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Let it Be Chapter 5 copyright 2015 comidacomida

Cory's heart pulsed rapidly in his chest, breath coming quickly despite his lack of activity. Heinyr had been strolling calmly through the street at a pace that would have made a turtle look fast but, as Ackert reminded them, it meant that they would be able to keep up with the Jackal while choosing more suble and shadowed routes. For the past few minutes, however, Cory and the Gators had been stuck in place as the alchemist was engaged in conversation by a group of townsfolk.

Rolis shifted impatiently behind Ackert. "He's not moving..."

The older Gator was watching Heinyr closely and raised a talon to quiet his son then spoke quietly. "Some of the Baron's men are nearby... he has to be casual. Give him time."

Cory reached back and took one of his lover's talons in his hand, then turned once again to look at the Jackal, who was finally wrapping up the conversation. Heinyr glanced in their direction subtly, motioning forward with his yes, and then he was off once again at his slow pace, but nodding courteously to the kingdom soldiers who watched him go by. Rolis' talon stiffed slightly in the Buck's grasp.

Ackert must not have missed his son's reaction. "It was a nod, Rolis... that's all."

All of Cory's lover's distrust was evident in the way he said the Alchmist's name with a sneer. "Heinyr..."

Rather than linger any further on the distrust, Ackert patted them each on the shoulder. "Come on... time to move."

They continued to trail Heinyr from the darkness, following him across the city until they reached the portion of town dedicated to silos, warehouses, and storage sheds. The Jackal lingered outside a squat wooden structure. After standing at the entryway for nearly a minute the alchemist made his way inside, motioning subtly to the side of the building as he did so. Ackert apparently caught the gesture and slid into the thinning late-afternoon shadows on the east side of the warehouse. "Keep up."

Heinyr was waiting for them at the side of the building and held the alley-facing door open for them as they entered. "It isn't much but it should be able to see you through the soldiers' stay in town."

Rolis remained near the door, eyes slowly scanning the large, open room. Ackert was much faster on his observation. "This building is too open and there are cracks in the walls... it wouldn't take much for us to be seen in here."

The Jackal grinned, heading to the center of the floor plan. "Which is precisely why it is perfect for hiding... few men would think that there was more to this building than what meets the eye."

Rolis scowled. "What do you mean?"

Heinyr pressed his paw against the side of a floor-to-ceiling support beam and a small knot of wood slid into the rest of the column; a moment later a section of the stone floor popped visibly higher than the rest. "As I said... a secure place for you to wait."

Ackert motioned to Rolis and the two Gators moved to the trap door. It opened along a hinge, flopping back to reveal a staircase that looked more like ladder. The Alchemist motioned into the darkness below. "If you are concerned for Cory's safety you are more than welcome to inspect it first. I assure you, it is perfectly secure."

Rolis looked from the dark cellar to the Jackal then back again. His eyes narrowed when they returned to Heinyr. "You can lock us down there, can't you?"

The alchemist laughed. "Yes... actually I could."

Ackert nodded, motioning his son onward. "Good... then you can come down with us."

The Jackal rolled his eyes. "Do you mean to say that, despite the fact that I have been nothing but forthright and honest in our dealings this afternoon, you are still so unwilling to trust me?"

The older Gator didn't move an inch. "If we have nothing to worry about why are you so hesitant to join us?"

Heinyr exchanged glances with Cory before looking back to Ackert. "The tanner will be left up here alone."

Ackert was not satisfied with the answer. "Move it."

The alchemist shrugged. "Very well... though this is entirely unnecessary."

Cory fidgeted as he met the Alligator's gaze. "Ackert... this is a little unnec--"

Rolis, apparently agreeing with his father, interrupted the tanner. "It is very necessary."

Heinyr smiled pleasantly at the Buck. "Do not worry yourself, my friend... I will be right back."

It was an awkward parting for the Buck but he waited patiently as the Jackal preceded Ackert down the steep staircase. Cory glanced toward the front wall of the structure several times as he caught the silouettes of people walking by as they passed by the cracks between the timbers. His ears ultimately rotated back toward the entrance to the cellar and the talking taking place down below. A moment later, there was a shout, and white smoke started to spew up from the opening.

The Buck raced immediately to it. "Rolis! Ackert!"

He recoiled at the icy chill of the mist wafting up, and he took an advertent step back as a shadowy figure pressed toward him, cloaked in the vapors. Heinyr eventually stepped into view, coughing, and waving a paw in front of him face. "Damned Gelid Weed..."

Cory was frantic for his want of information. "What's going on?"

The Jackal shook a coating of light frost off of his traveling cloak. "A simple alchemical reaction, Cory... nothing more."

