Chapter14

�It�s going to be a long time till we get out of here, huh?� Jwilson sat up from the rock hard bed he was laying on.

�Who the hell knows�� Axel replied, annoyed. He didn�t want to think about the possibilities. He always got antsy without his cleaver at his side, and the thought of those greasy defilers� hands all over it set his skin crawling.

Jwilson rose from the bed and walked to the cold steel door which kept them prisoner. Peering out into the hallway, he could see little, but could hear voices from down the corridor. Hushed whispers from guard to guard were all he could hear. But he made out one word which made his blood run cold.

�They said �war,� mate� that can�t be good. You think Minax is planning an attack soon? I mean, hell � they�ve already got Papua under siege. What�s next? Delucia?�

�Probably�� Axel mumbled. He didn�t care either way right then. �Let em kill each other off. Whether Minax or British rules, we�ll be thieving all the same. And think of all the bodies on the field to loot afterwards.�

�Mmm� true. But if British wins this war and has his way� there won�t be much thieving going on at all�� Jwilson returned to his seat on the bed.

�What�re you suggesting? Helping out Minax then?� Axel�s interest was piqued.

�Well� maybe nothing as drastic as supplying the Defilers or spying for her, but I�m sure Fingers will want to do something about it. Sure Minax is a conniving bitch hell-bent on the destruction of the Britannian Empire� but hey, she might like us thieves.� Jwilson smiled at the thought.

�Right� if there�s anything in the world left to steal.� Axel started throwing stones from the ground at the cell door. �You�re right, though� it�s going to be a long time till we get outta here��

�

�Will you shut the hell up?! This is going to work, dammit. Trust me!� The robed figure elbowed his partner. �They�re in trouble and we�re gonna get them out of it. I mean, how the hell else am I going to get into BUB?! Fingers won�t give me the time of day right now� but after I rescue his prized guildmates? Man� I'm gonna be heralded throughout Bubville!� Vlad Tepes had big plans.

�I�m just sayin, Vlad� I don�t think it�s gonna work. I mean, how in the hell are two of us going to be able to break into a place like that and get two guys we don�t really know�?� Derean shook his head in disbelief as he stared at the Defiler fortress.

�Who says it�s just gonna be the two of us?� Vlad grinned with an evil glint in his eyes. �See? Here comes Slap and Snoopy now�� The two men waved silently from their hiding place in the bushes. The two arriving thieves had dismounted near the trees and crept in, crouched low. Not that it mattered, really... Snoopy was appropriately known as the Neon Ninja, dressed head to toe in bright oranges, greens, and pinks. Slap was a little better muted, but was still garbed in powder blue pants, doublet, and feathered hat that stood out from the surroundings like an elf in an orc fort.

�Great, but still, man� only 4 of us?� Derean shook hands with Slap and Snoopy as they crouched down to join the hidden duo.

Snoopy nodded at the duo. �Heya, bub�� Slap whispered to Derean� �Heya� Vlad� he frowned at the latter of the two. �What�re you doing here? I thought you said Derean needed us��

�Gee thanks for the warm hello, Slap.� Vlad bared his teeth at the veteran thief. �I kinda lied about him needing you, too. Axel and J need us more.�

�Axel and J? What do they have to do with this? And where are they anyhow? Fingers was expecting them back hours ago� And why in Hythloth are we sitting here?� Slap was puzzled by the whole situation.