Part ]I[
Andrus and the Planning

The next morning brought no immediate answers to my thoughts. Basso said that he needed to stay and tend to Jevik, which left me with nothing to do but get on the trail of the men responsible. I had an idea that there were more than just the five mentioned by Basso and Jevik- these men were skilled sneaks, and the actions of yesterday were planned and co-ordinated. Which left me with one conclusion- they were part of a larger organisation, which wanted Basso and his little Guild off the face of the city. My mind started working now, and I was pleased with the conclusions I had made so far. If these men were part of a guild, they must have been in the business of thieving, or at least some sort of crime work, as the men who torched my Guild were trained to infiltrate without being discovered, suggesting thieves or some sort of henchmen at least. It suddenly occurred to me where I might be able to find out about this mystery organisation- from my favourite tavern, the Green Burrick. It was a hotbed of less-than-legal doings, and might provide me with the details I needed for this group.

I set off later that day, and arrived at around mid-afternoon. I ordered myself an ale, and took a position alone in a single table near the corner. I was poised to intercept any conversation which could help me, and I grew more and more hopeful as the crowds of off-duty workmen and thieves started to trickle and then pour in. Soon enough, the place was a hubbub of noise and conversation, but after an hour of waiting, I had picked up nothing. By now a lot of the men had left, and only the hard drinkers and intending drunks were left. The noise level had died down considerably, so I moved closer to the main centre of it, up at the bar itself. Again, I heard nothing, until one particular train of words entered my head, coming from a small, clean-shaven man in forest clothing:

"Yes, tomorrow I heard. They'll be here, rumour is that they might be recruitin' people. But you gotta keep it quiet. They'll be angry if they think someone's been spreadin' their existence everywhere..."

I strained my ears, trying to squeeze any last information out of the man, but his words died down, and I noticed him leaving the bar soon after. I decided not to follow- I already had the information I needed. Tomorrow, some 'mysterious' people, anxious not to announce their existence to the world, would be here, in this bar, recruiting people to their cause. I didn't yet know what this cause was, but I had a fairly good idea. With that, I paid my tab, got up, and left the tavern. Upon arriving home, I donned once again my thief's gear, and headed back to the hideout again to tell Basso what I had heard.

"Tomorrow? Are you sure this is what we're looking for Yorrick? It could just be a group of men recruiting for a wrestling team, you know..."

"No- I'm sure about this. The way that man I overheard described them- they had to be involved with something more serious."

"Ok- we'll have to be there. I suggest that we arrive at around lunchtime, so that we can take places ready to listen."

"Basso- is that wise? You are a hunted man- if they see you again, then they'll surely have you this time. You need to stay here- besides, we can't leave Jevik on his own. One of us must stay to look after him, and I am the one who knows where and how to look and stay inconspicuous."

After much deliberation, Basso finally agreed that he would stay back at the hideout. I was the only one who could remain stealthy and still in a prominent position to overhear conversations. While he had been the runner of a guild of thieves, Basso had no actual thief experience himself. He had, as he told me some months before, decided that he wanted to go into the business of thieving, mainly for the money that it brought in. After seeing the great success and incoming wealth from a friend of his (his name eludes me) he decided that his own business was not what he wanted to do, and he started his own guild, despite not having the skills to be a thief himself. The next best thing was to run a guild, and so he established himself in the city's crime ring, and soon found success. His reputation grew slowly, and he soon had a small but relatively wealthy guild. The Horn of Iucundus was going to be his next big gamble to boost his fortunes after a dip in profits, but the deal was still in the process of finalisation, and still in Basso's hands. Until the fire, that is. Now I had no idea where it could be- perhaps the men who attacked Basso and Jevik and took Jennivere stole it before they torched the guild, or perhap0s it still lay there now, maybe it was even destroyed in the flames. Anyway, all of these possibilities were irrelevant, as the only things that mattered on my mind were vengeance, finding Jennivere, and worry about Jevik's condition. As I approached the tavern the next day, the worry of whether he could survive for much longer with no proper medical help was pressing at my mind.

I entered the tavern, and ordered another ale, before retiring to a dark corner and settling down to look inconspicuous. I waited almost two hours before the crowds of men started to drift in, mainly dock and factory workers, as well as some off-duty servants from the wealthy quarters of Dayport. I smiled to myself at the thought of some of them choosing to come here to drink rather than in the more upmarket taverns and inns. My eyes continued to scan the people entering in small groups, and soon the air around me was buzzing with conversation and loud, raucous laughs. I continued to spy on people for a further half an hour, when my eyes fixed on a small table on the other side of the inn. How had I failed to notice the occupants enter? They were obviously the men I was looking for- I could easily recognise my own kind among the drinkers present. Slowly, so as not to attract attention, I sauntered over to the bar and ordered myself another ale, before setting down at a table much closer to the group I was watching. Immediately I became interested in what they were saying, thinking how fortunate I was to have noticed them at such a crucial time.

