NOVEL NEXT LVI. Faith in Thorns
Captive: HAHAHAH...!
His maniacal laughter filled the otherwise silent basement room. Lit solely by the light of an overhanging chandelier a dark, makeshift prison had been arranged to house the henchman that survived the bloodbath at the orphanage. With a wide grin revealing his blood-stained teeth, he seemed to find his imprisonment more amusing than tortuous.
Captive: That's all you got, Jargen?! You sure grew soft after you quit working for Cabdan...
His provocations bounced off of Jargen's stone-cold expression, as his bloody knuckles readied yet another strike.
Captive: What'd the younger you think if he saw you beating up a bound, helpless man? You're pa-
A direct hit to the right side of his ribcage had cut his taunt short, causing him to cough up even more blood.
Captive: AGH... BASTARD!
He spits some of it in Jargen's face, yet he remained as undaunted as ever. With his ex-comrade's warm blood running down his face, Jargen pulls his fist back once more.
Jargen: ... The only reason I haven't knocked out your teeth is because I still need you to talk, Syl.
Unleashing an unforgiving right jab directed at his opponent's nose, a loud crunch sends a sharp sting through the man's system, dazing him. Wincing, Jargen retreats his hand as he vigorously shakes it, attempting to alleviate the pain from the recoil.
Syl (Captive): Ha... Ha ha... Weak, Jargen... T-too weak...
With his arms crossed and leaning against the room's wooden door, a discouraged Punjo shook his head in reaction to the fruitless endeavour that unfolded before him.
Punjo: I'm startin' ta think he won't be talkin', Jargen...
Jargen's head rotates backward just enough for his right eye to establish contact with Punjo's gaze, piercing it with his undeterred determination.
Jargen: He'll talk. He's just full of it...
With blood trickling down his nose, the man let out a short laugh in response.
Syl: Pudding the piggy over there's got it... I'm no fucking whistleblower, you won't get shit from me.
Jargen's head snaps back toward the man, his demeanour growing ever-so-slightly more impatient.
Jargen: Cabdan's dead. Are you really willing to take a dead man's secrets to the grave?
Syl grins, letting his head hang loose toward his chest, as the rough ropes that bound his wrists and held him up dig into his skin some more.
Syl: Dead or not, you fuckers aren't getting anything he owns... As soon as word gets around that he's dead, those of us that still remain will loot whatever's left for ourselves -- better than letting you sewer rats take it all.
Jargen: And you're alright with that? You'd sacrifice yourself so that your comrades get to keep his riches while you're six feet under...?
Syl raises his head, looking Jargen dead in the eye.
Syl: Like I said... Better than leaving it for you mongrels.
His words get a cocky grin out of Jargen.
Jargen: Think they'd do the same if they were in your shoes...?
Syl: The hell does that matter?
Jargen: Just curious to know if they'd go to the same lengths as you. They all as tough to crack as you...?
Syl: Fuck no, you know the damn answer to that! Most of those idiots are spineless cowards, they'd have shit their pants by now and spilled all they know.
Jargen: Guess that makes it even more noble of you for looking after their best interests, then... It's not every man that's willing to get beat up over spineless cowards.
He clenched his teeth in anger -- it seemed like Jargen was getting on his nerves.
Syl: Fuck you, Jargen... You're worse than the lot of them. 'Least they didn't bite the hand that fed them... Cabdan gave you coin, women, even made you one of his prized fighters. What did you do in turn...? You fucking killed him!
Jargen: Wasn't me who killed Cabdan, you saw it clear as day. Tyssa delivered the killing blow -- and it was well deserved, if you ask me. Though if she hadn't done it, there would be plenty of other candidates... The entire slums wanted his head.
Syl: The entire slums can eat shit and rot! You ruined everything. We had it made, Cabdan was going to make rich men out of all of us... Now it's all fucked. Hope it was worth being able to roll around in the mud without a leash before you all die of starvation and sickness...
Jargen steps close to the man, getting mere centimetres away from his face.
Jargen: LIKE YOU WOULDN'T DO THE SAME FUCKING THING IF YOU WERE IN THEIR SHOES...!
His powerful shouting catches the man off-guard, making him tremble slightly -- even Punjo got momentarily startled.
Jargen: If you were in the gutter like the rest of them, if working for Cabdan was no option... Would you sit there and take it like you wish they did?!
Syl: FUCK YOU, OF COURSE NOT!
Jargen: THEN FUCKING HELP THEM, YOU STUPID MOTHERFUCKER!
Syl: FUCK YOU JARGEN, I'M NOT HELPING A DOUBLE-CROSSING BACK-STABBER LIKE YOU!
Jargen smacks the man in the face, yet he quickly retaliates by spitting right in his eye. Jargen takes a couple of steps back, stunned.
Syl: Just kill me already. YOU HEAR ME?! I'm fucking done with you...
Punjo steps away from the door, touching Jargen's shoulder as he passes him by, to signal that he let him handle things from there.
Syl: Oh fuck you fatty, I don't give two shits about what you might have to say! I'd pack up and run if I were you, the moment they start getting hungry around here your ass will be first on the grill...!
Punjo lets out a hearty laugh, stopping a couple of feet in front of the prisoner.
