Jinx

Erlis' pendant, a kiss and the key to a grave

Part III

“Pfft, yer business my arse,” Jinx cackled nervously, buttoning up her pants. “Everyone knows ye stole Varwarin’s pendant, it’s on every god-darn board!”

“I was betrayed,” Alix replied, sounding troubled and reaching with a hand, got a pink curl out of her face casually. “Someone in the Guild leaked it.”

“Who knew?” Jinx asked, pushing his hand away.

“No one. Well everyone, I reckon,” Walker relented. “We’re thieves. Always sniffing around on each other’s business.”

“Right. There’s that. How much does it worth?”

“How much is Elris paying to get it back?” Alix countered.

“His man said ‘richly rewarded’.”

The male Gish raised a thick pink brow. A shade darker than Whisper’s. “That’s vague.”

“It’s an easy job. Wanna split up the prize? Sixty-forty.”

Ladies get the bigger share.

“Was that yer plan?” Alix probed with a seductive grin.

Jinx’s plan was stealing it from him, given an opportunity.

“It wasn’t fuckin’ you, if yer asking.”

“Haha, darling stop lying to yerself,” Alix teased and stooped into her personal space, his voice lowering an octave. “Give in to yer urges.”

Jinx pushed him back with both hands, almost sending him down, but the thief recovered nimbly and stood up straight a couple of meters away.

He raised his right hand, Jinx’s leather purse dangling from two fingers. Ye slimy cunt, Whisper cursed.

“Ah. What’s this then?” Alix announced theatrically, quickly perusing its contents, a smug smile on his lips. “Hmm, darling there’s not much here. Ye need someone to treat ye proper.”

“Give it back.” Jinx warned him.

“What for?” Walker asked, but tossed her the purse just the same. Jinx caught it out of the air and returned it to her pocket. “You have the other one.”

Whisper patted her chest alarmed and let out a sigh of relief finding Glen’s coins still there. She turned her eyes on the smirking Gish. “If ye take my stuff again, I’ll kick you in the balls.”

“Mmm, yer mind is filthy, Goddess,” Alix replied and glanced inside the door leading inside the workshop. “Who you got there?”

“Friends.”

“That’s a diverse choice of lovers, Jinx.”

“They are not… we work together,” She replied defensively.

“The Gallant Dogs,” Alix said, his tone sarcastic.

“Aye.”

“Isn’t this,” He paused unsure. “Can we even call it a quest uh? Anyway, isn’t it a little beneath a mercenary company?”

“We recently came into some problems.”

“Dante’s plan?” Alix asked with a knowing stare.

“Dante’s dead. The Cofols killed him near Hellfort,” Jinx answered, a lump in her throat.

“Apologies,” Walker frowned and looked at his boots. “He was kind of a dick though,” He added, recovering his wit. Jinx cracked a sad smile, remembering their captain.

“True,” She sniffled, made to wipe her nose with the back of her hand and Alix, moving fast offered her a blue silk handkerchief. Jinx examined it impressed by its softness. The pattern on it, in white detail, just beautiful. It even had initials on it.

“Who’s SV?” She probed, not really wanting to give it back.

“Sabrina Valwarin,” Alix replied casually and seeing her querying raised brow, added with a shrug. “It was right there. Leaving it, would’ve been a crime.”

“So why meet wit Pollock’s men then?” Jinx asked, picking up her bow. She’d left it at the back-wall of Frank’s workshop and could feel Alix’s lustful eyes on her behind, when she bend at the waist to get it.

“How do you… ah, of course, Goddess is being playful,” The male Gish replied, trying to derail the conversation again. “Was that you, back there?”

“It wasn’t me alone. Pollock had brought muscle. Answer the question.”

“The Vibrant Horns,” Walker said, dodging again. “A brutal bunch, not much brains, but they’re dangerous.”

“Alix, if you’re trying to sell—”

“I wasn’t,” The thief said simply. “Selling it was never the first option.”

Jinx crossed her arms on her chest. “What’s going on, Shifty?”

Walker sighed and looked attentively to the end of the back alley, the Gish couple were standing into. Altarin had quieted down considerably as the night had taken its hold, but one could still hear a drunken customer, or other, milling about at the front of the building and the busy street that also held a bakery, a brothel, an inn and a clothing store going by the crafty name ‘Vance’s Silks’ that had, despite what one might expect, strictly male clientele.

