Free the Darkness (King's Dark Tidings Book 1) (19 page)

Even with the infamous company in his midst, Urek could not
bring himself to sit properly. Rezkin thought the man simply incapable of moving
without assistance. He honestly could not fathom how the fat man managed to
work himself into such a position in the first place.

Urek eyed the visitors as he took another bite of his sweet
pastry, flakes of dough and glaze raining down onto his chins and chest. He
plucked a goblet from his desk and gulped half its contents before he had even
swallowed the dessert. The unpleasant man slammed the crystal goblet back onto
the desk with a threatening
clink
and followed it with the
clunk
of a meaty fist. At first, Rezkin was simply disgusted with the man’s complete
lack of fitness and utter disregard for the
Rules
, but after seeing the
poor excuse for threatening gestures, he realized he was experiencing an
unfamiliar feeling – amusement.

“You expect me to believe this
boy
took out half the
high members of the Diamond Claw guild and that he did it by himself?” Urek
scoffed, his question directed at Adsden who remained in the doorway.

The Second stood leaning against the frame with his hands
casually tucked into his pockets as though this was nothing more than a
leisurely visit among trusted companions. He wore a relaxed smile as he
shrugged and said, “So I have been told.”

“Well, I don’t buy it!” Urek barked. “You think you can come
in here to
my
House and make demands?” he said to the intruder.

“I come with a proposition,” Rezkin stated succinctly,
obviously unflustered.

Urek huffed in annoyance. “You think I’ll simply hand over
the guild? You’re delusional. And, don’t even think about trying to pull that
gutterspit you somehow pulled off with the Diamond Claws. There’s a reason I’ve
been Guildmaster here for over six years!”

“Yes, and that reason has nothing to do with your
capabilities as a Guildmaster,” the young warrior responded.

The guildmaster sputtered with indignation. “You insolent
little whelp! You’ll regret making an enemy of me! I have resources, and
everyone knows not to mess with Lord Urek!”

“I am familiar with your
resources
. Your cousin’s
patronage will do you no good here. You have no right to the noble title of
lord
since your father disavowed you, and your title was revoked. The fact that the
current Head of your former House, Marquis Addercroft, is your cousin and that
he placed you in this position with promises of suffering and death for any who
would see you deposed is inconsequential.”

“So, you’re not ignorant. You’re just an imbecile or insane.
Either way you’ll regret crossing my path! Addercroft will make you suffer, if
my men don’t kill you first!” Urek growled as his chair lurched forward, and
his heavy boots struck the floor. Using the acquired momentum, he rolled out of
the chair as it righted itself with a deep groan. The guildmaster stomped
around the desk moving faster than Rezkin would have thought possible for such a
large man. In truth, Urek was rather short, all of his mass seeming to spread
out from the middle. The guildmaster came to a halt only a few feet from the
young man who stood making absurd demands.

Urek raised a pudgy finger and thrust it toward Rezkin’s
face. “I’ll tell you what’s going to happen,” he said. “My men are going to
kill you and your little friend, and then we’re going over to the Diamond Claw
Guild and putting it under
proper
management. I’ll have my men dump your
bodies at the river with the rest of the Diamond Claws, and by next week no one
will even remember you existed!”

Rezkin cocked his head as he considered the scenario. Of
course, it was ridiculous, but he could see how the narcissist in front of him
would believe it so. “Let me make myself perfectly clear, Urek. I care not
about making any enemy of your cousin. Even if I did, I would have no cause for
concern. You see, I know
why
he put you in this position,” Rezkin said
as the guildmaster’s bulbous face went ashen. “The threat of blackmail from one
such as myself far outweighs his concern for threats from a man disgraced, such
as
you
. You have already caused him far too much trouble as it is. I
assure you, by now, the marquis would rather see your body tossed in an
anonymous grave than make an enemy of
me
.”

The man’s jowls swayed as his mouth opened and closed
soundlessly, reminding Rezkin of an overfed codfish. “Kill him!” Urek screamed
as soon as he found his voice.

