Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Coin and Cruelty

The closet was crowded. Symon grimaced as he felt a clawed foot against his lower spine. An elbow was against his ribs and he tried to not shift so not to alert the lord and his guest just five feet away from the closed closet door. Aside from the rain outside, he could make out what they were saying as he tried to remain very still.

“I do enjoy profit,” Lord Chambers said with a slight chuckle.

“Your foot is on my foot,” Qin said across the connection.

“My foot or Symon’s foot?” Nyana asked.

“Symon’s foot!” Qin shout across the connection.

Symon lifted his heel and a clawed foot pulled back.

“Sorry, it’s hard to tell who is where. Whose foot is on my back?” Symon asked.

“Sorry, that’s me,” Nyana said.

She moved it off silently and tried to find another place to put it.

“Stop talking! I can’t hear too much from in the safe!” Olivia said harshly.

“We’re trying to listen too,” Qin added.

“Everyone, be silent! We all need to listen and figure out how we’re getting out of this with the loot,” Symon barked.

The connection grew quiet as everyone leaned a little forward to listen.

Lord Chambers touched a gem hanging from his neck. The hearth before himself and his guest blazed to life with a warm fire. Shifting light and shadow painted the area as the sounds of rain continued in the background.

“Impressive gem,” the woman said.

Lord Chambers nodded as he looked over the demonic woman before him. She had long, dark purple hair. She wore a tight, black leather shirt and leggings. Her eyes glowed red in the firelight. A small pair of black horns stabbed up from her forehead, barely two inches long each. Her skin was a lighter shade of violet. A hairless tail flopped over the side of the armrest and trailed down, the tip a few inches above the floor. Her legs were crossed, black clawed toes gleaming in the hearth light.

“It’s a master gem. It allows me to control many things in my home and alerts me of unwanted guests, incase you and your guild think of robbing me,” the lord spoke with a sarcastic smirk.

The demoness let out a sinister giggle. “Despite your relations with the guilds, my guild is taking a different approach. I would like to build a new bridge between us and have it lead to new business opportunities.”

“Indeed,” Lord Chambers nodded.

In the safe, Olivia groped around in the darkness. Her boot brushed against something. She lowered herself and ran her hands along it. Her brow furled as it felt like a step-ladder or stool, but she couldn’t see it. She then stood up and put her boot on it. She lifted herself up and felt around the wall beside the hidden door. Fingers and hands ran along the surface, looking for anything that may help her in the total darkness. When she brushed against something odd, she touched it. Fingers ran along it, and with a slight tug, something slid.

A pinpoint of light stabbed into the darkness. Olivia pulled it a little more to reveal two eyeholes. She looked through to see the lord of the manor and a demon woman sitting before the hearth, talking.

“I found a hidden peephole,” Olivia said.

“Can you see what’s happening?” Symon asked.

“Lord Chambers and a demon woman with purple hair are talking,” Olivia said.

“She is Kylana, Grandmaster of the Demon Guild,” Serafina said ominously. “It is very important none of you are seen. If she catches you there, it will give her every reason to have our guild shattered.”

Before the hearth, the man and demoness continued to speak and sip their drinks.

Kylana gave the man a pleasant smile. “To ensure our new partnership, there must be a show of faith.”

Lord Chambers let out an amused chuckle. “Shouldn’t you be trying to woo me? Not the other way around?”

Kylana’s eyes took on a knowing gleam. “As it should be, but we both know you have destroyed much of the goodwill between the guilds, the other vivisectors, and many of the mages. Some still go to you for your work, but if they had more choices, they would go elsewhere.”

“I fear not the feelings of others. I have enough wealth to see me the rest of my days. What I do now, is more of a hobby than a profession.”

“As you have said before,” Kylana said as she leaned forward a little more with a sinister smile. “But if you wish to keep your hobby, you still need bodies. My guild is prepared to assist you in that regard, if you perform one, small task.”

Lord Chambers sipped his drink before holding it before him and gazing at the beautiful demoness. “No task is small when it comes to requests. But I am intrigued. What task do you speak of and I will consider it.”

