-Dodger
"What in the Yslie's fuzzy navel are we doing in this hellhole Rafe?" I said, surveying the landscape around the city gates. Wolfesrahm, the sign said. Might as well be Wolfesarse.
Sigurd turned to me first. Ugly bastard just stared at me. I dislike him. Always trying to keep me from having my fun.
"Would you not..." he began.
"What?" I smarted off, "Take her Grand Holy Name in vain?"
He stared at me for a few more seconds and then shook his head. I waited until he turned his back to give him the finger. I heard Tietra gasp off to the side. Oh if I had my way, I thought, you wouldn't be able to gasp. I could just picture her on her knees, my cock in her mouth, not being able to say a word. The mental image got me hard just thinking about it. I made sure she was watching me when I reached down and adjusted my crotch. Her face flashed red and she hurried past Rafe into the city. Yeah, she wants me, I thought.
Rafe was busy digging in his bag for something and didn't notice. He fished around for a second, completely ignoring my question and came up with a scroll tube. My eyes narrowed at the flash of gold and I recognized the seal of the Baroness of Marianberg. Sigurd held out his hand and Rafe placed it gingerly into his meaty paws.
"What the fuck Rafe? I asked you a question." I didn't particularly care why we were here. There was nothing this close to The Middenlands except mud, mud, mud and occasionally a rabid beast-man trying to tear your guts out. When the civilized lands got rid of their monsters, they sent them over the walls and border cities like this were formed as way-points for the patrols keeping them out.
"Take this to one of the court officials. Put it in his hand yourself. Her orders." Rafe clapped Sigurd on the shoulder.
"Ja, ja," Sigurd said, almost in protest, and headed away from us at a slow pace.
I waited for Rafe to buckle his pouch before pulling out my dagger. I kept my voice nonchalant as I picked at my fingernails.
"Ya'know, the last person that ignored me ended up with a permanent smile..." I intoned with all my menace. Rafe simply smiled. Then he changed. His eyes flashed a deep purple, his pupils narrowed to vertical slits and he wasn't smiling any more.
"You wouldn't be threatening me..." He paused for effect, I couldn't help but back a step away. He followed me. "Now would you Dodger? Because I know you wouldn't be that stupid..." Almost instantly his smile returned and his eyes faded back to their somber gray. "How about a beer buddy? It's been a long day and I bet you could use it."
"I....ummmm..." I stammered, "Uh...yeah. Yeah a beer would be good..."
He slapped me gently on the shoulder and laughed. No matter how many times I've seen him change, it still scares the hells out of me. I know he's a good man, I've seen it. But he has a dark side and I've never seen anyone that can do what he can do in combat. I shook my head, it was stupid to think I could scare him.
Rafe took a few steps away from me without checking to see if I followed. He stopped and waved and in the distance I could see Tietra. He continued his pace towards her and I could see her smile as he neared. Made me wanna puke. There's no way I'd let Rafe get her before I had my chance. I stepped off to the side down an alleyway and made my way to the other side.
I stepped out of the alley into the fresh air of a market. The shadows stretched before me as the sunlight played off of the tops of the buildings. Perfect cover for a man such as myself. I stepped into the thinning crowd, my hand deftly sneaking into pouches and cutting purses. I hold the belief that if you can't hold onto your riches, you don't deserve them. I never stayed in the same place for more than a second and even then only long enough to get what I wanted. Easy pickings.
I made the loop around the market, filling my long cloak with coin and jewel. I discarded purses as soon as I emptied them of their goods. I'd been caught once when I was a boy because the owner was able to identify his bag to a guard who had a hand on me. I glanced down at my left hand and the scarred skin that formed a perfect "T". Didn't make that same mistake twice. Neither did the guard. He didn't do much except choke after I slit his throat in his sleep.
I found the alley I had arrived from and made my way back through to the main thoroughfare. I would tell Rafe that I was scouting, he always bought that. Of if he didn't, he didn't care enough to say anything. I wondered that about him. When it came to me, did he merely tolerate me or did he actually care? I snorted. I didn't care, as long as he was paying me.
I took a couple of steps past the open doorway before I heard Tietra's voice waft out to me.