Chapter 1.2

“Massoud, so prompt, so reliable, so predicitable you are.  You even got here early enough to throw back some of our fine Kaldone Ale.” She was smiling wryly as she spoke and finished with, “It is good to see you.”

For himself, he could be insulted with her casual use of his name, and that in an open tavern.  She had been schooled carefully in how to approach Asherah and the only thing that kept his disdain for the crude woman, or indeed the entire Kaldone race, from openly showing was his years of schooling by the guild.  The price he must pay for the rewards he sought was working and conspiring with such as this.  He sighed to himself.  She was a typical member of the government.  High enough up to be usefull to him but with an over inflated sense of her own importance and a severe under estimation of anyone or anything not Kaldone.  Her sense of superiority that hung around her like an overly sweet perfume gave him the courage he sought to go forward with his plan.  It’s funny, he thought to himself, the things that will push one over the edge from inaction to action and from hesitation to commitment.  

Having made his decision he therefore smiled broadly completely ignoring any slight intended on her part.  “Llyr,” he said in a tone that was completely friendly and engaging, “How good it is to see you, please sit down.”

She did having established her superiority to him  in her own mind and therefore satisfied that this was off to a good start.  The serving wench was right with her as she sat down.  Massoud noticed this and it made him smile.  Locals, the Kaldone, were clearly the superior race here.  It was a small piece of information, and one he had long known at that.  Information, as the saying went though, was power and this was one piece of information that would work to his advantage.  She ordered a glass of malt, very popular and common in the highlands.  Indeed it was shipped over the six kingdoms and had made not a little money for the guild in it’s trafficing.  The glass was on the table in an instant and he noted it’s dark color.  The woman had a discriminating taste in her malt, or more likely it was her over inflated ego trying to take on the trappings of a station to which she aspired but had not yet arrived.  Her vanity would work to his advantage.

She took a sip, savoring it’s taste before she began.  He took the time to study her, and take in her body language, as he took a sip of Ale himself.  This really was fine Ale he thought to himself.  If this plan worked out he would be drinking a good deal more of this.  

She set her glass down and got right to the point, as was typical with all Kaldone.  The Asherah would spend a good half hour in light friendly conversation before ever approaching the business at hand.  Kaldone were exactly the opposite, and even with all his training it still was a bit of a shock to him.

“I have the information you asked for and I am prepared to do as we discussed.  I have been evaluating the risk to myself though and I am raising the price.”  She spoke with complete confidence and no hesitation whatsoever, and then stopped and waited for a response.

It was actually funny to Massoud.  She was so transparent.  He had spent far too much of his career dealing with those who were masters at treachery and subtlty that it was refreshing to deal with this Kaldone woman.  She had no idea what was going on here.  He simply hadn’t given her enough of his plan.  Anything she could possibly come up with he had already accounted for and factored in by him.  No, the risk to himself lay elsewhere, from those with far more power.  This woman could do little harm to him as long as he kept her happy, and if she got out of line, well accidents could happen couldn’t they?  No, this deal would soon be over, consumated.  There was one possibility though, and once he had closed with her here he would probe to see if she could be of further use.  It would mean bringing her much deeper into his plan though.  His personal dislike of her had no play here, value and skill was prized whatever package it came in.  He let a mirth filled laugh escape his lips as he reflected that one rose in the guild not by being a good footsoldier and following orders, but by wresting your rightful place from those less deserving.  He had just taken the first step

He let a slightly concerned look cross his face as he replied, “Tell me more Llyr.  Tell me about the risk you are entailing by coming to my aid here.

~ by ridgewalker on December 19, 2007.