Trudging onwards in the heat, the dust accumulated uncomfortably on his already parched skin. His hat and scarf over his nose and would-be lips, keeping the worst of the red sand of Orgrimmar out of his vision as he doggedly walked on towards the cool shade of the tavern entrance, glad to finally be out of the hot sun. Even with his wide brimmed hat and cloak he could feel the heat penetrating and sucking out what little moisture he still contained.
Orgrimmar was a busy city, constantly bustling with crowds who came from afar to buy and sell exotic wares; you could buy almost anything you could imagine down the dusty dirty heaving drag of the city bazaar. And the key profitable word for Jonas Dredgewood here was 'almost'. There were still items that were too taboo and shady deals with shadier items could be found in darkened corners with hushed whispers and suspicious eyes. For all intents and purposes, he was just another materials dealer – a few hides from here, some gems from there, some fanciful spices, some unusual delicacies and sweets – all earning him good coin, but some of his deals for the Undercity and its emissaries across Azeroth ran into what any sane person would consider 'the morally ambiguous'. There were research reports to return, and supplies to deliver. Apothecaries at far away stations with their heads too consumed with their various projects at hand to leave, but in dire need of reagents. Not to mention the constant need of 'repair parts' when said research had gone awry. It was a lucrative business indeed, if you get the right things at the right time, and particularly the right deals, especially with the goblins. 'Anything and everything' was his personal motto. Never to shun the possibility of a coin – his customers were quite varied in their requirements, and often caused him to travel far. Jonas' professionalism never let him enquire about the use of the items he procured, but he often wondered, amused at how many secretive plots would be unravelled should he tell any authorities of any 'unusual activity' he had participated in...
Although, mentally thumbing through his carefully coded customer notebook – written in such a fashion that only really Jonas could understand the 'real' orders, he was starting to regret his current deal with "Twenty-Seven". In the beginning it had been through the usual routes, Haynes had put him onto a lead with a remote researcher currently out-posted in Elf country. Rumour had it that this Apothecary has extradited himself and was now working for a rather flighty and influential Blood elf lady. Elves were a strange lot, they always seemed to want exotic ingredients for something, even just for cooking, and due to their aloof and proud nature everything had to be done quietly and was always paid well.
It had been simple enough items, some vials of distilled plasma here, a few blight crystals there, inevitably a request for a finger or three. They were a good reliable customer who always put in a nice large repeat order, with some differences on the side. He'd been only too happy to obtain the random artefacts ~ it gave him a certain exclusiveness above all other merchants which he liked. "Twenty-Seven" possibly the most unemotional corpse Jonas had met since awakening, had almost cried when he had brought him much desired (and illegal) tome 'A Discourse in Fire, Salt and Sanguine" back from the depths of the highlands – rumoured to be the research findings of Victor Blythe, a notorious dabbler in Fel magics. Lately though, the side requirements had been increasing in frequency and a little too suspect and elaborate, too dark even for Jonas' liking. With a sigh he decided he'd have to strike them off the list. If they were getting into 'that' sort of business, then it would only be a matter of time before things would be traced back to him: he'd be roped into long talks with the authorities and have to provide explanations, paperwork... information...best to leave "Twenty-Seven" while the going was good. Shame really, he lamented, but he simply drew the line under obtaining live produce, and not the sort that was easily portable too! All that running around, traps, spells... it was far too much like proper fighting and just simply wasn't financially viable for him these days, certainly not in his current state as a semi crippled merchant. "Twenty-Seven" would have to find his own cursed 'vessels' or whatever he called them, Jonas was nobodies Hunter for hire...he wasn't even a damn hunter: bloody animals were vicious, all of them! He took a swing with his foot at a nearby rat as he hobbled into the tavern.
Pulling up a stool at the rough wooden bar and hailing the grouchy looking bar Orc for a measure of the local swill, he sighed at the stump of his missing right arm. He had liked that hand. The fingers had been nice and long - possibly belonging to a musician previously; there had been slight calluses on the finger tips, which was a delightful novelty since usually repair hands had the flesh nibbled away by small beasts (or fish had the previous owner fallen to a wet demise) and showed only bone. It had been glorious holding a quill with proper tension when writing up Snowys' shopping list of treats from Kalimdor... but now that wretched fleabag had chomped it off.