The Buck rushed past the alchemist and knelt down near the trap door but recoiled quickly when he felt the cold wind blowing forth from it. He turned back to look at Heinyr. "What happened?"

The Jackal calmly pulled out a thin ceramic blade. "I had hoped to save the reagents, but they WERE making things difficult... now stand up, please."

Cory was dumbstruck. "But-- Ackert and Rolis--"

Heinyr waved away the concern. "Don't worry yourself about the Alligators. They will hibernate... it isn't cold enough to kill them, but I can't very well have them getting in the way of Villamont's men, now can I?"

The tanner realized that Rolis was right all along; Heinyr COULDN'T be trusted. "Why? You said I'm your best customer!"

The Jackal nodded, giving the blade in his paw a little flick, indicating for Cory to move away from the trap door. "You are-- or, rather, were. As I said, an honest, appreciative, professional leather worker is the most vaulable client an alchemist can have, and I am grateful for that."

The Buck moved as directed, but reluctantly. "Then why are you doing this?"

Heinyr moved to close the trap door, responding with a shrug. "Well... quite frankly, I was offered a sum that I couldn't pass up. I do freely admit I have my vices, and avarice has always been a particularly--"

Cory waited until the alchemist was occupied with shutting the passage and then made his move. Seizing the opportunity while the Jackal was distracted, the tanner sprang forward and knocked the ceramic blade from Heinyr's paw. Once the weapon fell to the ground the Buck launched himself onto it.

Heinyr backed away as Cory stood once again. "Please don't make this difficult, Tanner. This is simply business... nothing personal."

The Buck took a step back, widening the distance between him and his opponent. "The Baron's men are on their way... aren't they?"

The Jackal nodded. "They know where I was bringing you... they should be along in a few minutes."

Cory's eyes began to tear up. "I should KILL you..."

Heinyr held his paws up and away from his body, but took a step forward. "Your life is ruined, tanner... we both know that, and no matter what you do nothing will change it. The Baron's men are here for you, and you alone... there is no reason to see others get harmed."

The Buck's eyes glanced quickly at the still-open trap door. "They're after Ackert too... I won't let--"

The Jackal shook his head. "No... just you... just you. They do not care in the least about the Alligators... which is why I was trying to separate you from them. We can make this easy... you can go without a fight; they will survive; I will get rich. Everyone will make the best of this horrible situation and we can put all of that messy stuff behind us."

A part of Cory had been thinking the same thing, and that was the part of him that was willing to listen to the Jackal. Another part of the Buck realized that Heinyr shouldn't have been trust-- he COULDN'T be trusted, but the inner battle between the two took just long enough that the alchemist was able to get close enough to make a grab for the knife. The moment the Jackal's paw latched onto Cory's wrist the Buck acted.

He had never received much of an opportunity to train more than a few times with Ackert, but one of the things the Gator had taught him was how to escape attempts to subdue him. They both knew that Cory was not much of a figher and never would be, and so the little time they had was spent improving his ability to get away. Almost by reflex, Cory took a step forward, pushing his elbow out while pulling back with his forearm. As he did so he twisted his wrist, pulling it cleanly out of the Jackal's grasp.

The Stag spun after that, evading the alchemist's next attempt to grab him. The ceramic knife in his grasp was not the same as his usual skinning blade but, then again, Heinyr was also not the same as his usual projects. Cory was no fighter but he was a tanner, and that had given him great insight into how bodies were put together. He lashed out once and only once with the knife, but that was more than enough.

Cory quickly backed away as Heinyr collapsed, grabbing the back of his ankle where his tendon had been cleanly sliced. The Jackal howled out. "AGHH! Gods above, you stupid Stag! You've LAMED me!"

With his entire body shaking, the Stag tossed the ceramic knife at the building's central pillar, burying it into the wood. "Like you said, Heinyr... it's simply business... and in business sometimes you lose."

The Alchemist continued shouting curses and profanity at Cory but the young Buck ignored him, dropping a long strip of leather before climbing down into the cellar. It was freezing cold, but he pushed on, trying to make sense of the arctic storm battering him within the confines of the underground storage room. He called out into the blasting wind. "Rolis? Ackert?"

Finally feeling solid rock beneath his hoof after the final step, Cory was enveloped by the darkness of the surreal storm. He was forced to feel his way around, moving on his hands and knees. The Stag lost track of time as he searched for the two Alligators. His teeth had begun chattering and the shiver in his body transitioned from being fueled by adrenaline to being powered by the cold. He continued searching for his friend and his lover but he found something else first.

Cory didn't understand the significance of the flask initially until he ran his finger along it; when it came to the lip of the container he felt a painful kiss of freezing wind and realized what he'd found. A few seconds later he located a cork and the moment the bottle was stoppered the storm ceased. Suddenly surrounded in silence, he was able to hear his own voice. "Rolis? Ackert?"

