14 - ...And Know When to Fold 'Em

((Takes place immediately after "Know When To Hold 'Em..."))

Things had gone well for Guruthos. His new found patroness, Lady Tamara Willowsford-Rotham of the Theramore Willowsford-Rothams (of course), had kept him well-fed and maintained for the past couple of days. He even had several new suits to show for it. And her demands in exchange were minimal, just the occasional servicing. All in all, it wasn't half bad. What she lacked in youth, she more then made up for in experience and vigor. In addition, he had plenty of time to continue his surveillance of Erendis and her friend.

He was surprised to see Erendis leave the Occidental without her disguise. But, it made tailing her all the more easy. He was taken aback, however, when she was jumped after shopping at a local enchanting store. This was unexpected and he was out of position to do anything about it. "Best to continue my surveillance," he thought to himself.

The goblins dragged her into a nearby warehouse. After an hour, they left. Erendis was up and walking with them, but obviously not on her own accord. The goblins pressed tightly around her and one of them had a firm grip on her wrist. "I wonder why she doesn't simply blast them away," he thought. Instinct told Guruthos to remain concealed and see how this all played out, and he listened to those instincts. They were usually right, after all.

***

Erendis walked down the streets of Ratchet with her "escort." Baron Revilgaz and two of his goons had a close watch on her. They had freshly injected her with the "cocktail," so they didn't fear her spellcasting abilities.

"Amateurs," Erendis muttered under her breath as she tasted the blood in her mouth with her tongue.

"What was that, tart?" Revilgaz asked.

"Nothin' … Baron."

Revilgaz had decided to work her over to give her a taste of what would happen if she crawfished him. This confirmed Erendis' most basic assumptions of the Baron. Although he was cruel, he wasn't overly intelligent. Even a rank novice knows that you work someone over before you get them to agree to something, not after. Aside from the bloody mouth, she was certain her nose was broken and the ache in her side unmistakably felt like a broken rib. All in all, however, she was okay. She had been through worse in her lifetime…

All she had to do was get Revilgaz and his crew to the suite. They thought she was alone. They didn't know Abbygail was there. Even though she couldn't cast a spell, Erendis had stashed weapons around the room. One of Flint 's little lessons … always prepare for any contingency. All she had to do was get to one of them. Abby and she would make quick work of these three.

Erendis began to grin to herself. "Oh yes, you sawed-off tick-turd, you'll be beggin' for your life before this night is over," she thought with some measure of self-satisfaction.

*Meanwhile at the Suite*

Abbygail busied herself with some "light" reading while she waited for Erendis to return with the enchanting components. Lately, she had found herself more and more intrigued with the workings of the sentient mind … how to manipulate and control it. How to evoke emotions. How to peer into the thoughts of another, or if necessary, how to rip the thoughts from their skull. She was learning … fast. But, her technique still needed polishing.

She flipped the page in her book when the doors suddenly burst open. Three heavily armed and armored goblins burst in. With military precision, they quickly seized and bound her. Abbygail had no time to react. One goblin stood guard over her while the other two silently and efficiently swept the other rooms in the suite.

"Clear and secure, sir." One of the goblins reported to the one who guarded Abbygail.

"Good. Sit her down, we need to chat."

The two goblins lifted Abbygail and placed her in a chair.

"Where is your friend?" The Leader asked.

Abbygail decided to act naive and play along. The goblins apparently didn't know she was a spell caster and, thus, had taken no steps to prevent her from doing so. Erendis would soon be back and, between the two of them, they could make short order of these goons … whoever they are. Abbygail put on her best 'frightened' face.

"Who, Eren? She went to the market. She's coming back soon. Please, please, please, don't hurt me."

The Leader nodded and ordered the other two to take up flanking positions to the side of the suite.

"And so, we will wait for your friend," the Leader said, his voice emotionless, "then we will decide what happens to you."

***

Erendis and her entourage reached the front door of the suite. She reached into her pocket and withdrew her key to the font door. As she was about to put the key into the door, Revilgaz poked his knife into her ribs. "Remember girlie, no funny business." Erendis nodded in reply and opened the door. They stepped in, Erendis shut the door behind them…

The next moments happened in slow motion. Erendis saw Abbygail tied up sitting in a chair, a goblin was sitting next to her. He looked surprised, as if he was only expecting Erendis. Just then, two other goblins stepped out from the left, weapons drawn. Baron Revilgaz let out a quick gasp, but he and his men quickly drew their weapons in response. Both sides stood there motionless, staring at one another, silent, not knowing what to do.

