Alric climbed up the building and sat next to Kael on the roof. "Is everything ready," Kael asked.
"Yes. I found a map of the underground tunnels that leads to the courthouse. We can get directly underneath and block any escapes," Alric said.
"Good. Vaelith had a key with her as she left. I'll confirm where it can be used," Kael said as he watched over the courthouse entrance.
"Understood." Alric went back down the building and to the carriage where Brokk was waiting.
"Are we good to go?" Brokk asked as Alric approached the carriage. He was standing outside the carriage door and was putting on his chest plate.
"Yes. Let's get everything and head down." Alric opened the door and grabbed a bag and a map of the underground tunnels.
Brokk grabbed another bag and placed a shield on his back. He grabbed a short double headed axe that he had made himself. "Let's head down then," Brokk said.
Alric led the way behind a few buildings and to a sewage cover. "This is it," he said while lifting the cover off.
"You can't be serious. Surely there is another way to go down," Brokk said while pinching his nose.
"No, this is the closest entrance and with our window of opportunity shrinking, we need to go down now," Alric said.
Brokk sighed. "Why is it always the sewers though. This reminds me of Caldrath five years ago."
Alric smirked. "You fell in back then," he said in a mocking tone towards Brokk.
"That's only because you lied about how deep it was back then," Brokk retorted furiously.
"Maybe I'll see that sight again today," Alric said while chuckling to himself. Brokk pushed him out the way and stood over the sewage cover hole.
"Stop messing with me. Let's go. We don't have much time before nightfall," Brokk said angrily, still annoyed with Alric.
"Fine, let's head down," Alric said. The two jumped down into the sewers and landed with a splash.
They both covered their noses with clothes. Alric handed Brokk a torch from his bag and took one out for himself.
He snapped his fingers and a flame ignited both of the torches. Alric looked down at the map and then started to walk.
They both moved quietly. Alric led from the front and Brokk followed from behind, watching Alric's back and also checking the surrounding for enemies.
As Alric turned the corner, Brokk pulled him back. Alric dropped his torch and the flame died as it landed in the sewage water.
Alric turned to Brokk who had his finger on his lip. Brokk the pointed around the corner. Alric peeked his head around to see two guards standing by a gate.
"You go ahead and take them out, I'll watch your back," Alric whispered to Brokk. Brokk looked up at him confused.
"What do you mean I must take them out. I did that last time, it's your turn now," Brokk whispered back.
"I'm pretty sure it's your turn," Alric whispered. Brokk took a deep breath in and out to cool his head.
"If that's how you want to do this, then let's settle this as men," Brokk whispered. They both placed their bags down and raised their fists in front of each other.
"On shoot then," Alric whispered. They both focused on the other's movement to find any weakness or minor movement.
"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot." Brokk threw down rock and Alric hand paper. Alric smirked. "I win."
"Every time. I swear you're cheating," Brokk whispered as he removed his shield from his back.
He kicked a rock that was on the side of the sewage water into the water. It splashed into the water and the guards standing at the gate lowered their spears.
"Who's there?" the one guard shouted. There was no more movement. "Must have been a rat scurrying around. No one comes down here anyway," the guard said.
As the guards relaxed their bodies and started to raise their spears back next to themselves, Brokk jumped up from around the corner and charged at the guards while yelling.
The guards, shocked by Brokk's sudden appearance, stumbled to get their weapons in place.
Brokk saw the hesitation and took the opportunity. He threw his double headed axe at the guard on the right.
The axe split the guard's face apart as it landed and the other guard flinched at the sight of his comrade's body.
Brokk charged at him with his shield out in front of him. The guard fell to his knees in shock and despair.
Brokk crashed into the guard with his shield, crushing his head against the brick wall of the sewers.
Brokk stepped back and the guard's body flopped forward. He bent down and pulled his axe out of the guard's face.
As he did, an eyeball fell to the ground. Alric calmly approached Brokk and the dead guards. "Messy," Alric said, stepping around the body. "You always were."
Brokk scoffed, "Like you could do any better." He placed his shield back on his back and then took his bag from Alric.
Alric picked up a key loop from one of the guards. He found the correct key and then opened the gate, that the guards were protecting.
The two continued to walk until the map that Alric had, showed that they should be directly under the courthouse.
They turned the corner and then found light underground. It was coming from a man-made cavern, that had a few other tunnels leading to it and cages in the centre.
Alric looked closely at the cages and could see beastkind chained up and beaten blue. "I guess we found Helmont's slave market," he said.
"That bastard," Brokk muttered, forcing himself to stay composed.
As they moved through the cavern, the sound of chains dragging echoed off the stone walls. Somewhere nearby, younger beastkind cried and begged for their parents.
Brokk's jaw clenched, anger rising with every step, but he kept his focus on the task at hand.
Once they had mapped the tunnels, Alric said, "Let's get to work. We should set up the show before the boss gets here."
"Let's get to it," Brokk replied, his voice cold. Alric pointed out several positions, and then the two split up.
On the surface Vaelith had joined Kael on the roof top. "Look what I found," she said with a smile, while holding up a uniquely shaped key.
"Good job. What does it open?" Kael said, his attention still on the courthouse and the entrance.
"There was only one place I couldn't get to. There were many secret tunnels but there was one that I couldn't open if I tried. I presume this key will open it," Vaelith said.
"It will. There was probably only one of these keys, right?" Vaelith nodded. "And it came from Helmont himself," Kael said.
Vaelith nodded. "I pinched it off him as I was leaving. He didn't notice a thing," she said.
"Then that's where we'll find him. And that's where we will end him," Kael said. The sun set and as nightfall approached, four carriages stopped outside the courthouse.