by Logan Jacobs
“Is it safe up there?” Selius asked as he gestured toward the stairs.
“It is.” I nodded. “I checked the loft.”
“Okay,” Selius said as he ran past me and up the stairs.
“Dar,” I gestured toward my friend. “You good to come with me to visit Hebal?”
“Yep,” Dar said as he sheathed his blade at his side.
“Alright,” Ava sighed as she walked down the stairs. “They will pursue me first, then go after you all. As long as I live, you live too.”
“Why did they show up here then?” Dar asked.
“Because Fallor is investigating you on his own terms now,” Ava replied. “I did the same thing when I first started the case. I followed little Selius for a day or so.”
“Shit,” Dar shook his head. “Alright, well, stay alive, please.”
“I will,” Ava answered. “Like I said, stay low and don’t draw any unneeded attention to yourselves just in case, okay?”
“We won’t,” I said as I watched Selius jump down the stairs with a bag full of stuff. “Got everything you need?”
“I think so,” Selius said as he swung the bag around his shoulder.
“Good.” I nodded toward Ava. “Get going.”
Ava nudged Selius toward the back door, and then they both left.
“Now that that's over with,” Olly said. “You two ready to go see your dwarf friend?”
“If he’s still there,” I added.
“Let’s hope so,” Olly agreed. “He’s been a tricky fella to find.”
“Lead the way,” I said as I shoved Olly forward.
“Will do, will do,” Olly said as he adjusted his overcoat and then headed for the back door. “Wait till Wilimar hears what happened. It’s not every day do ya almost died from an assassin invasion.”
“You didn’t almost die,” Dar retorted. “Open the door and let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“Just know,” Olly said as he tugged open the back door. “I didn’t need your grimy ass protecting me.”
“Whatever you say, kid,” Dar chuckled. “I heard you whimpering behind me when Wade and Ava were fighting upstairs.”
“Ya didn’t hear shit!” Olly scoffed as he stepped down into the courtyard and hopped over the fence. “Ya asshole’s coming or what?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dar waved to Olly.
“Just keep your fucking voices down,” I said as I shut the door behind me, walked across the courtyard, hopped the fence, and joined them in the side alley.
“Should we even walk down Guilder?” Dar asked as we gathered at the edge of the alley. “The fuckers that are trying to kill us live right there for crying out loud.”
“I know,” I replied. “Ava said we should be okay as long as we don’t draw attention to ourselves.”
“You don’ have to worry about me, Wade,” Olly said as he turned his one good eye toward Dar.
“Watch your mouth,” Dar shoved Olly to the side. “Let the grown-ups talk for a second.”
“Fine, fine,” Olly said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the guild.
“The assassins should still be in the dark for the most part,” I said as I scratched at my neck. “It’s almost like they have to re-start their investigation, thanks to Ava.”
“Well, they obviously knew where we were,” Dar said with a slight shrug.
“Naw.” I shook my head. “I don’t think they did. Ava said the assassin we killed was a scout. All they know is that Ava has officially betrayed the guild, but they still don’t know where we are since that was Ava’s job to find and report back to the guild leader.”
“Fallow or Fallor?” Dar frowned. “What’s the plan then?”
“What you said is more the reason not to walk right by the fucking guild,” Olly chimed in.
“Shut your mouth unless I tell you to open it,” Dar snapped at the kid and then looked back to me. “I think he’s right.”
“I agree,” I said with a slight nod.
Even though the assassins didn’t have much on us, yet. We shouldn’t walk right by them like they didn’t exist. I know Ava was convinced that we should be safe as long as she was alive, but I didn’t want to take any more unneeded chances. Especially because we might walk into one of those chances with Hebal.
“So, we’re goin’ another way?” Olly asked.
“Yeah, let’s take the road on the other side of the alley,” I breathed. “It’ll be longer, but safer.”
“You heard him,” Dar pointed toward Olly to get walking.
“I’m providing you with a needed service,” Olly flipped off Dar. “I didn’t expect to be walking into a war-zone over here.”