The situation was a powder-keg lacking a match. Erendis knew it would quickly explode into violence, and it was best that the violence happen on her terms. With her eyes, she gave Abbygail a look and the wordless message to "get ready" passed between the two of them. Abbygail slightly nodded her head in understanding. With a second look, Erendis' eyes said, "Now!"

In a smooth motion, Erendis pivoted and punched the Baron squarely in the stomach. The air whooshed out of Revilgaz's lungs and the goblin doubled-over before crumpling to the floor.

The goblins opened fire on one another with crossbows and charged with their weapons.

Erendis dove for the small table next to the door and ripped the wand that she had secured underneath it from its adhesive. Crouching for cover, she blasted bolts at anything that was short and green.

Simultaneously, Abbygail lunged out of the chair and onto the floor, out of the line of fire. Chanting, she stretched her mind outward and into the Leader's mind. He fought her attempt at control briefly, but succumbed. Now Abbygail's pawn, she directed him to attack one of his own men.

With a flash, a new party entered into the fray. Guruthos threw himself into the melee, dropping one goblin quickly with a ferocious backstab. One of the other goblins tried to attack him. One parry and a feint later, Guruthos' dagger was buried deep in the goblin's neck. He gurgled on his own blood before falling dead.

It was all over in seconds. Four goblins lay dead. Revilgaz and "The Leader" were bound, gagged and unconscious for the time being.

Erendis cut Abbygail free from her bonds. With a smirk, she said, "My Abby, you seem to keep strange company."

"So do you, Erendis," Abby replied nodding in Guruthos' direction.

"Yes, now it seems that I do. So now, Guru, what's all this? Spyin' on me, eh? Don't bother sayin' this is all a coincidence."

"No, Erendis, this is not a coincidence. I've been observing you and your friend for the past day or so now. Call it … professional curiosity and interest."

"Yeah," Erendis said, more then slightly embarrassed, "and I'm sure you and your little squirrel buddy have seen some … interesting … things the past couple of days, eh?" Guruthos nodded slightly in response. "Well, ordinarily I would be burned at this intrusion, but these ain't what I would call ordinary circumstances. So, I'm glad you intervened."

Erendis turned to Abbygail, "Guru here is an operator like me. I met him a few weeks back. We agreed to collaborate some in the future … didn't think it would be so soon."

"I see," Abbygail said, still eyeing Guruthos' suspiciously and glad for the fact she still wore the glamour altering her appearance. "Now, need I point out the obvious that we have four dead bodies and two live ones which need to be taken care of?"

Abbygail was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Miss Eren, Miss Abby. This is Security. We had reports of a commotion. Please, open the door."

"Shit," Erendis cursed under her breath. "Quickly now, hide the bodies. Everyone out of sight." Raising her voice, she said, "One moment please."

Erendis quickly reapplied her alteration glamour and stripped, throwing a robe over herself haphazardly. "Abby, follow my lead when I open the door. Guru, stay out of sight and make sure our guests remain quiet."

Erendis opened the door. "What?" She asked in a very condescending manner.

"Oh, I'm sorry Miss Eren. The guests in the adjacent suites complained of noise." The goblin tried to crane his neck around Erendis to see the inside of the room.

"Oh, that. I'm sorry. Abby and I were playing around a little and might have gotten a little too carried away."

On cue, Abbygail stepped out of the bedroom, wrapped in a large towel. "Eren, if that's the concierge tell him we need more champagne and oysters ... And get back to the bedroom. I'm getting lonely."

Erendis looked at the security guard, giving him a mischievous smile. "You heard her. Could you please be a dear and pass that order onto the concierge?"

"Of course, Miss Eren. Anything for Mr. Venture's friends…"

"Thank you." Erendis gave the goblin a small peck on the cheek before shutting the door and saying, loud enough so he could hear it through the door, "Coming Abby, and please, try and be a little more gentle with me this time…"

Once they heard the security guard walk away, the three breathed easy.

"Who is your goblin friend there Erendis, he looks very familiar." Guruthos said, getting back to the business at hand.