Pretty had an eye on a pair of silk pants herself, a truly gorgeous pink color on them, but the owner was guarding his wares like a hawk and she hadn’t had the chance to try them on yet.

“You know people say, ye can’t cross the Pale Mountains?” The Guild’s thief finally said, the query at the end of it delivered, with a hint of razz.

“I heard it; don’t see why ye’ll want to, when there’s a route from the sea,” Whisper said, shaking her head.

Alix will go the roundabout way it seems, before getting to it.

“They are not Gish, darling. People are afraid of rocks and water,” Alix replied. He’d sneakily cut the distance between them once more and Jinx felt the warm palm of his hand, rest on her fit arse’s left cheek, all casual.

“Get to the point, Alix,” Jinx warned him, swatting his mitt away.

“Well, Framtond did wit his crew. Found the way that is. Reinut before him.”

“Wow, ye went way back now.”

“I did,” Walker clicked his tongue and gave her a naughty wink. Jinx rolled her eyes. He wasn’t going to stop flirting, it wasn’t an option for him. “One of them was Elris ancestor, according to him. He brought treasure back in Altarin, left Ebenezer Framtond continue his endless adventuring and retired a very rich man.”

“It’s a nice story.”

“It gets better.”

“The Pendant?” Jinx guessed.

“Aye. Word is Reinut used a secret underground path to escape Wetull, sealed off the tunnels, when he made it across, leaving a good number of his men trapped inside and one of his famed Issir commanders. No one found the entrance again, but for Framtond that is, who called it ‘Ingram’s Grave’ in his book.”

That didn’t sound ominous at all, Whisper thought sulking.

No sane Gish likes strolling under the earth.

“Framtond and Erlis’ ancestor, I venture,” Jinx opted to point out instead, wanting to speed this along, before hormones got the better of her.

“Aye,” Alix said and as if on que, went for a sneaky peck. Whisper dodged with her head, found the thief’s hand waiting for her cheek, index finger caressing her right ear and hissed in frustration. Walker’s eyes stayed on her, oozing understanding. “We can talk about it more, Goddess, or we can make sweet love under these moons and turn this dull night into somethin’ unforgettable.”

“Let’s talk,” Jinx croaked, twisting away from him.

“What do you want to know?” Walker asked, a little disappointed.

“You think there’s treasure there?”

“Everyone knows there’re untold treasures in the Blasted Lands.”

“It’s a foolish endeavor,” Jinx pointed. “And you’re a thief.”

Alix chuckled. “Who isn’t?”

Touché.

“What does the pendant do?”

The thief shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve no clue. Erlis boasted, to a number of prominent people at an event last month, that it can unlock the entrance. Open a way to all those riches. The audience was impressed enough to talk about it some more.”

“What changed? Why meet wit Pollock?”

Alix grimaced. “War. Traveling through Raoz, let’s say, isn’t that safe now.”

“You hoped to reach the Pale Mountains? Wow, that’s a journey and a half, Alix. How about a ship?” Jinx probed, a little impressed.

“I’m of means darling, but I ain’t a mogul. Anyway no ship is leaving Altarinport, with all that’s happened.”

Jinx stood back, a small pout forming on her mouth.

Alix noticed it.

“The undisputed goddess of passion and feminine splendor has an idea? I knew you’ll have something. Ye always do. What is it? Where have yer journeys brought ye?”

Jinx cleared her throat, blushing furiously at the lavish praise. While expecting it, remaining unaffected wasn’t always easy. A Gish will eventually wear down your defenses.

She opened her mouth to tell him, about ancient square gold coins, pirates and naval battles, dwarfs and Zilans, a Wyvern’s egg and the shiftiest Lord’s scion, she ever called a friend, but saw Osbert’s bulk appearing at the end of the alley, a large spiked club in hand and turned all this, into a sharp warning.

“Those cunts are back!”

“Run darling!” Shifty shouted in response and she glanced back, caught him running the other way and into Calm Pollock’s cutlass.

“STAY N’ HELP ME YE CUNT!” Jinx blasted him and loosed an arrow on the onrushing Osbert. She nailed him through the forearm, because he parried with it, the large man howling in pain.

“NOT MY PLAN!” Alix fired back, dodging Calm’s swing, cursing right after that realizing their attackers had blocked the other end as well.

Jinx reached for another arrow sidestepping, the alley too narrow to maneuver freely, Hopper almost catching her with a dagger. The blade went over her shoulder, bounced off of a wall and landed between her legs.

