Chapter 8:

A Rat's Handler

The Wolf Among Rats


The ceaseless chatter of vendors selling their stock stops for but a moment to point and jeer at me being led through the streets on a chain leash. I suppose I am a strange sight.
After a week, I think, Andre had decided that the Eclipse rangers were combat ready, so the temple sent us out individually on patrol duty. I specifically chose to bother the templar squad patrolling Épicier territory.

The street we're currently on is the main market street in Épicier territory. Every building is a store front displaying the Épicier emblem which acts like my brand. The emblem tells everyone what you're selling is trustworthy but brands you as Nick's property.
As we march down the street, my templar escort, whose names I've already forgotten, wave and greet their favourite store owners. Some even escape the shade of their stalls to grant the templars small gifts, which usually happen to be samples of their food or alcohol since that's what most of them sell.

Instead of traveling the streets like they're supposed to, my escort stops at a collection of boxes set up to appear like makeshift table and chairs. The leader of our group pulls a sack from his belt and pours dice onto the centre box. As he sits he calls to me, "Heretic, stand guard. If you spot other templars, let us know."

Lazy bastard. Whatever, it's fine by me. I bark my acknowledgment and stand with spear and shield in hand. Plenty of passerbys are initially frightened by the elf with weapons, but a quick glance at my chain and the templars holding it and fear turns to curiosity. Some take a break from shopping to ask why. My escort gladly pause their game to gripe about baby sitting the princess' pet project.
After being reassured that I'm harmless, shoppers prod me for questions or shower me in backhanded compliments. I'm not allowed to speak to the public yet so I simply smile and offer them slight bows. In response they speak to me like a damned dog. Fucking morons.

Whatever. It shouldn't be long now before gossip spreads to Nick's ears. Once he hears an elf by my description is walking his streets, he'll want to ensure I won't rat on him. If he had heard about me roaming around the city outside his territory, I'm sure he would have held my family hostage because he couldn't be sure. This way, I can get that fatass off their back.
With the Sun approaching the Western mountains, a group of Épicier's soldiers approached us with news that Nick himself wanted to meet the ashskin crime stopper. Finally.

The tipsy templars gladly accept and we march to the Épicier manor. It doesn't take long to reach the gates and walk into the manor's courtyard. We enter Nick's office where the human toad merrily greets the templars, his gullet giggling with every word. "Welcome warriors of Sol! So this is that elf I've heard about."

The impromptu leader of the templars salutes Nick and asks, "Thank you for inviting us to your home Lord Épicier. If we may ask why did you want to meet the elf? "

Nick escapes his desk and jaunts over to our group. "I wanted to ensure he's deserving to protect my territory. Allow me a moment with him in private, will you lads?"

The templars seem reasonably skeptical. After a few glances passed between them, the leader politely denies Nick. "Apologies my lord, but he is still a criminal. Either way, we can't leave him on the Chosen of Sol's orders. If that'll be all, we need to return soon."

A moment of silence ensued before Nick burst out in laughter. "Of course, of course! Say, what's your name lad?"

With Nick's hand on his armoured shoulder the leader reluctantly answered, "Darren Caresson my lord."
Caresson, eh? So he was born in one of the temple's whorehouses. Good to know.

Nick playfully shook Caresson's shoulder and jovially stated, "You're a good man Darren. My people love you. Ah, what a shame it would be if archpriest Sevrosul found out your squad, not only played games while on patrol, but also denied the request of the temple's largest financial backer."

I can't help but feel amused at the armoured man backing down to the toad's vague threats. Caresson laughs nervously. "Well, when you put it like that. He's all your my lord."

The templars wrench the weapons from my hands and relinquish my chain to one of Nick's personal guards. Once they're evicted, Nick moseys over to his desk and jabs. "You look better in chains. Weren't you hanging in a gibbet last week?"

"I was. The princess decided to release me for her own amusement."
I can't waste any more time. Let's cut to the chase. "I came here to assure you I am no threat to you. I've gotten the temple off your case and convinced them of a criminal boogeyman."

He groans as he sits in his favourite seat behind his desk. "Is that so? Good good. Now, about your next job."

As he shuffles around in his desk, I raise my voice. "What do you mean next job? I'm a prisoner of the temple and the royal family, I can't work for you! The only reason I'm here now is because their lapdog is out on some extermination quest."

He flips through various papers, skimming their contents while he says, "Yes, you've become an Eclipse ranger, was it? Which means you're in a perfect position to aid me. You see, I know frighteningly little about the royal family or the inner workings of the temple. Public envoys can only accomplish so much. You will be my ever reliable inside man."

"And if I refuse?"

He looks up from his papers surprised. "Oh, I had thought you cared about your family? Well, if their deaths won't weigh on your conscious, you're free to go."

Son of a bitch! My face twitches in anger before I compose myself. "Why bring my family into this? Why not just keep paying me like we did before?"

Nick leans back and beckons his maid to bring him his favourite booze. "Where do you plan on hiding that money inside your cell? Besides, money is a flimsy bind to keep your mouth shut. Now. Any more questions?"

A smug grin creeps across his face and it takes every drop of restraint I have to resist pummeling that fat fucker. Thanks to the armoured fucks holding my chain, I wouldn't get far before my head went rolling. For now, I'll need to give the toad what he wants. "What do you need, boss?"

