A Tradesman’s Tools 8


    Luphera fluttered her eyshes as cknail considered his options. He did really feel like killing someone. He was also very good at it, so he could probably murder Najget without any real difficulty. The feat would also certainly impress Luphera


    Wait, what was he thinking? Why would he want to impress her anyway? She was just a human woman, not a prospective mate, and she wasnt even of his tribe! Not that he trusted everyone in Herads tribe though. Some of them werent nearly as dependable as him.


    The hobgoblins confident look turned to one of suspicion as he met Lupheras gaze. He didnt even know if Najget was a real person.


    How do I know youre telling the truth? he asked her doubtfully.


    Well, I havent raised the rm, she pointed out, with a friendly smile.


    It was a nice smile No, he had to concentrate. There might not be a lot of the perfume from before in the air, but there was still a lingering trace of it, and that was apparently enough to mess with his head.


    Yes, but if you were noisy I would have stabbed you, cknail countered.


    Oh, stop being so paranoid, cknail. Havent I always helped you out? Now, I just need you to do one small thing for me, kill Najget. Its what you should be doing anyway! she eximed assertively.


    Maybe, cknail mused. It did sound like fun, but Saeter had once told cknail that paranoia was the only thing that kept you alive. His master was also really old, so he probably knew what he was talking about.


    Even if Luphera wasnt outright lying, she still might be ying down the danger involved. There were an awful lot of guards around, and cknail didnt even know where Najget was, or what he smelled like.


    Luphera moved closer and leaned against his shoulder, and her body was surprisingly soft. As the hobgoblin watched her warily, she gave him a pleading look.


    I would be ever so grateful for your help, and Im sure we can work out some sort of reward. Ive heard some very interesting rumors about whats under that mask, and look forward to finding out if theyre right. I hope they are; it would be a novel experience, even for me, Luphera told him seductively, as she gently dragged one of her fingers down his arm.


    cknail immediately took a step back away from her. He didnt like the hungry look in her eyes; he wasnt used to being on the receiving end of an expression like that. The sudden mad beating of his heart also unnerved him, it hadnt been caused by fear.


    Youre so shy. Not at all what one would expect from your reputation, Luphera purred as she took another step after him.


    I still dont trust you cknail replied as he hastily backed away again.


    Instinctively, the hobgoblin nced around the room for something to hide behind, even though he knew it would be pointless and stupid. Lupheras attention was bing more than a little ufortable.


    He didnt know what to say to her, or even what to think. He just knew he wanted out of the room. He had no reason to put himself at risk to kill someone right now.


    Maybeter, I have-ss to get back, he muttered, as he turned away from Luphera and her unsettling eyes.


    Please cknail, I need your help, the woman pleaded.


    cknail ignored her, and immediately fled towards the window hed used to enter the building. Once outside the fresh air would clear his head. Before he could get more than a few feet though, he heard amotion from outside the window.


    The sudden sound of several people shouting filled the air. Someone was raising the rm! They must have discovered the bodies.


    Shit, cknail hissed.


    Almost immediately, he heard heavy footsteps from below as people from the building flooded out into the street. There were at least a dozen of them, and there was no way cknail could escape that way anymore. Hed let himself grow distracted, and had talked to Luphera for far too long!


    You were followed! someone shouted angrily from outside.


    Impossible, I took precautions. No one could have followed us back here, a familiar voice replied. It belonged to one of the assassins hed followed here.


    So I suppose these two corpses by the door are just a coincidence? the other person replied sarcastically.


    That doesnt matter now. Someones here, but he wont be leaving in one piece. I want people watching every possible exit until we catch him, a third man added.


    Luphera walked up beside the frozen hobgoblin.


    It seems like you left a mess out there when you came in, and now youll have to find a different way out if you want to leave, she told him.


    Yes, cknail grunted unhappily. He was fairly sure he detected a hint of smugness in her voice.


    I suggest heading out into the hall and taking a left. Theres a window in that room you might be able to escape out of. I wouldnt say its very likely though, she told him.


    cknail knew that tone of voice. It was one humans used when they thought they were so smart, but they rarely were.


    Whats your n? he asked her sullenly. It was probably going to be terrible.


    Well, if Najget were to suddenly die, then Im sure I could take control of the situation. Then you could just hide somewhere, while I have the house guards kindly ask the assassins to leave, Luphera suggested.


    The hobgoblin thought it over. Apparently, Luphera was actually that smart because her n might actually work. Most of the humans inside the building seemed to be heading outside and forming a perimeter to stop him from leaving, which also meant picking a window and trying to make a run for it was probably a bad idea.


    Fine, Ill kill the man for you, cknail sighed reluctantly.


    You might want to get going then, time isnt on your side, Luphera pointed out.


    cknail nodded and quickly headed for the door that led deeper into the structure. He was more than happy to get away from Luphera for now.


