Cards Reshuffled

In general, I tend to by far prefer giving people surprises to receiving them. However, for the right surprise, coming from the right person, I’m prepared to make an exception. As long as it doesn’t involve dragging me along to a pub, trying to get me drunk and forcing me onto a stage for the humiliating spectacle that is public singing, that is.

Excerpt from ‘Interview With An Assassin’

Delvor the smuggler slowly made his way along the docks, to where his ship, the ‘Wailing Mermaid’ lay anchored. Normally he’d have been drunk, on this, the first night ashore for many weeks. But these weren’t normal times, and he wasn’t even a little tipsy. Word on the street was clear. These days, people who got drunk and wandered off alone tended to disappear, never to be seen again. The smuggler scratched his chin, feeling the raspy dark stubble against his fingers. He didn’t plan to disappear…but being sober also meant that he was very much aware of the peril he was in.

When Delvor had reported in this same morning, he had been told several disturbing rumors from the Shadow Thieves he knew. People spoke in hushed tones and whispers, phrasing themselves very vaguely, as if they were afraid to be overheard. Traitors in the Guild…hostile Assassin’s guild…people disappear. People disappear. They don’t come back. Some of them do come back…but they are not the same. They say…people say…hush. Can’t say more. Don’t know if it’s safe. Can I trust you? Can I trust anybody? Anybody could be working for them. Trust nobody. They are close.

He wasn’t certain exactly what it all meant, but it added up to a very dark and disturbing picture. So he had warned his men, warned them against the darkness of the empty streets, warned them against going off with strangers, as if they were toddlers and he their doting father. Should have taken my own advice.

He had been very careful, staying put in the Sea’s Bounty for the entire evening, not wanting to walk about by himself. He’d stayed away from the grog, despite dying for it. In fact, for a few moments he’d entertained the treacherous thought of staying the night. But that he wouldn’t, ‘The Mermaid’ was waiting for him and he wouldn’t abandon her. No telling what might happen if he wasn’t there to keep her safe. Those assassins or whatever they were might decide to sabotage her, if they knew she was a ship running contraband for the Shadow Thieves. So he’d decided to return to the ship. Maybe he should have asked somebody to accompany him…but that could be dangerous, with his crew. The captain could show no weakness, no fear. If he did, his next voyage could well prove his last. If there are sharks in the water, you’d better not bleed.

And so it was that he was doing exactly what he didn’t want to do, walking the dark streets on his own. Here and there dim lanterns hung across the street, but the patches of darkness between them were far larger. In the distance there was laughter…a woman’s low and chuckling laughter. A sound that should have stirred his blood and roused his ardor. So why did it suddenly feel as if his blood had turned to ice? Delvor shuddered, and walked a little faster. The shadows seemed even longer than before. I’m a Shadow Thief. I’m not afraid of the darkness. I’m not. From a narrow alley to his right there were scuttling hurried noises. Rats? He hoped it was rats. Tymora’s tits, let me live through this night and I’ll…I’ll join a monastery. Or start collecting money for orphans, at least those I’ve made myself. Or… Again that laughter, and this time it was followed by a brief scream, abruptly cut off.

His steps were even quicker now. Were those footsteps behind him, matching his own? He could swear it was footsteps. His heart was pounding in his chest now, and his mouth felt as dry as dust. When he stopped, there was silence. Deep, ominous silence. He started walking again. Now he could hear nothing. But did that mean there was nothing there, or simply that he couldn’t hear it?

Once he finally saw the water ahead, glittering black and covered with drifting garbage and debris, Delvor could almost have wept with relief. There was ‘The Wailing Mermaid’ ahead of him, his ship, his home, his pretty lady. He practically ran aboard, laughing breathlessly at finding himself alive.

And now he descended the ladder to his private cabin, whistling softly to himself, never happier at being alive. Trouble hadn’t followed him home after all. Forget the monastery, I need a drink! A big one. He unlocked the door to the cabin and went inside, bending over the locked cupboard in which he kept his personal supply of spirits. It was good to be alive.

