„One more.”

“You sure Joe? I know we can’t get drunk on this stuff but I still think you had enough.”

A troubled demi looked deep into his eyes. Ever since she dragged him out of that pit, his hands would not stop trembling. The result of mana overuse. Who would have thought that wiggling a wooden stick in the air would have such tremendous repercussions.

“As I said, one more. Make it pure, no water.”

The barkeep gave him a look reserved for those planning on a suicide but since joe already paid, he poured him another glass and watched as the man emptied it in one swig. After such feat, his customer would usually fall on the floor or hork out his guts or both. Surprisingly, the man did none but ask for more. Sartos refilled his glass once more and once more the customer emptied it in one swig. Not even the paladins dared to drink two widowmakers in a row. This one consumed nine already and by the look of it, he had strength for more.

“Enough,”

Savil covered Joe’s cup.

“People are staring.”

She whispered into his ear.

And sure, they were. The pub went silent watching him.

“Spoilsport…”

He counted off few coins, adding a tip and left on his own accord, followed by the eyes of those present. Much to popular disappointment, no tripping occurred. Joe walked on steady legs and not even a trace of alcohol flow through his veins. The curse of high constitution.

“How can anyone live like that?”

Even the pleasant buzz of brandy no longer satisfied him. Soo fleeting it became.

“It has its moments. Ever crawled back to town with broken arms and legs while your guts were flailed wide open by the beast you were supposed to slay? Show me a squishy mage able to do that.”

Her serious expression send shivers down his spine. Had she perhaps done just that? Who knows. Demi are quite the resilient ones.

“I feel kind of disappointed. You promised me angry mobs and pitchforks yet all I got to play with were some measly slimes."

“I find that a success on our part given the nature of the bitch. Now, have you checked the north gate?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“Locked and guarded. There is no chance of getting through there. They raised the bridge to prevent monsters from crossing. Given that this town have not been overrun yet, I’d say there is quite a gap between the wall and the other side.”

“Have you seen it?”

“No. Too many eyes out there.”

How bothersome. The commander of this town appeared to be a practical man. When faced with even the slightest danger, he went to great lengths to ensure the safety of his people and all the rest that currently came under his care. Thus, he ordered the gate locked and the bridge raised. Simple and yet how effective.

“No other way I think, let us meet the man.”

Slowly, they climbed the road towards the gate garrison.

Many other people had the same idea as the crowd round the garrison grew by the minute. Traders, travelers, mercenaries and town’s folk all flood the small plaza in front of the gate.

In the center, a middle aged, broad shouldered man in black buckler and leopard fur, stood and watched as two guards kicked a pulp man. The merchant begged and cried, cowering on the cobble stones under the pressure of leather boot.

“Enough.”

The one in charge raised his arm.

“Did I make myself clear enough now? Take your stinking gold and get out of my sight.”

He threw a heavy pouch into the merchant’s face, spilling gold everywhere then turned around and addressed the crowd.

“The gate stays closed until the path is safe again. Anyone disagreeing with that shall be hanged. I will not risk the safety of the entire empire for your greed.”

“The emperor shall hear about this!”

Somebody from the crowd shouted.

“Then send him my regards for he had personally put me in charge of this crossing to keep idiots like you from endangering others living within his lands!”

“Until the monsters are dealt with, High Peak’s path is off limits!”

In silence, the commander left. No one else among the crowd dared to challenge his authority.

“Well, that’s that.”

“We’re giving up?”

“On getting ourselves hanged? Absolutely. “

Joe turned around and started walking towards the city center. Striking a conversation with someone not in the mood for listening rarely brought the expected results. And that man had no intention of listening to anyone bringing up words “gate” and “pass” together in one sentence. No. There had to be another way.

The center plaza hummed with myriad of voices droning on and on, encouraging the purchase of best carpets, best armors, best meat, best fish, best oil, best unguents and many other items, of course best in the entire empire. From time to time they attracted some eyes and an occasional whisper of not so much flattering words made the demi ears flicker. Humans always were like that, prejudged towards… pretty much anything. Someone was stronger than a human then it, they called it a daemon or a monster. Someone had fur and a tail so that meant she must be a beast or an animal!

“Say master, what do you think of me?”

Joe gave her a bored look. He smelled one of “those” conversations coming.

“You’re half decent meat shield, fuck toy number two. You talk too much though. Probably a side effect of your profession, draws more agro towards you.”

“Is that how you really see us? Items to be used?”

“Yes.”

Not even an ounce of hesitation.

“Master, you’re a shitty human you know that?”

“Yep. I hear that all the time.”

He tossed a coin towards a little, blind girl, begging for food on the corner of a temple. For some reason, soon after she picked up the coin, her eyes begun to water and …

Savil looked back at the stunned crowd that gathered around the girl. A Miracle! One after another they screamed.

“Shitty master, how am I supposed to be angry with you? First you insult me then you go and do something like that. For free.”

She aimed her thumb at the crowd disappearing behind her back. Joe said nothing. He made a note in his journal and walked on. The purple banters of Moon Dust company marked his destination.

“How may I help you sir?”

Smiling receptionist greeted him, out of all the trading guilds, this one brought together a certain kind of people joe understood and enjoyed working with.

“If possible, I would like to speak with your guild master.”

He put the official envelope before her.

“I see. Could you please wait here a moment?”

She gestured them onto an empty sofa while one of the maids took the envelope to the office on the second floor. Ah the maids. Joe walked the girl away with his eyes. The skimpy french maid uniforms were one of the key factors why liked this guild. The other were their adherence to contracts, even those unprofitable ones.

“The master shall see you now.”

The maid returned after no more than several minutes and lead them to the spacious office of Ralene val Hailen. Gold and green tapestry nicely framed her jet-black hairs and generous cleavage.

“I see you have made quite an impression on master Rotheim, Joe. That is a powerful thing to possess.”

She indicated the letter then neatly folded it and put back into its envelope.

“What manner of business brings you to my hall?”

“High Peaks passage.”

“That is… a difficult topic.”

“Difficult but not impossible. Certainly not for someone as influential as the master of the Moon Dust company hall?”

“A flattering assumption but even for me some gates remain closed.”

“I do not need the gate open. What I need is a passage. An assurance nobody will put an arrow in my back while we cross to other side.”

She drum her fingers against her desk.

“And what then?”

“We will clear the passage if possible. If not, we shall scout ahead and send back the intelligence for a larger subjugation force.”

“And what would the guild gain in this?”

Joe smiled at that.

“Closed gates are bad for business.”

“Indeed, they are.”

“I will need time to arrange this. Some ears may be interested in hearing about this deal. If all goes well I shall notify you.”