Vendetta's Rise (The Dragon Realms Saga: Book 1)

Chapter 10

"The aqueducts." Avren threw a dagger at a detailed map of Lost Dawns. The dagger stuck in the wooden table with a loud 'thunk'. The blade's tip landed on at an empty space on the city's map. Pencil markings scribbled the word 'aqueduct' with arrows signifying where they were to be built and when. Currently, they were still under construction.

Avren grabbed the dagger's handle and ripped it from the wedged resting spot. He took a large swig of a stein full of ale as he pointed the dagger at his brother, "It hasn't been struck with any misfortune yet and will be finished within a day. If the Rabbits are going to strike, it would be there."

'Elisa what are you thinking?' Avren had been in the city almost a year now, and since their last encounter had not seen the elusive assassin. He had, however, heard accounts of an exotic elf in a purple cape moving about in the Roots. Avren knew it was her and he wanted to meet her once more, even if it were to kill her.

Wiccer rubbed his chin as he looked over the slit left in the map by the blade. They spent the entire day and most of the night going over all the places and people who were struck by the Rabbits. The city was nearly complete despite the many delays, thanks in part to Avren's best efforts. If something were to happen to the aqueducts it would push back the city's progression by at least another month. Clearly someone didn't want the city to flourish and clearly they wanted the king to suffer the fall of his beloved city--his legacy.

Wiccer nodded slowly, still locked in thought, "I think they are being smothered by our presence. It's as if they can't make their message clear. They are being choked. Soon they'll need to commit a desperate act to keep their employer happy..."

Avren's eyes widened once he got a glimpse of Wiccer's train of thought, "They are not going to poison some worker. They are not going to stop the construction of the 'ducts. They want them finished...on purpose?"

"The Rabbits want to poison the water supply!" Wiccer slammed his fist on the table, finishing the thought.

Avren sat hard in his chair, his stein sloshed his drink on the floor. A dumbfounded look scribbled over his face and his eyes fixated on the ceiling. If the Black Rabbits did plan on poisoning the city, then a security assignment just evolved into a mission to save the Lost Dawns.

"Avren, we don't have much time! The aqueducts will be finished within the next three days! We need to find their operatives now."

Avren called for the White Cloaks guarding the door. "Gather the men, we have a new mission. I'll brief you in ten."

Once they were alone, Avren turned to his brother with fear in his eyes that Wiccer had never seen before. "Wiccer, I need you to find out what these assassins are going to use to poison the water supply. That way we can make an antidote for it if we fail."

"Where do I start? Father never trained me in poisons" sputtered Wiccer.

Avren placed a reassuring hand on his little brother's shoulder, "Check the apothecary in the Roots. They wouldn't go to an alchemist or herbalist in just any part of the city to acquire this kind of poison."

Avren grabbed the back of Wiccer's neck and pulled him in for a headlock, "I love you, little brother, and I sent for you for a reason. I trust and believe in you more than any Cloak here. I know you can do this!"

Wiccer grinned, his confidence resonated back in his voice, "I won't let you down, Avren!"

"One last thing...don't bring your cloak."

***

Slowly over the course of Lost Dawns' construction, the Roots became the epicenter for crime and poverty. Avoided by the authorities and the high class, only the desperate and the lowly stepped foot onto these streets.