The Dragon's Sword

Chapter 2

She was pretty sure the housekeeper smiled, but she didn't know. Before Eryn could think of something to say the woman knocked on the door.

A moment later a suave, tranquil voice that somehow managed to sound commanding at the same time said, "Come in."

Eryn gulped.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The housekeeper opened the doors and Eryn stepped in, her hands clenched to keep from shaking. Sitting in the center of the room was a man dressed entirely in a dark blue velvet. He was seated on a black leather couch that had dragon style clawed feet. The room was one that she must not have been in the night before, she couldn't recognize any of the furnishings, and is was so extravagantly decorated she knew she wouldn't have been able to forget any of it.

"Please, take a seat," the man in blue said, gesturing to the one of three black leather armchairs cross from the couch. All three chairs had the same dragon claws feet. What was this guy's obsession with dragons? It was seriously starting to freak Eryn out.

"Thank you," Eryn said, gingery sitting down on the chair furthest to the right. After a moment of awkward silence in which she was clearly meant to say something, Eryn decided to just be blunt, "Sooo... why exactly am I here and when do I get paid?"

"Greedy little thing, aren't you?" he replied in a voice as smooth as honey, "don't you care who I am?"

"Would it be rude to say no?" Eryn asked, trying for keep the slightest quaver out of her voice. Her natural instinct was to be sarcastic to cover for her confusion, but there was truth in her words. She didn't care an ounce who this man thought he was, so long as she got paid.

He frowned, but when he spoke again there was no hint of displeasure in his tone, "I brought you here today because I have heard that you might be a decent thief and I want something, uh," he paused as if searching for a word, then deciding on one he continued, "I want something returned to me,"

Eryn rolled her eyes at decent thief, but knew better than to comment. "I am one of the best thieves, probably the best thief. I can get what ever it is you want returned, for the right price of course" she bragged, with a superior air and mockingly emphasizing returned.

"I expected no less from someone like you. You will be paid generously," he carelessly tossed a bag of coins at her which she nearly dropped because of its unexpected weight. Eryn raised her eyebrows approvingly and when she didn't reply he went on. "More then twice what you got last night as well as anything you might pick up on your journey. "

Eryn though this should be pretty reasonable, "What is it you want me to get, and who has it now?"

"I want a sword and it is kept by a guardian, here" He handed her an intricate drawing of a sword with a large purple gem inset in its hilt. The drawing showed the gem glowing in a dark cave and the amethyst light reached all around the golden sword. Eryn hadn't used many swords or held much interest in learning, but she knew, somehow, that this sword was of the best money could buy. And you don't hear that very often.

Eryn studied the picture carefully with interest before replying, "Wow, a guardian, thank you for all of those helpful details,"

A flicker of unease passed over the man's face and when he spoke his voice carried just a hint of uncertainty, so little that most people would not have even noticed it. Eryn did notice it however and noted that this mysterious man was not quite a collected as he might seem. "The guardian is, well, a dragon,"

Eryn drew back, her eyes widening in surprise. Now she knew this dude was insane... dragons? But if it was true... "That's impossible!" Eryn said, voice firm despite her unease.

"No, it isn't, my sources are completely reliable and assure me that it is guarded by a dragon, one of the last dragons left on this world," The man said casually, leaning across the table, hands clasped in front of him.

Eryn remembered still the hesitation in his eyes when he told her, the man was a good actor, that's for sure. She still looked skeptical, dragons were extinct, everyone knew that. But still, if he wasn't lying... "More."
The man looked as if he had been caught off guard, "Excuse me?"
"If this sword really is guarded by a dragon there's going to need to be more money involved." The man was insane, but that was when people were most vulnerable.
The man smirked at her and tossed Eryn another pouch which she caught effortlessly, "I had a feeling you'd say that."

Her gaze not leaving the man she reached inside the bag, running expert fingers over the coins, checking their quality. She smiled, even if the whole quest thing was pointless, the money she had gotten already was more the she normally got in a week. Scratch that, a month.

"I'm interested," was all she said, but it was all she needed to.

"That's what I hoped you'd say," he replied, a smug smirk slowly spreading across his face.

"Whatever," Eryn rolled her eyes. She didn't particularly like this guy, but she wasn't entirely sure why, not that it mattered.

"All I need is that you sign this contract,"

When Eryn frowned he explained further, "You know, small details, no betraying me, no stealing my money and running, no backing out now, no suing me if you get injured or happen to, um, you know, die or something,"

"Ummm... ok" she replied, feeling slightly unnerved, but not letting it show. He didn't seem to be in a rush to have her sign it, that was a good thing."Can I read it though?" She asked, rolling up her sleeves.

"Of course," He handed her the roll of parchment.

Henceforth anyone signing this document is now at the will of the contractor. Betrayal will not be tolerated or the contractor will be at liberty to punish as seen fit. Betrayal includes thievery, the market of information, or running at a time of peril and not returning to the contractor. These rules are to be seen through or grave and painful reprimands might plague the convicted.
Death and or other matter of pain, injury or trauma is not the fault of the contractor. Should you attempt to get the contractor to answer for their roles, you will be waved away and forgotten. The signer here also agrees to all terms and conditions which are available upon request... bla bla bla bla bla

She skimmed over the rest of it, pretty much what he had said, there didn't seem to be any small details she was missing. To be honest she didn't understand most of the meanings, but she didn't notice anything out of place.

"Pen," she demanded. He held out a pen which she took, and, taking a deep breath scrawled her name at the bottom of the paper.

Eryn Stormn