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Last of the Shadow Foxes: 7 Jeopardy

The night sky was always a fascination to Emerson. The deep blue-black hue dotted with silver flecks. Like a dark canvas with tiny drops of paint scattered across the surface. The grass under the assassin swayed in the gentle sea breeze. This was his time to unwind, relaxing under the stars above.

The sounds of the sea mingled with the soft swaying of the trees. Ophelia sighed and leaned against the railing of their housing. Gavrilla joined her on the veranda, her unrestrained hair fluttering in the wind. The hermit loosed her shirt. The ranger gazed into the harbour and moved the hair covering her face.
“Gavrilla, I have to ask you something.”
“Yes? Wait, let me guess, this is about Emerson?” Ophelia recoiled.
“How did you know?”
“Hermit’s intuition.”
“Well, what was with Emerson yesterday? He seemed more…apathetic and violent.”
Gavrilla turned to face the other guild leader.
“Alright, you know the Dark Lord? His teachings make us rogues right? Good, but we also have a strict line of rules. Some follow them to the word, like Emerson, and some don’t care, like those rogues that attacked us on the ship. The rules go along the lines of: Fight only those who can fight back…honour and duty…death before dishonour… Anyway, what those people did back then broke those rules and Emerson punished them.”
Ophelia nodded, understanding. Gavrilla smiled and turned back to watching the sea.

The next morning, the streets were crowded with people buying and selling their wares. Emerson yawned and scratched his head. Fortune moved sleepily beside him. The sun beat down on Emerson and he shielded his eyes. Verity approached him from the women’s housing.
“We’re leaving in twenty.” She informed.
“Okay.” He replied.
Emerson frowned slightly and waved Verity away. The assassin beckoned Raynard towards him.
“Raynard, it’s been troubling me, where did you get the information?”
“Well, Emerson, we found out from the resistance here.”
Emerson’s head snapped up.
“What?”
“The resistance, you know the El Nath resistance.”
“No I don’t Raynard, explain.”
The bandit shrugged.
“A few months ago, the Dark Apostles claimed this territory and the people at El Nath weren’t pleased.”
“Go figure.”
“Anyway, the residents set up a resistance movement which operates throughout Orbis. Not many fully trained fighters, many are just normal people forced into war. The have a cell here in Ludibrium. They do guerrilla attacks on patrols and sabotage equipment.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“I thought you knew.”
Emerson raised an eyebrow and sighed.
“Oh well, two birds with one stone.”
Raynard laughed and slapped him on the back before returning to his room to pack.

Children coursed through Ludibrium like blood through a vein. Clarity grimaced as the crowds carried her forward. The chatter of the children filled the air as they talked excitedly about what they were going to do. Gates lead the party through the swarm of children and headed down a colonnade. There the noise died away as the group progressed deeper and deeper into the factory parts of the town. Soon they stopped in front of a derelict shop door. Purity could not help but stifle a laugh.
“Their HQ is here?” She laughed incredulously. Raynard ignored her and proceeded to knock on the door in a rapid sequence. There was silence as Raynard stopped. A moment latter, the door creaked ominously open and a wizened old man appeared.
“How is El Nath?” He wheezed, clutching his raggedy cape close to his throat.
“El Nath lives.” Raynard enunciated clearly. The man’s shifty eyes scanned the group before he stood back and opened the door fully open.

The inside was much cleaner than the filthy outside walls and more organised. The man who greeted them threw off his disguise and motioned for the party to sit down. Now his disguise was removed, he looked younger and more vibrant.
“State your business here, you may call me Rune.” He asked clearly, sitting down on a chair opposite the group. Emerson cleared his throat but then hesitated and turned to Gavrilla. The guild leader nodded and turned back to Rune.
“We are looking for Emerson’s sister, Sapphira.” She told him, motioning to Emerson. She paused and glanced at Emerson.
“And we’re here to get rid of the Dark Apostles.” She finished, eying Emerson warily. Emerson smiled and faced Gavrilla.
“It’s okay, Raynard told me.”
The hermit let out a breath, relieved. Rune nodded and clicked his fingers. Out of the darkness, several people revealed themselves, sheathing their weapons. Rune called one over.
“Zephan, where is Sapphira?”
“She’s commanding the ambush on the supply line.”
“Where?”
“Close to Eos Tower.”
Suddenly, a crusader teleported in using a scroll. He was bleeding heavily from a cut above his eye and his left arm was limp. Rune stood up, surprised.
“Jiro, what happened?” He cried, rushing over to the stricken man.
“Ambush…got…ambushed…require…assistance…now.” The crusader whispered before collapsing on the floor.

Emerson leapt up, eyes wild. His body tensed and he checked his stars.
“Rune, I want a return scroll to Eos Tower.” The assassin ordered.
Wordlessly, Rune handed over a scroll. Mali could feel it, the same thing that happened inside Gavrilla’s study was happening now. The temperature dropped and though she could not see it, she was sure that the assassin’s eyes were turning deep red. Zephan approached Emerson; apparently intent on stopping him when suddenly he gripped his head and cried out in pain. The psychic aura stunning him.
“I’ll be damned if I’m going to get this far just to know she’s dead.” Emerson roared, using the scroll.
There was a flash of light.
He was gone.

Ophelia sighed and examined her bow. In unison, the four archers stood up. The authority in Ophelia’s eyes meant that she did not have to even ask. Rune handed her another scroll to Eos Tower. The four archers stood together firm and tall. Ophelia glanced at Gavrilla.
“You coming?”
There was another flash of light and soon only Gavrilla and her rogues were left. Gavrilla turned to each of her remaining party members in turn and stared into their eyes. The guild leader stood up and faced the stunned Rune. A cleric was tending to the fallen crusader on the ground.
“You still got a scroll?”

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Last of the Shadow Foxes: 9 Anarchy