All things considered, I was in a fairly joyful mood, I mean I was just in the process of losing my last 500 bucks, sans the Hamilton hidden in my boot for breakfast in a couple of hours. My mom always said to eat well before doing something stupid and if I planned to eat after breakfast, An involuntary “Well, I'll be damned.” trickled past the toothpick I was chewing on as my opponent revealed his full house. My triple cowboys were dead on arrival and so was I. There is a small number of people who can truly appreciate the kick of losing all without a backup plan. No drug, no alcohol, not even sex can beat that high. Well, for certain kinds of men at least, profoundly stupid ones, my kind. I drained my shot of Kentucky finest, took my hat, and said my goodbyes.

Once out I paused for a second dusting imaginary dust from my hat before placing it on my head. After every high comes a low and I sighed as that snake coiled in my belly. I had enough money for one more night in bed, not really an issue. It was mid-spring, a mild one at that, and I was friendly enough with the boy tending the stables for him to let me stay sleeping on the hay, at least for a while. I sighed and moved to Hotel to at last enjoy this last night while the warm buzz of whiskey held. I was trying to decide what nice food 10 bucks could buy me tomorrow morning. There will be enough for two eggs and bacon, also good strong coffee too, of course, I was trying to do math in my head will I have enough for dessert while reaching for the handle to my room.

When the icy numbness of Aether stopped my hand halfway. I was never really schooled in anything, some would say self-thought, I prefer to say that I scavenged everything I know from others. Either in the real fights or by kind souls that thought me a thing or two when they saw me doing them wrong. But this feeling, this was something I was born with. I guess everyone born with “Arts” in their blood is, odd awareness if something is wrong. What was wrong now was that someone was in my room. Not even trying to hide its presence. Ignorance or self-confidence? Honestly, I did not like either. Some of my hardest fights were against people who couldn't lace their boots.

I slowly began to withdraw, there was nothing in that room I'm gonna cry over, well except that good night's sleep. I made my second step back...right into the cold steel ring on the back of my head, at the same time familiar mechanical *click* of the cocking of a revolver told the rest. I froze my lips tightened in frustration, whoever was behind me was well enough versed in the “Arts” to completely erase his presence from me while sneaking behind. At this point going for any of my weapons, natural, unnatural, or manufactured would just see me dead faster. The cold raspy voice behind me spoke, somehow by the sound I knew he was smiling and hated the cocky bastard for it.

“Well look at that, he just might be of some use.” What happened next shook me, second voice, a female, all honey and silk spoke. “Told you, Santino. Not every bum with a drop of power is useless.” What still had me frozen was that while now I could “feel” the man. Her not even a trace, it was like the voice coming from thin air, bottomless nothingness. There were just a few creatures so empty, and neither was good news. Steel ring pushed my head forward, gently for what is worth. “Let's join our friend in the room.”

I really was not in the position to negotiate and moved back reaching for the door handle again “Wait.” the raspy voice stopped me again “First knock two times, pause, then three more times.” I raised an eyebrow but did as instructed. Unmistakably Dwarven voice answered from the other side “It was a bloody time, come on, let's get this over with!” I entered the room and found a short stocky bastard made himself comfortable. In a half-laying position on the bed, with the feet on the chair and a half-empty bottle of something on my pillow, he regarded me with brown eyes, one with a fancy gold monocle, but what more occupied my attention was Aether shotgun aimed squarely at my midsection. Dwarfs were one of the Races not blessed with the touch of “Arts” but little bastards and their genius with all things mechanical sorted that little snafu within the century. Even normal Aether firearms were highly praised, and this one was anything but just another spewer of raw Aether, aside from all customization it had a feeling, it felt so attuned to its user that it was part of him. All too overwide barrels, one of those could cut a man twice my size in two. Aether magazine was at least three times the normal size to compensate for larger-than-normal usage.

Just a light tap on my shoulder reminded me to enter all the way. Dwarf, I guess in the form of odd courtesy, took feet from the chair moved to a seating position, and pushed the chair toward me. “Much obliged.” I tried to keep the sarcasm out of my voice but something must've broke through since he grinned showing wide tobacco-browned teeth. “My pleasure boy.” I took a seat and finally had the opportunity to see all three of my captors. The only one I knew the name of, Santino, was a Human older than me, but for how much it was hard to say, mid-forties, early fifties. Exposure to elements and life, in general, gave his skin that leathery feel not dissimilar to well broken in the saddle. We had at least some grooming habits in common, with his beard not being touched with a blade for at least a fortnight, not that he lacked for those, bandolier with 6 throwing knives hung over his chest, enchanted one I felt by the slight probe. Didn't know in which way since he was bound to feel a deeper probe and I felt, while my life was not in immediate danger, not to move scales in that direction. The gun was a large caliber Army Revolver, a much harder punch than my Hellen but also handicapped to be able to shoot only mundane ammo. Although the way he snuck up on me and the slight glow behind his blue eyes gave away that firearm, in general, was not his weapon of choice.

Finally, I gathered myself enough to be in the shape to look at the third, being in the shape of a woman...or what once was a woman, that I tried to discern. Ignoring the beauty, since both kinds were painfully beautiful I concentrated on the eyes, then nostrils. Even if my inspection couldn't last more than a second she gave a soft chuckle, making room actually smell of the meadow in full bloom, innocence. I gritted my teeth, trying to get my senses back in control. “Don't hurt yourself puppy, Lamia is the answer, you'll get used to it.” Somehow I doubted that but kept that to myself as I tried to take some kind of initiative “Now, not that I don't enjoy the occasional company...” I paused and motioned to Dwarf to pass me the bottle. He gave a half smile but obliged “...but I usually like to be forewarned.” Lamia gave another amused chuckle and looked at Santino “Come on, tell me that he at least doesn't feel different?”

The older man moved and leaned against the table usually paired with a chair I was sitting on “He feels cockier than others, but that we already knew from the recon.” His Revolver remained steadily aimed at my heart .“You have a very peculiar reputation Hákon Firehand.” I raised my eyebrows with my best expression of feigned surprise as I opened the bottle and took a generous swig. “I have a reputation? Color me surprised.” I returned the bottle but haven't closed it, as I expected Dwarf did not complain but took a swig at least twice as large as mine Finally even Santino snorted something that could pass as laughter...if you squint. “Ok, kid here is a deal. We for now just want a conversation, how about everyone's hands stay away from weapons and magic during that? Would you be receptive to something like that?” I won't lie I was intrigued, I mean I was broke and planning to do something stupid for money tomorrow anyway. It could be at least stupid someone else planned. I slowly nodded nearly wrestling the bottle from the Dwarf and taking another swig, I had a feeling I'll need it.