Month 12, Day 3, 1:30 PM

Marie

As they followed the Stag’s enforcer upstairs, Marie wondered how the man would fair against Dinky. Dinky was big, of course, but this man was liquid smooth. He was very likely carrying a battle-wand, and he didn’t waste any motion. He was particularly careful to keep behind Poe and Marie. Instead of leading them, he guided them from behind.

Marie had a bad feeling about this meeting, but Poe seemed oblivious. Or, at least he acted completely unconcerned, his loping stride unhindered and confident. Marie’s short strides seemed to required her walk double time to keep up.

When they entered an office with a huge desk, Marie expected a man with antlers and a mask.Instead, a woman with red hair occupied the chair behind the desk. She stood and gestured to the two chairs for them to sit.

Poe sat. Marie sat. The red-haired woman sat. The Verdant Stag enforcer stood inside the office, just by the door.

The woman packed a pipe with something, and placed it on a little glass coaster, where she lit it. She took the pipe in her teeth, and took a few puffs.

“Smoke?” She offered an open box of some dried leaves, which looked like a dark blue crumble.

Marie wasn’t sure what to make of Poe’s seemingly new smoking habit; it could be something dangerous, or benign. Since she’d only seen Poe smoking since the Copper station, she assumed his pipe had some sort of medicinal properties. They certainly smelled that way.

“Thank you. Etherwood leaves?” Poe asked.

The woman nodded. Marie knew it from the parlor, some clients liked etherwood leaves to smoke. The parlor would sell a packet to a customer from time to time; there was a supply available that could be delivered to the private rooms. As far as she knew, the leaves just smelled nice to smoke, but her Mama didn’t approve. There were worse things.

“It’s very kind of you to refresh my pipe.” Poe popped the ash from his pipe into a tray, packed his long pipe with the leaves, and lit it with a strange metal stick he’d withdrawn from a coat pocket. “Will Lord Stag be joining us?” Poe asked.

“No, Mr. Poe. We’ll keep this civil, but this is going to be a short meeting.”

“Ah. You have the advantage of me, can I ask who you are?”

“No.” The woman replied. She paused to take a light puff from her pipe and blow a creamy blue smoke ring. “Mr. Poe, let’s be honest. Unless you are here to join our organization, I do not expect we can do any business today.”

“Why not?”

“Sitting next to you is an associate of the Morrows, who lives and works in one of their brothels. Moreover, only a few days ago, you were seen entering the local copper station either as a contractor, or an informant. I don’t know why you brought a Morrow into the heart of our territory, but I can only assume it is to spy.”

‘Spy!’ Marie thought. ‘There’s no way I would spy! And, what’s wrong with my home? It’s not a brothel, or at least, not only a brothel.’ Marie frowned in disagreement. ‘And, I’m not an associate of the Morrows. Not really. Only sometimes. Kinda.’

Marie leaned forward and took in a breath to defend herself, but Poe gently placed his free hand on her arm. Marie looked over at him. He slightly shook his head negatively toward her. She huffed out the breath, and sat up straight and practically vibrating with indignation.

Poe leaned back in his chair, giving the impression that he was entirely relaxed. Thus seemingly unbothered, Poe continued.

“Since you seem to know we are, you must also know that I am a legitimate investigator. I am here for unremarkable information. This is more of an errand than a real investigation. I have several clients interested nothing more than this: how may they contact Siobhan Naught? If your organization can arrange it, then that is all I need know. I’ll even put my clients in contact with you directly, and we need never speak again. You can judge those clients for yourself.”

“Mr. Poe. I have received reports on your August Agency. People report to me that you tend to poke your nose into places it does not belong, that is, when people can even recall meeting with you. This makes it even less likely that I’m going to talk with you.” The red-haired woman replied. She took the opportunity to blow another pure blue smoke ring.

As sharp as this response was, their verbal sparring didn’t seem to make them tense at all. ‘Is it something in the smoke?’ Marie wondered.

Poe drew smoke from his own pipe, and blew a larger and more perfect smoke ring than that woman’s.

“To facilitate a meeting, perhaps some tribute could be arranged for the Raven Queen? I’m sure my clients would be willing to pay for the opportunity to communicate to her. Isn’t it, after all, the sort of thing a raven might like?”

“You should be more concerned with tribute to the Verdant Stag.” The woman replied. She attempted another smoke ring; it was perhaps larger than Poe’s, but not as circular.

“Alright.” Poe replied. “What do you want? I’m warning you, I am not for hire as a thaumaturge.” Poe sucked on his pipe and blew another perfect smoke ring; this one was easily larger than a handspan. It took a surprisingly long time to fade. Marie wondered how much practice that must have required.

“No?” Despite her seemingly hostile stance, the woman seemed mildly disappointed. “Then … what about confidential information from the Coppers?”

