by Jamie Davis
“How much money do we have, Kay?”
“We have about fifteen silver pieces left. I think if we shop around, we might be able to stretch that to last a week, and that’s if we share a room.”
Hal shrugged. “We've shared a room before.”
“Morton Creek is in a very conservative district of the Empire. The people here will frown upon a man and woman staying together in the same room if they are not married.”
“I suppose we could pretend to be married as long as it doesn't go too far.”
“Believe me, Hal, there's no danger of that.”
“Let’s look for an inn, then.”
They checked in at several locations near the main gate. All of them were full and had no rooms to rent. The last innkeeper suggested they try closer to the harbor, though he seemed to think very little of the inns in that part of town.
Hal and Kay started to walk down the hill towards the harbor below as the sun dropped below the walls. If he weren't distracted, Hal would have thought the view beautiful. Instead, he was just tired. All he wanted to do was find a place to sleep for the night.
The innkeeper by the gate was right. There was an opening at the first inn they found near the harbor. It was a rundown place, and judging from some of the clientele Hal was sure he’d be scratching at fleas for weeks to come.
There was a single room available to rent, and the innkeeper didn't seem to be overly concerned about checking whether he and Kay were a married couple. That was one advantage to staying in a seedier part of town.
Hal threw his backpack down on the first bed in the room they were going to share and flopped down next to it. Compared to sleeping on the hard ground under the stars, this mattress felt like sleeping on air.
“I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight,” Hal told Kay.
“One of us should try to stay awake and keep watch.” Kay lowered her voice then and whispered, “those mage hunters could be right behind us and we'd never know it.”
Hal groaned. They hadn't seen any sign of the mage hunters since leaving the forest weeks ago.
“I think we're safe for now. Any hunters are going to have to search the whole town for us. We’re far more likely to spot them before they spot us.”
Kay shrugged. “You're probably right. I guess we can get by for one night. I'm as exhausted as you are.”
“The innkeeper said the room came with dinner,” Hal reminded her. “Why don't we head back down to the taproom and see what they've cooked up for tonight? We can also try and pick up some of the local gossip. It might help us in our search tomorrow.”
“You think there's news of our missing mage somewhere in town?”
“I think it can't hurt to check. If we buy a few drinks for the locals, maybe we'll turn up a lead on where to start looking.”
Kay nodded and opened the door. There was a startled boy crouched outside as if he had been listening to their conversation. Before he could run away, Kay reached out and snagged him by the arm pulling him into the room and closing the door.
Hal stood and grabbed the boy from Kay, tossing him onto the other bed.
“Why were you listening at our door, boy? Did someone put you up to this?”
“N-n-no, sir, but the Guild Master pays for information on anybody new who comes to stay in the Harbor District. It's not much but it fills me up. Perhaps you'd like to offer to pay me instead; then I could tell him that you are just traveling merchants instead of bounty hunters looking for someone.”
Hal liked the kid’s gumption. He had a lot of sass for someone caught in the act of spying.
“Or, maybe we just slit your throat and leave you to die in the alley,” Kay said, drawing her dagger.
“Either way, the Guild Master will come looking for you. No one leaves a body in the Harbor District without paying for the privilege.”
Hal and Kay exchanged glances. He knew she had no intention of killing the boy. The kid must be a good judge of character, too, because he didn't think she'd kill him either judging from his flippant response.
“So, how much does it cost to pay you off?” Hal asked. He held up a hand as he changed his mind.
“We don't have that much to spend anyway. Maybe it makes more sense just to go see the Guild Master in person and pay the toll.”
“I could take you to him. I wouldn't even charge you that much.”
“Really,” Hal laughed. “And how much would that be?”
The boy studied their faces for a few seconds before he answered.
“One silver piece, each.”
“One silver piece, for the both of us and you fill us in on what the Guild Master is like before we get there.”
The boy hesitated for just a second then he smiled and nodded.
“One silver piece it is.”
He spat into his hand and held it out towards Hal. Smiling, Hal spat into his own hand and shook it with the boy.
“Well, now that’s done, let’s go down and get that dinner we were talking about.”
“Oh, you don't want to eat here,” the boy cautioned them. “It'll make you sick. I know a place that's much better and it's on the way to where we have to meet the Guild Master.”
“Alright, tell us your name and you can lead the way,” Hal said.
“Tobias Shroot, but you can call me Toby. Everyone else does.”
“Greetings, Toby. I’m Hal and this is my partner, Kay. We might have some additional work for you after we pay our respects to the local authorities. Are you interested?”
“Sure,” he looked back and forth between them before he continued. “It isn’t anything weird is it?”
Hal laughed out loud. “Believe, me, Toby. It's nothing weird. Now lead on, my stomach is growling something fierce.”
They followed the boy down the back stairs out of the inn. It was very dark on the street though there were a few gas lamps here and there as Toby led them down the hill closer to the harbor. He stopped below a sign showing a fisherman holding a net full of fish.