Kylana’s eyes flashed with radiant heat. “You are aware of the Auction in a few weeks?”

Lord Chambers nodded. “The Auction is a favorite pastime for the Old Town elite. A time to spend coin on baubles to impress each other. I find it rather boring myself. Why do I need to spend coin to impress others I care so little for?”

The demoness kept her gaze on the man. “There is always a price for status, but there will be something at the auction that I require. As you said, it nothing more than a bauble at this time, but it must remain that way.

“You are aware that no guild member may take part in the auction. This is why we are speaking. There is an item that will go on auction and I require someone to purchase it and hand it over to me. You will be compensated when you turn it over to me, and we can start new business arrangements afterwards, if you agree to my proposal.”

The lord sipped his drink again and looked to the fire as if deep in thought. Kylana sat back in her chair, sipping her drink and relaxing as she waited patiently.

He turned his gaze back to her with a devious look. “What kind of arrangements can be made to make this worthwhile?”

Kylana remained in her seat with a small smile and dark red eyes. “There are several orphanages we have arrangements with. New specimens can be delivered discreetly to your home, or any place you desire. They can be alive or dead, your choice.”

Lord Chambers sat forward a little with interested eyes. “Can they be asleep? I harvest the best ichor when they perish during the process. The mana from dead specimens isn’t as potent.”

“We can make that part of the arrangement,” Kylana said as she knew he had taken the hook.

“How often?” he asked plainly.

The demoness tapped a finger against her smooth cheek in feigned thoughtfulness. “Twice a month, so not to arouse suspicion. There will be documents to help ensure the real reasons are kept hidden from any public eyes and ears. The specimens will be told they have been adopted to a loving family. There are many in my guild who can change their appearance to aid in the deception.”

Symon listened intently at the door. His teeth ground into each other, hearing the dark and cruel plot as it was laid out. Heart pounding in his chest, Symon’s hands twitched, wanting to charge into the room and spoil their sinister plan before it ever began.

“They want to abduct orphans and harvest ichor from them,” Nyana gasped.

“Symon,” Serafina said sternly to get his attention. “Do not attempt to reveal yourselves. Kylana and her guild have always been cruel. We can strike back at them at another time, but this not the moment.”

Symon stared at nothing in the dark closet. A memory swirled as his rage bubbled up. An image of a robust man with flaming red hair stood, staff in hand. Symon stood on a beach, a staff in his hand. He glanced over to see his mother and father looking at him with small smiles and a heartfelt nod.

“There are many ways to defeat your opponents,” the warrior said. “Come at me.”

Symon lifted his staff and stepped closer. He held it sideways, like he had been taught. When he reached the large man, he moved into practiced stances and movements. The man’s staff shot up and the pair clashed many times, their staffs making cracking sounds with each strike.

“Your enemies will give you no quarter, nor should you. Killing is always a last resort, but teaching a lesson lasts a lifetime,” the warrior said as staffs vibrated from strikes and parries.

Symon tried to land a strike, but he was thwarted at every swing. Frustration took over and he moved with faster strikes.

The man chuckled as he parried incoming blows. “Good! You’re eager, but a weapon in the hand does not always give you the edge. Make yourself the weapon, and the shield.”

Symon didn’t know what he meant. He poured on his attacks, trying to gain the edge. When he over-extended his reach, the warriors staff came down and knocked Symon’s staff out of his hands. The next part became a blur as the warrior dropped his staff and his large hands grabbed him and a beefy arm wrapped around his neck. Symon gasped for air as large muscles pressed against his throat.

“I take no joy in this, but you must know what it feels like before you can use it against your foes. It will be a lesson you carry with you for the rest of your days. Forgive me,” the man said and tightened his grip.

Symon fought for air, but none could fill his lungs. The sunny day grew darker and a moment later, he fell into darkness.

A time later, he blinked up to the sounds of ocean waves. The red-haired warrior and his parents over him. Relief filled his parent’s eyes as the warrior looked down proudly.

“Now, you know what to do to teach the unteachable a true lesson,” the man smiled and held out his hand for Symon to take.

