2 • Alley Showdown

It was four years ago when Spheris had just started his thieving endeavors in the new environment of Oldracken.

One day, as he was skillfully navigating through the rooftop of buildings, scanning the town beneath, his eyes caught something that made his mouth drop.

It was a gunbiasco — a very expensive tool used to make weapons. Resting in front of a bungalow, the biasco was completely unprotected and vulnerable.

Spheris knew how much they cost, and so he stole the equipment. He later converted this stolen treasure into twenty-three silver callisters, which afforded him two weeks of indulgent, expensive dinners shared with his grateful mother.

However, the joy that came with this temporary comfort crashed to an abrupt end one morning when there was a knock on their makeshift door.

This was how Spheris met Dunnam Gurnlak, a former marshall who spent his retirement as a bounty hunter. When Dunnam told Spheris that he was the owner of the gunbiasco, Spheris thought for sure that his life was over. He was going to be beheaded, just like his father.

But Dunnam didn't take Spheris in. Surprisingly, he simply let him go with the perturbing notice that Spheris now owed him. And because Spheris had sold the biasco for an amount way less than the actual price, it was a debt that he knew he could never pay.

But why was Dunnam here? And now? Spheris's heart pounded as he peered soullessly at the tall, blonde, herculean man.

Dunnam, meanwhile, still had that rebarbative smirk on his face as he folded his arms, revealing his strong biceps and beastly broad shoulders. "What?" he flouted. "You're not happy to see me?"

Spheris didn't say anything in response, not merely due to the disconcerting presence of a man from his past but because he simply didn't know what to say. He gave Dunnam a quick once-over and returned to continue his silent gaze.

"So you're just not gonna say anything?" Dunnam asked playfully. "It's been four years, Spheris, and you're as mute as a tombstone."

Spheris tilted his head softly and slowly opened his mouth, not even sure of what he was about to say. "You look... taller than I remember."

Dunnam cackled after hearing the words. "Me? Look at you! You're almost as tall as I am."

Spheris's brow raised at the big blonde man. 'No, I'm not,' he thought. A flicker of curiosity danced in his eyes, and accompanying it was a growing sense of unease. It was evident that Dunnam wanted something, why else would he have followed him into this dark alleyway?

Spheris's nervousness was mounting, and Dunnam's uncharacteristically cheerful demeanor did little to assuage it.

"You followed me here?" he inquired, his voice low and cautious.

Dunnam's grin widened even more, his demeanor emitting a gleeful energy that was ironically terrifying. "I saw what you did at the market. No one was sharp enough to see it, but I did. Gosh! You are still as impressive as you were when I first met you."

This response only deepened Spheris's concern. "So why did you follow me?"

"Mhm," Dunnam shrugged. "I just wanted to talk."

"To talk?"

"Well, yes. We're buddies, mhm? Buddies talk... all the time." He took a step forward.

Talon, who had been on Spheris's shoulder, fluttered his wing and Spheris took a step back.

The tension was so tenebrous and concrete that he even began to scan his surroundings, planning on how to speed away if Dunnam tried anything.

"It's been four years, Dunnam," Spheris said accusingly. "Now you've appeared out of nowhere claiming you want to talk. Cut to the chase, what do you want? Why are you here? And why tonight?"

It didn't seem like Spheris's bluntness bothered the bounty hunter in the slightest. In fact, Dunnam appeared almost amused by it, smiling at Spheris like a proud father. "You've gotten more stern than when I first met you. Which is good, you have to be hard-hearted if you want to survive in this town."

He waited for Spheris to say something, but the boy didn't. Silence reigned, and Spheris was still waiting for the bounty hunter to go straight to the point.

But Dunnam wasn't ready yet. "You've also gotten yourself a new look. Myrethian leather, hm? Now how does a Heathian lad like you get such quality material?"

"Is there a bounty on me?" Spheris asked, getting irritated by Dunnam's evasiveness. "Are you here to bring me in? Is that it?"

"Stop being stupid, boy!" Dunnam boomed. And then it happened, a subtle shift in Dunnam's countenance. The cheerful gleam in his eyes disappeared and replacing it was a cold dark storm. His jaw clenched and the air around him was all of a sudden menacing.

Spheris knew he would drop the cheerful act sooner or later, but knowing it was coming didn't make it any less frightening.

"Why else do you think I'm here, mhm?" Dunnam asked. "To give you a hug? To tell you I've missed you? No, perhaps you thought I wanted to know how your mother's doing. Where is the money you owe me, you pestilent squab!"

Spheris gulped. The beating of his heart followed the rhythm of Dunnam's nose exhaling furiously on his face. "I don't... I d-don't have it yet," he stuttered.

Dunnam clicked his tongue, possibly in disappointment, most likely in anger. "You don't have it yet? Even after... four years?"

"It's five thousand silver callisters—"

"I know how much it is, you idiot!" Dunnam roared. "Why else do you think I gave you all that time to get it? I was being very reasonable with you, don't you think? Maybe I was too reasonable."

"No wait!" Spheris pleaded. He quickly pulled out the stolen pouch from one of his safe pockets and offered it to the bounty hunter. "Here! Twelve silver and thirty bronze callisters. I'll pay up the rest when I— "

"I don't want your tiny payments!" Dunnam slapped the pouch out of Spheris's hand and it fell to the ground, callisters spilling everywhere. "That isn't even up to a quarter of what you owe. Pay me right now or you can spend the rest of your days in a cold level four cell."

Spheris looked down at the spilled callisters on the ground, anger sneaking into his expressionless face. But he knew he couldn't afford to look angry now, especially because he was at Dunnam's mercy. "I don't have any other money," he said calmly.

Dunnam took a step back, and sighed, like he was lulling down his anger. "That means we have a problem." He folded his arms once again. "So why don't I offer a solution to this problem?"

Spheris's eyes lit up and he raised his brows at the big blonde man. Now this was the real reason Dunnam Gurnlak was here. Whatever this solution was, it was what Dunnam had followed him to this alley for. Not for some stupid debt.

"You will pay your debt by working for me," Dunnam announced.

"Working for you? What does that mean?" Spheris asked, dreading the answer.

"Let me introduce you to your teammates." Dunnam spread his hands magnificently as out of the same hiding place, three other individuals walked out and stood behind the bounty hunter.

They were dressed peculiarly, and with a simple glance, Spheris realized that they were thieves.

His heart began to pound even faster and he knew for sure that he wasn't going to like this.

"For this night and this night only, these will be your friends and your partners. You will all work together on this mission," Dunnam declared.

"Mission?" Spheris frowned. "What mission?"

After glancing at the thieves behind him, Dunnam turned back to Spheris, the disconcerting grin on his face once again. "We're going on a heist."

Hearing this, blood immediately pumped into Spheris's head, his eyes widened and his heart suddenly began to pound. Did he hear that correctly? "A heist!?"