The Price of Theft

Well, Cordanth, you’ve really outdone yourself this time. Cordanth Hisadant choked out a bitter laugh that echoed through the abandoned tavern. Even the simple effort of laughing elicited pain as he clutched the bloody opening in his abdomen left by a cutthroat’s blade. Despite his unease, Cordanth allowed himself to lean on the dusty bar to rest. Can’t risk sitting down, if I need to bolt, I’d rather be on my feet. Cordanth pulled his hand away from his wound and stared at his crimson-soaked palm and fingers. No running from this though. Doubt I’d make it back to the safe house in time to get this treated.

There was a sudden thud followed by shouts and the clashing of blades in the alley behind the tavern. Cordanth froze. His heart hammered as he fixed his eyes on the back door. The act of breathing became next to impossible. Beads of sweat began to form across Cordanth’s forehead. The next few minutes dragged on for an eternity until silence once again settled.

And who could that have been? Certainly not anyone from the Eclipse, there wouldn’t have been a fight if it was. Cordanth found some small relief in that. He ran his slender fingers through his long, greasy, brown hair. Guards maybe, or councilman Barna Waddon’s men. Thieves and assassins wouldn’t make such a ruckus.

Cordanth's mind turned to his crew. If there's fighting this far away from the manor I can only imagine what it must be like elsewhere. I hope the others fared better than I did.

A familiar tingle tickled at the back of Cordanth’s scalp as he eyed the empty, dust smothered shelves on the other side of the bar. Following his instincts, Cordanth stumbled behind the bar and began searching the cabinets and shelves until he found what he was a searching for - an untouched bottle of Gheryst whiskey. Cordanth smiled. “Strong stuff,” Cordanth said to himself. One last drink before I kick the bucket.

“Found something good down there?”

A chill raked down Cordanth’s spine like icy talons. His stomach twisted into knots. I know that voice, Sedic Ossendre. Of everyone that could have found me, why did it have to be him. Cordanth eyed the back door to his left. He would only need to take a few steps, but by the time his fingers touched the door handle a dagger would find its way between his ribs and into his heart.

“I know you’re not foolish enough to think you can escape, Cordanth. Come, bring whatever you’ve found over here and have a drink with me.”

Cordanth swallowed and took a deep breath to compose himself. Fighting against the pain of his wound, Cordanth stood up to find Sedic sitting at one of the nearby tables. The man was dressed in the midnight blue robes of the Eclipse order. Sedic’s hands were hidden in pristine black leather gloves and his face was masked in shadow within the dark confines of the hood he chose to wear. He wore a pair of vicious looking daggers at his waist whose pommels were shaped like serpents with sapphire eyes. Though it was difficult to make out, Cordanth could see what appeared to be a small sack at Sedic’s feet.

Though he could not see them, Cordanth felt the immense weight of Sedic’s eyes falling on him. He gave the assassin a small, defeated smile. “I didn’t know you were in town. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that you of all people caught me.”

“There are those in the Eclipse that would have found you far sooner that I did, but lucky for you they’re away on business.”

Running his thumb over the thin wax seal on the bottle with such fervor Cordanth might wear it away he said, “no doubt they would have just killed me as soon as they found me.”

Sedic nodded, then motioned to the chair across from him, “sit.”

Cordanth did as he was commanded and placed the bottle between himself and the Eclipse assassin. An uncomfortable silence settled in the room. Cordanth felt his palms grow slick with sweat and wiped them on his linen pants.

Sedic, unfazed by Cordanth’s demeanor said, “you didn’t find any mugs back there?”

Cordanth shook his head.

“I hope you don’t mind sharing from the same bottle,” Sedic said as he unsealed the whiskey. “Gheryst, terrible city but lovely liquor. Have you ever been?”

Eying the bottle, Cordanth frowned. “No.”

There was a small pop as Sedic pulled the cork from the bottle. “Never once left our wonderful city, eh? Well, Tulimbia is nice, or is as nice as a city can be.”

Another wave of pain pulsed from Cordanth’s wound, causing him to flinch. “Not so nice tonight.”

“That’s your doing, Cordanth. You and your little friends have disrupted the balance in the city and the entire kingdom, though, you certainly won’t hear me complaining.”

Cordanth blinked, he felt a thin sliver of hope. “You’re not?”

“The city guard and the council members private guard are slaughtering one another; thieves and cutthroats are killing each other in the alleyways. It’s all quite beautiful. You should be proud of yourself. It’s rare when the Eclipse could achieve such slaughter, and for a lowly thief. I applaud the bloodshed.”

A pang of guilt struck Cordanth, “I’m not sure I appreciate the compliment, but if you’re so pleased with my work, I would appreciate you letting me walk out unscathed.”

Sedic took a swig of the whiskey then pushed the bottle to Cordanth. “Now, don’t misunderstand what I’m saying, Cordanth Hisadant is going to die tonight, along with everyone else involved in your little heist.”

