Political Banditry

There were six of them, all armed with pistols (the good kind not cheap banditry pistols that most highwaymen use).  We met at a wooded meadow within viewing distance of the road, they were all standing in front of me, their mismatch of rich person clothing with dirty rags showing some of the spoils of their looting.  Their leader was a clean shaven well spoken guy, it wasn't very surprising they'd looted caravans all along the route without having fired a shot, the man could sell anything.

"Lorentino." The voice was jovial in its greeting, the rest of them were happy to see me as well.  See I forgot to mention previously, they all worked for me (you can't exactly count on problems to just naturally show up, sometimes you have to create them).

"Devin good to see you, how goes the robbing?"

"Getting a bit thin Trezlan have to say, I mean sure the merchants drop their drawers as soon as we show up, but the wares they are piddling is kind of sad, hell we let one go the other week because he had nothing worth stealing." I had assembled this group a couple years previous, had to do a bit of digging to make sure I didn't hire idiots, but it had worked as good as I had expected.  I only had one rule, no unneccesary killing, I didn't mind them robbing people (because in a way we are all thieves anyway) but killing people raises the bar on the situation and that brings in nastier people (well nastier than myself).

"Well in that case I have good news, well good news and bad news." They all shifted their body posture at the bad news part, I could sense that the wrong word could turn this from a polite conversation to a deadly one.

"What's the bad news?"

"Bad news is this route is done, the Prince has asked me to get rid of you all he didn't even want you taken in chains just murdered and bodies quietly disposed of." This brought a chuckle from the assembled thieves.

"And the good news?"

"Got another task for you guys, I want you to go up north." I tossed them the pack I had brought with me, in it were maps, contact information, and money I'd socked away.

"How far up north?" Devin was asking while looking through the pack.

"Red Hand territory, fatter trade routes, though a bit more dangerous than down here." At the mention of Red Hand the group all let out a variety of swears, most people who were born and raised in Ronerawth hate the Red Hand, its drilled into them at a young age.

"Any restrictions this time?" Devin seemed a bit more open to the idea than his five compatriots but I knew he could sell them on it, thats why I hired him first.

"None, hell I'd like it more if you killed everyone and put them on display, though I don't know if you are up for that kind of thing." In the years since my torture at the hands of the councilman I hadn't really buried the hatchet with the Red Hand.  On top of that, them having trade problems worked into my plans, well my longer term plans of killing Morley.

"And if we refuse?" That was Devin's second in command, a large man that had acted as his body guard when I first met with the man, and he still looked to be in the same category.

"Then I burn you all down and start the next phase of my plan regardless." That got a chuckle as well, but I wasn't laughing, people with pistols tend to think of magic users as a simple issue to deal with, never realizing that you may be a fast draw, but we don't have to draw anything, and I've had years of experience proving that right.

"Easy big fella, the plan sounds solid Trezlan, I figure from the money, maps, and contacts in here we're done after this?"

"You figure right Devin, if asked I'll deny you ever worked for me, you guys can keep what you've stolen same as our prior arrangement, I want none of the spoils, I just needed a problem to solve, now its time to solve it." Another great thing about causing the issue you are solving, it becomes a lot easier to fix then if you had to actually figure out a different solution.

"It was a pleasure Mr. Lorentino, I figure we won't see you again."

"If you do it will be on less than friendly terms Devin, but I don't suspect that will be a problem." He nodded as did the rest of the bandits and they left. I waited some time in the meadow thinking about my next move and properly thinking about what story I'd tell the prince and then I left as well. In a rash coincidence that I in no way orchestrated just as I arrived at town a fresh shipment by a merchant caravan arrived full of luxuries that the local nobles had been denied recently.  The Prince was celebrated as a hero and I cemented my place in his small court.  Things were going just as I had planned, but you know what they say about best laid plans...