Heart of Fenris
An EverQuest Guild of the Erollisi Marr Server

The Burden of Conscience

Part 1

Light and shadow wrestled across the gray stone walls of the chamber, formed from the flickering torches that adorned the sconces about the room. The chamber itself was sparsely furnished with a large oaken desk to one side and a small serving table with a carafe of wine and silver goblets opposite it. A few woolen tapestries decorated the walls, the rich colours of the weave standing out against the bleakness of the cold stone. It was a simple and unassuming room, quite contrary to the complex and intricate web that was spawned within its walls. The countless strands of this web spiraled out across the city of Freeport, weaving their way into the very fabric of the city, wrapping themselves about the lives of all that walked the city's well worn streets. One of these strands was Drasik Tylas. A young Half Elf with a reputation that many admired and still more disdained, he found himself seated across from the source from which the great web flowed. That source was Tiann Rhiadd…

'How much did you say?' Drasik actually felt his heart skip a beat. He had been taken by surprise and that never, ever happened. His life depended on him always being two steps ahead of the game.

'Fifty thousand platinum. Five thousand now and the rest when the task is complete.' Tiann's full lips curled into a little smirk as she studied Drasik's mask of surprise 'I thought that might get your attention' she added.

'Fifty thousand? That's a king ransom!' exclaimed Drasik. 'What in the name of Bristlebane's Beard what do they want me to do? Pick Nagafen's pockets?'

'Nothing quite as suicidal as that…though for that handsome sum I'm sure you'd try it. Do dragons even have pockets?' asked Tiann with a quizzical smile.

Drasik threw Tiann one of his mischievous grins. That grin was the most lethal weapon in his arsenal. Forget the numerous daggers he kept hidden on his person. He won more battles with flattery and that grin than he did with any blade. It was the reason he could count himself prosperous. It was the reason that he was still alive.

'Well I think it is safe to say that you have peaked my interest' Drasik conceded. 'Tell me more. What does this little task involve?'

'They want you to acquire an item for them. A gem more specifically. I'm told it is a ruby crafted into a teardrop. That is as much as I have been told.'

Drasik arched an eyebrow suspiciously. 'Fifty thousand platinum for a ruby? That seems more than a little excessive for a simple gem. They could buy a mountain of rubies at that price. Who is this "they" that you mentioned?'

Tiann gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. 'At this stage I am not sure of that. Silas Druval approached me with the proposition. He said that he was representing another party who wanted to remain nameless but that they were willing to provide a down payment of five thousand platinum as a gesture of goodwill.'

'Silas Druval? I know that name. A local merchant is he not?'

Tiann gave a slight nod. 'Yes. He is a wine trader and a member of the Coalition of Tradefolk but not someone whom you would describe as overly prosperous and not completely legitimate for that matter. He has been known to dabble in smuggling but not to any extent that effects my business interests. If it did he would not be operating.'

Or breathing for that matter considered Drasik. He studied Tiann for a moment. She was a beautiful woman, he had to admit that. Her long, fiery red hair seemed to blaze now in the golden glow of the torchlight. Her deep emerald green eyes sparkled with life and her dainty, upturned nose was covered with a light smattering of freckles that gave her a slightly impish look. Her full red lips were fixed in a permanent pout but when she smiled her whole face shone with warmth and joy. Her movements were filled with grace and refinement and she carried herself with a quiet dignity. The elegant royal blue gown she wore clung snugly to her slender frame with her shoulders slightly exposed and intricate embroidered lace adorning the sleeves and bodice. Many would think her to be a woman of nobility, perhaps even of royalty. Drasik knew her to be the most powerful and dangerous woman in Freeport.

Drasik's own appearance was a contradiction in itself. From his polished black leather boots to his embroidered crimson shirt and right up to the stylish cut of his black leather vest he could pass for any of the young nobles who squandered their inheritances about the city. He kept a neatly trimmed moustache with a small tuft of hair below his bottom lip in the latest fashion in an effort to cultivate the facade. Drasik thought it made him look rather dashing. He was handsome; he had no false modesty about that. He was not vain about it; he merely accepted it as fact and used it to his advantage. Only his pointed ears spoke of his partial elvish heritage. Apart from that he looked every part the young aristocrat instead of what he really was. The city's most accomplished thief.

