История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: 12. Рутина агента королевы эльфов

The routine of the Elf Queen's agent

Camrad_RIP 28.02.24 в 10:34

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Camrad_RIP 28.02.24 в 10:34

The noise from the first floor, where the dining room of the tavern was, almost did not penetrate the upper floor of the courtyard. It would have been possible to avoid it altogether, for there was plenty of money for amulets or wall enchantments. But life experience told him it was better not to do that. Otherwise, you might not hear something important. For example, the attack of competitors or partners, the difference between which was sometimes not obvious. There were three exits in the spacious office, furnished with quite good furniture. The main one leads to the corridor. To the roof, through a hatch in the ceiling. And to the next room, where the master bedroom was located, from where it was possible to go directly down the narrow shaft of a small elevator directly into the basement. Or rather, to a separate part of it, from which there were also two exits. To the cellar of the neighboring building and the sewage channels.

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 10:49

Fortunately, Brand hadn't had to use them for escape for quite some time. Now the unofficial owner of the Drunken Siren, and at the same time the unofficial Night Father of the Midtown Sea District, was sitting at a wide and massive table, lit by a good magic lamp. The table could easily be overturned if necessary, and the thick and enchanted tabletop could withstand a direct hit from a couple of medium-to-large power battle amulets. As Brand's experience had suggested, more was not required. Again, to Nightfather's delight, it had been a long time since the table had last taken a blow. Now there were several full and a couple of empty purses, three piles of coins, divided into silver, copper, and a few gold ones, and a very accurate scale, made by dwarves. Separate, neat stacks of the already sorted coins stood.

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 10:52

To the left of Brand, a couple of silver dishes were laid out with food, mostly small crispy fish fried in oil. Next to the dishes stood a large jug and a large mug of cold beer. To the right of Brand, at the edge of the table, on a stack of extra cushions, sat a stubby and already completely gray-haired half-grown man with a large bald spot and a wrinkled face. In front of him lay a thick ledger, where he made entries in impeccable handwriting, carefully dipping his quill into the inkwell. Both, the ledger and the ink, by the way, were not simple, but custom-made so the entries were almost impossible to correct or amend. It's very useful when it comes to money. At the side of the halfling, there was also a silver dish with fried fish in oil, a bottle of good wine, and an elegant glass of expensive dwarven glass of light green color.

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 22:04

"There are forty-three silver coins from Khrop's gang this month. A third of them cut on the edges. One hundred and eighty-six coppers. Half of them cut. Total, including last month's debt... Seven full silver coins and fifty copper coins are missing."

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 22:05

After popping a couple of fish in his mouth and taking a swig of beer, Brand wiped his mouth with his sleeve and hissed:

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 22:22

"How's the bastard making excuses this time?"

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 22:23

"As usual. That he had few good men, and the newcomers from the fry of the Lower Town were of little use. Half of them have been caught by the city guard and sent to his lordship's workhouses. Or to monastery orphanages, under the care of holy men."

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 22:30

"Make a note to tell Khrop I don't care about his rotten excuses. He's better off spanking his little rats. And if they don't want to or can't work, he can throw them back into their cesspool. There's a dozen of them for every one of them! But just in case, tell Norrie to check his word on the city guard. If that cocksucker Dereng is violating our agreement, it's got to be dealt with."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:30

"Gotcha."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:30

"Who's next?"

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 22:31

Having sent one fish by its tail into his mouth with his fingertips, the halfling took a small sip of wine, carefully wiped his hands and lips with a white handkerchief, and then said:

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 22:32

"From Fin and his wenches this month ninety-eight coins in silver. Twenty-six of them cut. Three hundred and sixty-two in copper, of which ninety-seven were cut. Total, including last month's close... The debt is thirty full coins in silver and one hundred and forty in copper."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:27

"What the fuck is so much?!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 06:54

Blinking at his superior's indignant growl, the halfling pulled up one of the scrolls and read grimly.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:24

"Two new girls, bought only two months ago in the Lower Town, were ruined by a couple of sailor clients. They got drunk and beat them so badly that they almost gave their souls to the gods. They're recovering now, but they won't be able to work properly for two weeks. Fin says he's even splurged on a proper healer for them. The two made more money last month than half the other girls combined. They had pretty faces and nice figures."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:26

"Fucking dragon cock up their asses! Have those sea cocksuckers been dealt with?"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:28

"The same day they tickled all three of them with feathers and sent them to Dantra for a swim. But there was nothing to take from them, and the captain of their boat could not be talked to, for he had just left Morgrave the next day."

