Roen tugged her hood lower over her eyes as she pulled away from the wounded Highlander. At least he was breathing, which is more than she could say for the others that took gunshots to the chest. She sat back onto her legs as her gaze went from her bloodied hands to the crimson stains that ran in between the stones. There were almost half a dozen bodies unmoving in front of her, all shirtless and sporting similar tattoos that marked them as members of a group of bandits called Hammerbeaks.
When she was part of the Sultansworn Order, Roen had been given the files of high profile bandit gangs as well as various noble houses. Protecting the Sultanate required knowledge of those who might threaten or even support it. The Sultansworns, the Immortal Flames, and the Brass Blades were all debriefed of notable criminal elements and the powerful figures that led them. Hammerbeak was barely mentioned, for they did ‘lay claim’ to some of the minor territories and streets within Ul’dah. But as long as they did not incite obvious violence that threatened the citizens at large, they were left alone, even if their existence was already known by the authorities.
Looking at the bodies now, Roen wondered if this practice was a wise one. She had not questioned it then, as she was an initiate learning the ways of the Order, but since then she was beginning to question many things.
A pair of dark vermilion sollerets entered her line of sight, drawing her from her thoughts. “Deneith,†Broken’s Nose’s low voice rumbled just loud enough for her to hear.
“Only two lived,†she said quietly.
The Hellsguard paused a moment, then narrowed his eyes. “Never mind them, you shouldn’t have stayed.†He leaned in to keep his words just between them, glancing over his shoulder to the regiment of Immortal Flames that were exiting various buildings around them. Roen followed his gaze to one fair-haired Lalafell in particular, one who seemed to be giving the orders to the rest gathered.
The paladin stiffened as a few more glances were thrown her way--one Midlander Flame jutting his chin on her direction as he addressed the Lalafell. “Corporal Kokojo, isn’t that…?â€
The Lalafell turn her direction, giving the paladin a once lookover. There was a slight narrowing of her eyes, and Roen realized that the Lalafell knew who she was. But then the Corporal turned back to the Midlander in front of her and answered without missing a beat. “I don’t recognize her, Private, do you?â€
“No, Corporal, I don’t.†The Private quickly turned his attention elsewhere as well, coming to a stiff stance. Both the Immortal Flames began to walk away, quietly exchanging what they discovered above.
Broken Nose exhaled through his nose audibly in relief, then glanced past Roen to a few Brass Blades that were lingering nearby. “Well don’t just stand there! Clear out these bodies. Take those alive to the gaol and call for a physician to examine them.†He paused and pointed to the two Blades that were dragging away the unconscious Elezen. “And that one, put him in a separate cell. He will need to answer some questions.â€
Both the paladin and the Roegadyn stood in silence for a moment longer as those around them went about and dragged bodies--both living and dead--away, before they spoke again. “Guns? Rifles?†Roen said quietly.
Broken Nose opened his hand, showing her an ornate pistol. “This was found on the ground. And the Flames are combing the buildings for those rifles. We caught the Elezen, but those who were wielding the rifles scattered.â€
Roen frowned. It was not of Garlean make--those she recognized easily enough. This one originated from Vylbrand.
“Plans fail. Somethin' always goes wrong. Victory goes to the prepared. And you have not so much as asked him about the weapons."
The sergeant’s words rang in her ear. He had suspected that there were weapons smuggled in, not just the supplies for the refugees as Nero had claimed. Roen had not given much weight to it…until now. Now there were bandits within the streets of Ul’dah that were wielding weapons they should not even know how to use.
“I need to speak to that Elezen.â€
Broken Nose cocked a brow at her. “Are you serious? The corporal there just turned her back on you, to give you a way out of this without possibly getting arrested and dragged off to the gaol yourself, and now you want to walk into one to talk to a prisoner?â€
The paladin grimaced, but still nodded. “No one said I was going to make this easy for you,†she said apologetically. “But I need to know where these guns came from.â€
The Hellsguard crossed his massive arms, looking down at her with a reproachful scowl. “You don’t think we know how to interrogate a prisoner?â€
Roen sighed, giving him an imploring look. “I am certain you and the Flames both have your ways, but I need to know before it is known officially. Once I do, I will leave the walls for you to figure things out.â€
The Roegadyn glared at her for a moment, then slumped his shoulders with a sigh. “I'll see what I can do. I can probably reason with the corporeal that this is a Blades matter and falls under our jurisdiction, at least for a bell or two until things get sorted out. But once they start collecting more evidence of Limsan weapons, it will be turned over to the Flames. And your friends the Sultansworns likely will be poking their nose about too, no doubt.†There was a hint of a sneer as he said the last, but Roen noted that it no longer held venom as it once used to leaving his lips.
The paladin nodded. “Aye, I suspect the same. Which is why I need to ask my questions first.â€
Broken Nose let out a long exasperated sigh. “I should've never let you convince me about this reformation business.†He shook his head.
The paladin flashed him a small, quick smile. “You convinced yourself. It is not my doing.â€
The Roegadyn rolled his eyes and turned from her, tucking the weapon in hand away as he approached the Immortal Flames. His arms were out as if to make an offering, but Roen could already see the Lalafell look past him back to her. There was a sharpness to corporal’s gaze, and she nodded absently to what Broken Nose was offering. But Roen could see the Lalafell’s thoughts were already two steps ahead.
As were her own. Roen needed to find out where those weapons came from. She was trying her best not to let her mind wander to where it wanted to go, where it had no choice to go.
