Chapter 09: Of Boys and Men (Part 3)

“You sure have some death wish, boy, barging in here like that!” A deep and husky voice came from across the room.

In this dimly-lighted room, I can barely see what’s in front of my eyes. Though I have no doubt that those who stayed in here would have no problem seeing me instead.

“Chief?! What are you doing here? You are supposed to be resting in your room” one of the voice came out, greeting the one called Chief.

“I heard some noise and I might as well check it out. Now, let me through!” The crowd of mean looking men and women suddenly dispersed and form some sort of an opening. From that opening, came a silhouette to which I could barely make anything out of it at first.

“What do we have here?” A man came forward. An extremely short man.

“Oh, a young boy! And here I thought that the Red Scarlets’ have grown some balls to finally take me down.”

Finally, I can see who the Chief was. And I nearly chuckled when I saw him but I have to hold it in. Any stupid sound I made, even a chuckle could trigger these mean looking people to attack me. And what’s more, if I’m laughing at the person they called their Chief.

The chief was a short, plump Halfling wearing what I would call a pompous attire. He doesn’t look like a thief. More like a Halfling aristocrat from a long forgotten kingdom. That and also his ugly hat. Or is it a cap? Or is it a bonnet? A turban perhaps?

He beckoned me to stand and as I stood in front of him, our height stature seems so distinctive. I knew I’m way too short for a human, but this guy was way shorter than me. The thing that’s on his head was his saving grace for by wearing it, he looked as tall as me. However, he had some kind of an aura and charm that I cannot resist.

“Who are you and what do you want in here?” He asked of me, stroking his chin while scrutinizing me up and down. More ups than down, mind you.

“And think carefully before you answer boy, for my men here does not know restraint.”

I gulped.

Well… I…errr….I… errr…

“Hey kid, don’t go and waste Chief’s time with your ‘errrs’. Talk properly or else…” came a voice from beside him.

“Shusshh Raudio. You are scaring him. He is but just a boy. Give him time to talk. You of all people looks the ugliest around here and perhaps your face was what that gets into him.”

The rooms filled with laughter. The situation was lighter now, but I’m yet out of trouble

Alright… alright….

I pointed my finger at the sole reason I ended up in here. Back in the far corner of the room, he stood, trying to avoid my gaze.

He… he… stole something of mine. My money pouch.

“Hmmphh?” the Chief looked at me, puzzled.

“And what proof do you have boy, for you to accuse one of our own?” The Chief asked.

“Yeah, what proof? Give us some proofs or else you are not getting here out alive kid!” Raudio and the rest of them kept taunting me nonstop.

The money pouch that he stole, has my initials and the crest of my Brotherhood. The Brotherhood of the Sun.

“The Brotherhood?!!”

The Chief suddenly gave a surprised remark.

Oh my god. Did I say something wrong? Looks like it will be the end of my journey. I’ll die here, in a place as dark and smelly as this old house, before I can even start my journey.

“Ilvean! Come here this instance!!!”

I was jolted back to reality.

The thieving brat, one that goes by Ilvean came in front and stand beside the Chief. Even this brat was taller than the Chief.

“Show me what you stole from him!”

Ilvean did not even budge.

“This is not a request. This is an order from your father!!!” The Chief bellowed his voice. The whole house was shaking and the rest of the crowd seem restless and fearful. I wondered what was going on.

Ilvean trembled in fear. He took out the money pouch he stole from me and gave to the Chief, who claimed to be his father.

That’s…. that’s my money pouch!!

“Quiet boy! You will talk only when I allow you to talk!”

I kept my mouth shut real tight. This Chief ain’t someone you could piss off by being disobedient. My life was at his mercy.

He took the money pouch and examined it.

“Tell me your name boy.”

Claude….

“No, I mean the other name, your Brotherhood’s name.”

Hasty… Hasty One.

“And your rank?”

Senior… Senior Journeyman.

“Show me the proof then!” He continued to bark me my orders.

I showed him my Journeyman signet. He was staring at my ring quiet intently. Before long, he looked up at me, and while stroking his chin, he continued to speak.

“Hmm… it seems you are legit, boy” he said this as he throws the money pouch back to me. I’m confused with what was happening right here, right now.

“Everyone, there’s nothing to see here. Go back to your post, now! And you, you and you… come with me to my room” He pointed to Ilvean, the ugly faced guy that goes by the name Raudio and lastly, me.

