Mission 4
"look Garrett as nice as it is I'm not taking it" Dahlia barked "lest tell me why" replied Garrett in a harsh tone "look at it, does it look I deal low quality gemstones with strange writings on it?"
"yes, which is why I bothered coming here, with your arty snobbery tastes in mind"
"I'm not taking that cursed-ed gem, now get out before I call the watch"
"you're really going to risk having guards come into illega-"
Dahlia threw a porcelain vase at Garrett's head with deepest intentions, but was easily dodged with a simple duck of the head, a smile crept on to Garrett's face still got it "wow, you wasted a 1,000 gold coin vase for me, you do care" he stated smirking, as he headed for the door Dahila's voiced boomed behind him. "Don't EVER come back, Garrett you hear?!" well, didn't like you anyway.
Outside was even less forgiving, the winds howled and the snow was thick leaving the streets abandoned, even the City Guard refused to be out, snow pierced into his eyes as if they we're spears making one of them close for protection one advantage of losing an eye, not so sensitive but with his final attempt to fence the sapphire didn't leave him a happy mood, he was left keeping the gem on his person making him a target of whatever is out in the blizzard its the markings, they all think it is cursed...then again, I wouldn't be surprised it caused this white out though. Stumbling his way towards old quarter where the Cripple Burrick is located, with every aching step Garrett spotted blood in the snow, barely there but still noticeable, even if he was curious where it might lead him Garrett kept course no point chasing shadows...
The Cripple Burrick may use to be a place that represented treachery but has became a home for Garrett, lest until the whole murder thing blows over upon entering the premises warm air rushed to his face leaving his human eye to open without being ambushed by snow arrows, his legs wanted to give out but he refused to have them buckle under neath him "Holy Builder, what are you doing out in weather like this?" questioned Evelynn rushing towards him at an awkward pace no reason, thought it would be a nice stroll "you're an absolute lunatic, Cimon" she stated brushing off some snow as Garrett passed fake names, always one way to cover tracks, sitting down in his usual corner spot, with a slow sigh escaped his lungs, slowly setting some coins down on the table "for the cel-" "susshhh, my boss is in the kitchen" hushed Evelynn, The old wench maybe ignorant of Evelynn's illegal establishment but had a temper that can unleash the maw of chaos at any given moment, if she found out what was happening it would be off to the gallows with the poor saint Evelynn and hello winter for Garrett "I'll get something to warm you up until she is gone" she said softly leaving him in the abandoned, dimly lit pub.
Garrett twirled his now burdened gem trying to figure out ways to get rid of it for a good amount of coins how useless gems are until you sell them, just nothing but over-glorified shiny rocks... maybe remove the silver part, sell the sapphire... no, too risky if there's even one scratch...foot steps approached him and with a flash the gem disappeared into Garrett cloak "what's that?" Evelynn questioned with a soup in her left hand "a useless rock...you made quite a mess" he stated, leaning a little bit to observe at a better angle, looking at the spilled soup on the floor making the otherwise light wood, dark "sorry... my right arm isn't really being cooperative right now, but enjoy what is left" she smiled putting the bowl in front of Garrett not before creating a tsunami with in it, spilling more of the thick brown liquid on the table, "why can't I be ambidextrous, life would be so much.."she sighed, walking away mumbling to herself along the way, Garrett looked at her suspiciously but was immediately distracted by the sapphire and how to get rid of it with as much profit as possible, leaving the now empty bowl untouched.