“As you pointed out, I do have some contact with the Coppers. But, I’m sure you have your own informants. I’m not asking for this information on the Coppers’ behalf, and it would hurt my reputation if I did not keep my clients’ confidences. Anything I didn’t learn on my own I’d have to keep to myself.”

“Then this meeting is over.” The woman replied, her lips a flat line.

“Let’s not be too hasty. A one-time information exchange may be possible. You tell me what you want to know, and I’ll decide if its enough to exchange for information on how to contact the Raven Queen. I may know the answer without information from the Coppers anyway.”

The woman gave Poe a shrewd look. “What is Ennis Naught telling the Coppers in Harrow Hill?”

Poe pulled the pipe away from his mouth, then smiled bitterly.

“That is a good question. Sadly, I can neither admit nor deny that I possess that information.” He paused, sighing, “nor can promise that I can obtain it for you. Is there some less difficult to obtain information you want?”

“We have no further business. Good day to you, Mr. Poe.”

“Well, I am disappointed.” Frank knocked the ash from his pipe into the tray, then tucked it into his pocket. “Perhaps, if I am able to share the information in the future, we can meet again. I expect to do some work for the Coppers, but I assure you, I am not your enemy.”

“Nor are you our friend, Mr. Poe. Good day.” The woman dismissed them with a bright white smile. Marie thought she looked a bit hungry.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Thank you for the smoke. Good day.”

As they left the office, Marie began wondering what the members of the Verdant Stag knew about her. It seemed like it would be a weird thing for this woman to recognize her specifically. Something was going on, but Marie wasn’t sure what.

As the enforcer showed them down the stairs of the Verdant Stag, Poe turned to the enforcer for a question.

“Listen, I’m looking for some headache reducer; maybe a pain relieving salve? Would you know a good place to buy nearby?”

“Sure, we sell some here.”

“Good, mind if I take a look?”

The bodyguard took a little while to answer. Marie suspected he was considering whether he needed to ask permission.

“Fine. But don’t hang around.” He replied.

The bodyguard directed them back to the third floor, and took the first door to the left into a tidy room. Inside, colorful glass vials, bottles, and jars were neatly arranged on sturdy shelves. Everything was marked with prices and labels stating their contents. Marie noticed that many of them glowed: purple, red, orange and blue. She’d seen similar bottles at the parlor, although a much more narrow variety.

The shop impressed Marie; especially the prices. They were so low, she expected there was some sort of scam. Colored water with some optical trick, instead of the real potions. She’d seen the accounts at the parlor for buying the standard sorts of salves and potions, plus a variety of aphrodisiacs. None were as cheap as these.

Marie freely wandered around, looking at the labels. She recognized “fever reducer,” “Abrim’s lung clearer,” and “vitamin booster.” Some she recognized as dangerous. “Beamshell tincture” was one.A masseuse had used it to keep themselves awake during the long night shifts, but had gotten addicted. The Morrows didn’t care so much, but Madam had been furious with the girl. Some labels were mysteries, like “Landrum’s nourishing draught” which she’d never heard of before.

Poe pointed at a jar of salve.

“Is this price right?” He asked the woman managing the little shop. She looked him over.

“For you, the price is double.”

“What? why?”

“This is a service for those that can’t afford it. You, on the other hand, can.” The woman glared at the bodyguard. Marie guessed he was not supposed to bring rich folks around to the shop.

“I am not so rich as that.” Poe protested. Poe tried to look affronted, but Marie could tell his heart wasn't in it.

“Tell me that you can’t afford to pay.”

“I can pay.” He sighed. “Where do you get them so cheap, anyway? Your marked prices are practically the cost of the potion.”

“You are correct; excepting you, we source them at cost and sell them with only a small mark-up. People around here can’t afford a healer. Lord Stag doesn’t like seeing people suffer.”

Marie got a lump in her throat. She certainly knew that healers were expensive. She found herself unconsciously touching the tattoo on her chest that rested directly over her heart. She blinked. The Verdant Stag were criminals. So why were they so much kinder than the Morrows?

Marie fisted her dress with her right hand. She would not show these people her anger. She wouldn’t. ‘Life isn’t fair, that’s how things are, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’ Marie thought. ‘You do the best you can, and take whatever chance you can get.’ Poe looked over at her.

“Something wrong Marie?”

Marie gestured to have Poe lean down, so she could talk in his ear.

“Poe, this can’t be right. This has to be a scam.” Marie couldn't believe they would be so altruistic. Why? When everyone knew the gangs were horrible: never fair, and always looking for advantage.

Poe nodded seriously to her. “Ok, we’ll check it.” Poe straightened and addressed the woman managing the little potion shop. “I’ll take this pain reliever, and some of that ointment for scrapes, and you have some moonlight sizzle, so I’ll take one of those too. Give me a discount for buying a bit extra?”

“I can mark it up more if you like.”

Poe chuckled. He picked up the bottles and placed them in inner pockets of his coat.

