Private Tales What Tastes Like Ashes

[Lale Carvyre]

The Shallows was no place for someone of her station, but someone had to make sure no mistake was to be made. Lale had been here before, not every trip went smoothly as she had hoped, but she also knew the risks and disdain the people had here. And so she swayed them to expect her presence, to go out of their way to gain the favour of the noble Carvyre family.

When she walked about these particular docks, accompanied by a trusted half elf guide, Lale noticed how many avoid her gaze. Auderic smiled as they slowed to let a cart pass. "Something is going on. No one wants to even look at you."

"That is a nice change from the usual." She responded in turn, keeping her voice low and her eyes alert. It was foolish to let one's defenses lower even an inch in the Shallows. "Someone is planning something... it has everyone waiting in anticipation or on edge."

 

[Shrike]

"There's your basilisk fangs and your monk's hood. Not easy to find, those. That'll be twenty gold."

Tydeus stared at the two cloth-bound packages on the counter, slightly smaller than a bound book. His pale gray gaze traveled up to the storekeeper, a burly dwarf. Tydeus' stare drilled into the dwarf, as stern as caste-forged steel - and just as sharp.

A lance of pain tremored through Tydeus' face, centered on the scar mottling the skin around his left eye and forehead. His lips twisted. One grew used to pain, even pain such as this. But sometimes it came on too strong and he could think of naught else. Tydeus pushed down the urge to scream with a deep breath through the nose.

"When do you think I was born, dwarf?"

"What?"

"Do you think it was yesterday?"

The dwarf's face grew red and he started to protest. Tydeus' words cut through the bluster like a lance.

"Five silvers."

"That's outrageous-"

"Four silvers." Tydeus leaned across the counter. "And I leave you intact."

"This is the Shallows, not some highway in the Reach. Touch me and I'll break you. And if I don't then you can be sure the East End crew will. You wouldn't leave here alive."

"Four silvers. And you can watch me try."

The dwarf laughed in his face, "Fine, what's it to me." He shook his head, picking up the four silvers that Tydeus dropped on the counter. "Shaking down the East End. You best be out of here before night."

Tydeus' lips twitched. He scooped up his packages and placed them in the satchel slung round one shoulder, then left through the shack's front door, emerging to the hum of insects, air so wet you could drown in it, and the smell of the swamp.

 

[Lale Carvyre]

"Remember your promise, Auderic." Lale reminded the elf as they continued. Some faces now watched her, keeping an eye on their every move. "Honour it, and you will be rewarded."

"Even more than you already gave?"

"Yes." She cut the taller male a look. "Keep them away from me, but let them speak."

But Lale and Auderic managed to reach the Poisoner without disruption. He was busy, bargaining with a customer but she was patient to wait her turn. He spared a glance her way, frowning, but Lale kept her hands folded as she waited.

Her eyes roamed the wares, taking in the wares, but knew that nothing on display was what she needed.

"Accept his payment. I will be making your week in sales today alone if you can procure me something I need." Came the Carvyre drawl, Lale's voice unexpectedly civil and clear.