"Indeed he should. That's Baron Revilgaz of the Blackwater Raiders. He and I had some dealin's that didn't go to his satisfaction. Little bugger thought he would one up me. Now, Abby, who is your friend there?" Erendis asked, gesturing toward "the Leader."

"I do not know, let us find out." Abbygail stretched out her mind; reaching into the Leader's thoughts … she was confronted with a wall. "I cannot get anything. I have been studying a new technique, which might be successful, although I cannot guaranty he will remain … intact."

"I don't care. I need to know if my task here is compromised. Do what you must."

Closing her eyes, Abbygail stretched outward again. Her brow furrowed in concentration. Beads of sweat formed at her brow and began to trickle down her face. When she opened her eyes, they were entirely black. The Leader lurched to life. His eyes opened and rolled back into their socked. His mouth tried to scream in vain. Veins bulged on his face and neck. Blood poured from his tear ducts, nostrils and corners of his mouth. He lurched once more, and then was dead.

Abbygail swooned and started to collapse. Erendis caught her and gently lowered her to the floor, telling Guruthos to get some damp towels and water. Erendis dabbed Abbygail's forehead with one of the moist towels. She gently rocked Abbygail, whispering her name, until she slowly came to.

Erendis lifted Abbygail and placed her on a chaise and then she sat next to her and held her hand until her strength returned.

"I am fine now, my dear, and thank you" Abbygail said.

"Did you discover anythin'?"

"Yes. He is a Venture Company operative. His mission is to keep a close watch on Yarik and report back anything suspicious directly to Yanik Venture."

"I see," Erendis said. "Yanik doesn't even trust his own brother."

"No, he does not. He became suspicious because of the time we were spending with Yarik. He decided to investigate us and saw that our credentials did not check out. So, he decided to act."

"Did he make any report to Yanik?" Erendis asked.

"Fortunately, no. It would seem our mission is safe, for now. He is supposed to make a regular report at the end of the week however." Abbygail replied.

"I see," Erendis breathed a sigh of relief. "If all goes according to plan, we should be long gone by then. For now, we gotta clean up this mess and dispose of these bodies."

"What about the Baron here? Should we kill him? Would settle some scores I have…" Guruthos asked.

"Revilgaz? No. We won't be killin' him today. I don't need the Raiders and the Steamwheedle Cartel on me as well as Venture Company. I got somethin' special planned for Revilgaz…"

***

Baron Revilgaz slowly came to. His body was moist and sandy for some reason … moist and sandy all over. He quickly discovered why. He was buried on a beach up to his neck, close to a fast rising waterline...

"Hi Revi, dear. Guess I'm holdin' all the cards now, eh?" Erendis said in a bright, cheery voice.

"Dammit," Revilgaz cursed to himself. "That bitch got me again."

"Oh hey there girlie. Sorry 'bout all the confusion, eh what? I was jus' foolin' 'round. No harm done, right? We still friends, eh?" Revilgaz pleaded. Indeed, that crazy wench held all the cards. Time to fold.

"Oh yes, Revi, I'm still your friend. But, like all friends, from time to time, we need to redefine our relationship. Now is such a time." Erendis pulled a scrap of paper from her beltpouch. She knelt down on the sand and held the paper before Revilgaz's eyes … it was the scrap of paper he had handed her in Booty Bay with Grimbley Bigfizz's name and the date and location of his caravan on it. The original, in his own handwriting. The one he thought he had burned after showing it to her.

"How the hell …?!"

"Oh, it was magic, Revi … like this." Erendis showed Revilgaz her empty hand and, using the old sleight of hand trick, pulled a coin out of the goblin's ear.

"Two-timing strumpet." He cursed under his breath. He knew he was a dead gobbo if that got out. Both the Cartel and the Company would see him dead if they knew he squawked on Bigfizz.

"Now, don't worry Revi … friends keep their friends' secrets. So, I have just one question. Are you still my friend? Because, if you weren't, I don't think I could bear it."

"Yes, we're friends. Regular shipmates we are."

"Good. I'm glad to hear that." The phony sweet voice and smile suddenly vanished. "Leave Ratchet now or this little note goes to the Venture Company and the Steamwheedle Cartel." She turned and left.

"Wait, friend, wait, you gotta dig me out … the tide be comin' in …"

"You're a bright boy, Revi," she said, switching back to the sweet voice and without looking back. "I'm sure you'll figure a way out."