Blackrock Mercenaries

My journey to find the source of the fuss ended in the dining room. Someone had drawn back the bead curtain that normally blocked the door, and from the bottom of the stairs, I could see all three of my coworkers. Both gathered around Sasha, who sat cradled in Penny's arm, her face in the younger woman's shoulder. Rita sat nearby, a hand on Sasha's shoulder, even as Penny whispered what I assumed were words of comfort.

To my surprise, neither Reeds nor Sheryl were in attendance. I paused, listening, and found I couldn't hear either of the elderly couples nearby. That worried me almost as much as the scene before me. If they were gone, it was likely they were bringing someone back. Instincts stirred, and I moved to the kitchens.

Hard topics were better discussed with refreshments, and it would give me a few more minutes to stay out of the way of the three women. When the tea finished brewing, and I had plated several types of snacks, I made my way back and took a seat on the opposite side of the table. Only once the small clink of the platter hitting the table had sounded out did any of them glance my way.

I met Penny's hazel eyes, and they watched me with an intensity I once would have found strange. It now felt far too normal, on the usual smiling face. A shiver ran through me, but I did my best to keep my hands steady as I poured three cups of tea. That done, I shifted the platter closer to them.

"How can I help?"

The question got me a look of confusion from Rita, and as she turned toward me, I spotted a piece of paper clenched in her hand. From the way her grip on it tightened, I knew it was the source of Sasha's woes. A part of me wanted to demand the information, but that wouldn't go well. Instead, I waited for Rita to speak.

She gave a short sigh, and picked up the tea, sniffing at it before taking a small sip. A smile crossed her face, and her tail flicked in clear appreciation. When she spoke, it was in a low tone, as though that would stop Sasha from overhearing.

"We received a missive from The Howlers, but in truth, it's from the Lace Courier Company. It appears they're not taking my refusal to come with them lightly." She paused and handed over the note. "As you can see for yourself."

Before I even read the first word, I found myself interested in the paper itself. It was high quality, and decorated with filigree around the sides. It was such a pointless waste of time that I couldn't help but stare at it. Someone had taken the time to glue it on, and it had survived being crushed by Rita's hand.

Thoughts pressed against each other, uniting into a singular thread. "Why bother? To show they can? To show they have time? An intimidation tactic?"

"Are you going to read it?" Rita asked, and I paused, realising I had been staring at the decorations for longer than intended.

The words themselves were far simpler than the paper they were printed on.

{We have Hester. If you want him back, you know what trade you need to make. Don't do anything stupid. You've already shown you're willing to kill mine, and I will return the favor. The life of a peasant means little to me. Come alone, or bring your entire crew. I don't care. But you will turn yourself in. The meeting point is on the back of the paper. Come three hours from sundown. - Jackal.}

With careful motions, I turned the paper over and read over the instructions on where to meet. It didn't mean a thing to me, and so I looked at Rita. She took the paper back, and gestured to a window as though that was meant to mean something.

"They want to meet in the same clearing we fought them in the first time."

It wasn't difficult to envision said clearing, and I had to admit, I didn't relish going back there. My gaze drifted to Sasha, still sobbing as Penny held her. Questions bloomed in my mind, mostly about when this kidnapping had happened. When she came back home, there were no signs of her being distressed.

"If they wanted Rita, why not take them both?" The thoughts refused to coalesce into anything useful, so I changed track. "How do I want to handle the situation?"

The truth there was simple, I didn't. Rita would probably have a plan of attack, and Penny might as well. But two of the four of our little mercenary company weren't soldiers. I needed more information.

"When exactly did this get delivered?"

Rita didn't appear to mind my curt tone. "About two hours ago. Sheryl received it. She and Reeds went to discuss it with Captain Roderick."

"And he hasn't come back yet?" I couldn't help but question it. He didn't seem the type to waste time from the few conversations I had with him.

"No." She shook her head. "Though they haven't been gone long."

"Alright. Next question. How are we going to break the fact we're not going to get him?"

The room turned cold. Sasha stopped sobbing, and I genuinely thought Penny was about to let her go to take a swing at me. Rita watched me, her green eyes filled with genuine disappointment. I didn't see why. We couldn't hand Rita over, and I didn't see a way to fight off the Lace Courier Company.

Not unless we walked in with all of Lord Henry's forces, but I doubt they would take kindly to such an action. It was easy to envision his knights making enough commotion that they killed Hester and left, anyway.

"Not happening." Rita's tone was the equivalent of a stamped foot. "We're rescuing him."

"I don't suppose pointing out that it risks you will help?" My question was mostly for show. We both knew the answer.

