Kallid and Kreet were sitting at a table early the next morning, having seen Sigmundurr off for his day of work.

“It’s like a dream, seeing a man like Sigmundurr off to do normal menial work,” Kreet said.

“I know,” Kallid agreed. “There are just some people who don’t fit into that mold. But it’s just for a day.”

“I hope he doesn’t mess up or go berserk.”

The two watched the morning grow brighter as the sun crept over the rooftops. Then finally Kallid got up.

“Well, I’m going to see if I can make breakfast myself today. Marge deserves a day off from that duty at least.”

“Good idea. I’ll be up on the roof working on sanding that wood down. MIght as well get to it while it’s still cool out.”

***********************

The sun had fairly set when Sigmundurr lumbered back into the Baby Dragon.

“How was it?” Kreet asked as she came back from serving a table.

Sigmundurr looked at her with glazed eyes while he plopped himself down in a chair.

“Men weren’t made to live that way,” he said, shaking his head. “All day, all the effort you can muster, and you never win! There’s always more to do! I tell you Kreet, I don’t know how they do it.”

“You didn’t get in trouble with the foreman did you?”

“Na. He’s a good enough guy. They’re unloading the building supplies out back now. I did my part. But oh, Kreet, it’s terrible! The worst is knowing that it will never end though. Day after day, same thing.”

“Well, not for you!”

“No, but the other guys, they tell me about their lives. Then I tell them about mine and they look up to me as if my life were their dream. Like my freedom to do as I please is something they can never attain. I told them my life is right outside the city gates, ready for them. And yet they will be back at it again tomorrow morning.”

“Such is life in the city,” Kallid said as he pulled up a chair, pushing a large mug of ale towards Sigmundurr. “At least they aren’t slaves. They don’t have to go back at the end of a whip.”

“Oh-ho! What’s this? Could it be this Inn actually has some decent ale now?” Sigmundurr said after downing half the contents.

“Marge brought a supplier in today. For now we’re just sticking with ale and beer. If we can start getting a customer base for that, we might think about the harder stuff. But I talked with some neighbors today and they say they can’t afford anything more than this, so I’m in no hurry,” Kreet explained.

“Smart girl,” Sigmundurr said, finishing off the rest and pounding the empty mug on the table top. “More!”

Kallid got up to refill it, but Kreet put her hand over the top.

“Now Sig, we don’t need a drunken Adventurer in the Baby Dragon tonight!”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled the mug out from underneath. “If I got drunk on two mugs of ale, I should hang up my Adventurer hat and become a day-laborer. Just one more - my word.”

He was true to his word, but he stayed in the bar area downstairs the whole evening, telling stories of his exploits and those of other people he’d met. A good sized crowd had gathered by the time Kreet called an end to it, and quite a bit of beer and ale were sold. But part of Kreet’s plan for the place was to shut it down before it got too late, and she did so despite the loss of income.

They were cleaning up when a loud bang came at the door.

Kreet looked to Marge, who confirmed her fear.

“That would be Big Jake,” she said.

“Not so big, I wager,” Sigmundurr said, grabbing his hammer.

“No, Sig. None of that,” Kreet said, almost reflexively. “Sit back down. If I need your help, you’ll know it.”

“Let me explain to him. He doesn’t know you,” Marge said, and unlocked the door.

The man outside was indeed big, but in no way rotund. Immediately Kreet realized that she was far from sure Sigmundurr could best this dark giant. His hair was as black as the night outside with a short black beard and moustache that joined it without break. But his eyes were bright and quick, glancing around the room as if instantly taking in any dangers.

“So, these must be the kobolds I heard about. Is it true, Marge? Have you sold the Skink to these lizards?”

“Jake, you know how bad we were doing. I lost June the day they came in. Yes. They offered to buy it, and I took it.”

The man stepped in and closed the door behind him, then strolled around the room, touching the empty mugs that still sat waiting to be washed.

“Doesn’t look like you’re doing so bad,” he said.

Kreet stepped forward, “Hello, I’m Kreet. I’m…”

Big Jake interrupted her. “Pregnant. Yes, I see that. How much have you got, kobold?”

Marge grabbed the coffer where she’d put all the coins they’d made and handed it to Jake, but he knocked it aside, spilling the copper coins onto the floor.

“Not that,” he demanded. “How much have you got is what I asked.”

Sigmundurr rose at that. Big Jake glanced at him, then turned back to Kreet.

“I saw a lot of building materials out back. That’s good! You are investing in this place. The Band approves. It will bring more gold back. But things like that cost money. Buying out Marge costs money. If we wanted to, we could take everything you’ve got. You know that. Your pudgy bodyguard isn’t going to help you there. But we aren’t thieves. We prevent thieves!’