The memory faded as Symon’s heart beat slowed into a strong rhythm.

By the hearth light, Lord Chambers gave an approving nod.

“Twice a month is welcomed. It will be nice to work on anything else other than cadavers. You have my attention. What item do you require me to purchase for you?”

Kylana’s black lips twisted into a wicked smile. “The Raven Guild’s guild stone.”

Hidden eyes widened in disbelief.

Lord Chambers shook his head. “That might be difficult. It is one of the most expensive items in the auction. It is favored bauble, for the elite of Old Town, to brag to others at parties and gatherings. I too thought to put my bids in for it, but changed my mind on how much of a frenzy it causes at every auction. Wouldn’t it be easier to steal it?”

Kylana’s wicked smile dimmed. “There are arrangements made between the elite and the mages here in Gray Gate. These arrangements prevent a more direct approach. That is why I am here, meeting with you.”

Lord Chambers shook his head again. “I cannot risk most, if not all, of my wealth on a promise to be paid back. If your guild is so wealthy, why not send someone in to bid on it?”

“The auction is for only those established elite in Old Town. No outsiders, new residents, or strangers are invited to it. Everyone who will be there will know each other and take a special kind of joy competing against each other. You have been to the auction before. Even if you haven’t gone to it in the last few years, you can still make an appearance and not raise any eyebrows.

“As for payment and your wealth, we can have a bank hold enough guild coin to pay you, after you acquired the guild stone. They will reimburse you the amount spent, including a little more, for your trouble.”

“What’s a little more?”

Kylana’s smile returned. “Ten percent of what you spend.”

“Twenty,” Lord Chambers countered.

The demoness let out a haunting laugh. “You are quite the shrewd man. Fifteen percent, final offer.”

Lord Chambers nodded. “Agreed,” he said and held out his hand.

“No need to shake, my word is my bond,” Kylana said with a fanged grin.

“I never knew demons to be the honorable kind,” Theodore quipped.

“It’s a new world. Even demons can change, for the right amount of coin,” she said with a sultry whisper.

The hearth crackled for a moment. The demoness finished her drink and stood up.

“If our business is concluded, I’ll take my leave,” Kylana said with a slight bow.

Lord Chambers eyed her for a moment, before his gaze traveled down her athletic body. “You should stay, to celebrate our accord.”

Kylana let out a sinister giggle. “It would please me greatly to celebrate our deal with moans and nibbles, but I do have a guild to run and business never sleeps. Enjoy your evening, Lord Chambers.”

Theodore stood up and nodded. He touched the master gem hanging from his neck.

“My butler will see you to the front door,” Lord Chambers said.

Barely a few moments later, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Lord Chambers bellowed.

Symon, and the other ravens, listened intently.

“What if he doesn’t leave?” Nyana asked.

“If he sees us,” Olivia let the words hang in the air.

Symon took charge.

“We’re not assassins. We’re here for the coin and nothing else. Stay where you are until he gives us a reason to not stay hidden,” Symon instructed.

“There is no place to hide in the safe. If he comes in, I’ll have to stop him,” Olivia said across the connection.

“Do not kill him,” Symon said simply.

“I will do my best to subdue him,” Olivia said, her tone not as confident.

The door to the study swung open and the butler stepped in. He bowed to the demon woman and his employer.

“Harold, please see Lady Kylana to the front door and hail a carriage. The weather is not fit for man, or beautiful demons,” Lord Chambers chuckled.

“The front door will be fine,” Kylana said.

“As you will,” Harold said with another deep bow.

Kylana shot Lord Chambers a sultry glance and smile before walking out of the study, with Harold close behind.

The door closed and Lord Chambers simply turned away and finished his drink in his hand.

Symon’s mind worked as he, and his fellow ravens, held their breath. Stark images played out of Symon launching from the closet and subduing the lord in a chock hold, cutting off air to his lungs.

“Olivia, what is he doing?” Symon asked grimly.

“He’s just standing there, staring at nothing and holding his empty glass.” She responded.

