Tuck spent his morning helping with the work on his Hide away. Like him a few of the craftsmen in the Society were Champions, together they used their Titan abilities to make massive amounts of progress on the safe house in just one day.
Hours later when Tuck grew tired he returned to the Jaunty. He stopped and took his meal in the common room, watching people come and go. After taking his time, Tuck lazily made his way to his room. Tuck went on full alert the moment he opened his door.
Walking into the living room his heightened senses picked up the smell of something bitter, Tuck noticed it was a concoction in a teacup. Realising that he had company Tuck extended his Spatial Awareness to encompass his rooms.
A smile stole across his face when he realised who his guest was.
Tuck entered the bathroom and leaned on the door, taking in the gorgeous sight of a naked lathered up beautiful woman.
Miriam froze when she noticed Tuck watching, her eyes wide, one hand going to her privates the other covering her breasts. Tuck smiled at her shyness but he never claimed to be gentlemen enough to turn away. Miriam blew out a huff of air and straightened up, her hands on hips, her attitude now defiant.
“This is me,” Miriam said. “I know I’m long in the tooth, my breasts are small, I’m scarred and my body is hard but I’m all woman and I’m willing.”
Tuck realised that aside from thinking she was old Miriam had some body image issues as well.
“I find you wonderfully beautiful even if you don’t.” he told her.
“Thank you Tuck, I’ll try to make tonight memorable.” Miriam gave him her best lascivious smile. “Could you pass me that cup of tea on the table?”
Tuck went back and brought her the tea. Miriam downed it in one gulp and made a sour face before handing him the empty cup.
“That looked unpleasant.” Tuck remarked.
“Emphi-root, stops pregnancies, if your plan was to breed me and leave, you can think again, I’m not falling for that twice.” Tuck placed the cup on the counter, not picking up that line of conversation.
He had guessed Miriam had a child, maybe children, It was why he bought her extra food to carry home when she showed him about The Warren. He would ask her about her family later, right now he had other things on his mind.
Tuck stripped and stepped into the bath with Miriam but she put her hand on his chest to stop him from embracing her.
“I wish to make a few things clear first, Tuck.” She said, Tuck held himself back and took a bar of soap and began to wash himself while he waited. Miriam collected herself and continued.
“As I said I’m not used to doing this for money. If you weren’t wealthy I still wouldn’t consider this, but I’m desperate.” Tuck chuckled, which made Miriam frown.
“As a merchant I have to let you know admitting to being desperate puts you at a disadvantage in negotiations.” She snatched the soap and spun him around to wash his back.
“I’m taking the chance that you are a better man than that. My daughter Jalissa has the talent. She’s eager to learn but raising a mage isn’t cheap. She just turned 6 seasons, in time for the next beginner class at the academy next week. it costs 40 kilo, I need 10 more and I am hoping you'd be willing to pay 20 kilo for tonight.” Miriam looked at him with eyes filled with fear. Her negative self image was telling her she was charging too much.
Which she was.
20 Kilo was around $200, but considering money here was valued more like the old west, 20 Kilo would be more like $3600, Tuck’s entire new wardrobe had cost less. Miriam saw him considering.
"I know it's a lot…" she stopped when Tuck pulled the money out of his reservoir and handed it to her. She looked from him to the money a few times, shocked that her plan worked. Miriam put the money in the overnight bag she had on the bath counter and turned back to Tuck.
Business concluded the rest of the evening was about pleasure.
***
It turned out Tuck’s new found stamina extended to everything, he may have worn Miriam out but she seemed happy as she lay on his chest. They talked for a bit before they drifted off to sleep.
Tuck’s Spatial Awareness woke him suddenly. Someone had entered his apartment, As Tuck watched he was treated to an odd sight as 5 men walked through the wall into his living room.
There were 4 burly looking guys who were led by a smaller weasel looking fellow. Tuck was amused that they walked out the stone wall holding hands like little kids on a field trip.
