text: Year 35
  
  A hand reaches for the pouch on your nearby dresser; you grab it and open your eyes.
  
  "Nope, still not quick or stealthy enough." You say and let go of Mara's hand.
  "How the hell do you do that? I know I was dead silent that time!" Mara remarks.
  "Just comes with natural talent I suppose."
  
  Mara at this point playfully punches your arm and sits on the side of the bed, as you sit up.
  
  "A little early to be harassing me like this don't you think?" you say.
  "It's the afternoon as usual." Mara tells you.
  "Well unless the Ebony Claws have been sighted, you know I don't like getting up early... they haven't have they?"
  "Not that I've heard. Though Sneaks wants to talk to you about a matter concerning that."
  "Yeah, yeah, he's been wanting to talk for a few days now. Guess I better get over to him today. He's been acting sort of odd lately. Well I guess I better get going... um... Mara?"
  "What?"
  "I gotta get dressed."
  "So don't let me stop you."
  "Well what I mean is, I sort of need privacy, I mean I'm covered by the sheets right now."
  "Oh, it's nothing I haven't seen before."
  "Okay... don't really want to hear or know about any little boyfriends you've been seeing."
  "I wasn't talking about boyfriends." Mara says with a smirk.
  
  Now the conversation has really gotten strange.
  
  "Wait a minute, you haven't been spying on me have you?" you exclaim.
  "Relax, I accidently walked in on you asleep once and you were, shall we say less covered up." Mara says.
  
  You feel sort of weird. Slightly embarrassed even. This causes some amusement from Mara.
  
  "Okay, I'll leave. You're oddly reserved at times." Mara says and then kisses you on cheek before she leaves.
  
  Honestly, you've been getting some weird vibes from Mara lately. Sometimes it feels like she's flirting with you.
  
  Which under normal circumstances, you'd probably be perfectly fine with some pretty nineteen year old girl doing that, however in Mara's case you have severe mixed feelings about it.
  
  Of course maybe you're just reading too much into things, and you're just the pervert thinking dirty thoughts. Which doesn't make it much better because that's been also increasing lately.
  
  Trying not to think about any of that too much longer, you get dressed and head to where Sneaks likes to drink. He tends to be in there a lot so you figure you've got a good chance of catching him there.
  
  You're in luck and you do in fact see him. He sees you and waves you over.
  
  Ten minutes later... 
  
  "Are you fucking serious Sneaks?" you exclaim.
  "Sorry it had to come to this, but after that devastating ECS attack last year, it was decided that you shouldn't be in charge of the Jicol Alliance anymore." Sneaks remarks.
  "I wasn't really in charge of it before as I remember. It was just supposed to be a loose agreement that we unite whenever the Ebony Claws attack. All I did was organize shit."
  "Yeah well it was also decided that the Jicol Alliance should be a more permanent institution given the constant threat that the ECS poses."
  "What?! And when was all this decided?"
  "I don't really think that's relevant. What is relevant is it's done and you're out. Now of course you're allowed to continue to help in the unified defense of our interests in this city. You and your girlfriend... "
  "Daughter!"
  "Yes, of course, my mistake. As I was saying you of course will be allowed in contributing to help when the ECS inevitably comes to attack again. I believe forty percent of your earnings monthly should provide an adequate sum to go towards our defense. Perhaps it could be used to bribe the Captain of the Watch. Get the law to work for us for a change... "
  
  You knew it. You knew all those years ago you should have just shot this asshole in that altar room. He's built up his own little circle of friends and turned the Jicol Alliance into a thieves's guild with himself as head of it of course.
  
  Angered by what Sneaks is trying to pull here, you stand up and point you finger in his face. Nearby tavern dwellers take notice and you also notice some of them look ready to pull their weapons. Some are new but many are familiar faces. Part of the new Jicol Alliance of course.
  
  "Look, you want to form your own guild with yourself as leader, fine. You can have that fucking headache. You want me to help out when the ECS shows up, fine, I'll help. What you're NOT going to do however is start trying to fucking extort me." You say.
  "Hm, sorry you feel that way, but I'm afraid that this isn't up for negotiation. This is unfortunately for you this is a with us or against us situation. Of course your other option is to leave, I certainly wouldn't stop you. I respect you enough to do that at least." Sneaks responds.
  "Yeah, thank you and fuck you."
  