In the dark safe, Olivia reached under her cloak to the small of her back. Her fingers touched a sheathed throwing dagger.

Symon ran through possibilities and all of them fell into a narrow path. All he could see was taking down the lord of the manor before he could raise the alarm.

“Everyone, masks on. Things may get a little ugly, but we are all walking out of here, together and unseen,” Symon said darkly.

The young man felt a slight movement behind him, Nyana and Qin pulling out cloth masks and tying them over their snouts. Symon reached into his own pocket, pulling out the same black cloth and slowly tying it over his lower half of his face.

In the safe, Olivia lifted her mask from her neck to cover her nose and mouth.  

“Should I cause a distraction?” Cedric asked over the connection.

“Stay where you are,” Serafina said. “If you are seen again, a connection will be made. No, all of you in the mansion must work together to make it out. If it is discovered our guild was involved with this job, no place will be safe for any of us.

“Symon, use your best judgment. Don’t commit until you’re sure it’s the thing you wish to do.”

Symon nodded to himself.

“Olivia, if he makes a move for the safe, stay ready. I will have him down before he touches the painting,” the raven instructed.

Olivia was silent as her fingers remained touching the dagger sheathed at her back.

Symon felt a small, clawed hand on his shoulder.

“Whatever happens, we’ll get through this, together,” Qin said.

Another clawed hand touched his other shoulder.

“We follow you,” Nyana added.

Olivia remained silent as she looked out the peepholes. She watched with intense eyes as Lord Chambers seemed to linger and stare at nothing. The rain outside came down harder, the sound like droning on and blending with the crackling hearth.

Lord Chambers turned to the table and chairs. He put down his glass and reached for the bottle of spirits. His fingers were an inch away from touching the smooth neck of the bottle, when he stopped.

Olivia stared as the lord of the manor pulled his hand back and looked at the painting by the hearth.

“She wants me to spend my coin and she will pay me back. How idiotic does she think I am?” Lord Chambers whispered to himself.

Olivia’s heart hammered in her chest.

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The lord stood to his full height as a darkness filled his eyes and a smug smile formed.

“I have time. I can have others do the dirty work without getting myself involved in auction. How delightful it will be to stick it to the others who would waste good coin on some bauble.”

Lord Chambers turned to the painting and stared at it.

“With enough coin, you can make anyone throw away their beliefs and honor. If the guilds are too craven to steal it, I may know others who will do it for the fraction of the costs.”

The older man took one step toward the painting concealing the safe.

“He’s coming,” Olivia said with alarm.

Symon’s hand moved to the door, ready to burst out and stop the evil lord of the manor, when there was a knock at the study door.

The lord stopped before turning to the door. “Yes?”

The door opened and the butler stepped in.

“My apologies, Lord Chambers,” Harold said with a bow.

“Did you see Lady Kylana from the property?” Chambers asked.

The butler stood up and nodded. “I did, my lord. But I returned to give you some news. A delivery was made before you returned home. I didn’t speak of it because Lady Kylana was with you when you arrived.”

“What delivery?” Lord Chambers asked.

“One from Night Slumber Mortuary. I had the delivery placed in the garage, for your inspection. If you didn’t approve, I can contact the mortuary to come back and pick them up,” Harold explained.

Lord Chambers gave the butler a small smile. “What was left for us?”

“A pair of kobolds. They recently died and the mortuary had them brought here, per your business agreement.”

Lord Chamber’s eyes gleamed with excited darkness. “Let’s take a look. The evening has taken a turn and I would very much like to indulge in my hobbies for the remainder of the night.”

“As you will, Lord Chambers.”

The two men left the study, closing the door behind them. When it clicked closed, a closet door opened. Symon, Qin, and Nyana crawled out and stood up. The trio looked over with half-covered faces as the painting moved, swinging sideways with a door behind it. Olivia stood with a sense of relief in her eyes.

Symon glanced to the kobolds beside him, each one pulling out folded sacks and handing them to Symon and Olivia.

“We don’t have much time. Grab what we can as quickly as we can,” Symon ordered.

