215. Claws: Wiremu

Julija’s people scrambled. About fifteen lined up behind her, and about ten archers took to the roofs. I moved as I was in a prime spot for an archer, and I wasn’t officially here. Julija was going to wait for them here on her new home turf. Julija has lost three people from her leadership training squad. Having twenty-five fighters left was good, but they did look tired and battle-worn. She was obviously expecting the Claw from up the road, so I headed there to see what was coming.

About twenty strong fighters were coming. A closer look showed they were not unscathed themselves. I recognised Volk and his second Scar. They both looked like they had been in a fight, although Volk had no apparent injuries. Scar was favouring one of his arms.

Thermal Sensing picked up a stealth-type shadowing them. I moved to intercept. They might be a Claw. They might be a friend or just a watcher from someone else. I moved into camouflage on the ground in a street where they would be soon, notched an arrow, and waited. A shadow flitted across the end of the street and then approached. It was watching the roofs. I raised my bow, but I waited. I didn’t want to hit a friend, although I could tell it was not Tabitha or Ruku.

When they got into range of Thermal Sensing, I lowered my bow. I knocked three times on the stone with my Granite finger. Kelda lowered her bow and approached. She had taken out the Claw Rogue on this side of the street, and Tabitha was on the other side. She wasn’t sure what the Claw were up to, but Tabitha wanted to wait and see. Her Keensight soon noticed the knife hole in the back of my armour. Regeneration had taken care of the wound by now. It was nice to have someone who cared.

“Come on,” Kelda said, “I want to get somewhere I can lip read.“

I let her go ahead as I wanted to be behind them. I would have no problem hearing with my Hearing Aid. Coming in from the back was a better tactical position.

The Claw approached Julija and stopped about ten meters back. They spread out, taking the whole street. Although Volk’s twenty seemed to dwarf Julija’s fifteen, she had another ten archers scattered around.

Volk looked at Alefasio’s corpse at Julija’s feet, and Papahi standing beside her and said, “So you managed to remove the fishy bastard. That’s a surprise.”

“What business do the Claws have here?” Jlija asked.

“At least you are not ignorant about who we are. We are here for revenge. We were attacked, and our building was set alight by someone who claimed to be backing you. I want their head. Maybe I will take yours as well.”

“Somebody is backing me, you say? That is news to me. I have allies but no backers. Describe these people for me?”

Volk looked warningly at her but said, “Two females, one short skinny human and one an orc larger than Scar.”

“Nope. I hired a mercenary outfit to watch our flanks. While they were two females, they were both human. I think you have been had, and they are trying to put the blame on me.”

“I guess we will find out when we take you apart.” Volk snarled. “You are too young to hold onto what you have anyway.”

“While I don’t have backers, I am not without allies. You have met four times this year with my father, Janez.”

That paused Volk. “This is a Hazardirati takeover?”

“No. This is me getting out of my father’s authority, but he is very protective of his Clan. He is a powerful ally.”

I could tell Volk was thinking the same. “I will have my vengeance. I lost three powerful fighters tonight, and half my building is burned.”

“I can understand that. You and Scar are known as the top fighters in the city, but I see Scar has a broken arm. If these powerful attackers are blaming me, I might have to join you in the hunt. They obviously want us to fight. It looks like we have a joint enemy.”

“There is a problem with that theory, lass. I don’t think they were lying. I think they have something to do with you. I figure we take you down, and we get the Fiske and flush them out.”

“The first problem with that theory,” Julija said, ”is you are forgetting the Hazardirati will start a blood feud if you attack me.” Julija was impressing me with how calmly she appeared to be handling this. She was her father's daughter. “The second problem is these two women killed three, injured more and burned your building. I think you are underestimating them.”

“They had two other allies. A human male and a wolfkin. Both were obviously ex-military. She also either had a dark affinity or a weird ass bond.”

“And they escaped from your base alive, or you wouldn’t be out looking for them.”

Volk growled as Julija pointed out their failings. The Claw's reputation was for being the strongest fighters.

Julija continued, “You really think you can take down someone with an affinity?” then she paused, “Oh, that’s why you bought the extras.” she indicated his followers.

It was looking like we would not be able to avoid a fight. I made sure I was looking like Dianne and checked my weapons. I had the short bow, and I created three stone spears.

