The scratched up leader of the little gang is the first to recover. To her credit, she actually pulls the young scribe behind her, covering him with her own body, while she tries to spot me in the dark. She seems not entirely ruthless after all. It may not be enough to redeem her in my eyes, but it's a start at least.

The blacksmith twins are the first to actually try and make a run for it. It's too bad for them, that there is only one way out of here and the big lug who brought up the rear is in their way. They end up on the floor in a tangle of limbs. All three of them cursing up a storm.

I focus on the leader of the gang once more. Either she is a really good actor or she still hasn't spotted me. My [Stealth] skill improving another little bit suggests it's the latter. Once the trio on the ground calms down a little I speak up again. My voice is a dangerous, low whisper.

"A shilling and a bag of sour candies? Are those something special? Would they be worth all the trouble you have landed yourself in?"

The scribe gasps. The leader's jaw drops too. Even the three on the ground stop moving for a moment. Curiously enough it's the young scribe who finds the courage to speak first.

"How … what gives you that idea?"

I let out a dangerous chuckle, as I finally push off the wall, from amidst the rain coats. Giving my position away, even if just briefly, as I move a little deeper into the cellar, bringing a column in between us for a moment. By the time I'm done shifting my position, my [Stealth] improves another little bit. It's not the only skill benefiting from this shift though. I have not chosen my new position at random after all. Now these wannabe gangsters are all in between me and what little light comes in through the cracks in the door. I have an easier time keeping an eye on them like this. As a result my [Tactics] earns a partial increase as well. Finally I speak up again.

"The ransom note in your pocket, silly little boy. You never even noticed me borrowing it to take a look, did you?"

This gets the tough girl real upset.

"Keep your hands off my little brother!"

Well, that explains that. With one small mystery solved I keep going.

"Or what? Tell me, why should the witch pay that ransom for her familiar if a shilling can buy a blade too, including the woman who wields it?"

Someone is wetting their pants right now. I have my suspicions as to who too. They are mostly based on the disgusted noises made by the downed twins. Well, the big boy is right to be scared. I certainly won't complain either. After all my [Intimidate] skill gets another little bit of growth out of this.

"Well, anyway. The idea to write it in your neat, easy to read scribe letters without any flourish or embellishment isn't too bad. There is only one little problem with it. Just how many scribes do you know around here? How many scribes would Brygida or her mother know for that matter?"

No one gives me any backtalk this time, thus I continue.

"Did you honestly think she wouldn't figure it out? Or that her mother wouldn't, even without placing a request with the adventurers' guild? For that matter, I don't even need to rat you out, I'm pretty sure Brygida is already aware of your involvement by now. Captain Whiskers is her familiar after all. They share a bond."

I can't exactly see the look on the face of the girl running this little outfit, but judging by the way she swallows hard, that is a little detail she hasn't accounted for.

"The way I see it, you'll accompany me and Captain Whiskers and profusely apologize. You better make sure these apologies come from the deepest depths of your hearts too."

The big boy, who has finally managed to get back on his feet makes as if to go for the door.

"Not so fast, big guy. We aren't done here yet."

He sounds a little defiant as he speaks up in turn.

"And why should we do what some adventurer tells us? You are neither our mom nor our master! And besides, once we pull off a proper heist, we'll petition the thieves guild to take us as members!"

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I'm tempted to groan. Instead I just roll my eyes. Well, at least that means these stupid kids didn't do this without a goal in mind. They might be clumsy and inexperienced but not entirely hopeless.

"Oh? You know, this random adventurer here, the one who is no ones mom or boss, knows her way around that other guild too. Should I dispense their kind of justice instead? You picked a mark that this guild considers off limits after all. The worst part is, that you could have figured that out even without asking them outright. If the guild leaves someone alone, then there usually is a good reason for that. No, this attempt at a ransom scheme is not going to win you any favor with anyone who is with the guild. Your clumsy execution of it is in my eyes guard level embarrassing."

That last comment actually provokes a series of stuttered protests from all five of them. Of course it does. It's to be expected. I would protest too if were to be compared to clumsy oafs like the guards with their rackets. I decide to add a little more insult to injury.

