The Devil's Foundry

The worst part of this whole mess wasn’t being held at gunpoint.

It wasn’t even that I was being escorted into enemy territory to meet with people stronger and more influential than me. Really, I’d been in this kind of situation more than a few times. And don’t even get me started on the hot mess that was the Papaya Gambit.

No, the worst part was that my escort kept trying to make conversation.

“So what brought you to Silverwall anyway.”

Your mom. The puerile insult was on the tip of my tongue. You’d be surprised how many ‘unflappable’ enemies could be thrown off balance by stuff like that. However, I needed to be seen as… reasonable for the moment. I needed to be useful. I knew how these types of people worked.

I was one myself after all.

“I decided that I needed a change of scenery.” I looked over my shoulder, taking in the two level eight rogues shadowing us. “Though I was hoping the locals would be nicer for a change.”

The man laughed. “Rare classes are in demand wherever you go.” He raised an eyebrow. “Or didn’t you get told when you tried to come into the city in the first place.”

I raised an eyebrow. So that’s why the guards were chasing after me. “If I was the type of person who listened to the guard, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“True.” He smiled. He thought he was pretty charming didn’t he? A real scarlet pimpernel who was going to win me over by the end of the night. What a joke. “Usually, if you have a rare class, you have to serve the Baroness, or the guild.”

“I’ve worked for the government.” I rolled one shoulder. “It didn’t agree with me.”

“No.” He leaned in closer. “You strike me as a free spirit, the type of woman who likes to make her own decisions.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Like where and when I was going to meet your boss?”

He gave another laugh, this one a bit more strained. “Well, that’s…”

“We’re already here, aren’t we?” I pointed to the somewhat larger building, clearly a tavern, that was set against the North wall. Just like Rel said, the Rusted Knives were pretty close to my territory. Of course they caught wind of what I’d been doing.

“Yes, that’s it.” He slowed slightly. “But we don’t need to…”

I pulled my hand from his arm, striding ahead of my escort. I could play the game if I wanted to, sometimes it was even fun.

But I only played on my terms.

Behind me, the rogues scrambled for a second before catching up to me. The man, who's name I hadn't bothered to remember, had an annoyed expression on his face. “You can’t just go on ahead whenever you want.”

“Oh?” I smirked. “I was under the impression your boss wanted a meeting with me.” I stepped onto the small porch at the front of the building. “The least he can do is not keep me waiting.” I pushed through the double doors without another second’s delay.

The inside of the building was dimly lit, with a merry fire going in the fireplace. The chimney and fire pit were set behind a small counter, probably where the owner of the inn cooked. Around the room were several wooden tables, well made and lacquered even.

Several lanterns were set around the room as well, though where I expected to see candles, instead most of them glowed softly with a blue orb of light.

Well, so much for making my own General Electric company.

The lone man at the table glanced up as he heard me enter. There was a woman standing at his shoulder. They shared another look as I moved into the room, the three rogues trailing at my heels.

I came to a stop in front of the table. “I heard you wanted to talk.” I waved a hand. “So let’s talk.”

The woman, a level eleven , frowned. I kept a wary eye on her. If she was level eleven, did that mean she had a second class? I couldn’t see anything.

The man laughed, slapping the table.

“And here you thought she’d be a meek little dove.”

The woman’s frown deepened. “I said that I expect you to keep her in hand.” She narrowed her steely grey eyes at me, and I felt the back of my neck itch.

Now that I had a chance to look at them, it was clear the woman was no gangster. She had clean steel armor on, with a golden tassel hanging from her left shoulder. For a second, I thought she was a captain of the guard or something.

But then the man rubbed his chin. “Oh of course.” He waved at me. “Well take a seat, best get the particulars out of the way before the guild gets any more anxious.”

“We are not anxious.” The woman folded her arms. “If anything, you should be worried about breaking your end of the deal.”

I slid into the chair across from them. “He got me here, didn’t he?”

The woman let out a breath of air, looking away.

“Don’t mind her.” I looked back to the man. He had a short cut salt and pepper beard that made his smile look all the more welcoming. With a bit of focus, I could see that his class was . I suppressed the urge to frown.

At this rate, he probably turned into a shark made out of playing cards or something equally asinine.

“No promises.”

He grinned, holding out a single hand. His fingers were worn and scarred. “Alro.”

I gripped it. “Via.”

“Pleasure.” He gave my arm a solid pump before letting go. I held back a sigh. One day, I’d meet a person whose hands didn’t just engulf mine. I know that I’m small, world, you don’t need to rub it in all the time…

“So.” I leaned forward, placing my elbows onto the table. “You came into my territory, threatened my people, and dragged me here for a meeting.” I gave the two of them my best smile. “Why don’t you tell me what you want so badly.”

