The original text:
Spoiler
You are heading towards the shops near the Keep when a small movement in a nearby alley catches your eye. You glance around to see if anyone else noticed but the road is empty. You think you hear a small whisper coming from the alley and with another furtive glance around you head in.
The alley is towered by nearby buildings and you are surprised how quickly it gets really dark in it. Ahead you see a flicker of light and decide to follow it.
You bump around a corner and are momentarily blinded by a sudden bright flash from a lantern. As quickly as it appeared it's gone however, and the only thing left in its place is a note firmly nailed to the wall of the nearest building.
"If you are a worthwhile customer my previous messages should have reached you, and you already know what is going on, but in case this is not so, let me bring you up to date.
Someone, somewhere, found out my route and set me up. I have reached out to my friends and enemies looking for information on who it might have been and how they managed to do this. As I have previously provided you with wares you would not have been able to acquire otherwise, I'm now calling in that favour and require you to assist me in figuring things out. I will reward generously anyone who has any leads on the matter.
-A"
As soon as you've read the note it starts to smoke and soon vanishes up in flames, leaving only a charred shape resembling a snake on the wood underneath it.
The alley is towered by nearby buildings and you are surprised how quickly it gets really dark in it. Ahead you see a flicker of light and decide to follow it.
You bump around a corner and are momentarily blinded by a sudden bright flash from a lantern. As quickly as it appeared it's gone however, and the only thing left in its place is a note firmly nailed to the wall of the nearest building.
"If you are a worthwhile customer my previous messages should have reached you, and you already know what is going on, but in case this is not so, let me bring you up to date.
Someone, somewhere, found out my route and set me up. I have reached out to my friends and enemies looking for information on who it might have been and how they managed to do this. As I have previously provided you with wares you would not have been able to acquire otherwise, I'm now calling in that favour and require you to assist me in figuring things out. I will reward generously anyone who has any leads on the matter.
-A"
As soon as you've read the note it starts to smoke and soon vanishes up in flames, leaving only a charred shape resembling a snake on the wood underneath it.
Quickly I wrote down some information from the note on a scrap of paper. Then I glanced around, and with no one around I tried to remove the mark. I used my dagger to carve at the wood and it worked, kinda. The mark is gone, however there is a clear divot in the wood. I turned to walk away as if nothing had happened, and I reentered the main streets.
Those words echoed in my mind, "I will reward generously anyone who has any leads on the matter."
"Hmph, maybe." I chuckled to myself, "But I doubt it's as big as mine, remember I've done business with you before old friend." I whistled to call my Coria Alagos, Nightingale, to my shoulder. Once she landed, I gave her a small treat and the scrap of paper. "Take this to him, and hurry back," I whispered to Nightingale. In a flurry of feathers, she was off.
Later on that day I found myself in a sketchy pub. I leaned backwards in my chair and took a sip of my drink.
"That damn paper had to burn up, I could have had Alethin's scent and this could be over already." I thought to myself, "Now I have to track him down the hard way, oh well. This makes the hunt more fun!"
"BLADE!" I nearly fell backwards in my chair when I heard someone shout my name. Someone walked up to my table and I glanced at him. I recognized him as the expendable when it happened.
"What do you want? I'm kinda busy," I asked as they pulled up a chair.
"Busy? BUSY?! I nearly lost my life because of you!" He yelled as he slammed his fists on the table. The loud noises made the rest of the pub glare at us.
"Relax, relax. It was all part of the plan. Let's take this into a more... private area." I casually walked into a side room of the pub; to not cause an uproar from the rest of the guests. I shut and locked the door behind my disgruntled "client." I sat down in a chair and began to pick my teeth with my dagger. "Now, what exactly are your concerns?" I asked lazily.
"My concerns are that you almost had me KILLED! And I'm pretty sure you did that one on purpose, too! I know all about you Blade, your a..."
I interrupted his angry rants, "Things may have not quite went in the direction I wanted them to, but you're alive aren't you? So everything is going great! Actually I could use your help." Of course I was lying to him, he was suppose to die. And if that rat didn't get away from me, my job would be done. I would have a fully paid for holiday right now. Rather than spending time in this shack they call a pub. I don't care much for loose ends, so this one will have to be disposed of. The first attempt was a failure, but next time it'll be a success. My job was clear, get rid of him by any means necessary and frame the other for the crime. Then simply take the cart load of gold and disappear.
"Fine, fine, you have my attention. I mean I still want paid, like you promised. And if the target got away, I bet you are still trying to get paid. And I WILL get paid," He said. Well it looks like I got some free help. Though he expected me to pay him, but I could take care of that easily.
"It's a deal..." I offered him a handshake, "uh, what was your name?"
"It's Derek." He said as he shook my hand. I could sense his uneasiness. "You have no idea where your target is at, do you?"
"Well... I uh." I looked away and scratched my head.
"Don't lie to me, I saw your Direcore sniffing about at the market. Lucky for you I might be able to help us, where is that damn bird of yours?" Derek said with a tone.
"She was sent to deliver a message, should be back anytime now, why?" I asked.
"I have my own message to send," he said with a grin. "My contacts have some valuable information." TAP! TAP! TAP! We were interrupted by Nightingale tapping on the window. Though she returned to me empty handed, I knew her mission was successful. My apology for messing up was sent to Remy. He seemed quite keen of me 'taking care of the competition.' Derek wrote down his message and whispered to Nightingale, she took off quickly.
"I don't want to give away my contacts, should someone decide they don't like them. You are well known for being a double sided knife, Blade." Derek said sternly. I shrugged and we spent the next few hours drinking.
