All was planned and in place. Tanisin had returned to the parish with Brother Mchale while Relf had waited in the cathedral for almost an hour. He shaved his own rather brushy whiskers that had sprouted during their travels, changed out of his road stained Corps uniform and slipped away from the cathedral through a side door. Relf was to make contact with Rollins and his crew and try to integrate himself back into the fold with them. It would take some luck! They weren’t sure if the cult were entrenched in Rollins’ crew or working from the outside. If the cultist they’d fought on the roadway the day before was there then chances were Relf would be recognised.

  Brother Mchale and Tanisin spent a few more hours in the parish. They did some catching up, ate another meal together and generally killed time. It was a tense period as they had no way to know if Relf had succeeded. After darkness fell for the night, Tanisin left the parish and headed out alone to Amira’s Tavern.

  It felt good to be back had to admit to himself. Especially once he got to the tavern. Familiar faces surrounded him and he spent some time chatting with old friends and acquaintances. The place was full of the usual crowd. Not much had changed in his absence though he noted that Anna wasn’t there. Some inquiries revealed that shortly after Dav and he had departed for The Citadel she’d accepted a proposal. Theo Dennison, son of a well to do rancher in the foothills west of the city had asked for her hand. She’d accepted, both to get out of the city and to forget about Dav. Plus she was fond of Theo, Tanisin privately wished her luck.

  While in the tavern he put on a good show. Appearing to be drinking ale after ale and getting himself into a feeling good situation. As the night wore on and patrons started leaving for their homes he made his own goodbyes, with promises to visit in the future. “And bring that brother with you next time.” was the general consensus. He left the tavern content and warm with the glow of someone well liked in a usual haunt.

  Timing was crucial now. He was supposed to be near market square at an appointed hour and if all went well between Relf and Rollins he’d have an ‘unexpected’ encounter in the same alley as last time. For appearances he kept a fa?ade of one who’d imbued too much and to further the illusion of helplessness he’d left his sword at the parish. He didn’t want Rollins getting his hands on the blade anyway.

  Soon the familiar alley came into sight and he made his way with shadows darkening the narrow passage. He’d barely made two steps into the alley when shadowed figures blocked the other end. He pretended not to see them at first until he heard a gruff voice behind him say “Hey.” Looking up he stopped and turned. Stabber Rollins stood large and menacing behind him, accompanied by Relf.

  “I told you he’d be here, alone too.” Relf in keeping up appearances put some menace into the words.

  “It’s just you and us now boy. No Dav to back you up. Take him.” At Rollins’ word his thugs came at Tanisin from behind.

  For the sake of appearances he fought back, and didn’t go easy. Blows were traded as he deftly put all of his skill into fending off the louts. Even Relf caught a few shots. For realism’s sake, they’d agreed earlier Tanisin wouldn’t hold back. Eventually they wore him down enough to start doing some damage themselves and he was soon overwhelmed. Going down in a tumble of bodies with fists and feet lashing about.

  Once they had him subdued Rollins–ever the pragmatist and not one to intentionally put himself in harm's way–stepped up to him. He brandished his blade, breath reeking of liquor and tobacco. “I should kill you now and be done with it.” His declaration was cold and unemotional. “Lucky for you, someone else wants a crack at you first.”

  At a nod from their leader one of Rollins’ goons shoved a hood over Tanisin’s head and he was led out of the alley. He took the time given to contemplate the next part of their plan. He suspected the cult not only knew who he was but also wanted him enough to forestall any revenge Rollins had planned. At least at first! He was glad this seemed to be the case. The next part depended on no one from the cult being around at the moment. Relf had gained Rollins’ trust in helping catch Tanisin and now he needed time to get a better idea as to the plans they had for Dimabri City.

  They took so many twists and turns that Tanisin was soon lost despite his knowledge of the city. He heard the sound of a heavy door opening and they descended a stairway. Then he heard the rattle of keys and the creak of metal hinges. He was led inside what he assumed was some sort of cell. His hands, bound behind him for the way, were freed. Twisted around to his front and then rebound and he was secured by the wrists to something above his head. Only then was the hood removed.

  His assumption on the cell proved correct. He blinked as his eyes became accustomed to the dim light of a single sconce on the wall. The room containing the cell was stone and not much larger than the cell itself, with a stairway opposite leading back the way they’d come from. Rollins’ goons must have left after tying his hands above him as only Relf and Stabber himself remained.

  “Like I said, you’re lucky. Not for long though. As soon as they’re done with you I get to have my fun.” Rollins didn’t elaborate on who ‘they’ were but Tanisin could guess. He knew Stabber was a vicious bastard but never figured him to be a cultist. “Watch him for now,” he told Relf. “I’ll send someone else down after I’ve sent word.”

