“Hello, Sarevok,” said Anomen. He waved his glass in welcome. A splash of wine slopped onto the floor. In the wavering light, the wet stain reminded me of blood.
“Hello, Anomen. Waiting for me?”
“Of course.” His voice was slurred. I could tell he’d been waiting for a while. “Sit down, have some wine.” He shoved a filthy pitcher towards me.
It’s hard to argue with a drunk. I sat and motioned to Snick. He leaned close as he handed me a glass. “Need a hand, Mister A?” he murmured.
I wasn’t sure what kind of a hand Snick could give. From the smell, I guessed he’d been sampling his wares for the better part of the evening. I glanced at Anomen. I could hold my own, even if he wasn’t as drunk as he looked. “Nah. But stick around, just in case.”
“You got it.” Snick slouched off, just far enough to look like he was out of earshot. I heard the telltale scrape of a crossbow underneath the bar.
A girl in tattered finery took her place in the corner. She began to sing, her long fingers plucking at a lap harp. Her sad croon wove in and out of the clink of glasses like one of those satin ribbons Sis liked to wear.
“All right, I’m here,” I said, pouring myself some wine. “What do you want?”
Anomen sighed and absently wiped his beard. “Have you ever been in love, Sarevok?”
For a moment, the world stood still and I saw Tamoko’s eyes, just before she turned and walked out of my life forever. I drowned the memory in a hard slug of booze. “A doll in Baldur’s Gate once got a fur coat out of me. I guess you could call that love.”
“Aye, love…the poets sing of its bliss, its pure, cleansing fire, its sanctity.” His face darkened into a violent scowl. “Lies, all lies! She took everything. My soul, my honor, my life…Helm help me, I would give it all again even now, knowing her for what she is.”
I didn’t have to ask what he was talking about. The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach told me that I already had a pretty good idea.
“By Helm, when I heard what had happened…I was sad, of course, that Kelsey had to die, but a dark portion of my soul rejoiced at the news that Miri was finally free to love as she would.” He slammed his fist down on the bar and made our glasses hop. “I should have known better! I never should have come back after what she did to Saerk and his daughter!”
Anomen picked up his glass again, twirling the stem in his stubby fingers. “No one else knows…no one even thought of it. But I knew. I saw Surayah’s scarf in her pack. I saw the blood on her dagger. I almost went to the Magistrate…what would the Order have said if they knew what kind of company I kept…but I could not. I would have done anything for her…anything…”
“She’s a persuasive dame, I’ll give you that.”
He buried his face in his hands. “And now Yusef is dead…Helm forgive me, I cannot say that I am sorry. He was a dishonest man, a shabby trader, a blackmailer…but he did not deserve to die. And you and Lady Imoen did not deserve what happened…”
He drained his glass in a single gulp. I refilled it, but Anomen didn’t seem to notice or care.
“You wouldn’t think a woman like her could do it,” he murmured brokenly to his glass. “My heroine, my shining beacon of righteousness…Miri…”
I should have left him there and let him drink himself stupid to the sad tinkle of the harp. But I almost felt sorry for the guy. “Anomen.”
He turned away and did not reply.
“Anomen. Did you kill Farrahd?”
“Leave me be. I have lost everything this night, now that the Order has cast me out like the dog I am. I cannot bear anything else.”
“Cause if you didn’t, it would be wise to say who did. Otherwise, the cops might get the wrong idea when I bring you in.”
His shoulders sagged. “Aye, I had expected you would call the guards on me. It is almost a relief that this is finally over. Just allow me one moment to finish my wine.”
Anomen brought his glass up to his mouth. His throat worked as he drank it dry. He set it down again and wiped his mouth.
“Better?” I asked.
He choked, his face white as a sheet. “Lord?” he asked, staring at something nobody else could see.
There was a thud as he fell forward onto his face, and then, silence.
Death and Taxes 10
Started by
Guest_Chantrys_*
, Nov 08 2003 03:49 AM
10 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Theodur_*
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Posted 08 November 2003 - 08:59 AM
“You got it.” Snick slouched off, just far enough to look like he was out of earshot. I heard the telltale scrape of a crossbow underneath the bar.
Cute detail.
For a moment, the world stood still and I saw Tamoko’s eyes, just before she turned and walked out of my life forever. I drowned the memory in a hard slug of booze. “A doll in Baldur’s Gate once got a fur coat out of me. I guess you could call that love.”
