Building a Criminal Empire Read online

  Chapter 1

  The Entertainment District’s streets were busy with life, but the air felt heavy against my lungs as I breathed. As active as the streets were, there was nothing out of the ordinary happening. Two humans fought near the coffee cart, a prostitute tickled the ear of a horny dwarf, and a few halfling kids picked the pockets of a sleeping bastard who was leaned up against the theatre’s ticket stand.

  It was just another day in the massive city where life feeds on life.

  “Can we get some grub before we meet with Hebal?” Dar asked and squinted up at me with his dark eyes. “I’m fuckin’ starving, and I don’t know how I’ll react to the dwarf’s stupid remarks on an empty stomach.”

  “Are you ever not hungry?” I asked as the thieving halfling kids ran in between us.

  “My stomach is a never-ending pit, you know this,” Dar chuckled and then pointed to the food wagon. “We have plenty of time.”

  “Alright, fine.” I followed my friend across the street, dodged the two fighting humans, and joined the small line of hungry customers.

  “You should really eat too, ya know?” Dar waved his stubby finger at me like a concerned mother.

  “The only thing I’m hungry for is more coin from Hebal,” I said as I rubbed my stomach. I wasn’t too hungry for food at all lately. Even if I wanted to eat, I didn’t have too much time. Maybe a busy mind keeps the stomach silent?

  “We’ll have plenty of--” Dar began, but the food vendor cut him off.

  “Next!” The halfling vendor pointed his spatula at us. “What’re ya, havin’?”

  “Gimmie the egg and potato sandwich,” Dar said as he rubbed his chin and then glanced to me. “Actually, gimmie two of those, friend.”

  “Aye,” the chef clicked his spatula on his grill and started to make the sandwiches, “that’ll be four copper and just leave them in the jar over there. Drop em one at a time, so I can hear em clink. I’ll know if you’re trying to rob me, lad.”

  “Will do,” Dar said as he dropped four copper coins one at a time into the glass jar and then turned to face me. “You’re eating that other sandwich whether you like it or not.”

  “Yes, Mother.” I smirked and then walked over to a wooden bench to wait for our order.

  “I ain’t your mother, just a fuckin’ friend who hasn’t seen you eat since … ” Dar’s eyes searched the area as he sat down on the bench, “since the… job… in the Capital. And your women told me to force a sandwich down your throat, too.”

  “Ah, so you’re their messenger boy?” I asked as I sat down on the creaking bench next to my friend.

  “Fuck you,” Dar chuckled.

  “I appreciate you too, pal,” I said as I clapped him on the shoulder. “I really do.”

  “Anyway, where are we telling the dwarf to meet us this time?” Dar leaned back against the rotted bench.

  “Salinger’s Mining Hall,” I replied. “I think it’s a--”

  Suddenly, a haunting horn blasted into the air like a deep explosion, and my heart stopped dead in my chest. I knew that sound, and I never thought I’d hear it again.

  “What the fuck was that?” Dar stood up, turned toward the street, and looked to where everyone else looked.

  “An elven battle horn,” I breathed.

  The only reason I even recognized the battle horn was from the dream the keys had showed me. The same vision that provoked me to steal the painting from the elven noble, Eleran. I still couldn’t believe that painting led us to the chest that contained the poisonous nightshade flower. Both the picture and flower were tucked in the stables only one-hundred yards away.

  Maybe the elves found us out, and they were about to raid the theatre?

  This is their response to the heist, Wade.

  The keys’ melodic voice jolted my heart, forced me to stand, and look toward the street where the horn groaned again.

  “Oh, shit.” Dar’s mouth fell open as four square platforms rolled down the street in a parade like formation. The platforms were attached to wagons, and I could tell it was the Elven Guard steering them from their black and gold armor shimmering in the sun.

  “Move aside, move aside.” An elf shoved people out of the way as the wagons crawled along the road. Then the streets fell silent as everyone watched the odd procession ride by.

