The Epic of Dalen Grey

It seemed Brick had all but vanished. His anger must have been great to send assassins after me. I killed his best men, ruined his business and allowed all of his money to vanish. I only brought the law to him. I wondered if he thought he would escape it completely. With him being out, I can imagine him building new and waiting for one chance to strike back at me. I don't know when I will see him next. Something started to make me think. Delvori asked me to break him out of Jail. I refused and then he is suddenly free. I think there is more at work here then I knew about. That meeting I missed must have been an attempt at my life. He must have found it suspicious and sent Bricks assassins. Elizia must have been right about them. Now what must I do now?

I made two powerful enemies. I had to count my allies. Elizia might have been influenced by both sides, but she told me the truth. Ondre is only a hired had once employed by my enemy, but he has proven himself to me. Brude from the Fireside Inn once tried to cheat me, but I have built a level of trust with him. I did him a great service and he is still thankful. There are a few guards that see me as a real hero fighting the evils in this city. I don't know their names but with the corruption I have seen, having honest guards are a true blessing. I see a battle forming soon, I Just hope the order will be set back the way it should. With so few allies, I wonder how I could face such odds.

I decided to fill Ondre in on all that I knew and all I suspected. He paused alittle before responding.

"Got yourself involved in alittle trouble I see. I might have to ask for a raise."

"This is serious."

"I know. I'm still investigating somethings. I can do alittle more research for you. I might need another ten drakers along with my pay."

"What! I Just gave you money."

"And I said then I needed more. This is the last time. Your gonna have to put alittle trust in me, you are facing two mean people with alot more money then you will ever know. I am well aware that cheating you means a tough battle. I know some people with information that might help. I want to help."

"Seventeen drakers, and I want a report tomorrow or I'll use your hide as my door mat."

"Haha, Dalen, I didn't think you had a sense of humor at all. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."

I went to the main guard house. I figured I needed to improve relations anyway I could with them. I figured the best way would be making there Jobs easier.

"I am looking for a bounty to take."

"We have more then enough to suit you, too many."

"What do you mean?"

"We have a low budget. We don't have enough guards. We are restricted to operations within the merchant district. They need us to protect the money in this town or the trade routes will shift. Because of this, all the criminals hide in the slums or outside the walls and steal from the merchants."

"How can you afford to post bounties?"

"We don't. Those are citizens that posted them. We aren't allowed to do private work. Many of us would Jump at the chance. The problem is they don't have much money. No one wants risk their lives for four or five drakers on a bounty."

"You do now. Let me know what I can do first."

He told me of three small time thieves in the area. They were good discribtions. They knew where they lived, what they looked like and one of there names. It was really a shame they couldn't bring them in.

I knocked on the door where he was suppose to be living. I saw a peep hole open and then quickly close. I knocked again and nothing happened. I kicked it and it fell off the hinges.

"your under arrest. Resist and you die."

I love it when they resist. I spun to the side to avoid a thrown dagger and he came after me with a short sword. Mine was much longer and I was able to thrust into him before his could touch me. At the door came two others. The discribtions matched. They must have working together. They came after me. I Knocked the first ones weapon free and shifted my weight and was able to cut into the stomach of the other.

"Please don't kill me." He dropped to his knees. "I surrender."

I tied him up and took him to the guard tower. I got a total of six drakers for all three men. Not bad, but nothing to make me rich either.

I spent the rest of the night watching the door at the Midnight Moon and it was as eventful as usual.