Chapter 20

The door slammed shut behind him. He carelessly tossed the bag of coin onto the table. It landed with a loud thud. The boss walked out of the shadows, his expression blank, but his posture straight and assured.

"Did you pay yourself already?" the boss asked as he unfastened the knot on the bag.

"That's your job," he icily replied.

Ignoring his cold demeanor, the boss reached into the bag, jingling the coins around. Removing his hand, the boss flipped the bag over and dumped the coins onto the table. When he was satisfied with what he saw, the boss picked up a few coins and regarded him with calm calculation. He shifted on his feet with calm fury as the boss considered the amount of coin to pay him. At long last, the boss decided to toss a few coins his way.

"Looks like all went well," the boss remarked as he caught the coins. Only a few silvers, a pittance for what he had risked in Denerim, but he kept his comments to himself. The boss gave him so little on purpose. That was the way he worked. Complaining would do no good. Instead, he grunted in reply to the boss's observation.

"You know the risks, yet you always want to go back there," the boss said. Where was the cruel bastard going with this? He didn't say anything. The boss studied him closely. He refused to show any emotion, but the boss knew him too well.

"No snide remark?" the boss asked, walking over to his side of the table, still scrutinizing him closely. He noticed that the boss became aware of the long cut on his forearm. He looked questioningly into his eyes. "Did something happen in Denerim?"

The boss questioned him not out of concern for his wellbeing; he knew that all too well. The boss only looked out for himself and his own interests. He had learned that the hard way.

"I saw her," he admitted. There was no use in hiding it. The boss would find out anyway. The dwarf would surely rat him out. That's the way it was in Llomerynn, every man for himself. Have enough coin, you could buy anything your heart desired – except for freedom, he thought to himself.

"You stupid fool," the boss quietly threatened him. He didn't flinch. "Did she see you?"

He shook his head. She hadn't seen him and though he had been very careful, there was one person that did see him. The Grey Warden. He wasn't sure if it mattered. He decided not to mention it. That was something the boss would never find out, unless he put him on the torture rack.

"Are you sure?" the boss provoked him further.

"I am sure. Do you doubt my words now, after over twenty years?" he replied, a little too angrily for the boss's liking, he was sure of it. However, the boss only flashed him a smirk and gripped the back of his neck tightly.

"Just remember this," the boss lowered his voice, a clear warning, digging into his neck, and zapping him, "You are no longer Rory Amell. You left that life behind. Just like I left mine behind. Get over it. Forget about her. We will never speak of this again. You know what will happen."

"Right, I know what will happen, Dex." Rory retorted with equal menace in his voice. He brushed away Dex's hand from his neck and turned to him with a hostile glare. "Blah… blah… blah. Your threats are getting old. I tire of them. Someday soon you will get what is coming to you."

Dex laughed. "You may hate me, but I'm all you got. You owe me. And don't you forget that I know all your little secrets. You think you would get far without me? I made you. Now, get out!"

Rory turned away from Dex. He had come to hate the man. All his life he had wanted nothing but to be free. Instead, every time he ran, he ended up making things worse. And now he was chained to this mockery of a life, and he didn't know how to break free. His threats against Dex would not be empty for long. Seeing Siofra again, it had reawakened something in him – a desire to live freely, to see her and his son again. He vowed to himself that somehow he would get out of this life.

"Oh," Dex called out casually as Rory opened the door, "I don't expect I'll be sending you to Ferelden any time soon. So don't get any ideas."

The door closed behind him. Bunching his fists he punched the door with a roar. All he heard was the sound of Dex's ruthless laughter. Yes, he would get away from here; one way or another, Dex wouldn't be laughing for long.

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