The Court - Finished!

Krissy shivered, she hated that man to the pits of her lonely soul. Why was she so nervous though. Resting her head on Maria's shoulder, Krissy whispered,

" We're amateur thieves Maria. What if anyone of us dies. I couldn't bare losing any of you guys."

Maria remained quiet and pick up Krissy's silver daggers. The beautifully designed blades were deadly sharp but gorgeous at the same time. She'd seen the girl who was resting on her shoulder fight with them before. It was always magical, the way they blurred as she spun and sliced through the air.

"Krissy, perk up love. When we are together we are unstoppable. You are the last person I thought would doubt their abilities. We are going to bring this Rat King down. And when we do, I'll happily cut up the corpse, burn it and throw it down the highest cliff, to make sure this man makes it to hell." She said, unwavering.

" We will bring him down. I know we will. We are all the amateur thieves, murders and brawlers the population sees us as, the ones they say who pollute the society. We are those people but we are also the ones who will free them for the Rogue's claws." Maria motioned towards the rest of the group.

Krissy looked up at the older girl and hugged her closely. "All I can hope is that you are right" she answered

KAYLA

Kayla turned to the Rogue. "I agree," she smiled at him. "Should I be the 'Damsel in distress?'" she asked.

He touched her arm and Kayla's face flushed. "Well, either you or Lorraine would have to be," he smiled.

Kayla smiled. "I'll be ready and I will make sure to be the first to attack!" she said eagerly.

"Don't get overconfident, Kayla. You will need the others to help you with this," he said, seriously. "Do we not remember the last time someone tried to attack without the help of everyone.

Grayson bowed his head. Kayla knew that the guy who had been killed had been Grayson's friend. His body turned up mutilated. Poor kid.

"Oh course," Kayla responded, turning her red face to the ground. "I will wait for the others and none of us will let you down!"

Jas

"Very well," the Rogue said. "It's getting late. We'll finalize the details tomorrow. Gryk and Lorraine, can you run a quick perimeter check for me before you leave? There are guards out there, but I don't trust half of them. Grayson, Mark Coop is still refusing to sell me that inn. Go stand outside his daughter's bedroom window for a couple hours and look menancing or whatever it is you do. If he still won't sell by tomorrow, we'll have to take it by force. I need you, Kayla, to go collect the taxes from the Nightmarket bakery. The idiot's late again. Take a pair of the lower ranking men with you if you think you need them. And Jas... stay here."

I sighed as I watched everyone else file out, Kayla shooting me a final glare. The Rogue waited until the door had closed behind them before standing and stretching, knives glinting at his belt.

"Well?" I asked impatiently, going to join him next to the throne.

"I have another job for you." I shook my head, but he plowed on. "Her name is Laura. She's ten, and her mother was heard loudly insulting me in a bar. We need to teach her family a lesson."

"Absolutely not." I started pacing up and down in front of the throne, trying - and failing - to control my temper.

"And why not?" the Rogue asked softly.

"Because it's wrong!" I yelled. "Killing someone in a fight is fine, but I'm not murdering some little girl for you!"

He fired up instantly, although I could see a flicker of amusement in his eyes. This was his favorite game, and I played the losing side every time. "You'll do what I tell you, you impertinent little - "

"You don't own me!" I shouted back, although that wasn't exactly true. "You might be the Rogue, but you can't order me around like a dog. 'Kill her, Jas.' 'Sit, Jas.' 'Bad girl, Jas.' Well, I won't do it! Just because you're some foul, evil person doesn't mean - "

The door opened again and Lorraine peered in. "Sir?" she said. "There's a girl outside who says she needs to see you immediately. She said something about eavesdropping at a... camp, I think?"

The Rogue stood up, his anger flaring. Jas was not to question his command. Taking a deep breath he said,

"Jas go stand over there. I will finish my conversation in a moment. Send her in Lorraine."

Sitting back down in his draped throne Griery watched as the thin, ragged girl approached. She couldn't have been more than 14 years old.

"So, what information do you have to share?" Griery's voice booming through the room.

The girl flinched and began " I..I 'eard a group of 'em.. outside the...the...the..."

"Spit it ou' girl!" the Rouge's street accent suddenly very pronounced.

The girl flinched away and start over again " They were talkin' 'bout you ma Lord. I didn' 'ear very well. They were whisperin'. Somethin' about enterin' the city with them knights Sir. And about a bar and fightin'. I didn' 'ear very well Sir, but it 'ad somethin' to do wit' you Sir."

