Tinker [On Hold]

4. No Longer Joking

By the time the two men emerged from a sewer tunnel in Amaroth's market district, the day had come to a close, a large ominous moon casting a white glow over the city. Where the light was obstructed by the city's many closely-packed structures, deep shadows loomed, threatening to hold unspeakable dangers for locals and wayfarers alike. Many of the city's richer districts were spotted with self-lighting oil lanterns for both aesthetics and protection, but the cost of such magic was far beyond the reach of anyone in the lower classes.

Stopping at the tunnel edge to allow his eyes to adjust to the moonlight, Lionel beckoned Jared over with his hand, speaking for the first time in a long while.

“Do you know where we are?” he said as Jared joined him at the tunnel's edge.

In front and a few feet below the men leisurely ran a river, collecting water from Amaroth's many sewer tunnels. To their left and right ran a concrete ledge just wide enough for a single man to traverse with his back to the wall. Five feet above, was the edge of a cobblestone road, no form of barrier in place to prevent someone from falling below.

Taking in the beat-down buildings on the other side of the river, most accompanied by an empty wooden bazaar stall, Jared nodded in the affirmative.

“Good.” said Lionel. “Grab your tools from the shop and meet me back here at dawn.”

Seeing Jared's brows furrow in confusion, Lionel continued.

“You didn't think that I came to get you out of that prison cell by chance, did you?”

“Well no,” Jared paused uncertainly, thinking back to the coin he cheated out of a group of men in cards the night before. “And I take it my recent good fortune didn't help.”

Lionel responded with a snigger and a slow shake of the head. “Let's just say that a friend of mine has a proposition for you.”

“And if I...” Jared started, but was swiftly cut off.

“And I do suggest that you hear him out,” Lionel finished, all humour gone from his voice.

His last statement still hanging between the two men, Lionel threw the hood of his cloak over his head and began to walking back into the tunnel.

Once several feet away, he stopped and turned his head ever so slightly in Jared's direction. “And get some rest, Jared. I have a feeling that you'll need it,” he added as if as an afterthought and resumed walking.