“I do, Captain. But you don’t want to hear it.”
“Tell me.”
“You need to ask the Talon Thieves Guild for help.”
Jon actually laughed out loud at what he assumed was a joke. “Have you been drinking too much of the church’s wine, your holiness?”
“Not at all. They run this city, as I am sure you know, and they have an abundance of resources to draw on. I’m not saying the Guild will act entirely out of charity, but I am willing to wager they will give your people jobs and a place to live.”
“I know better than to take a bet with the High Priest of the Lady of Luck, but I’m not sure I call that living.”
“You asked for my advice and I have given it. Please send one-hundred and fifty souls through the gate when you are ready, Captain. And Captain, thank you for this opportunity to serve the Lady of Luck. I wish you well.”
Jon bowed his head low and said, “Your holiness.” With that, Jon went back to his group of refugees as Samual ran into the basilica to begin making preparations. Jon chose the families he felt were most in need of assistance and went with them into the relative safety of Fortuna’s open arms.
As the refugees filed into the church, Jon pulled Samual aside and reluctantly asked him if he knew how to contact the Talon Guild. Jon hadn’t made up his mind what to do with his remaining refugees, but he wanted to keep his options open. Samual took Jon to a closed office and pulled out a map of Locus. Samual laid the map on a large desk and traced a specific street route with his finger until he came to a warehouse building. Jon watched Samual’s finger and carefully committed the directions to memory.
Samual spoke to Jon in hushed tones. “As a knight of Fortuna, I’m not supposed to know anything about the Talon Guild, but I know for a fact that this warehouse is a legitimate business that serves as a front for them. The warehouse is the headquarters for ‘Sisko’s Lumber.’ I’m sorry, but that’s all I know. I can’t even give you a name to call on.”
Jon shook Samual’s hand and said, “That’s alright. I’ll manage. Thank you very much for your help.” Samual nodded his head, put away the map, and the two men left the office to help the refugees settle into their temporary home.
After things were settled at the basilica, Jon went alone into the warehouse district of Locus. Dusk was approaching. Eyes were on him as he walked down the narrow streets that Samual had marked for him. Judging by the look of the people, and the beating Jon saw one man receiving in an alley at the hands of four men, soldiers weren’t common in this part of the city.
No one bothered him though. Jon eventually walked up the steps to Sisko’s Lumber and knocked on the door. A supervisor who looked ordinary enough opened the door. The man looked Jon up and down with a questioning look before he said, “Yah. What you want?”
“I want to talk to someone in the Talon Guild about a personal favor.”
“What are you talkin’ about, soldier boy? Look behind me.” Jon looked over the man’s shoulder all the way to the back of the warehouse. There were fifteen or so men in sight. One of them was yelling orders and pointing from place to place, while the others were loading up wagons with large crates. “Does this look like the Talon Guild to you? This is a place o’ business. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
The man took a step back and moved to shut the door to the warehouse. Jon quickly took two steps forward and thrust his entire body in between the doorframe and the door. The man said, “Hey, get lost buddy. This ain’t no place for a soldier boy.”
“Just hold on. I need the Talon Guild’s help, and they are the only ones I can turn to. Are you telling me the Talon Guild doesn’t have the slightest bit of interest in a captain of Kentar owing them a big favor?”
“Look, buddy. I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, so get lost.”
Jon prepared for the man to throw a punch at him when he heard someone out of sight off to the left say, “Back away, Biff. Let the good captain in.”
As Biff looked to his right to see if he had heard correctly, Jon heard heavy footsteps come up behind him and stop. Jon turned his head around and saw two large men who could only be described as bouncers standing a few feet directly behind him. Biff apparently received the confirmation he was looking for and opened wide the door to the warehouse.
Jon stepped into the building and the bouncers followed behind him. Jon looked to his left and saw a man in rich garb sitting behind a large desk. The man said, “Do come in and sit down, Captain.” Jon sat down in the chair in front of the desk. “My name is Morgan, and these three are my associates. Why don’t you tell me about this personal favor, and I will see if I can help you.”
Jon looked at Morgan with confidence and said, “I find myself in charge of some two-hundred Kentarian civilians that I cannot care for. They have lost everything and have nowhere to go. The captain of the Locus garrison has turned me and mine away, and the local temples have done all they can. This leaves the Talon Thieves Guild as the only other organization in Locus large enough to take care of that many people.”
Morgan leaned back in his chair and interrupted Jon before he could continue. “So you want the Talon Guild to provide food and shelter to these refugees. Is that it?”
“Essentially, yes.”
Morgan put his chair back down on all fours. He leaned over his desk and stared straight into Jon’s eyes. “And in return you would …”
“Owe the Talon Guild a sizable favor.”
A thin smile crossed Morgan’s lips as he realized the position Jon was in. “And how did you come to be in charge of two-hundred civilians, Captain?”
Jon didn’t want to say too much, since the means by which Endwood was destroyed involved state secrets. So he decided to tell the truth up to a point. “I was the captain of a garrison that was stationed at a frontier town. The town was attacked, and I am ashamed to say that we were defeated. I was forced to retreat out of the town without any supplies. My group of refugees trekked across the countryside until we made it to Locus, where we have received a less than friendly welcome.” Jon should have stopped there, but he couldn’t help himself. “I came here tonight hoping a thieves guild would have more compassion for strangers than the Army of Kentar does for its own citizens.” With his story told, Jon sat back in his chair calmly and waited.
