The town was quiet around them, muddy streets empty this time of night. Nobody came walking in this part of town when the sun went down. But this dark, quiet alley was right where they wanted to be.
“Alright.” Lek’s deep gravelly voice began. He looked intently and conspiratorially into his companion's eyes. “Here’s th’ plan. You wait here. You’re too loud, too clanky. But me... I go in nice and quiet like. I sneak right up behind ‘im, and then...” Lek’s hands widened, as he presented his masterful plan with a wide grin. “I stab ‘em. Then I stab anyone else in there. Job done.” He nodded, giving his own plan a vote of confidence.
Jeeves sighed. Yes, they were here to kill a criminal overlord and dismantle his gang. But sadly, his companion was sorely lacking in tact. Lek’s plans usually could be broken down into stabbing most parties present. Occasionally sneaking was also involved. “Perhaps if sir were to try not doing that. Sir might find sir’s self in a situation more amenable to sir’s success.” Jeeves as always kept his face passive, emotions totally in check. He pursed his lips. If only his companion was a bit less uncouth.
“Wot?” Lek gave a look of disgust and confusion. “Well what’s your bright idea then.” Lek sneered and made air quotes. “Mr. Chair?”
Jeeves brought two fingers to his forehead and closed his eyes. Lek loved to bring up his last name. He opened his eyes again and placed his palms together. He looked at his foolish companion and endeavored to dumb things down enough to make them intelligible to the man. “Mr. Lek. Allow me to remind sir that we have not viewed the room in question as of yet. So, if sir were to engage in sir’s plan and enter the room in an effort to sneak past any possible inhabitants, sir would in fact be doing so with no idea if such a thing is indeed possible. Before making a true plan, some reconnaissance is in order, sir.”
“But if they see me then I just stab ‘em!” Lek protested. For such a simple-minded man Jeeves had to admit that he had had a surprising amount of success. He was one of the only other mercenaries in town, and over his roughly three years of operation Lek “the Stabber” had not only not died, but he had actually completed more jobs than Jeeves. Though Jeeves’ position was that the quality of a job completed was more important than their quantity.
“Sir, might I suggest that before we resort to sir’s truly exceptional ability to puncture the flesh of criminals, sir may approach the window on the side of this edifice, peer through it, and report back to me what sir had viewed. Following this, I will be able to get into position and perhaps I will be able to use some of my limited magics to give us an upper hand.” Jeeves crossed his hands behind his back and allowed his nose to point just a bit higher. “This is all to facilitate sir’s future stabbing, of course.” He knew Lek couldn’t resist some small compliments on the finer parts of his craft.
Lek brought a curled fist up to his mouth and appeared to be in deep contemplation. “Hmm...” Lek dropped his fist and looked up. “Alright. I can get behind that. As long as I get to do some stabbin, what’s th’ harm in givin’ the place a little looky before we go cover it in blood?” Lek grinned evilly, cracking his knuckles and tensing his exceedingly muscular body in anticipation. “You got some kinda spell to cover up the sound of your armor?”
Jeeves smiled. “Of course I do sir.” He drew his hefty sword from its scabbard, and felt a comfortable certainty that success was imminent. After this job was completed, he would have enough money to leave this town and begin to truly pursue his own goals. “At your leisure sir.” Jeeves pressed himself to the wall, keeping in shadow as he moved to look over the old storehouse their quarry was squatting in. He looked over to Lek, who gave one final grin before fading into the darkness, moving towards his prey.
