Sword's Wrath 5 - Kind Hearts And Copper Coronets

Sorry about the delay, I had to rewrite this one. Come the weekend, I'm going to sit down and get ahead with the next few chapters, to ensure they can come out regularly. If people still want to read them!

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Chapter 5 – Kind Hearts And Copper Coronets


Edgar sat down at the breakfast table and suddenly had a sense of déjà vu. Once again, Jaheira wasn’t talking to him. Neither was Minsc, though this wasn’t from any ulterior motive, more the fact that he was tucking into his breakfast with gusto. Yoshimo still wasn’t back, and their newest member was probably still in her room.

Or not, Edgar silently corrected himself as a slim, cloaked figure dropped into the seat opposite him.

“Good morning, Viconia.” She ignored him. Everyone seemed to be at it. He tried for a different line of conversation.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, and cursed his own lack of imagination. At least it had the desired effect however, as she looked up and regarded him unenthusiastically.

“Hardly, iblith. I dreamed of a powerful, handsome male who pleasured me to my heart’s content. And then he turned into you, and I woke up in disgust.”

Ouch, he thought, and reddened as he realised that Jaheira was now looking at him strangely. The atmosphere around the table suddenly became rather strained as he avoided her eye. Even Minsc seemed to sense that something wasn’t quite right. Sensing the embarrassment that she had caused him, Viconia went from surly to seductive in a flash. She brushed his hand lightly with her fingertips, smiling wolfishly, but he jerked his hand away hurriedly, embarrassed. Her eyes flashed, and she looked about to snap at him, but fortunately he was saved from further humiliation by an unexpected arrival.

“Good morning,” said Yoshimo brightly as he sat down at the table. Edgar had almost forgotten about him, but he tried not to let his surprise show.

“I wasn’t expecting you to be out all night,” he commented.

“I stayed out as long as I needed to,” the bounty hunter replied easily. “I had to meet some old contacts and call in a few favours, but I think I’ve found some people who can help us.”

Edgar wasn’t completely stupid. “And why would they want to help us?”

Yoshimo was unperturbed. “Because I offered them money.”

“How much?” The question came from Jaheira, now taking an interest in the proceedings.

“Well, the deal wasn’t necessarily binding in financial terms, and subject to change if…”

“How much?” She glared at him and he shifted uncomfortably.

“Give or take a little…fifteen thousand gold.”

Edgar felt as if someone had just dealt him a punch to the stomach.

“Fifteen thousand? Fifteen thousand?” Jaheira looked incredulous, and even Viconia appeared mildly surprised. Minsc was counting on his fingers busily, until a squeak from his pouch suggested that he count each finger as a thousand. This appeared to save some time and soon he looked incredulous too.

Edgar leaned forward. “Couldn’t you have haggled?”

“I did. Their original price was twenty thousand.”

“And what do we get for this?”

“Information, and a boat.”

“A boat made out of solid gold, perhaps?”

“Probably not.”

Edgar took a deep breath. “So…who are these oh-so-generous people who will gladly take us to Imoen for the knock-down, bargain price of a mere king’s ransom?” From the looks of Jaheira and Viconia, they’d been waiting to find that out too. And from the look of Yoshimo, he’d been hoping to avoid this part.

“They are a group of gentlemen who bravely…”

“Who. Are. They?”

“Er…the Shadow Thieves. At least, the man I spoke with, Gaelan, is known to have connections with them.”

Jaheira looked about to strangle him. “So, to sum up, in but one night’s work you have bound us to an impossibly expensive contract with the most ruthless and powerful criminal organisation this side of Baldur’s Gate?” She smiled grimly and glanced at Edgar. “It seems that it’s not just you who has a habit of avoiding consultation, fearless leader.”

Yoshimo looked affronted. “I thought you wanted to find the girl and the mage. My apologies for making progress. In any case, surely you’ve earned that much before, as adventurers?”

Edgar laughed. “Earned, yes. Kept, no. But it sounds as if we’d better make a start. I don’t suppose you happened to hear of any business that might be sent our way?”

Yoshimo looked smug. “As a matter of fact, I did. Mercenaries are always in demand. There are some people at the Copper Coronet who might want to engage our services. For one purpose or another.”

“And where is the Copper Coronet exactly?”

“In the slums.”

Edgar sighed. “So, in other words, not much chance of a big fee. I should have seen that coming.” He turned to Jaheira. “Do you think we should try anyway?”

She snorted. “I’m sure you can decide for yourself, O leader. It is your job, after all.”

He sighed. “Jaheira, you criticise me for taking decisions without you. You criticise me for asking your opinion. Is there anything you won’t criticise me for?”

She didn’t answer, and looked away suddenly. He decided to change the subject.

“Right. To the Copper Coronet, then. Are you all with me?”

“Most certainly.”

“Indeed! And Boo is too!”

“Hmph.”

“I await your command, Edgar... in this and other matters.”

That last comment… She’s messing with my head again…

***


They arrived at the Copper Coronet a short while later, though it took a few minutes to work out that there was actually an inn under the dirt, grime and years of accumulated debris. Edgar’s worst fears seemed to be confirmed: how could anyone with any money be seen dead in a place like this?