Morgan listened carefully, and when it was all over he said, “That is a sad tale, Captain. Unfortunately for you, I don’t work for the Talon Guild and neither does anyone else in this warehouse.” Jon was beginning to think he had wasted his time when he saw Morgan give him a quick wink. “But I know those who do work for the Talon Thieves Guild. If you will permit my men to put this black cloth over your head, bind your hands, and take your weapons from you temporarily, then I will take you to meet their representative so you can see if they are feeling charitable.”
“I will agree to come with you.”
Morgan looked at him with an uptick in his smile and said, “Good.” As Morgan said this one word, someone put a black cloth over his head and yanked him to his feet. Someone else came forward and deprived Jon of his sword and dagger. Morgan yelled down to the far end of the warehouse and told someone that he would be gone for some time and to watch the entrance in his absence. Someone took Jon by the arm and led him deeper into the warehouse. They went through a series of three doors and down some steep steps. Then it seemed that they were walking in some underground tunnel since their steps echoed off the walls. The underground tunnel continued for a long time. Finally, they walked up another flight of steep steps and through another series of doors. Jon was led to a chair and told to stay seated. A door opened and shut, leaving Jon in silence. He was by himself for some time, or at least he thought he was alone since he didn’t hear anything. He must have been wrong, however, because as soon as a door on the other side of the room opened and shut, someone behind him yanked off the black hood.
Jon looked quickly from side to side and took in his surroundings. There were
five people in the room. Morgan and Biff were there, along with one male halfling, another bouncer, and one gorgeous female human dressed in eveningwear. Biff and the other bouncer stood a few feet behind Jon and off to either side, presumably in case he made any trouble. Morgan sat in a chair at a little table across the room and up against the wall. The incredible-looking woman stood directly in front of him, and the halfling stood leaning lazily against the wall directly behind her.
The room itself was thirty feet long by thirty feet wide. The decor of the room went well beyond any sort of wealth Jon had ever encountered before. Artwork adorned the walls; the two tables and several chairs were made out of finely carved and polished cherry wood. The floor was hardwood oak that was mostly covered with a twenty by twenty foot hand-woven carpet. The single fireplace was made out of white marble with a cherry mantle. The room radiated glamour and sophistication. The only thing that ruined the décor was the lack of any windows.
The gorgeous woman stood directly in front of Jon and demanded the most attention for several reasons. After she knew she had Jon’s full attention, she spoke with a sultry voice that hinted at seduction. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Captain.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, my lady.”
She smiled at him in a way that made him want to tell her anything she asked. “Oh, my lady is it? I like you already. You know, I never forget a name or a face, particularly such a handsome face, and I am quite certain that we have never met before. Plus, there is the fact that Locus typically only has one captain in charge of the garrison. Given these two facts, I think you must be new in town.”
“That’s correct, my lady.”
“You came alone to one of our legitimate places of business and asked to have a meeting with the Talon Guild. Your manner and your rank have captured our curiosity, and we have come to hear what you have to say. Tell me, why are you here and what do you want?”
Jon found it difficult to look away from the beauty standing in front of him. She was easily the most outstanding woman Jon had ever seen, but that wasn’t all. Her voice put him almost immediately at ease. It was almost like they were the only two people in the room. He wanted to please her, and he was afraid she would leave if he didn’t. He had to say something quickly to keep her attention. Jon looked across the room at Morgan, and once his eyes were off the mesmerizing woman in front of him he was finally able to find his tongue. “I already told Morgan my story. Surely he has told it to you by now? The town I was guarding was attacked, and we were forced to flee for our lives. I marched across the frontier with two hundred soldiers and four hundred civilians until we made it to Locus. A few of my civilians left to stay with family they have in Locus and the Basilica of Fortuna took in a good deal more. But there are still two-hundred men, women, and children in my charge. They are starving and have nowhere to go, which brings me to your doorstep. I am here to ask, as a personal favor to me, that you provide for the people in my charge until they can get back on their feet.”
Jon looked down at his feet and then subconsciously looked up at the woman. Her dress was slit up to mid-thigh and her arms were bare up to the shoulders. She had perfect skin and a toned body. After a moment of consideration the woman tilted her head to the side and smiled irresistibly. “Morgan did tell us your story, but I just had to see if your voice was as handsome as the man I see in front of me.” She walked toward him and then around to his side. She ran her perfect hand and flawless nails through Jon’s hair as she walked around him and said, “What a noble creature. I hardly ever get the chance to meet anyone of character in my line of work. Looking after two hundred people is no small favor. Are you willing to do something for us in return?”
Jon couldn’t concentrate. His head darted to the right and then to the left as she circled slowly around the back of his chair. Her touch sent chills down his spine. He shook his head one more time to clear it and said, “Yes, I suppose I am. In spite of your reputation, you are the last place I can turn. I have a responsibility to those under my charge; so if owing you a favor is what it takes to gain your compassion, then that is what I shall do.”
