Daggers in hand, Zach watched with interest as Skrakch canceled out the alarm spell that was blocking their way forward.

He wasn’t one to care much for magic outside of his own. But it did seem like the rat was well versed in a wide array of the stuff so it wasn’t too likely he’d set it off. If Zach could be bothered, he’d actually be kind of impressed. Not that he’d ever let Squeakers hear such a thing. The fucking Ratling was uppity enough as it was.

Zach had always preferred a much more focused approach. Specializing in everything was all well and good until you got caught in a straight-up fight. Being kind of good at runic magic, or being slightly decent at slinking through the darkness wasn’t enough to stop an enraged orc from cleaning your clock.

Still, he was a useful one to keep around, and as Skrakch finished his work, Zach was quick to stride up the passage. He let his minions shuffle themselves to better positions, not surprised to note Skrakch and Meekknuckle hanging at the back.

The fickle rodent liked to pretend to be brave, but the Iskrin defaulted to cowardice often enough. It was well known amongst the criminal underworld that they were one of the most cowardly species in the whole of Dray’Mel. Of course, if things went sour it was Winifred and Ornn that would make the biggest impact. He kept them around for that purpose exactly. It was always good to have a heavy or two on your side.

Both looked eager enough, or so he assumed in Ornn’s case. The Golem’s face rarely changed, except when Meekknuckle actually got hurt. Ornn liked to act as a simple golem would, but it was far too autonomous for that. But it didn’t help Zach to pry, so he let the Goblin and his rock pet keep up the ruse. Besides, what would he really have to say to a bloody stone man?

So they pressed on, weapons at the ready, and their senses heightened for the next sign of trouble. Zach found himself starting to wonder why the hell Sykes was hiding out. While the crime lord was known to be a powerful mage, patience definitely wasn’t his strong suit.

The party of rogues made their way up through the shadows, inching closer and closer to the mausoleum entrance. Even Ornn seemed to sense the need for stealth, keeping his heavy footsteps as quiet as possible.

When he reached the open doorway to the crypt, Zach finally realized why Sykes was yet to make another move. He quickly peeked into the courtyard surrounding the mausoleum. There were a lot more people than he was expecting. Most of them were surly-looking humans wielding large clubs. Not the most intelligent of hardened thugs but they were Sykes’ usual choice of muscle.

Really, the only thing separating the thugs from the usual riff raff that skulked around the Slums, was their manner of dress. Each of them were wearing padded clothing, just enough to stop an errant blade, and they had a deep purple armband wrapped around their left arms. Most members of the local gangs wore the same, sporting their chosen colours to make sure everyone knew who they represented. Personally, Zacharias just thought they made themselves stand out in a crowd, and who didn’t love an easy target?

Most of the hired thugs were patrolling the courtyard, keeping an eye on both the Mausoleum and the streets leading to it. Gods Below knew how many Ghouls they’d had to battle their way through to set up their perimeter, and quickly too. Time had felt a bit weird since the illusions and the fucked up magic of the Dungeon but there was no way Sykes knew to gather this many of his men and this exact location without someone tipping him off.

Unless, of course, that was the bastard’s plan all along. Zach muttered a curse to himself. That’s exactly what this was! Payback for his fuck up at Rodyr’s place. And he’d fallen for it too. He wondered how much the goons in the pub had been paid to discuss the fake Dragon’s Blood stash…

Well, there was no way he was about to admit that to any of his companions. Winnie would probably smash his face in and Squeakers would never let him hear the end of it. He focused on the task at hand. Scanning the graveyard, he finally saw Sykes himself. Leaning against a statue of a weeping woman, looking as calm as could be, for a sociopathic crime lord.

The Elf was broad-shouldered, standing tall in his usual long dark purple swagger coat. A fucking ugly swagger coat in all honestly. Of all the things to choose as a trademark! As usual, his thick black beard was tired with various threads and adorned with beads. A heavy wooden pipe stuck through the middle of it as Sykes puffed away. His eyebrows were long and pointed, stretching almost to his temples. His dark eyes glared and his smile was smug. That smugness was a common trait of the Elves of Dray’Mel and Zach had longed to wipe it off the bugger’s face.

The movement of Sykes’ head as he presided over his thugs caused the multiple hoops in his ears to catch the light and draw attention to how massive the ears actually were. Apparently, when it came to Elves, it was the new dick size. Something that Zach had never really understood. You couldn’t exactly pleasure a wench with your ears now, could you?

Shaking his head, he checked the edges of the graveyard. It was a few seconds before he noticed the real threat. A small glint from the archway of another, smaller nearby building caught his eye, a thin reed of a man wielding a crossbow to his shoulder.

