27th Spring, 514 AV - Two Bells Previously – The Tent City
She sat outside her tent, bedroll taken into the cool breeze of the world as she contemplated her next with in this highly important shadow game. Jarral had proven useful over the last few days and had been feeding her information upon Ballack as she had requested him to do so – he was a nice little link in a chain that she wished to build. Or perhaps the node of a web, she had not decided upon an apt metaphor as of yet. All that concerned her was the fact that once Garret was eliminated she would have enough information upon the stall holder to force him into her service if required, she would prefer not to force him though as it would make him far less reliable. Still, she reflected as her gaze took in the comings and goings of the occupants of the canvas crowd. Anything was better than nothing.
It’s a start she told herself, she had to start somewhere and at least recruiting Ballack made sense as he was already used to passing on data to others for a price.
At present though she was contemplating the missive that she had managed to procure with the use of her trio of aids and a little staged scuffle in the Seaside Markets. She still held a few bruises from that encounter upon her abdomen but other than that it had been worth the trouble. She twirled the small note in her fingers until the script came into view once more. She read it again and wondered how best to go about the task she had to surmount next, the dividing wall between Garret and the world. If she could crack through, slip through or otherwise circumvent it then she would be free to strike swiftly and silently. She peered at it again.
The Grubs are safe.
The wenches at the tall tables direct to the swords.
Three blades there are, gold given rights.
The runner knows and seeks them out.
The lair is safe. Keep up the filter
The words were cryptic but simple enough to work out, the key was Tall Johnny’s as they were the only tables in the Wolf’s Den to be use and the suggestion of height was all too easily seen through. Garret had not progress overly far in his craft it seemed and that was for the better – it meant less effort. The trouble was locating the men, three guards or mercenaries apparently. She had caught a glimpse at the missive carrier but couldn’t guarantee she would be there. Still, she had little choice.
There is never much choice these days she told herself as she sighed and heaved herself upwards.
Storing away her items and tying the thongs to her tent she made her way towards the Wolf’s Den once more, she was armed and armoured and ready for a fight. Her Shadowsilk cloak rippled as she moved.
Tall Johnny’s Casino
The interior of the casino was much as she remembered, all loud noise and smoke fumes with the crowd baying for blood juxtaposed by the rattling of the dice and the flickering of cards and gold coins upon the gaming tables. She had spent time here in the past, had even fought and placed bets upon herself when the occasion had arisen and gold had been scarce for her. It was a haven of crime, lechery and a hotbed of rumours and intrigue. She swept her gaze across the throng and pulled her cloak tighter so that thieving hands would not be able to search her without notice.
Where to start? Ah, the bar of course. Drunken tongues wag secrets. We can pick up a trial there she told herself as she pushed through the mass of flesh and tried to keep her nostrils closed to the stale stench of sweat.
There was no guarantee that her marks would be here but she had to try and find them at least, she wouldn’t give up just because a small barrier had been put up before her. She slipped into place at the bar and ordered a cup of cheap wine – it was for the look rather than the taste. She listened and watched, searching for the female missive runner and finding nothing familiar within her eyesight. She would need a helper but she would need to be choosy about whom to pick.
Thief would be best, their loyalties are always to themselves and thus easily purchased with the promise of profit. Mercenary would be too strong for here unless a fight breaks out. I don’t want that...not yet she thought to herself as she looked at those arrayed at the bar and wondered if she were simply wasting her time.
She sat outside her tent, bedroll taken into the cool breeze of the world as she contemplated her next with in this highly important shadow game. Jarral had proven useful over the last few days and had been feeding her information upon Ballack as she had requested him to do so – he was a nice little link in a chain that she wished to build. Or perhaps the node of a web, she had not decided upon an apt metaphor as of yet. All that concerned her was the fact that once Garret was eliminated she would have enough information upon the stall holder to force him into her service if required, she would prefer not to force him though as it would make him far less reliable. Still, she reflected as her gaze took in the comings and goings of the occupants of the canvas crowd. Anything was better than nothing.
It’s a start she told herself, she had to start somewhere and at least recruiting Ballack made sense as he was already used to passing on data to others for a price.
At present though she was contemplating the missive that she had managed to procure with the use of her trio of aids and a little staged scuffle in the Seaside Markets. She still held a few bruises from that encounter upon her abdomen but other than that it had been worth the trouble. She twirled the small note in her fingers until the script came into view once more. She read it again and wondered how best to go about the task she had to surmount next, the dividing wall between Garret and the world. If she could crack through, slip through or otherwise circumvent it then she would be free to strike swiftly and silently. She peered at it again.
The Grubs are safe.
The wenches at the tall tables direct to the swords.
Three blades there are, gold given rights.
The runner knows and seeks them out.
The lair is safe. Keep up the filter
The words were cryptic but simple enough to work out, the key was Tall Johnny’s as they were the only tables in the Wolf’s Den to be use and the suggestion of height was all too easily seen through. Garret had not progress overly far in his craft it seemed and that was for the better – it meant less effort. The trouble was locating the men, three guards or mercenaries apparently. She had caught a glimpse at the missive carrier but couldn’t guarantee she would be there. Still, she had little choice.
There is never much choice these days she told herself as she sighed and heaved herself upwards.
Storing away her items and tying the thongs to her tent she made her way towards the Wolf’s Den once more, she was armed and armoured and ready for a fight. Her Shadowsilk cloak rippled as she moved.
Tall Johnny’s Casino
The interior of the casino was much as she remembered, all loud noise and smoke fumes with the crowd baying for blood juxtaposed by the rattling of the dice and the flickering of cards and gold coins upon the gaming tables. She had spent time here in the past, had even fought and placed bets upon herself when the occasion had arisen and gold had been scarce for her. It was a haven of crime, lechery and a hotbed of rumours and intrigue. She swept her gaze across the throng and pulled her cloak tighter so that thieving hands would not be able to search her without notice.
Where to start? Ah, the bar of course. Drunken tongues wag secrets. We can pick up a trial there she told herself as she pushed through the mass of flesh and tried to keep her nostrils closed to the stale stench of sweat.
There was no guarantee that her marks would be here but she had to try and find them at least, she wouldn’t give up just because a small barrier had been put up before her. She slipped into place at the bar and ordered a cup of cheap wine – it was for the look rather than the taste. She listened and watched, searching for the female missive runner and finding nothing familiar within her eyesight. She would need a helper but she would need to be choosy about whom to pick.
Thief would be best, their loyalties are always to themselves and thus easily purchased with the promise of profit. Mercenary would be too strong for here unless a fight breaks out. I don’t want that...not yet she thought to herself as she looked at those arrayed at the bar and wondered if she were simply wasting her time.
