Evil Eldren and Bad Men

JP with mdman and Cindy

Elizabeth continued in the direction the boy pointed out, down the alley, two blocks over to the right. It didn't take long to get to the right street.

The question was which building. Most looked abandoned, like something or someone had driven most of the people from the area. However Elizabeth spotted, a little down the street a person leaving one of the buildings. Then another entering it. It a quiet voice she spoke, " I believe that might be the building Mr. Mossey is in."

Elizabeth looked at her companion. "We need to be quiet, as much as possible. And some to scout out the situation."

As they moved closer, the Eldren could see windows on the top of the wall. They might have been 7 ft above the ground but Elizabeth couldn't be certain if Cronk could see in to them. "Mr. Cronk, do you think you can see into those windows?"

Cronk was certain he would be able to see through the windows. He was worried that he wouldn’t be able to be on guard to protect the Lady Elizabeth. His mind was in conflict. However, he must do what the Lady bids.

Cronk had to get up close. The windows were a little dusty, but he was able to peer through and clearly see inside the building.

Elizabeth kept an eye out, just in case but there was no one around.

She waited for Cronk's report on what he saw on the building.

Cronk peered down into what appeared to be a massive warehouse, although it was now open space. Cronk witnessed several people on the floor.

“Cronk see,” he began to count, “ten people, mostly young. Three hudu. One Orc. One like Lady Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth was stunned for a moment, not that she was surprised an Eldren was doing something bad or illegal, no race was immune to that, but that an Eldern was doing those things in a place like this. Illegal activities among the Eldren were more shady deals in expensive clubs than back alleys.

"Is the Eldren, the one like me, male or female?" She asked. "They are the one in charge?"

Cronk took another look to be sure. “He man. Behind desk.”

It reminded Cronk of Quinn’s office. Although, Quinn’s wasn’t as large as a warehouse.

"You can stop looking now, Mr. Cronk. Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I need to find out who that Eldren is. So, I need to
somehow get a look at him." Elizabeth said. "Did you see any back doors or anywhere to hide, possibly sneak in?"

Cronk racked his brain trying to think of he had seen a door. The truth was, he wasn’t looking for another door. He mostly looked to see the people inside.

“Cronk lift you,” he said to Lady Elizabeth. “You can see.”

Cronk gently placed his massive hands about Lady Elizabeth’s waist. He lifted her and placed her upon his shoulders. Her legs straddled the back of Cronk’s neck, her dress flowing over his head covering Cronk’s face.

It felt weird being lifted by Cronk's gigantic hands and on to his neck and shoulders. She hadn't been lifted in that way since she was a child and not by an Orc. Still she had no fear of Cronk so no fear in the position she was in now. Still, Elizabeth couldn't but think what people would say if they saw this.

Peering into the window, she spotted a back door and a few tables that might be useful. There was also a walk, of sorts, on the second floor. But her real intent was soon accomplished as she looked down at the desk and the Eldren behind it. It took a moment but eventually his face was in clear view. Then it all made sense.

"You can put me down now, Mr. Cronk. Thank you." Once she was back on the ground Elizabeth said. "I know him, the Eldren,unfortunately. I am surprised to see him back in Europe. I do not think we can do anything ourselves in this matter, there are only two of us, despite your strength and my abilities. Besides, that Eldren is wanted by law enforcement. It might be best to give them this one." Though Elizabeth really wanted to come back with the team, they had other matters to deal with.

It had been a while since a woman was around Cronk’s neck. It brought back some good memories of he and Quinn’s adventures in Dublin. If Quinn could only see him now.

He lifted Lady Elizabeth back up off his shoulders, clearing his head so her bottom didn’t slide across his head. This wasn’t one of those celebratory situations.

Cronk simply looked down upon Lady Elizabeth’s face once he gently placed her upon the ground. “What Cronk do?” he inquired.

"We will go to the place we originally intended to go to." The real reason for going to this area. "We can report to the police what we saw on our way back. If the police don't get him in a few days we will come back with more of the team and take care if it." Elizabeth answered. "For now regarding this Eldren, we do nothing. It's not what I would like but I just do not see a good way of handling thus, at the moment."

Elizabeth started walking un the direction they had come. "Mr. Cronk would you like to know what that Eldren has done to not be welcomed among his own kind?"

Cronk couldn’t imagine someone not being accepted by their own kind. Even though Cronk had gone against his family’s wishes by not becoming a farmer and choosing explore life, he would imagine his family accepting him back into the fold. Especially his loving mother.

We’re the Eldren race much different? Cronk didn’t think of Lady Elizabeth being like that, unless the other Eldren had done something rather evil.

“He evil Eldren?” Cronk replied.

"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "He is evil. Maybe not evil doctor Ievel evil but what he did is bad. His real name is Mr. Williams Sable. He used to be a Lord but the Queen stripped him of his title." She paused for a moment trying to figure our the best way to explain it. "He used to run an orphanage and Eldren would contribute to it. Some Eldren would contribute a great deal of money to the orphanage. The orphanage was supposedly to be inspected regularly so everyone believed what Mr. Sable said." Elizabeth took a breath. "He fooled everyone. Turns out he was bribing a lot of people to keep his secret. And if someone came to see the orphanage, that he wasn't bribing, he would stage it to make it look like his orphanage was wonderful." She kept walking, not looking at Cronk because the story upset her and she didn't want him to see that. "Turned out he was using the children to do heavy work, pickpocket or beg. The orphans were starving and living in horrible conditions. He was keeping the money for himself." Elizabeth stopped for a moment and looked at Cronk. She almost told him the rest of the story but stopped short. That was for another time, perhaps. "It was not losing the money that bothered the Eldren, as much as the way those poor children were treated."

