26. Talent In Demand

By the time Lukas returned, Humphrey was gone. Only Guard Captain Stefan Santana remained, wearing his casual, friendly smile. Lukas knew not to trust it. The man had proven himself two-faced. Lukas and the clones were fortunate enough not to see its ugly side yet, but he was sure that it would eventually reveal itself.

They discussed mundane topics, ranging from the weather and prices of citrus fruit—a big deal in a port city from what Lukas understood—to current gang disputes. He struggled to tell whether the man trusted him, just had a big mouth, or it was a disarming ploy. Lukas kept his wits about him, constantly scanning rooftops, passing alleys, and watchful eyes in the market square. If Stefan noted his wariness, he didn’t let it show. 

Lukas’s mind leaped to the worst possibilities. After what he’d seen, he couldn’t help but think the man was leading him into a trap. As they walked, he mentally mapped escape routes, not just from wherever they were heading but from Iskander. 

Even though Lukas no longer needed the regular courier job, he continued to have clone running packages. They didn’t do it every day, but often. The job helped Lukas stay on top of gossip, rumors, and street politics.

One of the most important bits of information that he had picked up, and not even many citizens seemed aware of was that the port authority was a separate entity from the city guard. They had their own corrupt network. Lukas had tried to penetrate it but failed. He mostly wanted information on any valuable essences or shards entering the city. Far too many organizations got first pick at shipments, and most of the good pieces never made it to the markets. Lukas either needed to infiltrate said guilds, artisan unions, or mage colleges, or lift the products as soon as they made it off the ships and were in storage on the docks. 

Knowledge of how Iskander’s port functioned and connections with people in the authority’s ranks would also help him secure an escape route if needed. The Iskander guard controlled the city gate and checkpoints throughout the city—including those leading to the docks. There were clearly a few links between them and the port authority. Otherwise, the secret port would struggle to function, but it seemed the two security bodies were careful not to step on each other’s toes.

Guard Captain Stefan Santana led Lukas toward the eastern wall, angling away from the port. If Lukas needed to escape, he’d have a long way to go. It was a good thing he was already in a low-mass state. Agile. Flexible. Fast. Lukas didn’t want to get overconfident, but he believed outrunning Stefan and losing him in the chaos of the evening markets and nightlife was well within his capability.

Instead of heading into the less-traveled and run-down sections of the city as Lukas expected, they ventured into a busy, polished neighborhood. It seemed to serve ship officers, well-to-do adventurers, and affluent merchants. Outfits, builds, and equipment gave them away. Lukas wasn’t sure whether their presence was supposed to make him feel more or less secure. Blatant illegal activity was unlikely to occur among them—apparently, the guilds had some sort of code about supporting ‘their own kind’ before others. However, if a malicious character had a bunch of them in their employ, his chances of escaping would drop drastically.

“After you,” Stefan said, opening the door to a moderately busy pub. It seemed attached to a brewery. Carts laden with kegs and bottles rolled out of the open gate next to it. Lukas sighted barrels bigger than the mutated phaser within the compound.

“Thank you, kind sir.” Lukas played along with the guard captain’s amicable persona, following him to the building.

The bouncer, bartender, and servers nodded at the guard captain. Most of the patrons also seemed familiar with him. Stefan waved, laughed, shook hands, and even gave out a couple of hugs. He introduced Lukas to more people than he had the ability or head space to remember, leading him through the ground floor to the polished wooden stairs at the back.

The establishment reminded him of a refined and well-maintained English pub. All surfaces had a sheen, and stuffed game animals decorated the corners and walls. Unlike taverns Elvis frequented with Kat, the air didn’t stink of stale beer and urine. The aromas of varnish, spices, and dried flowers filled his nostrils. The artwork and some of the weapons also caught Lukas’s eyes. He was sure each piece was worth more than any shard available in the markets. It wasn’t flashy, opulent wealth but more of a ‘think twice before crossing me’ kind of wealth.

