A Tale Of Two Tieflings

Chapter 5 - Spies And Lies

(... In which Valakas finds an unlikely ally and the cogs of the future are set into motion...)

The elegant carriage approached, led by a single bay horse, and slowly came to a halt as I held my gloved hand up to stop it, wincing and groaning as I did so, curled up in a heap in the middle of the path.

"Ho there, are you alright?" Said the driver, slowing the horse and stepping down, approaching me cautiously.

The dark brown cloak I was wearing had its hood up to obscure my face, my tail was tightly curled close to me under the material as I focused on keeping it still, and so far he seemed cautious but unpanicked.

Breathing heavy, my heart pounding, I kept my head down to keep my face obscured as I spoke. "Please, does the person you're travelling with know any healing magic?"

The man stopped a short distance away, and took a quick glance back to the carriage. An older looking man with a short grey beard wearing the usual noble fancy style of clothing (it was all starting to look the same to me by now) had opened the door and was standing on the step up, watching us as he called out in a gruff, hardened voice "Uckridge! What is going on, why have we stopped?"

"I... I believe this man may be injured!" The driver named Uckridge responded over his shoulder. I remained quiet, outside of the occasional stifled groan and laboured breaths which I hoped sounded convincing.

The old man seemed to think for a moment, before exiting the carriage, and coming over alongside his chaperone, and they began to make their way closer to me.

"What happened, boy?"

"I thought I heard something in the bushes nearby, so I went over to investigate and something darted out and bit my leg! I think I might be poisoned or afflicted somehow, I can't seem to walk any longer..."

While I spoke, I had shifted my position subtly to allow my hands to be down at my waist, appearing them as if to be against the ground in an attempt to keep myself steady. As they began to stoop and crouch within a foot or so of me, the older man reaching a hand out to lift the hood off, I quickly pulled out two large daggers, connecting with the driver's chin sharply from below with the hilt of my weapon as a slight crack could be heard and he toppled back, unconscious. I swiftly turned to the older man with both blades now against his neck as we slowly stood together and he raised his hands up in submission.

I prayed my heart to steady itself as I maintained composure. Gods, I hated doing this.

"Time to pay up, old fella." I growled, baring my fangs. "And the first thing I want is that ring on your hand." I gestured to the rather large, ornate and valuable looking gold ring he was wearing.

He silently and slowly reached over to his finger and pulled the ring off before holding it out to me, allowing me to grab and pocket it while keeping one blade trained on him at all times.

"Odd request, but I'm also going to need that nice fine cloak you're wearing."

"You're making a mistake, young man." he said calmly.

"Shut up and do as I'm telling you."

Again with caution as I threatened his life, he removed the cloak from where it was secured around his collar, allowing it to drop to the ground, and narrowed his eyes at me as I pulled some rope off of my belt and began to secure his wrists together, leading him over to the carriage where I sat him down and attached him to the spokes of the wheel.

After he was tied, I ducked inside the carriage, discovering a small bag of jewellery and precious stones. This stuff looked very well-crafted, better than a lot of the other items I had fenced before, and upon exiting, I also made sure to pat the man himself down for any extra sellable items and gold, before going over and crouching down to check on the carriage driver.