Chapter 34: Violent doesn't mean stupid

Chapter 34: Violent doesn't mean stupid

Dantes made his way into Collared chambers, exchanging nods and hellos with those he recognized as he made his way toward the usual location of the dice game near Tels room. The game wasnt happening, but Wane, who he was looking for anyway, was leaning against the wall thumbing through an old grimoire.

No game today?

Wane carefully took a small bookmark from behind his ear and slid it into the page he was reading before turning his head toward Dantes.

Fraid not. Tel went with you to the Undermarket, and I think Pillion went there as well to see if he could get some booze. Apparently he cant stand the taste of the stuff you turned us onto. Says its too sweet.

That figures, said Dantes, keeping himself from smiling. That put him in prime position for the beating hed just sent his way. Assuming the Shadow Cats moved quickly.

Tel not come back with you?

He got distracted by Syn.

Which kind of sin? Gambling, drinking, whoring?

Whoring, the one named Syn.

Oh gods. Ill have to hear about him bragging about his exploits again then. As if its the hardest thing in the world to have a prostitute say your name.

Im glad Ive avoided that particular conversation.

You should be. Ill talk about just about anything to avoid the boredom down here, but even I have limits. He tucked his book under his arm. Do you want to see if we can round up some boys for a few rolls? I was trying to go through this rust-proofing enchantment, but its not like Ill actually be able to use it.

No, no dice for me today. I was hoping to get some info from you though.

Got any dust?

A little, Dantes patted a pouch in his jacket. Info first though.

Clear the Maw! came the shout from the guards above. A few of the people gathered below scattered, but most of them stood their ground. The guards began throwing sacks down into the pit, a few of them rolling down barrels. At one point a sack was thrown into the middle, and a man went for it, only for another sack to slam into his head, snapping his neck. That raised a cheer from the guards above, and wincing from a few below.

The Orcs were moving while this happened. It was subtle, but the group of them began slowly shifting to one side. Dantes noticed that behind the front line of them, several of the orcs had drawn weapons. Rusty axes, knives, and swords along with heavy clubs.

Dantes moved quickly, pushing through the crowd and making his way over to where the Collared were standing. He didnt see Merle, so he approached the most muscular of them, the Elf that had so recently told him that the Fey method of execution was a sword through the heart. The Collared jumped at his approach at first, before they realized it was him.

Orebus! Dantes yelled over the commotion, barely remembering the mans name as he reached them.

The muscular elf turned his way Dantes! Clear out, any supplies through here are ours! It was a kind warning, if anyone who hadnt known them had approached theydve been beaten and robbed immediately. Even the Collared didnt play around on re-supply days.

The Orcs! Theyre armed, I think theyre planning something!

Orebus turned to look past the commotion at the center of the pit and see the Orcs. He squinted for a moment, and his ears twitched a bit. His eyes widened, and he turned to the men he had gathered.

Bolt in, grab the nearest supplies, and retreat! he yelled.

The men around him looked confused, but he himself didnt hesitate, running into the pit, and grabbing a sack of potatoes, shoving a scrawny desperate man to the side as he did so.

They followed suit shortly after, and roars of protest went out from the smaller gangs and the dwarves. What Orebus had done was a major breach of the delicate etiquette of the pit and its balance. The dwarves' protests quickly turned to screams however, as the Orcs began their assault.

They swarmed across the gap between themselves and Clan Stonedust, a green and gray tide roaring with fury as they smashed into them. Those orcs that had readied their weapons charged first, while those that had hidden them from the front swarmed into the opening to the maw and began tearing into the supplies and those that had been looting them.

The element of surprise meant that the majority of the dwarves were slaughtered before they could mount a serious defense, though several of them made a break for it.

Dantes didnt stick around to watch in person, instead watching what happened through the eyes of a rat as he made his own retreat. The Orcs now controlled most of a supply drop, all of the prisoners that would drop in, and had cleared out a significant chunk of their primary rivals all in one fell swoop. Dantes was impressed. It was a brazen move, but it allowed them to further secure their power now with the vacuum hed created by scattering the Kings.

Dantes cut off his connection before the guards began feather falling and dropping in the new prisoners. They clearly didnt care what circumstances they threw these people into, and Dantes had no desire to see what the Orcs were planning to do to them.

As he made his way into the less traveled tunnels he frequented, he clenched his jaw. It was already going to be difficult to honor his favor for Syn, but it had just got even harder. That was assuming Wane even managed to secure him a meeting with them after what had just happened.