Lukas half expected to be led into a private room occupied by a bunch of guards—uniformed or not—and a city councilman or a general of some sort. Instead, Stefan Santana stopped in the open, among a group of semi-formally dressed men and women, having a laugh over a giant noodle and seafood dish. A familiar face sat at the center of it all, the giant of a man Lukas had seen in the back alleys while following the guard captain. It was the same man who had offered to put down the crying young woman. 

His outfit lacked elaborate designs, and he didn’t wear ornate accessories. However, Lukas had developed an eye for quality during his many window-shopping trips with the journal. The materials involved were undoubtedly of high quality and carried the sheen of alchemical treatment. His coat also featured rune-stitched strips that started at the collar. One went all the way down the spine, while two ran along the top of the shoulders before spiraling down the arm all the way to the wrist. 

If it weren’t for Esther and Penelope’s guidance, he would’ve mistaken it for simple decorations. Lukas’s arcane senses had sharpened significantly over the past week. He didn’t have much range, and it wasn’t precise but he had a good sense of when something was magical.

The air about the man and the closest of his companions was jovial but simultaneously, somehow, dangerous. Lukas couldn’t quite put a finger on it but his instincts told him to turn on his heel and march away. 

“Captain Santana!” The giant man called, smiling and waving over Stefan. His demeanor reminded Lukas of the Lord of Brawls and Feasts: friendly but ready to rip off heads if the mood struck. “I was wondering if I’d have the pleasure of seeing you today.”

“I apologize, Mister Grey,” Stefan replied. His tone remained casual, but he stood straighter, shoulders squared. “Lukas Zaun is a hard man to find. Too many jobs and hobbies.”

“It's not easy establishing oneself in a new city,” Lukas said, slipping past Stefan and approaching the large man. One of the women sitting beside him moved to step in between them, hand moving for the slit in her long baby-blue dress. Mister Grey placed a hand on her shoulder and she stopped, looked over her shoulder at him, and returned to her previous position. A smile returned to her lips, and she returned to her conversation with the man standing on the other side of her. “On top of that, my brother and I look like plague survivors. We just need to grind a little harder to make ends meet.”

“Oh, you don’t look that bad,” the giant man said. He nudged the woman who had gone for her weapon. “He’s rather dashing, isn’t he, Kelpie?”

“A bit skinny for my taste, but he’s got a decent face and okay shoulders,” the woman, apparently called Kelpie, replied.

“As for your financial problems, I might have the solution for that.” Mister Grey held out his right hand. It was twice as big as Lukas’s, and white scars crisscrossed the knuckles. “Edward Grey. Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Collector of antiquities and people.”

“All nature of work is welcome.” Lukas smiled, shaking the giant hand. His own disappeared in the monstrous grip. If Mister Grey wanted to turn fingers and phalanges into dust, it probably wouldn’t require much effort. “However, you should know that I already have a magically binding contract with the Cold Fire Sorceror, and my work with her takes priority.”

The Zaun brothers’ employ under Penelope was now public knowledge. It wasn’t just that they’d been seen together in public too many times. The city guard had their working relationship on paper and they had registered the job with the guild network, making it official. It wasn’t a topic of gossip but of public record.

“Oh, I’m well aware of your commitments, Lukas. Working for me won’t be particularly time-consuming. It's not your courier or martial abilities I’m after.” Mister Grey nodded at Kelpie. “I have plenty of people for that.” He leaned closer. “It’s that soul ability of yours that I need.”

Lukas raised an eyebrow, leaning away from Mister Grey. His breath was sickeningly sweet like he guzzled honey like it was mouthwash. “My soul ability? Intelligence gathering—”

Did Penelope tell someone about Inspector’s Compendium?

“My little ratlings at the research center claim it's far more complicated than just intelligence gathering,” Mister Grey said. “Perfect identification isn’t just rare it's unheard of. Diviners and scryers might use psychometric spells to get details of an object or creature, but they're far from accurate.”

“Far too many establishments don't allow them or their gifts,” Kelpie said. She adopted a mocking tone “Cheating. Unethical.’

