“What are you doing here Ratichist?” Renaldo asked.
“hehehe, I was wondering if they were sending you to gallows for your behavior but it would seem they would not. Must be nice to be on your father’s payroll, isn’t it? I bet he was up there earlier and paying off your bail.” Ratichist says he cackles.
“Is that the reason why you’re here? To gloat about my imprisonment?!” Renaldo yells.
“Lower your tone boy, otherwise, the guards may catch wind of us and you will land and much trouble than you already are.” Ratichist taunts.
Renaldo then stops himself as he takes in a deep breath and breaths out his frustration.
“Then let me reiterate. Why are you really here?” Renaldo asked as he restrains his voice.
The Ratichist then chuckles to himself as he gives a wide grin on his face.
“I wanted to follow on your offer this afternoon. You know, before those pesky guards of yours attacked me.” Ratichist implied.
“Yes? What do you wish to know?” Renaldo asks.
“You asked if I wished to be your informant full time? What did you exactly mean by it?” Ratichist asks.
“Exactly what It means. You trade information for every client you’ve worked with in the past, dead or alive to me. I and I use it to gain leverage to anyone to either serve me or I will tell that they hired you for jobs not permitted in the south. So long as they remain loyal to me and to my father, then I won’t speak a word of them. And they would have to pay a small fee for their loyalty and a half it would be yours.” Renaldo stated.
Ratichist ponders on the offer as he walks around the cell dragging his long-curled toenail against the floor itself with one hand rubbing his chin and the other supporting his hunched back. Renaldo has impatiently waited for a response until stopped and chuckled.
“Well, do we have a deal?” Renaldo asks.
“I am beginning to understand what your motive is with this offer, Renaldo. You want to outs the house of Sanstia, don’t you?” Ratichist implies.
Renaldo tightens his grip on the chain tied to his hands as he believed that Ratichist would figure something such as this.
“Believe me when I say this Renaldo, I’ve done business in every turn. Leaked info for petty revenge, outs people both in the South and in the East into the slave trade, even often helped to those in the force for some “street justice” or help even the odds to any sides willing to pay. But this? Even for your intelligence, it is by far your most ambitious and yet might I add, a rather idiotic decision you could possibly think of.” Ratichist grinned.
At Renaldo was overjoyed when Ratichist was on board with his plan but his heart sank when he said his offer was “idiotic”. His anger swells up as he wants to break the chains that held him and lash out at him.
“Want to run that by me again Ratichist?” Renaldo asks.
“Think of this, no right demon across the realm would pay tribute or remain loyal to you for your ill temperament. And last I’ve heard; your family isn’t doing too well. So even if you could off any reward for coin for what you have left, it would still not be enough to keep your estate, let alone your title afloat. You would certainly leave yourself to hang and no one will notice or care of your fate.” Ratichist snickered.
Renaldo then attempts lung at Ratichist but was held back the chains restraining him. Not Ratichist filched from him. He stood still and grind as he cackles.
“Oh, Renaldo you continue to assume me even at your worse.” Ratichist howls in laughter.
Renaldo struggles to grab Ratichist but the chains still remain to pull him back. Several attempts later and Ratichist still didn’t move an inch as he was assumed by Renaldo’s attempt to hurt but could barely reach him. Eventually, Renaldo gave in and fell to his as he pants in exhaustion.
“If that is all you have to offer then I will take my leave.” Ratichist cackles as he walks over to his hole.
“Wait. Wait! I do have another job for you. Something simple even you could do!” Renaldo yells.
Ratichist pauses and turns his head back towards Renaldo.
“I’m listening.” Ratichist said.
“Do you know…. Do know if a mercenary band in the area is looking for work?” Renaldo plead.
Ratichist then turns his body around as he rubs his chin as he ponders the names of mercenary bands on the top of his head that are nearby. He walks around dragging his nails across the floor as he continues to ponder and thinks which mercenary bands would be viable for Renaldo's request.
“Well, there are a few in the area. Very dangerous ones, might I add. There are Praying Vulture, The Centaurian Hunters, although… no they probably wouldn’t be for hire.” Ratichist ponders.
“Which ones you’re talking about?” Renaldo asks.
“…. Desperado.” Ratichist said.
“Desperado? I thought they were long after the final battle of the war itself.” Renaldo added.