“Get used to it if you’re on our payroll,” I said with a smirk.
“Oh, great,” Olly muttered.
So, we turned around and walked down the alley the opposite way. Then we made a left and maneuvered through the halfling streets until we neared the Dwarf District.
As we walked, I kept my head down, hood up, and try to look as normal as possible. Being a human and trying to look normal was hard enough, but knowing a bunch of assassins were hunting me down made it a little harder.
“Wade …” Dar’s voice was tense. “How’re we going to handle Hebal?”
“Like we are clueless idiots, pal,” I replied as we crossed over into the Dwarf District, and the spicy aroma filled the air. “We’re pissed off that he stood us up, but clueless.”
“How so?” Dar pursed his lips. “Do you think he’ll believe us?”
“Even if he doesn’t, he will pretend he does,” I said as I narrowed my eyes. “He won’t want a fight to break out in his store. Not yet, at least.”
“What makes you so sure?” Dar asked.
“He’s trying to move on without us,” I replied. “He will try to deal with us on his own terms, not ours.”
“We are comin’ up on Wilimar’s position,” Olly remarked as we turned down the street where Hebal’s store was located. “Hopefully, he’s still there.”
“You don’t think he’ll blame us for his dead distiller and the guard you and Penny killed?” Dar leaned in closer to me as we walked.
“I doubt he has heard about his distiller’s death, yet.” I shrugged. “And he has no proof about his guard’s death. He has nothing on us.”
“Good,” Dar breathed. “I just fucking hope we’re not walking to our own deaths by talking to him.”
“We aren’t,” I reassured the halfling. “And if we are, we are taking the fucker with us then.”
“Shit,” Dar hissed.
“Alright, I see Wilimar in the alley across the street,” Olly reported. “That prolly means your dwarf is still inside.”
“Stay with Wilimar and wait for us,” I ordered Olly and waved to Wilimar in the alley. “If shit goes bad inside, get the fuck out of here.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Olly saluted us and then jogged to our left to join his partner.
“Let’s get this over with,” Dar muttered as we both walked up to Hebal’s store.
There wasn’t a guard outside, or customers inside, or even Hebal as far as I could tell.
That meant he was in his office.
So, I tugged open the door, and the bell announced our entrance. My heart drummed in my ears, my fists clenched at my sides, and a single bead of sweat dripped down my back.
“Ah, fuck!” Hebal’s voice rang out from the back office. “We’re closed!”
“Here we go,” Dar muttered next to me as we walked to the front counter.
“Are ya now?” I disguised my voice to sound like a dwarf. “I’m lookin’ for somethin’ special, though and I--”
“We’re closed, lad!” Hebal huffed. I could also hear him rustling through a bunch of papers on his desk.
I’m sure he was looking for the whiskey ingredient list, but that was now in my pocket.
“Please, I’m beggin’ ya,” I laid the dwarven accent on thick. “I rea
lly need ya help!”
“For fuck's sake …” Hebal muttered from the back, and then I heard him stand up and walk our direction.
I wasn’t sure how he’d respond when he saw us. For all, I knew he could come out and be ready to brawl to the death. I hoped that wasn’t the case because I had other plans.
“Alright,” Hebal began as he stepped out of his office. “What can I do f--”
“Hi, partner.” I smiled. “How you like my dwarven accent? Good, right?”
“Wa-uh, Wade, I wasn’t …” Hebal cleared his throat and stayed near his office door. His hair looked like someone had rubbed a balloon across it, his shirt was half tucked in, but he forced a smile.
A smile.
Man, he was a fucking bad actor. I don’t think the fucker truly smiled once the entire time I’ve known him.
“Just to warn you,” I said as I pinched my index finger and thumb together. “I’m a little pissed off that you stood me up.”
“About that,” Hebal sighed as he took a step closer. “I’ve been dealing with a lot over here, and I lost track of time.”
“The store has been busy?” I asked as I turned around and looked throughout the empty place.