"No."

My nod caused Penny to relax, even as I continued to address Rita. "Alright. Do you have a plan?"

"We fight them."

"We fight them?" I repeated the words as Poker Face kept my annoyance off my face. "You don't think that has risks? The reason we won last time was an ambush, and sheer luck."

"Then we do it again."

She paused, appearing intrigued when I held up a hand. "May I have the paper?"

"Ahh." I grinned as I read it again. The phrasing was sloppy, uncaring, but that gave us wiggle room to work with. "Would you be opposed to another suggestion?"

"What?" Rita's tail flicked, annoyed, and I could see Penny's follow suit.

"A hiring spree."

Sasha sniffled as she glanced away from Penny towards me. "W-what?"

"They said we can bring our entire crew. So we will. Three hours from Sundown gives us time to hire some people, and also patch up our defenses." My mind spun. "Lord Henry has soldiers. How cheap do you think we could borrow them for? Copper on the gold, most likely. We get half a dozen, and we walk in armed and dangerous."

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"And if they take it as a sign of an attack?" Rita watched me, her words careful, making it obvious she had thought of the same outcome I had.

"We send Penny ahead to warn them about our additional employees. Claim that it's to stop them ambushing us on the road there. If they've resorted to kidnapping like this, it's clear that they're getting desperate."

Penny's smile widened, but Sasha rubbed her eyes and sat up for the first time since I entered the room. "And what if they threaten to harm him?"

"For all we know, they'll do that when we show up, anyway." I ignored the scandalized looks I received and took a sip of tea. "If we do it this way, then they'll at least be harder pressed to get away after that sort of action."

"Is that your entire plan?"

I shook my head at Rita's question and finished my cup. "No. I want more of those headbands The Howlers have. Two for each of us at minimum."

"Do we have that many?" Penny was frowning, and I shrugged.

"The last count we had ten, I believe. But we'll need them charged up. That will be our second job of the day."

Sasha didn't sound convinced, but she wasn't sobbing anymore. "You know an enchanter?"

"I know of one. Perkins. He works for The Howlers and is the one enchanting the headbands for them. We get him to recharge them." My words were relaxed, which made her reaction a stranger thing to me.

"You want to attack an enchanter?" Sasha watched me, wide eyed, before she turned her attention to Penny. "Tell him that's a mistake. A big one."

"She's right. We fought an enchanter before. Once. A pain in his ass near the western border. He was warded beyond anything you would believe, and kept shooting off fireballs."

When Penny caught sight of my raised eyebrow, she continued. "We didn't kill him. He teleported off before we could. A shame. He had quite the bounty."

"At no point did I say we should attack him. We have a chest full of gold to spend. More than we need to pay off the debts. I was thinking we should bribe him." They watched me as I toyed with my cup, and Sasha laughed.

"Right. That makes sense." Penny paused. "But…"

"But?"

"What if he disagrees and we need to force him?" She grinned and gestured to me.

"You want to know if I have a back-up plan?" When she nodded, I paused and thought about what she had already said. "You mentioned a direct attack wouldn't work, but what about an indirect one?"

She fiddled with the pillow beneath her, and then nodded. "It might work. Depends on what enchanted wards he has. What were you thinking?"

"Poison. He's trying to woo that Delilah woman from what we heard. If we slip him a few bottles of fancy wine, the same vintage. Tell him to try one before he gives it to her...."

Sasha didn't look pleased at Penny's pleading look. "And if he detects its poison somehow? Or something else happens?"

"We don't have to take the bottle in with us. I've done this type of meeting before. Trust me."

"What other choice do I have?"

There was a bitterness in her words, but I ignored them, as my attention fell on Rita. She was watching with interest, and when she noticed me eyeing her, she nodded. With a swift movement, she drained her own cup and then set it silently on the table. That done, she stood.

"It seems we have a plan. Penny, are you ok to warn our friends?"

"I am."

"Good. Then I'll go with Chad and—"

The sound of the door opening cut her off, and I heard the sounds of voices. Anna, Farmer Ted, Captain Roderick, Sheryl, and Reeds all blended together. When they made their way to the kitchen, they split. Ted moved to Sasha, and I saw Penny flinch, but he sat beside her. There were tears in his eyes, and everyone waited to see what he would say.

"You'll help find my son?" He sounded lost, nothing like the proud and angry man who had taken a swing at me the day I met him.

"We're." Sasha paused, and wiped her eyes with a rag Sheryl handed her. "We're working on it. Have a plan. I'm sorry. He was just going to walk back into the village. Said he wanted to watch the stars and—"

"Not your fault, girl. Rita, I'm coming with you."

