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 Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:11 pm
Rick wasn't really sure what Ia was going on about but he figured it had to do what he was talking about; dragging him into a huge mess. Of course he had to stop thinking he brought on this mess. It wasn't his fault, was it?
"Ia...I..." Rick was tongue tied really.
He set his plate aside. How many days since he fled from his home? How many days has he been alone? Ia was a mystery to Rick. Then again Rick felt like an open book every moment.
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:20 pm
Ia looked up when Rick spoke his name, smiled when he fell silent and finished his meal, placing his plate aside to be cleaned later.
"What?" he asked, a curious look on his face.
"We... should probably be going soon. I don't want to bring any trouble to Pops and... well it's been a couple of days, we can probably slip out of the city relatively safely now."
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:05 am
Rick was always use to keep track of time, place, and just in general the days. He wasn't sure what the day was or what time, but he figured it was sometime in the morning. He looked over at Ia and thought it was a good idea to start moving again. This time he had a plan.
His idea had come to him when he had finished apologising. Rick knew he couldn't stay in this slumpy state forever. There were far more things at hand then his depression and he figured it was time for a stance.
Rick's master plan (so he thought) involved braking more then just a few rules, it was going to be full blown war. He wasn't a fan of war but he had something up his sleeve against the prince and his own father.
If he could get Ia and his 'friends' to come together they could possibly take down the prince, however there was something that was bothering him. The jewel that was mentioned...did he have to retrieve that to save the kingdoms from civil war? It was something he had to investigate no doubt.
"Ia...once we leave, I want to return to the castle...we need to figure out what the prince is planning...I don't get it...but I think what they're looking for is the key to solving this whole mess...maybe, I could then just be wrong."
Rick hated being wrong, then again he wasn't perfect.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:39 am
Ia was about to say something but seeing the thoughtful look on Rick's face, he kept quiet, not wanting to interupt his thought if he was trying to work out what to do. Afterall, he was the one who had to call the shots really; Ia was just a simple theif, he didn't have any part to play in the wide scheme of things.
Ia nodded to what Rick said, agreeing, and glad he decided to face what was coming. "What do you mean? What key?" he asked, wondering if there is some way he could help.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:50 am
Rick went over to where Ia was quickly and got extremely close to him, staring at him dead in the eye.
"How fast can you gather those who are skilled on the streets?" Rick was curious to know, it was part of his plan anyways. If he could round up some of the most skilled theives he could manage to gather information as well as get into places fast...
As for his own support he had a few friends who were new dukes and lords. Of course he had to get to them before his father poisoned their thoughts. With them he could create a small army just to defend himself and Ia.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:56 am
Ia moved back from Rick, a little unnerved at how close he got how soon; was he still drunk or something? But he forgot about that when he began thinking about the question asked.
"Well... it depends. I'm not in high standing with most of them so I can't order anyone but the lower level theives, mostly kids really, begger children, but they make good spies and know everything that goes on in the city, and are cheapest too. The rest..." he shrugged. "They're a bit like mercenaries, they work for the highest bidder. Some of them, like me, would rather just be left alone and would work for you with the assurance that the authorities turn a blind eye to whatever they do. Others, well gold is the only language they speak. I know which ones are which and how to approach them, but they'll want the money upfront for those who want that, the others will want some kind of proof."
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:59 am
Rick became iffy at his own idea...how was he to get these people if they only worked with front hand proof? He thought about it before looking back at Ia with a slight grin on his face.
"I know...We can sneak into the castle, I know where I keep some of my jewels..there we steal them, and pay half now, half later!" Rick smiled now, thinking it was a brilliant plan.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:11 am
Ia started giggling at Rick's plan; he knew it would likely offend the prince but he couldn't help himself. "Sorry..." he said eventually. "It won't work; you're noble-blood, royal at that, they wont trust you to pay the rest of it. If you don't have the money upfront, I could probably get it, specially if you know where these jewels are kept. Once they are pledged they will not break their word. Whether you believe it or not, there is an honour code in the underground. There are waring factions and a few rebels who follow their rules but for the most part, if you get the leaders you get the whole gang. For the others, the ones that will just want to be left alone to conduct their own business..." he trailed off, thinking. That would be the hard part, really. "Maybe... maybe if you organized it with the guards to get them taken off their lists to be arrested, so long as they aren't caught in the act of course, and ask them to test it. You know, walk openly past a guard or something..." He knew that would be hard to convince them that it wasn't some kind of plot, for some it would be harder still. "Or maybe if you agreed to put yourself at risk by meeting with a number of them, weaponless, no guards near..." he said, thinking aloud.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:20 am
Rick sighed and rocked a brow. He couldn't believe Ia was making fun of his plan but he was right...why would they want to trust him who cant even pay the full price? He didn't want to risk losing too much gold to just a hand full of thieves...how much did they need anyways? Rick wasn't too sure.
Slowly he pushed back before thinking again...Getting past guards? It was an idea but most of the guards hated him for always running off and his father making them chase after him like a while goose chase.
Of course he did have his share of jokes with them before...though things were different now...it was far more then just jokes.
"Ia this is impossible..." Rick said running his hands through his hair. He felt the oils over his skin.
"Great...I have not showered in days...this is just splendid..."
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:43 am
Ia giggled a little at Rick's comment about not having bathed; he rarely ever bathed since it was usually too cold when he didn't have any way to heat the water.
"It's not impossible," he said. "Just difficult. There will always be some in the underground who you will never be able to convince but chances are they wont be convinced by your enemies either. But it will help you if you show up to these meetings I will have to arrange with them; showing them you trust them will go a long way to making them trust you. And we cant stop before trying anyway."
He paused a moment before saying, "First we need to work out where we will be staying when we get back to the city. I don't think you would be safe staying at my place after what's happened, or me for that matter; lots of easy money to be made by knifing someone. And I don't have any friends that I would trust with your safety in that city. Any ideas?"
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