"Curses! Why can't those three ever carry out anything efficiently?"

"They did pretty well, they managed one out of two tasks..."

"But their failure to complete and bring back the one we needed undermines the whole mission!"

"Relax...he probably died later anyway...the guy who attacked Benedikt, Lorus and Gert probably killed him later."

"Maybe, but the fact remains that he could still be alive..."

"Yeah, but if he is then we'll get him when he comes to rescue his sweetheart."

My heart froze. They did have Jennivere. And now I would find out where she was.

"So where is she at the moment?"

"We moved here from the first place, too easy to attempt a rescue. Now we've got her in a far safer place."

"Where would that be?"

"You know this already...we were told yesterday."

"I wasn't there. Sick. Remember?"

"No, but I'll tell you anyway. She's down in the cells at the old watch house. Since the taffin' Bluecoats moved into their new place, we've got permission to 'use it as a storehouse for our business stocks'. What a joke! If the Bluecoats only knew how they were helpin' the very lot they're after...hah! Those fat lot are useless since old Truart left. I tell you- The new sheriff they've appointed, that Mosely, she's a soft touch in comparison to Truart."

I had all that I needed. However, I still wanted to stay with the three men to follow them back to wherever they were staying. Rescuing Jennivere was only the half of my plans- I still had to avenge myself and the Guild for what had been done to it. I continued to listen, but the conversation turned to idle chat fairly soon. Perhaps the men were uneasy that they were being watched from somewhere, and had decided to change their words. After about another fifteen minutes, they got up and left. I waited another half a minute, and then left too, paying on my way out. I left the tavern and returned to the cooler evening air. Shadows were beginning to form, but I was still apprehensive about trailing a group of professional thieves in such light as there was left. Nevertheless, I followed on behind the slow moving group, keeping well back to avoid detection, at least until the light had faded slightly. As if answering my hopes, a cloud began to draw across the sun, and the light level dimmed enough for me to feel safe venturing out from such a distance. I closed the gap between us silently, keeping to the doorways and shadows cast from the overhanging upper storeys on each side of the street. I could hear the men talking quietly now, but I tried not to listen, and concentrated o not being seen. We rounded a corner into the main market square, and crossed it. I had to hold back for a minute or two to allow me to cross the brightly lit square without being detected by those in front or any patrolling watchmen out hunting for thieves. As soon as I had covered the square, I hurried to catch the men up, worried that I might lose them. Unfortunately, I did this too quickly, and didn't watch where I was going to well. Just as I caught sight of the men again as they started up and long and sparsely crowded street, I stepped on a glass bottle, which crunched underfoot. It was enough to alert them to my presence, and I retreated as fast as I could manage to a darkened doorway, cursing the drunk who had left the bottle in the gutter.

Just as I thought I had escaped, one of the guards saw my cloak swish back against the door before it could reach the shadow. I heard him cry out to his friends, and prepared to run or fight, whichever seemed more attractive in the next few seconds.

"Hey! You over there! Come out and show yourself! I see you, don't think I can't recognise a thief when I see one!"

I put my head out a fraction and saw all three bearing down on my position, two swordsmen and one with a bow at the back. I leapt out from my hiding place, and , not fancying my odds, backed off ready to run. Again, my poor luck continued, and I tripped and fell backwards from a hole in the cobblestone street. The first man with his sword prepared to strike as he loomed over me, but instead of his sword coming down to hit me, his body fell over me, a feathered shaft protruding from the back of his neck. I pushed him off and hurriedly got up, seeing the other second swordsman turn around in disbelief, only to receive a very hard blackjack to the nose from his companion with the bow. He stumbled for a second, and then fell forwards, his nose streaming blood on to the pavement. I was to stunned to do anything but watch as the third man dragged the two bodies into a black alley.

"Scummy bastards. Only a matter of time before I did that, just looking for the opportunity tae do it. I suppose that was you- so thank you."

"I...I...well thank you..." I replied, not able to think of much else to say to my rescuer.

"Nae problem. You might want to know my name- I'm Andrus. Been on the case o' this lot for weeks."

"You're after them as well? Why?"

"Why? Do ye know who these three belong to?"

"No- that's what I want to find out. That's why I'm trailing them, and also to find out how to rescue somebody they took. And to find the leaders of the organisation and make them pay for their acts," I added.

"By the Watchman's grave! You'll be busy for a while, I can see. Perhaps I should give you a little enlightening..."