All of us did as we were told. Everyone else went back to their business as usual. And the three of us, walked behind the Chief as we followed him to his room.

Am I safe, now? I pondered about my fate as I entered the Chief’s room.

As soon as we were inside his room, he immediately went to his desk and pulled his drawer out. After he found what he was looking for inside that drawer, he then threw me a ring that looks like my Journeyman signet, but in a different colour, materials and engraving too.

“That’s an Aspirant signet.”

Huh?! What? An Aspirant?

“Raudio, Ilvean. What did I tell you about our creed when it comes to a member of the Brotherhood?” The Chief stared at both of them intently.

“Never do harm, help the Brotherhood with all our skills and knowledge as best as we could, while establishing a profitable relationship with them.” Ilvean and Raudio simultaneously recited a creed of theirs.

I wonder what was happening but I soon find out why.

“That ring… the one that you hold now, belongs to the one who saved me countless of time. She was my saviour and also my wife. That’s an Aspirant ring, and it’s one of my most precious treasure.”

The Chief began to tell his story.

“And I sincerely apologise for my daughter’s behaviours and of Raudio’s too.” The Chief bowed his head to me.

“Father!”

“Chief!”

“Enough you two. Don’t you both know how much trouble you have caused to a member of the Brotherhood?!” The Chief beckoned me to take a seat beside him. I duly followed. And he proceeded to tell me a little of his backstory.

“When I was a young man, I used to be a merchant. And as a merchant, it was one of our main roles to travel around the kingdom, looking for various items to be sold here, at Elsivier. And I specialized in one trade – antiques and arts. You could say, I’m a very highly valuable asset as most of my clients are the Elsivier’s nobles and rich families.”

He paused for a while and looked at the Aspirant’s Signet that once belonged to his wife.

“Every time I travelled, I’m a target to robbery even in broad daylight. One such gang was the Red Scarlet. And so, I hired mercenaries and soldier of fortunes or even adventurers. One adventurer, in particular, had saved my lives countless of times and as we travelled together, I’d get to know that she was from the Brotherhood of the Sun, and the ring that you hold now was her proof.”

An interesting twist. But I’m curious. How did he end up becoming a Chief to thieves anyway?

“Love blossomed between us and before long we were married. However, our marriage was not meant to be a happily forever after. My wife died, protecting me when we were ambushed by unknown assailants on our way back from having our dinner in the capital. And that was the beginning of what you see right now.”

“Because I had wealth and connections but not information, I couldn’t find who killed my wife at that time. And because of that, I vowed to get my vengeance. And so, with the Brotherhood’s help, I gather a few trusted people to form a clan of some sort. One that delves in information. And I used my connection and wealth to make this clan of mine, into what it is right now.”

A thief’s guild?

“Hahaha. Far from it. You can say we are shady. But thievery is not our main core of business. Our main core business is information, boy. There are more eyes and ears on the streets than you can count if you know where to look. And no one could do it better than those who the society won’t give a second glance to.”

So, you are the Chief of this Thief’s Guild?

“Guild? No, not a guild. Elsivier would not recognize a thief’s guild, but nonetheless, we are the shadows that provide a different sort of protection that Elsivier’s need. Who in their right mind would want to announce to the world that the capital and rulers of the land recognize a thief’s guild? We are needed, but recognitions are not what we were after for. Though we have some leeway, then again, we are not a guild. A clan perhaps, but never a guild.”

So, what clan do you call yourself?

“Ahh, I forgot my manners. I haven’t introduced myself to you yet, right? Here I am telling you many things but then forgets the main one. I’m Bannen Quiksilver, the Chief of the Quicksilver Clan”

I’m Claude Leonheart.

Bannen extended his hand to shake mine and I replied with a firm grasp.

“So, you are that Claude Leonheart. Never thought I would find you here”

Huh? What do you mean?

“As I told you, there are ears and eyes everywhere, especially around here. And besides, information gathering and intel are our forte. I’ve known about your exploits and why you are here”

You mean my mission?

“Mission? No, not the mission. We dare not to intrude on a Brotherhood’s mission unless it was required of us. It is rather that I’d known that you were invited by the Crown Princess Sierra personally to the palace, to receive the King’s Medal. Am I right, so far?”

I did not respond. However, the silence was all the answer he needed.

“What! This kid saved the Princess?” Raudio suddenly shouted in shock.