The female finished her circle around Jon and sat down slowly on his lap. Her face was inches from his own, and her fanciful dress allowed Jon to see the whole of her magnificent figure. Jon knew in the back of his mind that there were four other men in the room, but as his heart thumped against his chest, he just didn’t care.
She ran her hand delicately down Jon’s chest and asked, “What town were you defending, Jon?”
Jon couldn’t think straight, but that didn’t stop the words from spilling out of his mouth. “It was a logging town just inside Glenmyr Forest called Endwood.”
“And what was it that attacked Endwood, Jon?”
Jon managed to look to the left and say, “I can’t say anymore. You don’t need to know what happened in order to care for my civilians. I have a duty to Kentar.”
The woman leaned into Jon’s right ear and kissed him lightly on the lobe. Jon flinched away, but then the woman kissed his exposed neck several times. She stopped and whispered into his ear. “You do have a duty to Kentar, Jon, but we can’t care for your refugees until we know the truth. What was it that attacked Endwood, Jon?”
At that moment Jon was willing to say anything to keep the gorgeous woman as close to him as possible. There was no real security risk in telling the Talon Guild what really happened was there? As Jon began to talk, the woman continued to nuzzle his neck. “I was the captain of a battalion of soldiers charged with the protection of a frontier logging town called Endwood. After the town was founded, we were confronted by four creatures who claimed to be elves. We sent the elves away; then we were attacked some ten days later by two hungry hill giants. A few days after we recovered from the giant attack, we were cursed by a ghost who said he was the protector of the forest. The ghost killed a number of my people and burnt down part of the town in order to stop us from logging his forest. I know it sounds crazy to run from a ghost, but I saw it kill several of my people. We were all scared beyond reason and being killed off one by one, so we abandoned Endwood and fled back to Kentar with nothing but the clothes on our backs. We trekked across the countryside on foot for more than a moon’s turn. Times were desperate and some of my group died along the way, but we finally made it to Locus. The captain of the city garrison refused to take us in but was happy to strip the two hundred soldiers from my command.”
After finishing his story, Jon looked to the right and down at the floor, feeling somewhat exposed. “And now I am here, being interrogated by a thieves guild.”
A loud, male voice pierced the silence. “Stop this nonsense, Lidea.” The woman backed away from Jon’s neck and sat there on his lap with a lopsided grin. The halfling ten feet behind Lidea continued, “The good Captain came here as our guest, not to be your play thing. Sometimes I think you take too much pleasure in your work. Back away and let’s finish our business. If you want him later, then you can seek him out after we’re through.”
Lidea looked sincerely sad as she said, “What a pity.” She got off him slowly, gracefully. She turned around and walked over to where the halfling was standing, staring at Jon with eyes that were all business.
The halfling spoke up conversationally as if nothing was amiss. “Lidea is quite a creature isn’t she? I’ve never known a man who could resist her, particularly when she wants him in return. You’re either in for a real treat, or you need to flee the city as soon as possible.”
Lidea did not say anything, but she looked at the halfling in good humor with a large smile. She looked back at Jon, and he saw a deep lust mixed in with the good humor. This woman was amazing. He knew if left in a room with her that he would not be able to control himself. Luckily, his hands were bound and he was not alone with her.
With some struggle, Jon looked away from Lidea and stared at the halfling instead. Who was this halfling to command such respect? Anywhere Jon had ever been, halfl
ings were treated as slaves or second-class citizens. They were consistently given the worst jobs and were the butt of many a joke. But this halfling was treated differently. Everyone in the room looked to him instinctively for direction. Jon had to admit that he had gotten caught up in the stereotype as well. When the hood had first been taken off his head, it had been Lidea who he had noticed, and he had assumed that she was the one in charge. In reality, the halfling sat back and let Lidea gather information and use her womanly ways to see how far Jon would go in their business negotiation. Lidea’s interest in him seemed genuine, but Jon also knew that he had fallen for one of the oldest tricks in the book.
Jon cocked his head to the side and said, “Who are you?”
The halfling smiled and answered, “I am known as Sivan. I handle most of the administrative details for the Guild here in Locus, both the legitimate and the not so legitimate.”
“I’m surprised to see a halfling in a position of power. I wouldn’t think the Talon Guild would place anyone other than humans so high in the organization.”
“The Guild doesn’t discriminate based on race. The Talon Guild is a meritocracy, pure and simple. Anyone can go as high as he or she likes, as long as he or she has the skills to back it up.”
“You must be well respected then.”
Sivan nodded his head in acknowledgement of the compliment and said, “I believe we can help you with your problem, Captain. We have the resources to feed and provide for your refugees until they get back on their feet, and we would happily do this favor with no strings attached.”
Jon was flabbergasted and sat quietly with his mouth open for a long time. “You swear to me that you will keep them safe?” Sivan nodded. “That they won’t be placed in mortal danger or be forced to participate in your illegal dealings?” Sivan nodded again. “And that the women will not become whores in your employ?” Sivan nodded for a third time. “And that you expect nothing from me in return?”
Do the Gods Despise Us? Page 9