His words had a finality to them, but she still shook her head. "You can't. They want only members of my company. You'll stay here."

"Jenkins and I won't." That came from Reeds. "He's coming up from Leyloon to deal with this. We can be your driver. You're talking the coach in."

"To the forest? The horses won't like it." I gave him a concerned frown.

He coughed and waved off Anna, who came over to help him. "They'll survive. Sheryl told me about the destination. There's a back path. We can get you in. Don't you worry, son."

I nodded, not wanting to argue. If we had the coach, that changed how many people we might bring. As Anna moved to console Rita, I stood, and Penny followed. Both of us had work to do.

We made our goodbyes and then split off. Me, to find Lord Henry and hire some of his knights. Penny, to inform our enemies of the new situation. I knew, logically, that I should be afraid for her, but I had too much faith for that.

To my relief, Lord Henry wasn't a difficult man to find. He stood, surrounded by servants, as he chatted with some of the locals. After a quick debrief on the side, I watched his previously amused expression change.

"How many do you need?"

"Two." I paused. "Your best two. How much?"

"Will that be enough?" He grimaced as he said the words.

"My lord, we don't want to spook them. But we need to show that an attack on us is not in their best interest. Two will be more than sufficient for what we need."

He didn't argue, and within moments, two of his knights were on their way to Sheryl's house. They were both high level and well armed. I hoped in truth they wouldn't be needed, but I knew it was better to be safe than sorry. Both in this and in business. With that part of my job completed, I made my way around town. Two purchased bottles of wine led to returning to Sasha.

She was surrounded, neither Anna, Sheryl nor Ted seeming willing to leave her on our own. Reeds nodded to me as I entered and then glanced at the wine. He gave a small smile and nodded towards the kitchen.

"I'm not sure that will help with the group, but I want a glass."

"You don't." I chuckled, unable to help it, as I gestured with a bottle towards Sasha. "Not with what we plan on doing to it."

"Poison?"

"Indeed."

He frowned, and coughed, though one that wasn't as raspy as his normal. "Who?"

"A man named Perkins. You wouldn't happen to know where he lives, would you?" I knew I sounded hopeful, as my alternate plan was to find a Howler to ask for directions. Something I didn't want to do without Penny or Rita at my side, and Anna didn't appear willing to let Rita go yet.

"We'll talk in the kitchen."

His tone sounded ominous, but I followed him regardless. When we settled down, he looked at me, his hands resting on the counter that sat between us. He gestured to a half filled pitcher of water, and I poured us two glasses.

"Why do you want to find Leon?"

"Protection." He raised an eyebrow, and I continued. "We have a collection of the headbands The Howlers wear. I want them recharged, and he has the tools to do it."

"And you plan to poison him?" His hand gestured to the wine.

I shook my head. "No. My plan is to pay him off. The poison is if he doesn't cooperate. It's… admittedly, not my best plan."

"No. But I can see why you might think about it. My advice is to give him the wine without the poison. Sasha doesn't need that right now. I've met with him before. He's a pompous ass. Egotistical and doesn't like being told no. You can bribe him easily."

"Are you sure?" I didn't ask because I didn't believe him, but because if I was going to meet him with Rita at my back, I needed to know everything I could.

"I'm confident. He—" Coughs haltered his sentence, and I came around the counter when he wavered, but he pushed me away. "Sorry. He's not a great enchanter. I've heard people talking about it. You don't have to worry much about what he can do."

"So you're saying it should be safe? Does he work for the town?"

"Ha. No. He's only doing work for The Howlers. He says he's open for business, but his prices are insane." Reeds let out a snort as he answered.

"Thank you, that helps."

He grabbed my sleeve as I rose and kept me close. "Be careful, alright. Don't press this too far. We'll meet you with the coach ready when you need to leave."

"Of course."

It took a few minutes to get the directions, and then to wrangle Rita away from Anna, but eventually we were out of the house. After grabbing some gold and the spare headbands, we made our way to our destination. People packed the streets with the festival, but we didn't let that deter us from our march. Rita followed behind me and paused when I moved to knock on the door.

It didn't take long for a set of footsteps to be heard, and then the same short bald man I had seen in the alleyway opened the door. I gave him my best smile as I held out a hand.

"Mr. Perkins. Charmed. My name is Chad Burling. I heard you're the town's enchanter? May I come in?"

I expected several responses, but not the magical shield or the sight of the Howlers running down the street towards us. With a sigh, I turned, and with Rita at my side, we prepared to deal with what came next.