    Najget is the old man in purple with the moustache, and try not to kill anyone but him and the assassins, Luphera called after him.


    cknail grunted vaguely in reply. He didnt think he was going to have much choice but to kill anyone that got in his way if he wanted to survive this mess.


    The hobgoblin quickly shut the door behind him, as he stepped into the empty hallway on the other side. Once out there, he took a second to listen to the surroundings.


    He heard floorboards creek as people moved all around him. To his left was a door and a heavier human, who had a sword hilt pping against his thigh as he walked, was about to walk through it.


    The hobgoblin didnt have the time or the patience to do this quietly. He was going to have to do this fast and brutal.


    cknail swiftly pulled out the vial of Elixir and gulped the rest of it down. Then, he stepped to the side of the door and drew his de. When the door swung open and another assassin stepped out, cknail was out of his line of sight.


    Then before the man even noticed the hobgoblins presence, cknail stepped into view and shed savagely down at the mans head. The mans eyes widened in the split second he had before cknails sword smashed into the side of his head.


    There was a wet crunch and the man copsed into a bloody heap on the floor. cknail pulled his de out of the mans skull, and then stepped over the mans corpse and continued on his way. This wouldnt be thest human he killed before the night was over, and he couldnt afford to waste any time.


    As he passed by the open doorway, he saw the window that Luphera had mentioned as a possible escape route. Briefly, he considered abandoning the n and just jumping out of it, but then he sighed and quickly reconsidered. There would be people watching all the exits, including that window.


    So he reluctantly kept going and picked up speed as he dashed towards the stairs at the end of hallway. Now was not the time for stealth. The sound of people getting up and moving towards him could be heard from many of the adjacent rooms, and he nned to be long gone before they showed up.


    Just before he reached the stairs something creaked slightly from below, like there was someone climbing the stairs. cknail smiled and instead of slowing he sped up. As he turned the corner and began to rapidly descend the stairs, he caught sight of a purple vested guard with a drawn club.


    cknails downwards charge surprised the man, and the guard flinched and froze for a split second. That was all the time cknail needed. Instead of drawing his weapon or slowing down, the hobgoblin simply leaped towards the man and kneed him in the face.


    There was a muted crack as the two individuals collided. The purple vested guard''s head snapped back, and he began to tip over backwards. cknail didnt really feel like trying to roll down the rest of the stairs, that sounded very painful, so he grabbed the mans shirt and fell on top of him.


    The mans back hit the stairs, and then repeated thuds were heard as he started to slide down the steps. cknail still had a tight grip on the guards shirt and was perched on his chest. It was bumpy going but he managed to ride his opponent safely down, until they hit the wall at the bottom and stopped.


    cknail then hurriedly got to his feet. His opponent seemed to be unconscious, or dead. Sometimes it was hard to tell. The hobgoblin had effectively taken him out and done it quickly, but unfortunately it had been far from sneaky.


    He had already attracted a lot of attention. cknail could already hear people heading towards him. He looked up from the unconscious man to see he was in another hallway. It was empty except for one shocked looking woman standing at a doorway.


    A secondter the woman gasped in shock, threw herself out of the hallway, and then mmed the door behind her. cknail was more than happy to let her go. He had enough problems with human women right now, and had to find his target.


    He just wished he knew what Najgets voice sounded like, so he could track him that way. All he could do now was head towards anyone that sounded like an old human male, and cknail thought there was a good chance of there being more than one of those here.


    Quickly, the hobgoblin got up and dashed down the hallway. Where had Luphera said to go? Oh right, Najget was supposed to be past thest door to the left.


    As the hobgoblin raced down the hallway one of the doors in front of him swung open. A secondter another of the purple vested guards stepped out and turned to face cknail. He was right in the hobgoblins way.


    This guard also had a club and he swung it at the hobgoblin. cknail ducked under the weapon and then shoved his attacker aside as he raced past. There was no point in sticking around to fight.


    Before the guard could pick himself up, the hobgoblin had reached the door and thrown it open. cknail then stepped through into arge sitting room that was lit by several brassnterns that hung from the ceiling.


    Heavy bookshelves lined the walls, except for where tworge windows and another door were set on the opposite side of the room. Tasteful chairs had been ced around severalrge round tables, and there were severalfortable looking couches as well. Fancy red curtains framed the windows, and there were a few scattered books lying out on the tables.


    There was however no one that looked even remotely like a Najget. The room wasnt empty though, there were two assassins in it, and one of them looked really familiar. cknail groaned in frustration. He didnt like this turn of events at all, but at least there were windows he could jump out of.


    Atst we meet, Faceless One! Ive been looking forward to this for awhile now. Youve been making me look bad, but that ends today because Im going to kill you, Malthus shouted triumphantly, from the center of the room.


    cknail rolled his eyes. Here was another stupid human that liked to say the obvious. The hobgoblin just wished the man wasnt also a much better swordsman than him.


    Malthus and hispanion drew their des and headed for cknail. Both of them were still dressed in their dark leather armor and cloaks, but they had removed their face masks and dropped their hoods.