In what felt like centuries, Garrett felt he would get a decent amount of sleep since there's no stomping or screaming of drunkards above him, when the storm settled the old hag went to her assumed dungeon of a home leaving Evelynn to lock up the place for the night but not without doing some chores first. Garrett settled into his favorite corner mostly because nobody goes that far away from the door and the barrels a few feet away from him kept most of the snoring out from his "room mates", sitting on the somewhat cold ground Garrett still had his mind on the gem just scratch out the markings... no, who would want a defaced piece of junk? After all they are kind of nice to look at... Garrett got up and paced around the room before taking notice of the wine rack, it's not all that common for wine to be sold since they are expensive and an acquired taste, but when nobles or those with enough coin come around and ask for the expired grape juice it is better to have it laying around then dealing with rich spoiled snobs that would love to have a bartender executed, Since Garrett steals wine every now and then he has developed quite an appetite for it, in a way he is living the good life any thief would die for, only retirement would be nice, hate for such nice wine go to waste though with a quick look at what to choose from Garrett uncorked a bottle with his emergency dagger and took a sip I almost feel bad taking it, some rich snob isn't going to have their favorite wine.
Garrett woke with a jolt, causing the bottle of wine that was beside him to fall over and roll to the middle of the room, noises we're above as if a struggle was in commence, the voices we're muffled but he knew what was happening damn it, shouldn't of had that wine, just when Garrett was making his sloppy exit Evelynn leaped down the stairs her dressed ripped, blood from her right arm dripped to the floor, reeking with suspicion "Ga-Cimon what the hell, why are you still here... really? You had a whole bo-" before she could finish her sentience of dis belief, a dozen guards came rushing down, swords at the ready for whom ever is down in the cellar "you're not getting away that easily Taffer!", Evelynn spun around allowing Garrett to at lest find a good hiding spot.
"end of the road" the head guard grind taking a pair of shackles from his belt. Evelynn went down on her knees, arms reaching to the sky in surrender "alright... I'll go quietly..." she said in a low voice almost as if she was only talking to herself and not at her perpetrators, with a haunting clink Evelynn was escorted upstairs with no resistance, just like she promised "the rest of you look for any free loaders" ordered the head guard, they began to sweep the room checking every shadow in the room how in the hell am I to get out of here?... could maybe... CRASH! "Bells, Bells!" the whole guard went to the main floor leaving the cellar empty to see what was causing such a loud noise well, somethings sure don't change with the window of opportunity wide open Garrett made his way upstairs as well, not to see what is happening but to at least have some breathing room to leave by window, at first he thought Evelynn was behind the noise but she was nowhere to be found, perhaps I'm being fallowed...again, with the guards confused to all ends Garrett left the pub by the back door in the kitchen leaving with many questions behind.
What should of been a very bright morning there was only darkness, this marked the darkest day of the year, The Winter Solstice has begun and every Pagan down in the forest will be celebrating all day with no rest, Garrett has much to celebrate as well for this is the only time of the year he could do overtime and collect enough coin to last him a whole month time to get to work.
In the distance two shadows flickered, watching with piercing eyes, hiding what ever would be on their judging minds, both gazes we're locked on to Garrett as he walked in the knee deep snow looking back only once directly at the shadows, sighed and kept course "look i don't know how long i can keep this up" whispered one of the shadows in a cold voice "just a little longer, any wrong moves and the balance will tip to destruction" the other shadow was more calming and collected "you Keepers and you're balance, honestly you are obsessed, and thanks to you we could no longer use glyphs"
"it was the way the glyphs we're written"
"you do realize that you can take matt-... never mind... anyway how much longer before i can retre-"
"soon just be patient" the Keeper interrupted sounding a little annoyed "fine...but if things go wrong you're faction is to blame" the cold voice blurted accusingly, spinning away from the Keeper and went in the same direction as Garrett with a quiet gate even though they are in snow, "think they are so special..." the Keeper huffed as they melted into the darkness, leaving the now cold, dark, abandoned streets to be populated by the City's residence for their daily routines.
Oooo some keeper activity happening, Happy Holidays :D, thought it would be fun to post this on the same day as winter solstice since it is a real life holiday for pagans :3 anyway will be taking a break for the week here so no new chapters for a while, have a good day (even though where I live I'll only get 1 hour of sunlight XD)