Black Market Merchant

Alan did his best to calm himself back down after leaving the Skulls main base along with Stone and Hemlock. He immediately left the Skulls stifling base went back to his Nest to perch above the city and let the chilly wind cool his nervous hot body. The rapid change in pace from doing nothing to suddenly having an Earth-shattering prophecy to fulfill tossed onto his shoulders, was nearly mentally overwhelming.

Naturally, Ashen One and Wind Talker had also had to come along with them. Though Alan didn’t like the thought of Lady Cassandra’s dogs seemingly keeping tabs on him, he couldn’t turn them away. Though their russet cloaks hid them well Alan guessed from their appearance and stature that they matched him, if not surpassed him, in strength. Until now he only thought that the Hands and Eyes were the strongest members in the Skull. Now it seemed there were more powerful people among them and he did not like that.

"So, I got to go convince the lunatic Sun People to come and join with us to fight a Twisted hoard?" Alan said talking to himself out loud while looking at the ground far below. "Why the Sun People? They live in the walls of the Grand Canyon and canyons to its north, covered in mud while eating God knows what out of the river. Bunch of savages."

His feet dangled out over the gap of the building and enjoyed the feeling of brushing the void between him and the city below. If it weren't for the impending quest he had to do, today would have been a glorious afternoon to sunbathe. Then there came a tapping noise from the window behind him. Turning around he saw it was Hemlock.

"What now?" Alan grumbled as he got up. He casually walked across the steel beam and opened the door to his top floor room.

"I don't understand how you can actually like sitting out there like that." Hemlock said shaking his head as he glanced out at the metal beam. "I get dizzy just looking out there."

"So, what do you need me for?" Alan asked coming inside.

"Those two cloaked guys, Ashen One and Wind Talker, are waiting two levels below us. They said something about going as quickly as possible." Hemlock replied. "Those guys give me the creeps. They haven't yet taken off their hoods and don't talk about anything to anyone. They just stand there watching us."

"They do seem suspicious." Alan said with agreement. "I hadn't seen them before, and it seems like there are more of them with the Soothsayer. I was able to see some others through the gloom following the procession. One thing is for sure though, they are strong."

"Do you think we could take them on if we had too?" Hemlock asked.

Alan started towards the elevator shaft and Hemlock followed closely behind.

"I don't know." Alan said giving a shrug. "I might be able to if it's one on one, but it could take the rest of you to just fight one. We need to train better and learn some more skills if we're to get to their level."

Hemlock scratched his head with a frustrated look. "So, what are we going to do?"

"Nothing for now. We better do as the Lady Cassandra commanded and go to the Sun People. I don't trust them as much as you do, but if the chance provides itself, take it." Alan replied with a serious look.

He picked up his Automatic Rope Climber and glanced down the dark shaft. Far below, near ground level, he could another traveling up the cable. However, he would only be going down just two levels, so traveling down at the same time would be fine. Doing just that he clamped the Climber onto the cable and slid neatly down to the intended level. Hemlock followed closely behind with his own Climber.

As soon as they arrived the two cloaked men quickly came over to meet them. Seven of Alan's men, including Stone, were also here keeping an eye on the strange visitors.

"Bone Flayer, time is nigh. We must carry out Lady Cassandra's wishes without delay. All that waver perishes." The tallest of the two cloaked men, Wind Talker, spoke.

"My brethren speaks true." Ashen One replied in a deep voice. "As a peace breaker we know you do not follow orders well, but this cannot be put off."

Though they were speaking up close to Alan he still couldn't see their faces under the deep dark hoods. He could only catch faint glimmers of light off their eyes. This annoyed Alan just as much as their pushy attitude.

"I can follow orders just fine." Alan said giving a sneer. "We will leave in the morning at first light and get a full days’ worth of travel. We need to prepare properly if this endeavor is to succeed."

The two cloaked men nodded. They seemed to be satisfied with his reply. They then turned around to return to their seats. Apart from that, they didn't speak about anything or do anything. If someone took a glance at them, they might have appeared to be mannequins.

"Stone. I will leave you here in charge in my stead. Hemlock you will go with me. Also, go find six men willing to join us. Those Sun People are far too unpredictable from what I hear and if things go wrong, we might have to fight. Better to fight in a pack than alone." Alan said to the two Fingers.

"Understood boss." The two men said together.

"Don't worry, boss." Stone said patting Alan on the shoulder. "I'll keep everyone here in line. The locals won't be causing any problems while you're gone."

"I know you will. But it is not the locals I am worried about. No doubt that others will see my peace breaker label as a weakness. Someone is bound to show up and challenge the right for Hand and try to rule this part of downtown." Alan said with a low voice. "Out of everyone under me, you Stone, are the closest to me in strength. You must defend my title in my stead. If you lose it, I'll kill you myself."

