Chapter Thirteen

“We need to talk.” Oridi blocked the small doorway from the kitchen into the larger, more central room. Albert stood dumbfounded with a cup of some fruity smelling drink.

On her tenth night in the city of Dominia, leagues from her non home, practically alone, with a deep suspicion of her crews chance of success, Oridi finally snapped. Her mind could no longer contain the sitting and waiting that Albert had asked, and the looming threat that was the unplanned and unknown of their task made the feelings worse. Where as she would normally stir, steal, or drink, all things she had already been doing, she was forced to bear the knowledge that something terrible might happen to her should everything fail. 

She had pondered whether the feelings of concern for her companions was also a cause in her decision, and to her surprise it seemed that it was. Oridi had started to like the group, and her trio of drinking companions made for excellent company, she didn’t want anything to happen to them if she could help it. They don’t need to end up like me she thought. So with very little in her way, Oridi hatched a plan of her own. She gathered what information she could, drew upon her best impression of confidence, and confronted Albert. 

“Yes?” 

“You don’t have a plan.” Oridi stated. It wasn’t a question.

“Now I promise-” Albert started

“No, you don’t. Your boss, owner, financier or what have you gave you instructions to collect a team and gave you no plan other than to wait. Its been ten days Albert, no ones come for us. We need a solid plan, and sitting around and drinking isn’t going to lead to the Counts death.”

Albert was silent. He gave no indication of whether the statement was true, instead he remained stone faced and stared her down. 

“What do you have in mind?”

“Gather everyone, i’ll show you.”

Within the hour the entirety of the crew had been summoned and settled. Everyone sat anxiously around the largest table, shifting their drinks position or draining its contents in attempt to settle their nerves. Oridi and Albert sat at opposite ends of the table, positions of solitude and clear importance. She had unfurled a rough sketched map of the few districts that surrounded the Keep, a few that documented the narrow paths and public paths that led in-and-out of the secondary wall. 

“What’s the meaning of all this?” Shosh asked, the usual disinterest was beginning to vanish.

“Its a map, Shosh.” Oridi said. “Surely your education granted you a chance at seeing one before.” 

Shosh looked shocked but Mogti and Tseps laughs drew their attention away.

“I mean,” Shosh said angrily “What is it all for.” He thought for a moment before adding “besides just showing the cities layout and what have you.”

“Well,” Oridi smiled a Shoshs quick amendment to the question “Honestly, its a map of the cities layout.” 

“Thats it?” Khokke asked

“Theres also the “what-have-you”” Tsep said

“I see my path.” Ihugi said, he dropped a meaty finger onto one of the smaller parchments that bore several squigling lines. “That is one I walk.”

“That is correct.” Oridi said “I’ve got your paths, and that of several others.”

“So you’ve watched the guards, is there a point to it?” Shosh asked

“Look, we’ve been here for a few days now and we have no idea what we’re going to do.”

“We to kill Count.” Mogti said 

“Thats the goal, yes. Problem is, a goal isn’t a plan.”

“So you have a plan then?” Tsep asked scepticly 

“Yes…” Oridi paused, sighed, then rolled her shoulders and relented “No. I have a vague idea of how to use everyone, depending on what our plan actually is of course, but without the Counts schedule or agenda we’ve no way of enacting it.”

“So this whole thing is pointless!” Shosh exclaimed “I ought to pack up and head back home now, all this lot has done is drink.”

“Yes, yes. Look, that has been my issue too.” 

“So, What is plan?”

“He is still just a man.” Khokke grumbled “Can die like any other.”

“I may be able to help there.” Albert offered “One thing my master did give me was a general idea of the Counts affairs, with a steady stream of updates regularly.”

“No reason to have mentioned it before?” Oridi asked

“I’m sorry, who hired you?”

“I’ll let it go, but that is some good news then. What does he have planned for the week?”

“As far as i’ve been told, the man holds up mostly in his library. He meets with other noblemen from the regions on occasion, but he’s been pretty solitary since his daughters possession.”

“Bastard,” Tsep spit 

“Seconded.” Shosh said

“Its not all lost, he takes regular trips to the Gates and checks in on key figures within the city at least once a month. We could get him during the carriage trip.”