“I'm afraid my identification powers won't help much in gambling dens,” Lukas replied. The woman to Mister Grey's right moved to make room for Lukas. Mister Grey gestured for him to sit and he did just that. Refusing the man didn't feel like the best of decisions. “It doesn't tell me probabilities or people's thoughts and intentions.”

“Gambling den?” Mister Grey guffawed. “No. I wouldn't waste such an incredible bet on hands of cards. Besides, the tables where I sit would see me, you, and all our companions and loved ones executed for such infractions. I had something else in mind.” The man grinned. “Once a year, Iskander’s beautiful City Council Hall opens its doors for a silent, anonymous auction. All the lots are first put on display; guests get to walk among them and inspect them. Then, we bid from private booths.”

“And you want me to identify objects of power?” Lukas asked.

“Not  just objects of power.” Mister Grey waved at the wall behind where he and his entourage sat. Weapons of all shapes and sizes covered it. They were clean and well-maintained but clearly worn from countless battles. “It's difficult to differentiate duds from objects of history and value. You will be compensated for your time and again if you help me procure something truly… delicious.”

Lukas's skin crawled. He hated his proximity to Mister Grey and wished to run. He didn't like the way Kelpie was looking at him either. “What are the penalties if I get caught identifying objects during the auction.”

“We'll, of course, exercise the utmost levels of discretion,” Mister Grey said.

“It depends on who catches you,” Kelpie added. “If it's the guard, you can expect to see the dungeons and since the city council and other powerful figures will be involved, bribes won't get you out. Sentence length and location will be down to the trial but prison barges and salt mines are common.” Her eyes narrowed as she continued. “If it's one of the other guests and their private guard gets you, you might end up an ability slave or just taken out back and have your throat slit.”

“I hope you understand that your honesty significantly damaged my willingness to get involved,” Lukas said.

“Talent deserves honesty.”

“Oh, I'm sure we can put a price tag on your hesitation.” Mister Grey waved dismissively. “What do you want? A few thousand crowns?” He looked the guard captain in the eyes as he continued. “Our services? Something our law-keeping friend might deem contraband?”

“Do you want a slave?” Kelpie asked. “Security. Pleasure. Just someone to do the tasks you hate?”

“All you see around you belongs to me, Lukas Zaun,” Mister Grey said. “I own half of this neighborhood and more. As long your ask is reasonable and within my power to give, I'll do what I can.’

“I'll pass on the slaves, thank you very much.’ Lukas shot Kelpie a polite smile before returning his attention to her boss. “You can procure things that don't make it to the shops. Yes?”

Mister Grey nodded, sitting back and looking satisfied.

Bastard probably thinks he already has me hooked.

“I want shards and essences for my brother and me,” Lukas continued. “The good stuff. I'm talking about the pieces that get scooped up as soon as, if not before, they leave the ships.”

“Difficult but not impossible. We'd have to step on many toes and anger powerful organizations and entities who had dibs. Are you looking for anything specific?”

“Lightning. I'm on the hunt for shards and essences related to it. Failing that, arcane control, recovery, or metallic related.” The woman who had moved to make room for Lukas pulled a piece of parchment from within her sleeves. “Something physical or metal-adjacent for my brother would be great too. Essence of Steel or Essence of Iron perhaps.”

“Those are expensive and hard to find,” Kelpie commented. “Dangerous too. We'll be pissing off the mage colleges and the artisan's union.”

“Given the risk to my life, I'd say my ask is reasonable.’

“Or we could just keep you here and force you to work for us.” It was the woman taking notes. She barely looked up from her scribbling as she spoke. Lukas glanced at Stefan. The man stood within earshot, speaking to another patron and pretending not to listen. “It's really that easy.”

“Sure. I'm a weak second-tier sharded with only two awoken Pillars and the second still in the low ranks of tier-one.” Lukas smiled, making eye contact with Mister Grey. “But are you ready to make an enemy of the Cold Fire Sorcerer. I and my shard ability have become vital to her work in Iskander. Which the city council brought her here to complete, I might add.”