  Sneaks' expression now turns to one of irritation.
  
  "Okay, I'm going to let that slide because I know this is all pretty upsetting for you." Sneaks says.
  "Upset? Upset? We're pretty much past fucking upset! I should just fucking kill you right now, and don't think I wouldn't be fast enough." You respond.
  "You're completely right of course, but you'd never make it out of here alive. Even if you somehow did, you'd be on the run from the Jicol Watch for killing me in public."
  "At least I'd have the satisfaction of killing you."
  "Y'know while I'm sure you're not probably not interested I could try to explain why I did what I did. Wasn't like I had this planned from the beginning."
  "Oh great the rationale to clear your guilt. Pfft. Well fine, might as well hear it. I could use a good laugh after all this."
  
  "Have I ever told you about my friend Garrick?" Sneaks asks.
  "Yeah maybe, said you and he ran the thieves' guild in Holgard." You answer in exasperation.
  "Garrick was a thief, but he had a strong sense of honor, probably too much in our line of work. You actually reminded me of him when you first came proposing the Jicol Alliance to take the fight to the Ebony Claws. Guess that's another reason why I stuck around. I always was a bit too idealistic, even in my old age now. You, much like him, made it really sound like we would win and drive out the Claws. I was ready to follow and I did for many years."
  "So what did you do? Stab him in the back too?"
  "As a matter of fact I didn't, though I always wondered if I shouldn't have been so loyal and blindly accepting of his orders as he made one foolish decision after another that eventually got himself and almost everyone else wiped out by the ECS. Maybe if I had, I'd still be in Holgard, perhaps even running things there."
  "So that's what this is all about? Your boring desire for power?"
  "That's more of a side benefit and if I THOUGHT you were still the leader you were the first time we opposed the Ebony Claws, I wouldn't have even done this. Each year they've attacked, we've suffered more losses. I don't even know if we're going to survive another, but I know if YOU'RE in charge we won't, so you had to be removed. Look, I'm probably older than I have any right to be in our line of work, but I've learned this. I like living, I like surviving, and the only way I'm going to feel like I'm going to continue doing that is if I have complete control over my fate, rather than it being in your hands."
  "If you wanted to be in charge, you could have just fucking asked. Instead of all this shit you've pulled and extorting me on top of all of it."
  "I dunno, maybe you're right. Maybe I've handled this poorly, but it's been my experience that men in power, no matter how reluctant or how miniscule, do not give it up willingly. Garrick certainly wouldn't have and he wasn't a power hungry man, just like you're not. However, a good leader needs to be focused and much like Garrick, you are not focused."
  "Oh well apologies that my life doesn't revolve around you all the damn time."
  "That's not exactly what I mean... "
  "I don't give a shit what you mean, I'm done listening to your long winded story about your excuses."
  
  As you start to stand up to leave, Sneaks suddenly shouts at you to stop. Sneaks usually never shouts so actually gets your attention (along with several other people in the tavern)
  
  "You wanna know another thing you and Garrick had in common? You both had a young girl in your care. A daughter of sorts if you will. One that you do your best to try treat as adult, but always have that streak of overprotective fatherly love for her. It's an admirable trait, but it's at odds for that other emotion in you. And that's a love for her as a regular woman, because that's what she is now. Maybe young, but she's a woman nonetheless given what's she's seen and done. I see it and you REALLY see it." Sneaks says.
  "Sneaks, you don't want to go there... "
  "Yeah, and neither do you. Garrick didn't either and it compromised his ability to lead. Besides all the inner turmoil the man probably felt about the morality of the situation, he constantly tried to make sure his little girl was safe... never mind that in his case she was half fucking demon in question, but the problem you both have is the same. You're always going to place your girlfriend over the organization. Last year that was never more apparent."
  "How the fuck can you say that? She's risking her life along with everyone else!"
  "Yes, but only in a limited capacity. You always make sure she's on the less dangerous tasks. I'm not even mad about it. As I said, it's completely understandable that you want to protect your girlfriend."
  "You call her my girlfriend one more time and you're going to have a short lived reign as Alliance leader." You say leaning forward into the table.
  
  Sneaks leans forward as well, meeting your gaze.
  
