Disclaimer: See last chapter

C

"Who in this city is powerful enough to help us?"

I want to know from Dai.

"Oh so it's us now? Why do you think I'll help you with this absolutely insane and suicidal quest?"

"Erm, because you like me a lot and can't stand the thought of watching me die of a broken heart when they execute him?" I try, but he only glares at me.

"Can't you be serious for once? Even if we were to do this we had best plan everything out beforehand. None of your usual tactic of making things up along the way."

"Ok agreed. So you'll help me then?"

"I never said that I ...Yes, ok fine. You won't stop bothering me anyway until I've agreed will you." He growls and instantly turns his attention back to what is left of the food I prepared earlier, to hide the fact that the prospect of breaking into the city prison is actually quite exiting to him. Well at least I hope that's the reason.

Once he looks up again I give him the most brilliant smile I can manage under the circumstances. I'm not too fazed when he only shakes his head in resignation and sighs deeply. Now that I'm not alone anymore my mood has brightened considerably.

Once we've finished our breakfast we decide that it'd probably be best to go for a little walk in the streets to find someone who listens to the newest rumours and find out what the authorities are going to do with their prisoners.

Dai drags me to a disreputable looking tavern where he orders something called "Death at dawn" and tells me to sit down and behave before he vanishes in search of that certain somebody who might know more about Andy's future. A disgruntled woman in her late thirties comes and serves me the ominous drink, which I taste carefully only to discover that it consists mostly of beer and something spicy for the flavour. I have just started to relax a bit when suddenly something creaks behind me and a heavy hand drops on my shoulder. I nearly jump out of my chair in frightened surprise.

"There you are pretty elf!" A deep voice rumbles in my ear and once I manage to turn around I recognize who is currently holding me down. The guy from this morning! What does he want? Is he going to complain about my absence?

"Erm...I'm sorry... I wasn't feeling too well and I...I..."

I start to apologize just in case. Shit why did he have to turn up here? I don't really want him anywhere near me! Anything official always gives me cold shivers and reminds my of the many different prison cells I've seen in my life. Far too many actually.

"Ah don't worry. I understand. Here you might not believe it but, I'm an honest guy and I don't like to be indebted. Especially not to the likes of you."

He drops a few coins on the table, pats me on the shoulder and leaves. Absolutely speechless I stare at his quickly retreating back then at the coins. What in all nine fucking hells did I tell him last night? Well at least it seems that I'm not in trouble with the law for once, I decide happily after trying some more "Death at dawn".

Before I can really enjoy this new development though, the terrible old woman walks up to me and this time she brings someone else along who might just be the owner of this oh so wonderful place. I think about running away, but firstly they're far too close by now and secondly Dai chooses this moment to come back with a fat, sweating guy in tow. They arrive at the table just as the "owner" starts talking.

"If you're going to work here boy, you should be aware of my business rules."

I look at him with growing trepidation and hope that is all he has to say, but no of course he has to continue and bother me about the guard until I get angry, take the money push it in his hand and hiss: "Listen asshole I've no intention whatsoever of doing that kind of work anywhere and now leave me alone and let me have some peace and quiet to drink the shit you call beer around here."

That doesn't have the desired effect. Not at all really. It only serves to make him angry enough to suddenly grab me by the collar of my shirt and pull me up until my feet are dangling in empty air, which isn't terribly difficult because he's at least a foot taller than me.

"Listen you dirty son of a rat I don't take shit like that from whores like you and if I ever catch you doing business here without permission I'll cut your pointy ears off. Understood?"

"Let me down." I hiss and he shakes me a bit before he asks again.

"Understood?"

I look down the heavily muscled arm into the angry bearded face and decide wisely that he'll probably be able to hold this position much longer than me and my only shirt.

"Yes." I answer angrily through gritted teeth. This time he lets go of my collar and I drop to the floor in an embarrassing heap.

"Enjoy your beer."

And with that he walks away. Gods how I hate this city!

"You certainly have a talent when it comes to irritating people." Dai says dryly as he helps me up.

"Oh thank you Dai." I snap at him. "I've never noticed that before."

He just laughs and introduces the fat little man he brought along.

"Toren this is old Bo. He knows about everything that happens in the city."

"Nice to meet you." I grumble and he simply nods. Already I don't like the way he's looking at me.

"Dai said you want to know what happened to the Drow they caught yesterday?"

This time I'm the one who nods.

"Well I do seem to remember hearing something, but my memory is not very accurate these days. Old age you know."

"I don't have any money." I say flatly, which is true, because I just gave all of it to the annoying owner of this heap of rubbish.

"Oh don't worry. I'm sure we can work something out. A nice little chat in private could work wonders for example."

Ah, so didn't misread the look and the dirty smile he's giving me right now clears out even the last tiny bit of doubt about his wishes. I look to Dai who seems a bit surprised and shrugs uncertainly.

"Have you by any chance heard what the big asshole told me a minute ago when he held me up there in the air?" I ask him sweetly, but he only shrugs totally unperturbed.

"I can tell him as well if he wishes to hear the story."

I if looks could kill old Bo would be screaming in anguish right now dying in the slowest way I could possibly conceive.

"Anyway" I growl exasperatedly, "I'm not a whore and I wouldn't let you touch me with a ten foot pole even if you knew how to turn lead into gold."

That doesn't sit well with him. I can see his face turn an interesting shade of red and then he says angrily: "So you're no whore, but you and the Drow slut blow half the Hell Gang in front of everybody, cause the biggest fight this city has seen in the last ten years and then you refuse my offer and insult me when I speak nothing but the truth?"

"Half the... I did what?"

That caught me off guard. He can't be serious! Half the Hell Gang? No way! Who're they anyway? Hell Gang what a stupid name.

"You did what?"

"I didn't." I claim stubbornly, crossing my arms in front of me.

"There are eyewitnesses."

"I was drunk."

He shrugs.

"You can drink as much as you like beforehand."

"I don't have the fucking time for this!" I yell at him in aggravation. Old Bo smiles serenely. Of course he has all the time of the world, the bloody bastard, son of a bitch! Damn him to hell! I don't want to do this.

"Bo." Dai cuts in. He doesn't sound happy. "Come on. He's my friend."

But old Bo stubbornly shakes his head.

"He insulted me."

So it's a matter of pride to him now. Damn, damn, damn! He'll never be happy with anything else I could offer and once again it's my own loose tongue that got me into this mess. Please there must be some other way out of this! Only, I can't see one right now and I really don't have time to play games.

"Fine." I ground out eventually. "What exactly do you want from me?"