'Ah ...yes... I must not forget her pineapple Bonbons this time' he mused, rubbing some oil into his parched facial skin to keep it supple. An additional favour of some sugary treats only sold in the goblin slums of Orgrimmar would keep Snowy sweet herself that he was 'her' merchant and then she would never enquire about extra 'errands' he ran. Her sister Jeri had been much the same when they'd done their first business meet; a trinket here and there, something shiny and she'd been all over the deal with a triumphant smile on those painted lips. A strange little green race -goblins, he pondered. The oversized wooden tankard slammed in-front of him, slopping some of its contents onto the bar
"That'll be four silver"
Jonas dropped a small pouch on the bar "That should be more than enough in there, Morag. I get the feeling I'll be here a while, so just keep them coming"
The burly Orc grinned as he picked up the coins and stuffed them into a pocket on his particularly stained apron "Business or pleasure this time?"
"It's always a pleasure here..." Jonas dryly replies slowly waggling his stump as proof. The Orc guffaws loudly at the forsaken "Well, you just wave when you want a refill skinny." Amused at his own joke, he resumes attending to the other clients who had just entered. Jonas watched them with a beady eye. If Jeri was here she would have surely called them... what was it...'shiny shit', a loose term she used for eager young adventurers with all the gear, but no idea. He chuckled into the tankard to himself. How on Azeroth had he managed to wind up in the company of such a gaggle of goblins, but he was very glad he did. As with most things, it had started by being in the right place at the right time.
"Don't you think it's beautiful out here?" The white haired goblin lady wondered.
"Hmmph, strange idea of beautiful! Being surrounded by death, decay and headstones!" Replied her sister.
"I mean the stars you nugget! You never see stars like this in the centre of town back home"
Jeri had to admit it, the stars did shine brighter here than back in Orgrimmar, and, once you got away from the constant smell of corpses, the air was fresher too. She popped the cork on the last bottle and topped up their glasses with the dark red wine.
"We're nearly out already?!" Jeri pouted at the strewn empties that surrounded the gaudy pink picnic blanket and parasol the girls had set down just outside the walls of the abandoned grounds of Lordaron castle. It was a good sport, a grassy knoll near to the main entrance of the Undercity, sheltered from the wind where they could pursue their favourite sport – people watching and drinking. In true goblin style, Jeri had tried to add a little 'style' to their small event by bringing some Zehvra cushions and 'fairy' lights to adorn the pink hearted parasol with. It was a token gesture of a 'hen do' for Snowy, as she was due to be married the next day to Beedle Gyromax, self appointed 'Fastest Cart driver in Eastern Kingdoms'. It had been a swift love affair and short notice wedding announcement (a little too short for Jeri's liking), which had resulted in only Jeri out of the three other sisters being able to attend to prove witness – Jewels couldn't leave the Pink stocking unattended and Sparkle had been heard from since her departure to Northrend a month ago. So once again, it was up to Jeri to save the day and provide a party for Snowy, because it was unheard of NOT to have a celebration, at least in Jeri's family.
Snowy pulls out an overly gemmed pocket watch to check the time. Jeri eyed it carefully, the majority of stones on it looked like fancy glass, but the blue one in the middle looked real enough. Jeri had an eye for these things and expensive tastes – often lamented by Jatfast.
"Hmm..." Snowy thought for a moment and fiddled with her white hair "...we'll see if we can get some off of any travelling pretty boys who come through while we finish this one. If not, we'll relocate in town"
"Alright" Jeri prayed someone would come through though, she really didn't like being about living corpses. Their weird humour, awful smell and the cracking of bones on stone as they walked. It was unnatural and gave her the creeps "Doesn't it bother you though? The constant ..." Jeri fumbles for the right word "mmm...deadness... about the place?"
"Not at all! I tell you Jeri, once you get over the initial repulsion and once you get used to the smell, this place is a gold mine! My poor sweetie is run off his feet with business constantly going between here and Silverpine with deliveries on that wagon of his"
"Deliveries? What sort of deliveries? What is it exactly that Beedle does? Must be something worthwhile to keep you of all people hooked" Jeri probed. She couldn't imagine anything of worth in this decaying place, apart from the wine, the wine was good. But only because the forsaken could keep it for so long in their deep cellars. Snowy looked a little shifty. "You promise you won't tell?"