Cronk breathed a heavy sigh. It was bad enough the conditions in which these people were living, but when you take advantage of the children who were living in those conditions, that was disgusting. This Eldren was deserving of any ill that came his way. He was sick. Sable was as unstable as Lemaire.

“Police where we go?” Cronk suggested, remembering he showed his ring to one earlier. “He not man looking for?”

"We will tell a police officer on the way back, unless we see one before then." Elizabeth explained. "Mr. Sable is not the man we're looking for. We are looking for a man called Sokratis Staniadis."

Elizabeth continued down the alley to a corner, then another alley. Till she came to a building, stone, old, rundown. It's roof was pitched, and windows blacked out, as if they had been painted. Elizabeth had never seen windows that were completely concealed, like this, before. Obviously, there was something hidden inside the building.

"Mr. Cronk, I believe the only way we will know, who or what is inside is for one of us to sneak in and have a peak." Elizabeth did realize she was probably better at sneaking than a rather large Orc. "I will go inside."

Cronk furrowed his brow. He didn’t like this idea. He was hired to protect people, not let them walk into possible danger by themselves.

“Not safe,” Cronk muttered. “Cronk go!”

"I really appreciate that, Mr. Cronk but what is your plan for not being seen?" Elizabeth really was curious about that. "Do you know what Eldren can do, including myself?"

Elizabeth had gotten the impression Cronk wasn’t used to being around Eldren. While it was well known Eldren were mages, it was also possible Cronk didn’t know that.

Cronk knew Quinn had someone in the underground who had pointed Quinn to Doctor Lemaire. If this Stan Idis character wasn’t that person, he most likely knew that person. Cronk figured he could utilize his connection to Quinn to get into the place. He wouldn’t need to hide, for Cronk was one of them.

“Cronk not hide,” he explained. “Cronk connected to Quinn. Quinn connected to under ground.”

Elizabeth felt a slight satisfaction that she had been correct, Cronk was smarter than he first appeared, especially in his element. This was his element.

"That is an excellent idea, Mr. Cronk." Elizabeth exclaimed. "By all means then you should be the one to go in to the building. Just proceed with caution."

Cronk nodded at Elizabeth. “Lady Elizabeth hide.”

Cronk turned and started to walk toward the door. Looking back, Cronk made sure that the Lady was hidden. He didn’t see her at all, almost as if she had disappeared.

Cronk rubbed his chin, proud of his new Boss. She was doing pretty well for one who had not lived in the streets. He grinned, hoping she had seen the pride he took in her accomplishment.

Cronk turned back and walked into the establishment. Entering the building, Cronk met up with another Orc just inside.

“Who you? Why you here?” the other Orc demanded.

Cronk sneered, which would have been expected by a fellow Orc. He swore, then state. “Cronk name. From Ireland. Boss Quinn.”

The guard Orc returned the sneer. “Wait here. If you don’t, you die.”

The guard Orc walked down a short hallway and through a door straight ahead. Amazingly, it was well lit inside this building. Cronk thought it amazing that light could be contained in this manner. No oil.

Cronk wondered what the other meant by die. No one else was around. Cronk squinted, then noticed two small slits in the wall to his right. It must have been a false wall. The slits were just big enough for crossbow bolts, so Cronk patiently awaited the other to return, even though it would take many bolts to bring the mighty one down.

Elizabeth couldn't be seen because she had ducked behind a bush. She though didn't miss Cronk's look, it seemed as if he was proud of her hiding ability. Elizabeth took it as compliment but only because she doubted the Orc really knew what she was about to do.

Elizabeth waited until Cronk couldn’t see her and whispered a few words in Latin. She vanished, not really but anyone who didn't know she was there would not be able to sense her presence in anyway. It was a limited time spell so she had to work quickly. Elizabeth made her way around the outside of the building taking note of every door, window and possible way in.

Cronk patiently awaited the return of the other Orc, whistling between his tusks. He noticed more about the lighting, looking down the short hallway. There were two circular gold-plated steam-powered lighting on each side, illuminating the hallway.

The other Orc returned and said, “This way.”

He led Cronk to the door at the opposite end of the hallway, and held the door open for him. Cronk took a silent, deep intake of breath to calm himself, then entered.

Upon entering, Cronk witnessed a paneled room, with several of these circular patterns of lights scattering the room. He saw a desk, with the silhouette of a man behind it. The silhouette was caused by an even larger circular pattern of lights coming from the wall directly behind the desk. It gave the occupant of the desk a sense of mystique.

The man behind the desk looked up at Orc, not bothering to get up. He was human and had dark hair, dark eyes and an olive complexion.

"Cronk, is it?" The man spoke in English but in a heavy Greek accent. "I am Sokratis Staniadis."

From behind his desk, Sokratis' dark eyes seemed to inspecting Cronk, as if trying to figure the Orc out. "I have heard of your boss. What is it I can do for you?"

****
Meanwhile, Elizabeth was making her way around the building, still unseen. In the back her gaze caught upon, a door low to the ground, as if going into a cellar. It seemed odd, doors like that were primarily for houses, not buildings like this.

Elizabeth pulled on the handle, it was locked. Magic took care of that problem, and she opened the door.