Ton sat at the small desk in his room writing a letter when he finally heard it, footsteps in the hallway. A common enough thing in an inn, but this stride wasn't normal. Normal foot steps are loud and clomping, these were soft and furtive. The kind of steps someone would use to hide your approach. Ton grinned, their bad luck that he has sharp ears.
After four days of waiting it was about time they made their move. Everyday Ton was out asking leading questions about the Red Dawn, making sure to leave a trail back to his room. It should have been easy for them to find him and he had begun to think they were incompetent. Any skilled cutthroats would have ambushed him before he made it back to his room the first night. Apparently cultists are slower to react.
Ton grabbed his gear, slid open the window and stepped out into the night. His window looked out across the roof, which made an excellent place to hide if ruffians chose to kick in your door. He ducked into the shadows outside the window and closed it. Then he waited and watched.
A few seconds after the window closed the door was kicked off its hinges and landed on the bed. Three men entered waving weapons and menacing the empty room. When they finally noticed that no one was there they started attacking all the hiding places they could think of. Slashing into the closet, stabbing under the bed, poking into the mattress, violent attacks were sent to every space that a man might fit into.
Ton watched it all with a wry grin. He had expected them to greet him in this manner, and was well prepared for it. They weren't very imaginative, and never gave a second look to the window. Ton shook his head, he had gone to some trouble securing a rope to the roof above his room, and it was looking like a wasted effort.
Once the thugs had thoroughly misused the furniture and turned the room into a shambles, they began to pick through the wreckage. The dresser drawers were dumped on the floor, and the few items in the closet were yanked out and added to the pile which they began to carefully sift through.
Ton couldn't guess what they'd hope to find, but he was fairly certain that they wouldn't find it. He hadn't brought much, and the few items of importance were stowed in the pack slung over his shoulder. His eyes began to drift around the room while they continued their search.
His posture went rigid as he noticed something he'd forgotten. The letter he was writing was still on the desk. He grimaced, the letter was to his wife and child, which were two people he was certain the cult didn't need to know existed. He had to get it back before they moved to the desk.
The desk was right under the window, which put the letter barely and arms length inside. The cult goons were across the room and were still intent on search that area.
Ton eased the window open just enough to fit his arm. He snaked his hand through and along the desk, reaching for the letter. Finally he could feel the paper beneath his fingertips.
"Hold there. Don't try nothin’ funny. You've been asking a lot of questions. Get inside and we'll give you what answers you've got coming." One of the thugs had a crossbow pointed through the window at Ton.
"Its awful kind of you to invite me in," said Ton. "I prefer a private room though, I can't abide snoring. Perhaps we can chat another time?" His hand closed on the letter, crumpling the paper as he yanked his arm back outside and ducked behind the brick wall.
The glass shattered as a crossbow bolt flew through just inches from Ton. He could hear his assailants moving toward the window but didn't risk another look inside.
Ton ran across the roof. It would take him over the front entrance of the inn. He was only one floor up, so it would only be a short drop to the ground. He'd be alright if they didn't... yes, thy did leave a pair of goons watching the front door.
A glance back to the window showed the crossbow was nearly loaded again and the swordsman scrambling out the window. He looked back down. The thugs by the door still hadn't reacted. Could it be they weren't with the cult? No. What reason could two men have for standing outside when clearly all the wine and women waiting inside the inn?
Ton took a leap off the roof and landed squarely on the head of one of the thugs. He rolled to his feet and sprinted down the street.
The guard Ton landed on crumpled to the ground and lie there twitching. His partner gave a shout and set off after Ton. The door guard was slower than Ton and began to lag behind.
Ton was about to look back when a crossbow bolt scraped along his cheek. He kept his face forward and looked for any cover. Not far ahead was an intersection, if he could make the turn the buildings would shield him from that crossbow. He leaned forward and urged his legs to greater speed.
Several loud thumps came from the inn as the swordsmen dropped off of the roof. Their footsteps were much quicker than the door guard's were. The crossbowman stayed on the rooftop taking aim at Ton's back.
Ton made it to the intersection and dove around one of the buildings just as a crossbow bolt clattered off the wall.
The cross street was deserted. All of the shops were closed and no one strolled the road. Nothing was on the street that Ton could use to hide from his pursuers.