Whisper raised her bow, arrow nocked, but Sour put a hand on it that solemn pensive look still on his face. Jinx cursed and let go of her bow, stooped to grab the dagger instead. Heard someone coming as she did and caught sight of Osbert charging her like a bull.

Fuck me standing.

Sour jumped out of the way, her bow still in his hands, his orcish friend grazing him enough to catapult the smaller man on the brick wall, head first. There was a crack and a pained moan and then all Jinx could see was Big Osbert’s stupid enraged face.

A crashing thud and all air was knocked out of her, feet losing the ground, head thrown back and arms flailing mad as she was hurled away like a ragdoll.

Again.

This is utterly ridiculous, Jinx thought mid-flight, seeing the world from above, before landing on Calm’s back and take him down, the man in the process of skewering Alix in the ribs. The male Gish was busy defending against Fourteeth Chane and managed to miss the whole thing.

“Gah!” Whisper groaned, legs pointing upwards, right on Calm’s neck, face almost buried in the man’s buttocks. The stench devastating. She kicked and scratched to get away from him, untangling turning into a hilarious ordeal and got punched between the tits, when she finally did, by an infuriated Osbert. Glen’s coins digging into her flesh and her skin splitting at the impact.

“Arggh!” Jinx cried fully mad now, landing on her poor back again; the hard road full of fuckin’ pebbles! “Ye stupid cunt!”

“That’s for me eye,” Osbert said, voice dripping with malice.

“Twas an accident!” Jinx snapped, getting her dagger out with one hand, the other assessing the damage with a manic scowl. “Have ye no shame, fightin’ a girl?”

“Yer no girl, freak,” The Orc said, the sound of the workshop’s door slamming open interrupting his stupid smirk.

“Did ye just call my friend a freak?” Soren asked stepping out, a mountain of flesh himself and twice as muscled as Osbert, nasty war axe in hand. “Apologize, or else.”

“You! Ye work wit that freak?” Osbert growled and made to swing his club with his right arm, the other still having Jinx’s arrow stuck through it. A whoosh was heard, something zapping above Soren’s armoured shoulder, the bolt nailing Osbert right in the chest and all but disappearing inside it.

Soren frowned and looked behind his broad back.

“What?” A pissed off Zola was heard. “I just saved yer arse, dear!”

Big Osbert collapsing on the cobblestone road and the thud that ensued, paused the hostilities. Zola coming out of the workshop to stand on Soren’s side, armed crossbow in hands, helping as well.

“What is this?” Calm griped getting up, a hand on his hurt spine. “You’ve killed a member of the Vibrant Horns, you stupid fucks!”

“You attacked us first,” Jinx replied, still rubbing her chest. “The Gallant Dogs don’t take kind to threats Pollock.”

“How do ye know my name?” He asked frowning. “This is Horns territory, ye stupid wench.”

“I’m a Gish,” Jinx replied, walking the small distance to pick up her bow from the hands of the unconscious Hopper. “Working for Lord Reeves,” She paused to let her words sink in. “Who I believe, owns the city.”

“The old Lord is dead,” Calm countered, narrowing his eyes. Behind him Fourteeth eyed Shifty and the thief shrugged his shoulders.

“The new one isn’t,” Whisper replied with a smug smirk, hoping Glen hadn’t kicked the bucket. “The Dogs work for him. This… is over.”

Calm scrunched his mouth this way and that and glanced at Soren once, before pointing a finger at an amused Walker.

“This man is a thief and a known scoundrel. He stole Elris Valwarin’s pendant.”

“No I didn’t,” Shifty protested, looking affronted. “Yer spreadin’ lies, sir.”

“What? Didn’t you ask for a meetin’ to talk about it?” Calm Pollock snapped angry.

“To see what you knew about the deed!” Alix exclaimed and looking towards Jinx winked once. “Everyone knows yer shady dealings Calm. It is time to come clean.”

“Bah!” Pollock snarled, in frustration. “This isn’t over. I will report to Erlis and he’ll have word wit this Lord Reeves!”

“Tell him about yer dealings wit the Vibrant Horns as well,” Alix taunted. “That will go well I’m sure.”

“Hahaha,” A delighted and much relieved Alix exploded, the moment they returned to Frank’s store, after Pollock and his goons left taking Sour with them, but leaving Osbert for the rats. “That was a brilliant tale, goddess! Brilliant!”