“Shussh. And aye, he did save the princess. Or you dare to suggest that my intel was wrong, ehh Raudio?” Bannen reprimanded Raudio for the sudden intrusion.

“This tall young man with a face that only a mother could love here is Raudio, my right-hand man at the clan. He is young and hot-tempered. But, what he lacks in the brain, he made it up with his skills and loyalty.”

I extend my handshake to Raudio. Instead of replying with a handshake of his own, he just patted my hand away. How rude.

“Raudio. Do not embarrass me in front of our guest!”

Upon hearing that, Raudio tried to re-grab my hand for the handshake. Since I’m being a good guest, I duly replied. The handshake was a cold fish at best. He let the handshake go as soon as he could but before that, I gave him a smirk that was meant to piss him off and I stared at him as if to say, “Good boy, piss me off at your own peril, moron.”

“And that little one over there, the one who cause you all these troubles…”

Yah, yah.

The one that caused me the trouble whole day. The thieving brat. I nodded as Bannen finally introduced the thieving brat. Hopefully, you will get punished for this, stupid kid.

“The one who stole your money pouch is my daughter, Ilvean Quiksilver”

Ilvean revealed her face from beneath the hood. But wait a minute? That thief, Ilvean was a she? Not a he? Is this a mistake or somewhat?

Before I could control my thoughts, I already blurted out my words.

Huh? What? Daughter? Is he not a son?

“What do you mean a son? Can’t you see I’m a girl?” Ilvean snapped back at me.

You? A girl?

I shook my head. I don’t believe this. I can see Ilvean trembled in anger. I continued to mock her boyish frame and looks.

You look like a pretty boy to me. You don’t have… you know what.

I explained to Ilvean with my hand cupping at my chest. Her face went red in embarrassment. However, I did not hold back. Time to get my vengeance one way or another.

No wonder I thought you were a boy. Your chest and your ass are both flat. Like a washing board. No, not washing board. It’s more like the plains of Naverune flat. You are as flat and as plain as a boy could be. I could not think you as a girl. Maybe a pretty boy. Perhaps even an effeminate boy.

Raudio couldn’t contain his laughter and gave out a loud laugh that filled the room. Ilvean was on the verge of tears. I gave out a victory smirk. How about that, ehh Ilvean.

“No one ever calls Ilvean that way before. You are the first one kid. You sure got some balls pissing off her. I’m starting to like you already.”

Errr, thanks but no thanks Raudio. I don’t swing that way. Besides, I prefer my women to have big-breast and honey-peached ass and she must also be beautiful.

“So, our young friend here prefers them that way, ehh. Just like someone I know.” Bannen interjected.

I nodded.

Else they won’t attract me. Perhaps some men might like a flat-chested pretty-faced boy like her, but most men I know, wouldn’t. I know I wouldn’t.

Perhaps Ilvean finally snapped that she broke in tears.

“Then Ilvean has more to learn and grow. And you are pretty good at taunting and goading others. I see that is a natural skill of yours. You even made our Ilvean cry. Hahaha.”

Bannen gave a chuckle as he poured a drink into his glass.

“Want some? It’s Elsiberry’s ale. Premium one at that. It could be a little strong for you though.”

Yah, sure. Give me some. After all that running and chase around the town, I’m thirsty.

Rule number one if you were a guest at some else house. If they offer you something, take it. Else your host won’t be too happy with you and you won’t get invited back soon. I could use an information broker on my side too.

Bannen handed me a small cup full of Elsiberry’s ale, while his one was a large glass. Figures, anyway.

As Bannen raised the toast for me, he said, “Unfortunately, my wife and I were not blessed with any children of our own. Ilvean is my adopted daughter. As you can see, she’s a half-elf unlike me, who’s an old Halfling”

Sorry to hear that. I was wondering why she doesn’t even resemble you in the first place.

I take a sip of the ale. Wow, this ale is good. Really good. And the alcoholic kick it gave me, send shivers down my spine. I could get used to premium stuff.

You look like an aristocrat and she looks like a pauper.

“Hey, watch your tongue, shorty!” Ilvean snapped back at me.

Are you calling me shorty, shorty? Looks who’s talking. You are even shorter than me.

“But you are a shorty!”

If I’m a shorty, what makes of you then? A pee-wee? Tiny tot? Beansprout? Oh, I know, maybe I’ll call you puny-snot. You look nothing like your Father.

