The Epic of Dalen Grey

I was getting low on funds. If my counting was correct I had only thirty drakers. If enough to live on for a month or two, but I will eventually need to leave this town and that cost money. I have little choice at the moment to do grunt work. It was off to the quard tower for more bounties.

On the walk there I over heard something. It was the a town cryer yelling in the streets.

"Serve your emperor and country. Join the legion. See new lands and get paid. Enlist in the guard house."

He repeated roughly this over and over. I don't remember public request to Join the armed forces. I had always thought they had more then they needed. So many Joined, whether its for national pride, a status symbol, wealth or even to impress a certain lady freind, they often had to turn people down. There are only two reasons that come to mind for a military build up. Either your expecting an invasion or you want to start a war.

This was little concern for me, I have no intention of Joining the legion. I need to make money on my own time and without a very loud boss. I had bounties I could be collecting, and a bigger mission to attend to.

"Have you come for another bounty Dalen?"

"What do you have for me?"

"Have you considered being a soldier?"

"I have important business, I can't."

"Understood, protecting the city from criminals is Just as important as stopping an invasion. I have Just the mission for you. It pays fiften drakers. A small group has been been muscling around some merchants. They bust up the shops and then come back and offer protection. Everyone is aware that they are responsible. There are seven men we think at there base. I'm sure you are up to it."

"I might finally have a challenge. I'll take care of them right away."

"Make sure you get them once for me." He wink and I smiled and I was soon off on my way.

I went back to ask for assisstance. Ondre might seem disrespectful, irresponsible and never serious. I do know he is very loyal and loves a good adventure. When I told him of my mission he was ready to go before I had a chance to plan my attack.

I walked to the building. There was a guard on each side when I walked up to open the door.

"Hey, you can't go in there!"

When they turned there focus onto me, two daggers flew by my shoulders. His aim was better then I had hoped. He ran in first. The main room also had two guards. He ran, Jumped and tumbled past their blades. They were close but he moved too quick. I followed and lunged to the left and swung around to the right as they were focused on Ondre. There were stairs up and a back room. I kicked the door open and I saw a man picking up a crossbow. I swung out of the way Just in time as the bolt flew by me. I ran in after him before he could reload and I took him down quick while he desperately cocked back the lever. There was two men in there and the other came to attack my back as I ran in. I turned around Just in time to see Ondre pulling out two daggers out of his kidneys.

I was suspecting the ring leader was up stairs. We walked up side by side. There was a hallway with four rooms, two on each side. They all had beds in them but they were all empty. We waited until it started to get dark, but no one came back. Either they were out on missions or we had killed them. There was seven beds though and six bodies. I informed the guards of what happened. They made sure I got paid, but I was still wondering who the seventh man was. My mission was to bring down the organization and thats what I did.

The night at the Midnight Moon was like any other. A few hours into the night though a large man came in kicking open the door. He drew a sword and pointed it at me.

"You! You killed my men. I'll make you suffer."

He was a large muscle wise. He was no swordsmen however. He would swing, then I would dodge and knock his sword away. I did this a few times and the bar was cheering for me. This was a good time to show off some skill. I would deflect his strikes and cut his clothing. His over worked body made him very slow. He was easy to trip. I cut away the rope that help up his pants. If he was clumsy before he was more so with one hand holding them up. I had played with him long enough. I ripped the sword from his hands, kicked his stomach and he bent over to catch his breath. I cracked my knee into his face and he fell cold on his back. The place cheer for me and the girls were especially impressed. I have seen the look before, but it only reminded me of Jalyn that I left back in Drivendale.

I didn't know how he found me or how he knew I was responsible for what happened. These are Just more questions that I might never have answers for.