Tales of Undeath: The Von Virtus Chronicles

LVII. Moonlit Breach

Under the cover of the night, Rel accompanied a small party through the dark city alleyways. Far from the slums that were his home, they had been walking for a good couple of hours, twisting and turning through the ever-more-silent streets. Placing their faith in Jargen's ex-colleague, they hoped not just to claim that which Cabdan had stolen from them across several decades, but also to find the elusive antidote for Faya's poison.

Rel: Can't believe we're here... So, this is it. This is where he hid all this time.

At long last, they see it -- a large mansion, several lights shining through its windows, surrounded by a brick fence around two and a half meters tall. Hunkering down in a secluded part of a nearby garden, they readied to advance at Syl's command.

 Tyssa: Not even I set foot in there... Guess he kept more secrets from me than I ever imagined. I really was too damn gullible.

Clenching her fists crouched down with the rest of the group, she peeked behind some foliage that served as an additional cloak, a convenient resting place before the time was right to infiltrate their target. 

Syl: Not as gullible as he would have liked, in the end. A cryin' shame he got sloppy... That's just the way the river flows, though.

His words provoked a twist of disgust in Jargen's face.

Jargen: Not so long ago you were damning us all for killing him, yet now it's "just the way the river flows"...? Seems like you're quick to turn your coat too, Syl. So much for not wanting to help a back-stabber...

Syl shrugs, raising his brow.

Syl: Can't betray a dead man, Jargen. He's gone -- you said it yourself. It's all water under the bridge, no point in dwelling on it much. Forgive and forget, look to the future not the past...

A cocky smile permeated Punjo's face, confident that he could see clearly through Syl's quick change of heart.

Punjo: ... Yer not foolin' any of us, Syl. Yer tune changed the moment ya realized you could grab his fortune for yerself.

Syl lets out a short laugh, shaking his head.

Syl: The entrepreneur in me speaks louder than the grieving widow, what can I say... I'd be a fool not to seize the moment. Won't be long before word gets around that Cabdan died... And as soon as it does, it will take even fewer time 'til folks put one and one together and realize that all he's left behind is ripe for the taking. But you guys know this already, else you wouldn't have mobilized so quickly to get your hands dirty...

Jargen: We won't be getting our hands dirty. We're taking back what's ours, that's all.

Jargen's take on the matter cause Syl to let out another laugh, heartier than the one before.

Syl: C'mon Jargen... Ya know that ain't true. I'll get us in there quiet, but there's no saying what might go wrong... Killing people isn't out of the equation. You do realize that, as far as anybody else is concerned, what we're about to do it breaking and entering...? Cabdan's got friends in pretty high places, if anyone gets wind that we stole from him, it won't end well for us. If you want to keep your hides intact, you gotta play it safe: no witnesses.

Jargen moves closer to Syl, causing his jestful demeanour to subside.

Jargen: You're the only one here who knows the place, the only one who has any idea what is inside. If things go wrong... It'll be on you, Syl. Not to mention that most of us are strangers to anyone who might spot us, but you on the other hand were close enough to Cabdan to know about his hiding place. If anyone's ass is on the line here, it's yours. If anyone here can get recognized and burnt badly, it's you. Keep that in mind when considering what "might go wrong"...