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Post by Mael Leblanc on Jun 22, 2011 11:51:04 GMT -5
"Knock it off!" I exclaimed as the boys tried--for at least the one hundred and forty-fifth time, I might add--to cajole me into drinking with them. "I'm not drinking anything that smells like horse piss, and all the drinks they serve here smell like it!"
"It doesn't taste anything like horse piss!" No one could mistake that gravelly voice. Adrien had introduced him as Blue, not for his demeanor, but his eyes. The name also, he assured me, had nothing to do with his bedroom habits, though I understood that even the others thought his tastes were a tad extreme. Now that I had visited the Night Court, I wondered just how avant garde they could be, and then I decided that it was probably best that I did not know everything about my acquaintances.
"How do you know that?" I shot back.
"You sure you really wanna' know, Prince?" The next to speak was Copper, we called him, not, I understood, for his physical appearance, but the fact that he usually only had a copper to his name, having gambled away any money he earned elsewhere. I knew that Adrien had fallen into the habit of giving him a few hard knocks every time he found out that he'd been visiting the gambling dens, but my friend had grown lax lately, and Copper was falling back on old habits.
"Both of you, stop it!" Adrien snarled from my immediate left. "This place might serve vintage wine and you would still complain, so enough!"
"Fine," Copper sounded resigned, few ever argued with Adrien. "Let's just play cards or something..."
"You cheat at cards!" Blue exclaimed. "You always cheat!"
"I play fair with my friends!" Copper protested. "At least I don't spend all my money on whores, you pervert, and even when I do, I don't do...things...to them!"
I sighed. "If both of you don't shut up. I swear I am going to bash someone's head against the bar, and it won't be my own!"
Gods, they were my friends, but sometimes I just wanted to kill them.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jun 23, 2011 1:33:33 GMT -5
Having found a person whom I could trust to look after the house, I yet had to hire some muscle, and still keen on taking a chance to give honest work to a thug, I had returned to the Poulet Gauche. I was cranky – my nights were unpleasant, and more so with every day that passed. In truth, I did not sleep enough.
Sitting at a table in the simple travelling garments I usually wore when going to Night's Doorstep, I paid attention to those around me, wondering who might be a suitable candidate. The group nearby was particularly loud, arguing over Asherat knows what, and when one of them spoke to end the dispute, I was grateful, and knew I'd found my man.
“Well spoken,” I said from my table, where I sat, leaning back as I called to the last speaker of the group. “And quite a boast. Is that a hobby, or a job?”
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Jun 23, 2011 9:37:35 GMT -5
I turned in my seat towards the male voice, not one I recognized, surreptitiously touching the white fabric that covered my scars to ensure that it was still in place.
"Neither," I replied. "A habit born of experience." Adrien's breath was warm in my ear as he whispered a description of the interloper, his words forming a picture in my mind of a man plainly dressed. How interesting, normally the patrons here kept to themselves unless drunk, and he certainly didn't sound drunk.
"Although, as you might expect, there is little work for a blind man in this City," I continued. "Unless you count 'making sure my at times idiotic friends don't annoy the wrong people'."
"You do your fair share of that too, Mael," Adrien whispered, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jun 23, 2011 11:03:02 GMT -5
The scene was interesting indeed. He was a blind man, with another to whisper in his ear, and clearly the head of the little posse of thugs. I'd struck a leader, and that alone made him all the more valuable.
“Employment can be found in the most unsavory places,” I said when the whisperings and explanations were over. “Even at the Poulet Gauche, believe it or not.”
I took a sip of my ale and gave each and everyone of them an assessing look. “And what's more interesting, honest employment, as unexpected as that may sound.” I wanted the blond man on my side, and I was trying to see what made him tick. If he was interested...
... Asherat, if I won him over, I might well have found a security detachment for the house.
Goldmine.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Jun 23, 2011 11:17:50 GMT -5
"One man's honest work is another man's dirty job," I replied, wondering if I yet had reason to question this man's sanity. Who in their right mind would even consider hiring a blind man to do...well...anything?
I decided then that I needed to find out.
"Now I'm curious as to the sort of work you have in mind," I admitted, hearing Adrien's sharp intake of breath. I wondered if he now thought I was insane for even considering it.
"We'll just hear him out," I whispered. "If it turns out he's daft, we'll have a laugh about it later."
"There's something about him," Adrien hissed back. "He looks like any other patron here, but not quite. It's suspicious..."
"You think that every newcomer looks suspicious," I retorted, then, raising my voice so the visitor could hear, I said. "I suppose I don't have anything better to do, so I'll hear you out, but I wouldn't suggest lying to me."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jun 23, 2011 16:50:00 GMT -5
There was further consultation, I could tell that there was dissent in the leader's ranks, but he wanted to hear me out, which was already half a victory in itself.
I smiled a little, nodding. I could speak the truth without speaking it utterly – I could veil what I needed without being blatant. It would not be a lie, but it would suit my purpose, to test one man's willingness to give his loyalty for coin, or not.
“I know of a wealthy family seeking a few good men for security,” I replied easily. “Strong arms and personalities to keep looters at bay in the time of war. It's a good offer, and a well-paying job.”
There was something else that could be gained in it – if these thugs needed a pardon, gainful employment in my household was a good way to show good will. It may even allow me to make a good case for it with the Palace, though I reckoned, they had little interest in some issues, with war on the country's doorstep.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Jun 23, 2011 18:44:18 GMT -5
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from laughing. "And to do this, you would hire a blind man and his rag-tag bunch of ne'er do wells? Are you insane, or just very drunk?"
"Mael," Adrien growled, a warning in his tone. "This man could be someone important."