  Rollins gave Tanisin a hard punch in the gut before he departed up the stairs. As Tanisin hung there gasping for breath he took the key with him. His newly kindled trust in Relf only extended so far so Relf planted himself on a stool outside the cage. Neither spoke for a time to further the illusion and in case of listeners. After about an hour of silence Relf ventured to talk, very quietly, almost under his breath. “We’re in luck. The one we ambushed on the road isn’t here anymore.”

  Tanisin didn’t move anything but his lips. “Good. How much does he trust you?”

  “Not much.” Relf whispered back. “Enough for our needs though. Whoever's looking for you is out of the city so we have a day maybe. I’m supposed to have some one on one with Stabber later tonight. He wants a full account of my desertion. I told him I left and followed you here, seeing a chance to get away and return to my old ways. They think it was Dav with you on the road. I told them it was and that he’d stayed at the parish tonight.”

  The tale should be enough to convince Rollins. The man wasn’t overly bright and didn’t have it in him to believe anyone would dare betray him. Their plan relied on that as much as on any other factor. Relf would spend the time convincing Rollins of his desertion and reintegrating himself while attempting to learn more about the cult’s activities and plans.

  “We’re in a warehouse on the south end of the city. Once I have enough to bury him and his cult friends I’ll come back for you.” Relf told him.

  There was no more time for talk. One of Rollins’ crew came to relieve Relf and send him upstairs. Tanisin steeled himself for a long night. His arms ached and burned already from being tied to a beam above his head, hands numb and shoulders throbbing. He couldn’t sit or do anything to relieve them so he hung there waiting.

  “Not much to tell really. Soldier life didn’t agree with me so I left.” Relf sat at a large table in a well lit room with Rollins and some members of his crew. Most he knew though there were some new faces around. The room itself was huge. A typical warehouse layout and filled with various goods and valuables, all stolen or hijacked cargo. Most of Rollins’ work before had been petty theft, pimping, protection payments and gambling. It seemed that he’d expanded on his operation since Relf had left.

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  “How come it took you so long though?” Rollins was suspicious by nature. “I’d think you’d be out of there as soon as you could.”

  “Not easy, that’s why. I spent the trip to The Citadel playing nice. Had to let them think I was cowed. After that I was in some trouble a few times. They lock you up when you cause trouble, watch you too if they have any idea you’re thinking of leaving. It took some time to gain enough freedom to be able to slip away.” Like all good lies it contained enough of the truth to be convincing. The Corps did watch recruits closely, especially those sentenced to serve and if he’d never been one of the actual trouble makers he’d seen enough of them there to know what he was talking about.

  “Anyway…” Relf looked around the room. “Looks like you’ve grown the business since I left.”

  “That I have, that I have.” Rollins smiled a greedy smile. “We still do all the old stuff, I’ve added hijacking to our list of accomplishments. We smuggle this stuff out into black markets in Feden. Makes me a ton of more money. I’ve expanded the crew too.

  “Nice.” Relf could appreciate profit and hijacking was worth it if you could find a buyer for the stuff.

  “Nice, and easy too. I have a guy in the customs office who gives me tips on good cargo and even lets me know what caravans are better guarded. With my new connections I’ve found some good markets to unload on. We pick and choose what caravans to hit. With no pattern to it to avoid too much attention. It’s been a profitable time for everyone.” Rollins gloated. “It’s opened the door to a much more interesting proposal from some new friends.”

  By then everyone was well into their cups, talk flowed and Relf settled in content he’d convinced Stabber at least. One fellow kept glaring at him during the course of the night though. He was seated on the same side of the table with one other separating them. Relf didn’t know the man, a burly guy with one dead eye all white with blindness. He wore his hair shorn to the scalp in the fashion favoured by the cult, absent the black robes. During one toast to Rollins’ success the man spoke up.

  “How do we know you are what you say?” The man blurted out loud enough to be heard over the ruckus.

  “You calling me a liar friend?” Relf asked, low and dangerous. He’d figured someone would challenge him.

  “I am, what of it?” The man’s contempt dripped from his voice. “You waltz in here after what a year or more. You just happen to know this Tanisin is back in town, someone you trained and served with. Then you come up with this story about soldiering not being for you. It’s all pretty convenient if you ask me.”

  “I don’t recall asking you.” Relf’s voice oozed danger. “Stabber, where did you find this guy? He needs a lesson in respect.”

  “I’ll give you respect…” The man stood ready to take things further before Rollins interjected.

  “Take it easy Jozeph. I’ve known Relf for years. I trust him, he wouldn’t lie to me. Would you Relf.” A bit of violence had crept into Rollins’ voice as well. An implied threat that told Relf what would happen to him if caught in a lie.

  “Damn right I wouldn’t.” Relf put some ferocity in the reply. “I’ll smash anyone who says otherwise!” A pointed look at Jozeph.

  “Well I still say you're lying.” Jozeph’s challenge hung there taunting Relf.

  Relf was done with words and taunts. In a quick fluid motion he stood, reached across the surprised man between him and Jozeph. Before Jozeph could even flinch Relf had him by the front of his shirt. He dragged him over the other man and smashed him with a solid punch to the back of the head. He then threw Joseph to the ground at his feet. Outraged, Jozeph tried to regain his feet, Relf kicked him in the side but his opponent wasn’t done yet.

