The Night CH.1
#1 of The Tale of: The Night Walker
The kingdom of Gardom was a large prosperous kingdom that had reigned over much land in the west. It was ruled by a wise old king, and queen that had two children. Prince Eldak, and princess Galdia. Although, when the king, and queen died, giving their kingdom to the prince, and princess things started to change. The young king Eldak began to corrupt, and eventually found small ways to expand the the limits of his rule. The queen tried to stop him, but Eldak wouldn't listen. Galdia was suspiciously poisoned the morning after she publicly spoke against Eldak. So a group called "Furia" arose. They took half the kingdom's army, and quickly set to work. Now, years after the Furia fought the corrupt king, and took half the land, Gardom is looking to take Furia's land back. That's when my tale begins, the tale of the Night Walker.
I had found myself in the capital city "Usmuck" of Gardom. I had been planning something big, real big. You see, a canine by the name of Crutamal Gredoman was throwing a ball on this night, the last night of the week. I had been studying him the whole week. Apparently, his clothing stores were only a front. He also gave services as an assassin on the down low, though it wasn't cheap, it would be his downfall.
I studied my reflection in the reflecting pond, just outside of the ballroom. I was wearing a white shirt that buttoned with it's sleeves rolled to my elbows, a black tie, black leather pants, and black leather boots. I was wearing as much armor as I could wear, and still fit in. The shirt and tie are apart of the dress code; Only Gredoman designed clothes. I fixed my tie, ran my hands through my long hair that parted down the middle, and fell just a little past my shoulders, took a deep breathe out, and entered the ballroom.
The outside was a splendid clear glass spherical building without a roof, nor windows. It had one big clear glass door on it's front that awaited on high ground, just after the concrete steps.
The door swung open, and I saw a short, thin man with a well trimmed thin mustache, and thin eyebrows standing with amazing posture. His eyes were halfway closed, and his hair was slicked back. He had on a red vest with shiny gold buttons over a black shirt much like mine with his sleeves rolled up as well. Though, his pants were black, the material was obviously different than mine. His seemed thinner, and less tight.
"So sorry, milord, but I must search you for any weaponry you might have." A deep articulate voice stated, coming from the short thin man
"I understand." I replied
He patted me down, then cleared me. Step one was complete, and step two was underway. I needed to find a dance partner until Crutamal came out to announce some things about his clothes which were Gardom wide famous. Typically finding a dance partner isn't hard, but this ball was filled with Felines, and I was but a demon. The Feline people were graceful dancers, and demons typically have a hard time dancing due to a general lack of dexterity. However, I am as graceful of a dancer as any Feline around. I just needed to prove it.
I made my way to the dance floor, ready to work my charm. I was walking with tall, confident posture, and a sly smile. One woman in particular caught my eye. A lady standing alone filling her own glass full with the wine at a table just steps off of the dancing table. She looked distraught, and in need of fun. She wasn't of Feline descent, and such was obvious by looking at her. She was of Raccoon descent. She had brown rings around her eyes, black fur with brown rings around, and a thick short tail. She was wearing a classy red dress that sparkled like the night sky that fell just below her knees.
I walked over to her acting as if I was just coming for some wine, and happened to notice her.
"Hello, madam." I greeted, as I began filling a glass full of wine "Lovely ball, isn't it?"
"One might say such." She said, taking a sip of her wine
"Are you not enjoying yourself?" I asked, before taking a sip
"No, I'm not."
"I see... I'll have to change."
"How are going to do that?"
"Let me escort you to the dance floor, madammm?"
"Madam Rings. Caroline Rings is my name. And... I accept, Misterrrr?"
"You can just call me John, Madam Rings."
So, without another word I took her hand, and escorted her to the dance floor. It was nice to see her smile. Typically, I don't seem to care for such small details of this nature, but everything about her was just different. The way she walked, the way she talked, and as I would soon find out, the way she danced. We stopped when we reached three steps into the dance floor's the outer edge, and the song stopped. I placed my right hand on her lower back, as she place her right hand on my upper back, and held our left hands in the air about six inches away from our noses. A song started as soon as we were ready to start dancing, so we did. We stepped diagonally left, then diagonally right, then back, spun, and repeated the steps. As that became our natural movements I was free to notice her. To notice the way her long curly brown hair swayed with her large hips, the way the moonlight was light up her brown eyes, the way I was paying too much attention to her, and not the mission at hand.
"Tell me, Mr John, where are you from?" She asked, staring into my deep blue eyes
"Guess." I replied, issuing a challenge, "I'll give you three chances, madam Rings."
"Okay. Uhm... Furia?"
"No, but close."
"Gardom?"
"You got it right."
"Oh? What's my prize, Mr John?"
"How about a nice dinner at the eatery just across from this ballroom this day next week at my expsene?"
"Sounds lovely."
After she accepted my invitation, the song entered the last verse's last measure. So after spinning we stomped on beat with everyone else, kicked out our feet, and all the men on the last beat dipped the woman. Then a round of applause for the band came from Crutamal Gredoman who stepped on stage clapping taking the position of the singer.
"Great band, everyone!" Crutamal shouted, in a smooth voice that soothes your ears as he kept clapping, "Thank you for playing tonight, you were wonderful."
He was wearing a black leather jacket that had three big gold buttons, and a short gold colored cape which ended at his mid back attached to the jacket's gold colored hood. He was wearing black leather pants, just like mine, and gold boots. Typically, he dressed much like the man at the front door that patted me down, however tonight he must have decided to mix it up.
