall to the earth, startling a few guards manning the perimeter.

Elsewhere from the rooftops surrounding the tower, other archers were targeting anything leaving the tower to try and escape or get to the guards assembled below. Amina appeared to be getting constant updates from guild members and was passing the information on to the other observers who would occasionally give orders to runners to pass on to their troops.

“Looks like you were right to be cautious,” Darras commented to Amina.

“Yes, they are managing though. Having the Dwarves in the lead is concentrating a whole nest of Durglins onto them, though their armour and strength is protecting them,” she replied. “The follow-up troops only have to deal with individuals, not the whole nest.”

“Any word on numbers?”

“Estimates are about fifty, though Linota reckons they have some sort of nest queen and may have some heavies surrounding her.”

“Just Durglins?”

“So far, though they have only reached halfway.”

“Best join them. Looks like the Durglins have given up on trying to infiltrate down the outer walls,” Darras nodded.

“Yes, I believe we can cope here,” Amina replied.

Oddly, Darras was joined by several of the Nobles and merchants in their decorated, if still functional, armour. All of whom, it seemed, wanted in on the action. Inside the tower, the bottom level was being used as an aid station and Darras spotted one of Linota’s squad being treated by a priest and went to have a word as the various merchant leaders and Nobles ascended the wide stairwell.

“Tough fight?” Darras asked the Dwarf.

“Aye, though our armour stands us in good stead,” the Dwarf replied. “Dangerous for the Humans if the Durglins get past us though.”

“Each floor having to be checked over thoroughly as well, I’d imagine,” Darras noted thoughtfully.

“Aye, the beasts are sneaky alright.”

“Your bones are set and healed. You can re-join your party,” the priest announced.

“My thanks,” was all the Dwarf said as he and Darras headed to the stairwell.

“How were you injured?” Darras asked.

“Durglin crashed through a heavy door and the locking bar hit my arm.”

“Unlucky.”

“Aye.”

They then reached where the bulk of the activity was going on and Darras noted with approval the merchants and Nobles re-organising their troops, sending several of the most exhausted down to safety and to rest whilst authorising reinforcements from their garrisons. The Dwarves under Linota were positioned at what had to be the heavily reinforced door of the stairwell to the next level and simply gave Darras a nod as he approached.

“Hard going?” Darras asked.

“Aye, it may not have been built as a fortress, but this Sunnoc surely re-designed the interior as one,” Linota replied.

“Casualties?”

“We lost Barada, my second, and Thursa was injured but I see returned with you.”

“I’ll try to back you up with arrows,” Darras offered.

“Try to pick off any approaching on the ceiling. It’s how we lost Barada when one of the beasts dropped on her when she was finishing off one on the ground.”

“Will do.”

“Ah, looks like they’re ready,” Linota replied, looking at the Human guards.

“Hear they are struggling?”

“A little, particularly after we progress from a doorway and a beast gets behind us. Individually most Humans are no match for a Durglin, but fight well in groups.”

“Yes, the Thieves’ Guild lost a few people when they faced them,” Darras nodded. “I’ll stick with the Humans; you go about the business of dealing with the Durglin, I’ll deal with any on the ceiling.”

“Aye.”

The Dwarves formed up and waited as one of the Human guards attached a rope on a locking bar and with a sharp tug pulled it loose. The instant this was done the door crashed open and three Durglin charged through straight at the Dwarves who met them head on with locked shields to stop them, then with long, heavy maces to crush and break their bodies should an opening emerge. Darras stayed back but with a drawn bow as the Dwarves slowly pushed forward into the doorway as several Durglin struggled to get at them. Behind Darras, the Human guards had formed a spear wall and advanced cautiously, stabbing down with a killing stroke at any fallen Durglin to ensure they were dead and not unconscious.

As the Dwarves moved into the stairwell, Darras moved to the doorway and scanned the area, loosing an arrow over the Dwarves heads at an advancing Durglin, bringing it down and tangling those following it in its death throes. This enabled the Dwarves to move rapidly to the stairs and begin their advance upwards, even as Darras and the guards protected their rears.

‘Their queen is on the next floor, ’ Erren informed Darras. ‘She has a lot of ordinary Durglin as well as larger warrior types around her.’