  The whole table was standing and yelling, striving to get a view of the combatants. There was jostling all around and in the mess Jozeph did find his footing. He and Relf stood toe to toe trading punches back and forth. Neither attempted any defence, not a dodge or evasion at all. They just kept striking at each other in and about the face over and over.

  Relf wasn’t sure he could keep it up. This fellow was at least as large as him and could take a hit. The two heavy weights traded more punches, slowing as each started to tire. Relf changed tactics and directed a charged swing into Jozeph’s gut. The man doubled over with the wind knocked from him. Relf took full advantage of his opponent's position and brought his elbow crashing to the back of Jozeph’s head, then grabbed him by the hair and hauled him upright. Two more quick strikes to the face and a last sweeping hook that caught Jozeph in the temple and the fight was done.

  Relf let go and Jozeph sank boneless to the floor, knocked out cold. “Anyone else care to call me a liar?” Relf glared around the room. No one was inclined to take up the challenge.

  The room settled and no one bothered to pick Jozeph up off the floor. He was still out, making pathetic noises every once and awhile. Relf changed seats, both to get closer to Stabber and to get away from the havoc his fight had caused. He looked at Stabber Rollins. “Now, tell me about these new friends of yours. I’m curious about the possibilities.”

  Tanisin lost track of time hanging in the cell. His arms no longer burned but were completely numb and his shoulders were afire from their awkward position. His head hung to his chest. He suffered through it. At his best guess it was sometime near dawn. With any luck their plan was coming together. Relf was to spend the night getting information on Rollins’ new enterprises and his connection with the cult.

  Should the plan succeed they would come for Tanisin soon, if only to gloat over his capture. It helped that they understood the nature of their enemy. What Rollins didn’t know is that Brother Mchale had followed Tanisin last night and had observed when Tanisin was taken. Ready to intervene should they determine to kill him on the spot. As such Mchale and a squad each of Corps and city watch were close by waiting.

  Upstairs things were winding down and Relf was content with his subterfuge. He’d managed to get enough information to bury Rollins. It was outright treason and it would land him on a gibbet. It was planned that the cultists; as new allies to Rollins’ gang, would slowly slip men into the city. They’d enter through Stabbers’ smuggling tunnels. Once enough men were in and staged in the warehouse, under cover of night they would slip out in death squads across the city.

  The targets would be the city watch posts, any patrols encountered along the way and the Corps station sitting opposite the cathedral. The Enlightened himself would be taken prisoner and forced under torture to sanction a transition of power to Rollins. Furthermore they’d strike at the palace, gaining access through windows and overwhelming any guards inside before locating the council in their personal chambers and executing the lot.

  Once accomplished, Rollins would control the city and be able to control traffic inside and out to funnel more cultists into the city and cement his control. It was a bold plan. Too bold for Stabber Rollins to have thought up on his own yet with enough men and the element of surprise it would work. It was meant to happen in less than a week's time. Stabber’s contact in the cult had been by yesterday to finalise the arrangements and had left that morning to start the movement of his own men into the city. It seemed they’d convinced Rollins to go along.

  “I like it!” Relf stated. “It’s bold and they’ll never expect it.”

  “My thinking too. I’m not fond of the Followers in general, too nuts for my blood but they made the offer and I'll have full control of the city and surrounding area and a say on all matters regarding all of Dimabri. So I agreed.”

  Relf was sure they’d appealed to his greed. It was one weakness Rollins didn’t even realise he possessed. “What about that one?” He indicated the stairway with his look.

  “I’m saving him for someone special. I’m told the cult is quite pissed with him and his brother. I’m giving him up to them before we start the assault.” Stabber barked a laugh. “Speaking of which, wanna have some fun? I’d like a few shots at the puke before I give him over and it seems he owes you a thump or two.”

  Relf grinned a wild and wicked grin. “Love to.” He stood with Stabber. “You go ahead, I’m going to take a piss. See you down there.”

  “Okay.” Rollins was jovial at the prospect of inflicting pain. “Don’t take too long though. I’d hate for you to miss the fun.”

  As Stabber left to go downstairs accompanied by two others Relf made his way out the front door and turned towards the jacks on the far side of the compound. Thankfully the warehouse grounds weren’t walled so it wouldn't take an outright assault for his reserve to gain access. He took a torch with him to light the way and before he went into the outhouse building he stopped and faced some buildings across the lane. He raised the torch high and waved it three times back and forth in a sweeping gesture.

  He went about his business at the jacks and returned to the warehouse, closing the door behind him but ensuring not to lock it. Pausing he looked around the room. Most of Stabbers crew were insensible with drink. The few still up and about in a drunken daze that promised they’d be no real trouble. Relf smiled to himself and went to the stairs leading down to Tanisin’s cell.