The dark heart of desire.
Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 1:11 am
It was bright outside in the town square as the sun crested the rooftops to the east; the wind gently dispersing the morning fog. The serenity of the quiet square this early in the morning was a far cry from the dimly lit room filled with dense smoke and rowdy patrons of his preferred place to discuss business, the lighthouse tavern. Squinting into the sunrise, he saw his contact had arrived; He put out his cigarette and rinsed his mouth with whiskey, before sliding his mask on.
As his feet carried him across the cobblestone closer to his contact, his gaze focused on the tall dark-skinned elf, paying a keen attention to his features. His contact had unusually broad shoulders for an elf, sporting ripped muscles, bulging under the tension of the weight of the maul heft over his shoulder.
The size of the contact had made his heart skip a beat, and his mind had begun racing. Was this a setup? Had this man been sent to kill him? Or had he come seeking revenge for another job?
He kept walking forwards, taking a deep calming breath as he edged closer. It was time to work, he couldn't get caught up in his own fears in that moment, he had to be present, convincing, confident.
He stopped momentarily by the fountain in centre of the square, taking a moment to wash his hands in the water cascading from the fountain. The sound of running water relieved his tension, it always had.
"Good morning." the words left his lips effortlessly, as he flicked the droplets of water from his hands.
"A beautiful morning indeed." His contact returned the greeting, taking a seat facing the fountain.
Around the courtyard the stirrings of the rest of the town could be heard, They were waking, getting ready to start their day.
"I must admit...." He paused as he lowered himself onto the stone seat next to his contact. "...You have me curious as to what a man of your stature seeks."
"Something to sate my gluttony." The elf's voice resounded in a heavy baritone.
His mask belied his surprise at the response. It was short, sharp, and... unexpectedly honest.
"And what object could possibly satisfy the gluttony of a man who wears the finest furs, exquisite elven-craft chain, a man whose head is adorned with a crown?" It was not lost on him that his contact wore chain-link armor imbued with moon-craft runes, A privilege reserved for only those of royal lineage.
"Seeing something taken from someone who has much." The elf responded.
"So it is pleasure in another's misfortune you seek, as you observe their sufferance from afar?" He asked
"To spread loss and strife, for one cannot spread loss, without the taking of things." the elf's savage appearance and stoic demeanour masked his intentions and emotions well.
There was something different about this contact; Usually people came to him for revenge, their motivations and targets clear. He had not expected this mountain of an elf speak with such tact and subtlety.
He took a moment to think as two town-guards turned the corner from the barracks marching along their patrol route, The metal plates of their greaves clanking along the stones beneath their feet as they walked past.
It was not long until the rest of the town would be out and about, He had to be quick in his conversation.
"Tell me, friend, Who has hurt you so that you wish me to take from them?" His question more direct, in an effort to save time.
"They've not hurt me! I just wish to know what treasures they hide atop their tower." The slightest crack in the elves demeanour, giving a glimpse into his emotions and desires.
Few else would have picked up on it, but it was there. It was the only reason he was still alive, He could read people better than most, and apply leverage into cracks to open them up in ways others couldn't perceive.
"Not all wounds are physical in nature. Anger is manifest from a wound most subtle, not visible to the naked eye... In here..." His hand moves from his lap, and gently tapped on the elves left chest with his index and middle finger as he continued "... I do not dabble in the how or the why of your pain, that is not my place. I can, however, provide that which you seek; but first i must know how much you're willing to commit for it."
In that exact moment the elf had been confronted with the truth of his own desires and emotions, the question had challenged him. The elf paused, looking at him for a moment before he spoke.
"Therein lies the question... I know the cost, but is it worth it? For something I don't even know what it is, or if it even exists."
"And thus, the question of the wound becomes ever-more relevant..." resting his hands on his knees, he stood up slowly. Turning to the elf still seated beside him. "... Once you've searched within and found your answer, You know how to contact me."
As his feet carried him across the cobblestone closer to his contact, his gaze focused on the tall dark-skinned elf, paying a keen attention to his features. His contact had unusually broad shoulders for an elf, sporting ripped muscles, bulging under the tension of the weight of the maul heft over his shoulder.
The size of the contact had made his heart skip a beat, and his mind had begun racing. Was this a setup? Had this man been sent to kill him? Or had he come seeking revenge for another job?
He kept walking forwards, taking a deep calming breath as he edged closer. It was time to work, he couldn't get caught up in his own fears in that moment, he had to be present, convincing, confident.
He stopped momentarily by the fountain in centre of the square, taking a moment to wash his hands in the water cascading from the fountain. The sound of running water relieved his tension, it always had.
"Good morning." the words left his lips effortlessly, as he flicked the droplets of water from his hands.
"A beautiful morning indeed." His contact returned the greeting, taking a seat facing the fountain.
Around the courtyard the stirrings of the rest of the town could be heard, They were waking, getting ready to start their day.
"I must admit...." He paused as he lowered himself onto the stone seat next to his contact. "...You have me curious as to what a man of your stature seeks."
"Something to sate my gluttony." The elf's voice resounded in a heavy baritone.
His mask belied his surprise at the response. It was short, sharp, and... unexpectedly honest.
"And what object could possibly satisfy the gluttony of a man who wears the finest furs, exquisite elven-craft chain, a man whose head is adorned with a crown?" It was not lost on him that his contact wore chain-link armor imbued with moon-craft runes, A privilege reserved for only those of royal lineage.
"Seeing something taken from someone who has much." The elf responded.
"So it is pleasure in another's misfortune you seek, as you observe their sufferance from afar?" He asked
"To spread loss and strife, for one cannot spread loss, without the taking of things." the elf's savage appearance and stoic demeanour masked his intentions and emotions well.
There was something different about this contact; Usually people came to him for revenge, their motivations and targets clear. He had not expected this mountain of an elf speak with such tact and subtlety.
He took a moment to think as two town-guards turned the corner from the barracks marching along their patrol route, The metal plates of their greaves clanking along the stones beneath their feet as they walked past.
It was not long until the rest of the town would be out and about, He had to be quick in his conversation.
"Tell me, friend, Who has hurt you so that you wish me to take from them?" His question more direct, in an effort to save time.
"They've not hurt me! I just wish to know what treasures they hide atop their tower." The slightest crack in the elves demeanour, giving a glimpse into his emotions and desires.
Few else would have picked up on it, but it was there. It was the only reason he was still alive, He could read people better than most, and apply leverage into cracks to open them up in ways others couldn't perceive.
"Not all wounds are physical in nature. Anger is manifest from a wound most subtle, not visible to the naked eye... In here..." His hand moves from his lap, and gently tapped on the elves left chest with his index and middle finger as he continued "... I do not dabble in the how or the why of your pain, that is not my place. I can, however, provide that which you seek; but first i must know how much you're willing to commit for it."
In that exact moment the elf had been confronted with the truth of his own desires and emotions, the question had challenged him. The elf paused, looking at him for a moment before he spoke.
"Therein lies the question... I know the cost, but is it worth it? For something I don't even know what it is, or if it even exists."
"And thus, the question of the wound becomes ever-more relevant..." resting his hands on his knees, he stood up slowly. Turning to the elf still seated beside him. "... Once you've searched within and found your answer, You know how to contact me."