Ton couldn't run forever, eventually he would tire or the cultists would thing to split up and work to force him into a dead end. There wasn't any other option though, with no where to hide all he could hope for was to keep ahead of them.
A short way down Ton spotted a trellis leading up to the roof of a building. He grabbed hold and started climbing. He flung himself onto the slate roof and lie flat.
The cult thugs just turned the corner as they continued the pursuit. Their pace slowed a bit as they paused to peer in windows and check doors. They kept their weapons in hand as they prowled the street.
Ton smiled as he watched them make their way past the building he hid on. He had managed to salvage his plan, things were back on track. The letter he intercepted didn't mention where the cult was attempting its vile deeds. Rodinia wasn't huge, but large enough Ton didn't want to have to check every building. He figured the most expedient method would be to lure them to him, give them the slip, then simply follow them back to their layer. A minor detour along the way perhaps, but he'd gotten things back on schedule.
Keeping to the rooftops and shadows Ton followed behind the cultists. Whatever these louts might be, Ton did not think they were skilled thieves. They knew enough to take a winding route, but they made little effort blend into the crowds or act in a casual manner.
The group stopped at a plain building in one of the most shabby and dilapidated section of Rodinia. As with most the neighboring houses, this one had a few boarded windows, cracks in the walls, and weeds and vines growing along the walls. There was nothing about it which would have signalled that sinister deeds were being done within.
Their choice mildly impressed Ton, this hideout was well chosen as a blind. Given all else he'd witnessed he suspected it was more luck than planning. Ton waiting in the shadows as his assailants went through some exchange at the front door and were permitted inside. He continued to scan the building for a few minutes, until he settled on what to do next.
Along the side of the building on the second floor was a window that wasn't boarded over. The wall below was cracked and the mortared stones were uneven enough to serve as footholds.
All was quiet, so Ton approached the wall and started the ascent. A few of the bricks crumbled under his weight, though no one came to investigate the sound of the pieces falling. The window had been broken, and a few shards of glass clung to the frame. Ton took a good grip and heaved himself up, vaulting over the window sill and with a flip he was through the window.
Nothing glowed inside the window. Anything could have been waiting in the inky blackness. Ton toppled over as he landed on uneven floor. The lump he landed on let out a loud sigh and coughed.
Without thinking Ton dove back on top of the rising lump knocking it back onto the floor. He smashed the man's head off the wood floor trying to keep him dazed.
With Ton laying on top the man couldn't get up, but he was still wriggling around. He worked one arm free and started scrabbling around pawing at the floor.
Eyes finally adjusted to the gloom, Ton could see a sword lying on the floor. He shot a foot out tumbling the blade out of reach. He knew there wasn't much time before the man got his breath back and called for help. Ton loosened his grip so that he could pull his dagger free. A quick slash cut off the scream, the man made a choked gurgle instead of the cry for help.
With everything still and quiet again, Ton could see that the room was empty. A few bedrolls covered the floor, but they were unoccupied. The only door led out to a hallway. At one end of the hall stairs led down. Other rooms connected to the hall, but they were dark and silent.
Reasoning that if anyone was upstairs they'd have investigated the struggle. Leaving the stairs down as the only interesting direction. Ton paused at the top and listened. He could make out voices and an occasional clattering sound. Too muffled to be nearby, so he made his way down.
The stairs descended into a sparsely furnished kitchen. A table with a few chairs, a small stove, and a washing basin were the only furniture. A closed door and an opening to an adjacent room were the other exits. The sounds Ton heard from above were coming through the opening.
Pressing himself against the wall, Ton peeked out into the next room. The front door of the house was across from it, sitting near the door were a pair of thick necked goons playing dice. Evidently standing guard was a boring business here.
These weren't the same thugs that assailed Ton at the inn. He didn't think they would have left again so soon, so he kept exploring the building. He went to the closed door and put his ear against the wood. He could hear nothing from the other side.
Opening the door revealed a dirt walled root cellar. It was barren, aside from the heap of loose dirt in the corner. Apparently someone desired a deeper cellar as a large hole had been dug in the floor. As he came closer Ton could see that it was more than just a hole, flickering lights from below showed that it was a small tunnel.