"I highly doubt anyone that important could not afford to hire better men for such a simple job," I countered. "Unless, of course, all's not as it seems. What's your name, friend? I'd like to know who I'm dealing with before I make any promises."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jun 24, 2011 11:50:14 GMT -5
I smiled, chuckled, even. “Some would say your friend has the truth of it, but I don't know that importance is in a title,” I replied, and standing, I bowed to the group of thugs, bearing my head a bit higher, trying to summon the pride which was so fleeting in me, of late.
“I am Gillermo Stregazza, once an ambassador, here, now only a traveller in search of missing kin, and closer to your lot than may be thought,” I said by way of introduction. “I once had a friend who was not unlike the lot of you – I know better than to think the men of Night's Doorstep don't do well. You have leadership,” I told the blind man called Mael, “and you have strength,” I told another, “and you have cunning to boot,” I told the man who constantly consulted with Mael. “Why in the world should I be foolish enough to discount all these qualities?”
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Jun 24, 2011 13:39:51 GMT -5
My mouth formed a small 'o' as the name left the stranger's lips. A Stregazza, here?! Even I knew of the prominent Serrenissiman family, and suddenly Adrien's description made a whole lot of sense.
This could be the opportunity we've been waiting for! I thought excitedly. It wasn't the job, but he had mentioned he had been a former ambassador, surely someone in his employ would know how to read and write, even if he did not have those skills himself.
My mind was racing with the possibilities, and before I could force myself to think through this rationally, the words fell out of my mouth:
"We'll do it."
I heard someone make a choking sound to my left, felt Adrien grab my arm and pull me away with a muttered: "Excuse us, m'lord." I scarcely had time to count the steps we took before we turned--around a corner, I assumed, away from the main area--and Adrien rounded on me:
"Are you insane?!" He hissed. "You don't even know if he is who he says he is!"
"Adrien, he's a Stregazza, through him, we might be able to find those men!" I protested. "It's not like we're getting anywhere with that where we are! Unless you have some powerful friends you aren't telling me about."
There was a long pause, and I wished I could have seen the expression on my friend's face. "Still unwilling to leave the past behind?" He asked, and I thought I heard sorrow in his tone.
"Never," I replied, balling my hands into fists. "Not while they still draw breath..."
Adrien sighed, uttering a Bodhistani curse before replying: "Fine, but this better not be something that'll get us all killed by the end of it..."
"We've been through worse than this," I countered, grinning. "Let's go back and give him our decision."
I let Adrien guide me back to my seat. "We'll do it," I repeated as soon as I was certain I was facing the Stregazza. "I'll need some time to find trustworthy individuals and pack what little I have, but we should be ready in a few days. Does that suffice?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jun 24, 2011 14:49:11 GMT -5
My name had the desired effect, and I said nothing more, leaving Meal to be dragged behind a corner for a hushed and hurried conference.
He may have spoken too soon, but I had a hunch that convincing him was akin to convincing the group, and he'd given his agreement already. I was sitting on the table and curing my nails patiently with a small dagger I carried, waiting for their return, and looked up when adressed once more.
“We ride to Azzalle tomorrow,” I replied evenly. “I'm afraid the deal must be closed by the end of the day.” I looked at Adrien, then at the others. “There's a woman in a house, in the West Boroughs – her safety is paramount to me.”
It was an exaggeration, but it was true, too. Raisa was my right hand, my stewardess, and she was key to many a thing, in my absence. I needed her safe. I intended to take the man Mael with me, as a safeguard – though I liked him already, and hoped the precaution would be moot.
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Post by Mael Leblanc on Jun 24, 2011 15:30:30 GMT -5
It took me a moment to collect my jaw from the floor before I managed to gasp out: "Tomorrow!? Azzalle!?" Godsdammit, I knew I should have asked more more specifics before agreeing to anything, but I had given my word, and I couldn't afford to renege on it and give up this chance.
"Fine, Adrien, you ride with me," I said. "Copper and Blue, since I don't trust you around anyone else's things, you can watch our belongings, and make sure Copper doesn't sell any of it. I'll come back for them, or send for them, or...something..." Gods, I'd never been outside of L'Agnace before, how was I going to handle moving to Azzalle?
First things first, get the boys organized, "Adrien, do you know anyone who can be trusted to watch out for this woman? Maybe remind them that there's good coin in it if they behave themselves."
There was a pause before Adrien replied. "Most of them have enough sense not to steal from nobles, but I think I can hunt them down by tomorrow."
"What about Flower?" I asked.
"Flower is a girl," came the terse reply.
I sighed. "Yeah, and she can give any of the boys quite a fight when she wants to, up to knocking them on their asses if they piss her off, remember? She has sense, too. She won't let the boys take anything that doesn't belong to them."
Adrien grunted. "Fine, I'll ask her as well, but no promises."
"Good," I said, pleased at how easily we were able to delegate responsibilities. "Although I suppose that getting the boys organized was the easy part..."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jun 24, 2011 16:37:43 GMT -5
I was impressed with the alacrity with which Mael organized his troops, and appreciated the idea of a 'Flower' to guard my stewardess. Woman to woman, they might find common ground.
I smiled wryly when it was all said and done, and spoke, confirming what Mael had already said.
“Aye, the coin will be good,” I said. “Have your folk come tonight, after supper. I will need names, and I want to know every one of their faces.”
I stood, then, and told Mael my address, extending a handshake. “You just made an excellent deal, Mael of the Poulet Gauche. Consider yourself the captain of the guard of House Stregazza, with this Flower of yours as your second, if she deigns to accept the offer,” I added, and I glanced at Mael's shadow wryly. “I see no harm in a woman working for me, on the contrary.”
After all – Raisa had the run of the house in my absence – that alone meant another woman about was a good thing indeed.
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