- 279 AC -
(3rd Person POV)
Chella led Eddard and Ezio to the spot where Hidao awaited them. Hidao was another former Black Ears member and about as old as Ezio. He was loyal and willing to do his Lord's bidding. His admiration for Eddard bordered on reverence. He was very skilled at gathering information and a capable fighter. The three appear from the shadows, with Hidao bending his knee when he sees Eddard with them.
"My Lord, I'm glad you could come."
"Thank you, Hidao. Tell us about the situation."
"I have been observing the hideout of the Vipers for a few days now. They are a criminal group operating on assassinations mostly. There is almost no organisation, but they do seem to have a hierarchy of sorts. I assume the strongest or most skilled one holds all the reigns."
"What do you say, Chella?"
"I agree with Hidao. Apart from the Vipers, the Barrel Rolls are another criminal group. They are rivals of sorts, with both of their groups being about the same size. The Barrel Rolls focus on smuggling and are usually the ones to bribe the guards and, therefore, get past them."
"Two criminal groups operating differently. I assume the third group also has another speciality?"
"Aye, they do. The Broken Fists is what they call themselves. They focus on racketeering and prostitution. They are the most brutal of the three groups but also the smallest one," Hidao says.
"Extortion and prostitution. It makes sense; the three groups hold each other in check. And while the Broken Fists are the smallest, they are the most violent to make up for it."
Eddard nods his head and looks to the side. Ezio looks at his Lord, waiting for his instructions. He knows that Eddard's mind is working out a plan and not forgetting their original objective to find his sister or at least the truth about the brooch.
"Chella."
"Yes, Lord Corvus?"
"What can you tell me about the man you got the brooch from? Did he give you a name or simply the name of the gang, Vipers?"
"He was drunk, but after sobering up, he told me about a member of the Vipers who gave him the brooch. I don't know the details, but he mentioned the name Sling."
"Very well. Then we do it the direct way."
"Direct way?"
"We enter the front door. Time for this filth to be cleansed."
.
The three members of the Raven Guard followed their Lord, or they tried to keep up. Eddard was a monster at 16 years of age. He blended into the shadows and became one with them. Ezio was the one who could keep up the best out of them, but it was very hard. They made their way to the entrance of the Viper hideout. Eddard signalled for them to wait a moment. He checked the surroundings using his senses and then moved forward.
*knock knock*
He knocks on the door lightly and then waits. They had their hoods raised, hiding their face from anyone. After a second, the door opened slightly. A single eye was looking out.
"Who are you? Piss of-"
*Bang*
Eddard gives the door a gentle kick, which results in it striking the man directly in the face. His nose breaks, and he collapses to the floor, bleeding. Eddard enters the room and takes in the surroundings. The others enter shortly after and take up positions for an attack.
"Kill who you must," Eddard orders and the others nod.
The order is clear. They are to kill anyone they believe should be killed. Anyone attacking them or someone who they feel deserves to die. The attacks arrive at the next moment. The Vipers are known assassins and make use of poison. If that weren't the case, then the name Viper would be ill-suited. Chella blocks an attack coming towards them from the back of the room. She ducks under the knife and bends the man's arm, making him impale himself through it. Chella takes the other knife and smells at it. Poison. Just as she thought.
Hidao goes on the offensive. He moves towards the closest person and drops him with a kick to the head. He doesn't stop and attacks the next one. His movements are sharp and fast, not allowing the crooks any time to recover or corner him. All Raven Guards are taught as many weapons as they can learn, but each one usually prioritises one over the other. All of them have some form of hidden blade since it is something Eddard likes. Hidao uses a tiger claw dagger, which he uses to mix into his fast and sharp fighting style.
Ezio moves to intercept a dagger thrown at Eddard. He wears gloves, so he doesn't worry about poison. And even if it wouldn't work, he has been training his resistance to many poisons since his training under Eddard started. With one fluid motion, he throws it back at the attacker, plunging it into the man's throat. He moves through the room rather gracefully. It is not as graceful as Chella, but it has more power. His right arm shoots forward, and from underneath, his hidden blade springs forth, cutting into the next man's throat. He kicks the legs away from a woman and punches her, sending her to unconsciousness.
Then there is Eddard. He walks through the building as if he owned the place. Nothing, and no one could make him cower or stop what he came here to do. Another dagger comes flying through the air. He catches it between his index- and middle finger and then returns it. Men and women attack him, but he just drops them one after the other. His hand shoots forward, grabbing a man by his head and lifting him into the air. He shakes and kicks, trying to get away.
"I am looking for Sling. Where can I find him?"
"Hmmpf mmmm..."
Eddard drops him to the ground, leaving the grown man gagging and weaving.
"Who are you people? Did the Barrels send you?"
"You may not have understood my question, so I shall repeat it one last time ... Where can I find the man named Sling?"
There was something about the way Eddard said it that struck the man right into his soul. He felt like a child in front of a mountain. A mountain with dark eyes that pulled him in and threatened to snuff out his very life. He gulped hard and started shivering.