Grinning Ton approached the excavation, finally he might discover what the cultists had planned. He could tell their plans wouldn't benefit the town, else they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to conceal it.
As Ton reached the hole he could see that it was a short passage with a torch mounted in the wall below. At the end two rooms had been dug out as well. As he made his way down he began to hear voices coming up from one of those rooms. Ton slid along the wall to peer into the opening on the left.
Four men sat on the crates and barrels scattered about the room. They looked to be the ruffians from the inn.
"...Have to deal with him. Can't risk being found." Said one.
"We're near done. Once that hole's filled in ain't no one gonna find this place." Said another.
"You think the high priestess will agree? She's put everyone what heard so much as a whisper about our work to death. We let this guy live and she'll offer up our souls next."
"That's sayin' she finds out. Only us as knows he was even asking about us."
"Nothin' doing. I'm not about to risk my neck. We watch the inn and wait for that guy to start askin' some more. I'll see him dead rather than risk her wrath."
As much as he enjoyed hearing the troubles he'd caused them already, Ton moved to the other opening. There was yet more trouble he wanted to bring them, and it was unlikely he could gain more from eavesdropping.
This was a larger chamber, whose floor was covered with intricate patterns of symbols. Ton was no wizard, but he knew enough of their craft to recognize a ritual chamber. For the most potent spells the wizard would mark the floor with arcane formulae to help direct the magical energy. Apparently preparations in this chamber were yet incomplete, as a robed figure chanted as he continued adding more runes to the floor. Assisting him by carrying the implements he needed were two giant insects. Ton could not name the species, but the dark haze surrounding them along with the flame edged wings marked them as some form of demon.
Ton looked over the details baffled by the symbols adorning the floor. His eyes drifted to a small pedestal in a nearby corner. A large smile grew as he recognized the ebony chalice sitting upon it, the Cup of the Soul Drinker. Recognizing it as a means of halting their plans Ton stepped carefully to avoid the runes as he approached the cup.
As he laid his hands upon the goblet a peculiar buzzing sound came from him. Ton turned to see one of the demons starting in his direction.
"Silence," commanded the robed figure. "I told you never to interrupt me."
The buzzing continued.
"What?" He looked toward the doorway. "So there is a voyeur. Destroy him. Quickly, I'll tolerate none of your games. Then return here at once, I still have need of you."
Ton's knuckles turned white as his grip on the cup tightened. As he tore his gaze from the demon he saw it make a peculiar expression at the wizard. He wasn't an expert on demons, but it seemed to be giving the wizard a venomous glare. As the order wasn't obeyed immediately, Ton decided not to leave without making more of a nuisance of himself.
"It appears you've been hard at work down here. Perhaps I can help. This one part just doesn't look right." Scraping his foot across the floor he rubbed out a section of the arcane formula.
The mage’s face turned pale. "No, don't! That's what binds..."
A puff of green smoke rose from the floor as Ton obliterated the magic symbols. The same smoke rose in wisps from the head of one of the demons as well. It turned to face the wizard again, raising its arms and wings threateningly. The second demon didn't seem to be affected by the changes to the floor and continued moving toward Ton.
Ton turned and fled up the tunnel into the root cellar. As his foot touched the slope up a burning pain sliced into his shoulder. He spun around to see blood dripping from one of the demon's talons.
Then the mage shrieked in pain. This brought the other cultists out of the storeroom.
"By the gods! The demons have gotten loose," shouted the first man out.
"Cut it to ribbons! Before it destroys us all," said another, drawing his blade.
Ton didn't hesitate, as the thugs harried the demon he leaped up the tunnel into the root cellar. As he ran through the door into the kitchen he plowed into one of the door guards.
Regaining his balance Ton made to get past them saying "Save yourselves! The demons are loose, they're killing everyone!"
A few howls and shrieks from below punctuated his act beautifully. Without further question the guards turned to make their escape. They led Ton to the front door, and were even kind enough to leave it open for him. Ton let them run off on their own and disappeared into a dark alley.
As he paused to clean and bandage his shoulder, he smiled knowing he had given the cultists a large setback in their plans here. Then he wondered what he truly accomplished, he never did find out what their intentions were. As he looked at the cup he'd stolen for the second time, he figured it didn't matter he'd put an end to their work here.
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