Mirrah couldn't help but release another sigh, running her hand through
her red hair to sift loose strands back to their regular position as
well as to pull out foreign gray strands...which she was sure now didn't
belong to a human's head. "Like I said before, I'm not your errand boy.
How the hell am I supposed to protect you from flying fists if you keep
sending me away?"
"Mirrah, our client." With that Wilhelm
turned on his heels and began moving in some direction, any direction,
Mirrah imagined, that led away from the marketplace. She had little
choice but to follow after him, quickly taking her position a single
step behind him.
"I did, for your information, but still, I'm not paid for recon. I'm going to expect extra from this."
"That's
fine. After watching you potentially damage merchandise, I'd say I'd
dock that recon extra. That's leaves us...oh, seems you're back to your
original pay."
Wilhelm turned sharply down another street, Mirrah matching each movement with a swift step.
"You can't dock my pay for potentially damaging goods when I haven't!"
"Hazard fees."
"Wilhelm, sir--"
"What were we talking about before? Oh yes, our client. Did you find out anything, Mirrah?"
Mirrah
let out a slight groan. This was her most unreasonable charge yet.
Surprising she hadn't grown used to it yet. Mirrah turned her eyes back
in front of her, looking beyond Wilhelm's steps towards the people
crossing in front and walking past before continuing. "Her name's Lorena
Setha'elle...probably with less syllables and maybe less vowels.
Judging from the rumors circulating the townsfolk, she's a foreigner and
not human. Maybe myr. Quite a looker supposedly, but you can't trust what men consider beautiful."
"Did you find out what she might might want from me?"
"Well I couldn't quite ask her over a cup of tea. And besides, you're a merchant. What else would she want besides your goods?"
"Most
people find me when they want my goods. The only time someone's wanted
me to come to them was when they wanted information." Wilhelm stepped
around a man. Mirrah managed to slip around him to keep Wilhelm from
being eclipsed, a gesture that earned her a strange glance. Wilhelm
continued once the space between him and his guard closed up. "I'd like
to know what I'm getting into before jumping in."
"Well I can't help you with that."
"No, I'll just have you jump in before me."
"That's what I'm paid to do, sir."
"Stop calling me sir, I'm hardly old enough to be called sir."
"How about Mista Wilhelm then. Deeah Mista Wil--"
"Did you find out where she wants to meet us?"
"Sir.
Actually..." Mirrah reached out and took hold of Wilhelm's arm, a feat
that was hard to achieve with that giant closet of a coffin hanging off
his back. She pulled him to a stop, lifting her other arm to gesture to a
building they stood before. "Silent Cicada. Bar and Tavern on North
Street. We were to meet her noon sharp."
"Oh goody." Wilhelm
turned his head up, glancing at the sun that had just teetered off the
edge. "Looks like we missed her by an hour."
"That's why I said were."
"Thank
you for that lesson in grammar, Mirrah. Really." He shook off Mirrah's
grip and readjusted the hat upon his head. "Hopefully she sat around to
see if we'd come."
"I don't think they let minors in there."
"Then pretend you're twenty one. You've already pulled seventy quite well a few minutes ago, twenty should be a piece of cake."
"I was meaning you,
sir." Wilhelm had already passed through the swinging doors. Mirrah
didn't let them swing back in place without her on the other side.