Shaddar attempts to get some sleep after another long and fruitful day, stroking the brainmate. The familiar, but dim mental hum the brainmate provides is a comfort to him. He has much on his mind and as he drifts off, he wonders once again how he will find a mentor of magic…
He is surprised to find himself in a psychic construct once he falls completely asleep.
“What is this?” he wonders aloud.
“YOU REQUESTED A MENTOR IN MAGIC? THIS I CAN PROVIDE,” the voice that Shaddar recognizes as the brainmate says.
Ah. Physical contact while sleeping has given the brainmate the capability of drawing his consciousness into this fabricated dream-space. That much at least makes sense.
“But why were you given such a knowledge base?” he asks.
“I DO NOT KNOW. I ASSUME THAT THE KNOWLEDGE WAS TO BE OF SOME RELEVENCE IN THE EXPERIMENT HERE.”
Shaddar sets this mystery aside to focus on why the brainmate has brought him here. For what seems like weeks, the brainmate gives Shaddar lectures and instructions in the arcane arts. He learns that when he awakens, he will retain these new skills and knowledge – giving him a new edge and source of power.
“THAT IS AS MUCH AS I CAN TEACH YOU NOW,” the brainmate concludes, “YOU MUST PRACTICE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED BEFORE I CAN TEACH YOU FURTHER.”
And Shaddar wakes up.
He spends the pre-dawn hours writing down notes from his intense study during the night and is confident that he will be able to practice and apply his new understanding of magic to great effect.
When he detects that Hawke has awoken, he goes downstairs to speak with him and give him final instructions. Shaddar is surprised to see that Hawke has not improved his grooming, despite his repaired eyesight. His hair is still unkempt and his outfit is a mismatch of colors. Hawke sees him taking in his slovenly appearance and chuckles.
“Being known as a blind man may prove quite an advantage, Boss. I don’t see any reason to waste such wide-spread and certain knowledge.”
Shaddar approves. “Well thought out, Hawke. And thus you prove that my selection of you as my second-in-command to be the correct choice.”
Hawke takes the compliment with good grace and asks, “What are your orders while you are away?”
“The resources of the guild, such as they are, will be at your disposal. We will be taking a large portion of your food and drink supplies with us on our expedition, so you will have need of replenishment if nothing else. I shall leave Cutt and Loolipo here with you. Both of them have their own orders, but if you need them for anything, I will give them orders to heed and assist you,” he pauses for a moment, “You may be surprised by their appearance as you were by my own.”
Hawke nods. “I’m less concerned about how folks look these days, Boss. Being able to see ‘em at all is enough for me to work with who or whatever I have to.” His thoughts continue, “It turns my stomach to think about working with lumpys and palehairs, but I’ll do anything to get my revenge of those that betrayed me without cause!”
“A wise course,” Shaddar murmurs, “To continue: I expect Helmnald to be making deliveries on a fairly regular basis. Store the weapons and armor as we will need it for the army that I am building. Helmnald may have needs as well while I am away, and his work is quite useful to us, so try to accommodate him if you can. When not busy doing those minor tasks, I leave it to you to re-establish contacts and get in touch with… old friends, perhaps?”
Hawke chuckles, “I know what you mean. Just what I was hoping to do, Boss.”
Shaddar leaves the human and goes upstairs to wake his thralls and give them their orders. He summons the three of them to his room.
“Cutt, you will continue to finish the alchemy lab and then start making explosives,” he commands.
“Oh, boy!” the gnome laughs evilly.
“Loolipo, you will steal anything that Cutt and Hawke needs. You will be primarily in charge of security and handling any trouble that walks in the door. I also want you to watch Hawke most carefully – if he seems to be haring off in his own direction, bind him and keep him a prisoner until I return.”
Loolipo looks alarmed, “Fine, but what about the larder? If Hawke can see, won’t he find the men and the bodies we have up there? He knows that room is where we’re keeping Vicacilli, after all.”
“Yes. It will be getting rank in there soon, too,” Shaddar adds, “Move the living prisoners into the spare room here on the second floor, except for Vicacilli. Sneak the bodies out with Toothsnatcher and drop them down a well or something this morning, before more humans begin to walk the alleyways. Cutt will clean the old larder and remove any unsightly stains.” The gnome groans.
Toothsnatcher grunts, “We leavin’ ‘em here, then, master? In the other room?”
“No. They will be coming with us on our trip. I shall not suffer any privations of hunger on our journey, no matter how long it is!” Shaddar’s tentacles move in a gesture of pleasure at his own sense of humor. Alas! His thralls do not share his opinion of the joke.
Shaddar senses the slow approach of Helmnald while he speaks and dismisses the thralls to be about their grisly work. He goes downstairs to greet his captain of grand larceny.
Helmnald has a wagon with a team of two horses. He pulls into the small courtyard and nods a cheery greeting to Shaddar.
“First load, Boss!” he calls out.
“Good,” Shaddar replies. “I will require the entire load today – wagon, horses and all.”
Helmnald looks surprised at first, but then he shrugs. “I’ll just steal another one tomorrow, then, shall I? Ha! Right! Well, I’ll leave you to the unloading then! That works out for me fine!” And the man hops to the ground and exits the vicinity while whistling a chipper tune.
Shaddar goes to the third floor himself to rouse the hobgoblins. He orders Kug to unload the gear from the wagon and to equip himself and all his troops with whatever he finds there. The remainder is to be stored in the stable.
After the hobgoblins leave, Shaddar visits the snoring forms of Jorin and Bort. He kicks open the door once again and both men jerk awake – just like yesterday.
“Constables, again!” Jorin yelps.
“No,” Shaddar says drolly, “not yet. However, should you need to talk with them again, kindly refrain from spilling your guts about all of our guild’s secrets, will you? That would be most unfortunate.”
Jorin looks mildly insulted, but says nothing. Bort seems relieved that his friend has learned to keep his mouth shut around the Boss.
Shaddar continues by informing them, “I will be away for some time on business. Guild business. While I am away, please perform your usual activities. Discover what rumors are swirling and what the Guild of Villains and constables are up to. Don’t cause any trouble.”
“Am I in charge, then, Boss? While you are away?” Jorin asks with a cocksure look on his face.
“No. Hawke is.”
“Hawke?” Bort says with his eyebrows shooting upward. His thoughts are filled with speculation.
“But he’s not a member of the guild! He’s our landlord!” Jorin sputters.
“Jorin, Jorin, Jorin,” Shaddar says condescendingly, “How little you know! Hawke is my right-hand man.”
With this, Shaddar spins on his heel and leaves the room, not caring what the two humans think or do while he is away. They may still be of some use to him, but their talents are not vital at the moment.
It takes many hours, but at last the hobgoblins are ready to depart. They have loaded the wagon with supplies and all of their weapons and armor. Shovels and spades on their shoulders, they look like normal lumpy laborers.
Toothsnatcher climbs into the back of the covered wagon to keep out of sight and Shaddar faces Kug and his hobgoblin warriors. They stand at attention as Kug as drilled them to, looking rather sloppy, but they are trying. This expedition will cull the weak and ineffectual warriors from his hobgoblin force.
A warning and pep-talk is in order, Shaddar decides.
“This is to be your first test! Fail and it may be your last. So, do not fail.”
Chapter 1 < Chapter 37 Chapter 39 >
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