“How do we get it downstairs and past the lord and his butler?” Qin asked. “Coins aren’t very quiet, especially in sacks.”

Symon turned to his fellow ravens with an idea filling his thoughts.

“Grab every coin you three can carry. I’ll make sure they are sufficiently distracted,” Symon said before his body began to shift and change.

***

The butler led the way, Lord Chambers following closely behind. They had reached the main floor and walked toward the east wing. When they reached the servant’s area, they walked through and made their way to the garage.

The butler opened the door as he spoke over his shoulder, “They seemed almost alive, even though they didn’t have a pulse.”

Lord Chambers nodded as Harold turned his head and looked to the garage floor. His eyes widened as he saw the pair of coffins were no longer there.

“Harold, what is it?” Lord Chambers said as he stepped through and looked down to see the floor was devoid of any coffins or deliveries.

Lord Chamber’s excited demeanor shifted into a shrewd and angry gaze. “Harold, where are they?”

“They should be here. I had them placed on the floor so they could await your inspection,” he said with a quivering tone.

Lord Chambers looked over to the trembling butler. “Did you get into the wine again?” he said with an annoyed tone.

“I swear to the Star Goddess, two coffins were delivered. I even checked the kobolds to ensure they were dead. Neither of them had a pulse!”

“Harold, you are we aware we live in a city of mages!” Lord Chambers said with a loud, angry tone.

“My lord…I…I,” the butler stammered.

Lord Chambers turned around and marched back into the mansion proper with Harold close behind.

“Search the manor! They can still be…” the lord trailed off as he stepped beyond a doorway and into the main corridor.

The vivisector looked down in disbelief as a fox sat on its haunches further down the corridor. Its fluffy tail waved back and forth behind it as the fox stared at him with shiny eyes.

Harold came to his lord’s side and looked at the furry creature in the manor with round eyes. “A fox!” he shouted.

Lord Chamber’s put his hand out before his butler to stop him from moving.

“Not any fox. This one fits the description of the fox that was terrorizing the Merchant District. It’s too big to be a normal fox,” the lord said as he lifted his other hand to his master gem. “Harold, no sudden moves. I want this fox alive. I wish to dissect its secrets.”

As if the fox understood them, it turned and bounded away into run.

“No!” the lord said as he held up his master gem.

The square gem radiated a red aura before a red arc of lightning blasted out. The bolt shot down the corridor and just as it was going to hit the fox, the creature leapt to the side. The red bolt struck the floor and fizzled out, leaving no damage.

“Capture it!” Lord Chambers shouted as he and his butler charged after the creature in his home.

***

Nyana looked at the open chests with wide, serpentine eyes. The kobold reached over with a clawed hand and pushed her fingers into the coins. She lifted up a fistful grey, silverish coins and put them in the sack in her other hand.

“I’ve never seen platinum kings in my entire life,” the kobold said as she picked up another fistful and put them in the sack.

Olivia, Nyana, and Qin worked feverishly, picking up and tipping chests filled with coins, dumping as much as they could into the sacks they were carrying.

“We don’t have much time. Platinum Kings and Gold Queens first! Leave the knights and rooks for it will be too much to carry!” Olivia said as she tried to slide many coins into her open sack.

“Theses are getting heavy,” Qin said as he put down a half full sack and started putting coins in a second one.

“Make sure it’s enough for you to carry and not slow you down too much,” Olivia said as she tested two sacks she already half filled.

Coins fell out of hands or from chests turned on their sides. The metal ding of randomly fallen coins echoed in the walk-in safe as the three ravens worked quickly.

***

Outside and in the rain, a cloaked figured was crouched down on a roof edge, like a perched gargoyle. Black glass goggles covered eyes, seeing beyond the normal world, to see two bodies running after a small, fox shaped body. The rain, nor the walls of the manor could stop her gaze as she witnessed everything as it happened within the mansion.

“Symon has led the lord and his butler to the west wing of the mansion. Take what you can carry and go, now,” Serafina commanded across their shared connection.

