It's Done, Pay Me

Writers: Devin, Miriah
Date Posted: 25th June 2020

Characters: N'vanik
Description: N'vanik pays a debt.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 23 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: J'ackt, R'fal

N'vanik

A broom swept across the floor, clutched in a light grip as the older
woman in drudge's clothes moved towards the Weyrleader's office. Plain
brown hair was pulled back revealing an unremarkable, lined face.
Though she appeared aged, she still moved quite well across the stone
floors, sweeping with sure strokes across and inside the corners. She
hummed as she worked, but occasionally glanced up and around her.

As she approached the office, she tapped lightly on the door with her
broom. "May I come in a sweep, Weyrleader?" She lifted her gaze up,
just for a moment, to meet the man's eyes with recognition and
awareness before lowering them.

His eyes widened. Sneaking into the Weyr, right up to his office? But
of course she'd want to deliver any news in person. His expression
smoothed and he affected a slightly distracted tone as he called,
"Yes, come in. Thank you." His voice was just loud enough to carry in
case anyone else was in the hallway.

She inclined her head and began sweeping around the edges of the
office with brisk flicks of the broom, then moved around behind the
Weyrleader. She spoke softly. "It's done. The boy and the girl that
were sent. My son came through for you and no one questions the
accident." She continued sweeping, burying the broom in the corners.
"Mine collapse and not likely to be dug out any time soon."

"The girl?" He cast a glare at her. "I said no one else was to be hurt."

There was a soft snort. "Consider it a bonus, N'vanik. She was useless
as it was and they were assigned together that day by someone else.
Both of your problems are taken care of. " The swishes of the broom
never ceased. "Our payment is due."

"That was sloppy. I didn't hire you to make your own interpretations."
N'vanik had sought her out after all these years because she was
professional... as professional as someone in her line of work could
be.

She looked sharply at him even as she swept. "It wasn't purposefully
arranged. The two were paired up on a roster. The timing was simply
convenient. If not her, then there would have been another." She
looked back down. "I'm not asking for more with her death. Just the
amount we agreed upon. Nothing more."

N'vanik's eyes widened at the idea that she might charge _more_ for
going against his explicit conditions. "I respect you and your work.
But I have to say, I'm disappointed." It would have been easier -- and
cheaper -- to simply arrange a large mine collapse if he didn't care
who else got caught up in it. "No one else was hurt? Just the two?"

She snorted softly as she swept, finishing by dusting the minor bits
of debris near the door. "Just the two. They'll not cause you any
worry. Besides, the girl was getting special treatment by the guards.
I figured you'd appreciate the service."

"I hired you for precision. If I require your _service_ again, I
expect you not to make assumptions." N'vanik wasn't upset that Jerinne
was dead, after all she'd not only helped Grevan plan his attack, but
she'd sabotaged J'ackt's riding straps. His worry was for what else
could have gone wrong. R'fal's father was in that same prison.

Opening a drawer, N'vanik pulled out a pouch and started counting marks.

The older woman's lips lifted. "I'm sure I'll hear from you again.
Perhaps not soon, but eventually. But as you say. No assumptions next
time." She approached and watched him count, eyes keen.

He wanted her to see that she was getting exactly the amount they'd
agreed on. After laying out full fee, he swept it into another,
smaller pouch and held it out for her. "I can't exactly say I'm happy
to see you, given the circumstances, but I guess... it's good to know
you're still alive after all these Turns."

Agile fingers plucked the small pouch from his hand and tucked it into
an unseen pocket. "Yes, well... can't say I wasn't surprised to hear
from you, boy. You've done well for yourself, haven't you? Good to
know that you've not lost that sharp edge of yours though, hm? " Her
eyes glinted. "I can make another deal with you. Send me a few marks
now and then and I'll be sure you hear about goings on that even Lord
Holders don't know. 'Specially if it concerns your Weyr."

His first instinct was to refuse, but he thought of Grevan. What if
N'vanik had been able to get word of the plot before Grevan ever got
to the Weyr? "There's dissent among the holders, as I'm sure you're
aware. I don't care about idle talk, but if anyone is planning harm
against the Weyr, I want to know about it. Especially if it concerns
bronzerider J'ackt." He reached into the large money pouch again and
handed the woman a few more marks. "I'd rather take care of things
before any of my people get hurt."

The older woman's smile widened as she took the extra marks. "Agreed.
You'll have word sent to you the moment I receive it." She looked
around his office once again. "I've tarried here too long. You'll be
hearing from me." She winked and scuttled out, humming softly as she
carried herself and her broom away.

N'vanik slid the remaining money back into the drawer. Maybe he'd been
relying on the power and status of the Weyr too much. But there were
other ways he'd all but forgotten, and his old acquaintance had done
well for herself on the path he'd left the day Loseth chose him. She
had eyes and ears all over the South... and hands, too, if it came to
that again.

He stared off through the open door of his office. Funny how he'd
never crossed this line when he was a holdless thief.

Last updated on the August 17th 2020

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It's Done, Pay Me