  "I'm not judging you. She's not really your... y'know what? This isn't my business. Sort out your own personal issues on this situation, but I think your real fear is the girl might just feel the same way. In any case, I'll be expecting my cut by the end of this month. If I have the coin, then I'll know I have your cooperation, if I don't receive the payment, then I'll know that I don't."
  
  Sneaks then motions for you to leave as if now you can leave. You gladly do so, swearing the whole time.
  
  Your mind races about what you can do, what you need to do, what you should do. You really didn't need this right now. Not when your mind has been preoccupied with other things. Other things that Sneaks also got in your head about.
  
  You've got an incredible headache by the time you make it home. You just hope Mara isn't lingering around, because you don't think you have the energy to deal with all this yet. She's probably going to want to fight rather than leave.
  
  As you open the door to your home, you suddenly feel the sharp jab of a crossbow pointed right at your lower back.
  
  "Don't turn around, just get inside." A low voice says to you.
  
  You raise your hands and slowly walk inside your home where you see a man completely dressed in black leather and wearing an eye patch. You don't know who this person is, but you can guess where they're from.
  
  "Ebony Claw... great. Perfect end to a fucked up day." You say.
  "Hm, seems I caught the leader of the Jicol Alliance at a bad time? Well too bad, we've got shit to discuss. Bolt, you can leave, I'll take it from here." The man says.
  
  You feel the pressure taken off of your lower back and then the front door closing behind you.
  
  "Gotta say, figured the Alliance leader would have a better place than this, but then I guess you're not doing too badly. Anyway have a seat, as I said we've got shit to discuss."
  
  This asshole no doubt has shadow powers like Nathan and a couple of the other ECS lieutenants you've faced in the past. Still, like all of their type he's arrogant enough to not even relieved you of your weapons and doesn't even have another person with him save for the guy that just left.
  
  Whatever he's going to say is most likely going to just be some sort of lie or unreasonable offer. Not to mention the fact that you aren't exactly the leader of the Jicol Alliance anymore and if he knows that, then he's going to wonder what the point is with dealing with you.
  
  Still, he could be more powerful than what you've usually faced, or he might even have some advantage like say having Mara hostage somewhere. He seems to know something about you after all. You could at least listen to him while you figure out a better plan than just trying to be quicker on the draw than he is.
  > listen to him
  With the day it's been, you might as well.
  
  You take a seat and watch the Syndicate rep take a few steps back and forth before pulling up a nearby chair to sit as well. You didn't expect him to be so casual.
  
  "Okay, first off, my name is Rook and you're probably wondering why I haven't just killed you immediately." Rook says.
  "I'm listening." You answer.
  "Information on you lot is always fucking spotty thanks to your location and the fact you've been fairly successful at keeping us off this island and that's been an advantage. I, however have been doing my own leg work for a few days, and while I don't know everything about you lot yet, I know enough that you're the leader, and you've got a pretty young girlfriend." Rook says.
  "Actually she's my daughter." You remark.
  "Truly? Hm, the way you two interact... well I'm not here to judge your family business. In any case, sooner or later the Syndicate leadership is going to get it's head out of its collective ass and actually implement a plan that works instead of trying the same damn thing over and over believing that it will. I swear, it's like fucking Holgard all over again."
  
  Rook shakes his head at his remark before continuing.
  
  "However, before that happens I'm here to offer you a one time deal mainly because change in ECS leadership can only come when dedicated individuals take the initiative on squandered opportunities, such as this place. Especially when they can do it with minimal resource waste."
  
  At this point you're wondering if Rook's henchman should have just killed you with a bolt to the back, because this fucker loves the sound of his own pontificating so much that he's killing you with boredom.
  
  "You are obviously a dedicated man of convictions. I imagine you believe that the ECS is going to just come in and take away what you consider freedom hence why you've fought us for several years now. Well, I'm here to tell you, you're right BUT if you make a deal with me right now, I will make sure this city remains more or less out of the eye of the Syndicate. You will just give me personally forty percent of what the Jicol Alliance earns monthly and of course there will be some of my people to oversee things just to make sure there are no more attempts at opposing us." Rook says.
  "You personally? Won't the Syndicate high ups object to that?" you ask.
  "Oh the appropriate people will be getting a cut too, you don't need to worry about that."
  "I suppose if I say no, you'll kill me right now."
  "Not at all, I'll just leave and let you wait for the inevitable. As I said, I'm here on my own accord. I don't particularly have any grand interest in this place unless it's a potential extra moneymaker for me with minimal effort. I promise you though; the Syndicate will take this place eventually. So it's either deal with me now and endure indentured servitude or deal with the Syndicate later and face extinction."
  