Grasping the neck of the bottle, Cordanth’s heart sank. “Oh.”

“Don’t look so glum. Thanks to you, the council is no longer untouchable, and the Eclipse can begin taking power.”

“Taking power?”

“We’re not just an organization that deals in death and coin, we have tenants to follow and goals to achieve. Seizing power is just the first step.”

Cordanth cocked his head. “Then what comes after?”

From somewhere in the shadow of the hood Sedic laughed. “It is not for me to tell or for you to know, but rest assured, the Eclipse will encompass the world.”

The assassin’s words chilled Cordanth’s words. The thief took another mouthful of whiskey from the bottle. He let the liquid sit in his mouth, felt it’s burn before swallowing. Cordanth returned the bottle to the table. Is there even a man under that hood? Cordanth wondered as he stared at the shadow. No one has ever seen the face of Sedic Ossendre, at least no one living has.

“Where is the Blood Moon?”

Cordanth tried to remain calm. "The what?"

Resting a hand on one of his daggers, Sedic asked again, "where is the Blood Moon?"

Without saying a word, Cordanth reached into a pouch at his side, his fingers caressed the cold surface of a gemstone almost as large as his fist. He pulled the near weightless stone from the pouch and placed it on the table next to the whiskey. Cordanth eyed the deep crimson colored gem.

Sedic said nothing as he grasped the jewel and hid it within his robes. “Was that so difficult? In truth, I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

“Is that so?”

Nodding, Sedic said, “indeed. With this stone, Barna Waddon was untouchable. We could not kill him or make any moves against him for that matter without risk of the Blood Moon’s destruction.”

Cordanth’s heart raced. Did I just willingly hand over my trump card? Cordanth would have jumped to his feet had he not been stabbed. “Then why did you make such a move against me?”

Taking the bottle of whiskey in hand, Seidc said, “You don’t know how to destroy it. Why wouldn’t we make a move against you?” The assassin took a quick sip, then placed the bottle back on the table. "You sealed your fate the moment you placed your hands on this jewel."

“So, you’ll be making a move against the good councilman?”

“Actually, I already have.”

Cordanth raised an eyebrow and watched as Sedic reached into the sack at his feet. What the assassin placed on the table left Cordanth speechless. The thief found himself looking into the eyes of none other than Barna Waddon.

Sedic tossed the bloody cloth aside. “I did take great pleasure in separating the councilman’s head from the rest of his body, although I’m sad to say that the pleasure of snuffing out the rest of his family belongs to others in my order.”

Eying the morbid display, Cordanth could recognize all the familiar features of the man. Thin white beard, giant ears poking out from under his mess of hair and a disgusting beet colored birthmark under his eye. Shifting in his seat, Cordanth cleared his throat then said, “it seems death did nothing to improve the man’s looks.”

Amused by the thief, Sedic chuckled. “It's rare that death makes any of us look better.”

The sound of a new clash erupted in the streets. Cordanth turned his attention to the entrance. If someone were to smash through that door I could escape!

Sedic moved himself between Cordanth and the door. “You’re only concern is me. The men fighting and dying outside won’t bother us.”

Cordanth looked to the robed, hooded figure. “What more is there to discuss?”

“Cordanth Hisadant’s coming death.”

There was no change in Sedic that Cordanth could discern, the assassin spoke of death as anyone else would speak of breathing. “What about it?”

“Many would have simply butchered you, but as I said, I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Does it really matter if I'm going to die? Cordanth shrugged. “So?”

Sedic slipped a hand into one of his sleeves and produced a small vial filled with a murky green liquid. Holding it up, Sedic said, “I am quite sure you know what this is.”

Examining the vial for a moment, the realization came to Cordanth, “Lullaby. I’ve used it before. Quite useful for putting people to sleep.”

The hooded assassin nodded. “And with enough of the drug one can stop the heart.”

“I’m aware,” Cordanth said, “though I’ve never killed anyone with my use of it.”

“You wouldn’t be a good thief if you had to kill anyone to steal.”

Taking the vial from the assassin, Cordanth pulled the cork free. A light, fragrant scent filled the air that invited Cordanth to drink. “Will it hurt?”

“No. You will fall asleep and Cordanth Hisadant will no longer walk this earth.”

Cordanth eyed the green liquid. “What of the rest of my crew? Will you grant everyone else the same gratitude?”

The hooded assassin shook his head. “That was not for me to decide.”

“Then why am I given this courtesy and not them?”

“You were the one to take the contract and you were the one to take the Blood Moon. Your friends played their role but that is all.”

A scowl came to Cordanth. “You speak as if they were pawns on a chess board.”

Sedic said nothing but did not waver under Cordanth’s words.

Cordanth lowered his head. There would be no arguing with Sedic. Listening to the ring of clashing blades and the screams of dying men, the thief brought the vial to his lips and drank.