Hawks Do Not Share With the Likes of Vultures (LOR GC XII Bignette: Extortion)

It'd been close to a few months since the men had left the Shade in favor a more hospitable climate up north in sunny Loreos.

 

Sain's ship was still being repaired, but it was of little issue to the men. Rumors of a sea serpent reaping the waves of the west were making their rounds through Roawia, and the tax ship the men had been tracking for quite some time had docked-up in a port city along Loreos' coast, waiting for the all clear from the crown to continue into the more dangerous waters further west.

 

As such, the men had too been stuck in this port town waiting for the ship to move again. But they had been making the most of their time there. Between boozing their way through all the scummiest bars and brothels the city had to offer, to fighting men on the streets in the wee hours of the morning, and gambling in the fighting pits, which Boethius had now developed a knack for, it was safe to say the men were once again running a bit low on gold and wine to help cool their tempers.

 

To be fair the Lenfel gold they had stolen in the Shade had lasted a fair bit longer than they had intended, even after most of it had went to Sain's ship repairs. They'd been living quite luxuriously these past few months, for Outlaws of course.

 

"Well, the wine will be all but gone soon..." Said Boethius taking a big swig from one of the last bottles. "It's amazing you've made it last this long..." Said Algar slyly. Boethius caught his breath between sips and said, "Well...after that five bottle night...and the fish market incident, I had to limit how much I drank during the day a little bit." He chuckled with an almost malicious tone in his wine soaked breath before taking another chug.

 

"But the question still remains, where can we get some more coin quickly?" Asked Nepos looking at the men.

 

"Aye, well one of me little birdies told me that there be some slavers in this city who be making coin hand over fist. What do you say we proposition them for a little loan?" Asked Sain with a hearty grin. "Sounds like the best plan yet." Said Boethius taking another gulp of wine. "I think you're just saying that because the wine's almost gone." Said Nepos with a grimace. "Aye well the lad can come with me to get the money then if you're concerned it won't work out." Said Sain quickly. Boethius needed no other convincing other than the possibility of more wine as an outcome.

 

The two men drunkenly wandered the town looking for the villa of the slavers they were going to steal from. Finally after a good bit of walking, and more drinking, and even more drinking, they had found the luxurious doorstep flanked by fine granite columns. Sain meticulously picked his way through the front door easily, only after fumbling with the lockpicks a few times, and the men were in.

 

Inside were gold statues, fine furs and cloths, hand carved furniture, paintings, leather bound books, silvered goblets and even spiced wine, one of Boethius' favorites, among other things.

 

Boethius wandered the villa looking around appraising the items while he popped the cork of a new bottle of wine. As he continued to sip the finely spiced and aromatic wine straight from the bottle he became more and more infuriated by the luxury these men where living in.

 

Jealously perhaps Boethius guessed. He had been in such environments before, usually stealing of course, but nonetheless something deeper in him brewed a foul anger.

 

Maybe because these men were slavers? That had to be it, he thought. The Loreesi were always so mighty atop their groomed horses, claiming moral and intellectual superiority yet they housed some of the greatest scum known to Roawia.

 

Boethius was interrupted in thought by the sound of shuffling and hushed speech outside on the patio. Boethius alerted Sain and they looked out the windows to see two men talking over some wine themselves.

 

"Aye lad, this be perfect!" Said Sain busting open the door.

 

The slavers were startled at first as the door flew open and two men clad in brown and black walked through the doorway.

 

But their fears were quickly subsided when one slaver said, "You're late. We've been waiting for hours!"

 

Boethius looked at Sain in confusion, which Sain shot right back at him. They looked again to the Slavers. "You're here for payment correct?" He said motioning for the other slaver to produce something out of his pockets.

 

"Aye lad, not so fast there..." Said Sain drawing his sword.

 

"Not this rigmarole again." Said the main slaver. "Listen we have half your payment here, we just need more time to sell the men you provided on the docks."

 

Sain eyed the fumbling slaver who tossed him a small sack of coins. "You'll see that half the payment is there-" Began the main slaver before Boethius cut him off. "We're not here for some measly payment, you vulture."

 

The main slaver was now a bit frustrated, and stared at Boethius with his beady eyes. He turned to the other slaver and said, "I hate when they show up too drunk." with a sniveling laugh.

 

Boethius, now infuriated, gripped his now almost empty bottle of wine with white knuckles. "We're here for more than just a few coins."

 

Now the Slavers began to sweat. "Do you know who I am boy? You're intimidation won't work on me. Who do you think you are, challenging a man like me?" The main slaver asked setting down his glass.

 

"Aye, well who we are ain't be important in this situation, what is important is that we be robbing you. So go on, give it up. Hand over all yer coin." Said Sain calmly. "I will do no such thing!" Yelled the other slaver in some attempt to impress his superior. Sain then looked up and said, "Aye, well this can go one of two ways; my way or yer way. Which one it be?" But before the slaver could make a decision Boethius flushed the bottle in his hand of all its contents and spit them onto the slavers who recoiled into the railing. "This boy is mad!" Growled the main slaver.

 

Boethius rammed his sword into the man's chest and watched as the crimson blood spilled onto the tiled floor. He watched the man grasp for air where none was present until Boethius withdrew his blade with such force that it sent the man over the railing.

 

The other slaver sat with shock as a stream of blood trickled down next to him. He covered his head and begged for life but Boethius would have none of it. In a fury Boethius hacked the man to pieces as Sain watched.

 

Boethius and Sain exited the villa with a trunk full of goods and on to the streets. "I didn't expect it to go that way, but..." Said Boethius readjusting his grip as the film of blood on his hand made the chest handle slippery. "Well laddie, I told him it'd go one of two ways, and now we be leaving with his gold and his life. A pity really." Said Sain with a sinful smile. "I feel bad for the other guy, he should've chosen a more sensible business partner." Boethius looked at Sain and they both began to chuckle as they walked on to the streets and into the daze of traffic.

 

Title was adapted from Hemingway.

 

Tried to do a more tiled build with subtle textures, something a little different from my usual stuff.

 

Enjoy.

Done