“We want you to stop making waves and—”

Alro held up a hand. “Thought we agreed you’d let me handle this, Delia.”

The woman glared down at him. “If you’d handled it to begin with, I wouldn’t even be here.” The man just shrugged, and after a moment the woman sighed again. “Whatever, we’ll do it your way, this time.”

Trouble in paradise? How wonderful.

Arlo turned back to me, still grinning that lazy grin of his. “So, heard you’ve been selling knives to some of the gangs in South side.”

I tilted my head. “A girl has to make a living.”

He let out a deep chuckle. I got the feeling that not many things bothered this Arlo. Men like him were useful allies, but just as terrible enemies. “Yeah well, looks like you got someone’s britches in a twist.” He jerked his head towards the woman behind him. “The adventurer’s guild doesn’t like it when people mess with the other guilds, you know.”

“Like the blacksmith’s guild?” I raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware that they were such good friends of yours.”

This time Arlo leaned forward, hand coming up as if he was sharing a secret. “That’s the thing about Silverwall, everyone’s friend with the guild. Even the Baroness.”

I hummed. It seemed that I’d stepped right into the middle of a protected market. “If they can’t compete, that’s their problem.” I smiled at them both. “I’d just love to be friends with the guild as well, after all.”

Delia’s armor creaked, but otherwise she didn’t say anything.

“Don’t we all?” Arlo leaned back. “Normally, no one would care, but you’ve been a busy little bee this past few weeks haven’t you?”

“I try.”

Arlo nodded. “Ran the Tarnished out as well. Now,” he said, leaning in, “between you and me, I’d just wait for them to come down on you like a shit ton of bricks. But Delia here showed up, wanted to make sure I was keeping control of things in this part of town.” He waved a hand. “So here we are.”

I nodded. “You must be really good friends with them.”

“Well.” His grin grew sharper. “I try.” He tapped the table. “So, to business. First off, I’m afraid you’ll have to stop selling in the southern districts. Us gangs, we stay up here, and the guild doesn’t come and kill everyone, see?”

Delia stepped forward. “You’ll also be providing some weapons to the guild.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Will I now?”

“Yes. Or I’ll have Arlo here kill all of your followers.”

I felt the tiny ember of rage in my chest ignite once again, but I didn’t let a bit of it show on my face. “So?”

She glared at me. “Don’t try to play this game with me.”

I tilted my head. “Last I checked, the only one playing a game here was you, Delia.” Her glare deepened, but I continued before she could speak. “Let’s see. You want me to stop selling my wares, to appease your friends in the smithing guild.” I checked it off on my fingers. “But then you want those cheap weapons for yourself, for free.” I smiled at her. “Not happy that those pesky smiths came whining to you either now?”

She huffed and pulled her spear off of her back, leveling it at me. “If you don’t care about your people, I can always just kill you instead.”

I smiled wider. “But who would make you those cheap steel weapons then?”

“You only make iron.”

“I can make steel now.” I buffed my fingernails on my cloak. “Of course, steel isn’t cheap to make, especially on an island like this. Even in a city like this, well…” I leaned around the spear. “There’s a reason they don’t call it Ironwall.”

After a moment, Delia pulled back her spear. I nodded, sitting back in my chair. I’d suspected that this island didn’t have a surplus of iron when I saw the prices other metal workers were charging, but Delia’s reaction cinched it. There was a reason all of my iron was scrap I dredged up from the bottom of the sea.

“I’ll provide you weapons at three times the old rate.”

“Three times?” She shifted her spear again. “Maybe I should just kill you and save us all the trouble.”

I raised an eyebrow. “If you think steel should be as cheap as cast iron then no wonder you’re having trouble with the smithing guild.”

She snorted. “We’ll pay on delivery.” She walked past the table, making sure to kick my chair as she passed. “Arlo will see to the details.”

Arlo laughed, but I could see the annoyance on his face. “Of course, of course! Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”

“Believe me.” Delia opened the door. “I won’t be the one worrying about my head.”

The door slammed shut a moment later.

I tapped my chin. “She’s a real joy to work with, isn’t she?”

Arlo let out a darker laugh. “You don’t do business in Silverwall without going to the guild.”

I turned back towards him. “Would you like to?”

Arlo blinked slowly, leaning forward. “I don’t think you know what you’re suggesting, girl.”

“Well.” I knitted my fingers together, resting my chin on the back of my knuckles. “If you’d rather stay Delia’s errand boy…”

He put one muscled arm on the table, fixing me with a sharp look. But one doesn’t become a gang leader if they lack ambition.

“… What do you have in mind.”

This time I was the one who extended a hand. “Why, a partnership, of course.” I smiled. “Nothing untoward.”

What’s a bit of conspiracy between friends?