Phoenix: Tales from Easifa

Tales from Easifa #4. One Shot: Mahaz Abad, the Mercenary!

PHOENIX: Tales from Easifa #4. One Shot: Mahaz Abad, the Mercenary!

--- One Year Before the Three Wanderers - the Town of Shawa in Eadala ---

In the bustling town of Shawa, known for its extravagant love hotels and the vast underground black market, a young bartender with slick brown hair and blue eyes grits his teeth anxiously as he wipes the glasses of his bar spotless. The young man places the final glass he cleaned on a rack and leans over the counter. Beads of sweat fall from his forehead. It has been about 2 hours since he closed for the night and about 4 hours since he has been waiting anxiously. Just when he thinks it's time to lock up and head home, someone places a two-horned Jinn mask at his counter. The bartender jumps and looks up to see the familiar face he's been waiting for. The person is about 6'3, with messy black hair that reaches the mid-section of his neck, light brown skin, and brown eyes. He had a black bandanna on his head with red swirl designs, red sirwal pants, and a sleeveless collared black vest with red swirl designs.

Bartender~ Oh! Mahaz! I'm glad you're alive! I thought you were dead!

Mahaz~ Yea.. So did I a few times. Anyway, I know you just cleaned up but one of the usual, please.

Bartender~ Of course! And about payment...

Mahaz~ 700dir

Bartender~ 700!? That's steep. How about 400?

Mahaz~ Goichi.... It was a two-horned Jinn. If you want something less, go to the Militia or find a Jinn Hunter.

Goichi~ You know I can't! I'm on both of their shit lists! OK, I'll tell you what; 500 and I'll give you some good information on a new job that pays even better.

Mahaz~ Ok. You know what; that sounds better than waiting around for another one. I'll take that deal. But, if the payment is a bust; I'll be seeing you again very soon.

Goichi~ There will be no problem Soul Taker. I've always been a reliable broker for you and that won't change!

Mahaz~ You don't have to call me that... but I guess I can't deny you've been good to me. Thanks for the work Goichi... but you need new drinks man.

Goichi~ Duly noted!

As Mahaz leaves the bar, Goichi falls on his ass and wipes his head with a handkerchief. It's always a tense situation brokering with mercenaries, but Mahaz Abad... There was something off about that man.

Mahaz walks through the town at a brisk pace. He walks to an old hotel named Laylat Mubarak. It was pretty run down, brown brick walls with some broken lights and doors with missing hinges.

Mahaz~ Fucking Goichi... where the hell did you send me?

He walks through the lobby of the hotel, shifting his eyes left and right to stay on high alert. This is the kind of place where some sword hoes invite you up to a room, tie you up, and then steal your supplies! If somehow he ends up in a hospital missing a liver, he's going to kill Goichi first! He finds the hotel bar and slides into a seat. The bartender, a young qazam(elf), smiles at him. Mahaz could have sworn that she was giving him some looks when he walked in. He orders a beer and she's quick to give it to him. She places her elbows and the bar and smiles at him.

Bartender~ So, how many nights are you staying here darlin'?

Mahaz~ hopefully not long. I'm looking for someone named Bahdi.

Bhadi~ you're looking at her. Bhadi AlDihan. Manager of Latlat Mubarak at your service. Of course... I mean any service darling.

She gives him a little wink that causes Mahaz to choke on his beer. Bhadi offers him a towel with a smile, which he humbly accepts and tries to get all serious again.