Fool Enough

Writers: Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 14th April 2007

Characters: Briag, Enara
Description: Briag and Enara corner and blackmail Caswell
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 3, day 2 of Turn 4

Caswell backed into the shadows, he really didn't want to see Briag at all, but knew the little man would seek him out, sometime, somewhere, so it may as well be sooner rather than later. He didn't want to be accosted out in the open, where anyone could place them together; especially this close to the Tavern.

From his vantage point he watched as Briag approached, but he wasn't alone
- Caswell's eyes widened as he realised there was a woman with the little man. A familiar woman. She had been around the Tavern the last few days, he could swear she was the one who had been chatting to Falder two nights before. He slapped his head, of course! Falder had missed his pocket watch within a candlemark of Caswell pocketing it, but he hadn't removed the other guards mark pouch, yet it had disappeared.

* * * * *

"So that's the one?" Enara murmured the question to her uncle. "He's not the smartest-looking guy I've ever seen, probably thinks that we don't even see him there. Mightn't he be too stupid for our purposes?

"He'll do fine. Stupid enough, but not too stupid. I have him over a barrel, and unless he wants to go down with me.. he'll do as I ask." Briag almost swaggered across to where Caswell stood in the shadows.

"Briag.. . " Caswell nodded, then glared at the woman, "Who's she?"

Enara sauntered closer to him, glancing him up and down. "One of your new partners," she murmured. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, as long as you don't try on me what you tried on Falder two nights ago." he sneered at her. Pretty clumsy to think you could get away with it, aren't you?" He lifted an eyebrow sneeringly at her.

"Get away with what?" Her look was all innocence. "I enjoyed chatting with new friends at the Tavern, nothing more. I doubt that anyone would say otherwise."

"Not smart enough to shield your hand whilst lifting his pouch." Caswell smirked, though in truth he really hadn't seen the money pouch being removed, though it might give this woman pause for thought.

"I could hardly shield my hand when I wasn't the one to do it, could I?"
Enara narrowed her eyes at him, keeping in mind her uncle's first rule of thievery: no matter what, admit to nothing. "Perhaps your guilt is trying to shunt the blame to someone else?"

"My guilt?" Caswell gulped, surely _she_ hadn't witnessed that as well? He glanced from one to the other, and finally realised honour among thieves didn't count _him_ as well - yet. "You - you told her?" he finally managed to ask Briag. "I thought we had a deal?"

"Deal? What deal?" Briag asked, his voice dripping with pleasantry, but his face hardened as he took in the nervous look Caswell now showed.
"_That_ is what this meeting is for, is it not?"

Briag looked at Enara, "You want to come as well, or have you had your fill of him already?" The look on Enara's face was priceless as she grimaced at the guard.

"I've had my fill of him, but it's still best if I know what type of deal we have going." She drew herself up to look the guard in the eye. "I'll be meeting with you as well."

"Right!" Briag rubbed his hands together, "There's a small cothold about a quarter candlemark walk from here down that track." he said pointing in the direction. "They have a barn that is more convenient for us to sit and talk in comfort, the holders aren't there today, don't ask how I know, I just do." he winked at Enara. "We'll go now, and will expect you there in no more than a half candlemarks time. Clear?" he gave Caswell a hard look.

"Clear." the guard mumbled.

Briag looked to Enara, "Come on, we don't want to be seen in his company for too long." before turning and setting off down the track he had pointed out to them.

The woman regarded the guard for a moment longer, her expression evaluating him thoughtfully. She opened her mouth as if to give further instructions, changed her mind, and set off after her uncle.

Caswell stood in the shadow a little while longer, watching the pickpockets making their way to the barn. He kicked at the ground, still cursing himself for a fool; fool enough to have been caught by that thief.
He couldn't get out of this fix now. It wasn't just a case of throwing away what he had taken it was too late for that, he had passed it on to someone, and that someone had no idea it was stolen. He kicked at the dirt again, and glanced back up the track, the pair ahead of him had disappeared which meant he should really leave now as well. How had he gotten himself into this?

* * * * *

"You're still not sure of him, are you?" Briag spoke softly, his eyes never stopped glancing this way and that as they walked along the track.
He took everything in, every opportunity that opened up he took, it had been what had keep him out of the cells in just about every guardhouse across this great land. He knew a mark when he saw one, and Caswell, he was a good mark.

"No, I'm not," Enara told him. "There's something about him that makes me wary. He shows too much in his face and if he does that at the wrong time, he'll get caught - and take us down with him."

"_He_ won't be the one doing anything to get caught. And I'll be making that perfectly clear." Briag had thought along similar lines, but apart from Caswell knowing what he and Enara were up to, the guard would be doing no more than drinking with his mates, and causing a distraction if one was needed. "I don't' think he even realises I know who he is...."
Briag mused almost to himself.

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Briag was her only relative, the one who had raised her after the death of her parents, the one who had taught her the fine trade of thievery - but he had also taught her to be wary of _everyone_. "Is there something more I should know?"

"No, not really... But you'll notice I never mentioned his name, he seems to think he is safe, as if anonymity gives him protection." Briag chuckled, "Almost as though, if anything happened he would be free and clear, because I _don't_ know who he is.."

The young woman thought back over the conversation with the guard, nodding. "True. But he knows your name."

"Knowing my name means nothing." Briag shook his head, "I have no record hereabouts. I am but a weary traveler to these parts, looking for work and board where I may find it. He - he has more to lose from the association - and he _knows_ it."

"As long as we keep it that way - with him having more to lose than us."

"Be assured my dear, he does. This is his life, his family, his world. His _small_ world. But he will not want to lose it." Briag laughed mirthlessly. "I think we will do well here for a little while at least."

"I'll trust your judgment on this, but I'll also keep my carrisack close to hand, just in case we need to leave in a hurry."

Last updated on the April 14th 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Fool Enough