'Can we trust Druval?' inquired Drasik.

Tiann paused for a moment before answering. 'Can you really trust anyone?' she replied. 'I know that he has honoured the agreements that we have made in the past but I am sure that was more from fear of reprisal than from any integrity on his part. It does surprise me that Druval is involved with this sort of money but it is not beyond reason that he may have contacts through the Coalition. Perhaps he is merely an errand boy?'

Drasik pondered this point for a moment. Merely an errand boy? Who would Druval be running errands for that had such a ready supply of platinum? He was not about to pass up this chance to earn a small fortune but Drasik could not silence his suspicions; but then he was suspicious of everyone, even Tiann to some extent and she was all but a sister to him.

'Very well,' concluded Drasik 'where do I begin looking for this ruby?'

'Druval gave me a name. Rylas Ellyson. He lives in the North Freeport district. He is an annalist for the Office of Landholders. Druval's sponsor believes he carries the ruby with him.'

Drasik cast another perplexed look at Tiann. 'An annalist? What is a scribe doing with something as obviously valuable as this ruby? Furthermore why would they want to hire me when they could just buy the ruby from this Ellyson? Surely even a fraction of that amount would secure it for them. Something does not sit right with me on this Tiann.'

'There is more to the bargain Drasik. To seal the agreement you must kill Ellyson.' Tiann might well have been commenting on the weather instead of discussing murder. Her calm exterior never wavered for a second and her voice maintained that same, even conversational tone she used when she discussed business.

The beautiful and deadly Tiann Rhiadd. Even after all these years she still remained as enigmatic as ever. Drasik had known her since they were children, drawn together as brother and sister by fate if not by blood. Tiann was the only child of Gareg Rhiadd, the infamous Raven of Freeport, a man of immeasurable generosity and of equally shocking brutality. Over the years the Raven had been transformed into a malevolent figure of local folklore but Drasik had known him when he was still just a man.

Decades ago factional infighting amongst the Rogues Guild of Freeport had degenerated into a vicious and bitter conflict as leadership of the guild was contested. The normally inviolate and complex hierarchy of Freeport's criminal underworld had disintegrated into chaos. Many rogues and smugglers were found across the city with their throat cut or a dagger between their shoulders as open bloodshed threatened to demolish the centuries of relative civility that the guild had provided. Then came Gareg Rhiadd. Little was known of him but it was rumored that his origins lay in the frozen Northlands of Antonica. It was even whispered that he had fled Halas with a death mark from the Rogues of the White Rose upon his head. His towering frame certainly hinted at Barbarian heritage as did his thick locks of coal black hair and shaggy beard that was a distinction of the Northmen. However his accent did lack the broad inflection that was common to the Northlands and, more importantly, he bore none of the tribal markings that the Barbarians received as a symbol of their ascension into adulthood. It was during this time of fear and retribution that the legend of the Raven was forged. The young rogue had appeared unheralded amongst the ranks of those seeking to lead the guild and immediately set himself on a path of fierce recrimination against his rivals. In the space of a few months he had managed to draw a small core of fiercely loyal followers to him and set about systematically eliminating his opposition through a series of gruesome assassinations. Once his authority was secured he assumed official control of the guild and began what would become a dynasty that stood until the present day, almost four decades later. The dynasty that Tiann now controlled.

Drasik forced his attention back to the matter at hand. So the scribe is to be killed? Is it revenge they seek or are they merely covering their tracks? 'For a simple scribe this Ellyson seems to have made some rather dangerous enemies' he noted out loud. 'I wonder how much of the reward is for recovering the jewel and how much is for eliminating him? Very intriguing.'

'I find its better not to question a client's motives' advised Tiann. 'As long as they pay the price then it is no concern of ours why they want this man dead.'

