Chapter 4

“You both sleep in so late.”

The voice wasn’t one I wanted to wake up to. His thick Wannihiemian accent made me jolt and stiffen like I’d just been plunged into freezing water; a cold shiver went through my spine. I thought for a moment to remain sleeping, that if I just kept my eyes closed, he’d soon get bored and leave us alone. A child’s thought. He wasn’t the type to let us be. He wasn’t the type to let anything go. Slowly, I sat up from my bedding and rubbed my eyes before letting the first light of day in. Ottom was at our feet. He had his hands on his hips and was leaning backward as if he was ready to take a long piss. A smile was on his face. A sinister one, like that of a boy who enjoyed hunting because he got to see the animals yelp and squeal.

Behind him were two men on either side of his shoulder. Not Roc the Bervian or the short one he called Ghasken. These two looked exactly like one another, with strawberry blond hair and freckles, Strong, lean jaws, and deep clefts on their chins. One was dressed in a tunic. Common in style, but immaculately clean for something so rough spun. The other had a plated cuirass donned, with a large sword at his hip. Both had mean, sneering faces that looked down at us from broad shoulders, and they were at least a head taller than my brother and I.

I looked over at my brother who, like me, was sat up from his bedding. He had a wide, blank stare on his face like he couldn’t believe this wasn’t a dream.

Ottom’s smile grew larger, “What’s the matter? Wasn’t expecting us so soon?”

Neither of us said anything, we just gazed on absently. He looked around the room, scrunching his nose. "This place isn’t good enough for the dogs. And what’s that smell? Has something died?" He glared at us expectantly, like he wanted an actual answer.

I shrugged nervously.

His face softened and he chuckled to himself. He said something to the big men in the local tongue. The two of them snorted and sniggered. "It's too small in here... Hjorn, Burd. Head outside and guard the door. I’ll be fine with these two.”

They looked at one another and then back at Ottom. One of them said something under his breath before slowly making his way from the room. The other kicked a bit of kindling that was apart from the burnt-out fire on his way out.

"Those two are the Folf twins," Ottom said after they left. "They will be your... Well, your overseers on this particular job. Their Naminian is not nearly as good as mine, but they understand it well enough."

Ottom gave a comforting smile which soon faded as he looked around the room again, “On the drunk god, you really are a pair of rats. This place doesn’t even have a privy. Where exactly do you shit? By the smell, I’d say close by.”

After receiving silence for a response, Ottom sighed to himself loudly. “So, did you manage to find the rest of the jewellery within the night? Or at least the seventy-five ferrings? Perhaps that is why you have taken to sleeping in so late. Because the job is done and now, you’ll be able to pay back what you owe?” he looked at us with genuine expectancies, like what he asked was at all possible. Caine shook his head, “We haven’t found either.”

“As I suspected, you have slept in because your kind are lazy. You’re a stain on this fine city. So, I take it that means you are willing to do what I asked for last night? That you will kill someone for me?” Caine gazed over at me.

I stared back.

He turned to Ottom and nodded.

“Good,” Ottom said.

The large-bellied man reached into his pocket and pulled out something small and shiny. A glass vial. Tiny enough for him to hold it between his thumb and forefinger. Inside the vial was a clear liquid. “Dust gin,” he said. “Brewed and distilled from the high springs of the Farian mountains,”

He threw it onto Caines’s lap, pulled out another, and threw that one on mine. He then pulled out a third and kept it for himself. Ottom undid the vial’s little cork and dropped it to the floor. He then raised it high as if saluting the stone ceiling, “Drink!” He said, and then put the vial to his lips. He was about to swallow but noticed that my brother and I hadn’t moved.

“Is there a problem?”

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“What is it?” I asked.

He looked at me as if I was stupid, “Do you tribes folk know nothing of proper custom? One does not just agree to do what you're about to do without drinking on it first.” He shook his head. “And as I just told you it’s dust gin. It’s alcohol, although I’d admit this stuff has more of a kick to it than most. One gulp of this stuff and you’ll feel brave enough to fight ten men. You’ll need that courage if you’re going to do what I ask of you. It does come at a price though. Too much and this happens.” Ottom smacked his large belly and laughed loudly. It soon died off to a whimper when he realised we hadn’t joined in with him.

“Humourless rats,” he muttered.

“Why must we drink it?” I asked.

Ottom glowered at me pitifully, “How clearer must I be? Because we are entering a contract with one another and all contracts in this city must be sealed with a drink. I the contractor must choose what drink we seal it with. And you, the contractee must drink it. I have placed those drinks on your lap, see.”