  “What the fuck?” I muttered as I stood atop the rickety bench to get a better view. At first, I couldn’t tell who they were, but atop each of the four platforms was a shirtless prisoner chained to a long vertical pole. Then, as the last wagon and prisoner came into my view, I saw a familiar face.

  Taranath the assistant.

  I saw his silver eyes opened wide, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of fear or if the thick chains around his neck caused him pain. He bared his pointed teeth, and blue blood oozed from deep gashes across his red chest. Not only that, but his once long silver hair had been shorn off above his ears. The ultimate shame for an elf.

  “See anything?” Dar asked as he joined me and stood on the bench.

  “He didn’t die,” I muttered as I rubbed the back of my neck. “How did he not die?”

  “Who?” Dar questioned and stood on his tippy toes. “I can’t see too much.”

  “Taranath,” I sighed.

  “Tara-who?” Dar nudged my ribs.

  “The noble’s assistant we set up.” I nodded toward the fourth wagon with Taranath as it passed us. “He’s still alive.”

  “Shit.” Dar ran a hand through his curly hair. “He’s a powerful bastard.”

  “Not anymore,” I said as I watched the wagons stop only a few yards away from the theatre’s entrance.

  “Fools!” Taranath screamed at the growing crowd on the streets. “I’m innocent!”

  The other three prisoners began to echo Taranath’s cries and declare their innocence. As they did, the confused crowd pushed closer to the platforms, but the Elven Guard positioned themselves in front of the makeshift stages and shoved the people back. There were around fifteen elves in total, and that was more than enough to kill everyone.

  The elven horn rang out again, echoed down the streets, and silenced the crowd. Then another familiar face climbed up on top of the first platform.

  Commander Vardreth.

  His aged face looked like an ancient stone, and his dead ruby eyes scanned the crowd in front of him as he adjusted the sling on his arm. That injury was probably from when Taranath tossed him aside like he was made of paper at Madame Rindell’s. Even injured, though, that fucking elven sneer I hated with all my guts appeared on his thin lips. It was clear Vardreth was proud of the prisoner display he had set up in front of everyone to see.

  “Ladies and gentlemen of the Entertainment District,” the commander declared as he raised his one good hand into the air, “I am sure you are all wondering what is going on?”

  The crowd murmured and looked around at each other as if they could find a clue for the answer.

  “I don’t like this,” Dar murmured and then folded his arms across his chest.

  “Same,” I said as my eyes landed on Madame Rindell, who suddenly joined the elf on the platform. She wore an extravagant black dress that billowed out around her feet like oil, but her famous miniature golden binoculars were nowhere in sight. Instead, she waved a giant handheld fan near her powdered face.

  My stomach dropped.

  What the fuck was she doing up there?

  “As you have all heard, there was a deadly attack within the Halfling District a few days ago,” the commander continued as he opened his hand toward Rindell, and then she took it. “That attack destroyed this innocent woman’s place of business. And that simply cannot happen again.”

  Rindell no
dded in response and then peered into the crowd. The way she held the elf’s hand made me think they had grown a little too close for comfort.

  “I can’t really see, but is that--” Dar started, but I cut him off.

  “Yep,” I grunted.

  I didn’t like where this was going.

  I felt terrible for what happened to her whorehouse, but I didn’t expect a magical battle to erupt inside of it. I had never wanted to cross, betray, or fight the woman, but she probably blamed me for what happened, talked to the commander, and shared a bit too much information.

  And now it was too late to kill her and cover my tracks.

  “Now, the Empire has no patience for murderers. So…” Vardreth dropped Rindell’s hand, turned to face the human prisoner to his left, and then gestured to the three others on their own platform, “Elven justice will not be mocked, and we need to deal with each of these scoundrels accordingly. The Empire wanted to do something special today and allow the person afflicted, in this case, Madame Rindell, to carry out our justice.”

  The crowd began to murmur again.

  To allow a human any kind of right was unheard of. What was the commander up to?

