Chapter 34: Deals in the Dark

Maria shoved the criminal against the smooth wood of the table.

She took no small pleasure in paying back the discomfort of weeks of chasing after shadows, wetting her blade with the blood of demons and criminals alike. It was always a triumph to bring the wicked to justice, but Maria would be lying if she said that this one wasn’t a personal victory as well.

“I’ve brought the petty gang leader.” She leaned forward, pressing Arlo’s face against the grain. “As you requested, Seneschal.”

Hawkwright turned away from the vaulted window. The low light cast the hard lines of his face in shadow, making him look even more gaunt and imposing than normal. There was no mercy in his eyes, and perhaps after capturing the leader of the Tarnished, he would even give Maria more resources to go after the other criminal still hiding in the outer city.

“Events must be transpiring poorly for you indeed.” Hawkwright trailed his fingers across the polished mahogany as he circled the table, feet silent against the carpet. “You’ve been bled so dry that a single detachment of guards was enough to subdue and capture you.”

The man grunted, squirming against Maria’s grip. She was higher level than him, with more attention to her physical stats besides. She lifted him the slightest amount, before slamming his lying face back into the table once more.

Hawkwright tutted. “Don’t chip the porcelain, Captain.”

“Yes, Seneschal.”

“Still, good work.” He came to a stop two seats away from the Tarnished thug. “I did not believe it at first, when you said you had located this little thorn in our side.”

“It was an honor to carry out the raid,” she replied.

Arlo thrashed. “Be an honor to gut you, gormless bitch!”

Hawkwright sighed, waving a gloved hand. Maria rabbit punched Arlo with an armored fist, sending his head bouncing off the surface of the table.

“The table is clearly too refined for this animal.”

At the Seneschal’s words, Maria pulled Arlo back and threw him onto the floor. She hoped he would try to get up, so she could have the pleasure of breaking a leg. Sadly, the criminal had decent instincts. He stayed there, face pressed against the crimson embroidery of the rug.

“Dogs should know their place.” Hawkwright stroked his sharp beard in thought. “I’ve heard it said a pup that disobeys may be corrected, but old hounds are not worth the effort. What do you say?”

Arlo’s face contorted in rage. “Oh, causing you problems, am I?”

“You’ve caused me no end of troubles, dog.” Hawkwright shook his head. Maria could see the threads of his own anger, carefully buried. “In case you have taken leave of your senses as well, I am at war, and have little patience for your ilk.”

“At war?” Arlo scoffed. “I may not have served in a fancy palace, but where I come from, you don’t let the enemy general into the heart of your territory! Causing you trouble?” His head jerked once. “I’m working my fingers to the bone trying to fix your mistake.”

Hawkwright gave a disappointed expression. “And what, exactly, makes you believe I have made a mistake?”

Arlo blinked, but the old card shark was a crafty one. “You knew the Lady’s in Silverwall?” He bared his teeth. “Why in the drowned hells are you giving her the run of the place?”

“The ‘run’ of the city was it?” Hawkwright chuckled. “She’s certainly done her best to distract me from what really matters.”

“…Distraction?”

Hawkwright continued as if he hadn’t heard the other man. “She can run through the streets and cower in the slums; it makes little difference.”

Maria held back a grimace at those words. She’d lost the right to complain the first time she’d failed to bring in the so-called ‘Empress’.

“In a week, her little town will be wiped off the face of Vecorvia, and events will return to their natural order.” Hawkwright chuckled. “In truth, I might even thank you, filthy rat that you are. Had you not kept the woman preoccupied, she might have made an actual problem of herself.”

Arlo growled, trying to rise.

Maria placed a foot on his back and shoved him back down.

“Which is why,” the Seneschal continued, “I am entertaining your current existence. You’ve done well enough to keep her occupied, and even drove off that blasted woman once or twice. I find myself curious as to what you might be able to accomplish with the initiative.”

As captain of the city guard, Maria couldn’t let that stand without a rebuttal. “My lord Seneschal, my men and I would be more than enough to capture the fugitive without resorting to this trash!”

Hawkwright waved a hand. “And if you failed again, as you have before, she would be left free to strike at the inner city. Or else run amok in our hunting grounds.”

Maria shook her head. “While we are stretched thin, if I was simply allowed to consolidate—”

“That big camp outside the city, huh?” Arlo shifted beneath her boot. “I heard that she’s planning to attack it this week. Somethin about…drawing your attention away from the inner walls.”

Maria twisted her lips into a scowl.

Hawkwright clapped his hands. “See, Captain? The trash has already proven of some value. Now, if you would just remove your foot, perhaps he could even speak like a dignified human being.”

“Yes…sir.” Maria stepped back, returning to a parade rest. Arlo coughed once, sucking in a deep breath of air.

The gang leader looked up, running a hand through his mussed hair. “So, my lord Seneschal, I take it you want me to handle the other piece of trash that’s been bothering you for so long?”

The other man laughed. “There, Maria, you see? The old dog can learn new tricks after all.”

Maria said nothing, folding her arms as Arlo gingerly pushed himself back to his feet. The man wasn’t young, but she made no move to help him.

“Oh, aye,” Arlo said. “I can learn a trick or too, for the right incentive.”

Hawkwright chuckled again. “My dear guttersnipe, your continued existence is the incentive.”

Arlo shifted, muscles in his shoulders tensing.

