mindcracklove | Blood and Gold: Chapter 10

Not much to say about this chapter - it's a breather from how heavy the previous one was, though. And contains the arrival of a certain character!

Chapter list | Map

Vechs follows Nebris up the twisting path of back alleys he chooses. He’s scouting for an empty house, one with the lights off and the doors locked. He’s learned enough to know the signs. Nebris stops at the back of a dark house near the top of the hill and turns uncertainly towards Vechs.
“This one?”
Vechs nods. The house looks unoccupied. He steps forward and tries the back door handle tentatively. “How do you want to get in?”
“Skylight.” Nebris is eager to try out some more acrobatic techniques, like the ones Aurey described to him on their first night here. Vechs nods and watches as Nebris pulls out his hooked rope, swings it and tosses it towards the roof. There’s a tentative moment as Nebris tugs the rope. It holds fast.
“You ready?”
Nebris nods, and climbs slowly up the side of the house, pressing his toes into the cracks between bricks and hauling himself up by the rope. Vechs holds his breath as he watches. Nebris successfully reaches the roof though, and sits atop it looking over the edge as Vechs climbs up.

The thrill of being above everything is breathtaking, and for a moment Nebris is distracted by the view. He sits looking around at the rooftops, sloping away down towards the vast green sea of the forest. From here Corax does look golden, the tiled rooves glinting in the sun. Streets mill with people and dark alleyways snake between them like cracks in eggshell.
“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?” Vechs says. Nebris nods. Turning to look up they can see more of the palace from this angle – they can see a little way over the walls. The palace is beautiful in the daytime, bright as ever in the sun. Vechs pauses for a moment to look and then turns back to Nebris.
“The skylight.”
“Right, the skylight.” Nebris crawls over to the skylight while Vechs gathers up the rope. Nebris peers down. The skylight lets a square of sunlight down into a pristine kitchen. There is nobody in sight.

Vechs flinches when Nebris suddenly pulls back his fist and shatters the glass with it. It’s a silly move, but he bites his tongue. Nobody comes running to inspect the noise. Vechs wedges the hook into the roof and drops the rope down, and Nebris half-drops, half-slides down the rope into the house. Vechs watches for a second before following. He can see Nebris thinking, wondering where to go next. If he recalls Aurey’s story, he should know where the cash is.
A trapdoor in the kitchen floor catches Nebris’ attention. “Think there’s stuff down there?”
“Why don’t you find out?” Vechs replies. Nebris heaves the door open to reveal a set of stone stair spiralling down. He shrugs and descends them, with Vechs close behind. The stairs lead into a dim basement stacked with bottles of wine. Vechs lights a torch.
“We’re not here to steal wine,” Vechs reminds Nebris as he stares around the room in awe.
“I know.” His eyes catch on a small safe, which he rushes to kneel at. He stares at the lock for a few seconds. “I don’t know how to lock pick.”
“Allow me.” Vechs kneels beside him, placing down the torch, and pulls out a small kit from his bag. It contains a variety of pointy metal tools, which Nebris looks at with interest. The lock is a combination. Vechs takes one tool and inserts it into the lock, his ear close to the door so he can listen. Nebris watches him curiously as he turns the lock and wiggles the tool, his face changing as he concentrates. Nebris isn’t expecting much but soon the lock springs open.
“How- ”
Vechs smiles. “Maybe you’ll learn one day.” He eases open the door so they can see the inside. It’s disappointing – near-empty and dusty, the only thing in the safe is a small, ornate box near the back.
“If it’s in here, it’s valuable,” Vechs says. “Take it.”
Nebris reaches out. His fingertips tingle as he grabs the box, and a thrill of excitement runs through him as he stows it in his bag. This is different from pickpocketing. He seems to sense the value of the box – and the small object he hears rattling inside – and it’s as if it causes a reaction with his blood.

The two freeze as they hear a noise in the house above.
“Blyx,” Vechs says under his breath. “We need to get out.”
“Obviously.”
“Run,” Vechs hisses. Nebris stands up suddenly, spurred on by a sudden coldness that replaces any thrill he had before. Adrenaline pushes him back up the staircase and Vechs follows. Nobody is in the kitchen. Nebris takes a running jump at the rope, swinging precariously as he inches up it towards the broken skylight. When he’s safely on the roof Vechs follows, grabbing the rope and stuffing it in his bag. Nebris lingers as he hears foosteps below. Vechs is saying something but he stops to look down and sees a man walk under the skylight, looking around first at the pile of broken glass on the floor and then the wide open trapdoor.
“Nebris you idiot!”

