“My name is Nora Tess.” The woman
said, as the door closed. “The door you are looking for
is here.” She continued, walking to the back of the building,
and touching a nail on the wall. Mac Anu caught the sound of a
small click, and watched as a silent door swung open reveling
a stairwell. “When you get down there ask for Lasher Bravemen,
and tell him you are new in town, he’ll help you with what
you need from there.”
“This is more like it.” Mac Anu mumbled with relief,
and seeing Tess’s smile he knew he was not the first rogue
to come through this room with the same feeling.
There were no pillows lining the floor of the room down stairs.
There were crates, stacked up in several places, and a few tables.
Eleven people, of various race, and sex lay about the place
like cats would, on any surface that would support them. Three
more were entertaining themselves with a dagger throwing contest
and four others were standing around a table examining what
looked like the inside of an elobarate locking mechanism. Mac
Anu and Naill headed in that direction, their ears perked to
gain as much information as they could about the contraption.
“See here?” Said the oldest of the group as they
approached, “this is a three cylinder locking switch.
You pick one tumbler, and turn, the second slides into place.
If you have the right key, you turn it until the next row of
teeth line up, then push and turn. If you are trying to pick
it, you are in a bit of a pickle.”
“Need longer picks” Mac Anu said, to himself, but
the others turned when he spoke, interrupting the impromptu
lesson.
“Partaly right.” Said the instructing man. “Can
I help you?”
“Sorry.” Said Mac Anu, “We are looking for
Lasher Bravemen.”
“And you are suppose to tell me that you are new in town
as well, yes?” the instructor asked smiling.
“Right.” answered Naill.
“I figured as much. I keep telling Tess that it’s
really quite simple. If I don’t know you, then you must
be new in town” He smiled at his own joke. From polite
the expressions of the others at the table, it was an old joke.
“Have you ever worked with a three stage lock before?”
“Not really”, Mac Anu admitted, stepping forward
to examine the device, “I’ve worked as a lock smith
up in Darakeene, and the man I worked for there had one in the
shop. I never got a chance to take it apart to see how it worked.”
“Amazing contraptions really. Thankfully the price tag
of buying them and having them installed deters most folks from
using them.” He picked up some tools and began installing
the lock in a false door. “Unfortunately our friends here
have to face one tomorrow night.”
“What’s the job?” Naill asked, adding, “If
it’s not too secret to let me know.”
“Not at all”, Lasher said, continuing to install
the lock with practiced skills, “The job is the Calastian
Embassy.” He set down his tools and looked at her, “Still
interested? There might be some work for you as well.”
Naill looked at Mac Anu, and shrugged her shoulders. Mac Anu
looked over the three rogues and Lasher, “What’s
it pay?” he asked.