I agreed to take on the advice of this rather strange character who called himself Andrus. If I could get any help in my quest, I would gladly accept it. We walked in the dimming light back to the hideout, and on the way Andrus explained himself and his situation.

It turned out that Andrus was from a different city, hence his accent, I concluded. He had been part of a similar guild to mine- in the thieving business, and still in its relatively young stage. In this city, the crime ring was ruled by one major source- a guild under the leadership of one Baron Bastell, the Baron and ruler of the neighbouring province. He usually tolerated smaller guilds in the city, as he could exploit them and use them for his own purposes to bring revenue to his pocket. However, Andrus's guild had been growing fast, and the Baron obviously didn't appreciate this. One night, he had his higher guild members as well as a small troupe of hired thugs infiltrated the small guildhouse, kidnapped the leader, and proceeded to lay waste to the guild, much in the same way as my own had been destroyed. By morning, nothing of the guildhouse or half of the members was left, and there were no witnesses to point the accusations at the Baron and his guild. Anyway, accusations would have been pointless, as the Baron had influence and control over the city's law department. The leader was also never seen again, and Andrus heavily suspected he had been murdered.

Andrus had been fortunate to escape the fire, and as a high ranking member of the guild, found himself a target of the Baron. Because of this, he fled the city alone with a passing train of gypsy caravans and merchants, and arrived in Dayport, thinking he would be safe. He had remained in the city for about a year, but had then discovered an attempt by the Baron to establish himself in the crime ring of Dayport. Realising how perilous this would be for the city, he decided to infiltrate the new guild, which was calling itself the Pool of Darkness, simply known as the 'Pool' by members. He had succeeded, as he was believed by the Baron's men to be dead and lost. His plan was simple- he needed to find a way to halt the progress of this new guild in Dayport to prevent the Baron's influence reaching the city.

As we rounded the corner to the hidden entrance, Andrus finished his tale, and I tried to make sense of what I was up against. I had obviously let myself in to something far more serious than I had previously imagined by swearing revenge on Jennivere's kidnappers and those who had destroyed the guild and broken the man I once knew, even now lying dying of his injuries beneath my feet. I opened the entrance to the hideout, and beckoned Andrus inside. Basso would want to meet him- I was sure he would be as keen as me to enlist as much help as possible for our cause.

I found Basso in the corner, bent over Jevik's body. He wasn't tending him, he was now simply looking at the big man, stretched out on the floor and wrapped in reddened bandages around his chest , arms and sides. He seemed to be sleeping again, his shallow breaths filling the room. I approached Basso, and whispered to him.

"How is he?"

"Not good, my friend. I doubt he has much time to live, but how can we help him? I cannot leave this place another time; I would be found and killed. You cannot carry Jevik on your own to a healing house, I don't know what to do..."

At that point Basso's eyes left Jevik and picked out Andrus. Basso jumped slightly and asked who I had brought with me.

"Basso, this is Andrus. He is fighting the same men as we are, and he wants to help us."

After the introduction was over, I asked Andrus to relay his tale to Basso as he had done to me, while I inspected Jevik. Basso's concern was right- he was very gravely ill and needed medical help. At this point there was nothing we could do- we were pinned down here until the Pool gave up on us, and that might be too late for Jevik...our only hope, I concluded, was to keep him alive till then. I was still looking over Jevik when Andrus came back over, having finished talking with Basso, who now slept in the other corner.

"Hmm- yer friend's not doing so well, is he? Well, I might be able tae help him a little- didn't spend four months with gypsies and learn nothing, ye know."

Andrus took off his cloak, and removed from it's inside pockets a small sack of plants. He used his blackjack to grind them into a fine powder, and gently removed one of the bandages from Jevik's side. The bandage peeled off to reveal a wicked slash across his side, which seeped slightly as the dressing came undone. Andrus then proceeded to gently massage his powder into the skin around the wound, and then to sprinkle a little into the wound itself. Jevik, who had woken slightly, winced but stayed put while Andrus tended to his injuries. He applied the powder to several more cuts and slashes across Jevik's body, before taking a clean bandage from the pile Basso handed him, and wrapping them around the wounds to seal them. He then asked for a little water, and I poured some from my own gourd into a small pan we found in the room. Andrus then took another tiny sack of fragrant flowers and buds from his cloak, and ground them together in the same way he had done with the plants, before adding them to the water. Instantly, the water turned a bright red colour and I could feel it heating up from the steam it emanated when the powders made contact. Andrus stirred his strange mixture, and then gave it to Jevik to drink. He took it gratefully, and no sooner than he had set down the pan after drinking deeply, he lay back and slept, his breaths this time deep and clear.

