Spring 38
One of Tommy’s boys, showing off for his fellows, hurled a brick through the gleaming window of The Mayor’s Dive in the pre-dawn light.
They scurried like rats the moment the upstairs light flicked on.
Returning to the safety of the deep warrens, they tried to keep the matter quiet.
That lasted all of an hour.
Tommy called the culprit before his throne – repurposed noble furniture – and chewed the kid half-heartedly for jumping the gun.
Distracted, the ambitious aldersman constantly fiddled with a slip of paper, his mind fixated on its promise.
In recognition of your growing faith, we will send a gift
A few hours later, that gift arrived. A cardboard crate, packed with straw, that smoldered with the latent fury of the creature slumbering within.
“Now we’re talking.”
That fat barkeep of a mayor would sing a different story soon.
***
A couple bounty hunters came through Woodhaven at lunch with pointed questions: who had seen anyone strange; any weird deliveries; what about rumors of nobles owning territory here? Particularly Lady Mishkan?
It did not take long for them to coax a memory from a drunk that slept in an abandoned café. For a coin and an ear, he told them all about the strange lights seen at night from Woodhaven Two.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Intrigued, they doubled down.
Soon they learned that some of the workmen that came for lunch had helped build this complex. These workers spoke freely – for what love did they have for the Houses?
From the street boys, the bounty hunters learned that the Mishkan butler had been seen entering and leaving the tower on regular grocery runs. The groceries only went in, and trash came out. Lots of trash.
After the lunch rush died out, they plied the food vendors with coin and beer to learn the final clue.
“Yeah, there’s some blonde kid in Woodhaven Two. See her peering over the lip now and again. Old enough to be in school but never seen her down here. Go figure, right? Probably has some private noble tutor!”
Sharing a vicious grin, the bounty hunters switched to questions about foot traffic, entrances and exits, and local constables.
***
Aldersman Lee received an unwelcome visitor with his afternoon tea.
Margaret Dune informed him of her expectations. “Further lines of credit are contingent upon performance. If you cannot find a single girl in your own borough…”
“Soon!” Lee growled.
“Excellent.” Margaret rose, her tea untouched. “You have one week.”
In her wake, the aldersman sat on his veranda, staring at the high fence that marked the edge of his civilization, and thought to himself, Rather see this damned borough burned to ash than leave it in the hands of Oshton and those licentious heretics!
His Livery butler soon arrived to refill his tea. “Some good news, sir.”
“Out with it.”
“Some days ago, I bribed the mailman,” the butler began, congratulating his own initiative. “He promised to personally deliver your request to the deacons.”
“And?” The fool better not expect a refund!
“Another visitor awaits, should it please you.”
The Livery butler set a shimmering, black diamond on the tea table. It sparkled in the morning sunlight, pure and clean in a borough of filth.
“How much did this cost?” Lee asked, concerned.
“A token of goodwill.”
Leaning forward, the former Lord ran his finger across the black diamond.
It hummed under his touch like an eager woman.
So hard to find good help these days, isn’t it?
But you possess the discernment of a master
You sense an opportunity to be seized
“Shall I show Father Maxwell in?”
“Yes,” muttered Lee, stroking the diamond.
Finally. The church recognizes my worth. Cecille will learn better than to treat me like her dog soon enough.
The scale hummed in agreement.