Sixteen

Even though the dwarf had refused to give me an interview, I pretty much had enough of what I needed to be able to really push toward an answer. I needed to go see both Jackson Speers and Vulug, my old rival.

I’d decided I should go and see Vulug first, as Jackson was probably back out in Edge City. Already being in Fantasy Park, I may as well see the orc.

I figured he was going to be either at his gym or in some high rollers club. I went with the gym and made my way there.

As I walked to where Vulug’s gym was, there was a kid standing on a street corner yelling out about the latest news and going-ons in Fantasy Park. I paid the kid a gold piece and took a newspaper. For some unknown reason, I found it fascinating that Fantasy Park used newspapers. For all the magic the place had, they still did some things the mundane way.

Pictures moved in the newspapers of Fantasy Park, little five second loops. I glossed the front page and immediately felt sick.

There was going to be talks today between the politicians of Edge City and the Elvish Nobles. The strained peace was stretching thin because of Heston’s death.

He was a major shipping magnate. Into freight and industrial happenings. He supplied a lot of jobs and a lot more money. This guy was important on a global scale.

It was reported there was a detective on the case, hired by Faelana. However, Heston’s family had also hired a detective. The detective hired by Heston’s family was Anjali Khan. She was a famous detective in Edge City, one of the top ones. I knew of her, she was good. Too good. My name wasn’t even mentioned.

The death of Heston Barclay was a story that was already pushed toward the back of the paper. Not much was said on it, except that the killer hadn’t been found.

Something interesting caught my eye though. Vulug had pulled out of his big fight that was taking place in two weeks from today. He said it was due to ill health and he wasn’t sure when he’d return to boxing. I stored that little tidbit away for later.

“Sorry about that.” A squeaky voice said as a small, stocky figure in a crimson cowl ran by me. I’d been so engrossed in reading the newspaper that I hadn’t noticed them until it was almost too late.

They were definitely good at what they set out to do, but I was no stranger to pick pocketers. They had swiped my coin pouch and the green tinted glasses.

“Oi, give that back.” I took off after the crimson clad figure. I gained on them pretty fast, due to their short legs.

They rounded a corner just ahead of me. I rounded the corner and saw that the figure had come to a stop in the alleyway. It was a dead-end and there was no way out.

The figure turned to face me. It was a bald dwarf with a handlebar moustache that went down his torso and was tucked in behind his belt.

“Come on now, I don’t want to hurt you. That was a neat trick you pulled back there, but I want my stuff back, please.” I slowly advanced on the dwarf but held my arms up, showing I meant to harm.

“You’re a stupid human. You shouldn’t be here.” The dwarf sneered at me and raised his fists, ready for a fight.

“Please, I’m not in the mood to fight. I just want my stuff and I want to continue on with my day.” Even though they were short, dwarves were stubborn little buggers that could take a hit.

“If you’re not in the mood for a fight, then you may as well say goodbye to your stuff.”

I checked around the rooftops as well as behind me. I couldn’t see anyone else. I’d been jumped more than once in an alley and had learned my lesson to always be on the lookout.

I took a few steps closer to the dwarf again. I took off my trench coat and rotated my shoulders.

“Oh, so you’re ready for a fight now hey?” said the dwarf. He gave a chuckle and took a few steps toward me.

“Do we really have to? Its not even that much money.” I readied my stance and stood there for a few moments.

“Yep. That there is our money. Not something a stinking human should be holding.” He rushed at me. I took a breath and put myself on the balls of my feet and bounced a little.

I sidestepped and the dwarf stumbled past. I clocked him on the top of the head and turned myself to face him again. I was toying with him, I wanted him to know I wasn’t looking for a fight. However, that seemed to anger him more than anything.

He turned with a scowl on his face. He crashed his knuckles together and flames ignited around his fists.

“Hey, that’s not fair,” I said. Bloody magic was annoying when you couldn’t use it. They always seemed to have an edge.

“Too bad,” said the dwarf. The dwarf charged at me again. This time he swung wildly as he approached, forgetting finesse, hoping the flames on his fists would do the trick.

I wasn’t going to get under his arms, his height made that difficult. I twisted with an incoming blow, and I reckon if I hadn’t, I would’ve had a cracked rib. This little bugger was strong. The fire made it worse. The searing heat burned through my shirt and got my skin.

I was going to have to find a way to finish this quickly. He was powerful and had the fire to boot. I had to think of something.

I thought of the brass ring that I had bought off Grob. Maybe that could be used as a distraction. Hopefully I could close in on him then.

I twisted the ring and mentally told my copy to advance on the dwarf as well. I watched as a perfect clone stretched out of my body and ran alongside me.

The dwarf raised an eyebrow but swung at me again. Of course, I exposed my secret in plain sight, he’d have seen which one was me. This next blow made me see colours and I knew if I didn’t do something with my next hit, I was done for.

I saw my answer laying on the ground. I hated to use it, it went against my code of being a boxer, but I had no other choice. I grabbed the thick lead pipe and dodged the dwarf’s attack. I cracked him on the head.

Before he could react, I did it again. He was stunned now. I struck him a third time and felt a surge of relief when his body collapsed to the ground.

I checked his vitals, he was fine. I took back my money and glasses and continued my way to Vulug’s gym.