The coldness wrapped itself around his throat from behind with the speed of a striking snake, squeezing tightly. Delvor made a gagging sound, his fingers desperately trying to pry the thing off even as his vision blackened and his tongue protruded from his mouth. It was all in vain, his assailant was holding him in a firm grip and he couldn’t get loose. Soon, it would be over, and just before his heart gave out a final thought flittered across his dying consciousness. Trouble hadn’t followed him home at all, no. It had been waiting there for him, all along.

As he let the corpse slide to the floor, Dekaras thought to himself that he’d been fortunate. He hadn’t expected the smuggler to return for several hours yet, and this meant he would have the rest of the night to himself. Bodhi wouldn’t be expecting his report until sometime tomorrow evening, so he’d have the time to do some research before getting a few hours sleep. But first, he had to dispose of this body. He slipped the garotte into one of his many pockets, flexing his fingers a little. It wasn’t his preferred weapon, but for what he had in mind it was important that there was no actual bloodshed to tip anybody off. And now I’d better hurry up. I don’t want to be stuck on this thing when it sets sail. One involuntary sea journey is quite enough, thank you.

The captain’s cabin was fortunately situated close to the hold, and most of the sailors were on shore leave. Those who weren’t never spotted the assassin dragging the bulky corpse into the hold, nor did they hear it when one of the large crates stored there was opened and the corpse was stowed inside, along with a large amount of spices already inside. That should keep the smell from being too strong, until the ship was well out at sea under the direction of a new captain. Bodhi didn’t want all the Shadow Thieves dead, but she wanted them terrorized. This alternative seemed more efficient than simply dropping the smuggler into the harbor, where he might sink or float up in the wrong place. Instead, he would simply disappear into thin air, and then he would turn up when his men least expected it. They would certainly tell that tale to anybody willing to listen, and by the time this ship returned to Athkatla from its brief journey to Brynnlaw there would be plenty of eager ears. Bodhi should be pleased.

And that, Dekaras thought, may be just what it takes to make her trust me with some of her knowledge. He had to consciously work on detaching his mind enough that he could be close to the vampire without showing any revulsion, and it was tiring, but he hoped that it would be worth it. He slipped back ashore, unseen by anyone, feeling satisfied with the evening so far.

Perhaps a brief stop at the Sea’s Bounty before going home, to check the mail. Yes, I think I’ll do that. I suppose I need something to eat as well, and then I will still have time to take a look at those documents before getting some sleep. The documents in question he had acquired off the corpse of an unfortunate Cowled Wizard who had made the mistake of teleporting in to investigate the ‘magical disturbance’ caused by a spinning magical top that set off colorful sparks when it moved. It should make a nice birthday present for Poppy, the assassin thought, at least once he managed to get the blood off. Come to think of it, she probably wouldn’t mind all that much. The Cowled Wizard had minded the blood, or rather the loss of it, caused by the fact that he had teleported himself right onto a nasty spike trap, but by that time his objections had been overruled by a poisoned crossbow bolt through the throat. Clever alarm system they have, but flawed. They think they are safe from attack since they scry for all spells cast in the streets, never thinking that there are plenty of other ways for them to die. Oh well. Their loss, my gain. The documents in question were Cowled Wizard official documents. Dekaras had only had the time to go over some of them, but they seemed interesting. There was one in particular, a reference to ‘magical deviants’ and how many had been ‘apprehended’ over the past year, speaking of a place named ‘Spellhold’, though there was no mention of where exactly it was. That will be where Imoen is, I’m certain. But if they think I’ll allow them to keep her there, then they’ll have to be taught otherwise. And I wouldn’t mind being the one to administer that lesson, not at all.

Smiling thinly, the assassin walked into the Sea’s Bounty Tavern, quietly slipping through the crowd. It was funny…despite the general rowdiness of the place people seemed very polite. Nobody jostled him, and when he chanced to look at a couple of the louder patrons they hastily looked away. Clearing his throat politely at a group of drunken sailors who were standing in his way also worked marvels as they hurried to make way. Politeness goes a long way, even here, it seems. Though that was a pretty odd color they turned.

