A Strange Request

Galvin stood comfortably with his back to the corner of the tailor's shop. Today was his day at the watchpoint and Master Jasper wouldn't be happy if he failed in such a simple task. But something just wasn't right.

Galvin picked dirt from under his fingernails, watching the small lass across the way, standing outside The Mage's Rest. She was waiting right where 'guests' to the guildhouse were instructed to wait, but she just didn't seem the type. A wry grin found its way across his lips. They never do 'seem the type', he mused. Still, she was a tiny thing. He waged that cloak would weigh more than she did, were it to get wet. And while it hid her features, it couldn't hide much else.

Maybe she felt his eyes on her, or she could sense him, Galvin didn't know, but the two made eye contact. He was startled by the clarity of her pale green eyes, or perhaps by something else he couldn't quite see. His dagger clattered on the cobblestones at his feet. He bent to pick it up, and when he stood, the lass was standing in front of him. He hadn't heard her approach.

The hood she wore shadowed her features enough, and with his height over her, he couldn't really try to discern much else. He did note a lock of her hair had escaped the confines of the hood, though; dark as the shadow at his feet.

"I'm here on business." was all she said. Her voice held the melodic qualities of the elven folk.

"I dun know whut yer talkin' 'bout." He shrugged, shoving his dagger back into its sheath on his belt. He wasn't about to give himself away to this lass.

With a quickness he didn't expect, one of her hands shot out, grabbed is dagger, and held it pointing at his throat. "I'm here on business." she repeated in a hushed tone. "I'd like to see the Magician's Garden."

Those were the words Galvin'd been waiting on. "Yus, lass. Reght dis way." He motioned with one hand toward the back of the tailor's shop, waiting for her to lower his own dagger from his throat.

She nodded her head only once, and slipped his dagger back where she took it from. Galvin lead her to see Master Jasper.

******

Jasper drummed his fingers on the table, staring at the girl. Even in his private 'office' she managed to keep her identity from him.

"Can you get it for me or not?"

She'd been insistant in her request for the cadaver of a diseased mage. He's offered her some of the best. Since the Syndicate had been here, he'd been in no short supply of bodies to 'offer' to those of the darker arts. Most weren't too picky, but this girl...

"It has to be as I've asked." She sat forward on the rickety chair she'd been offered and dropped a large heavy pouch on the desk before Jasper.

Easily a few thousand gold pieces, he'd wager, judging from the sounds it made as it settled. "My lady, that isn't the price for a special order."

"I know it isn't. That is to make it worth your while to provide me with exactly what I want." She sat back in the chair again.

Jasper slid the pouch closer and untied the leather strap that held it shut. Inside he could see a good amount of gold sparkling invitingly at him. "A diseased mage?"

"One who died from rotting. From the inside to the out."

Now that was one of the strangest requests he'd gotten. Most wanted healthy corpses for private study, or even other more dark purposes. Not that it was any of his business what they did with 'em after they got them. "For an extra... ten thousand, I'll get you records on the body as well, my lady."

"Consider it done. In the bottom of the pouch you will find directions on where to deliver it. Payment will be given then. Not before." As she spoke, she stood. "Good day to you."

Before Jasper could say another word, she was gone.

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> Galvin stood comfortably with his back to the corner of the tailor's shop. Today was his day at the watchpoint and Master Jasper wouldn't be happy if he failed in such a simple task. But something just wasn't right. > Galvin picked dirt from under his fingernails, watching the small lass across the way, standing outside The Mage's Rest. She was waiting right where 'guests' to the guildhouse were instructed to wait, but she just didn't seem the type. A wry grin found its way across his lips. They never do 'seem the type', he mused. Still, she was a tiny thing. He waged that cloak would weigh more than she did, were it to get wet. And while it hid her features, it couldn't hide much else. > Maybe she felt his eyes on her, or she could sense him, Galvin didn't know, but the two made eye contact. He was startled by the clarity of her pale green eyes, or perhaps by something else he couldn't quite see. His dagger clattered on the cobblestones at his feet. He bent to pick it up, and when he stood, the lass was standing in front of him. He hadn't heard her approach. > The hood she wore shadowed her features enough, and with his height over her, he couldn't really try to discern much else. He did note a lock of her hair had escaped the confines of the hood, though; dark as the shadow at his feet. > "I'm here on business." was all she said. Her voice held the melodic qualities of the elven folk. > "I dun know whut yer talkin' 'bout." He shrugged, shoving his dagger back into its sheath on his belt. He wasn't about to give himself away to this lass. > With a quickness he didn't expect, one of her hands shot out, grabbed is dagger, and held it pointing at his throat. "I'm here on business." she repeated in a hushed tone. "I'd like to see the Magician's Garden." > Those were the words Galvin'd been waiting on. "Yus, lass. Reght dis way." He motioned with one hand toward the back of the tailor's shop, waiting for her to lower his own dagger from his throat. > She nodded her head only once, and slipped his dagger back where she took it from. Galvin lead her to see Master Jasper. > > ****** > > Jasper drummed his fingers on the table, staring at the girl. Even in his private 'office' she managed to keep her identity from him. > "Can you get it for me or not?" > She'd been insistant in her request for the cadaver of a diseased mage. He's offered her some of the best. Since the Syndicate had been here, he'd been in no short supply of bodies to 'offer' to those of the darker arts. Most weren't too picky, but this girl... > "It has to be as I've asked." She sat forward on the rickety chair she'd been offered and dropped a large heavy pouch on the desk before Jasper. > Easily a few thousand gold pieces, he'd wager, judging from the sounds it made as it settled. "My lady, that isn't the price for a special order." > "I know it isn't. That is to make it worth your while to provide me with exactly what I want." She sat back in the chair again. > Jasper slid the pouch closer and untied the leather strap that held it shut. Inside he could see a good amount of gold sparkling invitingly at him. "A diseased mage?" > "One who died from rotting. From the inside to the out." > Now that was one of the strangest requests he'd gotten. Most wanted healthy corpses for private study, or even other more dark purposes. Not that it was any of his business what they did with 'em after they got them. "For an extra... ten thousand, I'll get you records on the body as well, my lady." > "Consider it done. In the bottom of the pouch you will find directions on where to deliver it. Payment will be given then. Not before." As she spoke, she stood. "Good day to you." > Before Jasper could say another word, she was gone.
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