“Who the hells is this guy?” Zola asked, sounding miffed.

“That’s Shifty,” Frank replied, without raising his head from his sketching, “Stay clear, or he’ll rob you blind.”

“The thief?” Zola exclaimed, raising her brows. Her expression turning to wonder, when Alix pushed his hood back to reveal his pinkish head. “Is that a Gish?”

“Alix Walker, at yer service milady,” He announced proudly, gliding the distance between them and all but swallowing a stunned Zola’s hand in his. Shifty brought it to his mouth and kissed it ardently, taking care to touch every knuckle with his lips. “Yer ebony magnificence, all but blinded poor me, dear.”

“Aww,” Zola cooed, fluttering her lashes all warmed up. “You are very kind, Mister Walker.”

“Why do ye look like, Pretty?” Soren asked, not likening Shifty’s attention to Zola, nor her reaction to his advances.

Are ye fuckin’ kiddin’ me wit this?

“He doesn’t,” Jinx protested vehemently, more than a little jealous herself. “He has no tits, for starters!”

“Even if I did, they would be put to shame at the presence of such firmness,” Alix threw her another wink and turning to a still flushed Zola, added, his voice lowering an octave. “Or opulent bountifulness.”

Oh, for Goddess sake!

“Enough!” Jinx barked, wanting to put an end to this, before it turned into an orgy, or a brawl. “We have a shitstorm in our hands!”

“Let me get this straight,” Zola started, after Jinx managed a half-arsed explanation of what had occurred earlier. “He…”

“Alix,” Walker corrected her, with a knowing stare. Zola cleared her throat, her gleaming eyes drifting down the –straight-standing chest pushed out- thief’s torso, before continuing. “Alix, ahm… has the pendant.”

“I do. Onyx deity.”

“He does,” Jinx said, cutting in whatever that was. “But it’s not useful to us, unless we want to up and go search for a treasure in the other end of the Realm.”

Soren frowned at her words and even Frank, still busy drawing, paused and lifted his head up. Zola licked her lips slowly eyeing a smirking Alix and Jinx seeing this going completely the wrong way sighed deeply.

“Guys, we can’t exactly traverse the land freely. There’s a war going on and all this, is but a story told over cocktails during a fancy dinner.”

“You know of a way, goddess,” Alix said, but of course he didn’t stop there. “Share with us, yer knowledge, so we can then indulge ourselves in carnal ecstasy. The night beckons.”

Zola flushed up even more, Soren reached for his war axe, but it was Frank that put everything in context.

“Not in my workshop, you won’t.”

“Another venue, can be easily arranged,” Alix countered, unwilling to give up that easy.

“We may have a boat,” Jinx blurted out, running out of options.

“In Altarin?” Alix probed, interest piqued.

“A ship, in Altarinport. Lord Reeves ship.”

The male Gish blinked, not expecting the answer.

“You know Lord Reeves’ heir? It wasn’t a ruse?” He asked, kneeling before her. “Goddess, thee are magnificent!”

Jinx scratched her head a little embarrassed at the display.

“Well, it’s no big deal,” She paused and returned the thief’s stare. “Other than… we need to find him first.”

“The Lord is missing?” The Gish said, getting up.

“Kind of.”

“Are the Gallant Dogs to search for him then?” Alix asked, looking at their group.

“We haven’t agreed…” Zola started, with Soren talking over her, an excited grin on his face.

“Aye, we made badges for everyone!”

“Badges?” Shifty inquired, eyeing the jeweler.

“They are not made yet,” The crafter replied.

“Are the gold coins for them?” Alix asked, having spotted the pile in front of him. He probably had the moment they got inside, which explained part of his behavior, Jinx thought.

“The coins, will be the badges,” Frank replied simply and opening his drawer dropped the pile inside, locking it.

“Gold badges,” Alix gasped in shock, sucking air hard through his tiny nostrils and turned his red-rimmed eyes on Jinx.

“What do I have to do, to get one?”

Other than stealing it, was his meaning.

“Join the Gallant Dogs,” She deadpanned. “Risk life ‘n limb on shitty missions, spit in the face of danger and follow questionable plans until yer last breath. My plans.”

There is no way, Shifty Walker, of all fuckin’ people, will ever do it, she thought.

And as frequently goes with plans hatched by the Gish, this world over, she was dead wrong.