Blood of the Righteous

Friends In Low Places

After leaving El, David went down to the Salt Spray Inn. Sure enough, Karinga and the crew were there. They all cheered as he came in and called him over to their table.

"So my lord, I hear that your brother caused quite a stir at Eddington's reception for your sister!" Corwyn said.

"Indeed he did," David replied. "He is jousting him the day after tomorrow."

"Think he'll win?" Karinga asked.

"I'm going to place a sizable wager on him. What does that tell you?"

"Oh, excellent idea!" Edge said.

Jenna brought a cup of cold creamed whiskey to the table. "Lord Ki Kalendeen! I still can't believe it!"

"How's old Edward?" David asked, referring to the owner, bartender, and cook of the inn.

"Doing better. We wrapped him up good. Thankfully Captain Karinga gave us a bit of a discount on the aloe."

"David, we are making insane money on the aloe and grain alcohol that the Intrepid was carrying. By the time we're done selling it, it will more than cover repairs to both ships." Kiringa drained his tankard. "Jenna, love, would you mind?"

"Not at all, Captain."

"What's in that rolled leather you have there, David?" Dunkirk asked, recognizing the set of thieves' tools.

"Picked these up today." David set the leather on the one end of the table and unrolled it.

Dunkirk's jaw dropped. "Dear God, these are beautiful!" He began to pick through them. "In my thieving days, I might never have gone to sea had I owned a set like these! Where did you get them?"

"Master Charles' Curiosity Shop," David replied. "It's up near the entrance to poor town. These set me back only four gold. I won a wager. He wanted seven gold for them, but you should be able to get a similar set for five."

"I just might," Dunkirk replied. He gingerly rolled up the leather and handed it back to David.

David leaned in and gestured to the rest of them to do so also. "Listen, lads, I have a little favor to ask of you. Tomorrow, I want you to ask around town about Sir Marcus. Find out if he has any weaknesses, or if he has a tendency to cheat."

"Last year he threw salt in a challenger's eyes," Jenna said, plunking down Karinga's tankard of ale. "Blinded the poor fellow before he ran him through."

"Thank you, Jenna. That is exactly the type of information I am looking for. Tomorrow, I'm going to watch him in the judicial pits to get an idea of his overall fighting style. Ask around, place some wagers, and tomorrow night, we'll meet back here."

Corwyn slapped him on the back. "Don't worry, Lord Ki Kalendeen. Your 'friends in low places' won't let you down."

"Thanks, my friends. The next two rounds are on me."