Marks For a Man, Woman, and Child

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 12th January 2020
Series: The Assassin's Story

Characters: Varlin, Khaggo
Description: Varlin makes a deal with a hunter
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 2, day 15 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Lusilk, Bryvin

Varlin left the passenger ship at Sunstone Seahold, one more
unremarkable traveller among many. While the traders among them remained
to see their goods unloaded, he walked along the docks amidst the crowd,
keeping out of the way of workers carrying large bales and crates to and
from the warehouses and following the flow of people, knowing it would
lead him to the taverns.

He chose one that looked modest and reasonably clean, paid for a bunk
for the night, and handed a small mark to the tavern-master's son to
watch his pack while he visited the bathhouse. Then, enjoying the
feeling of solid ground under his feet for the first time in sevendays,
he returned to the bar, took a seat and ordered a pint of ale. It was
late afternoon and the first few drinkers were starting to arrive, but
it was still quiet. This, he thought, was the sort of place that he
would have told Lusilk to choose. Somewhere that didn't see much trouble.

"Thanks," he said to the middle-aged man behind the bar as he brought
the drink over, and pushed a mark towards him. "Keep the change."

"Thank you, sir." The man smiled. Enough to seem generous, but not to
excite too much attention. "I've not seen you in here before, have I?
Visited the Hold before?"

"A few times, but not in the last couple of Turns. I'm a trader in small
goods for ladies - needles and pins, trimmings for gowns, brooches and
purses, that sort of thing."

"Well, you've come to the right place. They say the Hold is fairly
overrun with ladies." The barkeeper grinned. "Lord Holder's looking for
a bride. Or the brides are looking for him. One or the other."

Varlin nursed his ale and they exchanged a few more idle comments in the
moments when the man wasn't serving drinks to others. The tavern started
to fill up with men, mostly traders and a few travelling crafters, and
the scents of cooking meat began to drift out from the kitchen at the
back. After the rush had subsided a little, he raised his hand for
another pint.

"Oh," he said as the man placed it before him, as if as an afterthought.
"I don't suppose you've seen a cousin of mine in here, by any chance? My
aunt asked me to look her up, said she'd come to look for work at the
Hold. She's a dark-haired woman, about so high, usually wears her hair
braided. Her name is Larsil."

"Hmm." He frowned. "Can't say that I have, but I can ask around, if you
want."

"Please do." Varlin slid another mark across the bar. "Only, there are
some difficult family matters. I'd rather approach her in my own way
rather than have her hear that I'm in the Hold from someone else. Do you
understand?"

The mark disappeared. "Of course, sir. I'll let you know if there's any
word."

A group of traders approached the bar then and the man left to serve
them. Varlin sat back and sipped the ale slowly. He could stay a few
days, he thought, and visit a few more taverns before he had to leave
for the Weyrhold. For that long, he could wait and see what mentioning
one of her names turned up.

It didn't take long for the man to get his nibble, but it wasn't
apparent at first. Having sent out his own feelers, it didn't take
long for Khaggo to get word that the woman was being sought. Slipping
into the tavern along with sailors that had just arrived on the docks,
Khaggo watched the other man from a corner, sipping at a pint of ale.
Khaggo had never seen him before, but there was something familiar
about the man he simply couldn't place. A similarity that itched at
his mind. His eye twitched and a finger tapped lightly against the
table, summoning a serving woman. In a quiet voice, Khaggo ordered
another round and had it sent to the man opposite him.

Varlin's eyes flickered as the drink was delivered to him, and he
followed the woman's gesture to the man who'd sent it. Not a face he
recognised. Did he know something, or was this one of the Lord Holder's
men, wanting to know his business in the Hold? He raised his glass to
the man, drank, then got to his feet and went over to join him.

"Thanks." He took the empty seat next to the man. "I just got in to the
Seahold today, so it's good to have a drink without the ground swaying
under my feet. You from around here?"

Khaggo greeted his arrival with an inclined head even as his eyes
flicked over the other man, observing and filing away little details.
"You're welcome. No, I'm not from here, but I can agree that sailing
on a ship wasn't my preferred method of travel. I'm visiting on
business, but I couldn't help but hear that you're seeking someone.
Perhaps I might be able to help. I do travel extensively."

Varlin considered that as he sipped his drink. He didn't know this man
and knew that there was a good chance he was in the pay of Lord Bryvin -
likely half the men who drank here were. He'd have to be very cautious.
"It's true, I'm looking for a woman." He repeated the description of
Lusilk. "Her name is Larsil, but she's sometimes known as Silka. It's
important that I find her."

The only reveal that Khaggo gave was a slight flare of excitement in his
eyes, followed by a twitch of his cheek. "Hm... interesting." He took
a sip of his ale. "I did hear a rumor about a woman that meets that
description having been seen in this area. The rumor is, she and what
she had with her is highly valued."

**Valued?** Who'd value a holdless woman, besides him? Varlin frowned.
Had Lusilk stolen something else? This could complicate his task, and he
wondered for a moment if he'd be better off forgetting about her and
dealing with the smith, as he'd been commissioned to do.

No. She'd failed him, and there had to be consequences.

"My interest is only in the woman," he said, choosing his words
carefully. "Anything she has with her, I'd be willing to leave to
whoever helped me find her."

It was almost too perfect. Though Khaggo didn't like working with
anyone, the reward the Lord Holder offered was enough that he was
willing to make that sacrifice. The information he'd gathered from that
lush blonde woman was certain to be accurate, especially after what had
been done to her. "My business is what she has with her. I need to
collect it. I do have some information about her. Perhaps it's what you
need. "

"It will be, if it helps me find her." Varlin paused, weighing up
various methods of getting that information. There was one obvious way,
but he didn't yet know anything about this man or who was behind him.
Better to stick to talking, until he learned more. "I know Larsil. She's
tough, smart and dangerous. It won't be easy to take what you want from
her, but I could help...if I knew where she was."