A thump sounds on the ground. Vechs has already leapt off the roof. Nebris finally follows, landing on the ground and rolling as his legs give way beneath him. He lies on the sloping ground for a second, winded, before a pair of strong hands pulls him to his feet. A hissed ‘run’ passes his ear and he follows Vechs as his pounding footsteps lead him down the twisting path back to the Corax wall.
At the wall, Nebris stops to catch his breath. Vechs throws the hooked rope over the branch with trembling hands.
“Det, do you know how close that was? We were so close to being caught. So close.”
“I’m sorry,” Nebris says, breathing hard towards the ground.
“Not your fault. But here, go over the wall. I need to get something I forgot.”
“Are you crazy? They’ll be looking for thieves!”
Vechs shrugs. “I need to get something. I won’t be long and I’ll be careful, promise. You go, tell Aurey and Zisteau all about it.”
Nebris sighs. “Vechs you’re crazy. See you later.” He climbs the rope without another word.
Vechs shakes his head and starts up the path. He knows it’s stupid to go back now, but he just needs one thing. It’s not the most important thing but he needs time alone once again.

Nebris is halfway back to the hideout when he hears rustling in the trees above him. There’s no wind, and the suspicious part of him makes him look up sharply.
At first he sees nothing, but closer inspection of the branch above him reveals a man gripping it.
“Ha, nice try,” he says. “What are you doing up there?”
There is no reply. Nebris stares the man down. “Come on. The jig is up. Don’t try to hide.”
There is still no reply or noise. Nebris wonders if the man is trying to become invisible. “Come on, you know I can see you.”
He drops suddenly, landing on his feet. Nebris stumbles back.

“What are you doing with Vechs?”
Nebris blinks. It’s not what he expected the man to say. He has silvery white hair spilling from behind a headband, green clothing, a mask over his nose and mouth, and a scar striking through a left red eye. Nebris has never seen him before in his life.
“How do you know Vechs?” The man doesn’t sound angry or annoyed. Just conversational.
“Never mind that. Who are you?”
The man sighs and shifts his feet. “Look, you caught me. I may have been stalking you. I won’t do it again.”
“I just want to know why…” Nebris is confused. Who would have any reason to stalk him?
“You’re not Blame. So what are you doing with Naziv?”
Nebris blinks. He looks at the man, wondering how serious he is. Whoever he is, he knows more about Nebris than he should.
“Listen- ”
The man sighs. “Etho.”
“Okay Etho, I don’t know why you’re stalking me but… how do you know about Naziv?”
“It’s a secret. I gotta go.”

“Alright but- ” Nebris’ sentence is stopped as the man barrels forward, pushing him to the ground with a hand over his mouth. Nebris kicks, struggling against Etho as he pins him to the ground. The man is already tying rope around his wrist but his legs are still free and he kicks out. All he can think is that Vechs won’t come back in time and this weird man will capture him. He kicks again but the man is sitting on his legs now, tying them together. Nebris’ wrists are firmly bound but his mouth is free so he screams. Etho turns quickly and shoves something in his mouth.
“Shut up,” he says near Nebris’ ear. And then, “I’m sorry. It’s my job.”
Nebris wiggles futilely against the bonds. The apology doesn’t come across as very sincere. Etho stands up and looks down at the tied and gagged man.
“What are you doing?”
Etho looks up quickly. This is not how he meant this to go down. Not standing next to the body of the man he is about to capture while the other two members of Naziv point weapons at him threateningly.

“What are you doing?” repeated the red headed woman, narrowing her eyes and raising her dagger further. The other man, the half-Grax steps forward. His dagger is also raised.
“I was just…”
Etho looks down at his victim. The half-Grax takes another step forward while to woman kneels to untie the man at his feet.
“Where’s Vechs?” The half-Grax is inches from Etho, the dagger close to his throat. Etho instinctively steps backwards.
“I don’t know he – he went back into the city when.”
“When? When what?” The dagger dances close to Etho’s skin. Etho knows there’s not much he can say that won’t incriminate him. Then again, not saying anything will also be suspicious.
“He jumped at me!” The tied man evidently has the gag out now. Etho glances down to see this is indeed the case. The woman has become impatient with the knots, however, and is sawing at them with her dagger. This gives Etho some satisfaction, but he doesn’t have time to enjoy it before the man in front of him pushes the dagger closer.
“What the blyx do you want with Nebris?”
Etho backs away. “I’m sorry, it’s my job. I won’t bother him anymore.” Etho knows he screwed up. A lot. The easiest way to get out of this is to be quiet, apologetic.
“Why did you attack him? And what is your job, anyway?”
“I can’t say. But if you let me go I promise I won’t- ”
“No.” The man shakes his head to emphasise, and the dagger moves forward. “You tied him up. I don’t believe you. Especially if it’s, how did you put it, your job.” With one swift motion he moves forward, spinning Etho so that he’s held in a tight grip with the dagger at his throat. “I think we’ll keep you for a little while, at least until you’re not a threat to us anymore.”
The man walks Etho forward, the coldness of the blade practically radiating onto the skin of his neck. The purple-eyed man is now up on his feet, glaring at Etho.
“I’m taking him back to our hideout,” Zisteau says to the other two. “Okay? I don’t want him trying to kidnap anyone else.”

The party walks into the forest, Etho half-dragged along. Great. He screwed up the stupid assignment, and now he is probably going to die at the hands of the people he was trying to capture. He knows he should have gotten more help.