As the bookbinder’s red ink substitution had been accepted by Katryn the first time around, Jace returned to the same shop where he had purchased it in order to buy more. Once again, he heard the evidence of a heated conversation from within.
“…as I keep telling you, I didn’t have anything to do with her,” the shopkeeper was insisting frantically as Jace descended below the street. “You can tell the guild that I didn’t buy, I didn’t sell, I didn’t trade…”
“As Tauri Quick-Claw keep telling, am not guild enforcer,” a gruff voice replied. At the sound of it, Jace froze where he was, outside the door and out of sight. “Not care what manner of business had…”
“No manner of business! None at all! I turned her out.”
“Dislike repeating self,” the man who seemed to be called Tauri said. “Forget which words omitted or elided first time around. Appears inconsistent. Makes idiosyncratic speech pattern seem shallow, affected. Not good for image. Image suffers, everyone suffers. Understand?”
“Er…”
“Woman in black,” Tauri said. “Copper scales. Fancy sword. In love with voice. Magic hands. Seen here.”
“I don’t deal with mages!” the bookbinder wailed. “I did not…”
Tauri cut him off with a growl. There was a swish and then a rope-like tail smacked into the doorframe, inches from where Jace stood.
“Come out, boy,” Tauri said. “Not like eavesdroppers.”
Jace considered running, but instead he edged his way cautiously into sight, seeing the stout rodent-like figure in the dirty and torn brown cloak, with metal-tipped claws on the ends of his fingers.
“You!” the bookbinder said, pointing at Jace. “Him! He was here! He can tell you, I didn’t have any commerce with the mage, I refused…”
“Quiet,” Tauri said to the spiny-quilled man. He turned to regard Jace, hunching over to look him straight in the eyes. “Know woman in black? Seen her?”
“Uh… she was here when I was buying paper and ink,” Jace said. “I came back because I need more ink. I don’t know her.”
“Buying paper and ink?” Tauri repeated skeptically. He sniffed, as though scenting the air for a lie. “Working on penmanship? Composing memoirs?”
“For… the captain,” Jace said. “Of my ship.”
Tauri said nothing, just staring.
“I’m just an errand boy,” he said. “I don’t have anything to do with your woman in black.”
“Nor do I!” the bookbinder said.
“Has been noted,” Tauri said. “But fact remains: was here. Why? Where go next? Will return, perhaps?”
“She had a book she wanted fixed,” Jace said. “An old one.”
“Stolen, probably,” Tauri said.
“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” the shopkeeper said. “I didn’t even look at it. I knew I had no business with her. I sent her away.”
“Would have sought other bookbinder,” Tauri said. “Need list other non-guild bookbinders in city. Need fast.”
“She would’ve had to go to a guild one,” the shopkeeper said. “No unaffiliated…”
“Need list,” Tauri said. “Willing to settle for intestines.”
“I’ll… I’ll just write that out for you, then,” the shopkeeper said. He turned and darted for the curtained door in back of the counter. “Let me just grab some parchment.”
“Do that,” Tauri said, crossing his arms in front of him. He thumped his tail on the floor impatiently. Jace started to edge for the door. “Said needed ink,” Tauri reminded him. “Not running to warn anyone?”
Jace froze in place. The seconds slipped by.
“So,” Tauri said. “Weather nice.”
“Er, yes,” Jace said. “I, uh, suppose it is.”
A minute later, he said, “Heard Duke of Rottergaul consider supporting ironmongers in labor dispute. Interesting if true.”
“I… um… hadn’t heard that,” Jace said.
Shortly after that, the razor-clawed assassin said, “Starting to think spiny little man not getting parchment,” immediately before growling and leaping for the curtain.
Ongoing support is especially appreciated.
Note: I'm trying out a new comment system. It's new and subject to jiggerypokery. It's moderated. Detailed guidelines to come but follow the general rule: be excellent to each other.
If you enjoy reading, please consider a financial contribution.
« « 51: Harboring Frustrations 53: Pressed To The Point » »