A sombre chuckle escaped Drasik's lips. 'Always the practical one, Tiann. You are right, I know. I am just being my usual suspicious self. I suppose that curiosity is just another of my vices.'

'Let's not start listing your vices, Drasik. We will be here for hours' teased Tiann. She rolled her eyes and giggled at Drasik's mock outrage. She was such a strange mix, so full of kindness and compassion and yet so cold and calculating when it was demanded. She was like her father in that regard. Old Gareg had been the most feared man in Freeport. Anyone who crossed him was dealt with swiftly and ruthlessly. Yet those who managed to gain access into his close circle of friends saw firsthand the warmth and generosity that he was capable of. Loyalty was everything to him. He would walk into the dragon's jaws for someone he considered a friend and he demanded the same in return. Almost nothing was denied to those who made this pledge and he earned the respect and admiration of the guild for this reason. Those who did get close to him were surprised to find a man with an endearing wit and a friendly and obliging nature. Yet he was a man driven by his own personal demons and someone who was not afraid to use murder as a means to an end. The mantle of leadership was not the only thing that Tiann had inherited from her father.

Yet am I any different? Drasik had grown up alongside Tiann in the inner sanctum of the Rogues Guild. As a child he was well schooled in the arts of subterfuge, taught to wield a dagger with skill and precision and introduced to a complex criminal world that simmered beneath the lawful and harmonious veneer of Freeport. One thing that he was never taught though was how to shoulder the burden of conscience. That was something that he was forced to learn on his own. Drasik's lesson had begun the first time he had killed a man. It was all so clear to him still. The glint from his blade as he plunged it into the man's chest; that crippling combination of terror and self-loathing as those frightened eyes stared right into his soul and begged him for a reason; the haunting sound of the man struggling with his last breath. When it was over Drasik had thought that his heart would burst. The experience had crushed what little was left of his childhood innocence and plagued him with a sickening guilt. It was a pain that he thought he would carry with him for the rest of his life. Yet his involvement in the guild would lead him to kill again and again and each time it seemed to hurt a little less than the time before until the pain faded completely. He did what all rogues did. He learned to justify his actions in whatever way he could, to play games with his conscience until he could finally build up the wall of indifference that would keep him from going insane. Drasik didn't kill for enjoyment or spite, only for the promise of platinum. Yet when it came down to it was one reason better than another? He sensed that old flash of pain and instinctively pushed the thought aside. Let it go Drasik. Let it go.

He tried to ignore the dark thoughts that lingered in the depths of his mind and turned his focus back to Tiann. She was considering him with that piercing green-eyed gaze that she wielded that tore away all pretence and stared right into his heart. Drasik was a master of deception but under Tiann's inquiring gaze he felt exposed and defenceless. He shifted nervously in his chair.

'Are you quite all right Drasik? You seem distracted.' Tiann's tone was one of concern. Apart from the professional regard they held for each other there was a family bond between them that went beyond the domain of the guild. Tiann gave Drasik a comforting smile and leant across the desk to place her soft hand over his. 'I came to you with this because, as much as I hate to inflate your opinion of yourself, you are the best at what you do. You were my father's most talented apprentice. There is a lot of money involved here and, although it seems a simple task, it is obvious that we are dealing with an influential and important client. We must handle this with the utmost care. If you feel unsure about it then there are others in the guild that I can approach.'

Drasik gave a whimsical smile. She was such a devious woman, trying to comfort him and prick his pride all at the same time. 'I assure you, sister dear, that nobody will do as fine a job as I. I am merely being cautious. "Know your enemy" as old Gareg used to say. I accept the terms. My blade is yours.' Drasik drew out a dagger from its sheath and kissed the fine steel blade. He then placed it gently on the desk before him with the hilt pointing towards Tiann. With a smile she collected the dagger and repeated Drasik's actions, kissing the blade and placing it on the table with the hilt towards him. Drasik took the dagger and sheathed it again. Even amongst rogues, tradition stood for something.