‘How many pockets does he have?’ Marie wondered.

Before he put the moonlight sizzle away in a pocket, he shook it firmly, and it glowed nearly as clear and bright as a lamp. He nodded to himself and handed over the money.

Poe allowed the enforcer to direct them out of the Verdant Stag and onto the street.

On the way back to the office, Poe walked leisurely. Whether this was because he was absorbing the information from the meeting, or just tired from straining himself, Marie did not know.

“The moonlight sizzle worked, but these salves have to be fake, right?” Marie asked.

“No. I do not think they are. I will teach you the basis of potion-making, and we’ll make one soon, when I feel up to demonstrating.”

“But, why would they do it? Why sell these potions for so little?”

“Speculation does not suit a detective or a sorcerer. We should reason from our observations. The moonlight sizzle activated, and works exactly as it should. I don’t know this ‘SS’ mark, but it’s seems fine. And, the fever reducer has the same mark. Thus, we have evidence that Lord Stag cares. What others say is sometimes unreliable, but the woman did say that he cares about people. Honest concern is a possible reason for the cheap potions. There might be other reasons: there are benefits from giving people a discount on necessities, like affordable healing, or housing, or small loans. They’ll be loyal.”

Poe seemed to think for a bit, before he continued. “Not everything is a transaction. If you want to change the world, like ending suffering, you have to start doing it by any means you have.”

Marie turned over that thought for a moment and then realized what Poe was saying. That couldn't be right.

“Wait. Suffering? You can’t change things like that. That’s just part of the way things are.”

Poe stepped in front of Marie, and blocked their progress down the street. He took off his glasses and tucked them into a pocket. He squat down so that he ended up looking up at her slightly. He was still much taller than her. His mismatched eyes were serious, but not angry, when he looked at her. He smelled like the etherleaf smoke; to Marie it smelled like smoked woodruff and mint.

“Marie.” He started quietly. “This is important. Know it. It is a Sorcerer’s Will to change the world. We pour out a salt circle and change the mundane into magic. Sorcerers embody change in the world. Nothing need remain the same when a sorcerer works their Will. Do you understand that?”

“Yes Poe.” Marie nodded. Poe continued.

“Everything is capable of change. Even those things that seem beyond your personal control. The way this city is organized is the offspring of choices: you choices, my choices, Lord Stag’s choices, Lord Morrow’s choices, and the Crowns’ choices. These choices fit together. Everything is connected.” Poe paused, and then glanced around to see if any passerby might overhear. “The Crowns would never admit it, but even the Raven Queen’s choices are changing the city. It’s a matter of making choices to make others’ lives better, or choices that make others’ lives worse. Influence and change people’s choices, and the world will change.”

“Are you saying sorcerers can turn poor into rich people, or make it so that there is no pain?”

“No. I am saying that who suffers, and why, and how much, is influenced by the resources they have, where they get their resources, and how the organizations—especially governments—organize to move those resources through civilization.” Poe’s voice became more measured, and he spoke with careful articulation. “The Blood Emperor sacrificed his people, and blood streamed from the gates of his palace. But, the ancestors of the Crown made a new government after he was assassinated. They did not accept that the Blood Emperor’s way was inevitable. They changed it. They outlawed blood magic, and we still live with the choices they made hundreds of years ago. But just like sorcery, that kind of change comes only from having the will to change, the components to make a difference, and the expectation that some sacrifice—of energy, influence, secrets, or wealth—are necessary to make it happen.”

“It can’t be that easy!”

“Who said anything about easy?” Poe returned his glasses to his face and stood. “Changing things is always difficult and dangerous. Sorcerers are always changing the world around them. From now on, you are a sorcerer, no matter how new and inexperienced. If you work hard, one day you may make the world around you into what you want it to be.”

Poe turned and started walking. Marie ran to catch up. ‘Is the August Agency what he wants to be?’ Marie thought.

“So,” Poe said conversationally. “Let’s have another lesson tonight, and then tomorrow we can report to the apprentice girl that the Stags can contact the Raven Queen.”

“Wait, when did the Stags’ woman say that?”

“The Coppers interrogated Ennis Naught because they want him to lead them to his daughter, and whatever she stole. But Lord Stag does not need this. So, why do the Stags want to know what he is saying?”

“So that they can tell Raven Queen?”

“Exactly. If they know what Ennis has told the coppers, then they can pass this information to the Raven Queen so that she may avoid capture if he revealed something dangerous to her plans. If you want to succeed, knowledge is the first step. The Stags must know how to contact her, otherwise, why would they care?”

“What about Lacer?”

“Grandmaster Lacer.” Poe corrected her absently. “I don’t have enough yet for him. He did want me to find out how to contact Naught, but he also might pay a bonus if I can arrange the meeting.”

‘A bonus!’ Marie thought. ‘Poe might buy some better food.’