“Ambush from alley nearest Crown Gate would be best.” Khokke said “Give most room to prepare, less room for coward to run.”

“Its a good idea, so we can plan for it as well. Our priority is his death though, and the chance of him leaving for that specific of a visit isn’t that high.”

“Time not matter.” Mogti offered “We wait.”

“You wait, i’ve a life to lead outside of the occasional assassination attempt.”

“Be that as it may,” Albert said “we still have some ideas we can work with.”

“We need to narrow it down though,” Oridi protested “We need to set a trap, let him walk into it, then spring it. Make him work to our whims by working with his. The visits and trips are too irregular.”

“We’ve been instructed to wait for a specific order.”

“I understand, but we can still set the plan out. Surely that wouldn’t be an issue, because if the intention is only to kill him after a certain set of things have happened why gather us all so early?”

“The answer isn’t simple, but the short of it is a situation is unfolding with the Count. With luck, a certain amount of luck, will grant us the chance to right a fair amount of wrongs.”

“I want answers Albert!” Oridis temper flared and she screamed. For a moment, the forms of her feet and hands melted. She was so angry that her concentration was beginning to wain. She composed herself and reasserted the form before the others could notice. “I want answers for why He did what he did.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Oridi swore she could see Tsep staring at her hands, but when she turned to the woman she found only interest in the maps. Shosh and Khokke were sharing a confused stare, and Albert was sighing. The boy had been given an impossible task it seemed, and Oridi was forcing it along at a pace he hadn’t expected. She was beginning to think that the boy had never intended to lead them at all. 

“Your master, whoever they are, their the one that was supposed to make the plan. Weren’t they?”

Albert nodded

“We’re not supposed to make a move until that person sets their plan in motion?”

Another nodd

“I suppose planning to carry out the assination so soon would go against that.”

“I can make sure.” Albert said “I’ll ask and see if we can move the plan ahead. If you’re so keen on the prospect of carrying it out quickly, i’ll leave the proper planning to you. Once I know what we’re to wait for I’ll tell you.”

“How kind.” Oridi pinched her brow in frustration. This was a setback she couldn’t work around. If Albert were in charge fully then she could just push him along and force the boys hand, but if he was bound to someone else then that plan was as useful as a farmer on a fishing vessel. “So once more we’ve no plan, but now we’ve the pleasure of waiting doubly.”

“I’ll talk to them, see if we can’t decide on a proper timeframe. Give me a few days, in the meantime just start working out your ideas. You said you had an idea of how to use everyone?”

“Oh, yes actually.” Oridi had nearly forgotten. The whole issue of actually planning the damned thing was draining her minds patience, but thankfully it hadn’t stopped her entirely. “Given everyones roles and appearances, I think we can do pretty well with a few different ways. Impersonating as an Officer, sneaking in through the kitchen staff, boarding a supply cart, poisoning, each uses everyones talents differently.”

Oridi paused, one person didn’t fit in those plans though. Mogti was too big and too foreboding to work as a proper guard, her appearance alone was too recognizable. Not to mention her common-Tsenian was barely conversational. Whatever their plan was, it would have to include everyone and that included Mogti. 

“What, uhm…” She didn’t really know what to ask for this, The woman was a recent dear friend and a great drinking companion. Beside those two, Oridi barely knew anything about her, or the others for that matter. “Mogti, what do you do exactly?”

“I pack, what you call…” the woman seemed to struggle for the word before eventually sighing and attempting to speak. “Cavaran? Many cart with crate and food. Sometime coin too.”

“Caravan worker?” Oridi mulled the thought over, yes that made some sense. She was big, and that work didn’t really need you to speak. Plus it added the delightful benefit of giving them an in at the storage warehouses. “Tsep?”

“Hospital. Mortician.” Tsep said

“So thats a Caravan worker, A mortician, A soldier, A smiths apprentice, A disheveled nobleman, A Servant for our secret Master, and an Illusionist. All in all, we could do far worse.”

“When you set them up together like that, it almost sounds hopeful. So many with such variety should be beneficial, yet I still can’t help feeling the despair of the situation.” Tsep said “Not that i’m asking to leave.”

