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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7515542" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Book 9: CITY OF MYSTERY</p><p></p><p>Chapter 224</p><p></p><p>The Warren was a tangled network of twisting alleys and close-packed, sagging buildings that filled a narrow wedge of space between the northern edge of the Shield District and Severon’s Old Wall. The last light of the day was fading as a solitary figure, draped in a concealing cloak, made his way deeper into that network.</p><p></p><p>The intruder did not go unnoticed. At one point, as he paused at an intersection, shadowy figures materialized at the mouth of the one of the crossing alleys. The stranger reached under his cloak and waited, and after a few moments the shadows withdrew. He continued on his way as the evening gloom descended upon the city.</p><p></p><p>He finally turned into a narrow passage that culminated in a set of worn stone steps. They descended to a heavy iron-bound door. The banding was caked with rust, but the hinges glistened with fresh oil.</p><p></p><p>The traveler rapped on the door and waited. Eventually a narrow slit slid open to reveal a pair of eyes. “Not open yet,” he said.</p><p></p><p>“I’m expected,” the traveler said.</p><p></p><p>The slot snapped shut, and after a moment the traveler could hear the sounds of heavy latches being worked. Finally, the door swung open—the treated hinges making barely a sound—to reveal a small foyer populated with wooden cubbies that filled an entire wall. A doorway framed with red curtains led into the interior, but it was blocked by the man who had opened the door, a giant who stood a head taller than the traveler. He regarded the new arrival for a moment before holding out his hand.</p><p></p><p>The traveler reached under his cloak and produced a sword in a worn leather scabbard. The big man merely turned and slid it into one of the cubbies before gesturing for the other to precede him into the next room.</p><p></p><p>The two men walked into a space that was lushly decorated, with more curtains augmented by painted tapestries and polished wooden floors. A dozen lamps of brass with glass bulbs hung from sconces along the walls and the carved wooden pillars that helped support the ceiling. Only two of them were lit, leaving the interior dim and shadowed. But there was no mistaking the purpose of the place, even empty. Neat piles of chips were laid out on the tables, along with dice cups, stacks of cards, and even the gilded spinning disc and elaborate counters used for games of dragonette. A long bar that fronted shelves containing every possible variety of liquor ran along the left side of the room.</p><p></p><p>“He’s in the back,” the big man said. The traveler knew the way. He knew The Lucky Cast all too well. That was the root of his troubles. His immediate ones, anyway.</p><p></p><p>The back door was slightly open, but the traveler knew better than to enter without knocking. He waited until the deep voice said, “Come in,” before he pushed the door fully open and went in.</p><p></p><p>The back room was as ornate as the gambling chamber, its walls paneled with rich woods and a plush carpet that looked like elvish make covering the floor. An expansive desk dominated the space. Behind it was the man that the traveler had come to see. Another man leaned against the wall near the door, cleaning his fingernails with a knife as slender as he was. The big guard had gone back to his station, leaving the traveler to close the door behind him.</p><p></p><p>“Ah, Garrett,” the man behind the desk said. He was also of thick build, more muscle than fat. His skin had a grayish cast that suggested at his part-orcish bloodline even before his mouth opened to reveal the protruding tusks within. “Do you have what I asked for?”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, I got it,” Garrett said. “But this is the last time. After this, we’re square, you got that, Gantz?”</p><p></p><p>The half-orc smiled, a grim expression given his features. From the look in his eyes he knew only too well what effect it produced. “What makes you think you call the shots here, warrior?”</p><p></p><p>Garrett’s eyes flicked to the man with the knife, but he did not falter. “I pay my debts,” he said. “I’ve paid several times over. You can do what you want, but after this, I’m done.”</p><p></p><p>Gantz held the other man’s eyes for a long moment before he settled back in his chair. “All right, fair enough. Now tell me.”</p><p></p><p>“They left town yesterday,” Garrett said. “They were preparing for a sea journey.”