The Rogue laughed out. "I'm fairly amused, congratulations. You've amused the Rogue,"

Griery's face became serious again "this is worthless to me you rat. Everyone talks about me when enterin' this goddamn city. These outsiders were worried about the fights in the bar and talkin' about me! That's absolutely worthless to me to filthy street rat"

Griery's voice got louder as he spoke, his face turning red as the anger towards Jas resurfaced suddenly and his annoyance towards this filthy street kid. He stood up suddenly, still shouting at the girl. The girl turned and ran as she saw the big man's hand raised as he approached. Slipping between the guards the girl dispeared down the alley and into the night. Griery turned to Jas, breathing hard.

"You will obey me. If you do not, I will not hesitate to kill you like a mutt. You hear me? A mutt, that is all you are. Go kill that damn girl as I told or you will not see another day!"

The Rogue turned back to his throne. He sat down, rubbing his temples.

"Leave now. If I snap again you may not see another light of day."

And with that Jas left the room.




*Note: If anyone wishes too, they can switch sides. From Krissy's band of friends to the Rogue's side or vice versa. Just have a clearly obvious reason too switch*

Lorraine.

Jas, poor Jas, she had no idea in what she was geting into if she didn't obey the Rogue. I had to go with Gryk to do some checking around the perimeter. But before I had to talk with the Rogue. I was not ruled by morals or so, I made the ruels and brkoe them whenever I wanted.
"Excuse me, lord, but I was wondering?"
"Lorraine, you have not right to wonder right now. You go and do as I told you or you will end up worse than Jas"
"You are not about to treat me as you treated Jas" I defied him.
"No? Then watch me. You better go now, or I swear I'll kill you myself"
I took a deep breath, and walked out the room. He was irritated I knew it, byt Jas who dared to tell him she was not doing what she was supposed to. But I let it go. I could not fford losing my job with the Rogue.
So I went to meet eith Gryk, still frowning and cursing everything.
"Let's go" I told him. ·The Rogue wants this for today, not tomorrow, so get moving"
"When are we meeting with him?" he asked.
"I don't know; he will call us if he needs us"
And we went to check on the nearby places and waited for the Rogue's commands once again.

Jas

The guards looked at me curiously as I strode out of the Rogue's throne room - clearly they had heard the yelling - but I was too shaken to do anything but glare at them.

What happened in there? It had started as the usual game - the Rogue giving me an order he knew I'd refuse, me blowing up at him, him relishing the following argument - but this time it had been different. This time he had actually gotten angry, had actually meant his threats.

Was I losing favor with the Rogue? That didn't seem likely. What would he do without me to yell at and abuse? No one else had enough nerve to stand up to him. And he couldn't be angry about me refusing his orders. In fact, I had the distinct feeling that my defiance was the only reason he kept me. No, it had to be something else...

He hadn't been angry at first. It wasn't until that girl -

I stopped dead in the middle of the dimly lit hallway, my thoughts racing. The girl. He had lost his temper when the girl told him about the camp. He had said the information was useless, but was it? Could the Rogue be worried about whatever was going on at that camp? Could he possibly be... afraid?

Interesting. Very interesting. I'd have to look into it as soon as I got the chance. But for now, I had a girl to kill.




(Should we skip ahead to the attack on the knights now?)

KAYLA

She had gotten the man to pay extra for being so late. The Rogue would be very happy with her. She bowed before him and he acknoweleged her. Kayla sighed a little. She hated it when he was angry.

"Please, dear Kayla, tell me you've brought me good news," he sighed.

"Oh yes sir. I always hope to bring you good news," she said, hurridely, flushing with pleasure at his smile. "The job you sent me out to do...well, let's just say he's frightened enough and he paid extra and promised never to pay late again."

"Good girl," he nodded. Grayson strode in and Kayla looked back at him and away. Grayson the suck up, here again to steal her moment with Him.

"Sir," he bowed his head a little.

"Yes Grayson? Good news?" He asked, fiddling with one of his rings.

Grayson grinned. Kayla rolled her eyes. Grayson nearly always brought in good news.

"The little girl went crying to her daddy. You should have seen the way his face paled. I don't believe you'll have any more trouble from that man."

**Don't let this die guys!!!**

**Thank you Tiger <3**

Griery sat in his chair, rubbing his temples after he had shooed everyone away.

"What am I to do, what am I to do."

The Rouge contemplated one the day's work. It had been effective, things had gotten done but his argument with Jas and the girl's report had blown his cool. Jas' behaviour had angered him today, and he did not understand why. The girl's report was nonsense, why would his professional spies not notice a group of people in the woods but a ragged fourteen year old girl could.

Griery grabbed one of the beautifully coloured fruit that lie beside him. He examined the lovely curves of the pear and its lush green skin. It was quite the beautiful pear he thought before throwing it with all this might against the wall.