“Who are you calling disheveled?” Shosh pointed a finger towards Oridi “I’ll have you know that i’m still quite fashionable. You should see the other barbarians around here, no style or substance. All they do is give pretty shows and beg for the Counts grace.”

“Do you think it will be enough?” Ihugi asked. The more silent of the two Valleymen was still intently studying the materials on the table. He gave extra attention to the movement charts of himself and the other guards in the area. “There are a lot of people.”

“It’ll be fine.” Oridi said “We just need a plan that works, and the “go-ahead” from our benevolent overlord as well i suppose.”

“Your humor is far less entertaining than you suspect.” Albert muttered.

“I’m not joking Albert. The Count knows things about me and my family, I want to know what that is. I want anything he has on my family, and anything related to his work under Viltran. Thats my whole reason for coming here in the first place.”

“You were caught at the mans window.” Shosh cried “ Hardly the master assassin or thief that this confident act would suggest.”

The words stung worse than she’d expected. He hit the nerve she’d rubbed raw in her fitful nights, she’d made so many mistakes in the spontaneity of situations. She needed to slow down and work through what to actually do this time. She needed to remember her years of study with Hargis, learning to steal and to fight. Her emotions could run wild if they chose, but she needed to keep them in check enough to keep her head at the very least. 

“Yes, I was. And no I’m not. All I am is someone with experience in something similar to this sort of thing.”

“Thief?”

“Of a sort. Robbed a Lord of half his fortune in one night,” Oridi reveled a moment in the bright afterglow of nostalgia “stealing lives is similar to stealing gold and jewels. The planning anyway.”

“So we wait for Albert to return then?” Tsep asked “He heads out, asks our mysterious benefactor, then returns and we start our work?”

“Assuming all goes well.” Oridi said. She looked to Albert who was nodding, eyes closed in deep thought. 

“Yes,” Albert said “I’ll try and be back by tomorrow. I feel you may be right Oridi, waiting may be more beneficial if we’re actually waiting For something.”

“I’m glad you agree.” She said “In the meantime we’ll continue as normal, but when you return we can start our work.”

Oridi, Mogti, Ihugi, and Khokke sat around their table and passed around the pitcher of ale, filling tankards sloppily as it passed. They were in their usual tavern in Old Town, the one Oridi had fled to, the one that Khokke had found her in. She didn’t bother learning its name, the sign outfront bore its title but she ignored it each time. She knew her way by memory now, names meant so little to her but actions were indispensable.

She’d been drinking heavily again in her attempts to win against Mogti, the quartet now assuming a rotation for team members for their near nightly contests of inebriation. They always failed, she was a mountain of a woman, and her stomach seemed an endless barrel. The contests were fun hearted, they were only there to pass the time, it could have been any activity honestly, but drinking was the one that the majority enjoyed.

“Oridi.” Khokke slurred “ ‘hat is story?”

“Pardon?” She asked. Her head was fuzy from the drink, and the valley accent made Khokkes slurred speak an even more incomprehensible than usual. “Story?”

“What is Oridi story?” Mogti asked “That what Khokke mean.”

“My story?” She swirled her cup and contemplated taking another drink. She was far enough in that her slowly fading voice of reason urged her to stop, so she ignored it and drained the remainder. “It isn’t all that interesting. I grew up near the central Capital, on the lower peaks and in the valleys.”

“This we know. It show. But how you become you?”

Khokke gave an affirmative noise, something indistinguishable, and Ihugi mirrored it. The tables occupants, that is to say Mogti alone as she managed some semblance of sobriety from the ordeal, stared the changeling down. 

“How I became me?” If only you knew how good of a question that actually is. She thought “its really a long story, not to mention overwhelmingly boring. Very simple.”

“Lie.”

“How would you know?” Oridi filled her cup from the pitcher and enjoyed the sweet scent that escaped from the spilt drops. “It doesn’t matter anyway. Its in the past.”

“Hm. What hide?”

“What do you mean? Hide what?”

“Do not know. But Oridi hide story.”

“I’m not hiding it, I just don’t want to really talk about it. Its a long time ago now, it’s best to leave in the past.”

“It give Oridi reason to kill Count, but not good enough to share?” The large woman folded her arms “Lie, again.”