"Besides, all five of you are still focused on me, trying to pinpoint my location. Honestly, I'm not the one you need to worry about. I don't even know if I could hold back enough to bend you over my knee and give you the spanking you really deserve without painting the walls red with your remains."

I let that sink in for a moment before I drop the other shoe.

"And none of you have even taken note that you are trapped in a closed room with two very angry felines right now, both of which are very experienced brawlers. It makes me question your survival instincts."

The cats in question do not miss their cue. Two surprisingly deep growls from different directions add their weight to my words. Now I'm very certain that they understand every word I say. The two have even moved in position to flank the five youths.

The scribe boy even curls up into a small ball of misery. At least he can properly protect his face like that. The twins move to stand back to back. That's not a bad reaction either. Or at least it would be against any other foe. Against the cats it leaves their faces woefully exposed. The big boy on the other hand just stands there shaking.

I take this chance to lean in close to the scratched up tough girl in charge and whisper in her ear.

"Are you ready for a rematch? Or should we go and see Brygida instead, so you can deliver a truly heartfelt apology for causing her and Captain Whiskers so much grief?"

The girl shakes too, she is much better at hiding it though. My [Intimidate] skill ticks up another notch.

Given a chance to grow and learn she might just become a little more like Sylwia rather than Barandon. Finally her shoulders slump. And as she speaks, her voice on its own already is a whispered admission of defeat.

"Let's go."

I weave past all of them, getting close enough to make them feel the breeze of my passing without actually touching anyone. They all twitch anxiously, well all except for the youngest member of the group. He is still curled up in a tight ball. At long last I open the door and let in a little more light, revealing in the process that I'm not that much taller than any of them.

"Old Gray? Captain Whiskers? Please lead the way."

It's only now that she stalks out, head and tail raised high, that I get a good look at the cat I have come to rescue. She really does look magnificent. The familiar bond is the only explanation that comes to mind. And although she is acting tough and proud I'm still sure that she is hiding some injuries. I'll offer to see to them later once we are back with the witches at their home.

Standing in the door, I turn back to address the youths once more.

"What are you waiting for? Don't make me march you there at sword point!"

One by one they file out and fall into line behind the two cats.

I decide to take this chance to deliver another little lecture.

"If you really want to catch the eye of the guild, and not as a problem that needs to be solved either, finish your apprenticeships first. Build on the skills you have and learn new ones. Focus on reliably running small scale schemes instead of trying to set up the one big heist."

The bandaged girl listens closely and so does her little brother. The others listen too, but I'm not quite sure they pay attention in the same way. Well, not everyone can be a schemer or even just the face of an operation. For some people it's alright if they simply follow orders. There is always a demand for people like that. Either way, I keep talking in a casual tone.

"And if you change your mind in the years to come, you don't have to actually join the guild to do brisk business with them. Perfect your craft. Run a successful business of your own. If just one of you becomes a member the others will have all the connections they need to be considered a valuable asset."

Finally we reach the witch's house. Old Gray jumps on a crate to the side and starts grooming himself, while Captain Whiskers waits in front of the door, looking up at me expectantly. I knock for her.

The door opens almost immediately. It's being opened carefully though. Brygida obviously knows not to act too energetic around her feline companion. The girl gets tears in her eyes as the red tabby cat with the white socks greets her with a soft meow.

I can see Rysia standing behind her daughter, a hand resting on the shoulder of the witch in training to provide quiet moral support. The woman's gaze darkens as it sets on the five fidgeting youths I have dragged along.

It bodes well, that the girl leading her posse doesn't need another prompt to deliver her apology. She bows deeply and holds that pose as she speaks up with a shaky voice.

"We are terribly sorry for having caused you and the cat so much worry and grief. We were a bunch of stupid blokes and didn't properly consider the consequences of our actions. Please accept our apology."

The others bow too at this point. The younger brother a little faster than the others.

Brygida pays them barely any heed, entirely focused on her familiar who does her best to purr up a storm. Her mother though nods at long last, which the bowing youths of course don't see. I decide to deliver the verdict.

"Alright, the lot of you can go home. Except you."

I place my hand heavily on the leader's shoulder, making her flinch.

"I can provide a little healing for those scratches, but looking at the ones in your face you might need Brygida's or her mother's attention too. Cat scratch fever is a thing, you know."

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