Tuck eased out of bed trying not to wake his lover, but Miriam was a light sleeper. She came awake and caught his tense demeanour. Tuck raised his finger to his lips and she nodded in understanding. Miriam leaned over to her overnight bag next to the bed and brought out a small handgun.
‘I’ll have to ask about that.’ Tuck thought. ‘I was told guns were reserved for Militia… maybe I already have my answer.’ Tuck put together the pieces of the Miriam puzzle, her physique and scars wouldn’t look out of place on a soldier. He had thought she moved like a dancer but he was mistaken, she moved like a fighter. Tuck added these details to the list of things he needed to look into.
Whomever Tuck’s uninvited guests were, they were not going to get a warm welcome. He Wyrmed into the room and landed a haymaker on the one closest to the bed chamber. He didn’t go full lethal on the invaders because the Militia may not appreciate it.
As Tuck suspected his assailants were all Champions. Three of them bound for him at incredible speeds but Tuck ducked and weaved effortlessly while paying attention to the Weasel looking guy still standing by the wall they entered through.
By now Miriam had thrown on her dress and came out of the bedroom. She goggled at the blurs of motion before noticing the downed assailant. Thinking quickly she took the unconscious man’s belt to tie his arms behind his back before levelling her gun at the man by the wall.
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He raised his hands, it seemed he had no intention of getting involved any further.
‘Good.’ Tuck thought, since he would talk, these other goons didn’t need to stay conscious.
Tuck flicked his fingers 3 times and each thug went down holding his head and screaming. Tuck had used his Wyrm holes to flick their optic nerves. Once they were down he calmly walked passed, kicking each man unconscious. Tuck made his way to Miriam and her prisoner.
"Who might you be?" Tuck asked the smug, Weasel looking fuck.
"Just a man doing some business." Weasel face replied.
"His name is Wester, people call him the Weasel. He mainly sells information." Miriam supplied. Wester's eyes narrowed at the nickname.
"Good day to you too Lieutenant Miriam, so you stopped being a tracker to start doing Silkwork, what an interesting career shift."
"I resigned my commission." Miriam replied, she tried to hide it but his statement hurt her and Tuck was having none of it.
Tuck opened his palm and created a Wyrm hole. It looked like a bubble window, inside of the bubble was a beating heart.
Nothing got through Tuck’s Wyrm hole that he didn't let through, no heat, no wind, no particulates and the only thing Tuck was allowing to pass was light so it took Wester a moment to recognize what he was seeing. The moment he recognised his own beating heart, the organ spasmed, missing a beat before racing at an incredible rate, the colour drained from Wester’s face and Tuck spoke.
“I believe you owe my lady friend an apology for your insinuations. As an information broker I am sure you know the truth of her situation." Tuck’s voice was low and dangerous.
"Ms. Miriam I spoke in anger, please forgive me. I am so very sorry." Wester pleaded. Tuck would bet his fortune Wester was being the most sincere he had ever been. He may not have been sorry about what he said but he sure regretted pissing Tuck off.
"A-Are you a Seiryu?" Wester asked with a trembling voice. His question made Miriam gasp, her eyes locking on to the tattoo on Tuck’s body.
"You don't get to ask me anything, you live for the privilege of answering my questions; why are you here and who sent you?" Tuck asked with unnerving calm, his fingers slowly closing around Wester's palpitating heart.
"The Clans want to do business with you. I've been asked to invite you to a gathering discreetly. The bruisers were sent in case you refused."
"Ah, I get it. I attacked the bruisers before you could get a word in and instead of speaking up you stood back to determine what you can learn about me to sell to whomever asks next. How close am I to the mark?"
"Dead center. I'm here to provide a service." Wester admitted.
"How much are you getting paid upon my delivery?" Tuck asked, curious about how much he was worth.
"140 Kilos total, I got half upfront and I will get the next 70 when I get back." Wester told me.
“Hand over that 70 and head to your rendezvous, I’ll follow with these mooks.” Tuck said as he closed the Wyrm hole to Wester’s chest. Wester handed over the bill fold and soaked into the wall. Tuck kept track of him as he moved between levels.
