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Chapter 8

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So,” Higslaff said, “tell me about your morning.”

Josiah raised an eyebrow.

The pawn shop owner, a significantly higher-ranking member of the local thieves’ guild, nodded. “I shall pass on your report to Iris. If it merits additional attention, it will be relayed to Black Venom.”

Iris was one of the guild master’s main lieutenants. She was a mysterious sort who Josiah had spoken to on a number of occasions over the years, less and less often as she rose in status and responsibility within the guild. Josiah never had her ambition, and he never underestimated her intelligence and guile.

Josiah described what happened that morning, moment by moment, being factual as to how things unfolded and were resolved. He inserted opinions, being clear that they were opinions. Most of those focused on Stosh, Mustache Man and Stocky Guy, but Gurk garnered a few comments as well.

Higslaff jotted brief notes with a quill and ink. Several times he signaled with a hand gesture for Josiah to pause. In those moments, they listened to the negotiation between Gurk and his friends, and Sill Rochelle.

“I thought it might be cursed,” Gurk said, pointing to the curved dagger on the table, “but I had to use it recently. Still felt queasy, but it really did the job. Afterwards, I gave it to Jax to carry and—”

Sill Rochelle interrupted the young thief. “Jax?”

Gurk said, “Sorry. Jax is a gnome healer. He held it as if to use it—he ain’t trained to use a dagger. Said it made him feel uncomfortable. Like you feel after waking up from a bad dream.”

He indicated Marigold by looking to his left, up at her. “She felt the same way.”

Marigold nodded. “Kind of a creepy feeling, like a spider with icy feet crawling up your spine.”

Sill Rochelle arched an eyebrow and rubbed her chin. She didn’t glance up to make eye contact with the elf.

Lysine volunteered, “Gripping the weapon for more than a few seconds elicited within me an urge to vomit.” After a pause, he continued. “Kalgore, a human warrior, actually did dry heave while holding the weapon in question. Upon returning its possession to Gurk, the effect on Kalgore’s digestive system diminished immediately. Within a span of thirty seconds, he felt perfectly fine.”

“And Kalgore ain’t any sort of a wimp,” Gurk added. He looked left, to Marigold and then right, to Lysine. “They aren’t either. And me neither.”

Higslaff commented to Josiah, “Doesn’t sound like a cursed weapon. Is the half-goblin Black?”

The barber was pretty sure Gurk’s alignment wasn’t within the spectrum of evil. He shook his head. “I’d say no.”

“Well, if Lysine is a druid, he’s not Black.” The pawn shop owner focused his gaze on Marigold, her long dark hair. “While Black can be housed within beauty, the elf, Marigold, doesn’t strike me as Black. Have you met the other two individuals, this Jax and Kalgore?”

“I saw the gnome on stage at the Bugle once, and I’ve seen him a few times on the streets with the half-goblin, other than the walk here from my shop. I met the warrior, Kalgore, only today. We didn’t exchange words.”

“The item may be crafted for use by those favoring Black.”

Josiah considered the notion. The goblin shaman the party killed and took it from was almost certainly Black in alignment.

“If that’s the case,” Higslaff said, “Sill will discover it soon enough.”

“Think she’ll require payment for some type of Curse Barrier Spell?”

“I do.” Higslaff turned his attention back to Josiah. “Before three days pass, I imagine Iris will employ a cleric to contact the tethered souls of the three men you killed and stuffed in the tunnel.”

“Early moves in a guild war?” Josiah wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. Didn’t really know if Higslaff knew the answer. It was possible, however unlikely, that Stosh and his associates were working some independent angle.

“Two of our members are missing. The owner of the Ox Cart observed several men following Nidderham along Kershaw Street last night.”

Josiah’s eyes widened. Nidderham was a messenger, and very familiar with the streets of Three Hills City, especially the side streets after sundown. Normally he’d notice someone tailing him.

“DeeDae didn’t show up for work this morning. Her boyfriend said she stood him up. Not like her.”

Josiah had worked with DeeDae on several occasions. Cured her a few times after she’d completed some guild business. A very meticulous and punctual individual.

“Needless to say,” Higslaff said, “if you hear anything...”

“Understood,” Josiah said, getting a sour feeling in his stomach. A guild war wasn’t something he looked forward to. His healing services would be needed, but he’d also be a target. “I was going to request an apprentice, to help keep an eye on things. For the Drop Room.”

“My guess is that the time for subtlety is past, my friend. Especially if elements of the Riven Rock Guild have identified your shop. The Room might be closed down, or they’ll just hire a man-at-arms to add security.”

Neither of those two options struck Josiah as favorable.