  “Here ya go, lads.” The food vendor interrupted my thoughts as he pushed the egg and potato sandwich into my hand. “Perfect timing for the show, eh?”

  “Sure…” My stomach tightened as the yellow egg yolk broke and dripped down my wrist. There was no way I could eat as I watched an execution, so I just put the sandwich down near my feet.

  “You ain’t havin’ that?” Dar asked as his cheeks bulged with food like a squirrel.

  “Are you serious?” I shook my head and then turned back toward the elven commander, who was now right next to the human prisoner.

  “In front of you all today are those we found responsible for the mindless attacks,” Vardreth announced and then used his pointed finger to lift the chin of the human prisoner. “Yet, each of them claim to be innocent. Should I believe them?”

  The commander turned to face the crowded streets again.

  “What is he after?” Dar wondered as he finished another bite of his sandwich.

  “I’m not sure,” I replied.

  “It seems odd.” Dar moved his head from side to side to get a better view.

  “He’s fishing for something,” I said as I narrowed my eyes. “Maybe to get something out of Rindell?”

  “Ms. Rindell, please come closer,” the commander said before he reached for the Madame, tugged her arm, and caused her to let out a screech. “Tell me, is this man telling the truth?”

  Maybe they weren’t as close as I thought. Maybe she stayed quiet, and that pissed him off.

  “I … ” Rindell cleared her throat, maintained her statuesque posture, and fanned herself a little faster.

  “I’m innocent, I’ve never even stepped foot in your--” the human prisoner covered in bruises sobbed.

  “Silence!” The commander reached around with his good hand and slapped the human across the face. “I’ll ask again. Is he innocent?”

  “That isn’t for me to decide, Commander,” Rindell said in a shaky voice. Then she looked up as if someone called her name, and she saw me. “I… I…”

  Our eyes locked as if they were cemented together.

  Fuck.

  “Today, you decide,” Commander Vardreth ordered. “What say you, human!”

  “Dar,” I whispered as my heart slammed into my chest, and my arms clenched at my side. “Get ready to--”

  “He is,” Madame’s lips trembled as she stared right at me. “He’s guilty.”

  “Very well.” The commander motioned for the executioner to come and join them on the platform.

  Then a hooded elf carrying a golden sword stood next to the human prisoner and raised the sword above his head.

  “Get ready to what?” Dar poked my side.

  “Forget it,” I breathed. “They are about to kill the human.”

  “Fuck,” Dar sighed. “For what, though?”

  “Nothing.” My jaw clenched as the executioner stabbed the golden sword through the chest of the human in one quick motion and pulled the blade out.

  Then the elf wrapped a noose around the human’s neck and hoisted his limp, bleeding body up the pole for all to see. Blood poured down from the man’s chest like a ruby rainstorm, and the crowd began to mutter.

  But they didn’t look away.

  That should’ve been me up there. I was glad it wasn’t, and I needed to make sure it stayed that way. Not only for me, but my friends too.

  A few in the crowd began to cheer at the grotesque sight while the others, mainly humans, bit their tongues and turned away.

  “On to the next one,” the commander announced as he tugged at Madame’s arm and forced her to follow him to another platform. On that stage sat a dwarf chained to the pole in the middle.

  “You’re gonna let a human whore decide the fate of a dwarf?” a dwarf in the crowd yelled and caused some more to grow bolder. Soon, many voices protested the commander and Madame as they climbed atop the next platform.

  Then the elven horn sounded and quieted the crowd once more.

  “I hear your concern, dwarf,” Vardreth addressed the masses again. “Let me remind you small minded folk, it was her place of business that was ruined, therefore we have allowed her to carry out our judgment against this dwarf, that halfling, and even the elf on the end. Our judgment is final. We rule this realm, and this is what we have decided. If you would prefer to take up a complaint, you may visit me in my headquarters at the end of the day. I shall even accommodate you for the night.”

  A few dwarves within the crowd didn’t like that answer and grumbled in response. But as soon as a few Elven Guards stepped toward them, they quieted once again.