“No, they’re still very much alive, but much like yourself they’re not doing very well. In fact, just recently, they had a run-in, by The Dark Children of the Night themselves.” Ratichist added.
“…. The Dark Children of the Night? They’re here?” Renaldo trembles as he speaks of their name.
“Yes, though I’d never imagined they’d be here of all places.” Ratichist added.
“The actual thought of them being is enough to make my skin crawl. Here? Of all places! Why would they come here? Wait, what if-“
“Don’t even think about it, Renaldo.” Ratichist interrupted.
“What are you on about?” Renaldo asks.
“Hiring them if a fool’s gambit but it is also a death wish. Remember, they’re the ones that ended the great civil war within a single day. Thirteen point seven trillion troops from all sides marched to the frontline on that day and one thousand ever came back. They aren’t your normal demons Renaldo, it’s like the spawns of hell itself came to usuring in their wrath upon us.” Ratichist added with fear in his voice.
“That’s exactly the point why I want to hire them. But the problem is, we don’t know how to contact them. If only I could, then maybe people would finally start showing me some respect.” Renaldo added as he starts to laugh.
“You don’t come to them Renaldo, they come to you. But don’t always assume that they’ll come to you for work. You might end up on someone’s targeted list and I can name a few who would.” Ratichist added.
“Must you always kill the mood? But very well, if you can’t find The Dark Children of the Night then resume what I asked for earlier. Find me a mercenary army near here that is for hire. Once you do report back to me. Once I know if they’re capable, you can get 10% of their earnings if they succeed with their missions. After that, then I’ll hire them again for something else. Do we have a deal?” Renaldo asks.
Ratichist ponders about the deal itself until he starts chuckling and made his decision.
“Very well Renaldo. I will find out which of the mercenary armies in the area are for hire. But you must not forget about my part of the bargain.” Ratichist added.
“Don’t fret you little rat you will get your payment. Hell, if they pull this off, I’ll double your payment.” Renaldo added.
The sheer thought of double the amount of money excites Ratichist to no end. Excited, Ratichist makes his way back to the corner of the room he entered from as he was getting ready to exit out but then he turns around.
“Oh, I nearly forgot, Renaldo. I have a message from your father.” Ratichist said.
“From father? Why would he send me a message from you?” Renaldo asks.
“Listen and you’ll see why.” Ratichist added.
“Hear me now boy. The next time you get into trouble again, I’ll leave you to hang. A son who doesn’t listen to his father is not worth calling him a son. Don’t disappoint me again.”
The message sends chills down to Renaldo’s spine knowing that his own father would actually leave him for the wolves. He tried his damn best to impress his father but it would seem that his patience has run thin. Ratichist then takes his leave as pulls the cinderblock back into the wall. Ratichist then makes his way through the narrow tunnels out of the guard station and into the streets. He looks both ways as he waits for a patrol guard to pass by. Once they’ve passed, Ratichist makes his way across the streets and dives into the alleyways until he reaches an abandoned house. He pulls over one of the boards upward as he makes a small opening for him to fit through. Once he made it through, he slowly puts it back down to make sure no one will follow him. He ventures his way down the stairs to the house’s basement where a cloaked figure was sitting on a stool with a single candle to illuminate the room.
“What did you learn from him?” asked the figure.
“Just as you suspected. The rotten boy is planning to overthrow the south itself though he is doing it out of spite.” Ratichist said.
“Really? Him, running the south itself? He’d run it down to the ground even worse. I bet it wouldn’t last a week alone if he was in charge.” The figure said.
“Should you stop him?” Ratichist asks.
“That depends, what did he ask of you?” The figure asks.
“He wants me to venture out and find out which mercenary armies are for hire. Saying that he has a job for anyone that’s available and that he’ll pay me ten percent if the job is done.” Ratichist added.
“Then continue to assist him as planned. Either way if he succeeds or fails doesn’t matter to me. So long as he continues to spark the fire, then he’ll outlive his usefulness either way. Doesn’t matter to me so long as I get what I want. So long the pieces fall into place, everyone here in the south is a pawn I can use to my whim. Whether they do it willingly or not, I sacrifice any whom I wish.” The figure said.
“And what of the other boy?” Ratichist asks.
“He is a new piece that has entered into my cheeseboard. He’s what you may call a neutral party member. For now, that is. But should he become a real problem, kill him.”
“As you command, madam.”
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