Mogti was desperately painting Oridi into a corner, and her lack of full mental acuitiy was becoming a major hinderance. Soon the worries of sharing her life seemed to become distant thoughts, and suddenly Oridi felt a burst of desire to spill everything. Her lack of Childhood memories, her torturous experiments, her family, Hargis, her families betrayal, all of it. 

Suddenly the weight of solitude and silence were becoming to much to bear, and it would crush her if she didn’t get it out. Mogit was nice, and they were planning to kill the Count of the City together, if anyone were trust worthy, it’d be Mogti. After all, if everything failed then they’d all be dead anyway, did it matter if two people met the grave knowing the same thing?

“I…” Oridi spoke without thinking, her heart drew breathe now not her mind. It wanted this, this clemency, this boon of companionsnip based on understanding “I did a lot, and a lot happened to me. I’ll do my best to explain it, since you really want to know.”

Ten years ago

Oridi felt the cool fresh air run through his long black hair, tied into a messy bun for convenience, and slipped his arms into the fine green overcoat. The fashions of the Ugup Royalty had always been something of a sticking point for Oridi, he’d never enjoyed how tightly the waistcoasts and trousers were. Then again, he’d hated the dresses too, so the addition of pockets gave him a slight advantage and an annoyed satisfaction. 

That was the conceit one gained from the Notshi, they dressed well and spoke well, decorated themselves elaborately, and did all in their powers to appear as perfect and wonderful as could be expected. Their nobility held parties regularly, some even allowed the common rabble to join in. These were rare, but often it led to scandals and intrigue, which would provide them with more entertainment atop their ivory pillars. 

“Ther’ you are.” Hargis called, he waved Oridi over to a small cart hitched to a single horse. “What took ya?”

“Sorry, changing,” Oridi motioned to the rest of himself “and then changing. You know.”

“Right…” Hargis loaded himself into the vehicle and took the reins. Oridi climbed in alongside and the two were off. 

“Does it really bother you that much?” Oridi asked

“No. It just…” Hargis trailed off, mouth searching for the right words “You just feel otherworldly sometimes is all.”

“Come now Hargis, Chap.” He was slipping into character now. Play the part of the aristocracy, be the wealthy and intriguing foreigner. “Surely you’d not forget me regardless of the face of gender!”

“Right, right. Quite handy, that trick of yours.” 

The grand castle of Hali Nenela-yipyishchus, a marvelous structure built of the local marble and decorated with pigments of gold and white. It sat directly at the center of the Notshiian Capital, Jeruyipuan, and granted its highest turrets domain over the entirety of the city. A healthy margin seperated the outer gates of the castle and the nearest home, and the streets between were kept free of long-standing stalls or shops. No one could scale the walls, no one could rob the King, it was as simple as that. 

“Its not a trick Chap, more like natural talent if i’m honest. Though I must concede that the thing does make our work a tad easier.”

Hargis grunted and sighed “I’m glad its you this time. I hate these parties.”

“You’ve never been a people person, always too gruff.”

“All i’m saying is that I don’t like being surrounded by so much…”

“Authority?”

“Wealth.” Hargis spat “Its disgusting.”

“Well then, fortune smiles upon you! Besides, I couldn’t leave a steal like this to you! You’d barely make it past the gates.”

“Oi!” Hargis snapped “Watch it, Chap, be pompous in there out here your still Oridi.”

“And don’t forget it.” Oridi patted Hargis on the shoulder affectionately and leaned back against the wood of his seat. “Oh, this is the one Hargis.”

“You say that everytime.” 

“And I mean it everytime, the mans the king of all Notshiia. Given how close the two are-”

“We’re a wall of mountains apart from the front Oridi, he’s the King sure. But Elysan was never that close, and I doubt Viltran will be either.”

“Fine, but it remains on my list.”

“We should go over the plan once more.”

“Hargis,” Oridi sat up “I’m not a child you know. We’ve done this countless times, I may be an amateur but I think I can manage this atleast.”

“Once more.” 

