Some people said that Ashryn
Reymaris was a public menace. Some believed she was a sophisticated soul with a
penchant for mischief. Many more people were left asking the important
question: “Who the hell is Ashryn Reymaris?” No matter what the opinion,
everyone was starting to talk about her in Waterford, the westernmost province
of the Kingdom of Vamhadras.
“I want this Elf’s head on a pike!”
Irvin screamed, beating his fist against the table. His face was puffy already,
but the intensity of his rage was also putting him on the cusp of turning
purple. “No one makes a fool of Irvin Ruggles!”
A nervous servant wiped at Irvin’s
brow, dabbing at the heavy layer of sweat that had made itself a permanent
fixture upon his face. Irvin was an ugly man, and it took everything the
servant had not to cringe. Many prominent pustules freckled his wrinkly skin,
and they threatened to burst with every fit of rage. Adding to the look was the
spit that sprayed out of his mouth and started to gather in his beard. Little
droplets of saliva and drool hung off of his lips and coarse hair. To complete
the foul trifecta that was every fashionista’s worst nightmare, there looked to
be some kind of rash on his neck just under the left earlobe.
Across the table, a lankier fellow
held up his hands in calming reassurance. “Of course, Master. Of course we’ll
get the Elf’s head for you.” He averted his eyes, starting to roll up the
sleeves of his oversized robes. They were red silk on the outside, and lined in
gold to match the floral embroidery on the trim. “You mentioned something about
the treasury…” His voice trailed off, and he haltingly looked back up.
“There is no treasury, Benjamin you
dolt! That is what I’ve been trying to tell you! This-this Reymaris She-Elf
took it all,” Irvin wailed. The frustration in his voice was palpable from his
stuttering, and with the stuttering came more spittle.
Benjamin’s eyes widened, and his
head tilted in a questioning manner. “She couldn’t have taken it all, Master,
surely…”
“All of it! Do you need your ears
checked? We’ll be ruined if we don’t get those coffers back!” Irvin began
drumming his fist into the table again. “Nevermind the fact that she now has
copies of our correspondence with Captain Sul’Garthe!” His entire body began to
shake as he inhaled sharply, holding his breath.
Benjamin swallowed a lump in his
throat. Cautiously, he took a step back from the table. “The correspondence is
useless to her, Master. I’ll have the Guards track her down, but don’t trouble
yourself over the letters.”
A sudden stillness came over Irvin,
and he pulled himself out of his chair as he glowered across the table.
“Useless? Captain Sul’Garthe is a notorious pirate from the Tuh’Chiri Empire.
One look at that correspondence, and Reymaris will know about our illegal trade
agreement. She’ll either be in a position to out us to the authorities, or
she’ll have her next target! Don’t tell me to calm down! This is a complete
disaster!”
Benjamin burst out laughing,
holding his sides as he giggled.
“How can you be laughing? Benjamin,
I swear to Baluur that I’ll gut you and feed you to the pigs!” Irvin roared.
Benjamin held up his hand, trying
to compose himself. “Master, master please. Let me explain. Reymaris is a
wanted criminal. There is no way she’ll turn us in, because she would have to
turn herself in. She cares more about saving her own skin than ruining us.”
Irvin calmed a little. He clearly
hadn’t thought of that. He plopped back down into his chair, pushing his head
back to rest against the oak wood. “Maybe. I’ll acknowledge the sense in that,
but it doesn’t change the fact that she might go after Captain Sul’Garthe, and
we’re the ones that that set her on that path.”
“Pffft,” Benjamin scoffed, waving a
dismissive hand. “Captain Sul’Garthe has plenty of enemies in the waters of
Vamhadras. Everyone knows he’s in the wealthy business of acquisitions, and
everyone wants a taste. Do you really think he’ll notice one more foe?”
Irvin started mumbling to himself, and
an obvious wheeze rumbled deep within his chest. He coughed and hacked,
thumping his hand against his chest as though it might help him catch his
breath again. “You’re…ahem, excuse me, you’re not wrong, Benjamin. However, I
don’t like to take chances. I’ll feel much better if you can catch her and nip
this all in the bud. You know how those Tuh’Chiri can be, and I don’t want to
give them any excuse for vindictive behavior.”
“I understand, Master. We’ll get
her, and we’ll recover as much of the treasury as we can. I swear it,” Benjamin
reassured him. He even smiled, a testament to his confidence.
“Be sure you do, Benjamin. I don’t
need to tell you what the consequences are should you fail,” Irvin grumbled.
“Yes, Master. If I fail, you’ll gut
me and feed me to the pigs. I understand. You’ve made yourself very clear on
that point,” Benjamin said.
“Excellent. Now get out of my
sight! You have work to do, and I need a foot-rub.” Irvin started snapping his
fingers at the servant. “You there! Remove my shoes!” He leaned back a little
more in his chair, bringing his short legs up off the floor to rest on the
table.
The servant obeyed, and for what
felt like the hundredth time, he questioned if his life was really worth
living. Fear was a powerful motivator. If he had ever had doubts about that before
ending up in this predicament, those doubts had been forever quieted. He envied
Benjamin, watching him round up the guards for the pursuit. His job was not
only adventurous, but sanitary. Chasing Ashryn Reymaris sounded much more fun
than rubbing Irvin’s feet.
To Be Continued…