</p><p></p><p>“Colverston?”</p><p></p><p>“That would be my guess.”</p><p></p><p>“They say where they were going after that?”</p><p></p><p>“No. But I overheard the half-elf asking the other woman if she was uncomfortable about returning to her homeland. They didn’t say where that was.”</p><p></p><p>Gantz nodded. “Good. That’s good. You’ve done well, Garrett.”</p><p></p><p>“What did these people do to you, you rogue?”</p><p></p><p>“That is none of your concern. A deal’s a deal, and we’re square, as you said. I would suggest that you do your gambling somewhere else in the future.”</p><p></p><p>“Don’t worry. You won’t ever see me again.”</p><p></p><p>Garrett turned back to the door. He met the eyes of the thin man with the knife for a moment, then opened the door and left. The knife-wielder prodded the door shut with his boot before turning back to Gantz.</p><p></p><p>“Make it look like a simple mugging gone bad,” the half-orc said. “Make sure he’s found far away from here.”</p><p></p><p>The thin man nodded and departed.</p><p></p><p>Gantz waited another minute, then rose. He went to one of the wall panels and pressed a hidden catch along its edge. The panel swung out, revealing a hidden space beyond. The half-orc reached in and first took out a leather harness that supported no fewer than four daggers in black scabbards. He put that on before pulling out a heavy coat. As he pulled it on he considered the chances of his evening ending the same way that Garrett’s would. That would be ironic, he thought. But it didn’t matter. Like the unlucky gambler, he had no choice.</p><p></p><p>The main room of The Lucky Cast was quiet. In a few hours it would be crowded with people, noisy with the click of dice and the whirring of the wheel, the groans of failure offset by the cheers of success. It was an intoxicating mixture, and one that Gantz enjoyed.</p><p></p><p>Pellas saw him coming and opened the door for him. “I’ll should be back by opening,” Gantz told him.</p><p></p><p>“You want I should get a couple of the boys?” the big enforcer asked.</p><p></p><p>“No.” In truth he might have appreciated some company, but their presence would have no impact on what happened when he delivered his message. He would have preferred to wait until morning, but the one who had commissioned him for this job had made it one hundred percent clear that delay was not acceptable.</p><p></p><p>Pellas merely accepted his orders without question. He stood at the door until Gantz left, then he swung it shut and latched it behind him.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7515542, member: 143"] Book 9: CITY OF MYSTERY Chapter 224 The Warren was a tangled network of twisting alleys and close-packed, sagging buildings that filled a narrow wedge of space between the northern edge of the Shield District and Severon’s Old Wall. The last light of the day was fading as a solitary figure, draped in a concealing cloak, made his way deeper into that network. The intruder did not go unnoticed. At one point, as he paused at an intersection, shadowy figures materialized at the mouth of the one of the crossing alleys. The stranger reached under his cloak and waited, and after a few moments the shadows withdrew. He continued on his way as the evening gloom descended upon the city. He finally turned into a narrow passage that culminated in a set of worn stone steps. They descended to a heavy iron-bound door. The banding was caked with rust, but the hinges glistened with fresh oil. The traveler rapped on the door and waited. Eventually a narrow slit slid open to reveal a pair of eyes. “Not open yet,” he said. “I’m expected,” the traveler said. The slot snapped shut, and after a moment the traveler could hear the sounds of heavy latches being worked. Finally, the door swung open—the treated hinges making barely a sound—to reveal a small foyer populated with wooden cubbies that filled an entire wall. A doorway framed with red curtains led into the interior, but it was blocked by the man who had opened the door, a giant who stood a head taller than the traveler. He regarded the new arrival for a moment before holding out his hand. The traveler reached under his cloak and produced a sword in a worn leather scabbard. The big man merely turned and slid it into one of the cubbies before gesturing for the other to precede him into the next room. The two men walked into a space that was lushly decorated, with more curtains augmented by painted tapestries and polished wooden floors. A dozen lamps of brass with glass bulbs hung from sconces along the walls and the