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[Who is the fool who sent this homunculus to spy on me?]
Higslaff heard the words through his homunculus’s reptilian voice, but they had a harsher tone. That was interesting, and the question wasn’t an unexpected way to start. <I am Higslaff. I own a pawnshop in Three Hills City. My homunculus was keeping track of an adventuring party I hired.>
[A commonplace merchant.] The dismissiveness came through, along with the words.
Higslaff didn’t respond. There was no benefit in doing so.
Vernie opened the office door, letting Josiah the lay healer barber in. Higslaff penciled a quick note and slid it across the desk, toward the barber.
Josiah picked it up and read the message: Snix captured. Heal me of any injuries.
The barber saw damp bloodstains along the bottoms of the pawnshop owner’s shirt sleeves. He shoved the note in a pocket, walked around the desk, and cast a Cure Minor Wounds Spell on his friend.
Bomar pointed at the three crystal vials and whispered, “Healing elixirs.”
[Do you desire the release of your spy, foolish merchant?]
It was obvious the magic user was trying to goad him into an argument. To protest Snix being a spy, or himself being called foolish. In many aspects, including power and knowledge of magic, and holding of valuable cards in the negotiations, the ancient magic user held the advantage. Communications and years of coming out on top in a deal—or at least not losing his shirt—or life, was the pawnshop owner’s advantage. One the overconfident magic user likely did not recognize.
<Yes, I do.>
No need to say more. Let the magic user ask the questions and set the initial price.
It would’ve been helpful to see the magic user’s facial expressions, minor tells in body movements and posture. To hear his physical voice—his cadence, inflections, what he stressed—telepathy conveyed that, but it was being filtered through Snix’s thoughts.
Higslaff shrugged to himself. The magic user was under the same limitations, possibly more. He wasn’t familiar with Snix, and the homunculus’s idiosyncrasies.
[Four days from this moment, foolish merchant. If you have not personally delivered sufficient bounty to purchase release of your spy, it shall remain my property. Finders, keepers, shall we say?]
Higslaff frowned. There wouldn’t be a negotiation. At least not at this moment.
[Understood. I will be there to meet with you before the established time has elapsed.]
A sharp pain shot through Higslaff’s shoulder. Blood appeared.
Bomar reached for one of the vials. Josiah signaled that he would take care of it. Two Minor Cure Spells later, Higslaff was without injury.
He dismissed the dwarf guard but signaled for his friend, Josiah to stay. He began jotting down notes and questions that needed answers. He also needed to let the guild know to expect an important prisoner within the hour. Josiah could do that.