Inside, the three ravens nodded. They tied two pairs of heavy sacks each, to each other. Olivia hoisted up the pair of tied sacks and slung each one over each of her shoulders. The kobolds did the same.

Coins clinked as they shifted. The kobolds stepped out of the safe and into the study.

Olivia looked back at the shelves filled with chests. Several of them were empty, but there was still plenty left behind.”

“Maybe next time,” she whispered before stepping out and closing the vault door and painting behind her.

The raven turned to her fellow, waiting ravens. Qin cracked the door to the study and peered outside. There were muffled shouts in the distance, but the area was quiet around them.

“It’s clear,” Qin said.

“Let’s go,” Olivia said.

The young woman and two kobolds slipped out of the study and closed the door behind them. The three ravens made their way to the stairs and took them down, quiet as shadows.

***

Symon darted down corridors and leapt off walls. He moved quickly, but not too quickly, to ensure he was still being followed. A red lightning bolt shot past him and he leapt to the side and scrambled down another corridor.

This is almost fun.

Another crimson lightning bolt shot past him.

Almost.

The fox charged through the hall. When he caught sight of a partially open door, he bolted for it.

The fox crashed a shoulder into the door and swung it open with a bang! He charged in to see a simple room with furniture, books shelves, and two windows. Beyond them was nothing more that the faint light of street lanterns, falling rain, and the night sky.

“Cornered you!” Lord Chambers huffed as he took up the doorway, one hand holding onto it to steady himself. Behind him was his out of breath butler.

Symon backed up with his tail between his legs. He let out a growl as he stepped backwards, further into the room.

“You’re no ordinary fox, are you?” Lord Chambers said as he held his master gem in his hand and kept his gaze steady on the furry creature.

Symon backed up a little more. His head was low and his growl menacing.

“Those lightning bolts won’t hurt you.” Lord Chambers said with a feigned smile. “They will only stop you form moving long enough to put you on my dissecting table. I’ve seen enough mythics to know a special one when I see it. Stay still and it will all be over in moments.”

Symon growled louder as the gem began to glow brighter.

“Harold, get a sack ready for our guest,” the lord said over his shoulder.

“The chase is over,” Lord Chambers grinned as he stepped into the room a foot at a time.

Symon waited as the man slowly drew closer. When the gem glowed brighter, the fox bent his legs and leapt up with an open maw. A red lightning bolts blast out, missing the fox by inches. Teeth shined before front paws slammed onto the lord’s chest. Symon’s pointed snout whipped to the side and clamped down on the Lord’s wrist.

Lord Chambers screamed in horror.

Arm flailing, Symon held on as he was whipped about. The lord dropped his master gem as he tried to grab at the fox. Symon’s back paws slammed onto his chest, causing the large man to stumble back. The fox let go and pushed off. He hit the floor and leapt up for a window with all of his might.

Lord Chambers gabbed at his bleeding wrist and watched in stunned silence as the fox slammed into the glass window and shattered it. He continued to watch as the fox fell and was gone from sight. He rushed over and looked out as rain pelted his features.

The red and black fox bounded away, across the grassy lawn and to the wrought-iron gate. The furry animal slipped through the bars and was on the cobblestone street. Legs pumping, the fox darted around a corner and was gone.

Lord Chamber’s eyes took on a crazed shine as he stood up and whipped around to his butler.

“The study!” he shouted and charged past the help.

Harold followed his lord as they ran deeper into the mansion and toward the main stairs.

***

Nyana led the way as Olivia and Qin were close behind. They reached the second floor, bags of coins hanging from their shoulders. They stopped when they heard rushing feet, heaving breathing, and small shouts. The three ravens waited until the noises grew dimmer and more distant. When it was quiet again, they rushed down to the main floor and darted into a corridor.

Nyana’s serpentine eyes moved from side to side as she led the way. When she spotted the doorway to the basement, she rushed to it, grabbed the handle and opened the door.

The three silently made their way down with the smallest kobold closing the door behind her.

The basement was filled with the sounds of water spilling into barrels and overflowing. The water stretched across the basement floor to the sewer grates and the sewer opening. Two open coffins lay next to the open sewer entrance.