Benni jumped at the command, looking for anything behind
which he could hide. He knew it was futile, but his survival instincts demanded
he at least try to stay alive for a few more minutes. His furiously pounding
heartbeat was loud in his ears when he realized no one was even moving, much
less aiming for him.

Rezkin stood perfectly still, his eyes staring at the
furious guildmaster while his attention was focused on his periphery. He had
combined what he already knew of the Serpent Guild with a quick assessment of
the atmosphere at the guildhouse and the sentiments of Urek’s men and then
gambled with his little speech about the marquis’ involvement. Although it was
all true, everything Rezkin said was for the benefit of the guild members
surrounding him.

Rezkin had quite a bit of information on the guildmaster and
the marquis, all of which had been provided to him by the strikers and his
masters. Since Urek took over, no one had made claim to his position because
they feared the marquis’ wrath, and the marquis had provided Urek with the
position as payment for his silence. Rezkin, however, knew the marquis’ secret,
and even though Urek was oblivious, the young warrior had just secured his
place.

“Your men do not seem to have heard you, Urek. Perhaps you
should yell louder. The crossbowman in the rafters has failed to load his
weapon, the guard behind the drapery seems reluctant to reveal himself, and
your Second…well, he looks quite comfortable where he is,” Rezkin observed.

“What are you doing? I said kill him!” Urek shouted as he
frantically glanced around at his men. His face flushed a deeper red and sweat
broke out across his forehead. The crossbowman leaned back against a support as
he looked down on the scene, and the man behind the curtains stepped into the
open holding his hands out and away from the hilt of his sword.

In a moment of confused, angry desperation, Urek decided to
take matters into his own hands. He attempted to reach across his body to draw
the sword strapped to his hip, but it must have been some time since the man
attempted the feat because he found he could not reach. He pulled the sword
partially out using his left hand until he could reach the hilt with his sword
hand. He then jerked at it a few times as it caught in the scabbard at an
awkward angle. Once the sword was finally free, he swung the weapon recklessly
at the young warrior.

Rezkin barely had to move to avoid the poorly aimed swing.
Before Urek had even completed the arc, the young warrior’s sword flashed
through the air severing the carotid arteries and windpipe of the heavy man.
Without pausing, Rezkin flicked the blood from the blade and sheathed the sword
in one fluid motion. Urek’s eyes widened as realization struck, and he grasped
for breath. The heavy man dropped his sword and clutched at his neck. His legs
gave out, and he tumbled to the ground gracelessly, rolling and flailing about
as he gasped and gurgled.

Rezkin stepped around the dying man without the least
acknowledgement and strode to the desk. He flicked a hand at the guard near the
drapes who was grinning like he had just received the best naming day gift. The
man’s smile drowned in concern when he received Rezkin’s notice. He nodded and
took up position across the room next to the Second who stood staring blankly
at the now lifeless former guildmaster that was bleeding out on the carpet.

The young warrior stood behind the desk and shuffled through
the few papers as he casually called out to the man above. “Come down from
there before I decide you are a threat and end you.” The man quickly began
climbing down and Rezkin finally looked up at the Second and the swordsman.

“Do we have a problem?” he asked.

Adsden smiled graciously. “On the contrary,” he replied,
“you have just rid us of a long-standing thorn in our side. You told the
Diamond Claws that you do not to desire the position of Guildmaster, yes? That
woman, Attica, is now in the position, from what I am told. Assuming you are
offering us the same proposition, I believe we could come to an arrangement of
mutual benefit.”

“You are well-informed of the Diamond Claw’s business,”
Rezkin observed.

Adsden pleasantly replied, “I have many resources, and
cultivating them amongst my rivals is worth the effort.”

Rezkin nodded once and said, “I care not about your
informants in the Diamond Claws, except that their existence proves your
capability. It is to my benefit that the Serpents and the Diamond Claws have
developed separate specialties. As you know, the Serpents are largely composed
of Sneaks and specialize in invasion and opportunistic collection of valuable
goods or contracted acquisitions. The Diamond Claws, on the other hand,
primarily focus on extortion, fraud, and racketeering. I do not care that the
two guilds remain independent and competitive. I will benefit from both
services. However, what you say is true. I have no desire to undertake the
day-to-day operations of the guild. I only require that you provide me with the
results and resources I demand.”