Limsan weapons, smuggled into Ul’dah and given to bandits.
“Ask him about the weapons,†the sergeant’s voice echoed in her head again.
She needed to talk to the Elezen.
When she was part of the Sultansworn Order, Roen had been given the files of high profile bandit gangs as well as various noble houses. Protecting the Sultanate required knowledge of those who might threaten or even support it. The Sultansworns, the Immortal Flames, and the Brass Blades were all debriefed of notable criminal elements and the powerful figures that led them. Hammerbeak was barely mentioned, for they did ‘lay claim’ to some of the minor territories and streets within Ul’dah. But as long as they did not incite obvious violence that threatened the citizens at large, they were left alone, even if their existence was already known by the authorities.
Looking at the bodies now, Roen wondered if this practice was a wise one. She had not questioned it then, as she was an initiate learning the ways of the Order, but since then she was beginning to question many things.
A pair of dark vermilion sollerets entered her line of sight, drawing her from her thoughts. “Deneith,†Broken’s Nose’s low voice rumbled just loud enough for her to hear.
“Only two lived,†she said quietly.
The Hellsguard paused a moment, then narrowed his eyes. “Never mind them, you shouldn’t have stayed.†He leaned in to keep his words just between them, glancing over his shoulder to the regiment of Immortal Flames that were exiting various buildings around them. Roen followed his gaze to one fair-haired Lalafell in particular, one who seemed to be giving the orders to the rest gathered.
The paladin stiffened as a few more glances were thrown her way--one Midlander Flame jutting his chin on her direction as he addressed the Lalafell. “Corporal Kokojo, isn’t that…?â€
The Lalafell turn her direction, giving the paladin a once lookover. There was a slight narrowing of her eyes, and Roen realized that the Lalafell knew who she was. But then the Corporal turned back to the Midlander in front of her and answered without missing a beat. “I don’t recognize her, Private, do you?â€
“No, Corporal, I don’t.†The Private quickly turned his attention elsewhere as well, coming to a stiff stance. Both the Immortal Flames began to walk away, quietly exchanging what they discovered above.
Broken Nose exhaled through his nose audibly in relief, then glanced past Roen to a few Brass Blades that were lingering nearby. “Well don’t just stand there! Clear out these bodies. Take those alive to the gaol and call for a physician to examine them.†He paused and pointed to the two Blades that were dragging away the unconscious Elezen. “And that one, put him in a separate cell. He will need to answer some questions.â€
Both the paladin and the Roegadyn stood in silence for a moment longer as those around them went about and dragged bodies--both living and dead--away, before they spoke again. “Guns? Rifles?†Roen said quietly.
Broken Nose opened his hand, showing her an ornate pistol. “This was found on the ground. And the Flames are combing the buildings for those rifles. We caught the Elezen, but those who were wielding the rifles scattered.â€
Roen frowned. It was not of Garlean make--those she recognized easily enough. This one originated from Vylbrand.
“Plans fail. Somethin' always goes wrong. Victory goes to the prepared. And you have not so much as asked him about the weapons."
The sergeant’s words rang in her ear. He had suspected that there were weapons smuggled in, not just the supplies for the refugees as Nero had claimed. Roen had not given much weight to it…until now. Now there were bandits within the streets of Ul’dah that were wielding weapons they should not even know how to use.
“I need to speak to that Elezen.â€
Broken Nose cocked a brow at her. “Are you serious? The corporal there just turned her back on you, to give you a way out of this without possibly getting arrested and dragged off to the gaol yourself, and now you want to walk into one to talk to a prisoner?â€
The paladin grimaced, but still nodded. “No one said I was going to make this easy for you,†she said apologetically. “But I need to know where these guns came from.â€
The Hellsguard crossed his massive arms, looking down at her with a reproachful scowl. “You don’t think we know how to interrogate a prisoner?â€
Roen sighed, giving him an imploring look. “I am certain you and the Flames both have your ways, but I need to know before it is known officially. Once I do, I will leave the walls for you to figure things out.â€
The Roegadyn glared at her for a moment, then slumped his shoulders with a sigh. “I'll see what I can do. I can probably reason with the corporeal that this is a Blades matter and falls under our jurisdiction, at least for a bell or two until things get sorted out. But once they start collecting more evidence of Limsan weapons, it will be turned over to the Flames. And your friends the Sultansworns likely will be poking their nose about too, no doubt.†There was a hint of a sneer as he said the last, but Roen noted that it no longer held venom as it once used to leaving his lips.
The paladin nodded. “Aye, I suspect the same. Which is why I need to ask my questions first.â€
Broken Nose let out a long exasperated sigh. “I should've never let you convince me about this reformation business.†He shook his head.
The paladin flashed him a small, quick smile. “You convinced yourself. It is not my doing.â€
The Roegadyn rolled his eyes and turned from her, tucking the weapon in hand away as he approached the Immortal Flames. His arms were out as if to make an offering, but Roen could already see the Lalafell look past him back to her. There was a sharpness to corporal’s gaze, and she nodded absently to what Broken Nose was offering. But Roen could see the Lalafell’s thoughts were already two steps ahead.
As were her own. Roen needed to find out where those weapons came from. She was trying her best not to let her mind wander to where it wanted to go, where it had no choice to go.
Limsan weapons, smuggled into Ul’dah and given to bandits.
“Ask him about the weapons,†the sergeant’s voice echoed in her head again.
She needed to talk to the Elezen.
