Thunder came looking for them ten minutes later.

  “We didn’t establish the signal.” Shaynen said.

  “I realized that a few minutes in.” Thunder sighed. “It doesn’t matter, now we know and we’re in. So spread out, stay out of sight and whistle if you find something.” The party all picked different directions and began walking. Lifting up rubble and pushing burned debris around. A whistle brought them all to Kilek who held two necklaces in hand. An acorn on a string and a black antlers pendant.

  “That proves what we already knew.” Jiit said. “The cult is here, and at least one of them was here when the place went up in flames.”

  “Not a bad place for the headquarters to be,” Thunder mused. “Guards spread thin with the wedding, and with this whole second blocked off, they could come and go as they pleased from a break in the wall with no one noticing.”

  “That’s unnerving.” Jiit said.

  “Speaking of being undetected, look alive. We have company.” Mayhem whispered. The party stood to attention. Seeing the orc approaching them He wasn’t dressed like any guard or makeshift militia.

  “You aren’t supposed to be here.” The orc said.

  “Yes we are.” Mayhem said. “Who are you to tell us we’re not?” The orc didn’t answer, just looking each of them up and down. Lingering on Shaynen’s holy symbol. Shaynen tightened his jaw hard.

  “H-how is your spirit guiding you?” He asked. A lump building in his throat and bile rising up.

  “By the flood, brother.” The orc said with a sudden distant smile. “My apologies for interrupting you.” The orc then turned and walked away. After he left their sight Shaynen turned to the nearest wall and leaned over it. Hurling all of his guts out onto the rubble.

  Mayhem walked over and pulled his hair back and pat his shoulder.

  “Damn you wouldn’t last long at sea.” She said, shaking her head. “You’ve got the constitution of a fruit fly in a cyclone.”

  “I dunno what that means.” Shaynen mumbled weakly before throwing up again.

  “What did you mean; ‘how does your spirit guide you’?” Jiit asked. Narrowing his eyes.

  “It was what that guy in the forest asked me when he saw my symbol.” Shaynen said. He spat and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “I had a feeling he was suspicious when we met. And when the orc saw my symbol he lingered too and I just-” Shaynen doubled over again and hurled.

  “Which lends us to believe you might have-” Thunder started but Shaynen raised a hand.

  “Don’t say it. I know.” He grumbled weakly.

  “Where do we go from here?” Kilek asked. “We have proof they are here and in the city.”

  “And if this letter is accurate then we are severely outnumbered.” Jiit said, holding the letter.

  “We’re in a pretty tight situation. Not like we can just go to the guards.” Thunder said with a shrug.

  “Yes we can, and we will.” Jiit said. “It’s the only move that makes any sense.”

  “Only if you’ve lost yours!” Mayhem snapped, still holding Shaynen’s hair as he fully accepted his fate and lay on the stone wall. No longer heaving but doing his best to die regardless.

  “Guards have numbers, we need numbers right now. Not only that but they have weapons and armor. Things we’re missing right now.” Jiit said. He tucked the letter away and started down the rubble road. “But they don’t have to skulk about the city. I’m not saying we have to hand the whole job over but it might be prudent to be on their side.”

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “Ah, he’s got a point.” Kilek said, starting to follow Jiit. “It’s a choice that makes the most sense.”

  “It’s two against three,” Mayhem said, turning and crossing her arms. “Shaynen’s on our side.”

  “Shaynen does not count as a vote until he can form a full sentence.” Jiit said. “Why are you so against going to law enforcement?”

  “Well, let’s see. I’m a Tiefling, and she’s a thief.” Mayhem said pointing at Thunder.

  “Formrly, but yes.” Thunder said. “We’re women and everyone but Shaynen is a ‘beast’ race. When have you ever been taken seriously or not been accused of some crime or another? Hell, even Shaynen might not be ‘normal’ enough since he’s gay.”

  “I work in law enforcement.” Jiit said, “I’m employed as a bounty hunter, remember?”

  “Yeah, and I still don’t get how you got there.” Mayhem said.

  “Money?” Thunder offered, “nepotism?”

  “No.” Jiit growled. “It’s a chance we have to take so stop your bitching and come on.” Jiit and Kilek began walking again while Thunder and Mayhem stayed put. Mayhem looked down to Shaynen as he stood up.

  “I don’t care what we do as long as I can get some water and get away from this place for a bit.” He said. Mayhem sighed heavily, then she pulled him into her and started walking.

  “Giving in?” Thunder asked.

  “I gotta do right by him.” Mayhem shrugged in defeat. “It’s the sailor’s way. You take care of your own.”

  “That’s why you gotta stop forming attachments.” Thunder said as she fell into step, now outnumbered entirely.

  “It wasn’t planned, I mean. Look at this face,” Mayhem took Shaynen’s jaw and turned him toward Thunder. “Look at how helpless and naive he is. How do you look at this and think ‘yeah fuck that kid’? I mean, it’s like kicking a puppy, or I guess for you it’d be a kitten.” Thunder growled in the back of her throat.

  “Can I have my face back?” Shaynen asked and Mayhem let him go. They walked to the patrol that instantly saw them and detained them.

  “Sorry to be sneaking around in this way but we came from Maplewood, investigating a lead we got on cult activity.” Jiit said, “We need you to take us straight to the Captain of the guard if you would be so kind.” More guards came, looking at Jiit and the party in disbelief. The collecting guards looked to the first.

  “You’re point on this. What do you want to do?” One asked.

  “I say we take em to the captain. He’ll get a kick out of this.” another laughed.

  “Yeah, that man’s been so streeseed. He needs a good laugh.”

  “This was the worst idea.” Thunder mumbled, crossing her arms. “When we get thrown in the cells, I’m not breaking any of you out.” Thunder looked around then sighed. “Fine. Some of you.”

  “I’d hope so, we still have a rematch to play.” Kilek chuckled. “Have a little faith, and if you’re right. Then we demand a better price upon completion.” Thunder smiled and the two shared a knowing look. The guards took them and restrained them. Piling the party into a black carriage and drove across the city to the guardhouse. They were taken into an empty room with nothing in it but a potted plant and a table and chair.

  “Wait here, we’ll get the captain.” One guard snickered Three others with loaded crossbows were stationed by the door.

  “How long is the wait?” Mayhem asked.

  “He gets here when he gets here.” said one of the guards. Mayhem drew a long sigh then looked over to Shaynen. “Feeling any better?”

  “No.” He said.

  The door flew open and a man that looked exactly like a captain of the guard strolled in.

  “All right, I have no time and less patience. What do you want?” He said as he sat at the table.

  “Well, you won’t believe this but there’s a cult within your walls and it’s plans are an attack on the wedding.” Jiit said. “We do have proof of this.” The captain looked at all the faces of the party. He sighed heavily.

  “I do not have time for this. I am actually busy with real threats.” The captain said.

  “Maplewood’s citizen count was halved in a weekend and you don’t have time for this?” Mayhem interrupted. “The mayor’s house and family were slaughtered and hundreds more were bled dry and you don’t have time for this?” The guard stared at Mayhem.

  “James, have a correspondence sent to Maplewood for confirmation.” The guard said.

  “Yes sir.” One of the guards at the door said and left the room.

  “I want you to know if you’re pulling some kind of-”

  “It’s no joke.” Jiit said, he struggled around the restraints until he pulled the letter from his pocket. As well as the two pendants. “We found these pendants at the destroyed Alchemist’s quarter’s, the letter is from Maplewood and we were approached by a member of the cult itself.” The guard took the information and looked it over.

  “You’re being serious.” He said. “Spare no details. I want to know everything.”