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The sound was coming from behind the door. There was a distinct musical quality to it. A low hum seemed to follow the thumps, as if someone was singing under their breath. Scratching. Quick little scratches also came from behind the door.
Smoke drifted out of the crack. Grey with hints of green and purple through it. There was a fire burning inside. Someone was also smoking tobacco. The smell was exotic, full of what seemed like rare spices.
You take a deep breath, ready for what is behind the door.
Gripping your kukri tightly in your palm, you edge slowly towards it.
It creaks as you push it open, carefully.
There are two men sitting on boxes side by side.
One seems to be playing a little drum while another is writing with a feather pen in a book.
The writer looks up, "We've been expecting you..."
______________________________________
It was cool by the sea. The boats rocked back and forth in the water.
"You alright Serpent? Sacred are ya!"
The look Serpent gave the man caused him to step back, a scared look on his face.
Serpent turned his back to the now retreating man and faced the ocean, leaning on the prow of the ship.
They had been docked in the city of Garnet for a few hours. Things needed signing and people needed to be alerted before they would be allowed to enter the city.
Serpent fingered his kukri. It wouldn't be long now.
A dark figure leaned over the prow beside him. Talon.
"You'll get to use that soon enough." Her wispy voice floated out across the sea. The scent of her perfume drifting along the slight air breeze. Serpent closed his eyes and took it all in.
Talon was like him. A killer through and through. The difference? Choice of weapons and approach. He hoped it wouldn't effect the up coming mission.
Yes, the mission, he thought to himself.
"They have been located already. Tonight." Talon dug her claws into the hard stained wood. She turned, threw the cloaks hood over her head and walked off. Deep scores had been etched into the wood.
A grim frown crossed his features. Not soon enough...
Talon passed a small strip of parchment across the table.
The inn was loud. Always was at this time of night. There was drinks being spilt and gambling. A group of people were playing some sort of card game in one corner. Four of them. A fifth, a bear of a man, was leaning back in his chair over seeing the game. The chair looked like it would crumble at any moment.
Reaching across, Serpent picked the parchment up and glanced at it. He blinked. Picking up a glass he took a swig of the dark ale. He dropped the bit of parchment into its depths when he was done. It sunk to the bottom, little bits started to float to the surface.
Rising, he threw some coins onto the table. Talon followed him out. Serpent couldn't help but notice the bear of a man stare at him as he exited.
______________________________________
"The mission is simple. He must not be allowed to talk."
The General paced back and forwards in front of the small selection of troops. They stood to attention.
A few days earlier, one of the spys for the Imperials had been captured. The spy had been trying to infiltrate the mercenary band, The Black Company. The Black Company had been around for generations. Very organized and high in numbers, they were a strong force. Just recently they had torched a whole village. Their excuse? They didn't pay...
The Imperials were unable to get rid of them so they had tried to get a few men inside the company.
"If you can not save him... Then it is too late for him. Kill him!"
The spy had most likely already spilled his guts of all information he knew but the General couldn't take that risk.
The General continued to pace.
"We lost communication with him in Garnet. There is word a few members of The Black Company are still currently there. You will enter the town by sea, our scouts will give you their current location."
The General stopped pacing, turned and faced the troops. "Dismissed!"
______________________________________
The street was deserted at this hour. The sky was full of clouds, no moonlight shone through. Shadows danced everywhere.
Serpent and Talon huddled together, sharing the shadows of the wall.
The scout had lead them to this group of shacks.
They had stood hidden for an hour, waiting, watching. No one had entered or left since they had arrived. Orange light spilled from one of the shacks windows.
There was seven shacks all together, all leaning and built into each other. They had been constructed with random bits of wood and metal. Patchwork.
The darkness wouldn't last all night. They decided to move. Talon circled to the left, behind the shacks while Serpent went right, towards the shack with the orange spilling from within.
Talon disappeared into the shadows.
Giving the door to the shack a wide berth, Serpent came up to it from the side.
He noticed the door is ajar a little. Sounds and smells filter out from within.
Thump, thump, thump, pause, thump, thump, thump, pause, thump, thump, thump.
Pushing open the door carefully, Serpent creeps inside.
______________________________________
The shack was quite small on the inside. There was rubbish all over the place. Broken pottery and chucks of wood litter the floor. The fire was coming from within a large metal barrel. Sparks flickered out into the open.
"We've been expecting you..."
Edited by anguish, 27 October 2009 - 05:25 AM.
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