Den of Thieves
Chapter #25

The pillow saves Carr once more, cushioning the head while flopping onto several chests and boxes. Carr’s body twists across the different sized containers that cover the center of the room. His hip breaks open an old wooden chest, filled with copper coins.

Drawing the short-sword Marten runs around the treasure for Carr. The nose-less bust falls from its’ stand hitting on the ground as do hundreds of copper coins.

Worried about being wide open for a strike Carr struggles to get up out of the heaped treasures.

Having to stretch out Marten slashes his poisoned short-sword at Carr. Putting a knee into the sharp corner of an iron chest Carr jerks forward. The blade barely misses Carr.

Swiftly, with both hands planted on the iron chest Carr flips over it towards the open aisle the circles the space.

Chasing after, Marten moves silently towards the young rogue.

Nearly clipping a wooden chest while landing Carr reaches out trying to steady him self. Pushing a heavy stone horse head off its’ stand.

Seeing Carr faltering keeps Marten moving. The horse head smashes into pieces on the floor.

Focused on running Carr through Marten doesn’t notice a large piece of the statue roll in his path. Attempting to pierce Carr with the tip of the poisoned short-sword Marten stumbles over the horse’s stone muzzle. The blade scrapes across Carr’s covered belly causing him to jerk backwards. Connecting with a wooden chest Carr’s leg kicks out, further tripping Marten as he stumbles past.

Landing butt first on the wooden chest Carr gets a left hand out for stability. Worried about getting cut curls up slightly using the right arm and long sword as a shield.

Doubly tripped Marten falls to the ground almost cutting himself on his own blade. Landing hard, the magical glasses are jarred from his face. Leaving him in the dark.

With the catch of the lock mechanism out of the way Glar applies pressure with a second pick. The inner components, being stiff make it hard to move. In a hurry Glar pushes the old pick too hard in the wrong direction. The tool breaks badly.

Looking at what’s left of the tool Glar screams out hobgoblin obscenities. The cursing echoes throughout the caverns getting the men on the lower levels to hurry.

Turning to the large group of men gathering behind Glar yells, “I need a fricken’ pick! Now! You pukes!”

Jim shrugs not having any. Crete glances over the men noticing they are all the guild’s guards and no thieves.

Crete grabs the closest male, “go find some lock picks. Any way possible.”

The male nods and runs off, asking people as he goes.

Glar grumbles. “All these well-paid asses and none of any use.” Examining what’s left of the tool and the reset lock he sighs, “no. No one should be given an extra key.”

Trying to be helpful Crete offers, “I’ve got a dagger.”

Wanting to tell him to bugger off Glar informs him, “a big two-pronged fork is what I need.”

“Okay,” replies Crete running for the kitchen and dinning hall on this level.

Better than waiting Glar tries to use the broken tool.

Seeing less than Carr, Marten pats about the floor trying to locate the magical glasses.

Hearing him amongst the broken debris of the horse statue, Carr slashes wildly at the air over Marten.

As Carr swings Marten gets an idea of where he stands and hacks for Carr’s legs with the short-sword.

The short-sword blade connects hard with Carr’s right shin covering but doesn’t cut through.

Feeling the hit Carr chops his long-sword down hard. His blade skips across Marten’s chain mail protected right shoulder. Swiftly chopping down again Carr nearly clips Marten’s head.

Thinking Carr must be able to see him Marten scurries away on all fours. Due to Marten’s magical items, he moves silently.

Unable to hear the man anymore Carr hacks at the area around. Moving about Carr steps on the magical glasses, breaking a lens makes it spark. The flash and sound of crunching glass gets Carr to look down.

Feeling the floor with his boot pushes the glasses slightly. As the glasses rock he can see some sort of light from them. Bending down Carr feels the thin metal frames of the glasses.

Crawling silently to the back of the room Marten reaches a desk for cover, check for wounds and think.

Picking up the glasses Carr isn’t sure what’s in his hand but sees a strange green circular glow from it. Looking through the glow can see the floor and the debris scattered about.

Bringing it closer to the face Carr realizes they are some sort of magical glasses and puts them on. Only the right lens is left in the frame with a scratch across it.

Closing the left eye Carr examines the surroundings of this rounded room. Centrally lies a massive pile of chests, vases, weapons, armors, crates and barrels. There’re things there he’s not sure of their value. All encircled by assorted busts on differing pillars. With an outer ring aisle to get around.

Now knowing how Marten could see, Carr figures he must be in the dark. Not wanting the old thief to escape Carr moves back towards the secret passage.

Quietly searching the desk for illumination Marten doesn’t want to be bested by one of such youth. It would certainly cause problems within the guild. Confident the Elven chain mail is going to protect him thinks there’s still a chance to beat the young rogue.

Standing in front of the secret passage Carr scans the room following the line of statues around the room. Not being able to see Marten or the desk he’s hiding behind, Carr squats to listen.

Opening a drawer Marten feels inside for a particular object. Things inside the drawer slide about making enough noise to catch Carr’s ear. Quickly and stealthily Carr moves towards the back of the room, following the opposite outer aisle.