“I knew I'd like you as soon as you walked,” Mister Grey said, sitting back in his throne-like armchair. He tapped his crystal tumbler and a barmaid rushed over within seconds, replacing it with an identical glass filled with amber fluid. A rough cuboid chunk of ice floated within. “I can sort out an Essence of Lightning and Steel as a hiring bonus. |We’ll check the markets, and incoming vessels and do a price check. 

“Assuming we find what you want, and the risks related to procuring it don’t outweigh the benefits of hiring you, you will receive a lightning or magic-related shard as payment for accompanying me to the auction. We can discuss a shard for your brother afterward as a bonus for finding me what I want. Is that reasonable, Mr—” Kelpie cleared her throat, interrupting him. “Oh, right. This is all subject to a test, of course. We need to ensure shard ability does what we need it to do. Is that reasonable?”

“And I can have the essences for agreeing to the job and proving myself?” Lukas asked, raising an eyebrow. “That's it?”

Mister Grey nodded. “But that would also mean you can't back out anymore. We don't like people who renege on agreements around here. Consequences of not accompanying me to the auction and performing the agreed-upon duties won't end well for you, your brother, or his pretty little friend.”

“I assumed as much.” Lukas sighed. His eyes narrowed as the same barmaid returned with a tray. An ornate dagger sat upon It. The blade and hilt were clean but showed the scars of time and past conflicts. “I'm afraid I can't complete your test at this moment. My shard ability requires magic and is limited by mental fatigue. You got me after a day of arcane training and intense sword training.”

“Would a recovery brew or two help?” The note-taker asked. 

“It's not that I won't but more a matter of can't.”

“That's fair. Kelpie will swing by the inn around the time you finish breakfast.” Mister Grey's words suggested his people had their eyes on Lukas for a few days now. “She'll conduct the test and report back to me.”

“Works for me.” Lukas shrugged glad that the lie had worked. He hadn't lied, it wasn't a matter of ‘won't.’ “You're welcome to dine with me, Kelpie. I—”

“You're not my type,” she said, eyes narrowed. 

I'll need to win her trust before I take advantage of the big guy. It can't be this easy. There has to be a bigger catch to the job.

“When is the auction?” Lukas asked. “Do I have time to push for a few more ranks? It should enable me to use the ability more often, from greater range, and perhaps gain more accurate information.”

“Six weeks,” Mister Grey said. His smile has disappeared. Intense, hungry eyes studied Lukas. “We should be able to procure the essences well before then, but I can't say the same for the shards. You never know. We might find just what you need during the auction. If we fail to find what you want, I’ll pay you twenty-five hundred crowns for the job. That’s excluding the Essence of Lightning and Essence of Steel.”

Mister Grey paused when a breathless young woman came running up the stairs. She wore a dock worker’s scarf and hat. Temperatures dropped significantly along the waterfront following sunset. 

“What is it, Little Rat?” He asked.

“Problem at the secret dock, sir,” the teenager answered, panting. Strands of hair stuck to her damp face. “We need you. Or Mistress Kelpie.”

“Security breach?” Kelpie asked, jumping to her feet. 

The young woman nodded, stiffening. She retreated a couple of steps from Kelpie. Lukas recognized the look on her face. He'd seen the same on his clones whenever they were tasked with reporting failure or bad news to Lady Silverspine.

“I'd love to get to know you better, Lukas.” Mister Grey groaned, rising from his armchair. His giant belly wobbled as he stretched. “Unfortunately, our work day must start early today. Take the night to think about the job. It's a big ask and commitment. Kelpie will be around with your test in the morning. Tell her if you've changed your mind.”

“I still think we should throw you in a barrel and keep you until the job is done,” said the notetaker. She folded the parchment and tucked it into her low-cut dress's plunging neckline. “But it seems no one wants to listen to me tonight. How about you run along before I change Eddie's mind?”

Lukas did just that. He exited the brewery faster than Stefan could follow. He was sure members of the Grey Rat gang were on his tail. So, he slipped through a few familiar shortcuts until he was alone in a lane. Lukas took a moment to ensure no one was watching, then he dispelled himself, glad he had listened to El-Prime and not carried any of their more expensive or valuable weapons.