  It's good deal actually; it's so good in fact you start laughing due to the fact that you can't agree to it, but you do come up with a different one.
  
  "Rook, I've got an even better deal for you. How about you and all your people just take this place over completely, but I don't have to give you anything at all and my family just continues to do their own business without interference?" you ask.
  "Wha... what are you talking about?" Rook asks.
  "I'm unfortunately not the leader of the Jicol Alliance anymore. One of my closest advisors basically just deposed me and it's now officially a guild rather than a loose collection of vagabonds only united for self-defense."
  "Wait, when the fuck did this happen!?"
  "Not long before you ambushed me. If you're thinking about going to him with the same deal though I wouldn't bother."
  "Oh? And why the fuck shouldn't I? In fact is there any reason why I shouldn't kill you for wasting my time?
  "Because the guy currently in charge said he fought you lot in Holgard and has no intention on ever giving up to you. In fact part of the reason he strong-armed his way as leader is because he felt I wasn't doing a good enough job. Should have known you couldn't trust a guy that calls himself Sneaks."
  
  Rook's one good eye widens and stands up suddenly.
  
  "Did you just say Sneaks?" Rook asks.
  "Yeah." you answer.
  "That fucker is here? In this city?"
  "Yeah, you know him?"
  "Know him? That's the sonofabitch that took out my fucking eye! He was part of the Holgard Guild that gave me fucking grief for YEARS! I've been trying to track down that cocksucker for so long that I can't even believe you're telling me that he's right here!"
  "I know where he stays and how many other Alliance members there are."
  "I didn't bring anyone else along on this trip save for my friend Bolt and while I don't doubt we couldn't handle this ourselves, but I'll tell you what, as an act of trust if you come help us, you've got a deal that all your family's business dealings and activities will not be taxed by the Syndicate or even by me personally. I swear to Fel and all the shadows that this will be so." Rook says making some sort of weird gesture afterwards.
  
  Normally you'd be skeptical about such a thing, but Rook seems really dedicated to Fel and making declarations like that before one's god is usually a pretty serious thing so you're fairly sure he's being truthful. Not to mention he sounds like he hates Sneaks more than anything else.
  
  You give Rook all the necessary information and he tells you to meet him at Sneak's favorite tavern in thirty minutes. You remind Rook that this is a public place, but he tells you once again, not to worry about it and leaves.
  
  As you're taking the opportunity to get ready for this (and feeling a little upbeat at the same time about it) Mara comes walking in.
  
  "Hey dad, who was that guy who just came from the house? He looked really creepy. Almost reminded me of one of those Ebony Claw guys that have the shadow powers." Mara says.
  "That's probably because he was." You say.
  "WHAT!?"
  "Yeah, I expected that response. I can't go into too much detail, but A LOT happened from between the time you left this afternoon and now."
  "Well you're going to have to at least try to explain it to me!"
  
  As quickly as you can (And most of it is walking and talking) you fill her in on everything that's happened. It's a lot for her to take in, but her main concern seems to be you and her.
  
  "How can we trust this Rook guy? I mean we've been fighting the ECS for years and he's just going to let us go?" Mara says.
  "That's the deal. As I said, Rook seems to be more interested in building up his own personal powerbase than as the ECS as a whole. And right now he seems to be more interested in revenge. I'd say we're the least of his concerns. He doesn't even need me to help, he just said if I did, he'd honor the deal and considering he made it before his shadow god that's another reason I don't have cause to doubt him." You say.
  "Well... if you think so."
  "I have to say, I thought you'd be more opposed to the idea."
  "Well I'm not exactly thrilled with it, but given that Sneaks and the rest betrayed you, I can see the wisdom in just making a deal to protect our own asses. Personally I'm still hoping they all kill each other, but I'll personally make sure not to target any Ebony Claw members."
  "You don't really need to come, it's just me that promised."
  "No, I'm coming too, I'm not going to miss a chance of getting a measure of revenge on the lot that betrayed us too. But I do always think it's sweet that you always try to keep me safe. You always look out for me." Mara says and puts her arm around you briefly and gives you a peck on the cheek.
  