“No, i-it’s been personal,” Hebal said as he glanced over his shoulder and then faced me again. “I’ve had a lot of personal problems come up, so I apologize.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked as I leaned onto the counter. “You look a little extra sweaty.”
“Like I said,” Hebal huffed. “Just personal matters, but I-I just need a week to deal with it, okay?”
“Then what?” I asked.
“What do ya mean?” Hebal furrowed his brow.
“What happens after you deal with whatever it is you’re dealing with?” I asked.
“We continue working together.” Hebal shrugged. “I just need a week or so.”
“A week?” I scoffed. “What am I? One of your employees? We had a deal. I make the shit. You sell it. What’s the fucking problem?”
“Wade …” Hebal began as he dropped his head and ran a fat hand across his chest.
That’s when I saw the familiar stone dangling from his fucking neck.
Was it the same necklace?
It couldn’t be, could it?
I averted my eyes, turned around, and walked toward the window.
“You must’ve forgotten how this works,” I said. “I have a bunch of whiskey sitting around collecting dust. The same whiskey you were supposed to pick up two days ago.”
“I know, I know,” Hebal said as he stepped closer, moved behind the counter, and eyed Dar.
“Am I missing something?” I asked as I turned back around to face the dwarf. Then I felt a bubbling sensation in my heart as I laid eyes on the necklace again.
It had to be the same one Grodmick had in my vision.
“You’re not missing something, partner,” Hebal said as he pretended to care. “I just need a week to deal with a very, very personal family matter.”
“And this family matter is more important than your life?” I asked as I stepped closer to the counter. “If it is, how can I help you?”
“I don’t need any he--”
“Well, apparently, you do!” I shouted. “Because your fucking problems are now affecting my business!”
“Who do you think …” Hebal stopped himself and then brushed his beard with his hand. “All I’m asking for is some time.”
“You’re not getting it through that skull of yours,” I said. “You don’t have any time, because I don’t have any time. That’s how this works. I can’t delay my entire operation because of some family issues. So, I suggest you tell me what’s really going on before I take my whiskey elsewhere. Is that what you want?”
“I’m tellin’ ya the truth,” Hebal sneered. “I’m tellin’ ya I have some severe family problems that I need to handle.”
“Then why the fuck are you here?” I asked.
“I—I …” Hebal sighed and then locked eyes with me. “I’ll pay ya double for the next batch, Wade. Just give me some time to handle my business here.”
“You’ll pay me double?” I asked.
What a liar.
“Aye.” Hebal nodded. “I’ll pay ya double for the trouble I caused ya. I just need time.”
“Isn’t this something?” I asked as I nudged Dar. “I can’t wait for another week.”
“Alright,” Hebal sniffed as his face started to turn red. “How long can ya wait then?”
I could tell he wanted to kill me, but as I expected, he had another time and place in mind for that.
Just like I did for him.
“I’ll be back here,” I said as I pointed to the floor. “In this very spot, the morning of the Eclipse Festival to tell you where to bring your sorry ass to pick up my whiskey.”
“Fine,” Hebal said as he scratched at his nose.
I could tell he was thinking about his own plan. Either that, or he imagined himself strangling me.
“Right. Here.” I leaned across the counter, pointed my finger into his chest, and smelled his sour body odor. “If you’re not here consider our deal dead.”
“Hmph,” Hebal growled as he clenched his jaw. “I’ll be here.”
Would he?
I’d have to wait and see.
“With double the coin?” I added as I locked my eyes onto his.
“Aye,” Hebal huffed. “I’ll have double the coin for ya, Wade.”
“Do you have it now?” I asked.
If he did, I was just going to kill him, take the gold and his necklace, and be done.
“Naw,” Hebal cleared his throat. “I’ll have it in two weeks. That’s been… ahh… part of my problem. I’ll have it in two weeks. I swear.”