“So, it is business as usual?” Adsden asked. The man was
obviously pleased that the long-standing barrier between him and the position
of Guildmaster had been removed through no effort of his own.

“Not precisely. Thus far, the Serpents have been largely
unfocused. Targets are essentially random, based solely on opportunity and immediate
profitability. I have a larger agenda. I will provide a list of acceptable
targets and your intended acquisitions. You will also receive a list of those
that are absolutely to be left alone. Outside of those lists, you are free to
make your own decisions as long as they adhere to my guidelines. If you are
satisfied with these conditions, you are welcome to the position of
Guildmaster.”

“And these guidelines?” the Second asked skeptically.

“As I said, I have an agenda, which does not accommodate anarchy.
Attacks and theft of hardworking common folk and
respectable
upper class
and nobles will not be tolerated. Personnel are to conduct business with
honor.”

Adsden scoffed. “We are
thieves
. Surely you have
heard the adage,
No honor among thieves
. It is said for a reason.”

“
I
am not a thief, and
my
business will be
conducted per my guidelines,” Rezkin asserted. “If your men lack honor, then
they will conduct business under
my
honor, and
you
will make sure
my
honor is preserved. A prosperous economy is dependent upon the men
and women who produce goods and services. I will not have them hindered. A
prosperous economy means more business being conducted, more deals being made,
more goods being moved, more luxuries being purchased, and more scandalous behavior
among happy and celebratory socialites. Overall, this means generous profits
for the guild.”

The Second raised his brows. “You are thinking long term,”
he observed. “What is this plan?”

“Foremost, your primary acquisitions are no longer liquid
assets,” Rezkin asserted.

“You are saying the
thieves
’ guild will not be
stealing?” Adsden asked with a slight chuckle. The usurper did not smile. In
fact, Adsden did not think the young man’s facial expression had changed even
once during the entire visit – not even when he slaughtered the old
guildmaster. The thought was sobering.

“I did not say that. I said only that your primary
acquisitions would not be material goods. Instead, you will be collecting
information. Information is far more valuable, particularly in the long run. If
you break into an estate and steal goods, you only have the income from the
black market sale of the goods. If you steal
information
, particularly
information that others would prefer to keep hidden, you may profit
indefinitely.”

Adsden smiled broadly. “You mean blackmail.”

Rezkin nodded, “In part. Of course, knowing about affairs,
illegitimate children and murder plots is profitable, but much of the
information I require will not lend itself to blackmail. It may, however,
reveal trade deals, pending contracts, merchant price manipulation, and
economic engineering. Even potential marriages, foreknowledge of council votes
or a particular lord’s wine preference may prove advantageous to someone who
knows how to put the knowledge to use.”

The Second’s brows rose in surprise. “You want a guild of
common thieves to become
spies
?”

“Of course. In the eyes of the affluent, common folk are
incapable of organized, long-term economic, political, and sociological
manipulation. If a spy is discovered in a noble House, for example, the
residents will never suspect the spy of belonging to a larger independent
network. They will assume the spy is simply collecting a few extra coins from
some other House. Every House has spies in the other Houses. It is expected.
They all know it occurs, and they usually attempt to discover the spies and
feed them misinformation or simply dismiss them. The Serpents will be
especially well suited to this task. With your invasion
Skills
, you can
enter places without being seen that are not meant to be breached.”

Adsden rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered the
unusual proposal. “I am not sure this will work the way you expect. You may be
giving our men too much credit,” he mused with a glance at the swordsman and
crossbowman. Both shrugged unashamedly. “While most of them are excellent
Sneaks, often contracted for high profile jobs, they are not the most educated
bunch. Many of them cannot even read. I doubt they would have the knowledge or
mental faculties to recognize what might be important.”