  “Now, Madame…” The commander gestured toward the chained dwarf on the pole. “Is he innocent?”

  The quieted dwarves didn’t stay quiet and shouted that he was innocent. One even said he knew the guy.

  “Quiet!” Vardreth ordered before he turned back to the Madame. “Answer before I add you to the pole.”

  “I … I don’t.” Rindell dropped her fan at her feet.

  “You don’t what?” the commander asked.

  “I don’t know,” Rindell said as she rubbed her temples.

  “Well, now,” the commander sighed, “that doesn’t line up with your testimony, human.”

  “I never--” Rindell huffed as she picked up her fan and tried to regain some of her composure.

  “According to your testimony,” the commander interrupted as he addressed the crowd again, “you said a human, dwarf, and halfling were led by that elf and were responsible for what occurred at your dancehall. Is that correct? Or did you suddenly remember something else?”

  “No.” Rindell glanced in my direction again and then averted her eyes. “He’s guilty.”

  “She’s covering for us?” Dar whispered next to me.

  “Looks that way.” I nodded, but I couldn’t really believe it. What was her motive? Sure, she may be loyal, but what was keeping her from just turning us in?

  “See, this doesn’t have to be too hard.” The commander motioned for the executioner. “In fact, this should make you feel justified. These are the people responsible for ruining your livelihood.”

  Rindell didn’t respond but folded the fan closed in her hands.

  “Argh!” the innocent dwarf screamed out just as the golden sword gutted him. “I didn’t do anything ya lyin’ bitch!”

  Then the same disgusting process as before repeated itself. The executioner tied the noose around the dwarf’s neck and hoisted him on the pole like a bleeding flag for all to see.

  “Two more left, Madame,” the commander said as he nodded toward the chained halfling on the next platform.

  “For the love of the Ancients!” the halfling screamed out. “I have never worked with or seen any of these people up here. Especially that elf!”

  “
Fuck,” Dar groaned. “This is brutal. I don’t think I’ll be able to order another sandwich.”

  This time, Rindell stared right at me as they hung the gutted halfling on the pole, and my eyes burned as I watched him die.

  I wasn’t sure how to handle this situation. I was grateful for Rindell’s loyalty, but as each person died on those platforms, I felt their souls cling onto me like a heavy sack of grain.

  I had to remind myself of our purpose. Isn’t that what we signed up for when we decided to do this? We knew people would die. In fact, people would need to die for our whiskey venture to be a success. It wasn’t only about the whiskey, though, but the freedom that we all craved. I only craved that freedom more when I saw the halfling twitch upon the pole and breathe his last breath.

  One day, and one day soon, we’d all be free from these fucking elves.

  “Last but surely not least, this scum of the realm who betrayed his very own kind,” Vardreth sneered before he slammed his fist into the elf assistant’s face. “And for what?”

  Taranath didn’t scream out when he was struck. Instead, he just started to laugh, even as blood dripped down his once-perfect nose. For a split second, part of me wanted to save him and thought that he’d fight with us. But Rindell’s judgment was handed down swiftly.

  “He’s guilty,” Rindell said as she turned and walked down from the platform, and her voice was suddenly strong.

  “Justice has been served.” The commander slapped Taranath once again. “May this be a lesson for all of you watching. The Empire doesn’t have any favorites, and if you betray our kind, you will pay the consequences like these fools did today.”

  The executioner joined the commander on stage again, but this time he carried a diamond-covered blade. Then the hooded elf raised the sword above his head and waited for the signal.

  “You do not understand what you’ve done,” Taranath gasped in between laughs. “You are the--”

  The diamond blade pierced Taranath’s throat and silenced him for good, and a gush of blue blood leaked from the wound in his neck. Then his eyes closed, and his body went limp.

  Just how the smoke from Rindell’s signaled a change for my team, the elves had their own idea of change, and it looked like four dead bodies in the middle of our district.