Oridi stared at the shorter man in frustration, but when he neither spoke nor acknowledged him he sighed and spoke. “You drop me off at the front with the rest of the carriages. I mingle with the guests that look to be wealthy, introduce myself and slip what jewelry I can from them. When the King arrives and steps down the grand stairs I slip away into the kitchen.”

“What about the servants in the kitchen?”

“Blend in and assume the role of one. When I get the chance I take some food with the intention of heading to the guards on the second floor, the ones infront of the good Kings second storage room.”

“The Guards?”

“Enhance my strength, knock them out.”

“I don’t like that. Too much noise, what if theres more than two?”

“Then I’ll figure something out. Surely you don’t think me that incompetent?”

“Its not incompetence gir-,” He paused and collected himself. “Sorry, boy, your changing makes the whole thing confusing. ‘Specially when you’re that Lia character so often.”

“Ah, we all have our favorites. Shes an excellent baseline, wouldn’t you say?”

“Oridi, after the guards.”

“You really are trying to take all the fun out of this,” Oridi waited a moment and then continued “Alright Chap, alright. I handle what ever the guard situation is and then help myself to the contents of the storage room. Should be some enriched jewels, gold, jewelry, the veritable meat of our life.”

“You don’ need to be so poetic, just finish. You’ve got the jewels.” 

“Yes, I grab the jewels and make my way to the rear window in the guest chambers down the hall. I shatter the glass, leap out, scale the wall, and we’re home free. Simple.”

“Climb the unclimbable wall and escape one of the most guarded castles in the world. Sure, amateurs always accomplish those things.”

“It’ll work,” He traced the path in his mind once more, pulling himself back to that dark room six months back. Six months, had it been that long? The world seemed so different now that he was free, now he just had to get his revenge. “I know the layout of the castle, we prepared for this for some time.”

“You and…”

“Yeah.”

The main entrance to the Castle was surrounded by a crowd of people in the many qualities of finery that they could afford. Shining carriages holding the most oppulently dressed made way for the far less appealing carts of the lower class. Oridis cart was one such that drove the attentions of the watchers away. He and Hargis had forced the movements of two far higher aristocrats, ones who seemed far more displeased once they saw the driver of Oridis transportation. 

“Well my good Chap,” Oridi shouted “I’ll see you in a few hours time.” He made a show of the motion to dismiss the man, and Hargis replied with the customary nod befitting a servant of the region. 

Oridi strode into the grand hall and followed the pressetion through the side chambers, until eventually arriving at the glorious Ballroom of the Spiira-Hali, the Kings castle. Whatever the world though of the Notshi died at the entry gates of this spetacular monument to design and style. The most callous of critics, with the depest disdain of the peoples, would find insulting the hall a discrediting affair. It had been designed to wrap the occupants in a world of subtle elegance and deep majesty. Even the grand stairs, specifically placed for the rulers to make their royal entrance, was adorned with intricate designs and paintings. 

Music filled the space in such a way that the noise arose from all around, as if piped into the room from secret alcoves of musicians. Instead the location for the performers was designed to cast the sound out without tampering with the tone. The result was amazing, and gave the room the most wondrous harmony. 

Oridi chatted lightly with the wealthiest of the patrons, gathering what information he could for any future plans that He and Hargis may make. He did his best to avoid using his personas name, but found the prospect unavoidable. So with difficultly he relented that he was, indeed, the Baron Lerose’s only son. The Heir apparent to the wealth of a ruler far to the east.

With a fair bit of work and a few rounds of the room, Oridi had collected a small sum of gems and jewels. It wouldn’t be as much as the storage chamber, but was an added bonus. He was halfway through his sixth round of the room when a face caught his eye, or a set of faces rather. Far across the hall and engaged in a conversation with two Tsenian nobles, was Oridis former family. The other Changelings that He had been forced into once the expirements succedded. The changelings that took him in and helped raise him, the changelings that trained him, the ones he’d run away form once he had learned the truth. 

Instantly a panic rose in him and he tried to slow the steadily increasing beat of his heart, they hadn’t noticed him and likely wouldn’t in this form. Lia was similarly the only one he’d used around them that was still in active rotation, but he was Leroses child and a completely different person. Them finding him was unlikely, and fixating on it wasn’t going to help that. He needed to get back to task at hand and ignore them, avoid them if possible. 