I was amazed at Andrus's display of medical skill, and thanked him profusely for his aid in helping Jevik.

"Aaah, dinnae worry," Andrus replied, "it's not much- it'll help clear those lungs, and help to heal those cuts faster, but your friend still needs more help. I can arrange that for the both of you- I still have many friends among the gypsy peoples who travel through the city with their caravans and barges. If you like, I can arrange to get you both out of the city and then on tae another place, with my travelling friends."

"I must thank you for your kind offer Andrus, but I cannot leave on my own. I would be happy for Jevik to go, but I still am without my wife Jennivere- she is still in the hands of the Pool. Until she is rescued, I will not leave. However, I would be most thankful to you if you could arrange to take Jevik here out of the city- as you said, he still needs rest and time, despite your healing talents"

"Sure- I can get a message to them tomorrow. We can have Jevik away from this place as soon as you like, and you to follow, once we have your wife."

"Andrus- aren't you forgetting that we don't have any idea how to break Jennivere out of her captivity?" I cut in. " Do you know where she even is?"

"Yorrick- I have been following the Pool for several months now, in fact, it was me who asked where she was when you overheard us in the bar. I know that watch house reasonably well- breaking her free should not pose too much of a hassle. I even have plans to the place- if you want, we can make a plan this very evening."

I was embarrassed at my forgetting just how much more experience of the Pool Andrus had than me. I felt like apologising, but this thought was blocked out almost instantaneously by the second thought of being able to formulate a plan to rescue Jennivere this very evening. I was amazed at how much I had learned and seen in the past few days, from being hopelessly lost in trying to find my targets, and now suddenly being presented with the opportunity to rescue Jennivere within the next few nights. I smiled and thanked the Watchman that he had seen fit to send so much luck my way. If only it would hold out for a few days more...

I returned to my world again, and began to think about the task. Andrus said that he had plans of the building we had to infiltrate, and also a reasonable knowledge of the interiors. I had to learn the plans off by heart if we were to succeed, which would require my full attention. We both agreed that we should waste no time in formulating our breakout scheme, and so the next hour Andrus left the hideout to return to his own residence to collect his plans. He came back an hour after, and woke me with grave news. Apparently, the man he had struck across the nose had returned quicker than Andrus had expected to the Pool leaders in Dayport, who had ordered that Andrus's apartment be searched to discover who he really was. Andrus had found the guards waiting in his residence, and had managed to dispatch them, collect as many stores as he could along with his plans, and made it back here in one piece. He was sure that nobody had followed him, so we lay out the watch house plans on the wooden worktable in the next room, and in lowered voices, began to discuss how we would go about the ever approaching task ahead.

By the early hours of the next morning, out plan was finalised. It had been remarkably easy to come up with- as soon as I saw the plans the ideas started to flow through my head. The building had five floors- the top being an officers' mess along with a trophy room and an extensive armoury. The second floor was used for nothing except storage, every room was filled with chests of food and stores for those who lived there. The first floor was used as the watch house kitchen, as well as an area of residence for the watchmen and Bluecoats who used to take up station there. The ground floor, which had been used as a reception area for the watch house, was now filled with whatever the Pool wanted to use it for- most probably loot, we concluded. It could prove a most valuable route to take on the way down to the cells and inquisition chambers in the cellar. This was where Jennivere was being held. We didn't know which cell, but it shouldn't be too hard to find out once we got down there. Andrus assured me that the only security the old watch house was equipped with was human eyes- I had heard rumours and stories about the installation of many new mechanised security systems which were capable of sounding an alarm the second a thief was seen in the building.

By one in the morning, we had decided on our route in to the watch house. Next door to it there was a clock tower- we could climb that and use its height to lower ourselves on to the watch house's roof. From there, we could drop down to a balcony leading to the third floor. We decided that it would be best to split up at some point, as one thief is much harder to spot in the darkness than two. The third floor would likely be occupied with members of the Pool, so we thought it best to try and get down to the second floor as soon as possible, which would be much more sparsely populated. Once we were both there, we would split and then meet up again at the staircase leading down to the first floor- where we would be able to quickly get down to the ground floor, due to the closeness of the staircases to each other. Once we had traversed that area, we could sneak down together to the ground floor, where we could dispatch as many guards as possible, and then help ourselves to some of the loot kept there. Finally, we would then enter the cellar, again taking down all the sentries we could find, before discovering Jennivere's location and breaking her free. We could then unlock one of the smaller guild doors from the inside, and escape with Jennivere, ready for her and Basso to be taken out with the gypsies. It all seemed to be in perfect order when we retired to sleep that night, but little did I know what I would feel the next evening before we left to carry out our mission.