Chapter 8: Shadowy Deals
They had only just entered the Slums district, on Anomen's advice that they go to the Copper Coronet for lodgings and maybe some work. The Mithrest was no place for people like them or employers they would need, and whilst Harrian had standards beyond a rat-infested inn like most of those Athkatla boasted, they wanted something a little bit more downmarket. Both Anomen and Yoshimo had assured him the Coronet would suit the party.
Harrian had finally realised that the heat would stay there forever and his slight preoccupation with the weather was, at best, eccentric. He had started to take in more of the sights, become more aware of his surroundings, watching the people as they moved, evaluating their places in the city and situation.
He had clearly not been as attentive as he had thought, because it was Yoshimo who stepped up behind him and commented, his body language and tone of his voice was if he was talking about the weather, that they had a tail.
Corias nodded, and resisted the urge to look around. After trailing plenty of people himself, he knew exactly what would throw their shadow off course. "How far back?" he asked at last. He didn't want to get rid of whoever it was; he wanted to find out who they were and why they were following him.
"Ten metres. Apparently shopping for… silks," the bounty hunter said, the slightly amused tone of his voice back. "How do you wish for us to proceed?" he continued in the first real deference to Harrian's position as leader.
"See if you can cut down a side alleyway and get behind him without him noticing," Corias responded, his voice casual and light, smiling as he spoke. "If he runs, he'll have to run right into you. I want to find out just what this fellow seeks."
"Very well." Yoshimo nodded curtly, then mumbled something that sounded distinctly like "Hiii-ya," under his breath. When Harrian turned to face him, idly wondering if he was being mocked by the bounty hunter, he had already disappeared. Corias smiled happily at his choice of plan.
He lack of attentiveness was proven once more when he turned to see Anomen standing right next to him, and forced himself not to jump. The cleric's expression was one of idle curiosity, but he wore a knowing smile. "Our Kara-Turan is off to catch our tail, no?" It wasn't much of a question.
"Did everybody detect him apart from myself?" Harrian asked sheepishly, one eyebrow raised, realising he'd have to get his act together to survive in this city, let alone on this dangerous quest of his.
Anomen shook his head. "Ranger Minsc declared that, ah, Boo detected the man's presence. He was just about to inform you when Yoshimo disappeared. What is our course of action?"
Harrian came to a stop, the other three around him also halting, now all fully aware of the situation. "Now we do this," he mumbled, grabbing Delryn's arm and pulling him around as he marched directly at their tail.
He saw a man start, then turn around and stride quickly in the other direction, head low. The time for subtlety was over; the party broke into a run. Their tail was about to do the same just as Yoshimo emerged from an alleyway right in front of him, and the stalker collided heavily with the Kara-Turan bounty hunter.
They both fell to the floor, the tracker having not expected to find someone suddenly in front of him, Yoshimo having not expected to be literally run into, but before the tail could get to his feet, he found a rather vicious-looking long sword pointed at his throat.
"Who are you, and why are you following us?" Harrian asked, his voice low and threatening as Minsc stepped up beside him, blocking out the sun for added effect. It rather diminished Corias's intimidation rating, but with the massive ranger next to him that didn't matter too much.
The man raised his hands and slowly stood, the sword not wavering from his throat. "You be the one I'm looking for, if I'm not mistaken. Corias be your name, is it not?" he asked, his voice surprisingly bright for someone literally an inch away from being skewered by his neck.
"You are not the one asking the questions, dog," Anomen interjected, idly swinging his hefty mace back and forth. "I suggest you answer before we make things very unpleasant for you."
"Your point be well made," the tail conceded. "My name is Gaelan Bayle… I wasn't trailing you, as such, merely taggin' along until you reached somewhere a little less conspicuous where we could talk."
Yoshimo leant over towards Harrian. "Bayle… I know this man, Harrian. A man of his word, for what it's worth in this city. He wouldn't talk to us unless he had something of value to say. It may be advisable to hear him out."
Corias nodded. "Fine. Whatever you have to say, say it quickly," he declared levelly to Bayle, lowering the sword somewhat, but only because a few of the guards had started to look in their direction. He doubted that Bayle would attempt to take them on, outnumbered heavily as he was.
"Coo!" Gaelan straightened his ruffled clothes, and smiled in a way he hoped was winning. "You were involved in that incident on the Promenade yesterday, word has it. The friend of yours, yon lass Imoen kidnapped by the Cowled Wizards, I also heard."
Harrian's face showed no trace of the immense surprise he felt. "That still doesn't explain why you're here. Tell me something I don't know."
"I know people who can find her for you." Bayle glanced around furtively. "But this isn't a safe place to talk. Come to my home and I'll explain all about it, explain what my friends can do and what it'll cost you."
To the immense surprise of the others, Corias smiled, and nodded. "That sounds good. Show us to your home."
Bayle's smile broadened with immense relief. "Coo! Come with me then," he declared, setting off down the road in a slightly loping run. He didn't get a metre before Harrian's hand fell upon his shoulder.
"Just one thing," the swashbuckler continued, his brow furrowed with honest concern. "Tell us who these friends of yours are before we take another step."
Gaelan sagged. "I… I can't be telling you that," he admitted unhappily. "Just stay happy in the knowledge that they can help you find your Imoen."
"Not good enough. Who are they?" Corias continued.
Bayle was weighing his options, the pros and cons of telling him, until Yoshimo interjected and removed him of the responsibility. "You work for the Shadow Thieves, do you not?" the bounty hunter commented levelly.
The hand resting on Bayle's shoulder became a grip that yanked him back, and he found himself looking at Harrian's furious face. "The Shadow Thieves? You expect me to work with the Shadow Thieves? Do you think I'm crazy or something?"
Yoshimo and Anomen exchanged confused glances, the former quite concerned, the latter simply relieved that his sudden fear at association with such an unsavoury group was unfounded. Jaheira and Minsc seemed to be unsurprised by the reaction, the druid almost sharing in it.
"They… they can help you!" Bayle stuttered, until he was roughly shoved away by Corias.
"To the Nine Hells with that!" he barked in reply, then took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm himself. "I don't work for, or with the Shadow Thieves. Ever. Not even for Imoen. You're all a bunch of lying, manipulative bastards, and you'll probably cheat me before the deal is even made. We'll find Imoen and Irenicus by ourselves, thank you," he hissed, pushing Bayle once more. "Now go," he continued, his voice level and controlled once more.
Anomen smiled as Bayle ran like hell down the street. "I am pleased with your decision, Harrian. Association with a group as unsavoury and immoral as the Shadow Thieves would not sit well with me, and I am happy it has been averted."
Yoshimo, however, was frowning. "You may have reservations about them, but they could help you. I have no doubt that they would set you on a fast-track to finding Imoen. This may have been a foolhardy decision."
"Foolhardy or not, I don't associate with the Shadow Thieves." Harrian frowned as Bayle disappeared. "Not after last time," he added cryptically. "But let us go; the Coronet awaits, and we need to decide just what we are going to do with ourselves."