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She awoke to a gentle hand shaking her shoulder. "Wake up," said Chase. She slowly blinked the sleep from her eyes and stood up to stretch her sore muscles. "Hurry up," he urged, "Garrett is back with Kit and Justin. Justin got roughed up a little by the traitors while he was out. We're going to decide what we are going to do."

"Alright already, I'm coming," she said groggily. He handed her a piece of bread and some cheese to eat and dashed over to the front of the warehouse where the others were gathered. She followed quickly and took a seat next to Marcus and Kit. Kit looked worn out, her gray eyes no longer had that little twinkle of mischief in them. She held Justin's hand tightly and looked at him with concern. Justin had been beaten, but managed to get away before any permanent damage was inflicted on him. His face was bruised and bloody, his nose was broken, and one eye was swollen shut. By the way he sat and held himself, she knew he had a broken rib or two.

"Now that we are all here, we can start," stated Garrett. "I know the first thing on everyone's mind right now is revenge, but we need to get past that. We are going to treat this like business. Any time our territory was encroached upon we wiped out the competition. This will be the same, but with added motivation. If we play this smart we can win."

"Now why do I have a feeling you already have a plan," said Marcus in a sarcastic tone.

"Because you know me well, old friend," replied Garrett with a half-smile.

"I hope your plan includes me tearing out their traitorous hearts and stuffing them down their throats!" exclaimed Jagger in his booming voice.

"Not quite. I thought we'd play the part of concerned citizens," Garrett said as he grinned an evil smile.

"I think I like where this is going," commented Rory with an evil smirk.

"I say we turn them into the city guard for a nice reward. They get thrown into the mines behind that magic barrier for the rest of their lives and we get our Guild back, plus some money on the side. Those prisoners in the mining colony will take care of our revenge for us," stated Garrett confidently.

"And how do you plan on getting the city guard to go along with this? Also, how do we avoid being identified by our former friends?" queried Justin as he winced and cradled his wounded ribs.

"We work through third parties," Garrett answered. "Our former compatriots robbed, beat and murdered many people. The victims and their families are already looking for them, all we have to do is point them in the right direction. When the bastards are caught and the victims rewarded, we simply rob them and then disappear into the night."

"I knew I liked where this was going," laughed Rory as a mischievous gleam lit his dark eyes.

"I'd still like to rip out their hearts, but your plan is the smart route Garrett," agreed Jagger as he scowled.

"I, too would like a piece of them, but I agree with this path as well," said Kit in a quietly dangerous tone. Justin only nodded his approval.

"I think everyone here would like to do that, my friends," replied Garrett. "But with so few of us left and this betrayal, the only way for us to play this and not lose is to be smarter than the competition."

"Which we most certainly are. Isn't that right, little-one?" Marcus asked as he prodded her with his elbow.

"Aye, that we are," she said with a bit of a smile.

"We all are agreed then," Garrett said as he nodded solemnly. "Kit, Marcus, and Rory, you three will take care of recruiting our third parties. Be subtle, hints and rumors should be enough. And by Innos' beard, be careful! If you see our enemies, disappear. I don't want to lose any of you, is that understood?" All three nodded, stood up and moved out of the warehouse to start hitting taverns to spread tales of thieves hiding in certain parts of the sewers and fire up the locals.

"What do you want me to do?" asked Jagger as he stood up.

"For now, you and Justin need to stay put and heal," answered Garrett. He cut off Jagger's protest with a sharp motion of his hand. "End of discussion. Go rest."

Jagger grumbled a little, but he followed orders and helped Justin to a corner where he could lie down on some blankets. Then Jagger went to his area of the warehouse to rest.

"Chase, go keep an eye out for anyone who might approach the warehouse. It's better to be safe than sorry," Garrett told the boy. Chase immediately obeyed and climbed up to a window to watch the narrow street. "Now little-one, we need to discuss your assignment," Garrett said as he turned to her.

"I was wondering why I was the only one without something to do," she replied with a raised eyebrow. "What do you want me to do?"

"You are going to have the hardest job. Last week the owner of that house got a look at you, so now the guards have a description of you. The guards won't follow simple rumors. They need a fresh trail to follow, a fox to chase, and that is where you come in," he answered.

She felt her stomach sink a little and a bitter taste rise in her mouth. "I'm the bait then." He gravely nodded his head in affirmation. "Very well, I'll do it."

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