Chapter 1.1
Making his way down the cobbled street, Massoud entered The Purple Heath, a rather upscale tavern that likely didn’t have a single disreputable client inside its walls. Not a place that put him at ease but then part of the Guild training was at feigning ease in any setting. Besides he was not here to mingle or enjoy the surroundings. He would order the tankard of hearty Kaldone ale he had been waiting for and review his mission.
He found himself a table in the corner of the main room and waited for a server. Massoud did not wait long before a dark haired wench, probably close to his own size, walked up facing him squarely. “What’ll you have, sir?”
So brash these Kaldone women. “Some ale.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. Just don’t make it the swill you give to the drunks and debtors. Something hearty.”
“That I can do,” she said, giving him a quick second glance and then moving on.
The double take was to be expected. At first glance he was of a size with these people and while his skin had a light olive hue, it was not dark enough to seem more than a tan. However closer scrutiny of his hooked nose, swarthy skin, alveolar coated accent, and graceful movements identified him as Asherah.
Soon the woman was back with his ale and he sipped from the tankard, nodding subtly over the edge his satisfaction. She grunted her approval leaving this fey outlander to nip at his robust ale in the corner.
Massoud reviewed the framework of his plan again in his mind. Yes, this just might work, he mused, and if it didn’t then at least he had sought something more. His thoughts were interrupted as he saw her walk in. Damn, can I really go through with this with some one so different, so alien to me? Then the training took hold and Massoud smiled his best smile in greeting, standing to welcome her.
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