Blasted bloody cynic.
“By Helm, when I heard what had happened…I was sad, of course, that Kelsey had to die, but a dark portion of my soul rejoiced at the news that Miri was finally free to love as she would.” He slammed his fist down on the bar and made our glasses hop. “I should have known better! I never should have come back after what she did to Saerk and his daughter!”
Anomen picked up his glass again, twirling the stem in his stubby fingers. “No one else knows…no one even thought of it. But I knew. I saw Surayah’s scarf in her pack. I saw the blood on her dagger. I almost went to the Magistrate…what would the Order have said if they knew what kind of company I kept…but I could not. I would have done anything for her…anything…”
Oh, yes... I wonder if this is the last twist, the final revelation.
Theo: I understand Anomen. Poor sod.
“You wouldn’t think a woman like her could do it,” he murmured brokenly to his glass. “My heroine, my shining beacon of righteousness…Miri…”
Yuck, yuck, yuck!
He choked, his face white as a sheet. “Lord?” he asked, staring at something nobody else could see.
There was a thud as he fell forward onto his face, and then, silence.
Oh! How classical! You offed Ano!!! How could you! (Muahahaha!
)The big finale coming up, the family gathering as they say?
#4
Guest_Chantrys_*
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Posted 09 November 2003 - 02:09 AM
“You got it.” Snick slouched off, just far enough to look like he was out of earshot. I heard the telltale scrape of a crossbow underneath the bar.
Cute detail.
Thank you.
Blasted bloody cynic.
He can't help it. The story demands it.
Oh, yes... I wonder if this is the last twist, the final revelation.
(*thinks*) Nope.
Theo: I understand Anomen. Poor sod.
I'm sure Anomen would be very comforted if he could hear you.
“You wouldn’t think a woman like her could do it,” he murmured brokenly to his glass. “My heroine, my shining beacon of righteousness…Miri…”
Yuck, yuck, yuck!
I laid it on a bit thick, didn't I.
Ah, well, seemed like something he would do.Oh! How classical! You offed Ano!!! How could you! (Muahahaha!
Well...actually...oh, wait, I don't want to spoil it. Never mind.
The big finale coming up, the family gathering as they say?
And it won't be a happy one. Thanks so much for reading and commenting--I really appreciate it.
#6
Guest_Silrana_*
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Posted 09 November 2003 - 02:30 AM
A girl in tattered finery took her place in the corner. She began to sing, her long fingers plucking at a lap harp. Her sad croon wove in and out of the clink of glasses like one of those satin ribbons Sis liked to wear.
Your writing in this story has a real Maltese Falcon feel to it.For a moment, the world stood still and I saw Tamoko’s eyes, just before she turned and walked out of my life forever. I drowned the memory in a hard slug of booze. “A doll in Baldur’s Gate once got a fur coat out of me. I guess you could call that love.”
*sniff*
Anomen picked up his glass again, twirling the stem in his stubby fingers. “No one else knows…no one even thought of it. But I knew. I saw Surayah’s scarf in her pack. I saw the blood on her dagger. I almost went to the Magistrate…what would the Order have said if they knew what kind of company I kept…but I could not. I would have done anything for her…anything…”
Ha! I knew she couldn't be all sweetness and light. I have a deep suspicion of overly feminine women.
“Leave me be. I have lost everything this night, now that the Order has cast me out like the dog I am. I cannot bear anything else.”
Poor Ano, his life isn't going well.
He choked, his face white as a sheet. “Lord?” he asked, staring at something nobody else could see.
There was a thud as he fell forward onto his face, and then, silence.
Agh! You killed off Anomen! Great twist!
Great chapter!
#7
Laufey
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Transcendant
Posted 09 November 2003 - 07:36 PM
Poor Ano...but it *was* a pretty humorous way to kill him off. And I *knew* that the Feminine Heroine would turn out to be crooked. Of course, it doesn't prove that she also killed Kelsey, but I wouldn't be at all surprised.
And I *knew* that the Feminine Heroine would turn out to be crooked. Of course, it doesn't prove that she also killed Kelsey, but I wouldn't be at all surprised.
Rogues do it from behind.
#8
Guest_IronDragon_*
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Posted 09 November 2003 - 08:47 PM
pleasantly moody“Hello, Sarevok,” said Anomen. He waved his glass in welcome. A splash of wine slopped onto the floor. In the wavering light, the wet stain reminded me of blood.