“This is the Daily Catch and it's got the best food in the Harbor District. Come inside; my mother is the cook.”
“It smells delicious,” Kay said. “What’s good here?”
“Pretty much anything, but the chowder is my favorite.”
“Chowder sounds great after nothing but trail biscuits and venison jerky for weeks,” Hal said sitting down at a table near the door.
He propped his staff against the wall and sat so he could see the entrance and anyone who came inside. Kay sat opposite him so she could watch the door to the kitchen. Old habits died hard.
An attractive girl of about sixteen came out of the kitchen and smiled at them. She resembled Toby a little around the eyes. Hal guessed she was probably his sister.
“Hey Hannah, these are my friends. I’m taking them to see the Guild Master later, but they wanted dinner first. What’s mama making tonight?”
“Good evening folks. As he said, my name is Hannah. It's a little late, but we still have a pot of chowder on and there are a few fillets left we could fry up if that’s more to your liking.”
“I heard the chowder was excellent,” Hal said. “I'll have that.”
Kay nodded. “Make that two. And two ales, if you have them.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
“Alright, Toby,” Hal said as he turned back to the boy. “Tell us about the Guild Master.”
“Well, he runs this town. Nothing happens without him knowing about it. Even the Baron is afraid to cross him, which is why his Lordship stays up in his castle all the time.”
“Sounds like a scary guy. I suppose if we are looking for someone in town, that would be the place where we would have to start.”
“Yes, unless, of course, the person you are looking for has already paid the Guild Master to stay in hiding,” Toby added.
“Oh, of course,” Hal agreed. “Hopefully, that's not the case. I get the feeling from the way you descri
be him we don't want to cross the local authorities and step on any toes.”
Toby nodded.
Hal liked the boy. If he managed to keep from getting killed while listening at doors, he might grow up to make something of himself someday.
Suddenly, Toby stopped smiling. Hal followed his gaze and noticed he was watching a group of boys a little older than himself walk up to the restaurant and come inside.
“Well, well, it looks like our friend Toby here has been trying to do a little business on the side. You wouldn't do that to us, would you, Toby?”
“No, I'm just sitting here with some fine patrons of my mother's restaurant. Go ahead and ask them.”
Hal took an instant dislike to the leader of the group of boys. He had dark, greasy hair and what looked like a permanent sneer on his face. He reminded Hal of his work nemesis, Barry. He decided to teach this kid a lesson.
“Well, mister, is what Toby here says true? Because it sure looks to me that you hired him to show you around the town. That is something only I'm allowed to do in this part of the district.”
“I'm afraid you are mistaken. My companion and I merely stopped in here to get a bite to eat. Toby was kind enough to tell us what was good on the menu, though I have to say he seems like a fine lad and I may well hire him to show me around later. You don't have a problem with that, do you?”
Hal leaned back in his chair and let his hand drop down beside him where he could reach his staff quickly if needed.
The greasy haired kid leaned forward until he was close to Hal’s face. His breath was foul.
“You’re gonna have a problem with it, mister. I make the rules here and I say that I’m going to show you around town later, not Toby.”
“I don't think so,” Hal said. “It’s going to be pretty hard to walk with that bad knee.”
“What are you talking about? I don't have a bad…”
The boy never finished what he was saying. In one fluid motion, Hal tipped forward in his chair grabbing his staff and sweeping the boy’s legs out from under him. Then, doing something he’d considered trying with his earth magic, Hal channeled the reverse of a regeneration spell at the boy’s knee. There was an audible crack and the boy on the floor groaned in pain, clutching at his leg.
New spell learned – Deal Wounds
“Now that's a shame,” Kay said. “he should be more careful and not slip and fall like that. Don't you other boys agree?”
She pulled the long knife from her belt and tested the edge with her thumb while she spoke.
After sharing glances with each other, the three boys still standing nodded but didn't say a word. Two of them grabbed the first boy under his arms and lifted him up while backing towards the door.
“Don't let me find out you came back here later to cause trouble,” Hal called after them. “It would be a shame to fall and break the other knee.”
At that last statement, the group of boys picked up their pace and soon disappeared.
“You probably shouldn’t have done that, mister. That was the Guild Master’s son, Gary.”
“Gary? Really?” Kay said.
Toby nodded.
“Well, Gary needed to learn some lessons,” Hal noted. “It’s never too soon to pick up some manners. Maybe next time he’ll show some respect to his elders.”
“Maybe you and Kay should leave town for a while and come back later to find your guy. Gary’s gonna tell his dad what happened. This is going to complicate things if you stay in town and go to meet the Guild Master tonight.”
Hal shook his head. “We will enjoy the fine dinner your mother is preparing for us and then we will go and meet with the Guild Master as planned. I have an idea that should cover us when it comes time to deal with anything Gary has told his dad about us.”
“Meaning you have a clever plan? Careful, you sound like your old self again.” Kay noted.
Hal laughed and pointed to Hannah approaching with their dinner.