The ravens stepped over to the coffins. They lifted up the sacks of coins and tossed them into the open coffins. Once all three sacks of coins filled each coffin, the lids were closed and locked from the outside.

“I’ll go first. Slid the coffins to me,” Qin said.

Olivia and Nyana watched as the kobold moved to the open sewer hole and slid down to the metal rung ladder. He was mostly down in the hole, the stench rising up and causing his snout to wrinkle in disgust.

Olivia and Nyana slid the coffins closer. Olivia helped with tipping the small coffin and Qin took hold helping it down. Murky water splashed as Qin stepped into it and put the coffin down into the muck. He held a side handle with one hand, while another coffin was lowered down.

The sewer was small, but not small enough for Qin to bend down. When the second coffin was in the putrid water, he held onto them and waited.

Nyana was next to climb down. She made it to the bottom rung and stepped into the waste water. The kobold pulled out a small crystal as it glowed with white light, illuminating the horrid tunnel. She helped her cousin hold onto the coffins with her other hand.

Olivia slipped into the hole. She reached over to the sewer cover and pulled. It barely budged. She cursed under her breath as she grabbed with both hands and pulled as hard as she could. The cover shifted and finally moved to her pull. She let out a grunt as she moved the cover over the whole. She was just about to give up, when the lid slid back into its proper place.

Olivia huffed in the foul air. She was bent forward, unable to stand to her full height in such a confined space.

“Let’s keep moving,” the raven said to her fellow ravens.

All three took hold of the floating coffins, pushing them with them as they trudged through the sewer water, Nyana holding up the bright crystal to light their way.

***

The rain came down in sheets as a pair of horses and a carriage stood in a shadow street. A cloaked man stood with a hood over his head. He tapped his foot as rain soaked into through his cloak and into the clothes underneath. A cold chill began to seep in and the silence from his fellow ravens were driving Cedric mad.

“What’s happening? Are you on your way? Do I need to move to a second location?” he asked across their connection.

When no one answered, he turned to the carriage, ready to guide the horses to the next planned location when a voice touched his mind.

“We’re here,” Olivia said.

Cedric grinned as he rushed into the middle of the street. The rain poured over him as he knelt down to the sewer entrance. He grabbed at the edges of the heavy, metal lid, and pulled up. The lid came up and he pulled it to the side. He looked down to see a coffin being shoved up and into his face.

The tall raven took hold and grunted as he lifted it up onto the street. He picked it up with a huff and a growl, making his way to the back of the carriage. The door was slightly ajar as he opened it with his knee and shoved the child-sized coffin within. He pulled his hands back, covered in sewer grim. He sniffed at it and grimaced in disgust.

In the sewer, Olivia, Nyana, and Qin lifted up the second coffin together. They shoved it up through the hole, grunting as they held it up. A pair of hands took it and pulled it away.

Qin beckoned to his cousin with a clawed hand. Nyana climbed the metal rungs and out of the hole. She looked over to see Cedric shoving the second coffin into the back of the carriage. She climbed out, followed by Olivia. Qin was last, coming up into the falling rain.

Cedric rushed over to the sewer lid. With a huff, he pushed it back until it slid back into its proper place. He stood up and looked at the back of the carriage, the kobolds and Olivia climbing in.

“Where’s Symon?” the tall raven said with a harsh whisper.

A shadow darted from an alley. The author watched with a growing, wide smile, as the large fox jumped into the back of the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Olivia, Nyana, and Qin grinned as they hugged the panting large fox sitting on the coffins.

Cedric rushed to the back and slammed shut the back door. He then rushed to the driver’s seat, climbed into it and glanced around. The street empty, save for the rain, he flicked the reins and the horses began moving.

Inside the carriage, delighted whispers sounded off at their victory as the carriage rolled along the cobblestone street in the heavy rain.

On a roof ledge, a cloaked woman stared down with black goggles. She smiled to herself as she watched them go. When they turned a corner and were gone from sight, she stepped back into the shadows before leaping across and running full tilt in the rain, joy sparking in her heart.

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