Zach quickly ducked his head back into the room, and turned to his own motley crew.

“Well, it ain’t looking good lads. He’s brought scouts. I saw one and where there’s one, there’s more,” He explained. “Squeakers, just in case this all goes tits up you’re on ranged duty. Winnie, you keep the grunts busy. Sykes is out in force today.”

“What Meekknuckle do? Me can help with bad man!” The runty Goblin was quick to add. “And Ornn help too, we team!”

“What? Oh…yeah, yeah…you can be back up,” Zach replied dismissively. Backup, fodder, it was all relative. “If you see shit go down, send Ornn in.”

“Aye, and what are ye gonna do?” Winifred demanded as she glared down at him. Clearly, she was still smarting from the loss of her ‘treasure’.

“Why talk to Sykes of course!” Zach exclaimed. Before anyone could stop him, the Halfling stepped out through the crack in the mausoleum door, as bold as brass.

“Sykes!” He called out with a friendly wave. “How fortunate to run into you here mate! We were just heading back into the Inner City for a pint or two. Having some friendly protection on hand would be great!” He added with his winning smile.

The Elf regarded him for a moment before waving his men forward with a simple movement of his gloved hand, slowly taking a long puff from his pipe, before finally opening his prick mouth.

“I can’t say that I’m surprised you made it out Zacharias. You and that pet rat of yours always seem to luck out, don’t you? I imagine he’s hiding behind you as usual. We’re going to treat this nice and simple. You give us what you got from the Dungeon and we escort you back to our place.” Sykes spoke, his voice smoother than his rough appearance would indicate.

“Now, now, there’s no need to be like that pal,” Zach said, holding his hands out placatingly. “We’ve been in business together for years now, no need to get your knickers in a twist. How about we head back, and then we discuss the Dungeon?”

There was no way that Sykes was going to be letting him off the hook like that. Just hand over the non-existent treasure and get a friendly escort? He may have been stupid enough to fall for the trap in the first place but that didn’t mean he was going to be fooled twice.

“That doesn’t work for me, boy,” Sykes replied. “I want to see the goods and I want to see them now. And, you know me, if you don’t show it, then I’ll just end up taking it,” He added with a grin. He snapped his fingers and his men continued to move forward, clubs at the ready. “Make the smart choice for once in your life.”

“And what’s stopping us from just legging it?” Zach questioned. He frantically moved his hand behind his back, hoping that his companions would understand that he wanted them to get into position. “For all you know, we got something outta there that guarantees an easy escape.”

“Oh and I’d be happy to see it,” Sykes chuckled. “You’d slip past us for now but then where would you go? You forget, I have eyes and ears all over The Slums and most of the Nobles are on my payroll,” He gestured to his thugs. “These are just thugs on my payroll, mostly for show. You and I both know that you can’t afford to say no to me Zacharias…”

“Just let me have a go at the wee bastard,” Winnie growled from behind him, her voice carrying in the silence of the courtyard. “I’d love to see that fuckin’ smirk wiped clean off his face!”

“Muzzle your woman, Half-man,” Sykes ordered, shaking his head. “And drop your weapons. Don’t worry, I’ll see that my men treat you right…”

“Is that so?” Zach asked. “Well, I suppose you’ve got us fair and square,” He shrugged, feigning sadness while he idly touched the bandage on his cheek, tracing the outline of the scar Sykes had given him. “I got a pretty decent pair of daggers outta that Dungeon. Beautiful things, they are. And since you asked so nicely, I’ll show you one now outta the goodness of my heart,” He grinned wolfishly, before spinning in place and launching one of his new daggers into Sykes’ chest.

Time seemed to freeze, everyone staring at the Elf as he staggered backward with a surprised cry. Zach couldn’t believe his luck. Straight at the bastard’s heart!

He watched in muted surprise, however, as Sykes plucked the dagger from his chest. A layer of ice had slowed the blade enough that only the tip of it had connected. The look of fury on Sykes’ face made it clear that negotiations had fully broken down.

“Well, now you’ve done it!” Skrakch cried out as chaos suddenly descended onto the mausoleum entrance, Sykes' thugs trying to bum-rush through them with clubs aloft.

Zach watched as Sykes tossed the dagger aside, arcane runes quickly manifesting in the air around him, brimming with Mana. Around him, Skrakch, Winifred, the Goblin, and Ornn leaped into action to take down the thugs.

“This was yer big plan?” Winnie demanded, smashing into one of the nearest thugs, and swiftly snapping the over-eager fool’s neck, causing his lifeless body to slump to the floor.

“Yep! Kill them all!” Zach cried out, a manic grin lighting up his face.