John POV:

After our ride to escape the multitude of arbalists, archers, and footmen who were on our tail for at least an hour after Charlotte was picked up; we began planning for our next step.  In the alley.

“How did we get in this mess?  And who is he?” John

“Yeah, why are we in this mess Meathead?” Elsa

The man known as Meathead, is miffed.

“I didn’t do anything!” Meathead?

She gets a coy expression on her face.

“Oh?  And what about that?  Could it have anything to do with you spending a few nights under the stars with the daughter of the Grand Duke!” Elsa

He takes a step towards her with his finger raised, while she gets increasingly irritated with her arms crossed.

“It was ONE, and she was coming onto me, by the way!  She told me that she wanted to discuss my continued employment as her bodyguard!  Not try and SEDUCE ME!!” Meathead

‘Oh my Gods.’

“ “SHUT UP!!” ” Cassandra, John and Charlotte

“Look, how about we find some place to talk about this where we don’t have to worry about town guards finding us.  Now, Tomin, do you know any places we can go?” Cassandra

‘Ahhh, so that’s what his is.’

“Sure, there’s a tavern I used to go to when I was still a bodyguard--” Tomin

‘Oh God he’s an idiot.’

“Nope!” John

All eyes turn to me.

“Taverns are the first place they will look.  No, there is an abandoned warehouse we can go to that's not to far away.  Guards won’t even think to look there, or are two afraid for that matter.” John

“How do you know it’s abandoned, furthermore why would the guard be too afraid to go there?” Cassandra

“Oh, that’s because they don’t want to lose their bribes from the Black Market.  Now if we just go over in this direction--” John

“Why would they lose their bribes from the Black Market?  And again how do you know it’s abandoned?  Also why do you know that it’s connected to the Black Market?  Your raising more questions--” Cassandra

“A) I don’t need to answer any questions I don’t need to, B) Because it’s a Black Market auction house that isn’t in season and C) What kind of Bard would I be if I didn’t at have some illegal connections?” John

At this point everyone in the alley were gawking at me, except for Charlotte.  Elsa looked at her incredulously.

“Why aren’t you more surprised with this?!” Elsa

She looks at her with a raised eyebrow.  She explained her reasons while also counting them with her fingers.

“I worked as a, very attractive, Bar Wench.  He’s a Bard, he’s a Bard, he’s a Bard aaand he’s a Bard.  If you’ve ever met a half-decent one they will have played at at least a few Black Market deals.  Same goes for most Bar Wenches.  How long have you all been adventurers?  Most have at least some underworld contacts for some of the better jobs.” Charlotte

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Elsa gapes at us, Tomin looks defeated and Cassandra is mumbling to herself indignantly.

“... My father raised me to be a good girl?  Since when have I began willingly associating myself with such characters…” Cassandra

‘Thank the Gods that she doesn’t know I have better than average hearing.  It is unbelievably fun to break an Elf.’

…

‘Have I always been this sadistic?  Must be because of the whole “killing my horse” thing.  Yeah, that sounds about right.’

“Now are we going to leave or are we staying here?  Admire the fine stonework, have nice chats with the local guard, get our heads chopped by the very welcoming Headsman in town; I think his name's George.” John

“Fine, fine, we get it.  Let’s just go already.” Elsa

“Good.” John

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“State your business.” Gus

We managed to get to the auction house.  Now I just need to deal with this asshole.

“Gus, who the hell else wears a mask this late at night?” John

He looks at me with a glint of greed in his eyes.

“Sorry, but my mind seems to be a bit foggy right now.  Who knows when it'll come back to me *wink*.” Gus

‘I am too tired to deal with this shit.’

I place an arm around the idiot brute who barely stands taller than me.

“Now Gus, I have about three well trained mercenaries behind me.  When Beris hears about how a group of people broke in on your watch; first he’s going to punish you for your incompetence, then when he asks me why I was forced to break in, I’m going to tell him that you were extorting money out a of Standing Member, and then he’s going to-... well, your a somewhat smart man, you can figure out the rest.” John

He pales slightly.

“S-since when have you been a Standing Member?  You’re bluffing!” Gus

“Gus, remember the last time you tried to call my bluff?  That was the time you lost your horse, along with half of your life’s savings.  Do you really want to try and call my bluff again?” John

He blanches completely.

“Y-yes sir!” Gus

He then scrambles to open the gate and let us through.  Once we get through, Charlotte comes beside me and speaks in a whisper.

“You were bluffing, right?” Charlotte

“He doesn’t need to know that.” John