[The rewritten version of Two Gangs and a Golden Girl]
DO NOT ATTRACT ATTENTION UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE CONSEQUENCES.
Such is the law in Tygerwel, a town torn apart by a long history of bad blood.
19-year-old Amber Marigold can barely face t...
It pointed North. Xavier flipped the gold compass closed and back open, checking once more. North. It was always North. He pocketed the old memento and stared up. Outside the extensive window, the gardens were dark. Dressed in a black suit, warm light from the office behind surrounded his shadowed reflection.
He turned around, a finger trailing his large leather chair as he went to pour himself whiskey. The glowing liquid reflected on his desk, a natural ebony stone with a polished top. There was a stifled cry coming from the seat across. What a rude guest, he thought.
"Xavier Sir, pe-please..."
"I did not permit you to speak," Xavier said.
The man snapped his mouth shut, cut lips pressed and trembling. He had a wormy figure with thin strands of hair and scrawny limbs tied to the chair. His face was swollen and bloody, a film of sweat coating him. Xavier took a sip of his drink, and the man gulped when they made eye contact, the scar on his throat bobbing.
"You have a minute," the cyng of the North said.
A dam broke, and the man caved into himself, sobs taking hold.
"They were threatening my mother," he cried. "Xavier Sir, I s-swear I would never betray the North. They were asking me about the recruitment process here, and I— I didn't think the information was confidential. I had no idea it would upset you. Please, God, please, forgive me just this once!"
Xavier took his time drinking. He raised the tumbler to the light, titled it slightly, and watched himself in the whiskey.
"You know the North's words," he said, drawing a sob from the man. "If they ask for a favour, give them a debt. If they ask for a fight, give them a war. And if they ask for forgiveness, show them no mercy."
He finished his drink, setting the glass down.
"Xavier Sir, I... I'm begging you. Please..."
"I don't suppose you'd know the name of who questioned you?"
The man caught his breath. "N-no, Sir. He did not say, and it was dark. I... I think he might've had black hair? Likely in his twenties."
Xavier nodded along.
"Alright. Thank you for trying. I truly appreciate it."
"Are you... Are you letting me live?'
The cyng chuckled low in his throat. He brought his fingers to his lips to suppress the laughter.
"Let you live?" he asked, rounding the desk. He walked up to the man and crouched to eye level. "When I said you had a minute, I meant it."
The man's expression fell, tears pooling in his bloodshot eyes, but before he could speak— silver flashed.
A line of red drew across his throat. Xavier stood back up, wiping his knife with a handkerchief. And as a tear broke, blood spilled. The man choked and gurgled, unable to do anything while his crumpled shirt turned crimson. The cyng watched him struggle against his bonds until his body convulsed and finally stilled. When the room was silent once more, he turned away, knocking with the glass twice on the desk. The door opened, and footsteps came in, followed by the scrape of a chair as the body got removed. The door closed again, but one of the men remained.
"Did my first kin mention what the East wanted?" Xavier asked, still wiping with his handkerchief. There was blood on his hands.
BD cleared his throat.
"Uhm, yes, Xavier Sir. The East asked about your intentions; if you were demanding any compensations."
Xavier snickered.
"They're on edge," he said. "We'll be docile enough at James' Waltz. Set their minds at ease. The real party will start at the Northern ball."
"What about the girl?"
"Amber Marigold?" Xavier asked, pursing his lips. He turned back to his reflection in the window. "She'll get an invite, of course."
"But will she show up?"
"The plan isn't going to work without her."
"I understand she's a potential weakness to West and East, but is it wise to base your whole plan on hoping she'll show?"
Xavier turned around and gave a glare that made most people break out in cold sweat. BD was no exception. The thug lowered his head and clasped his bandaged wrist.
"You have yet to learn how far hope can get you," Xavier said. He settled into his chair and kicked his feet up. Fiddling with his cufflinks, he leaned back.
West, East... They take the North too lightly, he thought. They take my words too lightly. And when shit hits the fan, they won't be ready. Well... He smirked. It's only fitting to show them what they're in for. Who else but him could make them see how small they are?
"And what if the girl gets in our way?" BD braved to ask.
Xavier took out his compass again, flipping it open.
"Goldilocks has yet to remember that her story has three bears."
The compass closed.
***
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