Traverse

Chapter 9: A Dangerous Gamble

The city of Delmorra was a maze of narrow streets and towering stone buildings, its crowded marketplace alive with the clamor of merchants and the chatter of townsfolk. But Eimear and Nicholas had no time to soak in the vibrant chaos. Their destination was a shadowy corner of the city where whispers of the thieves' guild were strongest.

Nicholas pulled Eimear into an alley, the noise of the main street fading into the background. His usual lighthearted demeanor was replaced with a seriousness that made Eimear uneasy.

"Listen," he said, keeping his voice low, "the people we're dealing with here are dangerous. They don't take kindly to outsiders."

Eimear crossed her arms. "Then how do you plan to get us in?"

Nicholas grinned, the mischief returning to his eyes. "Leave that to me. Just follow my lead and, for the love of everything holy, try not to talk too much."

Eimear rolled her eyes but nodded. "Fine. What's the plan?"

"Simple," Nicholas said, straightening his tunic. "We're going to pretend to be interested in joining their little... enterprise. I'll do the talking, and you can be my silent accomplice. Think you can handle that?"

"Silent accomplice," Eimear muttered. "Got it."

---

The entrance to the thieves' guild was hidden in plain sight—a nondescript tavern nestled between a cobbler's shop and a butcher's stall. Inside, the air was thick with smoke and the sour stench of ale. Shifty-eyed patrons crowded the dimly lit room, their conversations punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter or the clink of coins.

Nicholas strode to the bar with an air of confidence, Eimear trailing closely behind. He leaned casually on the counter, catching the barkeep's eye.

"We're here to see the boss," he said, sliding a gold coin across the counter.

The barkeep eyed them suspiciously before pocketing the coin. Without a word, he jerked his head toward a door at the back of the room.

Nicholas gave Eimear a quick wink. "Showtime."

They slipped through the door and descended a narrow staircase into a dimly lit basement. The air grew colder, the walls damp with moisture. At the bottom of the stairs, two burly men stood guard, their hands resting on the hilts of their daggers.

"What's your business?" one of them growled.

"We're here to join," Nicholas said smoothly. "Figured it's time to put our... talents to good use."

The guards exchanged a glance before stepping aside. "The boss will decide if you're worth keeping."

The leader of the thieves' guild, a wiry man with piercing eyes and a cruel smile, lounged in a chair at the far end of the room. He regarded Nicholas and Eimear with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

"New recruits, eh?" he said, his voice sharp as a blade. "You'll need to prove yourselves first."

Nicholas inclined his head. "Name the task."

The leader's smile widened. "There's a merchant in the marketplace who owes us a debt. He's been... reluctant to pay. I want you to retrieve what he owes—without being seen."

Eimear's stomach twisted. She glanced at Nicholas, who gave her a reassuring nod.

"We'll get it done," Nicholas said confidently.

The marketplace was alive with activity, making it both a perfect cover and a potential disaster for their task. Eimear and Nicholas loitered near the merchant's stall, pretending to browse his wares.