Tiann drew a small leather satchel from a drawer in her desk and slid it across to Drasik. 'Take this. Inside are directions to Ellyson and a description of the gem. I have secured the five thousand for you. We will take the usual guild tribute from the total only when all dealings are complete.'

Drasik took the satchel and placed it inside his vest. 'Agreed. Dawn must be upon us soon. I will wait until this evening to begin the hunt. If all goes well I will return in a few days with the gem.'

'Excellent' replied Tiann. 'Once we have the gem I will contact Druval and make the necessary arrangements for the transaction.' She paused then and gave Drasik a slightly pensive look, as if struggling with some internal decision. After a moment she added 'Perhaps it would be wise if I was to have Druval watched. If he were moving in new circles we would do well to know whom he is consorting with. Your curiosity must be rubbing off onto me.'

'Indeed' smiled Drasik. 'It certainly would not hurt.' The truth was that Tiann's curiosity greatly outweighed that of anyone Drasik had ever met. The guild provided her with a ready source of information about almost everything that happened within the fortified walls of Freeport and she used it to its full potential. Her network of spies went beyond anything even Drasik realised.

'Well if all is settled I will go and get some rest. Its been quite an eventful night' noted Drasik as he rose to leave.

'And where are you calling home this week Drasik?' inquired Tiann.

Another of Tiann's little games. Drasik was sure that she knew the answer already to almost every question she asked him. 'I have a resplendent residence at the Trader's Holiday Inn if you must know. It has all that the discerning gentleman requires. A nice fire, a warm bed and a little peace and quiet.'

'And all the ale and wenches you can handle. Tell me Drasik have you beded every serving girl in the place yet or has your schedule been a little busy this week?'

'I am sure I don't know what you mean m'lady' said Drasik with a coy grin. He hated that she knew him so well. 'A gentleman would not be involved in such scandalous behaviour.'

'Ah of course not' grinned Tiann. 'And who are you this week I wonder?' She cupped her chin in her hand with a look of mock bewilderment on her face. She was a merciless tease. 'A young noble fighting to regain his rightful place as Duke from his evil twin brother perhaps?' Then her face lit up with inspiration. 'I've got it. A spy on a secret mission to investigate the undergarments of Freeport's young maidens?'

Drasik gave a hearty chuckle. 'Well I have not tried that second one yet but it certainly has potential. Come now Ti, you don't want me to give away all my trade secrets. You have so little mystery in your life as it is.'

'I assure you Drasik I have far too much mystery in my life. At least I cannot say that my life is boring.'

'Would you want it any other way?' posed Drasik. 'We have too much fire in our bellies to live the quiet life, Ti.'

'I suppose you are right' smiled Tiann. 'You know if you get tired of loitering around ale houses you always have a place to stay here in the guild house.'

'Thank you for the kind offer but I like keeping my ear to the ground and those ale houses are an ideal place to do just that. I think that half of everything that happens in Freeport begins over a pint of beer.'

'Very well' sighed Tiann as she rose from her chair. 'Off to your precious serving girls then.'

'Come now Tiann' protested Drasik. 'You know you're the only girl for me.' He flashed Tiann his dangerous grin, grabbed her roughly about the waist and planted a kiss on her cheek.

Tiann feigned annoyance and wriggled out of his grip. 'I bet you say that to all the girls you heartless cad. Off with you now before I start actually believing your flattery.' They both grinned in amusement as Drasik retrieved his cloak from the back of his chair and secured it around his shoulders.

'Very well m'lady. I will return in a few days when the task is complete' promised Drasik as he turned to walk towards the door. Tiann caught his elbow before he could leave and looked him in the eyes with an earnest expression.

'Be careful out there Drasik. All the platinum in the world is worthless if you are not alive to enjoy it.'

Drasik patted her hand comfortingly and gave her a warm smile. 'I will be careful Tiann. I am always careful. I will see you soon.' With that he turned and strode through the doorway out into the pale grey dawn of Freeport with the thought of murder on his mind.

To be continued....