Back in the mines the male sent for picks still searches. In the main dinning hall Crete ransacks an elegant bureau. Finding a large meat fork Crete hesitates deciding to take a normal sized fork just in case, before returning.

With the lock’s catch moved aside, Glar struggles to move the sliding bolt. The pick slips causing the catch to release. Clenching teeth and fists Glar rocks his head against the stone door in frustration. Taking a deep sighing breath retries.

Finding a large yellow crystal rock in the drawer Marten grins pulling it out. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Rounding the aisle to the back of the treasure room Carr sees a yellowy Marten with a rainbow-colored rock in his hands.

Seeing Marten is unaware of his approach Carr rushes at him with the Long-sword cocked high over head.

Marten hears Carr running and turns towards him. Not being able to see the young rogue Marten whips the heavy crystal in Carr’s direction.

The crystal easily misses Carr while he chops down on Marten’s outstretched arm. Cleaving Marten’s right hand at the wrist.

Blood sprays out of the now open wrist as Marten’s hand dangles attached by a few tendons, fingers twitching away.

Hitting the ground causes the crystal rock to flicker with light.

Grabbing the dangling hand and wrist Marten screams out.

The sound of Marten screaming startles Glar to jerk and reset the lock.

Just before Glar beats on the door Crete runs up, “here Glar, choose your pick.”

Scowling Glar turns, seeing he has choices tosses the broken pick aside. He takes the smaller fork, “at least Marten and I can count on you Crete.”

Sticking the sword tip to Marten’s throat Carr states, “nice glasses you left behind.”

The flickering crystal suddenly glows brightly yellow, illuminating most of Marten’s treasure house.

Momentarily blinded from the yellow light Carr reaches up to remove the glasses.

Seeing a chance to flee Marten turns to run, the sword blade scratches his throat. Marten’s wrist wound leaves a trail of blood as he runs for the open secret passage.

Ready to loss it and kill an innocent bystander Glar clears his head steadying himself for another attempt on the door lock.

Quickly adjusting to the bright yellowy light Carr turns and runs the opposite way to head off Marten.

Nearing the front of the space Marten is nearing the passage. Leaping onto a flat iron chest, Carr springs off it and across the treasure to cut off Marten. Marten begins to duck for the passage, as Carr’s body slams hard into Marten. The old thief’s head is smashed into the stonewall knocking him out. The pair crumbles to the floor with Carr on top.

Rolling Marten over Carr shakes him, curious if the old man is playing opossum or not, “hey Marten, just give me the anklet. I still have to get out of here.”

A large welt forms on Marten’s forehead letting Carr know he’s unconscious. To make sure he pinches Marten’s ear hard.

Removing the short-sword from Marten’s sheath Carr notices the blade has the same magical markings as the tax collector’s sword.

Feeling confident there are no cuts to worry about Carr searches Marten. Noticing Marten is only wearing chain mail, boots and long nightshirt.

Staring at the huge pile of treasure he sighs knowing there isn’t time to search it all. Walking along the aisle Carr visually takes in at all that has been collected.

Stopping frustrated at the back of the room Carr looks at the desk Marten was routing through.

With nothing but a gut feeling and a small prayer Carr decides to at least check the desk.

The drawer left open contains many strange looking objects, but nothing platinum or silver. He checks the bottom of the drawer for a secret compartment before closing it and going on to the next.

The contents of the middle drawer get him scratching the head. A silver plate with scraps of food on it. Going along with it matching dirty silverware and mug with a bit of wine. All with leaves engraved on them, in the back corner a napkin ring. Inspecting the bottom of the drawer Carr sees nothing.

Opening the top drawer, he finds it’s filled with parchments. Placing them atop of the desk notices the floor plans drawn the other night are there. Not wanting anyone to really have them folds them up and tucks them in a boot.

Searching the rest of the desk finds no secret compartments. Sitting in the desk’s matching chair Carr sighs again looking over the treasure pile, “how the hell am I gonna find a tiny feathered anklet in that?”

Slowly thinking about it Carr opens the middle drawer of the desk again. As the napkin ring rolls forward Carr picks up to get a better look at it. The metal ring doesn’t feel like silver. In the yellowy glow of the crystal rock notices the leaves engraved into it are not leaves but in fact feathers.

Tapping it with a fingernail he smiles widely releasing a loud breath of relief, “whew, this has to be it.”

Feeling as a great weight has been lifted from his shoulders and chest, he tucks the anklet into his coin pouch. Rising from the chair studies Marten’s pile of loot wondering if he should dig in. Hearing the men out in the main corridor decides to get moving instead.

Taking the broken glasses only, Carr happily prances down the aisle to check on Marten.

Stopping briefly Carr bends down seeing the pool of blood around Marten, figuring if he’s not dead yet he soon will be.

Carr shakes his head speaking to Marten’s unconscious body, “you should have just given me the anklet.”

Shrugging Carr lightly chuckles ducking into the secret passage, now with thoughts of getting clear of the guild.

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