Chapter 121. Distraction

This was a stupid idea.

I say that like it wasn't my idea. That still doesn't stop it from being stupid in the first place though.

The plan was I would willingly walk into the trap while Voras picked off everyone related to it while they were distracted. In theory it was a great idea but it had a few things that could go wrong... Or a lot in all honesty.

The only reason we agreed it would be a somewhat tolerable idea was that even if something went horribly wrong both of us would be transported back to the farm. That and we couldn't have them following us back as that would have created a whole host of new problems. Better to just nip this in the butt right now.

So that was why I was walking into a shady warehouse in the more secluded part of the artisans district.

"I swear she said it was around here." I said in the most believable way I could. I was no actor and if anyone had even an ounce of a bull shit detector they would have known something was wrong. "I even left my tamed spider with her because she said to go alone."

Again a complete lie but if they didn't come out we were going to have to get a bit creative with another solution.

"Ah you must be the tamer we've heard so much about." A man spoke as he came out of what looked like an office if the windows hadn't been broken onto already.

"Eeeer yes that's me." I smiled back hoping it looked genuine enough.

As the man came closer every survival warning I had screamed at me that this man was a bandit, from the scars he was trying to hide to the animal hides he wore like trophies. This was definitely not someone that wanted to do a nice deal about Arachne silk. On top of that he was human, not the animal kin that was so prevalent in town.

He was also flanked by two other men that put even less effort into looking the part. Hopefully their greed would blind them to what was happening, Voras should be in position somewhere.

"Well then come with me. We shall... Discuss the arrangements regarding your service into. Ummm. Silk industries." The man stuttered slightly having not quite thought this far ahead in his plan.

You would have to have been an idiot to fall for it and an even bigger one to walk right on through towards the room he was indicating towards.

So like said idiot I followed the man while ignoring the two guards trying to hold in their snickering. They weren't even bothering to hide the blades at their hips. Granted if they were guards it would be good to show they were armed but when you wear a cloak like some crappy rouge in dungeons and dragons trying to be edgy it doesn't match.

Inside the room was a table and chairs... That was it.

No paintings depicting their wealth or even a lantern to provide light. Just the open windows and a table that looked to have been brought from a thrift store.

I made my way over to the window only to quickly pull back as I noticed Voras chocking out someone she had pulled out of another nearby window from the side of the wall.

"So. About this deal." I said coming over to the table and sitting down hoping that my interest would take their attention.

It worked. None of them went to the window.

"Hmmmm. Yes the deal." The leader who still hadn't given his name drew out. "Well I'd love to give you all the information buuuuuut."

His men went to either side of my chair as he smiled from the other side. "We're not really looking for a partnership... I guess you could say we're looking for a more permanent position for you... In iron."

His men laughed as their blades sung from being drawn.

I really hope Voras was making good progress because if they weren't even going to try keeping up the pretenses of negotiations I was going to have less time than I thought.

"So are you buying me dinner now or later?" I said back ignoring the blades that were pointing in my direction.

"And why the hell would I do that?" He spat showing off a few missing teeth along with the crooked ones.

"Well in the famous words of Eric Cartman. I would like to be wined and dined before I get fucked. It's a personal preference of mine." I snickered sitting further back into the chair. "Though if you want to skip the dinner because you can't afford it I will have to skip the fucking, it's only fair."

"You think you're in a position to negotiate?" His smile turned into a snare.

"You're right." I let out a breath. "I have more morals than that. First date means you can only get to first base. But don't be sad, you can go further on the second and if you're a very good boy you may even get to third base."

He growled with a little added spittle. "You think you can just call us stupid and get away with it?"

"Well no. I only implied it in the vain hopes you were smart enough to understand." I smiled back.

"Enough!" His had came down on the table. "You will order that Arachne to start making us silk or you will be in a world of hurt."

"Kinky. Just so you know my safe word is banana and nothing above the neck. Still have to work afterwards." I joked enjoying the rise I was getting out of him.

His men however moved quicker than I expected as a fist impacted my cheek. I let out a groan as the world spun and I was held against the chair with an arm around my neck. Not enough to cut off my airway but enough to know I couldn't escape.

"You know I have many kinks but I don't think being choked is one of them." I was so hoping Voras was going to be done soon. My bravado was slightly fading.

The arm around my neck tightened cutting off my ability to breathe just long enough for me to have black spots before releasing.

"You will order the Arachne to make us silk or we will..."

"Will what? Kill me? We both know you won't do that as then you would have to restrain Voras. By the way, how many men do you have?" I interrupted.

A dagger came down pinning my hand to the chair.

Well that explained what they could do.

I let out a shout at the sudden pain and fought the reaction to pull away as the guy who had done it hadn't removed it yet.

"Do I need to be clearer?" The leader asked shoving the table to the side.

"You didn't have to make your own hole you know." I spat as an idea formed in my mind.

Was it stupid? Yes.

Would it work? Maybe.

With my free hand I summoned and flicked a gold coin into the air and just as predicted the three men all followed it as it rose.

With their slight distraction I sent the dagger into my inventory and felt inside for the healing I had. It came when called healing the hole in my hand before the coin reached the peak of its ascension.

The dagger however had a different purpose.

Resummoning it to my right hand I plunged it into the bicep of the arm around my neck.

"Mother Fuc...!"

I dove to the side before the could react and came out on the side of the room close to the window.

"Bugger." I mumbled. If I'd gone the other way I would have been close to the door as even with a dagger in my hand there was very little chance I could do much against three individuals each wielding and sword. Even if one of them was already injured.

"Any chance you three would just surrender right now?" I asked in vain hope.

"You are about as dumb as you look." The leader tisked. "I need him alive boys, I don't care how many pieces he's in."

"Funny." I laughed catching Voras's eyes as she silently opened the door that they all conveniently had their backs towards. "I would have said something similar but I don't care if you live."

I summoned the wrapped up corpse of the woman who had started this and threw it towards the ground. "I'd be scared if I were you."

"Isn't that?" One of the minions tried to say before Voras sunk her fangs into the leaders neck.

There was no cry for help, no last words, just the silent understanding in his gaze as death took him into her embrace.

There was a single exhale that caught the attention of the guards who both turned away from me. Big mistake.

I tried to get around the blade of the guy if already injured and partly succeeded. The partly was because even though the blade looked worse for wear it was still sharp enough to score a rather deep cut along my side that didn't go any deeper because of my ribs. In return the dagger in my hand sunk cleanly into his chest.

Voras took the other one with the experience of someone who had done this before.

I had been aiming for his heart hoping to kill him instantly but I missed. Instead I definitely hit his lung as he pushed me away earning me another slash to my side from his sword.

I hissed dropping my blade to hold the two wounds even as I called apon my healing to mend it. My victim was in a lot worse of a position as he gurgled up blood unable to stop the internal damage I'd done.

Voras was quick to put him out of his misery not that it stopped his face moments from deaths door being burned into my mind. Voras may have felt the killing blow but if she wasn't there I would have been the reason for his death.

That bit at the corner of my mind. Sure I'd killed the Kobold but this was another human, another like me.

I knew it was stupid. It was either me or him, that's why I'd acted when I had. Survival of the fittest and all that jazz.

"Are you okay Clovek?" Voras asked coming up beside me now that all three were dead.

"Yeah." I said with a nod. "Yeah I'm okay."

I really did hope I wasn't lying.