|
[ rules ] [ setting ] [ players ] [ archives ]
amir nods. "So we do have something to offer you, after all. I can offer training in magic as partial payment, along with whatever rewards you feel are reasonable"--a clear invitation to negotiate--"since it's only to our advantage that you improve your skills." He shakes his head. "If it hadn't been my mage-sense your disguise would have taken me in very well indeed." He looks at her directly. "Would it endanger you to be associated with Gard Aharaz?" She shrugs again. "We don't yet know the extent of your brother's contacts, or his allies' contacts." He frowns, gaze becoming distant as he contemplates the rock garden again. "There has been a call for more mages to the north--no matter." "To be blunt, you would be an informant in the city's heart...to find out what influences move in the sands to threaten us. If the time comes for action, we can discuss what role, if any, you wish to play. Right now our greatest need is for information." Jamir spreads his hands, indicating that it is her turn to speak. "To be openly associated with the Gard Aharaz would likely interfere with my role as information gatherer. I would think it would be better to arrange for some less open means of exchanging information--I tell you what I've learned on your behalf, and you tell me anything you know about what Yasefe has been up to." He nods his acceptance. "Would meeting with the lady spellsworn who sent you here pose a problem? If you let me know the places you're likely to be found--why, it wouldn't be strange for you to be seen running 'private errands' for her." "Just so she understands that it would be unusual for me to be available for errands in the evenings." She names several of the places she can be found during the forenoon, and late afternoons. "Also," she says, "if I'm going to spend much time shifting the sands of gossip and otherwise assisting you, I'm going to need an income. I doubt that your needs and my best customers are going to be sipping their spiced wine together nearly often enough for me to pursue both careers fully." She makes a hasty calculation of how much she makes in a decent week, augments it by a quarter and names that sum as her "opening bid." "Done." He spits onto his palm and holds it out to her. She spits in her own hand and clasps his. "May no blood be spilt on this bargain," she recites. "We can send payment through the lady spellsworn," Jamir says. "Do you prefer it in coin or in some other kind of goods?" Then, straight-faced: "I'll throw in a bottle of spiced wine for good measure." Yasmaili is startled into a smile. "Thank you. Coin is probably best, however." She smiles mischieviously and pulls aside a fold of her robe to display some of the coin jewelry she wears underneath. "It is, so to speak, a natural adornment to my profession." "Coin it is, then." "If I arranged to have magic tutoring, say, once a week, from someone who could pass messages between us. That association should appear innocent enough, especially if I use an alternate persona coming and going." The captain cocks his head. "What sort of things are you looking to learn?" "Divination, Healing, Protection. *Useful* things." Her eyes flash eagerly. "Expanding my skill in these can only be to the benefit of us both, yes?" He nods. "I think I can find someone who fits the mark." "If you needed to contact me in a hurry and without any suspicion being aroused, you or one of your officers could throw a party..." She grins mischieviously. "I'd have to bring along another dancer too, of course,--it would be too unusual for me to work a party alone, not to mention, exhausting. But it shouldn't be too hard to arrange for me to go aside privately with someone, to...haggle over my fee?" He chokes for a moment, then bursts out laughing. "I like it. By all means, bring a fellow dancer, and we'll compensate her for her trouble." More grimly, he adds, "I'll make sure the officers behave." "Your concern is gratifying. Your command has a generally good reputation, however." Generally. When let off their leashes, the common soldiers had a tendancy to behave... commonly, and there were a couple of officers that it was rumored unwise to give private performances for. But then she never gave pivate performances, anyway.
Back: Yasmaili's Prologue 8 Sun image provided by Clipart Castle.
|
