A Deal In Shadows - Steem Powered Stories

"So, can it be done?" asked the preacher.

"Everything can be done", replied the Guildmaster, his voice a smooth and ghastly alto. "For the right price, of course."

"Naturally. Name yours, then."

The Guildmaster took a moment to study the man before him, this preacher who had showed up unannounced at his door. The very well hidden, very secret door of a guildhouse belonging to one of the most powerful organizations in the city.

His pristine white robes were probably the brightest thing in Quortain's shady underworld, in total contrast with the dark and somber tones of the Guildmaster's own attire.

Like many men of the cloth, this Wilhelm had air of arrogant entitlement about him - and absolutely nothing to back it up but the supposed favor of some equally supposed higher being. It was mildly amusing, this kind of naiveté . Loricus had to try hard not to entertain the thought of having him skinned alive.

"What could you possibly have that I want, preacher man?", he finally asked, his tone nothing short of mocking. "A blessing from your god? Your congregation's offertory?"

"There is a considerable amount of coin...", Wilhelm started to answer, but Loricus raised a grayish crooked finger to stop him.

"Moreover, what stops me from simply killing you on the stop and send someone to acquire this gilded skull you speak of for myself?"

If Wilhelm was in any degree fazed by the Guildmaster's words, he didn't show it. If anything, is reaction was one of thinly-veiled scorn.

"Oh, spare me. What would someone like you do with an artifact like that? To you, it would be just an old skull."

"Yet, to you", said Loricus pleasantly, resisting the urge to throttle the little man where he stood, "it seems to be far more. This intrigues me. It is part of my business, you understand. And I still haven't heard an offer."

Wilhelm started to say something, but suddenly cut himself short. Instead, he cocked his ears, as if listening to some voice Loricus couldn't.

This, of course, did not escape the Guildmaster's preternaturally sharp perception. This encounter became more peculiar by the minute. More interesting, too.

"You know what?" the preacher said after a few seconds. "I do have an offer you may find to your liking, after all. There's a girl, a child of the Old Blood with whose whereabouts I could part as payment for your procurement services."

"A child of the Old Blood?" Loricus was doubtful. "There is no wisdom in messing with the Old Blood, preacher, no profit to be made. Not even Quortain is beyond the long reach of the Senate."

"Ah, but that's the beauty of it", said Wilhelm through a grin full of crooked teeth. "The Senate know nothing about her. She's a bastard, falsely declared stillborn and smuggled away from her mother. Not even she knows of her heritage."

"And you do?"

"I deal in rare knowledge, Guildmaster, same as you do."

A girl with the Old Blood coursing through her veins, unbeknownst to the Senate's watchful eye? That was an opportunity Loricus could simply not pass up. Dozens of possibilities bloomed in his head, each more profitable than the former.

"I propose a deal, then", said the Guildmaster. "And a generous one, at that. I will send my agents to retrieve both my girl and your skull, so we can ensure the authenticity of both before concluding our trade."

"Of course."

"In the meantime, you will be my honored guest."

Wilhelm cocked a bushy eyebrow.

"Then you had best prepare your best room, send someone for my belongings, and see to it that I am not disturbed"

"Oh, don't you worry about a thing", replied the Guildmaster, grinning like a shark under his cowl.

"We're partners now, after all, are we not?"

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