“Is something the matter Jessir?” The lady clinging to his right arm tightened her grip to draw his attention. He’d apparently spaced out at the sight of his family, and the others around him had noticed. 

“Fine, jesyesch, just distracted by your beauty is all.”

She blushed and turned “Jessir!” 

Oridi laughed happily and drew the woman closer. “Jesyesh you are a delight.”

“But who were you staring at, Jessir?” One of the men in Oridis group turned to follow his eyes and laughed. “Ah, that strange group around the good the Count of Domina? Yes that is a strange picture.”

“Honestly Jessir,” the lady said to the man “you shouldn’t be so rude. Its horribly indecent.”

“My Jesyesch, surely you must admit that a Count associating himself with such ruffians is wholly unbecoming.”

“No doubt.” She replied “But I don’t believe it should be in such an open way.”

“Oh come now, you’ve heard the rumors around him. All that murder and assassins scandal, and the Count Delupar hasn’t been seen since!”

“You musn’t believe such rumors Jessir, they’re very unbecoming.” Oridi said. 

“Does the Baron Lerose follow the rumors?”

“Neither myself nor the Baron pay any heed to the needless scandals. More time is dedicated to the arts of combat and our business affairs.”

“How is your families business?” the man asked

“Oh, well, the constant war along the Southern Front leaves very little to be desired. Thankfully we can handle the increase given our recent expansions.”

“Ah, Jessir Lerose, what pleasure!” The Count of Domina, a young man with tanned skin and clear eyes, directed his entourage towards Oridis party. “I heard you would be stopping by, but where is your Father?”

“Busy, unfortunately.” Oridi froze at the mans entrance. His coterie consisted of three men bearing the skin of the Tseni, Ugup, and Kamdu respectively, two women of Tsenian heritage, a young girl who looked to be daughter of the Count. “Count…”

“Philistine,” Philistine offered “but come now we’ve met several times before.”

“It must be the wine Jessir, makes the memory hazy.”

“Ah, that is true. Overindulgence is a terrible way to go, especially someone so young.”

“I’m sorry?” Oridi stared the man down 

“Nothing, nothing. Only a little line that my friend their said, he wanted me to warn you not to drink too much.” The Count motioned to the taller Ugupian. The man Oridi had referred to as Father for the past year.

Oridi stared at the man, trying desperately to read his face. Did he know? How would he have? Was the whole robbery a bust now? 

His struggles were interrupted by the blowing of a capped horn, signalling the arrival of the King. Oridi used the sudden shift in attention to dislodge himself from his female companion and excuse himself to get some fresh air. The party barely acknowledged him, so Oridi was free to slip away into the denser crowd of people, but the face of his Father still peaked fear in his mind. He needed to move quicker now, if his family was aware that it was him, well… well Oridi wasn’t sure what they’d do, but the worst case was death.

He pushed his way through the crowd and into a room attached at the side, then he forced a few feature changes, longer ears, wider eyes, a full beard. He completed the look by removing his overcoat and roughing up his vest slightly. It wasn’t a perfect copy, but if he moved fast enough he could pass as one of the servants. 

Satisfied with his work, Oridi pushed back out into the ballroom. The party goers were still absorbed in the Kings laborious arrival, He had apparently ordered some poem to be recited as he descended the stairs, so the door into the servants quarters was completely ignored. Oridi found another spot of luck upon entering the room, as it was entirely devoid of people. 

He quickly pressed on and found the Kitchen, with little effort he requested two orders of a castle guards regular meal and fiddled with a broom in the corner. The rest of the cooks ignored him, though one did thank him for the work of moving the dirt around. He was sent on his way ten minutes later with a tray of two bowls of stew, two loafs of bread, a small glass cup of a sweet smelling sap, and a pitcher of a fruity drink from the area. Wine wasn’t permitted to those on duty, but the flavor made the lack of alcohol bearible.

“Evening Chaps.” Oridi called. The secondary storage room sat sandwiched between two guest rooms against the back of the Castle. Two guards, a man with stone like skin and another with pale green, stood watching the servants and curators that would come and go. They stood up a bit straighter once he arrived.

