213. Negotiations: Tabitha

As Rodion, Ruku, Modrica, and I moved through the city toward the Claw's territory, I said, “The easiest way for us to get them to stop is to pay them.” I was leading Dusk as she was my fast way of getting around if I needed it. Her hooves were good, too.

Ruku said, “Do you really think they will go for that?”

“If they are all about fighting, this won’t be much of a fight for them, so the coin could work. Of course, they might be planning to double-cross the Fiske and take over themselves. That would make more sense, actually, but we won’t know unless we talk to them. We might be able to make a deal. Split the territory or something.”

Ruku wasn’t convinced, but it was worth a try. Modrica would go with me as my bodyguard. She had leather armour with a helmet and a faceguard, so she wasn’t immediately recognisable. Ruku and Rodion would be back up and our extraction plan if required.

It was an hour after midnight, so the Claws were just trickling in for the raid to be timed just before dawn. Normal business was happening. The cage fighting was winding down for the evening, and the non-gang members were leaving with their winnings or, more often, without their coin. I picked out one or two fighters by their battered look. The gang members were of various species, but the leaders seemed predominantly wolfkin.

I left Dusk with Ruku, and we approached a Wolfkin on the door. I said, “We are here to see Volk.”

He looked down at me and said, ”He’s busy. Go away.”

Modrica stepped around me, grabbed the guy hauling him toward her, and then head-butted him. He looked dazed as she dropped him back on the ground and sat suddenly. There were five other guards on the door or nearby, and they all reached for their weapons.

“As I said,” I repeated loudly, “I am here to see Volk.”

A large scarred Wolfkin stepped forward. “He’s busy. But I am willing to let you earn the right,” he said generously and nodded to the fighting cages.

“You must be the one they call Scar,” I said, looking him up and down. It was quite a way up. He was almost as tall as Modrica. “Not impressed,” I said dismissively.

He laughed, “You’re cute, little girl. Your bodyguard might give me a fight, but you, I would just walk over.”

“You want a fight? How about this, me and my bodyguard against you and your boss.”

“Why would we do that?”

“Because this is a boss fight over the Fiske.”

“The Fiske are finished. No one can stop us.”

“I can stop you.”

A new voice said, “Are you here from those kids playing around, pretending to be crime bosses?” Another large wolfkin came through from the back with two others beside him. This was Volk.

“Those kids have done more damage to the Fiske in the last week than the mighty Claws have done in the last fifteen years.”

They didn’t like hearing that. There were some growls and mutterings. “Who the hell are you?” Volk demanded.

“They are the glove. I am the fist underneath.”

Volk burst out laughing, “Scar is right. You are cute.” Then he looked at me. “Why should we let you walk out of here?”

“I am not interested in walking out of here. I am interested in you and Scar against me and my bodyguard in a cage.”

I saw his eyes narrow. He wasn’t dumb. He could tell I was a mobile rogue type that struck from the shadows. In a cage, there is limited movement and no shadows. If I was going in there willingly, I had a trick. I could see he was confident in his ability, but what was the trick and could he counter it? I am sure he had a few tricks as well.

“So you want to fight, and the winner gets the Fiske? We are about to have the Fiske. Why would I bother?” Volk queried.

“The fact that I am here and know your plans says that you don’t have the Fiske. I planned to take the Fiske and then drive you off. I can still do that.” I pointed out.

“But the fact you are here means you have doubts you can do that.” He looked at the gang members around him, “Kill them,” he said.

They surged forward, drawing weapons. I hate smart, bloody enemies. Volk decided to trust his numbers rather than my ‘trick’. I thought he would go for the grand boss battle, but he is too smart for that. I plunged the area into shadow. He still has to deal with my trick.

In the darkness, Modrica created four earth spikes and managed to impale two attackers. She collapsed the spikes as we moved, so the evidence wasn’t obvious. Nobody was dead yet, although two were out of the fight. I pulled one of my surprise packages from my Spatial Pocket and left it just by the door to the fighting rings. Now, we were on a timer, and we moved toward the gate. Volk and Scar, and the two others also moved toward the gate. They may not be able to see much, but they knew their own base and figured out the most obvious way we would go.

Most of the others were lost. One pair were fighting each other. I knifed on who got too close, and Modrica used her mace on another. Neither of those two would ever get up again. Volk’s two bodyguards were closing the gate when Dusk crashed into it, sending them sprawling. Ruku and Rodion came in on either side of Dusk. Rodion dealt with the wolfkin on his side, and Ruku stabbed the one on his.

Volk struck out, slicing Ruku. Volk could obviously see better than most in my shadows. I wonder what Skill that is. Ruku and Volk engaged in a furious fight. We approached Scar’s side. He didn’t have Volk’s sight, but his smell or hearing was better, and he faced us. I let Modrica take the lead, and they started exchanging blows. Scar was the head enforcer, and he was good. Seeing them both in action now, I think I am lucky we didn’t end up in a cage fight.

Ruku was holding his own with his sword and buckler combination but had taken some cuts. Volk had a sword and knife, and he was fast. I saw Ruku get cuts in on Volk, but there didn’t seem to be any blood. I think he had an extremely Tough hide or better like Modrica. I hope he didn’t have an affinity like Gwaed. Rodion struck Volk from behind, and Volk had to go on the defensive for the first time.

Modrica and Scar were exchanging big hits. Modrica’s mace was hitting harder, and Scar was spending a lot of his energy keeping away from it. I moved behind him and sliced his hamstring on one leg and then had to follow it up with my knife as well because, shit, he had Tough Hide. Even then, I only drew blood, but it was a distraction. Modrica took advantage of the distraction, and her mace cracked his arm. His hide is tough, but bones are another matter.

Dusk reared up behind him, but he sensed her somehow and dived into a forward roll, and her hooves missed. He faced us but backed off. We let him go and moved to the gate. I put everything into my Shadows Embrace and launched myself at Volk with both my knife and sword, coming down in a stab. I wanted to test his defences. Even with that, he managed to twist away, and only my knife hit. It definitely penetrated his armour and hide, but not very far. Physical strength was always a weak attribute for me.

Dusk and Modrica were following me, and Volk decided it was time to get away. Ruku and I both tried to box him in, including me, with my Binding shadows, but he still escaped, and I got sliced for my trouble. It wasn’t deep, and I had Syphon Constitution running from the start. The Binding Shadows meant Ruku had a good stab at him before he ran.

We didn’t have time to chase him. I left another package by the gate, and we made our own escape. I kept the Engulfing Shadows in place until the first explosion splattered, burning alchemy everywhere, and the warehouse and some of the gang were set a light. The second explosion set the gate alight, but I doubted it would burn for long.

Hopefully, the injuries of some of his best people and the fires burning his base will mean the Claws won’t get involved. They may double down and want the Fiske and revenge. Volk is smart, but he has his gang to appease. It could go either way, and I have already bet wrong once tonight.