"I ... He's ... with the boss ... they ..."
"Yes?"
"That room."
The man points to the room at the end of the aisle. His entire body shakes, and he can't control himself any longer. Ned nods and starts walking. As if his body finally got permission, the man falls to the ground. No one dared to attack him after that. Eddard had manhandled one of their strongest members like he was a doll, and the others did the same with their remaining members.
*BOOM*
Eddard taps and destroys the door, causing everyone in the room to jump up in surprise. The door was specially made and considered good protection, but in front of Eddard, it might as well have been a piece of paper. One man is sitting on a large desk, with two men standing next to him as protection. Eddard also senses the other two men hidden in the rafters, waiting for their leader's signal to attack. One woman is also present, standing in front of the desk with tears in her eyes. She backs away in fear.
"And who might you be? Did the Barrels truly lose their minds? Is a war what they want?"
The leader was arrogant. His words were contemptuous of the opposing criminal group. He wasn't aware of who or what had just entered his room. He started throwing profanities around and cursed Eddard and the others.
"Silence."
...
A sudden wave of nausea washed over the people present. Even when apparently at peace, it felt as though Eddard Stark was only holding back some explosive violence with great effort. All those present suddenly felt the incredible urge to kneel.
"I am looking for a man named Sling."
"Why should-"
*BANG*
Eddard grabs the leader's head and smashes it through his desk, destroying both things in the process. He has had enough of the Vipers and hasn't been here for more than half an hour. He looks to the man on the right, who starts shaking like a leaf after hearing who Eddard is looking for.
"I--I am ... Sling. Wh-wha-what do you want?"
"Chella."
Chella nods her head and moves forward. She takes the brooch out of her pocket and shows it to the man.
"This brooch. Do you recognise it?"
"Wh-what? What are you-"
"Do you recognise it?"
"I'm not ... certain."
"I talked to a man a few days ago. He swore that you gave him this brooch. Where did you get it from?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, I-"
*SLAPP*
"Focus. If you don't tell me, I will cut you up, starting with your groin and feed it to you. So tell me... where did you get this brooch from?"
"I ... stole it."
"From who?"
"From the Broken Fists."
"The rivalling criminal group?"
"Yes. They ... were involved in a scheme a few years ago. They framed someone... I don't remember who, but it was a rich family. They were allowed to take a lot of their stuff. The Vipers weren't involved, and we didn't like that. So we stole some of the spoils they got from them."
Ezio clenched his fists. He knew exactly what family he was talking about. The chance that it was indeed his father's brooch rose considerably. Mary Grafton had used this gang to frame his father and their family and then gave away their valuables to these criminals. Time is of the essence now. The chance that Claudia is still alive has risen proportionally with the truth of Sling's story. One thing was sure: they would have to visit the Broken Fists as well. The only question was, what should we do with the remaining Vipers?
"What do you want to do, Lord Corvus?"
Eddard looks at the woman who has fallen to her knees. She is truly afraid of the people in front of her, but there is something else he can see in her eyes. An acceptance of some kind. Eddard walks towards her and looks into her eyes. Their eyes lock. Her brown eyes seem to lose themselves inside his picture black ones. He seems to see through her, pulling her in and never leaving her again. Then he bends down.
"What is your name?"
"W-what? My n-nname? M-Maris ... m'lord."
"Maris. What is your profession?"
"I'm a ... a ... whore."
Eddard hears how her voice becomes a whisper at the end. She is embarrassed for what she is. This means that she hasn't been one for long. Good.
"No longer."
"What?"
"You are to be a whore no longer. You will lead this criminal group in my stead."
"What?"
"My Lord?"
Everyone looks at him questioningly.
"The situation is clear. We will have to involve ourselves with another criminal group and will most likely kill many of them. They are the violent, brainless ones and won't stop until we have eliminated most of them. By then, their group would be too weak to fight off the others. We would only create a short relief, which will then be filled by even more brutal fighting until a replacement has been determined. So we will simply not allow that and take over the entire criminal faction in Gulltown. And as leader of the Vipers, which we shall rename the Black Crows, I choose Maris."
"But Lord Corvus, she has no experience and would be replaced the next chance anyone gets. It would be necessary for us to intervene again."
"You speak true, Chella. This is why I am considering having us remain here for a while. Our investigation will surely keep us here until we find Claudia; we are not leaving anyway."
"As you wish."
"B-but I don't understand anything bout leading. Please, I won't tell anyone about you; just please let me go."
"You truly don't understand. Lord Corvus has chosen to take over the criminal factions in Gulltown and unite them under one banner. You have been chosen as its leader. You either take it, or you will not live to tell the tale," Hidao says to Maris. He would never allow anything to harm the Raven Guard or Eddard's identity and has no problems making sure both are safe.
"Chella, you will remain here for the next few days to introduce Maris to her new responsibilities. We shall visit the Broken Fists and find out more."
"Understood."