We stared at each other for a few moments while my mind worked through the puzzle. I should probably just kill him right now, but then I’d only get the necklace. If I waited for two weeks, I’d have more than enough money to pay for the new dancehall, buy the bakery, and maybe expand operations into another district.
Plus, I’d have a bit longer to plan things.
“Alright,” I said as I extended my hand out to shake on it. “Sorry for your family trouble.”
“Shit happens,” Hebal muttered as he shook my hand. He looked at me in a way that would have burned a hold through me.
“That’s the truest thing you’ve ever said, partner,” I said as I took my hand from his, and noticed the stone around on the necklace flash blue for a split second.
“Now,” Hebal cleared his throat and tucked the necklace inside of his shirt. “If you have no more demands or questions, I really must get going.”
“Go right ahead,” I said with a smirk. “We’ll get out of your hair.”
“Aye,” Hebal said as he moved around the counter, walked to the front door, and opened it. “See ya soon.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” I said as both Dar, and I stepped toward the opened door. But I stopped just before I walked out of the store. “No guard today?”
“Nah,” Hebal said as he pursed his lips. “His day off.”
“Of course,” I said with a nod and then clapped the dwarf on the shoulder. “Take care of yourself, partner.”
“Sure will,” the dwarf grunted and dropped his shoulder away from my hand.
Then the bell chimed as Hebal slammed the door shut and locked it.
Dar and I made our way over to the alley across the street, but I glanced over my shoulder one more time and saw Hebal hadn’t moved from the door.
“What’re ya looking at?” Dar said as he nudged me in the ribs.
“A desperate dwarf,” I replied as I watched Hebal finally turn away from the door.
“Hebal?” Dar asked as he glanced over his shoulder, too, and then looked to me for an answer. “I’m surprised you didn’t kill him.”
“Later,” I said. “I have a plan.”
“Gotta say I’m a little surprised you two are still
alive,” Olly commented as he spat near his foot.
“Got the five copper you owe us?” Wilimar stuck his tiny hand into my chest.
“Nice to see you, too,” I swiped the kid’s hand away. “You’ll get your coin, but your job isn’t finished.”
“What do you mean?” Wilimar scoffed. “We fuckin’ slept in the sewers fo--”
“Fine,” I said as I dug into my pouch and tossed the coins at the kid. “Here’s your five copper, but as we discussed, your job isn’t finished.”
“What if we want it to be done?” Olly questioned. “Ya both are up to some no-good fucking shit.”
“And what exactly do you call what you two do every day?” I chuckled. “Painting rainbows?”
“What he’s trying to say is,” Wilimar said as he picked up a few coins that dropped. “Ya have a lot of heat on ya, and I dunno if it’s wise for us to work with ya still.”
“What heat?” I asked.
“He filled me in on what happened at the Thief Guild.” Wilimar nodded toward Olly, who averted his one eye from me.
“And?” I asked as I clinked the coin pouch on my side. “You two pussies don’t want to make more coin? Our deal was I’d pay you ten copper every week for tracking the dwarf.”
“To find the dwarf,” Wilimar pointed to the store. “And we did that.”
“Don’t fucking point …” I walked deeper into the alley and gestured for the halflings to follow me. “I don’t want Hebal to spot us.”
“We reserve the right to back out,” Olly said as he leaned against the wall to my left. “We did what ya paid us to do, and now we want out.”
“You’re telling me, Wilimar Bindle is turning down more coin because he’s fucking scared?” As fucking annoying as these two were, I needed them. Especially with Hebal still being a big problem of mine.
“I ain’t fuckin’ scared, Wade,” Wilimar sniffed as he narrowed his eyes at me. “What else do ya need?”
“Willy!” Olly punched his partner in the arm. “I thought we--”
“Shut it,” Wilimar dismissed his friend with his hand.
“All I need is for you to continue to follow him like we talked about before,” I replied. “Then, you check in with me on what he’s doing.”
“Olly,” Wilimar looked to his friend. “Keep an eye on the dwarf just in case he leaves the store while I wrap this up.”