"I would prefer 'my lord,' but we'll work on that later. For now, I'll need you to identify all the magic users in the royal family. The royal family has always had at least one per generation but like to keep it secret. You will find them."
He doesn't know about the princess? Good to know. He blabbers on. "Next, I'll need the personal interests of the royal members and their routine. Understand? Good. I also require any information you can gather on any and all military movements."

I have to ask. "What do you plan on doing with all this information?"

He stares at me annoyed before finally answering, "You needn't concern yourself with my interests. Let's leave it at that, shall we? Last thing, I have some thugs who have become unruly. Lead your handlers to The Rosy Cauldron and dispose of them. Veronica has learned her lesson by now."

"You're sending me on errands as well?" I ask.
"Don't you have goons to deal with pests?"

While organizing his papers he mocks, "I do now. Though he's a tad to rebellious for my tastes, so I've just sent him to witness an example. If that'll be all, be gone with you. I'm expecting someone and your presence'll sour the mood."
He waves to his guards and orders, "Escort him out if you would."

Without warning, my chain yanks back dragging me towards the door. Right before I'm fully drug out, Nick says, "Oh and one last thing elf. Don't try to sneak your family out of the city. Understand?"
Fucker. I'll need to warn Ren in case he finds a way to earn money. After being shoved out of Nick's office the guards run into a wrinkled servant who assures them he'll lead me to the templars. The guards look at one another before shrugging and relinquishing my chain to the old man. At least following this old bastard will give me time to think. How am I going to get out of this?
I doubt the princess will be able to bail me out of this. I'm not sure if she would even care. She would have to right? Asking me to leak military movements can't be allowed. But she might just march on Nick's manor getting my family killed in the process. No, she would definitely do that. That woman has no tact.
What about Stoler? He may be a meathead, but he at least has a strong sense of justice. But his grudge against me will cause him to overlook the death of a few elves, I'm sure of it.
Perhaps I could manipulate Nick into making some stupid decision using false information? To do that though, I'll need to gain his trust, which'll take a long time. That's a guaranteed option, but I'd rather not get chummy with that fat fuck.

Before I can figure it out, a door opens revealing a large bedroom decorated with the Épicier blue. Off towards the windows sits a plump middle-aged human woman sipping tea. The old servant I was following turns to me, bows and gestures for me to enter the room. "Lady Joan wished to speak with you in private."

Joan impatiently groaned from her seat, "It's about damn time. Sit elf. We've much to discuss and little time."

This is a trap right? It can't be anything else. Why else would Nick's favourite concubine invite me into her private chambers alone? "Sorry, I'm not permitted to speak with-"

She snaps back. "I don't have time for games elf. Stop playing oblivious before I scream rape."

This bitch is insane! I throw up my hands in mock surrender and march towards Joan shouting, "Fine fine! Just... What do you want?"

She motions her hand to the chair opposite her. "Sit."
The door to the room closes behind me and she begins. "You spoke with the family head, yes? I suppose he asked to to become his spy using blackmail of some kind?"

As I sit in the velvety chair, I ask, "Nick hasn't done this before has he?"

She waves her hand. "Of course not. I merely overheard part of your conversation on my way to meet him and filled in the blanks on my own. Your current situation presents a unique opportunity for me."
She crosses her legs and sips her tea before staring at me intently. "I want Nick dead and I think you could do it."

What? I glance to the windows and door before asking, "You sure you should say that so openly here?"

She rolls her eyes while saying, "Oh please. How foolish do you think I am? Anyone close enough to hear is loyal to me."

"And what makes you think I'm fit for the job? Why not hire assassins?"

She lets out a single guffaw and says, "Largest waste of money I've ever seen, those assassins. All they did was make Nick paranoid and increase security."
She leans forward. "You on the other hand. You somehow managed to earn the trust of both Nick and the princess while requiring a full squad of templars to restrain you."

She's definitely misunderstanding some things, but I suppose she's not wrong. I lean back in the surprisingly comfortable chair and throw my arm over the backrest. "Say I do decide to help you. How would you help me?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself. You're capable, but I can't trust your planning skills. You are going to start a war between noble families."

Tsk. This bitch. She's annoying the fuck out of me, but she's the most solid option I have. Before she continues I interject. "So someone else gets to kill Nick? Which family did you have in mind?"

She smirks. "That will actually be your first task. Almost everyone in the city other than the temple has some sort grievance with the Épicier family, but put up with it because we control the food. The royal family secretly and publicly keeps tabs on anyone with money in the city. Use your unique position as the the princess' pet to find whoever is closest to the breaking point."
She stands and begins to leave the room. "Unfortunately, I'm out of time. I'll summon you when you next report to the family head."

I had more questions damn it. She's clearly not an idiot, but that doesn't mean I can trust her. I have no idea what she's after or if she'll let my family go once Nick is dead. She may just be another toad looking to usurp Nick's throne and keep my family trapped here.
However, I haven't made any commitments or promises and finding who's angry at Nick can't hurt. I'll complete her first task and demand my questions answered once we meet again. Even if I can't enlist her help, instigating a war is a good idea. If I can get Nick focused on saving his own skin, I can slip my family out of his grasp.
For now though, I should get into contact with Ren.

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