Burning Today Options

[Olen]

Some of you probably remember my last piece, Yesterday's Shadow and that it had a rather unsatisfying ending. I spent the summer rectifying this and now have a sizeable sequel/ completion to it which is itself now finished. It would probably be better to read Yesterday's Shadow before this as it would make more sense, however you should get by without it. If anyone wants I'll put a synopsis here, though Yesterday's Shadow isn't very long so you could just read it here (enough plugs yet?)

Anyway without further ado:

Burning Today

Prologue

Dervas wore boots while he worked. Shoes didn't last long in the decaying mixture of blood, vomit, drink and drugs which floored The Black Guar. The dark man had finally passed out and for the first time Dervas dared look at him. A worn man with a broken soul. Who are you? The Black Guar didn't get passing trade – the mixture of pushers, heavies and racketeers who made up most of his patronage didn't appreciate strangers. In the first hour the man, who now lay face down on the table, had knocked two out cold and broken another's arm. They left him alone after that and he them. Dervas wiped the remains of a line of sugar off the bar and nodded to the bouncer who went to move the man to his room.

Someone knocked at the door. Dervas ignored it. They knocked again, for longer this time. He cursed and went to tell whoever it was where to go. It was late an he didn't need any more trade. He pushed open the door, a curse dancing on his tongue. A sack crashed to the ground, gold clinked within. A Breton in black clothes stood in the doorway.

“What's his tab?” There was no need to ask whose.

“Sixty.”

The Breton showed no surprise, and counted out the gold. “Listen,” his tone offered pain if Dervas didn't, “You keep giving that guy drinks, drugs, whores, whatever he asks for okay? For him happy hour doesn't end, tabs never have to be paid. Push as much as you can into him. Don't worry - I'll be round a couple of nights a week to pay you. That sack,” he kicked disdainfully at the one he'd just dropped, “Contains a thousand drakes, payment enough I'd say. If he asks don't tell him, just give him more drink. Understand?”

Dervas nodded, his mouth was dry.

The man disappeared into the night.

Dervas walked back into the bar. He looked towards the dark man's room. Who are you? he thought again, And what have I gotten into?

[Olen]

Appologies for the delay, RL has conspired to make life awkward recently but I'm back to posting now.


9. Opportunity

It was nearing dusk and the cramps in my calves were rattling fires. I barely knew. It was half an hour since I'd spotted the glittering lights of a large town. Helnim Wall. I rubbed my hands round each other as I went. It helped with the tremors which had been building since I'd not bothered with lunch. I couldn't face food. It made the withdrawal worse but my hopes of staying off had crumbled to disappointment. I couldn't give up. It had been stupid to think otherwise.

Helnim Wall was more typical for a Telvanni town than Firewatch. The houses were tumescent fungi bursting from the earth like warts on a corpus monster. Most were the normal two rooms but towards the centre there were a couple of larger ones. Their turgid forms were dark against the sky. The higher would be the town ruler, no doubt a mage and insane. The squat building below it would be a tavern. I headed for it as I passed the guard who stood at the edge of town. A few people were out on the streets, those few who didn't ignore me only scowled. Typical Telvanni: probably haven't been to the toilet in the last week and look like they've just stood in something horrible. They were right on the second part, Telvanni towns are horrible and the locals did nothing to improve my views of them as I made my way to the large building.

It was an inn, a cracked sign announced it to be The Old Toll. I went in and wrinkled my nose at the damp rotten smell which permeates mushroom buildings. It was well enough lit by several candles but in spite of the hour it was fairly quiet. I wasted no time in getting to the bar and less when I got there.

"Evening," said the barman.

"What have you got?" I asked rubbing my hands though each other.

"A variety of food and local liquor, I especially advise-"

"What else have you got?"

He nodded, "I wouldn't know what you mean. Perhaps Krelas will. Over there," he pointed at a corner table.

I turned from him and walked quickly to the corner. The pusher looked up, even for a dunmer his skin was grey and his eyes had a dusty look. A heavy user then. "What do you want?" he asked.

"Skooma," I answered.

He glanced round like a startled rabbit, "Yes," he whispered.

"How much for two bottles?"

His eyes widened momentarily, "Two? There isn't that much in the town."

"How much do you have?"