Camrad_RIP 01.03.24 в 22:34

"Bitch guts!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:16

Squinting maliciously, Brand hissed:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:23

"Write down which ship and the name of this sea rat. Next time he sails into our neighborhood, you'll have to ask him. If his bastards break my property, let them pay for it. How much did those two whores make last month?"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:24

"Ummm... Fin didn't write it... I'll figure it out now...."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:24

"Check it out. And the next time this piece of shit comes to visit, have the guys explain to him how much money I lost because of his motherfuckers. He's gonna pay for every day of downtime. And for the treatment of both whores!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:15

"This ship flies the flag of the Karkhold trading house. They have a representative office in Morgrave."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:14

Brand's angry look became a little more cheerful, and a satisfied grin appeared on his face:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 12:14

"All right! Let the boys talk to them. Send the talker first, see if we can get the peddlers to agree peacefully."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 06:54

"Absolutely."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 06:55

Sending another handful of fried fish into his wide mouth, Brand chewed the crunchy treat with pleasure and drank it with a couple of large gulps of beer.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:06

"Oh, what have we got there... What's next... What the... what the... fuuu...."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:06

At first, everything went blurry in front of his eyes, the office went into a tailspin, and then darkness fell. Brand collapsed onto the table, nearly knocking over his beer mug. Next to him, the halfling collapsed to the floor with a pile of pillows. A few moments later, the door to the neighboring room, which was slightly ajar opened fully, and a tall dark elf dressed as a Dungeon Hunter entered the office.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:10

As he approached the table Luaval's aristocratic face beneath the hooded mask was contemptuous. What nonsense he had to deal with. He took a drawstring bag made of a thin but very thick cloth from his belt and quickly dumped all the coins on the table and the ledger into it. After that, he looked around the office, using his magical vision, enhanced by a special amulet. Nothing. The stash of money, a couple of good amulets, and a pile of papers and scrolls were in the criminal mastermind's bedroom, in a niche in the wall hidden behind a closet. Luaval had already opened it and left it wide open. He'd had to use the most common lock picks and discharging amulets so as not to disturb the signaling threads. It took him ten minutes to open a cache he could have opened in thirty heartbeats. But he had to make it look like the work of a savvy but still local thief.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:22

Looking at the unconscious ringleader and his aide, Luaval realized that the simple but reliable poison, which could be found in Morgrave if you knew who to look for, would kill them soon enough. The hidden alarm amulets would trigger, and their bodies would be discovered by a panicked guard. Satisfied with the result, the dark elf removed a bunch of keys from Nightfather's belt, including the amulet he needed. Deactivating the signal web on the hatch leading to the roof, Luaval deftly made his way outside, activating the cloaking amulets at the same time. There was still a whole night ahead.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:26

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Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:22

Inside the large warehouse on the banks of the Dantra River, closer to the River Gate of Morgrave was crowded despite the deep night. In the center, from the river gate to the street gate of the warehouse, was an open space surrounded by stacks of barrels up to the ceiling. There, across from each other, two groups of people were gathered. And not just people. In one group there were a couple of half-breeds of humans and dwarves, and in the other, there was one pure-blooded orc who towered over the others by a good head. And a couple of black-as-soot humans from the far south. They were not much smaller than their green-skinned counterparts, though they were not quite as tall as their green-skinned counterparts. All were armed, and they looked at their opponents with undisguised suspicion. Though, they kept their blades in their sheaths. For now. There was a man on either side of the front, and there was a heated and lively argument between them.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:42

"Two hundred thalers in silver for a bunch of Lower Town minors?! That's too much! To make them marketable, these wretches must be fattened for a month. No less. That's fifty silver!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:44

"Yeah, sure, you'll feed them something other than cheap slop for half a dime!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:48

"They'll die like flies from the slop, I don't need dead kids, I can't sell them! A hundred!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:49

"What the fuck? I'm not selling you babies, they're all over a decade old. And if they haven't died yet, they're worth at least 30 coins each! So I gave you a tenth off!

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:53

"Ten for a healthy one, five for a runt."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:54

"Fifteen each!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:55

"Eleven."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:55

"Fourteen and, so be it, we'll wash them and change them into clean shirts."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:56

"Deal. Damn you!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:56

Both shook hands with equally disgruntled faces. Then they continued:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:57

"What else you got?"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:57

"A dozen sailors who've had too much to drink and have fallen behind their ships. All with experience, not the first year at sea."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:58

"Sailors? Or drinker sailors?"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:58

"Is there a difference?"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 07:59

"You ырщгдв know! Fifty for a healthy one, 20 for a кгте. If he turns out to be a really good sailor, I'll throw in another ten."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.24 в 08:09