Higslaff glanced back over at the trio negotiating with the enchantress. “What about the half-goblin, Gurk?”

“He’s independent,” Josiah said. “An adventurer, part of his party. Aggressive and confident, and on the wily side.” That probably already came through when he described the incident in his barber shop. Before the pawn shop owner could ask, Josiah answered the question. “He’s not interested in joining the guild.”

Higslaff ran his tongue across the crowns of his upper molars. “Things change.”

Apparently the group had come to an agreement with Sill Rochelle. The elf handed a pouch containing gold to Gurk, who began stacking the coins on the table. The druid pulled two small gemstones from a pocket. They appeared to be purple—amethysts.

Sill Rochelle visually counted the three stacks of ten gold coins and then picked up the two purple gemstones. “A moment please.”

She carried them around the table, toward Josiah and Higslaff.

The pawn shop owner toppled the coin stack with his index finger before addressing the enchantress. “An appraisal?”

“Please.”

Higslaff removed the goggles from his hat. He deftly placed them over his eyes, and held out his hand for the gemstones. He flipped down one of the jeweler’s eye loupes. After thirty seconds of scrutiny he flipped up the small lens and removed the goggles. “The smaller amethyst is of better quality. Eighteen gold coin value. The larger, fourteen gold, three silver.”

“Thank you,” the enchantress said and returned to her seat at the table.

After settling herself she primly said, “I require an additional two gold and seventeen silver coins before I begin.”

“I don’t think so, Miss,” Gurk said. “Those have already been appraised. It matched what Jax, our party member who has training in evaluating the value of gemstones, said. Plus, he’s a gnome.”

The enchantress sat up even straighter than before. “Are you disputing Higslaff’s honesty and integrity?”

Gurk sneered. “Like nobody’s ever lowballed an appraisal to benefit a partner.”

Sill Rochelle placed her hands on the table and leaned forward. “From whom did you obtain your appraisal?”

“Jaspar,” Gurk said, leaning forward, his hands on the table. “Miss Keri, owner of the Glade House recommended him. You think she’d send us to someone shady?”

Lysine rested a calming hand on Gurk’s shoulder.

Higslaff pushed himself away from his desk and strode over to the table. He stood at the end, to the left of Marigold. “Jaspar, he is a jeweler, sells and repairs rings and necklaces?”

“Yeah,” Gurk said, a measure of calm returning to his voice.

“I could suggest that a jeweler might inflate the estimated value of a pair of gemstones to please a customer.” The pawn shop owner held out his hands in a placating gesture. “Just as you, my friend Gurk, might suggest a pawn shop owner might deflate an estimated value for the same pair of gemstones, to benefit a business partner.”

“A jeweler wouldn’t do that if we might figure on trading the gems to him for coins.” Gurk glanced back over his shoulder at Josiah, then said to Higslaff, “I’ve learned sorta recently that people aren’t respected until they figure out they’re being cheated.”

“Well,” the pawn shop owner said, “that is one way to do business. However, that is not mine.” He locked gazes with Gurk. “Tell you what. Meet in the middle. Put an additional seventeen silver on the table for the enchantress’s spell services.”

Sill Rochelle took in a sharp breath and began to object, but Higslaff gestured with a hand. “I shall make good on the two gold out of my own pocket.”

Marigold offered the pawn shop owner a radiant smile. “That is very kind of you.”

“Well, that’s...” Higslaff started, then snapped out of being distracted. “How a deal sometimes gets done.”

If the elf would’ve intervened before Higslaff suggested the compromise, Josiah thought, the pawn shop owner might’ve ponied up the seventeen silver as well. And if the elf removed her cloak...he shook his head, chasing the distracting thought from his mind. As a team, they could do better if they worked on their timing.

“Dang,” Gurk said. “I ain’t got seventeen silver.” He snapped his head from the pawn shop owner to the enchantress, and back. “I mean I got a couple more gold, and a copper and a few bronze. Only three silver.”

“Rest assured,” Higslaff said, “my shop has sufficient coin to balance the deal.”

Josiah thought it was interesting, thinking back to who’d laid the coins on the table.

Gurk pulled out a gold and added it to the other gold coins stacked six inches from the curved dagger, then said to Lysine, “Be sure to remember about the coins owed us.”

“Most assuredly, Gurk, I shall.”

Higslaff stepped back. “Please, continue your business.”

As if she were fed up with the negotiation process, Sill Rochelle shoved the gold and amethysts to the side and snapped, “I will first cast a Curse Barrier Spell, even though our agreement stipulated a Minor Curse Barrier Spell. I will then proceed directly to an Ascertain Enchantment Spell.”