Lorraine.
I finished checking the area and went back to the Rogue, who by the way was throwing something at the wall. He soemtimes acted so wird, but stopped when he saw me coming in.
"what happened?" he asked me a bit exasperated.
"Nothing, nothing, just came back from checking the area" I answered in the most calm tone I had, since he sometimes finished with the little patience I had.
"Where's Gryk?" hea sked.
"God knows, he just left me and went God knows where"
He got up from where he was and walked toward a smal air vent taht was in the underground salon. He scared me sometimes, being so lonely and mad from now and then.

Jas

I slumped against the stall door, letting the knife slip from my shaking fingers. Shadow was watching me from across the aisle, her brown eyes looking accusing.

"Don't look at me like that," I snapped at the bay mare. "You know I didn't want to do it."

But I had, and now I was standing in the dark barn, breathing in the reassuring smell of hay and horses and trying to ignore the blood drying on my shirt. The girl had only been ten. And I had killed her.

I angrily wiped away the tears streaking my face. I was a servant to the Rogue, damn it! This was what I did. I killed and I lied and I broke laws. And I didn't go home and hide in my barn and cry.

Brak shifted his weight in the end stall, blinking sleepily. It was only two in the morning. The Rogue would be expecting me back. Angry as he was, he would be even madder if I skipped out early. I took a shuddering breath and retrieved my knife. I would change, and then I would head back to the court.

The moon was high overhead as I slipped out of the barn, carefully shutting the barn door behind me. The door's hinges squeaked noisily, which is why I didn't hear the person coming up behind me until it was too late.

A hand grabbed me. I spun, lashing out with the knife, but the person grabbed my wrist, stopping the blade. I struggled briefly, then recognizing my captor, froze.

"Gryk?" I hissed. "What the heck are you doing here?"

((Guys, Foxfire decided to leave, so I'll be taking control of Gryk. Problem is, I have no idea of what's going on with him, who's side he's on, ect. And I don't want to read through everything. Someone fill me in please?))

Maria

I smiled at Krissy, but it was a sad one. She was so young. I wrapped my arm around her and rubbed her arm, in an attempt to comfort her. "Have I ever led you wrong dearie? Everything will work out fine." Hatred flared inside of me when I remembered the Rogue's face, twisted and smiling.

I shivered. "We should get back into the town. Soon they won't let us back in again." The others nodded in agreement. I stood, helping Krissy to her feet. "Come on love." I began walking in the direction of the city, hearing Krissy and the others follow.

As we got closer to the city I pulled my hood over my face. My scar was a dead giveaway. If there was anyone in the Rogue's trust out on the streets they would recognize me immediately. Once we were through the gates we went our seperate ways. I headed straight home, keeping my head down and my hand on my dagger.

Halfway there I saw a motionless heap on the ground. I hurried forward, and when I reached it I recognized it as a corpse. I turned it over and gasped in shock.

A girl of around ten was lying there, with several stab marks on her chest. I recognized her. She came into the library often. Her name was Susie. She had come in just yesterday and told me how excited she was about finally being a big sister.

And now, someone had taken that from her.

I found that tears were running down my face. Whoever had done this was a terrible twisted person who deserved nothing but death. I straightened and hurried home, making sure to lock the door.

(Wasn't Gryk part of the Rogue's court?)

Jas

The man moved closer, and I saw that he was short, with blond hair and a fish tattooed on his forearm in swirling black ink. He definitely was not Gryk.

I jerked away and backed up, drawing a knife from my belt. "Who are you?" I demanded.

He stepped towards me and I backpedaled until I felt the rough wood of the barn against my back. "You Jas?" he asked in a guttural voice.

"What's it to you?" I said, narrowing my eyes.

"I have a message for your master," he said, staring at me hard. His eyes were a ten on the creep scale, gray and cold.

"A message?" I asked uneasily. Oh, gods, I could see where this was going.

"A message," he said, nodding, then flung a fistful of shimmering green powder at me.

I had been expecting him to lunge at me or attack. The powder caught me completely off guard. It hit me right in the face.

Immediately, pain shot through me, as though I had been lit on fire. I screamed, falling to my knees, and the man lashed out with a dagger. I rolled to the side, slashing his leg with my knife. He stumbled back, swearing, while I lay on the ground, panting, every nerve in my body burning.

"Tell the Rogue this is all the warning he'll get. If he continues to interfere with my trading I will have no choice but to take action," the man said, then melted away into the shadows.

***can somene please bring in Lorraine 'cuz I'm lost**
And Crocks, Gryk is part of the Rogue

** If you are lost Pudin either read through the entire thing to sort stuff out, give up your character if this annoys you (I'm fine with that) or ask someone to mention you. They will if they want to.**

****NO I'm fine with this, I just need someone to mention the character and that's it. In my last post I was with the Rogue but the Rogue hasn't answered so... that's basically my ptoblem***