“Finally!” The stone skin man cleared the distance between himself and Oridi and removed the Pitcher and bread. He tossed a loaf to his companion and stuffed the other in his mouth, it was too large to eat in one go but a moment later he produced a small wooden cup which he filled. That done he removed the bread, a sizeable chunk now missing, and leaned back against the wall. 

“Ignore him,” The pale green man said as Oridi drew closer. He took a bite of the bread and sat, letting his legs spread out before him. “We appreciate you bringing it up.”

“Of course, couldn’t have you miss the celebration and dinner.” Oridi said chuckling “We’re not the Tsenians.”

The two men laughed and took their bowls of stew, each had a set of wooden utensils and small cup and set about their meals. Oridi joked off and on with the pair as the various servants made their trips, He did his best to count the minutes between their passings. It wasn’t ever precise but atleast one servant passed down their hall every few minutes. It wasn’t a large window of time, but it was more than enough. 

Oridi stepped between the two men and leaned back against the door, adopting an air of disinterest and exhaustion. “Its been a long day today Chaps.”

“Thats the truth, these parties are the worst.” Stone said

“It’d be nice if the pay was increased since we can’t participate.” Pale green added

“If only that was the half of it.” Oridi let out a sigh and dropped his head back against the wooden door. “Must be hard for you both, being stuck here and all.”

“Ah well, it wouldn’t be so bad if we weren’t so close to everything.” Pale green offered

“I’d rather be on the walls myself, or asleep.” stone groaned 

“Sleep does sound nice, we’ve been on this door most of the day.”

“That sounds rough.” Oridi said “Stuck in one spot all day. Isn’t there anyone else to take the position? Surely two men can’t be expected to watch a door for the entirety of a day.”

“No aye,” Stone said “More come, but they don’t relieve us for another hour I think. Course I can’t see the light outside right now so it may be longer.”

“An hour?” Oridi asked “Thats a long time.”

“Its not too bad, round this time we can usually get away with playing cards.”

“Fun, nice way to pass the time.”

“If he don’t cheat.” Stone said

“I didn’t cheat.” Pale green defended “You just don’t know how to play right.”

“Oh sure, been playin half me life but I don’t know the right way?”

“I didn’t mean to-” Oridi was interrupted by Pale green

“You say that everytime you lose, then when you win theres not a word of cheating.”

“Cause it don’t matter then, I’ve won anyhow.”

“In what way…” The argument started shortly after, and by the end both men were on their feet shouting. Oridi saw an opportunity and did his best to move them in that direction.
“Should you have this conversation here? Wouldn’t the storage room be a better place? What if a Guard Captian hears you arguing.”

The two looked at Oridi, then back to eachother, then continued their discussion. He felt a pain in his forehead then, such stupidity was more than he would have expected. Without a word Oridi reinforced his arms and legs, and struck quickly at the mens heads. The blows weren’t intended to shatter or snap, only to drive them to unconsciousness. Pale green crumpled as silently as someone in chainmail could fall, but stone remained standing. He seemed dazed and woozy, but a second strike drove him down as well. 

“Well, night boys. Hope you enjoy the sleep.” 

Oridi sifted through the mens pockets and belts until he found a set of keys attached to a metal ring. He yanked the ring free and began trying the keys on the door, his third heard the doors lock disengage and Oridi pushed into the chamber. Before he closed the chamber door once more, Oridi dragged the forms of the two guards in and leaned them against the walls. The room was filled with crates and chests, some overflowed with silks and cloth. The King stored everything from priceless works of art all the way down to hand towels in the room it seemed, but Oridi wasn’t discouraged. 

For the next fifteen minutes Oridi scoured the room top to bottom and withdrew whatever he could find that would sell. He found some enriched jewels glowing with their stored power, necklaces, rings, bars of gold, and a small sack of coins bearing the total of nearly ten thousand Shii. With his plunder stored in the concealed pockets of his vest and trousers, Oridi unlocked the door and headed out into hall. 

It was still empty, so Oridi took the extra moment to make sure no signs of a struggle would give his actions away. With that done, he started towards the third guest room on his left. He’d chosen this specific room for its balcony which extended farther out than any other on the floor. With a good enhanced jump he could likely clear the wall and its occupants, but the risk was still present. No guards were to be near that area at this time of night, and Hargis was waiting just a good jump away. 