  Even in this bit of grim business that you're about to engage in, Mara's actions manage to still make you feel the more anxious than anything else. The way she looks at you with love in her eyes... 
  
  Sneaks was right.
  
  That's what this is and it's clearly there between there between the pair of you.
  
  This is probably wrong, but you might very well die in a few minutes so... 
  
  You grab Mara around the waist and kiss her deeply. When you finally come up for air you both stare at each other.
  
  "That was wrong wasn't it?" you ask.
  "Yeah, probably." Mara replies.
  "I keep having inappropriate thoughts about you."
  "Do they involve taking me from behind and slapping my ass while I call you daddy?"
  "They do now."
  "Then we better hurry up and kill these assholes then."
  
  You and Mara rush to where you're supposed to meet Rook. When you arrive he tells you that there aren't any of the Jicol Watch around and there won't be, so the place is going to be fair game. He mentions don't worry about anyone trying to escape either since Bolt will be outside taking care of that.
  
  "I don't see your friend." You say.
  "And neither will anyone else. I see you brought your daughter along. Good. Extra help is always welcome."
  "Actually she's my girlfriend." You say proudly causing a bit of a smile from Mara.
  
  Rook just stares for a moment, opens his mouth and then stops.
  
  "Nevermind. I'm too anxious to kill Sneaks right now. Which brings me to another thing, don't kill him! You can cripple him, maim him or whatever to stop him from attacking you. I don't give a good fuck what condition he's in, just as long as he's alive long enough for me to piss in his face before he dies."
  "Understood.""
  "Good, you two go in, I'll be right behind you."
  
  You and Mara go into the tavern.
  
  No sooner has Sneaks seen the pair of you, he already calls for his people to start attacking. Say what you want about Sneaks, but he's not stupid and knows an attack when he sees it.
  
  Of course unfortunately for him, you've got very dedicated follower of Fel on your side. Before you even engage one of Sneaks' men, he has already killed two of them using his shadow magic enhanced speed. It's a damn good thing you didn't attack this guy. He's way more powerful than any of the others you faced in the past. He's not just a blur, he's practically invisible.
  
  All non-combatants just try to keep their head down as the carnage ensues. Sneaks himself tries to run out the back, but you manage to get in a good shot to the side of his leg, specifically around the knee area. Such an effective place, Sneaks goes crashing to the floor immediately screaming the whole time. He goes for his own pistol, but Mara grabs his hands and stabs daggers through both palms and into the floor.
  
  "No, please don't kill me ... (sob) I'll leave!" Sneaks whimpers.
  "Too late for that I'm afraid. But I should think you for being right about one thing. Mara and I decided to give into our feelings after all. When all this is over with, we're going to REALLY give into them. Thanks for showing me the light, now I think it's time I show you the shadows. I think you know this guy. Apparently he's been looking for you for a long time."
  
  Rook suddenly becomes more visible to your eyes and stands over Sneaks who looks like he's seen a ghost from the past.
  
  "... YOU! No! Please no! Not him!" Sneaks screams at you.
  "Good, you remember me. Now you remember this cocksucker?" Rook shouts and then flips up his eye patch revealing a solid black gem, which then shoots a black light into one of Sneaks' own eyes.
  
  Sneaks screams in agony that you kill him as his eye gets destroyed by the black light.
  
  Sensing that Rook is going to take his time, you decide to ask if you're done.
  
  "So, should we just leave you to it then?" you ask.
  "Yeah, we're good. Bolt and I can hunt down the rest myself. Talk to you later before I leave." Rook says waving you away and now getting ready to burn out Sneaks' other eye.
  
  You and Mara leave the tavern with Sneaks' screams still in both of your ears. Surprisingly there's nobody even remotely around nearby outside and you know there was quite a bit of noise made inside. You dunno what the hell Rook did to make that happened, but you can't help think he did some sort of shadow magic shit.
  
  None of that matter right now to you though, and by the time you get home, the only thing that matters is what's going between you and Mara in the bed.