Considering Anomen’s dad, alcohol is probably the worst thing he could be drinking.“Of course.” His voice was slurred. I could tell he’d been waiting for a while. “Sit down, have some wine.” He shoved a filthy pitcher towards me.
I just love your use of phrasing.Anomen sighed and absently wiped his beard. “Have you ever been in love, Sarevok?”
For a moment, the world stood still and I saw Tamoko’s eyes, just before she turned and walked out of my life forever. I drowned the memory in a hard slug of booze. “A doll in Baldur’s Gate once got a fur coat out of me. I guess you could call that love.”
The dame is bad news.“By Helm, when I heard what had happened…I was sad, of course, that Kelsey had to die, but a dark portion of my soul rejoiced at the news that Miri was finally free to love as she would.” He slammed his fist down on the bar and made our glasses hop. “I should have known better! I never should have come back after what she did to Saerk and his daughter!”
seems that Anomen did just that, not that it did him any good.Anomen picked up his glass again, twirling the stem in his stubby fingers. “No one else knows…no one even thought of it. But I knew. I saw Surayah’s scarf in her pack. I saw the blood on her dagger. I almost went to the Magistrate…what would the Order have said if they knew what kind of company I kept…but I could not. I would have done anything for her…anything…”
Maybe ANomen didn’t know her as well as he thought.“You wouldn’t think a woman like her could do it,” he murmured brokenly to his glass. “My heroine, my shining beacon of righteousness…Miri…”
your getting quite a body count in this story.He choked, his face white as a sheet. “Lord?” he asked, staring at something nobody else could see.
There was a thud as he fell forward onto his face, and then, silence.
Nice chapter.
#9
Guest_Chantrys_*
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Posted 09 November 2003 - 11:38 PM
Thanks! I'm glad it's coming through okay.
For a moment, the world stood still and I saw Tamoko’s eyes, just before she turned and walked out of my life forever. I drowned the memory in a hard slug of booze. “A doll in Baldur’s Gate once got a fur coat out of me. I guess you could call that love.”
*sniff*
There, there.
Ha! I knew she couldn't be all sweetness and light. I have a deep suspicion of overly feminine women.
My villain was fairly obvious from the start, wasn't she. Agatha Christie I'm not.
Poor Ano, his life isn't going well.
And you know it just gets worse.
Agh! You killed off Anomen! Great twist!
Great chapter!
Thanks!
And as for the twist, it's only half-done.
#10
Guest_Chantrys_*
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Posted 09 November 2003 - 11:41 PM
Poor Ano...but it *was* a pretty humorous way to kill him off.
I know.
It was standard noir protocol--the dame is never innocent.You had it spotted from the start, I just couldn't say anything in the faint hope that you might change your mind.
Thanks very much for commenting, and I hope you're taking care of yourself!
#11
Guest_Chantrys_*
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Posted 09 November 2003 - 11:45 PM
Considering Anomen’s dad, alcohol is probably the worst thing he could be drinking.“Of course.” His voice was slurred. I could tell he’d been waiting for a while. “Sit down, have some wine.” He shoved a filthy pitcher towards me.
Exactly. He has to be driven to it.
I just love your use of phrasing.
For a moment, the world stood still and I saw Tamoko’s eyes, just before she turned and walked out of my life forever. I drowned the memory in a hard slug of booze. “A doll in Baldur’s Gate once got a fur coat out of me. I guess you could call that love.”
Thank you.The dame is bad news.
Like so many dames in this genre.
seems that Anomen did just that, not that it did him any good.Anomen picked up his glass again, twirling the stem in his stubby fingers. “No one else knows…no one even thought of it. But I knew. I saw Surayah’s scarf in her pack. I saw the blood on her dagger. I almost went to the Magistrate…what would the Order have said if they knew what kind of company I kept…but I could not. I would have done anything for her…anything…”
If only he'd followed his head instead of his heart.
Maybe ANomen didn’t know her as well as he thought.“You wouldn’t think a woman like her could do it,” he murmured brokenly to his glass. “My heroine, my shining beacon of righteousness…Miri…”
A lot of people didn't know her as well as they thought. Sarevok included.
your getting quite a body count in this story.
(*claps hands with glee*) I know. It's like a Rambo movie, but more classy. Or something.
All of these comments about Anomen are truly delighting me. I'll tell you why next chapter.
Nice chapter.
Thank you very much!
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