Khaggo studied the man just as keenly, eyes flicking over the scar on
his face, the build and mentally ticked off the woman's last known
companions. It had been five turns since he'd seen the woman; trussed
up and blindfolded as she'd been tossed in the Lord Holder's cells. He
wondered in passing if she'd crossed this man as well, or perhaps he
was an associate. "So do I. But I don't know you. How do I know you'd
help and not just take the prize yourself?"

"In my line of business, reputation matters," Varlin said easily. He'd
dealt with that question before. "Larsil and I were working together.
She failed to complete her part of the job, and fled. That's not
something my clients will tolerate. If I'm to keep my reputation, I need
to make sure she pays the price." Idly, he traced a pattern on the dark
wood of the table. "The same applies to any deal I make with you. If I
give my word that something will be done properly and as agreed, it
will. I'm sure a little digging on your part will confirm what I say is
true."

Khaggo's eyes immediately narrowed; so this man was an associate of
the woman's. His gaze flicked over the face once again, centering on
the scar and he straightened, a grim smile lifting just the corners of
his lips. "I don't have to ask around. I believe I remember your
reputation now that I know who you are. It precedes you. I never
thought to actually meet you face to face, but if I am correct and you
helped break her free of her last...confinement...then you know what
she carries with her." He leaned forward, voice quiet. "One thousand
marks for the child that she's hiding. And a satchel of precious
gemstones upon safe delivery to me. And I go with you."

Even after Turns of practice, it was a struggle to keep the shock from
his face. A thousand marks? There weren't many who could afford that
kind of price. And if that was what this man was offering him, how much
would the real client give for the boy? It had to be a Lord, or a very
wealthy - and desperate - holder.

Varlin's mind worked quickly. There was only one reason someone would
want a child that badly, and that meant he knew exactly who the Lord
Holder was. **Shards, Lusilk.** He'd known she was keeping the boy
secret, but he'd always assumed she simply wanted to shield her son from
the truth about her work and he'd never asked questions, respecting her
silence on the matter.

He could retire on that kind of reward. Change his name and buy his way
into a hold. No more risks. No more grubby deals to remove rival traders
or unfaithful spouses. And Lusilk had sealed her own fate by her failure
to kill the smith. Was it really such a betrayal?

"I'd need you to follow my instructions without question. You clearly
know my skills, but I don't know yours. I decide how to approach this."
He paused. "And I'd want my name kept out of it. You give me my reward
and neither you nor the child's family will hear from me again." He
didn't want to spend his life wondering if the Lord Holder would decide
to get rid of loose ends.

Khaggo's lips barely lifted. "I'm the one the caught her the first
time." And had nearly died himself in the effort. "She's improved in
the last five years, so agreed. I don't care about your name. I and my
employer are only interested in the boy, but I want to make sure that
she can't follow us once I have him. Once I'm assured that she won't
be an issue, you'll receive payment."

The man's dark blue eyes met his for a long moment, then he nodded once,
sharply. "Very well. The child, and proof that his mother won't trouble
you any more." He'd done worse jobs. The boy, he assumed, would want for
nothing in his new life. "Does your information extend to knowing where
she is?"

Khaggo leaned back, satisfied. He didn't trust the man for an instant,
but he was confident that this man could take care of the boy's mother.
"It does. She was seen leaving Sunstone on a brown dragon whose rider
has the new Weyrhold knots. I've procured passage on a ship that leaves
in three days time. You got here just in time it seems. I'll purchase
you passage as well.

"All right." Varlin concealed his surprise. That was convenient; the
smith journeyman was at the Weyrhold, also. Too convenient, or a
coincidence? He wondered for a brief, disorienting moment if Lusilk had
spared the man out of desire for him. It didn't sound like her, but if
he'd managed to win the heart of the beautiful healer at the Weyr,
perhaps there was something about him... No doubt he'd find out soon
enough. "I'm travelling as a trader, under the name of Garvel. You can
say we're working together; it'll give us reason to talk." He was sure
that not much went on in this Hold without it getting back to the Lord
Holder. They'd need to be cautious.

Khaggo inclined his head in agreement. He'd have the man followed,
just in case, and would purchase passage on the ship, preferably close
to him. Though he doubted that the man would take off on his own once
on board, there was too much of a chance that he'd decide to take on
the bounty himself. "Then I suggest you act as a trader. Purchase
something as cargo for Barrier Lake."

"Very well. I expect they'll be in need of tools and supplies for the
building work." That would also give him an excuse to get close to the
smithy. Varlin wondered idly if he might even make some marks from the
trade, earning an honest living after all these Turns. "And your name is?"

"Possibly." Khaggo rolled his shoulders. "From what I understand
they're building like mad. I'm transporting linens." Cheap, light, but
reasonably necessary for the Weyrhold. "Call me Koric." He laid a 32nd
mark on the table for the drinks and rose. "Three days then. The Lady
Slipper leaves the dock at dawn. I'll have quarters for ready for
you."

He nodded and raised his glass. "Thanks for the drink." Deliberately, he
didn't watch as the man who called himself Koric departed. With so much
at stake, he doubted he had much to fear for now. Instead, he sat
silently, staring into his ale and remembering a particular day, five
Turns ago, when he'd helped a young woman out of a Lord's Hold. How he'd
looked at her and known that nothing would be as it had once been
between them, any more.

Last updated on the February 1st 2020

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Marks For a Man, Woman, and Child