Punjo: Look, we've all dun' things we ain't proud of. I'm not 'ere to talk about what was or should've been... All I know's that you're not dead yet, and Cabdan's fortune is still ripe for the takin'. If dislikin' Jargen is your excuse to keep your mouth shut about it, I'd say it's a pretty damn bad excuse... Especially if we'd be willin' ta give ya a slice of what we find.
Syl's eyes open wide, stupefied.
Syl: ... You're full of it.
Punjo smiles, in response to his surprised reaction.
Punjo: Cabdan's dead, what's done's done. We all gotta survive, no one's judgin' ya for what ya had to do ta get by. Help us get what he left behind, and a cut of it's yours. We're dead serious about it.
The prisoner tries to look past Punjo, attempting to gauge Jargen's reaction to the proposal.
Syl: You hear this, Jargen?! You'd be sharing with ME. How does that make ya fucking feel?!
Jargen had taken a step back, sitting down on a chair close to the door to rest. He did not seem fazed by any of it.
Jargen: ... You're a real pain in the ass Syl, but other than that it's as Punjo says. What's done is done, Cabdan's dead and that's all that matters. If you help us get his fortune, it's fine by me if you get a cut of it...
The man's mouth was held agape as his eyes dart back and forth between Jargen and Punjo -- that was not the response he expected.
Punjo: Wanted ta get rich? Ya still can, just tell us where the coin is. The slums take 95%, you take 5%.
Almost insulted by the idea, he shakes his head and quickly regains his composure, retorting.
Captive: F-five? No, no that's way too short... 50-50.
Jargen's furious eyes lock onto his in response to his ludicrous counteroffer.
Jargen: Don't push it!
Syl's reacts angrily as he twists his body, although only his torso managed to move slightly, since his arms and legs were both tied up.
Syl: Shut the hell up, if it's not for me you have no hope of getting anything at all...!
Punjo shakes his head, disagreeing with the proposed amount.
Punjo: Aye, but that is just too much... 92-8.
The man smiles nervously, shaking his head.
Syl: You're fucking insulting me over here... You won't get jack if I don't talk!
Jargen: And you won't get to live to see another day if you don't help us out...!
Punjo: Come on, then... Giv' us a fair deal over 'ere.
The man ponders for a short while, before delivering his final proposal...
Syl: 80-20. Last offer.
Punjo thinks for a while, then turns back to Jargen. Reluctantly, Jargen nods back.
Punjo: ... Got yerself a deal.
Punjo smiled, as did Syl.
Syl: Now, untie me.
His request is met with a startled gaze from Punjo.
Punjo: ... Oy?
Captive: Fuckin' untie me. So I can take you there.
Jargen immediately stands up from the chair, in protest.
Jargen: That's NOT happening. You tell us where it is right now and we'll go get it!
Syl: HA, as if I'd fuckin' trust you!
Jargen: Trust...?! How do we know you won't side with your buddies the moment you lay eyes on them and turn on us?!
Syl: OHH! Funny you'd be the one concerned about any traitorous dealings taking place, eh...?! How do I know you won't kill me once we get to his vault?! I don't fucking know, you don't fucking know, it is what it fuckin' is. This is a gamble for all of us... If you're not willing to accept that, then fucking put me out of my misery already.
Punjo turns to Jargen, perplexed.
Punjo: Jargen, I dunno about this...
Jargen: This is a terrible, terrible idea.
Punjo turns to Syl, attempting to gauge the difficulty of the task they were about to undertake.
Punjo: Say we do take ya with us... How many men should we bring?
Syl looks down at the ground pensively, before coming up with a reply.
Syl: You two coming, too?
Jargen: Of course we're goddamn coming.
Syl: Alright alright, don't need to raise your damn voice... Then five of us should do.
Jargen squints, not fully trusting his estimate.
Jargen: Five...? There's no way Cabdan's riches are left so unguarded that five men could rob them.
Syl: Well, maybe they are. Guess you're just gonna have to trust me...!
Jargen: ... We'll bring three times as many people, to be sure.
Syl scoffed at the idea.
Syl: Then you might as well carry around a sign that says "HOUSE-RAIDING PARTY". We're doing this quiet you thick-skulled idiot, we don't want the entire city to know we're coming.
Jargen shakes his head, still not convinced they should take the offer. Upon seeing his reaction, Punjo makes a quick judgment call.
Punjo: Well. Guess we'll come back later then, right?
Jargen: Yeah... Best if we do.
Jargen and Punjo turn around, heading for the room's exit.
Syl: Huh...? Later?! HEY, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU TWO GOING?!
Jargen opens the rooms door, briefly turning his head around to answer.
Jargen: We're going to be doing a little something called "thinking", believe it or not. Ever heard of that?
Syl: I sure have, I'm just surprised you have too...!
Jargen snarls in between his teeth.
Jargen (hushed): Punjo, it's still not too late to kill him...
Syl: Come on Jargen, I heard that! I'm just kiddin' with ya, just a bit of banter between old comrades turned future business partners...!
Jargen: Pipe down, Syl. Don't make me come back here to finish the job.
Punjo is the first to leave the room, with Jargen following after.
Syl: We both know you're going to be coming down here to free me from these ropes, Jargen... Just be quick about it, my wrists and ankles are really starting to itch!
Jargen slams the door behind him.
Jargen: I fucking hate that guy...