Author's Note: This prologue can be enjoyed on its own; it's a stand-alone story with its own lewd twists and turns, written to provide a couple new characters with some much-needed development.
Distraction
----
Markus strolled through the large marketplace of Imperia, eyes darting eagerly over the food stalls and street performers as he walked with a hand on the pommel of his sword.
It's not that he was planning on using the weapon today, here in the center of mankind. Drawing steel in the Imperial capital would land one in prison, at the efficient mercy of the city's ten-thousand strong watch brigade.
He just enjoyed looking tough. A hand on your sword signals to those around you not to give you grief as you go about your day. It shows that you're ready to use it. Markus, a man with thirty-one years to his name, had learned the trick as a boy when he joined up with a mercenary outfit in a misplaced attempt to get rich. His sword had been replaced a dozen times since then, his round shield thrice. But he couldn't replace the training.
Markus had left the mercenary career three years later, but still gained most of his coined through his hired services. Convoy security, guarding a dignified lord, hunting fiends, any job which would pay him appropriately for his deeds really. Today he was preparing for just one of those jobs, although it had devolved into quite a different mess altogether.
Markus opened the door to his most frequented shop in the capital, "Rebecca's Alchemical Supplies". He came here often, looking for potions or advice that would make his jobs easier. He found the storefront only inhabited by his favorite merchant, who owned the shop, and a plain-looking woman he could only assume had gotten lost.
"Reb! How's it going?" he greeted the shopkeep behind the counter. Rebecca's eyes lit up at his arrival, the pair's history as amiable friends having lasted for years now.
"Markus," she greeted with a chuckle. "What trouble have you run into this time?" Rebecca knew he would only be here if he needed her help. Not that she minded.
"Always so quick to assume, Reb. Ya see, I was just... curious... if you had an invisibility potion or ten in stock," Markus said, his eyes shifting mischeviously to the side.
"I do," Rebecca nodded. "And you'll be happy to know the latest brews now last for almost fifty seconds," she explained gleefully then shrugged. "They're not cheap, of course. Three silvers each."
"Ah, come on... What about a discount for an old friend?" he bartered jokingly using their relationship as leverage.
"That
is
the discount. You think those ingredients are cheap? Brittlewort doesn't exactly grow on trees, you know," she chided with a smile. Markus fished out his coinpurse, finding it oddly light. He probably shouldn't have had a second run with that whore yesterday. He placed six silver Imperials on the counter.
"Fine. I'll take two of 'em. Fifty seconds, you say?" he asked, wondering if it'd be long enough. Rebecca opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by the plain-looking woman standing to the side.
"Don't forget to take off your swordbelt before using it, merc. Potions don't block the noise."
He turned to face her, giving the woman another scan with his eyes. She wore the cloths and leathers of a simple man, which would not be unusual if her gender were reversed. Her ratty, brown hair fell freely to her shoulders, her dark brown eyes doing no good deeds for her face. Her long, straight nose sealed the deal, Markus deciding in an instant that he'd never lust for her.
"And who might you be, then?"
"You mean you
haven't
met Vexima of Astarra, the world's greatest magical infuser?" Rebecca asked with a chuckle.
Markus extended a hand towards her, an offer accepted by the brunette. "Good to meet ya Vexima."
"Just call me Vex," she replied with a smirk, "everyone else does."
Markus crossed his arms at his chest with a grin. "Good wit' me. Say, what does a infuser do anyway?" he asked, not knowing the lingo of the sorceresses.
"An infuser pushes magic into ordinary, mundane items, basically allowing the spell to be cast at a later time, even by those not trained in the art," Vex explained quickly, "so even a man could use them."
Markus rolled his eyes at the statement and whistled. "Wooow. 'Even a man', huh? Sounds like ya don't give us nearly enough credit," he retorted. Markus was a well-experienced fighter, and usually didn't show any apprehension towards his opponents. Especially in conversation.
"She's just teasing you, Markus. Vex is all about giving the menfolk their... 'credit', isn't that right dear?" Rebecca chortled from behind the counter, raising her hands to air-quote the word. Vex raised her palm towards the alchemist as if dismissing her claim, even though she was right.
"Just being truthful," Vex sneered. "So, you got me interested. What are you planning on doing with this invisibility potion?"
"What's it to ya?" he replied boorishly with a flick of a wrist.
"Call it idle curiosity." Vex mimicked his stance, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. Markus let out a chuckle.
"Call it, 'I need to sneak past some guards without anyone knowing'," Markus replied crudely, imitating her nasally voice. Vex took one step towards him and squinted into his eyes.
"Call it, you're an idiot for relying on a potion when a distraction would suffice."
"Call it you're a whor-"
"Hey!" Rebecca interjected, pointing a stern finger at Markus. "Call it what you will, but don't insult each other in my shop!"
Both Vex and Markus were taken aback by the interruption, and rested their arms at their sides. Rebecca glanced at both of them. "Good. Let me get the potions from the back, and behave yourselves!"
Rebecca gave another second of her glare to Markus before she turned away, leaving the room to gather his purchase. Markus took one step to his left, closing the distance with Vex. He leaned into her and whispered.
"Sorry, Vex."
"Whatever, merc," she huffed. Markus took a couple steps back to lean against the wall, crossing his arms once more. A pregnant silence filled the room for a minute until he spoke up again.
"So... what was that about a distraction?"
"This is for a job of yours, I take it? A two minute job?" she asked dryly. Markus nodded. "If all you need to do is distract some men for two minutes, then just find a woman who is willing to do it. The potions are unnecessary and prone to failure."
Markus put a hand on his chin as if in contemplation. "I s'pose. It would also mean I'd need to find a whore willin' to do it for little pay."
"Or a..." Vex put a finger to her chapped lip, "woman who merely finds the idea exciting. How much
is
the pay?" His eyebrows rose at the notion, finding her statement to be a mere repetition of his own.