Jeri agreed earnestly
"Well, we're in the business of coffin CONTENT hauling for the forsaken, since, you know... they can't exactly make more of themselves by the normal means. The forsaken are in constant need of parts for repair work and they pay out well if the goods are of quality"
Jeri widened her eyes with a gasp "Snowy! You... He... That's genius!"
"I know! Isn't it?!" Snowy gloated. "It's practically money for nothing! As long as the body isn't complete mush we earn a fair amount of gold, even for partial ones! There is a catch though – over here, we're not the only ones doing it. So the competition is a bit stiff in finding supplies" (she giggles at her own joke)
Jeri laughs with a snort "Shame I can't sell the pile of 'accidents' we have stinking up the joint just outside Ratchet..."
They both pause thoughtfully to admire the stars, each took a slug out of their wine glasses simultaneously, before turning to one other excitedly exclaiming at the same time:
"I could sell them to you for the Undercity!"
"You could sell them to me for the Undercity!"
Their eyes shined with goblin lustre as they could smell the opportunity of cash, the ideas and flew fast.
"But how could I get them to you?"
"Well we would get paid per corpse, price varying on quantity and quality of course. By ship would be too slow, and Zeppelins are full of damage potential"
"Couldn't we factor in the costs for a Mage portal? I know it's expensive – but we'd be providing freshest delivery!" Jeri's business mind was firmly on, mentally linking people she knew and what she could trade to get what she wanted. If Snowy could provide the opening, she could export graveyards from the entire barrens! She could smell the coins right now.
"Oh yes! That would work!"
"And Jatfast could deliver them to you once or twice a month..."
"Wait a minute! JATFAST?" Snowy stopped her sister dead in her tracks "I'll not be doing any business with THAT weasel of yours"
Jeri's infamous mood turned quicker than a flipped silver coin. Her face glowered with anger as she forced a toothy smile, loaded with verbal venom "...weasel? And what exactly do you mean by that sister dearest?"
Snowy, unfortunately for the family, seemed to be made from the same cloth as Jeri when it came to flaring tempers. She flicked her hair agitatedly "You know exactly what I mean. I told you about his 'ways' and what he did. Skulking in the bushes at Miss Jade and you believe whatever Kodo-crap excuse he fed you!"
"My Jatfast would NEVER lie to me! He is a good man"
"He is not Jeri! He's untrustworthy and that's why I won't do it!"
"I can't believe I'm hearing this! That's it!.. you're jealous! That Jatfast and I are soooo in love"
"Am not! Certainly not over him!" sneered Snowy
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are tooooo!"
The squabbling girls didn't notice the dark figure approach from beyond the gates, drop his large bag against a wall and sit himself down near their discarded bottles, his wide brimmed hat pulled down until he introduced himself in a dark dry voice.
"Ladies, ladies... If I'm not mistaken, you should not be quarrelling at a celebration?"
The two women stopped and slowly turned to the uninvited guest. He was a forsaken, garbed in a leather hat, a scarf wrapped around his face, long cloak which exposed simple yet well made green shirt and trousers. His boots too, although scuffed, looked rather expensive – a travelling salesman perhaps? His large bag would indicate so. Snowy and Jeri's mother had taught them with a wagging green finger 'Girls, you can tell a lot about a man by the shoes he wears!'. Jeri was the first to speak. Composing herself in the most authorative way she knew possible "I'm sorry, this is a private party, and we're in the middle of business negotiations"
The forsaken nodded slowly, "Really? 'Negotiations' these days... I wouldn't want to break etiquette."
"Yes, and we'd thank you kindly to push off!" She got braver in her replies to the undead. Irritated at his pompous attitude and intrusion on, what she considered, quality family time with her sister.
"Well then, before I go, I don't suppose I could offer you some apology rum for interrupting your evening?" He slyly pulls a bottle from his backpack "This one is quite the favourite down in Booty bay, please, allow me..." He offers to fill their glasses, watching their stunned faces. It was Snowys time to pipe up glaring at Jeri
"Thank you. Please excuse my *sister*, she isn't exactly a good judge of character. I'd love some"
"Hey HEY! Just because you have a problem with MY husband, doesn't mean I'm wrong on everyone!" Jeri eyeballed the forsaken man up and down "How do we know there's nothing wrong with that stuff? You might drug us and drag us away somewhere to do horrible things!"
