Chapter 19-Deepening Darkness
The short, muscularly built man in black crouched behind a barrel in a dark alleyway. He had been waiting a long time. He sighed and muttered to himself in his own language that this was what happens when somebody’s early. He waited a while longer, and then his head whipped up when he heard a feather-light footstep coming into the alley. He stood up and bowed deeply to the tall, thin man who strode confidently down the alley with ghostly silence.
The tall man looked down at the shorter one with his head cocked to one side, fingering the hilt of his ornate curved sword. The shorter man made his report, looking his leader in the eye.
“He wasn’t there, sir. I don’t understand why, but he wasn’t there. I searched the whole room. Would’ve searched the house if he hadn’t been there.” The man paused, watching as his leader closed his eyes tightly against releasing an expression of anger.
“That’s why none of you can afford any more mistakes. He’s getting impatient, you know.”
“We wouldn’t be in this if that young idiot had a surer hand,” The short man muttered, cracking his knuckles. “I have a few things I’d like to speak to him about.” The leader looked at the man warningly, the wavering lantern light making the red flecks of dye around his dark eyes and the swirls and sharp edges of his sword look brighter.
“You’ll get a chance, but you know you can’t go speak to him without leaving your cover. You can’t be seen, and you need to stay here. He’s serving us better where he is right now, anyway.” The short man nodded.
“Sir…This is only my humble opinion, but should we wait? Until they let their guard down? They have brought in reinforcements, and the Throne Warden has surrounded himself and his brother with friends whom we assume are a small elite force.” The leader sighed.
“It would take months to approve a new plan, you know that. We just have to wait for the right moment.”
“That might take a while, sir.”
“It might, but not nearly so long as making a new plan and getting it approved. Tell me you have something good to report.” The leader finished with a warning in his voice.
“Not much, sir,” the short man said hesitantly. “I left a note for the Throne Warden,” he continued with a snort of laughter. “He barged in seconds after I left. Now don’t worry, there was nothing that could make them find us or our plans.” the leader nodded approvingly.
“And what did your note say?”
“I just told him he wouldn’t be Throne Warden much longer. That’ll unsettle him for sure, put him on edge. He’s a sturdy one, but he don’t like nobody threatenin’ his brother.” The leader let out a warm, approving laugh.
“Excellent.” He paused a moment, as if undecided about if he should confide in his underling.
“Have you heard anything from that ‘young idiot,’ as you call him?”
“No sir. He was doing his job just fine last week, and while it took him a while to get us his…ware,” the man said with a smirk, “he was fillin’ up that last chance ye gave him, but he’s been deliverin’ to us less and less,” the tall man frowned.
“He’d better start doing his job or I might decide I’m more angry with him than I thought,” the leader growled, fingering his sword. The shorter man’s smirk intensified.
“Now you go keep doing your job.” The leader said. The short man stepped backward, bowing.
“Any final instructions, sir?” The tall man thought for a minute, fingering his sword hilt.
“Yes. Make your next move as soon as possible. As soon as they have their guard down. And in a less public place this time. You fools seem to want your secret deeds in broad daylight. Fail again and who knows what he’ll do,” The leader said meaningfully. The short man nodded slowly, seriousness erasing his self-satisfied expression, then he turned and left. The leader stood in the dim alley for a while longer, then left himself, leaving no trace of the secret meeting that had occurred.
Notes:
…Short Chapter. We’ve been busy.
I wasn’t completely satisfied with this. Let me know if it was choppy or wierd. I would love to hear what I can improve on.
The leader is the same guy from Chapter 12, just in case anyone needs clarifying.
So…Artham’s friends are not an elite force. They are well trained but…not vey well coordinated with each other. 😂 But they are helping without even realizing it! No one wants to attack an ‘elite protection force’ 😁
Next Chapter
Okay….Aro was the original shooter, I am more sure of that, these are guys are Wanderers of the Woes, and Bonifer is who they’re working for….yay. 😐
This is a good chapter! I liked it!
BAD GUY SOOOONNNGGGG
good job writing this chapter ellie! i think its perfect, no weirdness or choppiness, just very...evil feeling...well maybe not evil but bad guy vibes for sure
arthams elite protection force😎
Such a good thing that Esben went off by himself to draw and play ball!
The 'young idiot' is Aro, I'm guessing? And he likes Artham enough that he's hesitant to follow the bad guys' instructions now? Or is it the archer from earlier, and that's why they wished he had a 'surer hand'? But what would he be doing now?
Good chapter! Not choppy or weird!