Too Many Demons: Part 1
Two hands, desperately thrown out, somehow managed to grasp the narrow
ledge between the chest and the open trapdoor. A low growling below
gave warning that it would not be safe to hang there for long. One leg
swung up, a foot reached the narrow ledge; an arm shot up and caught
the rim of the open chest. With a heave that almost pulled arm from
socket, the thief leapt clear. From the darkness below, two bright
eyes glared up. Gamelan grabbed a handful of coins and was off,
stuffing a purse on the run. A clamour of bells and distant shouting
lent wings to the thief’s feet. As the wall was scaled once
more, an uproar in the street below warned that the City Watch had
been alerted.
“Must’ve been well bribed to turn out so fast,”
breathed Gamelan, and ran along the wall, nimble as the cat that
followed. Since several merchant houses were protected by
interconnecting walls, it might be possible to descend well away from
the main commotion. Misfortunes, however, rarely come singly. A voice
cried out.
“There ’e goes, towards the Shambles!”
And the street was suddenly full of blazing torches. Greasy, unkempt
faces glared upwards as dogs might at a wounded fox (perhaps a treed
wounded fox!). No escape that way.
A door burst open from a building on the other side and four armed
guards, alerted by the noise, made for the wall. The odds were poor
but on the other hand they were impossible in the street. Gamelan
leapt down, grabbing the branch of a convenient tree and swinging
lightly to the ground. As the guards ran forwards a bundle of fur, all
claws and screeching, came flying at them, clawing face, leg and
arm. The nearest, distracted, was dispatched by the thief’s
blade. The clash of swords rang out even as the watch clamoured and
battered at the gate in the wall. A bare two minutes later the gate
was pulled open and a youth in guards’ livery, all bloodied,
collapsed to the ground.
“What’s happened?” asked the Watch captain, shaking
the guard, careless of any wounds.
“That way...”, was the gasping reply.
Their eyes swept past the bodies of the other guards to the open door
and the light within. There was an uproar from the house. The Watch
rushed through the gate in a din of shouting, rattling mail and
pounding boots, ignoring the listless body that slumped to the
ground. In a moment there was a terrific noise from the house, like
that of a battlefield with two great armies engaged not so much in
killing each other but in breaking everything in sight and making as
much racket as they possibly could.
You can find the complete version of Too Many Demons: Part 1 in issue 48 of TBD.