Tabitha seemed to think the same as me. She came out of a side ally just behind Julija’s line. She was riding Dusk, who had whisps of shadows flickering around her. Julija’s people parted to let her through. Modrica followed her, and next to Modrica was Nyx in sabertooth lion form. They moved into the space between the groups. Nyx was impressive. She was massive, coming up to Modrica’s chest, which put her taller than Tabitha. The detail was all there, and she seemed much more solid than when I saw this form last time. They must have levelled Shadow Manipulation and Mimic. Tabitha also had a low-level Intimidation aura flowing from her. They turned and faced the Claws in a row.

“You wanted to meet me, Volk?”

Many of the Claws thought this was not a good idea as they were looking around for an exit.

Volk growled menacingly, trying to bolster his fighters. “You attacked us and burned our base.”

“I had hoped you would stay there,” said Tabitha pleasantly, “Then you would have remained in charge of the Claws.” She saw some of the fighters looking to back off and said, “Don’t think about escaping.” This was my cue. I walked out of the ally behind them and turned to face them in the centre of the road. I didn’t look impressive like Tabitha as I was dressed as Dianne with a bow and three spears. I planted the spears into the ground so they stood upright for me to grab. They went in as if it was soft earth. This was done effortlessly even though it was not soft earth but into the stone road. It gave the impression of immense strength when it was really just a deft use of Granite Manipulation. I then grabbed the bow off my shoulder and notched an arrow.

“Let me introduce you to the other half of the Black Arts Mercenary Team, Dianne Prints,” Tabitha announced. Then, because there are no guarantees about the intelligence of people, she added, “We,” she indicated her Modrica and Nyx, “are one half. Dianne is the other, equal, half.” She looked back at Volk. “I believe you were stating your issues?”

Tabitha was good at intimidation. I knew most of the fighters would target me as we looked less impressive. Volk was in a bind. If he backed down, he was showing weakness, yet if he fought, it looked like he had less superiority than he thought, especially if Julija backed us, and she would.

“Who are you!” he demanded.

Tabitha smiled, “Excellent question. You may call me Black.” she pulled out the Blacksteel knife, “I am also known as The Black Butcher of Jern.”

That caused a stir. I could tell a number of wolfkin among them were ready to lie down and show their bellies in submission. Even among Julija’s people, it was a surprise. A number of her co-leaders recognised Modrica from their training, but nobody but Julija and her father should know about the Black Butcher.

Everybody is going to know the Black Butcher is in town after this. The King will soon find out Dianne Prints, to whom he gave a Royal Decree, is in a Mercenary team with the Black Butcher. He is not dumb. He will link Tabitha as the Black Butcher. I wonder how he will deal with his Countess being the Black Butcher? That is a future issue.

Right now, I must concentrate on the twenty experienced fighters from the Claws. It is all going to hinge on Volk. His fighters are cowed, and he came to fight one affinity user. He knows there is more than one, as it is obvious from Tabitha introducing me. What he doesn't know is there are five Affinity users against him. He has no idea about Modrica, Ruku and Kelda. Twenty fighters are not enough against what he can see.

I could tell Volk didn’t want to back down. He was a fighter. He wasn’t afraid of death. He put his life on the line every time he stepped into a cage. It would have been a long time since he had faced a better fighter, but this cage was not of his making. He could tell it was a losing fight.

“What do you want,” he growled reluctantly.

“I am in Kirghiz making allies,” Tabitha said. “I have come to an agreement with the Hazardirati and soon with whatever the new Fiske will be called.”

“The Izvoz,” Julija supplied.

“Indeed, the Izvoz. I think the Claws will also make for good allies.” She was handing Volk a way out that could potentially increase his reputation.

“What would being allies mean,” he asked.

“You would protect my interests in Kirghiz and work with my other allies. There would be payment and a reciprocal benefit, of course.” The promise of coins can be a powerful motivator.

Volk turned to whisper to Scar. I decided a fight was unlikely, so I picked up my spears and moved into the opposite ally I had emerged from. Nobody was paying attention to me. It would look like I vanished.

Volk turned back to Tabitha, “Very well, the Claws accept an alliance with the Black Butcher!” he yelled, trying to raise morale.

Tabitha smiled widely and pulled out a bag of coins, which she tossed to Volk. “To help you celebrate our new alliance!” she yelled over the growing excitement.

Volk held it up and shouted, “Let's celebrate!” and they moved off. Volk wanted them out of there and possibly drunk so he could slant the stories. The group moved off. Several looked around for me, but I was camouflaged in the shadows.

Tabitha turned to Julija and said, “Congratulations on your victory,” She tossed her a bag of coins “To help my other new allies celebrate.”

Wait till Janez hears about this scam.