Sigmundurr lifted his hammer, and Jake opened his cloak revealing a wicked sword within without even turning his way.

“But like any good insurance broker, we need to know how much we’re insuring. That’s all.”

Kreet was listening, but she also saw Kallid from the corner of her eye. His eyes were turning red.

“I have about a hundred left,” she said, hoping to diffuse the situation. Jake acted supremely confident, but she knew that confidence wasn’t pure bravado. Not only was this man obviously experienced in this sort of thing, but he had a group behind him that the neighborhood respected and feared. Any violence against him, even if successful, would gain them nothing. But a kobold’s instinct was hard to fight, and Kallid now feared for his wife and children. He wouldn’t resist for long. He was more dangerous now than Sig. And worse, he didn’t think Big Jake was paying him any attention.

“A hundred eh? Cutting it close, wouldn’t you say? That won’t last long.”

“I’m hoping it won’t have to. I’d like to talk to your boss about that.”

“My boss? You think the leader of the Band is going to come into this place for you? You talk to me, lizard. I don’t ask much. Only half.”

“Half?” Kreet squeaked, suddenly focusing on the man again. “HALF? Jake, we’ve just started rebuilding this place! Even when the builders are done, we’ve got to rebuild the rooms, furniture, paint! Even with all I’ve got I’ll never be able to do everything I need to. Please, be reasonable!”

“Half is reasonable,” he said. “Consider it a business tax. You want to do business in the Band’s domain, you need to pay the tax.”

“Jake! I CAN’T! I need that money to get this place even close to profitable again. You’ll make a hell of a lot more if you just wait. What do you normally take? 10 percent? 20? I’ll keep the books and let you see them every month. Every week if you want. You’ll know exactly what we’re making. But let me get the place going first! Please! I was being honest with you. That’s all I’ve got!”

“Go bring me fifty gold. Now, kobold, before I tickle that belly of yours with this sword.”

Her eyes went wide at that. They didn’t kill, Marge had said. But would they consider killing her children actual murder? They were only kobolds, after all. Barely qualifying for personhood around here.

And then things happened fast. It was too much for Kallid, and Sigmundurr had been kept in check only by the thread of her command.

She saw Kallid run at Jake with murderous rage in his eyes, and Sigmundurr’s hammer swung amazingly fast. But the sword was out of Jake’s cloak even faster, arcing towards Sigmundur.

She had no time to think. She cast Hold Person on all three as quickly as she could. Sigmundurr’s hammer fell from his hand. Kallid stumbled and fell to the floor just inches from Jake’s foot. But Jake’s sword did not stop. It completed it’s arc, tearing flesh and bone in Sigmundurr’s chest. The blood began spurting from the wound instantly - a mortal wound.

But as horrific as that was, even more surprising was the blue flash that surrounded Jake at the spell’s touch. Kreet was unable to move. She didn’t understand immediately, but she was stuck - frozen in place.

“Bad move, kobold,” Jake laughed. “Magic eh? Well that certainly complicates things. But not so much. You think we don’t know about magic here? I’ve got a reflection ward on me that you probably could only dream of. What are you, some kind of cleric?”

Her eyes grew larger, though she couldn’t move. As it was, she could breathe. Her heart could beat. But she could no more move than a statue could.

“Jake!” Marge screamed. “Leave them alone!”

“Shut up woman. You don’t even own this place anymore.” Jake said, stepping to Kreet and touching her belly with the point of his sword.

Kallid was inert on the ground now, but his face was pure horror and his eyes had gone so red they glowed on the floor around him.

“Pah. Clerics. It’s a damn good thing for you that you didn’t conjure anything more serious. I bet you don’t even have any counter wards. I could poke you right here. But I’ve done enough. Sorry about your bodyguard,” he said, removing the sword. Kreet looked to where Sigmundurr’s body lay bleeding out.

“I’m just here for collections. You’re the one who turned it violent. Keep your fifty gold. I think I’ll take this little lizard here instead. He’s cute.”

With that, he grabbed Kallid by the neck, holding him at arm’s length.

“Give me that rope, Marge. Not sure how long her spell will last, but I expect not very long. And this little guy looks fit to be tied. HA! Fit to be tied!”

Jake had Kallid trussed up in less than a minute, then slung him over his shoulder and walked out into the night.

“Oh Kreet, I’m so sorry!” Marge said, then ran out into the street. “Help! Can somebody help?!”

But Kreet stopped listening. The blood had slowed around Sigmundurr’s body. She still saw his chest rise and fall, but it wouldn’t continue much longer. She had no hope for help from these streets. His salvation lay in her hands, and she couldn’t move them. She could only watch him die.