The Epic of Dalen Grey

This town was not that big. I was only looking for one large beastly man. He must not go outside much. It was next to pointless to ask around on the street. I knew of one person I could ask, and he was sleeping in my house.

"Ondre, I need to ask you some questions."

"I'll do what I can."

"I need to know more about this organization you work for."

"I'm Just a guard and a hired soldier. I don't know anything."

"I think you know more then that."

"I swear dalen, I'll I protect buildings. It was pretty boring til you showed up a few days ago. Thats all I know about them other then I get a few coins for doing little to nothing."

"Ok, tell me everything about you then. How did you end up working for them. Who do you know. What other things did they tell you."

"I suppose I can say that much, I don't think it will do much good. I started working with them about two month. Alittle before that I was running through the main market being chased by a guard, a complete misunderstanding I should add. I ran around the corner and someone had tripped and then knocked him over the head. We left and this man offered me a Job alittle while later. I was put on guard duty, I was told I could rise through the ranks, but the guard duty was easy enough for my tastes. The rules where, ask no questions, don't let anyone in with out the code phrase and if anything happened I was to signal for help. Sometime I was asked to escort. Sometimes it was people or goods, and sometimes to the nearby villages. Protect the escort, signal for help and ask no questions, it was the same deal throughout the group. I didn't even get to know people by name. I didn't mind too much, alot of them were kinda boring anyway. They told us simple plans for various outcomes, other then that it was the most boring Job I have ever done. I collected my pay every week like the next guy."

"I need a list of buildings you guarded, and I want to contact the person who paid you, he must be in charge of the money in the group. Money lays a path in every gang of thieves and it always flows to the top."

"Makes sense. The buildings I believe your aware of. The man, I don't know his name but I'll tell you how to get to him. I can give you some of the codes. I can say more but I'll blow my cover, but if your gonna take out the boss anyway why not."

He told me all he knew and what would blow his cover. Ondre had been a maJor help. I don't know why he has been so helpful, but right now I'm not one to accuse him of dishonor. I don't even have a reason to think he is helping me for anything other then money anyway.

I went to a building in the village. There were two guards out front. I approached them and spoke, even though the words seemed strange.

"Have you seen my dagger?"

"No sir, could you discribe it?"

"Its got a black handle and covered in the blood of the last man who stood in my way."

"Welcome sir, would you like entrance."

"Yes, and this is a special event, I need you to take the day off."

"But we aren't suppose to leave, sir."

I thought quitly and replied "are you questioning my orders?"

"No sir, we were Just leaving."

They left and I walked right in. And there sat the man at the desk in front of me. He looked a bit nervous to me.

"GUARDS!!"

"They are gone."

"Money, you want money, here take this, its yours."

I grabbed the small pouce of money. It was maybe only twenty or twenty five drakers. But I wasn't about to refuse such a generous offer from a stranger.

"Why thank you. Now tell me where I can find Brick or I will come back and run my sword through your gut."

"You can't threaten me. You are nothing compared to what his men will do to me."

"I am going to bring him in. I know there is alot of money in this building. I don't know how much, and I don't want to. All I want is Brick and his men taken care of. Now, if you answer my questions, I won't come back here with guards to reclaim all this money. If the guard don't get it and Brick is dead, I guess it would be yours to spent."

I saw a wide smile on his face. It quickly turned to an evil grin. He leaned forward over his desk.

"I have worked too hard, its about time I got something in return. He lives in the woods. There are a series of natural markers. Misplaced rocks and tree branches, they are easy to find if you are looking. Head straight south from here and then follow the path. Alot of the men are gonna be away on a mission tomorrow, so it is unlikely he will have many guards. I don't know what the mission is though. Is there anything else you know."

"How do you make your money" Why do your men rob the Fireside Inn?"

"We steal goods, trade them and sell it back to the same people and they were none the wiser. The Dragon Foot Clan paid for the attacks. I don't know why, maybe they heard of Bricks previous dealings with them. There are other small time dealings, nothing of note or real profit. If you don't mind, I'm gonna pack up the money now and take off before his men know I'm gone. I thank you, now could you please leave before you are found out."

"Your greed has served me well, I hope I never need you to hire you."

He nodded and got to gather all of his things out of the room. I left without so much as a word being said to me. Its amazing how committed some people can be. Some serve a god. Some serve there conscious or there honor. Some even serve there leaders or their country. It is deeply rooted in them and they can never change. This man served his greed and nothing I could have done to prevent him from robbing Brick blind over time anyway. I guess I Just sped up the process.

I found the trail to the woods. I didn't venture too far. The lookouts would have known. I would have to work out the details on the spot. I hate to be unprepared, but I certainly would rather have them caught by surprise then it happen to me.

Another night at the Midnight Moon, and it wasn't anymore adventurous then before. I didn't know what happened to the Dragon Foots henchmen, but they weren't coming around anymore. I didn't want to get fired, because I wasn't as useful as I was before. I wasn't worried, Elizia loved having me there. Its a nice way to end a hard day.