Short Story - Of Gold and Motives Snippet

She dipped her head low to avoid the low-hanging oaken beams. It was times like this that made Caeda miss the sweet kiss of the sun. Sooty dust caked the air like a wool blanket, saturating the lower levels of the tower from years of neglect. The chest should be around here somewhere... She coughed then flicked her eyes about, waving her waning torch. I never should have taken this job, she thought.

"I am paying you handsomely, elf, so don't complain," the merchant had said. "The Azure Spire has what I want, and what I want is that amulet."

That poxy ass. This place is infested with ghouls and other shit just as unsavory. The spiral steps that descended into the murky dark led her to a heavy ash door, moth-eaten and studded with rusted iron. She touched the door and her hand came back sticky with a sickly colored ichor. I don't like where this is going, she thought, drawing her short sword. The door let out a resounding creek as she pushed it open. Inert torches on wall sconces greeted her on entry, and she used her own fire to light the room. "There it is," she said aloud. That fat merchant is paying me four-thousand gold for this job. There will be jealous guild members who may pay me a visit in the night... no doubt to sing me to sleep with a steel song. The chest sat upon a rounded dais surrounded by a colonnade of fluted ornate pillars. "Come to Mama." She proceeded towards her prize and found it locked. When she reached within her side pouch for her lock picks, she heard the noise. The sound was a mix of gurgling and guttural wheezing, accompanied by thudding steps.

"Shit," she whispered, fumbling for her tools. I didn't realize there was a door down here, and half open. Caeda dropped to a knee and got to work, feeling for each tumbler, and clicking them in place with precision. It's getting closer. The honey hair plastered to her face was damp with perspiration. When she popped the lock, it appeared; a hulking monstrosity covered in a thick layer of brown fur. Caeda snatched up the amulet when she threw open the chest, then stood poised to flee. The beast lumbered inside the small chamber dragging a log behind like a club on cloven hooves. It had a boar-like visage with black tusks protruding from the sides of its jaw. Blood and a choking bouquet of musk assaulted her nose. She stepped back, and the beast leapt towards her on powerful legs, swinging the log in a wide horizontal arc. Caeda slipped on loose gravel and fell backwards, narrowly evading her demise. She rolled with the fall and sprang for the door, cursing on the way up. Too fast, she thought, hugging a side wall as the log descended onto the steps. She stabbed through the deluge of splintered wood and found the flesh of its cheek. It wailed and tumbled downwards, whilst she made her way upwards towards freedom.

The once-empty foyer of the tower, was now a congregation of shambling stiffs, blocking her exit. I need to clear a path now, that beast is still in pursuit at my flank. Caeda dashed towards a side wall with the least resistance and thrust her blade through the eye socket of a ghoul. She used the corpse to push through the crowd, slashing and stabbing until she reached the door. Her exit flew open with a slender man standing in the doorway, waving her forward. What's he doing here? She dove outside and the man kicked the door shut. The sparse pine trees that encompassed the area gave her a sense of comfort, despite the man before her. A light breeze whistled, drying the sweat on her forehead.

She found her feet and spat off to the side. "What are you doing here, Halford?" One-eye they call him despite the lie, and treacherous according to some.

He had fair skin, a square cleft chin, and a nest of dense black curls. His mail was a simple black brigandine, blank of any insignia. "Is that any way to thank me?" His voice was silk and honey; deep and almost trusting. "Mara told me where to find you. I figured you needed some help."

I never told that cunt about my business affair. "Help with what?" She kept her steel brandished to give him pause.

He waved away her suspicion and said, "The Flame-grade guild are en route. They caught wind of that job you took. Look there." He shot a thumb west towards the mountain range; towards a fleet of men on horses, riding hard.

Caeda relented for half a heartbeat, then sheathed her blade. "Fine, have it your way. I'll ride with you–" She felt cold steel slide through her abdomen, then the hard ground that met her afterwards. Blood pooled from her wound and lips when she attempted to speak, choking up crimson spittle. Why? All she could do was lay there and watch Halford strip her of her loot and weapon.

He mounted up, then gazed down at her with a look of indifference. "Real sorry about that, luv. I'll be sure to tell the merchant that you died trying to escape from the tower. The guild will understand as well." Halford rode off singing a jolly song to himself, whilst she lay on the warm ground. She felt the sun kiss her face as her vision grew dark as night, with hate on her mind, and vengeance lingering on her tongue.