carved wooden pillars that helped support the ceiling. Only two of them were lit, leaving the interior dim and shadowed. But there was no mistaking the purpose of the place, even empty. Neat piles of chips were laid out on the tables, along with dice cups, stacks of cards, and even the gilded spinning disc and elaborate counters used for games of dragonette. A long bar that fronted shelves containing every possible variety of liquor ran along the left side of the room. “He’s in the back,” the big man said. The traveler knew the way. He knew The Lucky Cast all too well. That was the root of his troubles. His immediate ones, anyway. The back door was slightly open, but the traveler knew better than to enter without knocking. He waited until the deep voice said, “Come in,” before he pushed the door fully open and went in. The back room was as ornate as the gambling chamber, its walls paneled with rich woods and a plush carpet that looked like elvish make covering the floor. An expansive desk dominated the space. Behind it was the man that the traveler had come to see. Another man leaned against the wall near the door, cleaning his fingernails with a knife as slender as he was. The big guard had gone back to his station, leaving the traveler to close the door behind him. “Ah, Garrett,” the man behind the desk said. He was also of thick build, more muscle than fat. His skin had a grayish cast that suggested at his part-orcish bloodline even before his mouth opened to reveal the protruding tusks within. “Do you have what I asked for?” “Yeah, I got it,” Garrett said. “But this is the last time. After this, we’re square, you got that, Gantz?” The half-orc smiled, a grim expression given his features. From the look in his eyes he knew only too well what effect it produced. “What makes you think you call the shots here, warrior?” Garrett’s eyes flicked to the man with the knife, but he did not falter. “I pay my debts,” he said. “I’ve paid several times over. You can do what you want, but after this, I’m done.” Gantz held the other man’s eyes for a long moment before he settled back in his chair. “All right, fair enough. Now tell me.” “They left town yesterday,” Garrett said. “They were preparing for a sea journey.” “Colverston?” “That would be my guess.” “They say where they were going after that?” “No. But I overheard the half-elf asking the other woman if she was uncomfortable about returning to her homeland. They didn’t say where that was.” Gantz nodded. “Good. That’s good. You’ve done well, Garrett.” “What did these people do to you, you rogue?” “That is none of your concern. A deal’s a deal, and we’re square, as you said. I would suggest that you do your gambling somewhere else in the future.” “Don’t worry. You won’t ever see me again.” Garrett turned back to the door. He met the eyes of the thin man with the knife for a moment, then opened the door and left. The knife-wielder prodded the door shut with his boot before turning back to Gantz. “Make it look like a simple mugging gone bad,” the half-orc said. “Make sure he’s found far away from here.” The thin man nodded and departed. Gantz waited another minute, then rose. He went to one of the wall panels and pressed a hidden catch along its edge. The panel swung out, revealing a hidden space beyond. The half-orc reached in and first took out a leather harness that supported no fewer than four daggers in black scabbards. He put that on before pulling out a heavy coat. As he pulled it on he considered the chances of his evening ending the same way that Garrett’s would. That would be ironic, he thought. But it didn’t matter. Like the unlucky gambler, he had no choice. The main room of The Lucky Cast was quiet. In a few hours it would be crowded with people, noisy with the click of dice and the whirring of the wheel, the groans of failure offset by the cheers of success. It was an intoxicating mixture, and one that Gantz enjoyed. Pellas saw him coming and opened the door for him. “I’ll should be back by opening,” Gantz told him. “You want I should get a couple of the boys?” the big enforcer asked. “No.” In truth he might have appreciated some company, but their presence would have no impact on what happened when he delivered his message. He would have preferred to wait until morning, but the one who had commissioned him for this job had made it one hundred percent clear that delay was not acceptable. Pellas merely accepted his orders without question. He stood at the door until Gantz left, then he swung it shut and latched it behind him. [/QUOTE]
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