Jonas chuckled, his scarf falling down to reveal his patched face "Quite right, quite right. I could..." He leaves a dramatic pause "...but I won't. Here, you can open and check the contents yourself. The bottle is still sealed with Skindle's mark and not tampered with."
He passes the bottle to the agitated redheaded goblin who eagerly snatches it and begins to inspect it all over, checking the wax for re-seals, tapping the bottom to see if it is false. Before eventually looking surprised at the genuine article and handing it back to Jonas to pour "...Hmmph Ok then, just a small one though..."
"Very thorough. You must be a true business woman" He noticed Jeri trying not to smile while he cracks the wax before pouring out generous measures for the goblin ladies. "Might I enquire to what we are toasting?"
Snowy blushed and proffered her hand to show off a ring with an oversized sapphire set in it, with a batting of long eyelashes "MY wedding."
"Ah Congratulations. And the disagreement was about your choice of mate?"
Snowy knocked back the contents of her glass and smacked her lips "No, MY sweetie is perfect. It was ..hic.. because we had a great idea we can't use because I'd have to use her mate..."
"Because *I'm* too busy with other affairs to personally deliver things to you! Jatfast would be good and on time and keeping it within the family..." Jeri cut in; they both started to attempt to put their points across to Jonas eagerly, each trying to gain the upper hand of the argument without accidentally spilling any secrets.
"..AND a Goblin I wouldn't trust as far as I can throw him! With his grubby mitts all over my merchandise, who knows what he'd do to it..."
"BUT he wouldn't do anything other than get them from Ratchet to here, perfectly packaged, on time and under budget!"
"He'd drop me in it with inferior items and bolt with the money before I'd even checked out the wares!"
"And you'd say anything he'd brought over was inferior just so you could pay him less and make him look bad"
"I simply refuse to have anything to do with that man!"
"And simply refuse the chance of good money?" Jeri slyly ended, and drained her own glass. Snowy bit her lip, frustrated. Jeri was right; this was too good a deal to let slip, but having to work with Jatfast?
Jonas stealthily recharged their glasses, and took advantage of the situation "It seems to me you need items delivered, but cannot agree on the reception arrangements? Perhaps you need a third party, who could independently verify the goods and payment. Now, would it not be convenient if there was someone who had an idea of travelling, and the cost of such things who could be an impartial voice?" He pours some of Skindle's Rum into a cup from his belt, and drinks it in one "Well, it was a pleasure ladies. I must be on my way, these other bottles and daggers won't deliver themselves"
Jeri's ears pricked up "Daggers?" Daggers simply had to be her ultimate weakness. Being a rogue they fitted nicely into her small hands, and often they were the most lavish of weapons, sometimes gemmed, or made from precious metals. They made her heart race!
"Why yes, quite ornate ones actually. Highbourne by design I believe" He tugs his scarf back up "Would you like to see?" He fumbles in his oversized backpack, pulling out a small parcel. He tugs at the string to unwrap a long silver etched, thin bladed dagger with sweeping edge and turquoise pommel. He hands it to Jeri whose eyes widened in admiration for the item
"Oh, oooh! The scrollwork here..and its weight is feather like!" She gushed over the artefact" How is it that you're in possession of such a nice knife... and fancy rum?"
"Quite simple, I am a travelling merchant my dear" Jonas replied dryly "I buy and trade in
anything and everything on Azeroth."
"All over Azeroth? Didn't think your kind went too far from...erm.. 'home'?" She tried to word it as inoffensively as possible, hoping to get a price on the prize she held in her hands.
Snowy, had been unusually quiet for a few minutes as the rum had been taking affect – she never could hold her drink as well as Jeri, and had never really shared her love of weaponry, no matter how shiny. hic'd loudly and announced with a finger at Jonas "Him!" The other two waited for the next outburst.
"He could do it! If Jatfast has to deliver them, he can collect them for me. He'd even know what to look out for judging by the stitches on his wrist he's...hic.. had a few replacements himself."
Jeri looked incredulously at Snowy for spilling such information, then at the empty imported rum bottle, to the elaborate silver knife in her hand and finally back to Snowy who nodded back at her as the idea sank in. A smile began to spread across Jeri's painted lips as she turned to Jonas raising an eyebrow mischievously "You must be good. Let's negotiate..."
He grinned under his scarf "Jonas Dredgewood, at your service"