Stone had a mixed expression of pride and worry. In the end he gave a trustworthy smile and gave his reply. "I understand. I won't let you down."

"Good man." Alan replied with a nod. "Come on Hemlock. Let us go pick out volunteers."

The two then returned to the elevator shaft. Alan gave one last skeptical glance at the two russet cloaked men before he attached his Climber and started for the bottom levels.

…

Morning arrived sooner than Alan would have liked. Being on the topmost floor the sunrise would always wake him up first. The glowing sky was once again completely cleared of any clouds. From a small windsock outside of his closest window, he could see that the wind was blowing stiffly from the north west already. It was going to be a chilly morning.

After stretching in his room for a few minutes and redressing his shoulder bandages Alan picked up his trusted weapon. The heavy hammer head of the firefighter’s tactical axe felt good in his rough hands. Its blunt end and blade had served him well over the years. He couldn't imagine using anything else to fight with than this.

Taking one last look around the room to make sure everything was in order, he felt satisfied finding that it was. His Nest was his home, his quite place. Grabbing a leather jacket, that he had personally sewed together making it three times as thick, off a chair he headed for the elevator shaft.

Slinging his hammer and a backpack of supplies onto himself, he picked up his Climber. He attached the Climber to the elevator cable, but instead of going down right away he locked it into place. Then, while holding on with one hand on the Climber, Alan used the other to laboriously pull the doors shut. Anyone that wanted to break onto his floor would have to first be strong enough to open these doors and not fall to their doom. Besides if anyone did manage to open them, they would be worth fighting anyway!

When he arrived at the bottom floor, he found that a sleepy group of men were already waiting for him in the lobby. Hemlock and the six volunteers were rather eager to get going on this trip, for they were getting restless from sitting around so much. The two cloaked men were among them. However, they didn't appear the least bit tired.

"Well, this is good. Now I don't have to waste time waking you lot up." Alan said walking towards the main entrance to the lobby. "Come on, wake up and let’s go get this trip over with."

The men grumbled halfheartedly in reply and started after Alan. Once they were outside Alan knew that his hunch was right. It was a very chilly morning, despite the clear sunrise morning. The wind tugged hard at his hair and he tightened his thick leather jack closer around him.

They had yet to go no more than three blocks through the downtown of the city when they ran into an issue. There was a group of Skull members waiting for them. It was clear that they had ill intentions.

"Well, look-y here. It is the Bone Flayer, or should I call you Speaker now. No wait, Peace Breaker sounds right, doesn’t it lads?" A wiry looking man caring a vicious looking club. "But they won't be calling you that much longer." The wiry man said menacingly pointing his club at Alan.

The dozen or so heavily bone tattooed men all chuckled in agreement. Alan's group all instinctively placed their hands on their weapons. It was clear they were outnumbered and this group looked ready for a fight. Alan held up his hand signaling for them to relax.

"What do you want? You know I must be going. So, move out of the way." Alan replied ignoring the man’s threat with an uninterested gaze.

"You don't get it, do you?" The wiry man retorted. "I am Scalp Cutter and I challenged you for the rank of Hand."

Alan let out a loud exaggerated sigh and unstrapped his hammer from his back. "Are you sure you want to do this? I am in a hurry and don't have much time to waist. So, I am going to have to make this quick."

"Don't take me lightly!" Scalp Cutter yelled and charged at Alan with his club cocked back for a swing.

"Your loss." Alan said flatly. Then without too much effort he raised his hammer up over his head. Scalp Cutter didn't slow at all seeing this. Then just as they were nearing within steps of striking distance of each other, Alan activated his Inducement.

The sudden surge of power flooded his veins, and he knew this fight was over. There was a reason Hands were regarded as some of the strongest in the Skull and Alan was proof of such strength. Taking a strong forward step, he swung his heavy hammer side down at a speed no normal man could ever hope to counter.

Scalp Cutter was such an unfortunate ordinary man.

The hammer hit Scalp Cutters Head with such force that it exploded like a watermelon! Chunky red bits were tossed all around onto the street. While Alan’s hammer didn't pass all the way through the body, but rather stuck in between Scalp Cutters shoulder. Instantly all the men on Scalp Cutters side stopped smiling. In an instant it was over, and they had lost.

Alan, stepping forward, placed his foot against the dead man’s chest and kicked him hard to disconnect the hammer from him. The body plopped to the ground with a wet meaty sound. Blood slowly spread out from the headless body and into the cracks of the old street.

"Now, if anyone has anything else to tell me, do it now." Alan said tossing his bloody hammer onto his shoulder. He gave a deathly glare at the other men. In turn, they immediately turned and ran away. They now knew better than to challenge Alan, the Bone Flayer.

"Well done, Speaker." Ashen One spoke. "Now to continue on."

"Yes, yes. Let's go men." Alan answered already feeling annoyed, while stepping over the body. It seemed like it was going to be a long trip if things like this kept happening.