The Outlaws

*Someone Add*

**Ok I will**

Liskano appeared outside the enemy camp. It was large: 10,000 men. It was larger than he expected. If he didn't do anything now the underground city was doomed. He reached into his pocket and found the one thing he saved for emergencies: Hectus Tevela. It was poison and it caused a painful death.

With his lighting speed he ran through the camp putting in a few drops in the barrels of ale until it was all gone. Only enough for 10 barrels. He quickly ran back towards the direction of the city as fast as he could.

"I don't think we should fight," Caden said slowly. "First of all, we don't know anything about this force or who's sending them."

"Wouldn't the king be sending them?" a voice from the crowd called.

"We were told someone higher than the king was sending them," he answered slowly. "Which most likely means the High Emperor in the north. I couldn't come up with anyone higher."

Charcol is a community character, if anyone wants to bring him up in the story. Just thought I'd say that.

And we still haven't solved the time problem, but I suggest sometime when gun-powder weapons were just coming out (though they'd be inaccurate, but we'll say the people with their cuns are used to that problem and have deadly aim) so that Kilo can keep her gun, and iron manholes have come out, obviously, so...

Liskano ran up to the center of the town square. When he got up there all theives brought out a dagger. "I have news that be bigger danger than me," Liskano started. "I have recently learned that the army's size be bigger than I expected. It be 10,000 strong. I dout you have 1,000 theives down here, so I helped out the way I could. I poisoned them with Hectus Tevela."

Caden swore luridly and rubbed his face. it was hot and his scar was itching something awful.

Molton gazed at the man suspiciously; he couldn't see his face, and that was unnerving. "How in the world did you get something like Hectus Tevela?"

"I always be keeping some handy for times like this," Liskano said. "Where I come from the agredients for it be in abundance. I only ad enough to be killing off about 500 men. You all will have to fight. I will do what I can."

"Ah," said Molton, quietly. "Unfortunately, we're not sure whether we want to stand and fight or evacuate the city or--"

His voice was drowned out among an outcry of angry protests. Molton growled in frustration. "Mabye we won't evacuate," he said once the noise died down. "But i don't think we have enoughpeople to fight, either." He squinted into the cowl of the newcomer's face, trying to see beyond the shadows. "Speaking of that poison, where do you come from?

"I come from the land Escondreda. It was attacked and destroyed by the same people who are attacking you now. My people are trained for their speed and deadlyness at a young age but they somehow defeated us. Me and my brother are the last alive. We will make sure they are all killed down to the last man, I'm sorry but, I can't say more, I must go," and in a blink Liskano was gone.

River

This time I was able to see a blurred image as Liskano raced from the room.
"Just keep doing that and I'll find a way to follow you," I muttered.
"There is no choice but to fight," One thief suddenly called out to a boom of cheers.
"But we have not the strength," Another replied and he too has his fair share of supporters. This was insane. Time to take a stand.

Casually I strolled to the center of the room and was pleased to feel their eyes on me.
"So. You want to fight?" I addressed the first side of the room. Many a yes was shouted and I nodded understandingly and then turned to where the majority of the second side were.
"And you say we don't have the men? You say 2000 against 10000 is suicide yes?" Again a scattering of agreement. Then I turned to Caden.
"And you want to know who they are?" He nodded.
"Well listen. I don't know about you lot but I have a fair selection of lesser poisons. Probably enough to kill ten men. Who else has a few?" I smiled encouragingly and gradually a little under a hundred hands rose into the air. "Surely more than that. Our city is in danger, the thieves code demands you do everything you can." At that a few hundred more sprang up and I smiled in satisfaction. probably enough for ten deaths on average. About four hundred times ten made 4000.

"Well listen. I think Liskano had a good idea but used it wrong. We send out a group. We find out what these people want and if it's a fight they're looking for, we'll poison a good few thousand and then we give them their fight. At the least our negotiations should slow them down and while they talk, our numbers grow. Sound good?"

"i like the idea," Caden said slowly. "But keep in mind that we don't have everyone to fight." he Went over to River and lowered his voice. "one fifth of us are crippled," he said. "Another two fifths are thieves like me, and I've never used my knife except for picking locks and bluffing. Then there's about another fifth who are children, and I don't think we want to get them involved that leaves us one fifth of us who can fight whatever the poison doesn't get, and one fifth of 1,000 is..." he hesitated, trying to count it out, but he soon gave up and shrugged. "is still a whole lot less than what they have." He stepped back and raised his voice again, so everyone could hear, "And how do we know they won't try poisoning us, too?"

"WOuld you like help then?" Alex asked stepping out. SHe looked the man over, he seemed liek a desent guy. And they needed help. Plus this man had a link to the man she was looking for. "I have about twenty plus wolves that will be willing to help. It may seem like a small amount but they will be a big help." She wasn't going to mention that there was more then just wolves though. She knew a few men that would be willing to help.

Caden frowned. "Okay, first of all, I don't even know your name, second of all, I don't trust animals, third of--"

"help is help, Caden," Molton said firmly. "Does it matter where it comes from?"

"Yes," Caden replied. "I don't want 'help' from double-crossers. Forgive me if i'm being a little suspicious."

Molton shrugged and turned to the stranger. "Why do you want to help?"

"I have my reasons, you can trust me. I'm not a liar," She knew she might get in trouble for that one but it was a possibility. "Animals are just as trustworthy as you are, if not more. I'm not a back stabber, and when i become one you will be the first to know."

"I don't exactly like the way that sounds," Caden said. "And I don't trust canine. I have scars from my last encounter, and i hate dogs."

Molton had to smile. A lot of people kept dogs the size of ponies to keep the thieves away, an they were vicioius. "I don't think these are the type of animals you are thinking of," Molton said. "First of all, I don't hink we can trust you until we know your name, where you come from, and what's your reason fro wanting to help." Then, seeing her expression, said, "I'm Molton, and this is Caden. I'm frot the North, and he hasn't been more than a few miles out of this city. And the EMpire is trying to take over our city."

River

"Well I say we give her a chance," I stated and Caden nodded reluctantly but I knew he intended to keep a close eye on her.
"I know we don't have much chance Caden but it's better than none and I wont see this place destroyed. I owe my life to the people here and this is our home," I whispered sadly and then, in a louder voice, "Let's get recruiting people. Get the children and those who can't fight into the back rooms and ready the barricades. Bring the poison to the front and we'll show them what we're made of!"

"Who is going to speak with these people?" Caden queried.
"Some members of the council," I replied evasively.
"And would one of those include yourself?" Molton frowned and I hesitated before nodding.
"I'd like to go. Yeah. My help in recruiting would be very limited and I know a little about herbs. I can sort the poisons, mix a few together to increase strength and so on."