He gestured vigorously to the vial. I picked it up and inspected it, turning it over in my fingers. The liquid inside was as clear as water, although on close inspection you could see black specs swirling around as I moved it. I stared at it with peculiar fascination.

That was until I noticed Ottom’s eyes were boring into me. The large man’s face started to redden, “May I remind you that this is a command, not a request. I will not ask again. Drink!”

The venom in his voice almost willed the corks off all by themselves. Before I knew it, my head was tilted back, and the liquid began pouring down my throat.

Caine and I had never had the city mead or wine before. It was the first time we had tried any kind of alcohol. Seeing how the city folk were on an average night was enough for me to decide that no good could come of it. I had never been one for altering the mind.

On the hills, they had pipe smoke that was passed around to the chiefs on occasion. Usually, it was to celebrate a birth or an eloping, or in memory of a dead elder. Even then, I wasn’t too fond of the space-like feeling it gave me. It left me unfocused for the most part. Confused. Unable to act to the proper customs of our people. This, however, was different.

Firstly, the dust gin burnt my throat like nothing I had felt before. A searing burn that stayed there well after I had finished it. It was odd but strangely, it wasn’t unpleasant. I found myself pining for it after it was gone. When that sensation left me, things began to change. It was subtle, but enough for me to notice. The room was brighter, as if someone had illuminated it with a lantern. Ottom’s face seemed more detailed, I could see every wrinkle under his eyes. Every hair on his stubbly chin. It was like looking at him from only a breath away.

I gazed over at Caine, the blacks of his eyes were like marbles, and he had something on his face I hadn’t seen for a long time. A wide, genuine, smile, like he used to have when we were children. Was he happy? That didn’t seem like him.

“Yes, that’s it,” said Ottom, “Feel it course within you. Feel like you are the bravest, strongest there is. That you can take on the armies of the world.”

I did feel it. A surge. A rush. It was as if I wanted to do nothing but run along the hills and hunt the Akerin. I shot up to my feet. I wasn’t sure what I was planning on doing. I just had to stand.

Ottom threw up an open palm, “Easy there boy! You’ll hurt yourself moving that fast.”

And then, as if being drained from my very blood, the surge left me. Tiredness came over me and somehow, I found myself back on my bedding.

“The sudden burst of energy is short-lived,” the large man said chuckling. “But the courage. Well, that stays for quite a while. You’ll need it.” Ottom rubbed his hands together. “Right, now that the sealing of the deal is complete, let’s get down to business.” He cleared his throat. “You’re to find a man named Gerert. He can usually be found in an inn called The Mule and Mare. It sits on the bank of the river Alora in the north part of the city, just off the Finches Bridge. I would wager that neither of you has been that far?”

Caine shook his head.

“Figured as much. It’s a lot different from these parts, I can tell you that. It’s Where the rich people live. Senators and noblemen and whatnot. The prissy, soft-hand types that will take one look at you and turn their noses up. Which works for us, we want you to be overlooked.”

Whilst he was speaking, he had pulled another small vial from his pocket, uncorked it, and knocked it back. “The twins are going to take you by carriage from here to The Mule and Mare, and they’re going to show you Gerert. Then you’ll have a fortnight to plot a way to kill him. You most certainly will want to remember his face as we are only going to show you him once. If you fail to kill him. We kill you. If you take longer than a fortnight. We kill you. If the city watch or any military type catches you, then they will kill you. Understand?”

Caine and I both nodded.

“Good klings,” Ottom patted his belly, “oh, and don't think about running. That would be bad for you. Very bad. There are worse things in this world than death. Is that clear?”

We nodded again.

The large man looked satisfied. “I believe that’s all that needs to be said.” He turned around as if to leave.

“Why?” I found myself saying.

Ottom turned back squinting, “why what?”

“Why do you want him dead?”

“That’s none of your concern little kling. Or would it ease your conscience if you knew he was a bad man? An awful one at that. Yet again he could be the most valiant of people. With honour as high as the sky. A saviour of men and a healer of the sick and the needy. It matters not. You’ll kill him anyway because I’ve told you to and until the debt is paid, I own your bodies. . . Is that clear?”

I nodded yet again.

Ottom gave us one final hard glare. “The pressure is on boys, I found that it's the best way to get things done. Do yourselves some good, put on clothes, and get some food in your belly. The Folf twins will be back in one hour. Be seeing you.”

With that, Ottom left.