An Angel Called Eternity

To Bet on Losing Dogs - Cardinal Sin III: The Leashless Hound

Cardinal Sin III: The Leashless Hound

The Twenty-Forth Day of the Second Moon, 873 AD.
Athio, Aegan Hills, Western Dathan.

Angels, this was all horseshit. Four days until he was to set out on the road, and in that time he'd hardly been able to see to his nightly duties. He needed good rest and a clear mind if he was to survive Aegos, and Saints be good he hardly had a clear mind at the best of times. This wasn't something he could afford to fuck up; if at any point Spyridon or Admeta saw through his act, or even worse than that, if Adikos saw through his act, he'd be begging for the end before he saw the next sunrise over the holy city. There was no way in all the hells that had ever existed he'd allow himself to fail here, not when the lives of so many people were at stake.

He ran through the motions with his sloe-cane again, making doubly sure that he was just as good as ever with the unassuming weapon. In his line of work you never quite knew who the next to strike at you would be, though he'd learned it was almost always from someone within your own ranks. That was the trouble with sitting at the top of the pile; the only place to go was down.

Well, he wasn't quite at the top, he supposed. There was still Adikos between him and the true height of power, but there was no way Sin would be able to outmanoeuvre the old man in games of intrigue, and especially not when the man had the home field advantage. No, there would be no attempt to topple the old man whilst Sin was in the capital, as disappointing as the thought was. He just needed to bide his time a few years more, and then his people would breathe the free air once again. Perhaps history would remember him as a monster, or perhaps the people would believe him when he told them of what he had truly done. If he was exceedingly lucky, he may even retain control of Athio under whatever authority arose out of the ashes of the Most Devout Church. Probably not though.

"Trying to decapitate the dummy with a wooden stick again?"

Sin rolled his eyes. It was Hawk, of course. The old man was one of the only people who came out into the training grounds when Sin was there, and certainly the only one to speak to him wish such a casual tone.

"Very funny, old man. I don't know if you recall, but I'm to head to the capital in a few days. Therefore I'm doing my best to practice as much as I can between now and then, in case I get in a fight."

Though Sin never turned to look at the man he could almost feel the incredulous eyebrow raise behind him.

"You believe you will be able to fight your way through a city of armed and armoured guards, inquisitors, and paladins, with a stick. Unarmoured. By yourself."

Sin shrugged, still not turning to face the man.
"It's worked for me before."

"Because people are too afraid of you to pick a fight. Whilst your former classmates will no doubt be somewhat cowed by your reputation, that will not stop the more reckless amongst them from acting without thought and provoking a reaction from you. When that happens, there is nothing that your stick will be able to do that will save you."

Sin chuckled out a dry laugh.

"Probably not, no. But what do you suggest I do instead? No sword will allow me to carve my path through a city towards safety, and no guards could stand between me and a cohort of knights. Even if we assumed that I took a hundred guards and carried with me a dozen blades, and then we assume that I am able to travel back to Athio, what do I do then? If I have angered my compatriots in the capital to the point that they attempt to seize me with impunity, then their anger will follow me to the very walls of this city. There is little to be done other than train myself to remain hidden if needs be, and slip out if I can should such a situation come to pass. That is why I continue to use this cane. After all, how many old beggars stooped in a robe and leaning on a walking stick stalk the streets of every city in the world? More than a few, that much is certain."