Maria took a step forward, hand clamping down on his shoulder.

Hawkwright continued to smile pleasantly. “I believe you misapprehended the situation. I am not offering you a choice.”

Arlo grunted. “And what’s stopping me from just joining up with that bitch and making you eat those words?”

Maria’s grip tightened, but the man ignored it.

“Perhaps this is a waste of time, after all.” Hawkwright sighed, turning back towards the window. “Any poor fool could see that the bridges between the two of you have been irreconcilably burned. By all means, throw yourself at her feet. It will save me the cost of the noose.”

“Rat bastard.”

Hawkwright’s fingers tensed against the table. “Captain Maria, should that man insult me again, you are to rip out his tongue.”

“With pleasure, Sir.” Maybe that would be enough to put an end to this whole farce.

Arlo was no green boy to lose his head over a few threats, however. “How do I know you won’t just clap me in irons again after I do your dirty work?”

“I imagine you’ll take some precautions, now that you’ve realized who the true master of this city is.” Hawkwright leaned against the table. “But as I’ve said, I care little for your meaningless squabbling in the gutters.”

Arlo clenched his fists, before relaxing. “Fair enough. Like you’ve said, I gave the girl as good as I got, but she’s a slippery one.”

“That is why I shall be providing initiative. We have our own eyes in the city.” Hawkwright looked at Arlo once again. “Though, I would like to know where you learned of the attack on the camp.”

Arlo gave a savage grin. “One o’ the guards who smuggled Empress into the city let me know.” Maria jolted. “Turns out he has two masters, and neither of ‘em you.”

Hawkwright stroked his beard. “See Maria? Had I given the order to you, our quarry would have heard before the end of the day.”

Arlo chuckled. “Tell you who, if you let me know which one of my men gave me up.”

“Now, now, that is hardly germane to the current conversation.” Hawkwright’s answering smile was a sharp thing that Maria didn’t like the look of.

“Sir, but a spy—!”

“That will be all, Captain. I did not call you here to participate in this discussion.”

Arlo shook a shocked hand off his shoulder. “He means shut up, bitch.”

Hawkwright paused. “I am more than capable of disciplining my own subordinates.”

“‘Pologies.” Arlo gave a guileless shrug. “Was just getting a hang of this new working relationship we got.”

Hawkwright raised an eyebrow. “Quite.”

“So, you’ll let us know where to hit her, yeah? That’s good. Course, I don’t have that many fighters left, between fighting your battles for you and getting nipped by your guard dogs.”

Hawkwright waved a hand. “Your men will be released with you. Understand, of course, that I am not offering clemency. Should you fail to fulfill your end of the bargain, I will be much less…reasonable.”

Arlo snorted. “What happened to not caring ‘bout us gutter trash?”

“You’ll find I’m much less ambivalent of those who betray me.”

“Must be a long list,” Arlo replied.

“No.” Hawkwright’s thin lips stretched back into a smile. “It’s very, very short.”

“…Right.” Arlo rubbed his hands together. “All that’s well and good, but if you want to be sure I knock the girl, a little bit of help wouldn’t go…amiss.”

Hawkwright raised a brow.

“Just making a point, Lord Seneschal.” Arlo spread his hands. “I could give you my word and this and that ‘bout the job, but you’ve already made it clear you think my word is shit. So, a little bit extra from you would go a long way.”

“I’ll not send any of my men to work with this two-faced bastard,” Maria said.

Hawkwright sighed. “What did I say, Captain?”

Maria paled, taking a step back.

Before she could so much as apologize, the man raised his hand. “No matter. It is rude to clean house in front of a guest.”

Arlo chuckled. “See, Mary? I’m a guest now.”

Fear and anger warred in Maria’s breast, binding her lips shut.

“In regards to your earlier question,” Hawkwright continued, “this should suffice for ‘support’ in your endeavors.” He reached into the coat of his doublet, pulling out a small, thimble-sized vial of fine golden powder.

Maria’s breath caught.

“This substance will enhance the skills of one who imbibes it.” Hawkwright’s smile was ghastly. “For a short time, anyway.”

Arlo whistled. “That so? Never heard of such a thing.”

“Indeed. We have worked very hard to keep it that way.” Hawkwright’s smile grew. “There is a reason that Silverwall remains almost entirely independent from the Senate. I have worked very hard to maintain that state of affairs as well.”

He handed the gang leader the vial. “Now then. That does about take care of everything. We shall be in touch.”

Arlo blinked. “Hoh? Gonna summon me back to your fancy inner city?”

“Perish the thought.” Hawkwright turned away. “But my guard captain has already made clear her stance on our liaison.”

Maria swallowed. “Sir…”

“If none of her men will work with you, Arlo, then Captain Maria shall be your point of contact.” Hawkwright met her gaze with his steel gray eyes. “Understood?”

Maria ducked her gaze. “Yes, Lord Seneschal.”

“Excellent.” Hawkwright clapped once. “I will leave you to see to the particulars. I want his ilk out of my dungeons by the time night falls.”

“It will be done, Lord Seneschal.”

“As for you.” Hawkwright looked over his shoulder at Arlo. “As soon as we find that woman’s bolt hole, you will be informed. Strike quickly, so that she cannot escape.”

Arlo smiled. “It’ll be my pleasure, Lord Seneschal.”