"You all like my new outfit?" He asked, and the crowd clapped in approval, "I thought so! You know, it feels as safe as it looks. There's nothing more satisfying that feeling safe in an outfit that looks good too. In an outfit that doesn't necessarily say I'm a soldier, or mercenary, but more says I have a safe style that I can afford. Wealth, wealth is nice. It's nice looking like you are wealthy. You know what my favorite things is about my new line?"
I took this chance to sneak out of the crowd as Crutamal kept on talking. Phase two was nearly complete, I just needed to wait until his speech was done. I had stolen the files from his office that included future plans, designs, targets, and the like. I just needed to make sure my job was done by catching some alone time with him.
I needed something to distract him, completely steal all of his attention away... Quickly thinking on my feet, I walked back into the crowd. I found a perfect opportunity. Two annoyed looking muscular felines stood looking up at Crutamal Gredoman side by side with an attractive looking feline lady under their arm. So I moved to a position where I was behind both of them.
I tapped on the one on the left's right shoulder, and he turned to his right staring at the one on the right. The one on the right was oblivious to the situation so he was confused when he was tapped on the shoulder by the one on the left.
"Pardon?" The right one whispered, looking at the one on the left
"You tapped on my shoulder." The one on the left stated in a whisper, looking back at the one on the right
"No, you tapped on mine."
"No, you tapped on mine."
"Noooo, you tapped on mine!"
That was the last I heard before punches, and the such started flying. Now I had started a fight, I crossed my arms, and watched in amusement. These two were larger than any staff Crutamal Gredoman had hired for tonight.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Crutamal exclaimed, "You two calm it! Calm it! Please, someone get between those two!"
After he said that, one muscular gentleman threw the other into a glass wall, shattering the glass wall, and utterly ruining not only the building, but also the presentation. So I watched Crutamal exit frustrated, and I tailed him. When we were finally outside, between two buildings on a dark cold night I called to him.
"Hey, Crutamal!" I shouted, stopping not only myself, but him as well, "I'd like to chat with you."
"A fan?" Crutamal noticed, "I am always happy to chat with a fan."
"Well, I'm less of a fan of Crutamal Gredoman, and more of a fan of The Blade."
"How do you know about that!?"
"How could I not is a better question, Crutamal."
"Wait, you're the one who... You're who stole my files! Where are they, thief!?"
"Well, I have your files right here. You'll to apologize to The Blade for me, I must have misplaced it."
"Oh, you bastard! It's going down! It's going down now!"
Crutamal crouched, opening his mouth to show his sharp teeth, and readied his claws. He launched towards me, but I dodged. He landed right on his face. He rolled over, and flipped back to his feet. He rushed towards me. I dodged barely, and grabbed his cape. RRRRRIP I detached his cape short cape, and threw it aside.
Back on his feet already, he showed me what true furry looked like. With fiery eyes, he assumed a battle stance. Still in mine, we stared at each other. He roared, sending chills down my spine. We both ran at each other. I jumped extending my leg. He jumped keeping his knees under his elbows and claws ready. Pxxxchs I teleported! Now behind above him, I prepared for a crash landing. He went down with an Ooph, and a thud, but didn't stay down.
He got up, shrugging me off of his back. He whipped around, and pounced. Before I knew it, he was clawing my face. So what could I do? I sent my leg up, kicking Crutamal between his thighs. As he was stunned, and teary faced, I launched my body back up, and grappled his neck. I threw him back on the floor, then leaped foward. I grabbed his head. Without much thought, I kept banging it into the concrete until he stopped moving. I stood back, wiped the blood off of my forehead where I was scratched, and looked down.
"Great!" I thought, disappointed, "I went through hell for this shirt, and then Crutamal ruins it!"
At least I had done my job. Infiltrate Crutamal Gredoman's secrete operations, and shut them down. You see, this wasn't an "out of the kindness of my heart" operation. It was mostly because I was apart of a Gardom wide guild of thieves. Typically, I was given high profile assignments such as this one. You know, the assignments that took the real deal. Wit, looks, and skill.
They told me they'd have a messenger sent to the famous Usmuck tavern "Firewater Inn" with my pay, then I could take the next week off, so Firewater was my next stop.
So, in the cold night, I began walking towards Firewater. I kept on my jaunt on this lonely concrete road. As I made watched my back, my mind kept wandering off, thinking about Madam Ringtail.
"Her fur felt so soft, and her eyes were deep like a chocolate abyss. I could stare into them for an eternity. Her large hips swung with such class, and her chest never missed a beat. She was witty, pretty, and had a smooth style."
I opened the doors to the Firewater, and took a seat at the bar. I sat next to a man who was obviously a messenger. The firewater was made out of red wood, and so was the table, stools, and any other piece of furniture in Firewater. On top of each stool parked in front of a long red wood counter that sat many laid an extensive menu filled with different exotic drinks, and traditional foods. The bar was loud place filled with music, and chatting from the local crowd.
"You The Night Walker?" the messenger whispered, leaning in
"Yeah, I am." I answered back, at my normal voice volume, "Next time ask the password, kid."
"Right. Well here's your pay, enjoy vacation, sir."
I was handed my pay, and the messenger went on his way. As did I. I made my way to the hotel across from the Firewater after ordering some wine to go. The hotel was busy with the ball and all. I was lucky I got there when I did because I was given the last room. I fell in the bed, and began snoozing away.
When I awoke, a note was placed on my chest. I grabbed it, and read it with a blurry vision
"Dear thief,
You have been called back to the guild. We know, we know, but there's an emergency."
"They can't be serious." I sighed