The Five

Malcolm drummed his grimy fingers upon the bar as he waited for his grog. It wasn’t his choice to be sitting in that hole in the wall aside the docks, least of all on such a humid day. He’d been waiting three hours, Benny was late, and it was not a good day.

“Still here, huh? Guess Benny’s decided not to come, good for nothing lowlife.” The voice was feminine and strong, Malcolm didn’t need to turn around to know it was Rayne, his one time partner turned girlfriend. Malcolm would have disagreed with her, but it wouldn’t have mattered, she was right. Malcolm grunted as the barkeep finally placed a frothy brew in front of him.

Rayne spoke again, “Look’s like you’ll never sell that map to anyone, you know just as well as I the liar who sold it to you claimed to be from beyond the wall. That ink isn’t worth the cloth it’s written on.” Malcolm didn’t respond because he knew the map was worthless, but it wasn’t going to stop him from trying to make a few extra gold, not this time.

The tavern’s door opened and Shawn’s scrawny head popped in. Shawn was a 13 year old boy with dreams of adventuring. In a timid voice he asked “mmm-Malcolm? I uh….” “What is it kid? Got another brilliant idea for me?” “No sir, uh. Benny gave me a note.” Malcolm took a look at it, it read: Meet me behind Salty’s.

Malcolm’s face grew serious when he reached the small alleyway. Benny was dead. Five figures in brown robes and shaded hoods stood above the body. The five spoke in turn, “A pity you deal”, “With the silverfish”, “Hand us the map or die”, “Just like him”, “Just like your girl.” Malcolm cursed his odds, and lied “I’ve not got the map on me, let me fetch it for you, it’s worthless anyway.” They responded, “You, liar, you’re lying”, “If you don’t comply”, “If you leave now”, “The city guard”, “Will kill you”.

This almost made Malcolm reconsider his plan, if they wanted the map this badly, it must be worth something. “Alright”, he said “How much will you give me for it?” They responded, “Nothing”, “Not”, “Even”, “Your,” “Life”. Malcolm sighed, and reached into his pocket.

“The mages flash powder actually worked”, Malcolm almost lost his chance to escape thinking about it. Walking quickly into the busy crowd of the docks, he headed toward the pub, but this was the kind of day where nothing works out. “Mmm-Malcolm!” it was Shawn and he was frantic, “They, the guards, they took Rayne, and… they said you killed Benny!”

Now this was a problem, Malcolm knew he’d been set to fall, and this time there was no escape, from the five maybe, but the guards looking for him was another story. He had to make his way onto a cargo ship bound for Soros. Thinking quickly, Malcolm removed his hat and threw his jacket onto the ground. Walking with purpose he picked up a crate aside the sickly red and white striped tent, and quietly boarded the almost ready to depart Shady Mermaid. The five were standing in the center of the crowd, staring at him.

Malcolm smiled and went below decks only to immediately frown. There they were, all five of them, still staring and wearing those damned brown robes he’d grown to hate so much. Malcolm’s final thoughts faded as Rayne spoke quietly “Sorry old friend.” It was that moment when Malcolm’s lifeless body hit the ground. “You’re not the first to die.”