As he stepped up to the bar, Dekaras waited until he had the bartender’s attention, and then greeted him quietly. “Good evening, Thumb,” he said. “Do you happen to have anything for me? You know what I mean. It will be a letter marked with a red seal, marked with a flower with a jolly face in the center. Don’t ask. My friend has odd tastes.”

“Ah…would ye know, sir, the Thumb is lucky enough to have what ye wants!” the fat barman said, wiping some sweat from his brow. “Though it be a package, not a letter. Er…would ye like a drink perhaps, sir? Grog? Rum? Ale?”

“No thank you. That will be entirely satisfactory. Just the package will do, and then I will leave.”

“Ye sure, sir? Nasty night outside, don’t ye want something to warm ye up? No tellin’ what might be outside in the dark if ye go out there alone.” He tittered nervously.

Dekaras shrugged. “Yes, as a matter of fact there is,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “I will be outside in the dark, just as soon as you hand me my package. And I will, indeed, be alone. Unless you wanted me to wait for closing time, when you leave yourself?”

The bartender looked him in the eyes and made a small, choked noise. “Ah…no thank ye, good sir. I’ll be fine. Here it is then.”

“Thank you,” Dekaras politely said, smiling again. “I will see you later, I am certain.” As he pulled his black cloak closer, preparing to depart, he couldn’t help but notice the way the bartender’s hands were shaking. Nervous fellow. I can’t see how he handles this job if a little polite conversation shakes him up this badly.

Once he reached the small room he was renting, in a dingy little house in a back alley, Dekaras carefully examined the package. It was wrapped in brown paper, tied up with a string that seemed to have about a hundred knots, and there was indeed a bright red seal on top, decorated by a flower with a disturbingly jolly face in the center. No traps to be seen. Not that he would expect anything serious, and the seal didn’t look tampered with, but even so…Poppy could have a pretty odd sense of humor sometimes.

The package turned out to contain two things. The first was an obviously magical item. Dekaras gave it a suspicious look, his black eyes narrowing as he held it up. Poppy wouldn’t send him a birthday present that was all a joke, true, but she would still enjoy something that would cause what she tended to refer to as a ‘cute’ reaction. He’d better not do anything at all with this thing before he read the letter, no matter how interesting it looked. As he read the letter, he felt a slowly growing elation, and actually came close to laughing out loud. He had to sit down on a chair and read it over again, more slowly this time, in order to be certain he hadn’t misunderstood it.

Hi Dekkie!

Boy, I bet you’re surprised to hear from me this soon, huh? I hope you’re taking good care of yourself, and eating properly, and not moping about going all gloomy, because if you are I’m just going to have to come down there and tickle you again, all right? And you know I will too.

Anyway, here’s your birthday present! I hope you haven’t tried it out yet…well…all right. I hope you have, because it would be so cute to see your face when you see what it does. Don’t worry, it’s easy to work it when you know how, I tried it myself and it works just fine. I’ll describe how to use it in a separate note, and I want you to tell me everything about your first impressions, all right? Wish I could be there to see it…

Oh, and here it is…the BIG NEWS! Guess what? I found little Eddie for you, and guess where he is? Right where you are, in Athkatla, or at least that’s where that funny old dwarf, Kagain, dropped him off. You should be able to find him in no time now. I think I’ll probably pop down myself when I’m done here, I haven’t seen my favorite little almost-nephew in ages. Give him a big hug from Auntie Poppy, would you?

Big big hugs and kisses,

Your Best Friend, Poppy

Dekaras finished reading the letter for the second time, glancing cursorily at the note that described how to work the birthday present. It sounded very interesting, and practical too, if a little unusual. Right now he had more important things on his mind though. He was still smiling, an entirely different smile than the one that had greeted ‘The Thumb’. “Oh yes, Poppy,” he whispered. “After I discuss certain matters with him, I promise you that he’ll have more than one.”