He creeked open the door and stepped into the dark room, grasping aimlessly in the dark as he tried to find the curtains. He felt the silk of one and threw it aside, flooding the room with the pale light of rising moon. Oridi took a deep breathe and tried to align his mind with the task at hand, he let the silence of the room fill him with confidence. After all, silence was good. It meant he had done his job right. 

Except he didn’t hear silence, or rather other sounds were forcing their way towards him. It sounded like the stomping of plated boots in the excess of ten guards, worse yet was they were running. Someone shouted an alarm and the door to the Oridis room burst open, guards shouting in anger. They apparently hadn’t expected to find him because the group stood in surprise long enough for Oridi to collect himself. 

Shit! How do they know? He hadn’t made any mistakes, and the plan had gone perfectly. Nothing had happened, he hadn’t been made. The worst thing was…

“Father.” Oridi whispered the words, and was surprised when someone answered.

“Child.” The Ugupian from the party stood at the head of the presentation of guards, urging their patience as he approached. “You really thought you could use our plans against us? In such a haphazard way?”

“I didn’t find anything anyhow, I was in too much of a hurry. It shouldn’t matter now, I don’t know anything.”

“But you yourself are something, and that something is to be returned to its owner.”

“Let it go, Father. I’m not you or that Bastards toy. I’m my own person.”

“Oridi, child, you’re not a person you’re an experiment with thoughts. Your life is worthless if its not in the service of your owner.”

Oridi pushed against the words and took a step back, back away from this demon of a man, towards the balcony and freedom that lay beyond. He could run, turn and flee out the window. With enough strength, and if he ignored the pain, he could rush out and escape. It wouldn’t be what he had planned exactly, but now that he had been found out it was unlikely anyhow. 

“I’m not going to return with you.” Oridi said sternly

“It isn’t an option anymore.” Father said.

Oridis blood drained from his body and he fell into the cart, Hargis shouting in surprise and astonishment. Guards bearing the sigils of all the Aristocracy were following behind them, shouting and wailing for their surrender. Hargis ignored them and tried to keep their momentum up while hastily tying up Oridis wounds. 

“What happened lad?” He asked between panting breaths

“Father found me, the family is chasing me now.” Oridi wheezed

“But, that shouldn’t be. You said they didn’t know what you looked like!”

“I was wrong.” 

“Did you get out with anything at least?” the mob was shrinking in the distance, and oridi let a laugh escape his lips.

“We robbed the King Hargis, we robbed the king.”

“It won’t matter if you’re dead,”

Oridi withdrew the items and sacks he had collected and deposited them into a small crate between them. Hargis stared at the pile for a moment before laughing as well.

“I can’t believe it, you actually did.”

“Told you.” Oridi said “Simple as ever.”

Oridi rested back agains the chair and drained her cup, letting the sweet beverage heat her front the inside and driving away the chills of time. She didn’t mind the memories, or at least not those memories.

“But how does make Oridi want Count dead?” Mogti asked

“Count Philistine had hired my family for something, and I just happened to be foundout at the same time. Worlds worst case of bad luck.”

“So…?”

“I want to know what he knows. Then i’ll kill him myself.”

“Hmph,” Mogti rested against her own chair and shook her head “Too simple.”

“Too simple?” Oridi asked “My reasons for doing all this is too simple?”

“Yes.” 

Instead of responding Oridi threw up her hands in defeat and fell forward onto the table, if the woman felt that way then she felt that way. Oridi wasn’t about to spend her time dredging up old wounds just to be insulted over them.

“Thank you.” Mogti said finally

“For what?”

“For story, truth of Oridi. No?”

Oridi nodded slowly, not entirely sure what she was getting at. “Its just a story, and not even all of it.”

“You will tell rest. Later, when you feel it.”

They didn’t speak on her past anymore after that, instead they returned to drinking and challenging eachother to their meaningless contests. Oridi tried to ignore the feelings that the memories withdrew, hoping that time had healed them, but it clung to her mind all the while. It sat compressing her thoughts, forcing its way in at every unaware moment.