Backdoor Deals

Walking toward the south gate I tried to think of how I was going to get out of the city. Even with the small percentage of guards around there were still some, and by now they must have all gotten a description of me from Sven. I had eleven minutes and counting before Steven would report in. Which would cause the guards to concentrate in my direction.

The south gate had the least guards out of the four leading out of the city, because the major crime coalition had some kind of deal with the local nobles. My best bet was to hitch a ride with one of their caravans. But it was just as likely that anyone who recognized me would turn me in for the bounty instead.

The other problem was convincing them to give me a ride when I didn't have much money to offer. I certainly wasn't giving up the crystal. That would leave me with about five gold that I had to ration until I could find some way to make more money. Buying my way out wasn't going to be possible but it might be possible to work my way out.

The caravans were known for hiring muscle and asking few questions. As long as you didn't ask questions and could fight, they didn't care where you came from.

Figuring it was my best shot, I took a turn to the west. As I walked, I stripped the uniform I was still wearing and let it pile in the gutter while I stole a tunic and pants drying on a line. The gray pants and shirt helped me blend in with the homeless watching me from windows and doorways. Passing an old fire pit, I grabbed some ash to discolor my skin, hair and clothes. There wasn't much I could do with the good quality leather bag I still had slug over my shoulder but adding a bit of ash helped. Hoping my quick disguise would be enough I hurried the last few streets to my destination.

With five minutes left on my countdown I knocked on the back door of a brothel. It was the closest one to the gambling house Steven had mentioned, and the only place I knew for sure would have backdoor deals for the caravans.

"The hell you want?" The gruff, irritated voice rolled out the door as it opened. Blocking the inside of the door frame was a six foot five, overly buff guy who looked like his life was one big brawl.

"Hey, I'm looking for work. Heard you guys hire protection teams for caravans." I said, trying to sound less nervous than I was.

"Oh," I could feel his eyes studying me as he talked, "can you fight at all?"

"Yes, sir."

"This way."

I entered as he turned and ushered me in ahead of him. With a solid thump the door shut behind me and I knew there was no turning back if I was recognized. I glanced around at the dingy hallway before following the big guy who had moved ahead. All the rooms we passed housed the staff while in between shifts. Not one person gave me a second look, which I assumed was because of my escort. Eventually we came to a closed door that the big guy knocked on.

"Enter."

Before the last syllable passed through the door, it opened. The big guy shoved me unceremoniously into the room and shut the door behind me. Looking ahead as I regained my footing showed a small office with an old man hunched over a desk filled with paper. I bet with one good gust of wind the entire mountain of paper would collapse.

"Here for a job?" I nodded as he glanced at me. I saw him pull a piece of paper from the middle of a stack without toppling it over before he continued. "Name?"

"Jeff...eries." In awe at his control, I almost blurted out my full (old) name before catching and correcting myself as best I could,

"Status?"

"Umm... single?"

"Societal status. Noble, commoner and the like." I could hear the irritation leaking into his voice as if he thought I was a simpleton.

"Commoner."

"Elemental affinity?"

This is where they could catch me. I could lie all I wanted, if they tested me though I was in deep trouble. Thinking about what items I had with me and their arrays, I told him the only thing I could "Water."

"Weapon training?"

"Short daggers."

"Daggers? Like what exactly?" The old man looked up at me to clarify before writing anything down.

"Like this." From inside my sleeve, I pulled out one of the throwing daggers I still had strapped to my arm.

The dagger was about four inches long with a small array carved into the handle. Unlike the one I had thrown back at the castle this array was meant to freeze as it cut.

Nodding slightly the old man turned back to the paper in front of him and continued to write.

"Any other weapons?"

"Hand-to-hand combat. I can hold my own in a fight."

"Type of job you're looking for?"

"Caravan protection. I've always wanted to travel..."

"Stop" he interrupted me, "I don't care about your reasons. I only care about facts that will determine our treatment of you. Timetable?"

"As soon as possible. I need the money." I expected him to glare at me again for my personal reason, but it seemed he took the news of me needing money as relevant information.

"Sit down outside in the hall. I'll call you back in when I have an assignment for you."

Turning around I left but as I closed the door, I noticed the flash of green that indicated a wind elemental spell was just cast. I hadn't heard the wind nor felt the call of his magic, suggesting that he was far stronger than I knew. Only someone at the level of master or close to it would be so skillful in their manipulation of elements.

I sat down and waited. Minutes passed and I knew by now my fifteen minutes were up. Soon enough the guards would be knocking on doors in the area. Just because this place was run by the criminals didn't mean they could turn aside the guards. As I waited, I played with one of the scrolls from my bag, wondering how useful it would be if I had to use it on the old man.

After about a half hour the old man called me to enter the office again. This time when I entered, the old man was standing, looking straight at me.

"To determine the proper arrangement for caravan protection, demonstrate the elemental magic you can perform."

"How? Or rather where should I go for that?"

"Here and now are fine. So, attack me."

Knowing he was stronger than most, I nodded and pulled the dagger back out of my sleeve. With my fingers covering the array on the handle I could channel magic into it as I threw it. The moment it left my fingers a blue glow radiated from it. Before I realized it the dagger had impaled itself in the far wall with the old man standing to the side watching me.

"Anything else?"

"Yes sir."

I hadn't set the scroll back in my bag before coming in. Instead, I had slipped it into the lining of the dagger holder strapped to my wrist. Holding my left hand out in front of me I channeled my magic into the array within the scroll. Ice started forming on the ground in front of me but stopped and faded after two seconds. The array wasn't meant to activate when wrapped around itself, so I counted myself lucky it worked for two seconds.

Silence reigned within the room as I waited for the old man to expose my lie of using elements or at the very least notice the residue of the array on the dagger. Instead, he pulled the dagger from the wall, examined it, and then placed it on the desk along with a piece of paper.

"Low elemental affinity for water but high control. Two silver for the trip, one now and one upon arrival. The paper contains the details. Now get out, I have work to finish."

Sitting down once again the old man proceeded to ignore me. I carefully picked up my dagger and the paper before leaving the office. Making my way back down the hall I found the big guy still by the back door. Only once the door slammed behind me did I sigh in relief and look down at the paper still clutched in my hands.