“Here comes the food. Eat first; then we go let this Guild Master know who we really are.”
Quest accepted — impress the Guild Master
Hal put on an air of confidence as the slot machine started rattling in his head. He hadn’t been using his luck as much on this trip to Fantasma. It seemed that magic use was not as prone to chance as the other abilities he’d used before. Hal wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but he knew it was going to be a fun evening.
18
The dinner was every bit as good as Toby said it would be. Hal found himself sopping up the last of the chowder’s broth with a piece of fresh sourdough bread. He shoved the final piece in his mouth and pushed back from the table, his hand falling across his full stomach.
“That was delicious, Toby.”
Hal smiled up at Hannah as she came to collect their dishes.
“Tell your mother we will be back to try some of the other things on her menu.”
“I’m sure she will like that.”
Hal stood, grabbed his staff and nodded at Toby.
“Lead the way, my friend. Time’s a-wastin’ and we’ve got important things to do.”
Toby got up and they followed him out into the street. The boy led them across the Harbor District until they reached an area filled up with warehouses used to hold the various goods coming ashore from the ships in the harbor.
The last warehouse in the row had two burly men standing beside the double doors leading inside. As Hal, Kay, and Toby approached, the two guards hefted heavy truncheons and one of them pointed at Toby.
“You’re in big trouble, kid. Gary is inside telling his father all about how you got his knee messed up.”
Hal strode up to the man who had spoken, stepping in front of Toby to draw the guard’s attention to him.
“Actually, it was I who had to teach young Gary a lesson in manners. He needed a refresher on how to treat a visiting Guild Master. Please advise your leader that an important visitor from Tandon is in town.”
The lead guard looked at his partner and the second man turned and ducked inside the double doors, presumably to deliver the message.
“What’d you do to the kid’s leg, anyway? The boss had to send for a healing mage.”
“Just a little trick I learned along my travels. I’m sure he’ll be fine with some time to heal up and consider the repercussions of his actions.”
The guard chuckled. “The kid’s a punk, that’s for sure, but his daddy is looking for blood on this one. You guys better talk fast if you want to get through the night without a beating or a hefty fine for hurtin’ the kid.”
“We’ll take our chances,” Hal said.
The whirring of the slots in his head picked up speed and Hal suspected he was pressing his luck harder than usual on this one. Still, he had to confront this head-on. It was the only way to gain some respect in this town quickly. There was a lot he and Kay needed to do. Having a friend in the leader of the local thieves’ guild would come in handy.
The second guard returned and whispered in the first guard’s ear. He nodded at Hal with an evil grin.
“Don’t say I didn't warn you. The boss wants to see you right away. Follow me.”
Hal and Kay followed with Toby bringing up the rear. Once inside the warehouse, they wove through stacks of crates and boxes until they reached another door. Hal could hear shouting from the other side followed by cheers from what sounded like a large group of people.
His luck was spinning away in the back of his mind, so Hal knew he could still work this all out. The guard opened the door and gestured for Hal and the others to go inside.
There was a boxing match happening inside the large room. It was a bare-knuckled brawl between two men stripped to the waist. They were surrounded by about thirty cheering men and women. Hal saw money changing hands when one of the men got knocked down.
He wondered if he was going to have to take a turn in the ring. Hopefully, with his luck in play, they could avoid all of that mess.
&nb
sp; Scanning the crowd, Hal found the Guild Master seated in a rocking chair set atop a large crate. He was a portly man wearing the clothes of a wealthy merchant. When their eyes met, Hal knew the Guild Master spotted him, too. Gary, leaning on a makeshift crutch, stood next to the crate glaring at them and pointing in their direction.
“Enough!” The large man bellowed. “I have new business to attend to. Take the rest of the fight outside if you must keep brawling.”
About half the crowd followed as the two fighters left the room out another door. The other half of the spectators backed up and lined walls, waiting to see what happened next. Hal could tell a few of them were appraising him. Some made bets about what happened next. He smiled. He wished he could take some of that action. He didn't think they’d guess right. If they knew him, they might not bet against him.
The Guild Master pointed at them. “You three, come here.”
Hal, Kay, and Toby walked up to stand in front of the crate, staring up at the man who held the key to finding Theran in Morton Creek and continuing Hal’s training as a mage. With a grand flourish, Hal stepped forward, bowed low, then stood and addressed their host.
“Greetings, sir. We were traveling through your fine town while trying to locate a friend and decided we must pay our respects.”
“Paying respects? What are you talking about?” The Guild Master growled. “Gary here tells me you’re the one who messed up his knee.”
“I am sorry about that, but he disrespected me and my companions. I simply cannot stand for that kind of treatment. I have appearances to maintain after all.”
The big man stood up from his rocking chair and pointed a thick, calloused finger down at Hal.
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
The room was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Hal waited a few seconds before answering.
“I’m the Hood, traveling through from Tandon. I’d hoped to enjoy some mutual respect from the local guild, but I suppose such things are for more civilized places.”