“Why you…”

“Enough Ilvean. Claude, let’s continue our talk.” Bannen again interrupted us.

“The clothes I’m wearing is the price I have to pay to get near the nobles and rich folks. Else, they wouldn’t want anyone near them. To be honest, I don’t really like wearing these. I prefer them to be light and easy, not suffocating like this.”

He was jerking his sleeves and then tugged his collar to emphasize the point.

“Remember, first impression counts. With these nobles and rich folks, the first impression might be the only impression you got. And since you will be serving them soon, remember this well.”

I nodded. Bannen had a good point there.

“Now, you have known who we are and what we do. So, what will you do now?”

Well, you told me lots of things, Chief. You sure are talkative for someone who deals with information.

“Hahaha, call it a public relation service. And also as a reward for having some massive ball barging into our clan’s house at that!”

Ehh… I’m sorry about that.

I bowed my head down in embarrassment.

“No, you don’t need to. I could use a boy with your balls around here. There are too many soft-hearted folks nowadays. Pussies, you can call them that. I need a man who could think fast and act faster!”

Yeah, I think so too. I’m the epitome of that. That’s how I earned my name back in the Brotherhood.

“But, that would be for later. However, I’m sure you are pretty tired right now. Am I right, Claude?”

I nodded.

“Ilvean! Come here!” Ilvean who was at the corner, sobbing while being consoled by Raudio, walked towards her father. She seemed reluctant to follow his orders, but perhaps she feared her father more, which like the rest of the people around here were, duly obliged.

“You have caused so much trouble today for an esteemed guest to our city.”

“But…but… Father”

“No buts. Remember our creed. Without our creed, our clan would be as good as dead!”

“I’m sorry Father.”

“I’m not the one who you should apologise!” Bannen pointed towards me.

“The apologies should be directed at him”

Ilvean pouted and stared at me. Heh. Like I’m to be scared at all with that. I’m an esteemed guest of this city, remember?

I gave a smirk to Ilvean.

“I… I….”

Come on now, Ilvean. Saying sorry to me won’t hurt you as much. Perhaps your pride and ego will go down the drain, but other than that, you have nothing to lose.

“Sorry!”Ilvean jerked her head up as she said that. Was that an apology or what? Ahh well, whatever. It’s no fun forcing someone into a corner like that. I nodded and then waved her away. I have no interest in a kid like her.

“So, Claude. Where will you go from here?” Bannen asked.

“Hmm… I don’t really know.” The sudden realization of my reasons for being here in Elsivier struck me quite, how should I say… dumbfounded I guess.

“I see. Perhaps I could offer you a resolution, for what Ilvean did to you. Are you interested?”

I’m all ears.

“I know where you need to go and who you need to meet. But instead of doing it today, why not tomorrow instead?”

But… where will I stay?

“Why of course, you are my guest. Ilvean! You are to take Claude to our guest house and make sure whatever his needs are to be fulfilled. If he needs a woman, find him one or else you can learn how to be a woman.”

What kind of father said that to his daughter? Though not related by blood, I mean… offering his daughter to me. Well, not that I wouldn’t mind, but I prefer them bigger, you know.

Ehh… Chief Bannen. I’m not so sure I would want a woman. Especially not that Ilvean.

“Ahh, I see. You did say you prefer them bigger.”

I nodded.

“Perhaps next time then. For now, you will stay at our guest house. At the first ray of the sun, Ilvean will take you directly to where you need to go.”

That’s better.

“No way, Father. There’s no way I have to be this shorty’s guide!” Ilvean tried to resist the Chief.

“I was not requesting you. I’m ordering you, Ilvean!!!”

“I… I….”

“Enough!” Bannen slammed the table with his glass. His temper was really something else. He would be one of those people I would not dare to cross. He looked like a gang’s Godfather or some sort. What he needed extra was a cigar and a fat cat to caress. Perhaps he could do with a change of attire too.

Raudio patted Ilvean’s head as if to console her. Chief Bannen, while looking at me, took out a bunch of keys from his drawer.

“This is the key to our guest house. Keep the key to yourself. You are always welcome to use our guest house in any way as you see fit. You can create your own harem and no one will know about it. Hahahaha!!”

I can’t say anything else. Chief Bannen was one kind of a person that I’ll ever meet. Was this what awaits me in my future adventurers?

“Claude, do follow Ilvean now.”