Tuck gathered up the fallen thugs in his Reservoir and got dressed. Miriam was watching him getting ready, her arms folded under her breast, her face nervous.
“Tuck, I swear this wasn’t some spy thing.” she began, but Tuck cut her protests short by gathering her in his arms and kissing her soundly. Feeling Miriam metaphorically melt into him was wonderful. Tuck stuffed the 70 kilos into the top of her dress.
“Don’t skimp, get your daughter everything she needs for school.
When I get back tell me when you get another free night, I haven’t had my fill of you yet.” Tuck whispered to her. Miriam nodded while biting her bottom lip as Tuck Wyrmed away.
***
The heads of the Clans rarely met but they were in constant contact with each other. Given the chance, powerful Clans usually warred amongst themselves but in The Warren there were too many factions looking to pull them down. From the aloof Mage's Assembly and the rigid Society of Crafts and Engineering to the self righteous Militia and the especially greedy Merchant Association who loved money but hated monopolies that weren’t their own. Of course the Clans agreed with the Merchant Association but since the monopolies in The Warren were their own, they loved them.
Each of the Clans Monopolised a key market; the Loreth Clan led The Alchemists, the Danub Clan controlled the banks, the Brambles controlled the farms and the Firths were dedicated to the control of information.
It was the Firths information network that prompted this gathering. The whispers around the Mages were disturbing but in this moment of looming crisis an unaffiliated Bagman appeared as if fate smiled on them.
Each Clan arrived with their guards, their heirs and a few servants. Now the Clan Heads sat at a U shaped table on a raised dais, their heirs sitting closely behind them. The servants and guards close at hand but out of sight.
For the last 20 minutes they sat facing the wall Wester and their guards had left through while discussing their plans and how to deal with the hapless Bagman when he arrived.
The wall the group faced rippled and Wester walked out of it. His nervousness was palpable and he was alone.
"Wester, where are the rest, what happened?" Headman Loreth demanded.
"I happened." A rumbling baritone came from behind the group. The members of the houses turned to look up at the devilishly handsome man with arresting purple eyes.
The heads of the houses stood up and faced him, unconsciously trying to mitigate some of the shift in power sitting below him represented.
The Bagman didn’t move but a shadowy hole appeared and regurgitated the 4 unconscious Champion warriors.
None of the Clan’s discussions had this scenario.
"Pay Mr. Wester and let him leave. We have business to discuss." Bagman Tuck commanded.
Tuck was having a grand time putting on this show of intimidation.
‘These assholes thought to demand my presence like I worked for them already.’ he thought. But for the first time Tuck was at a point where he had all he needed and then some. Tuck was finally in a position of power.
A servant paid Wester and he retreated through the wall.
“Ok folks, what do you want and what is it worth to me?”
"We need you to move a vast amount of resources quickly to a safehold of our choosing. You'll be paid handsomely." Headman Loreth stated.
"A sixth." Tuck's reply put confused looks on the faces of the Clans.
"I don't think we understand."
"I will do it for a sixth of whatever you want me to move, and I'm picking which sixth." Tuck's explanation set the room into an uproar.
"That's absurd!" Headwoman Danub exclaimed.
"We're offering a fair wage for reasonable work." She continued but Tuck shook my head.
"I don't need your money, I already have power and I'm not staying long enough to build influence. Resources on the other hand are always welcome. Take my deal or lose it all." Tuck turned to leave but stopped.
"Give me your calling card, I intend to leave soon, you’ll need me to come back if you change your mind. Don't make me wait too long or my price will go up to a fifth." Tuck told the Headwoman.
She gave her card to a servant who handed the card to Tuck. With nothing left to say Tuck vanished.
The Families began quarrelling about what needed to be done to the upstart. It didn't take long for them to conclude he was right, they needed him but they had time to explore other options, the Mage Assembly had only called for a meeting to investigate the possible cataclysm they had no definitive proof yet.
Tuck listened to their talks while sitting in his Wyrm hole. What he learned wasn’t encouraging.