From off to the left a small pile of snow shifted. Ackert's voice emerged from it. "Cory?"

The Stag raced to the form beneath the snow and began uncovering the two Alligators. "Come on... you two need to get up. The Baron's men are on their way. We have to go."

Rolis let out a groan, shaking his head wearily. "No... You go. Now."

Cory began pulling at each of them. "I'm not leaving without you."

A faint snarl sounded from above them and Cory looked back to see Heinyr laying on the ground beside the trap door, face peering down at him. The alchemist had one bloody paw on the trap door, holding it open so he could look down at the occupants of the cellar. "Correction... you're not leaving at all."

Moving away from where the Alligators were just beginning to stand, Cory raced to the vertical stairway, fumbling with each rung as he fought to get to the top before the Jackal could close them in... and he failed. The heavy wooden trap door slammed down over the entrance to the cellar. The Buck continued making his way up the ladder as he heard the Jackal trying in vain to secure the latch from the other side. "What's wrong with this stupid thing?!?!?!"

Planting his hooves firmly on the ladder-stairs, Cory lowered his head and heaved with all his might, hitting the trap door with the curve of his shoulders and sending it upward. Heinyr let out a yelp and Cory heard and felt the powerful impact, but the way was suddenly clear again. The alchemist fell over, staring at the ceiling, obviously dazed from the impact of the door striking him in what was most likely the chin.

Although the Buck knew he should have felt bad about it, he simply smiled, retrieving the strip of leather he'd dropped to prevent the trap door from closing the whole way. He was about to start back down into the cellar but suddenly felt a strong set of talons gripping his hooves, and he was hoisted up and out of the hole by an Alligator beneath him. Moving to the side, Cory turned back to help a noticeably sluggish Rolis climb out. Ackert followed shortly thereafter, leaving the three of them laying on the wooden floor.

A low, vibrating growl emerged from Rolis and, though he was still too sluggish to accomplish anything, the Gator had enough anger to clearly state "Can I kill him now?"

Cory rolled up to a sitting position. "Nobody's killing anybody... we need to go before Baron Villamont's men arrive."

Still holding his leg, Heinyr started laughing. Motioning to the front wall of the structure with his muzzle, the Jackal cackled. "No point in that now... they're already here. All you managed to do was get everyone killed, Tanner... I tried to help-- I was going to make everything easy, but you-- UNGH!"

Rolis, who had managed to stand, had swung his tail around, silencing the alchemist with a deft tail slap to Heinyr's head. Cory stared at the Alligator, who simply shrugged and helped Ackert up. "He's not dead."

The Stag backed away from the main door where he saw numerous silhouettes through the slats in the wooden wall. The two Gators standing beside him were still weak from their exposure and, although Cory didn't know much about alchemy, the end result of whatever Heinyr had done would limit their ability to fight off the soldiers. The tanner turned to Ackert. "You two can take the side door... they only want me."

The Alligator snorted. "We've already been over this, Cory... they can't have you."

Rolis snorted in agreement. "Heinyr only gave them a fighting chance."

Glancing to the door that led out into the alley, Cory then looked back to the Gators. "We can all leave... maybe run for help."

Ackert slowly knelt down to pick up a large piece of lumber, swinging it back and forth slowly like he would a sword. "We're still too slow from the cold. You should run, Cory."

The Stag shook his head. "No. If you're not coming with I'm not going. You said it yourself: we're family."

The Gator chuckled. "I meant to go find Captain Privaed."

Cory paused at that, his ears lowering slightly. He didn't want to leave them... he didn't want to get away if they couldn't do. "Why? What can he do?"

Rolis knelt down and picked up the bloody ceramic knife, holding it in his off-talon. "He's the Captain. He can stop this."

Ackert nodded. "If he knows what's going on he can stop it. We're citizens of this city now, Cory... Baron Villamont doesn't have power here."

The Stag knew the plan was sound, but hated the idea of leaving. He was frustrated and felt helpless... and his eyes started tearing up because of it. "Where is the Captain?"

The older Gator let out a breath, sounding almost relieved that Cory was willing to do as he asked. "He should be at the barracks-- from your shop it's up the street and across the way from the fountain."

Hating each step he took, Cory made his way to the side door. "I'll be back soon... VERY soon. I promise."

Reaching for the door, the Stag stopped when it opened. The Ferret standing on the other side between two armored swordsmen locked eyes with him. Baron Villamont was a tall, broad, dark-brown furred Ferret, but the individual standing in front of him was of moderate height and of a lithe build with light brown, almost cream-colored fur... and Cory knew him much better than he knew the Baron. He spoke his ex-lover's name at a whisper. "Louis..."