Ahh, alright.

“And Ilvean, make sure you do as what you were told. Understand?!”

Ilvean nodded. She had not given any choice to do otherwise.

And so, the unlikely guide, Ilvean led me to the clan’s guest house. I exited the room and went down the stairs, but instead of taking the main door which I had barged in earlier, we took another exit. A backdoor perhaps. Will Ilvean do exactly as she was told? I wondered.

“Chief. Why were you being so nice to a boy like him? It’s a first for you Chief. You even offered him your precious ale.”

Chief Bannen smiled and he continued to drink from his large glass. “Raudio. You have much to learn. But first, what do you think of that young boy?”

“That kid? Hmm… nothing special. He has a loud mouth that will one day surely lands him in trouble.”

“Other than that?”

“Perhaps a big pair of balls, coming into our clan house the way he did. That’s all I could think about.”

Raudio rubbed his chin a few times before he shook his head. Perhaps he could think no more.

“You know Raudio, not many people here could give Ilvean the chase once she stole something. In fact, no one in our clan ever managed to catch her once she started to run. Not even a member of the Brotherhood would be able to detect her. She knew the lay of this city better than she knows the back of her own hand.”

Raudio nodded.

“Not even I could catch her when she strides at full speed.”

“For that boy to chase and catch her, he must be pretty special. That and also one more thing I’d noticed about him which piqued my interest”

“What is it Chief?”

“Raudio. Remember how I trained you to judge people?” Bannen began his words.

“People are like arts and antiques. You won’t know their value until either the time passed by or something remarkable happened. Until then, no one, even including they themselves, will know about their true values. This boy, Claude, I shall have likened him to legendary masterpiece waiting to be found and unveiled.”

“A legendary masterpiece Chief? What makes you say that? You seem to regard him very highly or if I dare say, taken a liking to him.”Raudio was curious by his Chief’s disposition.

“Perhaps Raudio, but have I ever been mistaken in judging people before?”

Raudio shook his head.

“No Chief. You have given me and the rest of us here a new lease of life. We are really thankful for what you did to us.”

Bannen smiled.

“Others might look at you with contempt and disdain, like how you are now looking at that young boy, Claude. Never let your prejudice goes into your way of evaluating a person’s true value. Remember that!”

“I will, Chief!!”

Chief Bannen stood up and walked towards a wall with many paintings alongside it.

“That boy, Claude has certain destiny written all over him. I don’t know what or how or when, but I’m sure that when that time comes, we have to be there. Or else, we ceased to be history. Everything we know shall end. That’s what I can see, right now.”

“Aren’t all of us have our destiny of some sort, Chief?”

“True, but none will carry a much heavier burden than that boy. Perhaps in due time, we shall see.”

“Is that why you are being so nice to him and equalled him to a legendary masterpiece, Chief?”

Banned touched a painting on the wall and then looked at Raudio.

“You must be the right person, at the right time, at the right place to be able to get your hand on a legendary masterpiece. It’s a super-rare, unique in its own way, class of arts and antiques. Now, if we play our cards right, we would be able to reap the rewards far beyond of what we could ever hope for.”

Chief Bannen let out a wide grin.

“Claude, as you see him now, is just a single stroke of that painting. Give him time to develop and you shall see, whether I’m right or wrong. And when the times come, and it shall be, make sure all of us are ready!”

“Then, shall we give him time, Chief?!”

Chief Bannen the paced himself across the room toward the window. As he pushed the curtain aside, he looked out far towards the empty road that stretches from his room.

“For now, we shall observe him first. Observe the legendary masterpiece work in progress painted by the master painter called Fate. But don’t forget, do help him with all we got, Raudio.”

Raudio nodded. He stood up and then placed himself beside Chief Bannen. As both of them looked out from the window, they pondered too at what would await them in the future. This meeting was fated. For him to be there today; for Ilvean to finally meet her match in running; and for Claude to actually kicked the door of the clan’s house open, was all these a mere coincidence? Maybe not.

But for now, Claude was just a boy, and yet to be a man. But a man nonetheless he would be in future; blessed or cursed, depending on how one would look at it, who were destined for something beyond one could ever hope for.

But what was it?

That was the question that both Bannen and Raudio could not answer just yet. Only time will tell, it seemed. But Time was another fickle master. It would not wait for anyone, whether they were ready or not. Whether one was a boy or a man.