He took a moment to reply. "Three quarters of a bottle," again he glanced around. I wandered if the idiot realised that everyone knew what he was at, "But quiet... if the watch knew about that much even..."

"I'll take it all. How much?"

"Its not all for sale."

"I'm sure you can get yourself a fix elsewhere. I'll give you three hundred." It was a high price for what would doubtless be awful but I wanted it now. Haggling would take to long.

I think my knowing he was an addict shook him, combined with the price he nodded. He didn't say anything as he pulled a cheap bottle from his bag and passed it under the table. I ostentatiously counted a pile of coins onto the tabletop and enjoyed watching his ill face whiten. Once I'd done he scraped up the cash and made a sharp exit.

I took a swig on my way to the bar. It tasted bitter as sin but it felt like lust to drink. Almost already I felt my muscles relax, the bleating need drain away. I took another sip and sat myself by the bar. "A bottle of your best shein and whatever passes for food in these parts," I said to the barkeep. He cast me a disapproving glance and scurried away to the kitchen. I relaxed and went to take another sip of the skooma. I didn't care what the locals thought but it was possible they would throw me out if I lit up. The skooma was low grade and I could already feel the stomach ache which follows drinking the cheap stuff so I put it back in my pack. I had a fix and that was what I wanted. It was good the temptation of another bender had been averted.

I savoured the golden flame of the skooma until the barkeep reappeared with my order. Some sort of mushroom omelette - the Telvanni obsession with fungi borders on pathological - and a dusty bottle. I pulled the cork out and poured a glass. It was a deep red for comberry, one sip told me it was indeed good stuff.

"That's twenty gold," said the barkeep.

"How much for a room?"

"Another ten, fifteen for the best suite."

I handed him forty drakes, "I'll take the good one. Keep the change."

The dunmer nodded at me a smile emerging on his drawn face, "Thank you sir. I'm Balas Vavas."

I took a drink of my wine and a bite of the omelette. It was good, spiced in the way Telvanni do, but not so overpowering as it can be. "Mmm," I said, "This is good." Balas nodded, "Anyway what's the news in town?" I pondered repaying the courtesy by giving my name but decided to seem a little foreign.

"Here?" he laughed, "Nothing happens in Helnim Wall, well nothing much anyway, good thing too. Had a big slave train come though the other day. They weren't selling though, not that anyone has the money to buy up here. Quite a commotion though."

My ears pricked up, "Quite a few folk I imagine."

"Well there was when they came in," he gave a laugh which sounded like it had been collected and pickled for such an occasion. I could see him becoming annoying, "Right to-do. The leader, Inren Dres, is an utter boat. He had a few too many and fell out with the head of his mercenaries rather publicly. As a result he's lost his extra guard and just has his own handlers. Have to give it to him though; he daring to travel so lightly armed in this area."

It took a moment for the information to sink in. The slave train was poorly guarded, there might even be mercenaries kicking about for hire and with no love for its leader. I put another five gold on the bar. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Well thank you sir. I'm quite partial to mazte if you're offering."

"Put it on my tab, make it a double. And get yourself vintage."

"Thank you sir." He scurried off to pour himself a measure of his favourite spirit. I smiled, if his tongue wasn't already loose that should oil it.

"So," I said when he returned, "What all can you tell me about this slave train."

He nodded slowly and took a sip of his mazte, "It was a fair old size, I say maybe twenty-five, maybe thirty slaves, they bought a couple from old Master Niddas, looks like the rumours about his money problems are true... The leader, Inren Dres I think his name was, had perhaps ten of his own men, just handlers but I'm not sure about the number because they camped out of town. I do know they had an escort of another dozen hired mercenaries because they were here until yesterday drinking their pay. Went south I think."

"When did the train leave?"

"Three days ago, they were headed for Alt Bosara, I dare say to get a boat there."

"Any idea where?"

"Well he's Dres and by his accent his as southern as they come so I'd say Tear. I hear the slave price is much higher down there where its easier to feed them."

I nodded. "How long will it take him?"

"From here? A quick traveller might do it in three days but with a big train like that he'll be pushing for five, six more likely."

I was a very fast traveller, and by how long it had taken them to reach here from Firewatch they would be more than six, I could catch up and make my move. Whatever that might be. Still it only left me four days, at the outside. Not as long as I'd hoped for. I turned to my food and wine and after a bit the barkeep went to polish some glasses.