Chapter 2 A Little Piece of Work

Reven entered his room his patron on his heels. He looked over where his bags lay at the foot of the bed. His room looked adequate. "You'd better be worth what I paid" his patron muttered at his back.

Reven smiled "We haven't negotiated my price yet" he told the man a slight smile on his face.

"What do you mean, I've already paid Finald plenty" he squeaked out.

"You've paid him, and only for my presence, we haven't negotiated for my talent" he said absently as he walked over to his bag.

"I'll" the man stopped speechless as he tried to think of something to threaten Reven with.

"you'll what, go to the guard and say I'm a fool. I negotiated for a master thief to steal for me and he won't play now" he asked mildly.

He watched with interest as the man changed color, it actually seemed to improve the look of his outfit. Reven hadn't thought that was possible.

He decided to inform the man of the way things worked in his profession. "It works this way. Finald is what's called a middleman you understand the concept" he asked , continuing when the man nodded his face still an interesting hue. "When you negotiated with him it was for a name and a connection with what you were looking for, namely me. He contacted me with the opportunity for a job on the condition that I pay him a percentage of what I make, it's how he makes a living" he looked at his patron, it was a pity his color was slowly returning to normal. "Now I haven't been paid a thing yet and you expect me to do what you want" he asked a little of his irritation leaking into his voice.

The man shook his head muttering "You'd better be worth it".

"You assume I'll do the job, I haven't heard the details of what you want. Believe me" he said looking at the man "It's a major part of any negotiations, if I don't like it I don't do it" he said, steel underlying his voice.

"But then you'd have come here for nothing" his patron said.

"I can afford it, and there is always easy pickings in any city. I don't have to work for you" he said mildly.

"But what if I report you" the man said a look in his eye Reven didn't like. He would have to nip this in the bud.

"Do you remember the bond you posted, above what you paid Finald" he asked.

"Yes" the other man said.

"I've paid the same many times before and to the same people. To put it bluntly the bond means you honor your word and that the person you deal with does the same" he said.

"And If I don't" the other man said, an uneasy tone creeping into his voice.

"Then everything you own, everything you are is forfeit, the guild assassins will target you and your family. Your position here will mean nothing, the guild spans many nations, there would be nowhere you could hide. Do you really wish to risk that for a few baubles or a little pride" he asked.

"No" the man said, subdued.

"Good" he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Now we can begin, tell me what you want and I'll go on from there".

"Alright" he said his voice a little shaky. He hadn't realized what he had been getting into when Denris had pointed him towards Finald.

"I" his voice broke and he began again. "I wanted to take a particular piece of jewelry that Kenrick the jeweler has made for an acquaintance of mine".

"And where is this piece of jewelry now" he asked when the other man stopped.

"It's in the floor safe in Master Gheren's home" he said.

Reven sighed "I need information, this isn't my city. Where is this place and what does this piece of jewelry look like. Now mind you I don't particularly care but it would be nice to know what it will take to do the job you propose. I need to know what's involved, it has a bearing on any price I give you if I choose to take the job".

"Oh sorry" the other man said. By the time they were done Reven had the information he needed, he thought he would take the job. But he thought to himself he would make Lord Jerrin wait until morning for his answer. He was tired of dealing with him tonight, let the fool wait.

"I'll tell you my decision tomorrow morning, whatever I decide you are not to tell anyone a thing, it's part of the bond" he was stating the obvious, but he had the feeling it needed to be said with this man anyway.

"But what about Denris, he's the one who sent me to Finald" he asked.

Thank you Denris he thought sarcastically. "Not even him, if he knows where to find Finald he would know of the bond".

When Lord Jerrin left he sent for his bath and relaxed thinking through his options. He made a mental list of who he would have to contact. Finald would know the names, it was a part of their contract that he provide such aid. His percentage of the profits would more than pay for it he thought with an inward chuckle. When he finally lay down to sleep his exhaustion finally caught up to him and he fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

When morning came the faint sounds of the inn were enough to wake him quickly, when he was away from home he was always on alert. Groaning he stretched and got up. He started his morning routine of stretches and exercises. In his line of work he needed to remain nimble. Though he took pains to hide it he was more flexible than many half his age. He sighed and he stretched his legs, the price of being in good shape was the exercises he needed to do every morning and keeping active in his work.

Even when he didn't have a commission he would do the roofwalking and other aspects of his craft. He didn't always need to steal anything, There was a game he played with some of his brother thieves, they had a piece of artwork that had made it's way across half the known world. It would never be sold. Instead it was stolen from thief to thief, after all it was much more of a challenge to take from one who did the same thing you did. It was good practice. Currently his old master had the thing stashed somewhere, he had been considering going for it himself when he had gotten this commission. He sighed, it would have to wait.

As he was eating breakfast An impatient Lord Jerrin arrived, coming to his table. He sat with Reven and ordered some wine, this time showing the good sense not to open his mouth further. This morning he was wearing another of his eye watering outfits. I don't need this Reven thought to himself. He ate more quickly, the sooner he dealt with Jerrin the sooner the man would go.

They retired back to his room. Once inside he turned to Jerrin and said "I'll take your job, my price is ten gold" he said. It was a triffle low, but he would have other things he would be doing while he was here.

Jerrin nodded resigned to paying more.

"If I may ask Why are you willing to hire an outlander thief to take this necklace" he asked.

"I asked for the best and You're what was sent to me" he said. He frowned then added "It was a lady friend who asked me to do this as a favor, at the time I had no idea what this would end up costing me" he said ruefully.

"I hope it's worth it" Reven said.

"It will be" the other man answered.