Chapter 3.
Walking around duster town could really down your mood. Beggars everywhere and all they did was leer at you. Sleaze balls. We were walking up duster town and one of the beggars were staring at me. So I turned to him crossed my arms and raised my brow.
"Whataya want, old geezer?" He checked me out, eyes lingering on my breast more than necessary.
"Hey, gorgeous, you looking for something to keep you warm tonight?" Eww, the nerve of this man. I walked up to him and his eyes actually lit up he was actually going to get some. Pulling my fist back and letting it snap forward into his nose, hearing that crunch and knowing I had broken it. Gave me a feeling of satisfaction. He fell backward and was out cold .
"Let that keep you warm." I spat. I turned around and Leske had a weird expression on his face. "What's up with you?"
"Natia, are you okay?" Those three words hit home. I wasn't okay, and the tears started to come. No! I wouldn't let Leske see me like this, it was hard pushing the tears back in. I pushed past Leske muttering.
"I'm fine."
After searching over dust town and not having any luck of finding Oskias, we decided that he was probably in the commons. Walking through the commons was unpleasant to say at the least. The richer folk would sell to us, wouldn't even talk to us. I kept hearing them talk about us, they would say things like.
"Stand back! I don't want to catch your diseases."
"Get away from me scum!"
"Someone needs to get over here and take out the trash."
"As long as you're here, nobody else will come."
And that was the nicest i've ever heard. The pathway to the Deep roads was blocked because of some stupid merchant who wouldn't move his cart out of way. So no Oskias is over there. Where is that man?
"Let's check the tavern, Natia." Leske mentioned. I nodded my head and we went there.
The tavern was the same as always drunks getting drunk..and I got nothing. But there was a man sitting at one of the tables with a timid expression on his face.
"I think that's our man." Leske nodded in agreement.
We both walked over to his table and I sat in one of the three chairs, while Leske stood behind Oskias's chair.
"Hey. I was saving that seat." He had such a small voice.
Leske spoke up. "That's real thoughtful, Oskias its tring work looking for you."
Oskias started stuttering. "H-how do you know my name?"
I smirked at him. "Let's just say we've got a mutal friend." His eye's lit up when he finally knew who we were.
"Oh, no. You're not from Beraht's, are you?" he looked down at his palms. "Because that would be...too much. I don't think I could handle-"
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I cut him off. "Did you think Beraht wouldn't find out you're cheating him?"
"Look, I-I always been loyal to Beraht. He's been good to my family: I-I know how much I owe him."
I rolled my eye at his excuse. "Save your excuses. Leske, Serch his bags."
Leske grabbed the Oskias's bag. "My pleasure."
Oskias made a move to stop him. "W-wait! I do have some lyrium. It's just ore. I-I made a side deal with one of the mining families." Leske still continued searching his bag. "If it worked out, I was gonna bring Beraht his cut, I swear. I-I'd be crazy not to."
"Suicidal one might say." Leske spoke done searching his bag.
"No one messes with the boss." I hated to call Beraht my boss. He didn't deserve that title.
"Could everyone who isn't about to die please turn around for a moment? This may be unpleasant".Leske called out to the people in the tavern, then he finished with. "Thank you."
Oskias started crying and I have to admit I felt bad for him. But in my eyes it was either him or my family and I couldn't save both,
"Y-you can't do this! Help! Call the guardsmen! This is murder!" He yelled but no one seemed to care.
"You two let me know if you need anything, I'll be in the back." The owner of the tavern said from the corner of the room.
I had to have a little laugh at that.
"It's just a bunch of rocks! you're going to kill me for that..." And he was still making excuses.
"Sorry, salroka. A job's a job." I said.
"Nooo!" He screamed. Oskias jumped out of his chair and and turned to face me, pulling his blade out and picking his shield off the ground. I drew my daggers seeing as a bow wouldn't be good in close combat. With me and Leske both slashing at him he stood no chance. With one final stab I thrust the blade into his stomach and slit his neck with the other one.
There was blood all over the floor from Oskias's body, and one the barmaids came over and started cleaning, while another one dragged his body off somewhere.
"We should head back to Beraht, Natia, and tell him what happened." Leske said.
"Your the man with the plain Leske." I said, while staring at the place where Oskias's body had been.