Justice Is Served

Bertrand marched toward the mouth of the alley with twenty armed guards at his back and the unit lieutenant at his right side. The setting sun caused the shadow of his robes to billow on the ground in front of him as he walked.

Bertrand came to a stop at the alley edge, his face barely visible beneath the soft, blood-red leather of his full-length robe. A Keeper stationed to guard the exit saluted Bertrand, holding it until the older man returned the gesture.

"Any activity to report?"

"None on this front, sir." The younger man half turned to look into the growing shadows of the alley. "There were a few attempts to escape on other streets, but nothing here."

Bertrand nodded to his lieutenant who raised one hand and the guards moved to form a semi-circle around the Councilman. Each guard was dressed in grey chain mail with a longsword strapped to his back and peeking over one shoulder, as well as a sixteen-inch-long blade hanging from each hip. Bertrand inspected the men and nodded, touching the hilts of the same knives on his hips. He had served in one of these elite units when he was younger. The short blades would be the weapons of choice in the close quarters they were about to enter, and the guards were efficient killing machines with them. Bertrand's eyes looked past his men to watch as ten more units approached.

"Lieutenant."

"Yes, sir."

Bertrand nodded at the lieutenant, his most loyal soldier for more than a decade. "Your unit will enter the alley in front of me. Two more will follow behind. You will command the military operations, should the need arise."

The lieutenant saluted. "Yes, sir."

The remaining units approached and stopped in formation. Bertrand gave the command and they advanced to find Triax.

They moved through the alley, stopping at each doorway and sweeping every building to ensure no danger was present. It took them an hour to make their way to Triax's headquarters. Small bands of ragged men, no doubt belonging to Triax, ran at the units seven times during the advance. The Soldiers of Law were the best-trained soldiers in the country, and brushed the attacks aside without a single casualty.

When they reached the small black building at the end of the alley, the units gathered in formation again.

"My unit will secure the interior." Bertrand stepped forward, pushing the red leather robe back at the hips and drawing his long knives, reversing the grips so that the jewelled hilts faced up and the blades pointed backward.

He stopped at the entrance and raised his right hand in front of his face, mumbling a few strange words. A spider-like pattern of glowing gold appeared on the wooden door. He nodded and twisted his hand, making a counter-clockwise motion as he made two guttural sounds. The golden web faded like mist. Bertrand closed his eyes and placed a palm very close to the door, moving it up and then down before opening his eyes and reaching to touch the handle. It opened without incident and he entered the darkness.

A few steps inside, Bertrand sensed motion. He leaned back and knew that a blade had passed through the space where his head had been a second ago. With one smooth sideways stab, he thrust right at chest height, grinning as he felt his blade slide into flesh.

"For the Light!" He closed his eyes, knowing his men would do the same. Then he spoke a single word of magic and a blinding flash of light banished the darkness. Screams filled the building as the enemy was blinded.

Bertrand opened his eyes. A dim glow of light—residue from the magic he had cast—filled the rooms. Alley rats and thugs were scattered throughout, all rubbing their eyes. Bertrand waved one dagger and his men moved in.

In minutes, the enemy were subdued.

Bertrand moved to the main hall. The lieutenant instructed men to light the torches while Bertrand sat on the main chair raised above the rest. "Have you found, Triax, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir."

"Bring him forward."

A man was dragged into the centre of the room and forced to his knees. He was of average height and weight with shaggy brown hair and a thin mustache and goatee. He was dressed in black leather pants and jerkin, the sleeves cut off to reveal muscled arms which were covered from shoulder to fingertips with black tattoos. He glared up at Bertrand, one of his eyes swollen shut from a blow to the head.

"Triax." Bertrand's tone deepened, making his delivery of the words sound formal. "You have been accused and found guilty of killing a Keeper of the Law. The penalty for this crime is death."

"I didn't do it." Triax spat onto the ground.

Bertrand shook his head. "I do not need to hear from you, Triax. Your trial was already convened."

Triax laughed and glared at the Councilman. "You will miss me when I am gone. This territory will go to hell without me. You just wait and see."

"How foolish to believe this world will miss any of us when we are gone." Bertrand nodded and the lieutenant moved to stand behind Triax.

At a signal from his commander, the lieutenant drew his longsword and, with one smooth motion, beheaded the alley lord.

"Justice is served." Bertrand smiled.