Which just goes to show that my social knowledge is somewhat lacking, he mused, as he stepped inside to find a main room crowded with slumming nobles.

“Some of the gentry find places like this…exciting,” smiled Yoshimo, seeing his surprise. “It makes them feel as if they are risking their lives in a dark and seedy underworld of crime and intrigue. In fact, the first ones to come probably were, but now all the real hardened criminals have been driven off. It’s so hard to come up with an evil plan when drunken fops calling themselves things like ‘Arrubar the Vile’ keep on coming up to you and asking to be taught how to pick locks.” They moved on towards the bar.

A man bumped into Viconia as she tried to follow. His alcohol-dimmed eyes widened as he slowly focused on her. Well, part of her. Two parts of her, really. “Hey, gorgeous!” he burbled. “I’m Echhabi the Crafty! How’d you like to teach me some of your aiggh!”

Minsc looked puzzled. “Taught aiggh? A strange name for a skill! Boo, have you heard of it before?”

“I think it’s a fighting method,” answered Jaheira. “But it doesn’t seem too hard to learn. You only need to use one knee, by the looks of things.”

“Indeed,” joined in Viconia calmly, stepping over the prone form of the noble, who was clutching his groin and moaning. “Only one knee, but it’s what you do with it that counts.” She glanced around, half-hoping she could turn that comment into an innuendo for Edgar’s benefit, but saw that he’d carried on to the bar. She mentally filed it away for future reference, though. It had a certain ring to it.

Woohoo!

Nice chapter, Eddie

“Hardly, iblith. I dreamed of a powerful, handsome male who pleasured me to my heart’s content. And then he turned into you, and I woke up in disgust.”

Ouch, he thought, and reddened as he realised that Jaheira was now looking at him strangely. The atmosphere around the table suddenly became rather strained as he avoided her eye. Even Minsc seemed to sense that something wasn’t quite right. Sensing the embarrassment that she had caused him, Viconia went from surly to seductive in a flash. She brushed his hand lightly with her fingertips, smiling wolfishly, but he jerked his hand away hurriedly, embarrassed. Her eyes flashed, and she looked about to snap at him, but fortunately he was saved from further humiliation by an unexpected arrival.

Egh... I wonder, if I am the only male who finds Viconia's behavior here absolutely repulsive? Ugh... iirc, this is even more radical than in her romance...

Nicely written, though! I hope we will see not only this seductive, manipulative side of Viconia.

“How much?” The question came from Jaheira, now taking an interest in the proceedings.

“Well, the deal wasn’t necessarily binding in financial terms, and subject to change if…”

“How much?” She glared at him and he shifted uncomfortably.

Oh, dear... it's *the* glare!

“Fifteen thousand? Fifteen thousand?” Jaheira looked incredulous, and even Viconia appeared mildly surprised. Minsc was counting on his fingers busily, until a squeak from his pouch suggested that he count each finger as a thousand. This appeared to save some time and soon he looked incredulous too.

LOL!

Jaheira looked about to strangle him. “So, to sum up, in but one night’s work you have bound us to an impossibly expensive contract with the most ruthless and powerful criminal organisation this side of Baldur’s Gate?” She smiled grimly and glanced at Edgar. “It seems that it’s not just you who has a habit of avoiding consultation, fearless leader.”

Aww, that's sweet. She would probably suggest that you turn to Harpers for help...

She snorted. “I’m sure you can decide for yourself, O leader. It is your job, after all.”

He sighed. “Jaheira, you criticise me for taking decisions without you. You criticise me for asking your opinion. Is there anything you won’t criticise me for?”

She's not in the best of moods, understandably... hopefully we will not be limited to see only the less pleasant part of her charming personality.

“I think it’s a fighting method,” answered Jaheira. “But it doesn’t seem too hard to learn. You only need to use one knee, by the looks of things.”

Oh, I think her glare is enough to subdue most men, she doesn't even need to use that knee.

“Indeed,” joined in Viconia calmly, stepping over the prone form of the noble, who was clutching his groin and moaning. “Only one knee, but it’s what you do with it that counts.” She glanced around, half-hoping she could turn that comment into an innuendo for Edgar’s benefit, but saw that he’d carried on to the bar. She mentally filed it away for future reference, though. It had a certain ring to it.

Aaaaaargh... you know... your Viconia just scares me...

Woohoo!

Nice chapter, Eddie

Thanks, er...Argie?

Egh... I wonder, if I am the only male who finds Viconia's behavior here absolutely repulsive? Ugh... iirc, this is even more radical than in her romance...

Nicely written, though! I hope we will see not only this seductive, manipulative side of Viconia.

Perhaps she'll change. Though how much, exactly, is yet to be seen... Currently Edgar is struggling with his mind, which tells him that she's manipulative and loves to cause trouble, and his body, which tells him that she's...well...hot.

Oh, I think her glare is enough to subdue most men, she doesn't even need to use that knee.

You're probably right.

Aaaaaargh... you know... your Viconia just scares me...

Good!

Thanks for commenting

Good Chapter

Good Chapter

Thanks!