    This was actually the first time cknail had gotten a good look at Malthus. The other times theyd been close the assassin had been cloaked and hooded or out of sight. He was a slightly taller than average man with a thin face and brown hair that was almost long enough to reach his eyes.


    The hobgoblin watched the assassins approach and tried toe up with a new n, one that didnt involve getting sliced into tiny green bits. Fighting Malthus would be a really stupid thing to do, so he needed to get out of here.


    He couldnt go back the way hede though, and Malthus was blocking the way forward. So, some trickery seemed to be called for.


    We have met though, Malthus. Ive seen-ss you around many times, you just havent seen me, cknail shouted contemptuously.


    Malthus face grew slightly more lined as he frowned at the hobgoblin, but he also slowed his advance. He appeared to be trying toe up with a goodeback. cknail grinned beneath his mask. It had worked; the man really liked to talk.


    Yes well, now youre going to pay for being so arrogant as to think you could get past me twice. You were simply lucky the first time that Galive wouldnt let me do my job properly, the assassin replied.


    I wasnt lucky, youre deaf-ss and stupid. While you stood there by the door like a frog on a log-ss I was cutting Galives throat open andughing-ss at you. Good thing Galive wasnt paying you anything, cknail countered viciously.


    The hobgoblin and Malthus were slowly and cautiously approaching each other, but there were still several tables and couches between them. cknail began to circle a bit off to the side, while trying to look like he was just seeking a better position.


    Ill restore my title as the citys best Knifeman when I string your corpse up from the city gate. Thats what usually happens to assassins who operate in Daggerpoint without the Dark Guilds permission, Malthus shot back.


    No you wont; Im a far-ss better hunter and killer than youll-ss ever be. Youre just a soft and weak city man, but Ie from the Deep Green and Im Herads chosen killer! cknail bragged.


    The two assassins were fairly close now. Malthus scowled as he stepped around a couch. He seemed both annoyed and more than a bit confused by the hobgoblins words. Maybe cknail needed to talk slower so he could understand. A secondter the assassins gaze focused on the hobgoblins mask.


    Lets fight properly; face to face. Why hide behind a mask now? Let me see the visage of the man Im about to kill. Only one of us is going to leave this room alive anyway, the man proposed.


    cknail snorted in amusement. That sounded so dumb. Werent assassins supposed to be sneaky?


    No, besides youve a got a friend there, cknail replied scornfully, as he pointed to the other man beside Malthus.


    The hobgoblin wasnt in the habit of doing what his enemies told him. If Malthus wanted him to remove his mask then cknail intended to keep it on. The hobgoblin snuck a nce at the far door. Thanks to his maneuvering, Malthus and the other assassin were no longer directly between him and it.


    Dont worry; he wont interfere in our fight. Hell just make sure you dont attempt to run. I want to take care of you myself. My pride demands it, Malthus replied.


    cknails pride demanded that he never act as stupid as Malthus. The more the assassin talked the more convinced cknail became that he was an idiot.


    No, he can fight too. I brought friends of my own, cknail said smugly, as he pointed at the window behind the assassins.


    The pair looked startled for a second and quickly nced towards the window and the new threat, but there was nothing there. cknail had been lying through his teeth.


    While the two assassins were looking at the window, he quickly drew the sling and stone hed been stealthily preparing as he talked to them. With lightning fast speed he whirled the stone and sent it flying towards Malthuspanion. cknail was fast but the sound of the sling spinning through the air alerted the assassin, so he had just enough time to flinch.


    The stone smashed into the assassins arm as he raised it to protect himself. cknail grunted in disappointment. Hed been hoping to do damage to somewhere more vital or for a fatal strike.


    Fuck, the assassin roared in pain, as his de dropped to the floor. He cradled his arm against his chest and hissed in pain.


    You vile bastard! Malthus cursed, as he realized hispanion was now out of the fight.


    I didnt trust you. Now it really will be just you and me, cknail said, as he shrugged without apparent concern.


    The assassins face grew red with fury, and his grip on his sword tightened until his knuckles went white.


    You have a bloody sling? What kind of weapon is that for an assassin? Malthus swore.


    It works, so its a great one, cknail replied with an amused chuckle.


    Malthuspanion was still hopping around in pain and clutching his arm. Hed made no move to retrieve his sword.


    Fuck, this hurts! I think the bastard cracked my arm, he told Malthus.


    Fine, go get medical attention. I dont need you for this, the other man replied.


    You sure? the injured man asked.


    You cant fight, so go! Malthus hissed back angrily.


    The injured assassin nodded and began stumbling away towards the far door. The hobgoblin and the remaining human were now only a dozen feet apart.


    Im going to kill you for that! Malthus told cknail, as he turned back to face him.


    The assassins ck cloak fluttered behind him, as he kicked thest chair between them out of his way. The enraged Vessels eyes gleamed with hatred, and the light from the bronzenterns overhead reflected off the edge of his de, as he charged the hobgoblin.