The Wizards' Scroll part7

Quentin kept his face smiling, but inside he was fuming.

Captain Ireselan of the Sharn Watch, and member of the Aurum, had a very nice office, probably much nicer than the offices of some of his superiors. The wooden floors were covered in expensive furs from the Riedra Mountains, and the walls showcased several very expensive pieces of art, if Quinten was any judge, and all of them horrifically ugly in garish shades of brown and orange and red. Quinten tried not to look at the tortured scenes too closely. Cloying incense filled the small room with wreathes of smoke.

"You've toned it down a bit," Quinten commented.

"You like the paintings? From Scheller. It is said that he gazed into the Demon Wastes, and the insanity it caused drove him to genius."

"I don't much care for Karnathi art, myself, but I can see how you would enjoy it." Quinten breathed shallowly, trying not to smell the incense. He gestured toward the door and the waiting guards of the Sharn watch outside. "Does the Watch know of your affiliations?"

"They are aware that I associate with some of the richest art collectors in Sharn, a few of which owe me favors." The elf's gaze was predatory. "Do your friends know as much about you?"

Quinten kept silent for a moment, seemingly not paying attention to the captain. Finally, after a few minutes of trying not to look the painting in front of him, he turned. "So, Ireselan, to what do I owe this unexpected suprise."

The Captains' face twitched in annoyance, irked that Quinten called him by name instead of his honorary title. He bared his teeth in a close approximation of a smile. "Oh come now, Quinten, I'm sure this comes as no surpise. You didn't actually think the Covenant was done with you did you?"

"My family doesn't much care for my current profession, and I don't care much for the associations they keep." Quentin paced across the room slowly, picking up a small statue of a dying soldier. He grimaced and put it down. "I thought I made it quite clear that I was not interested in joining, and I've devoted quite a bit of effort into making myself useless to you."

"We are, of course, aware of your attitudes. Shame, really, that such a promising youth as yourself could be corrupted by such petty ideals." The elven captain sat in a large velvet chair, not really caring about what he said. "However, you are where we need you at the moment, and we will not waste this opportunity. We are prepared to offer you a deal. Complete this one mission for us, and in return you will be formally extradited from the Aurum Covenant. All previous associations, contacts, and benifits of said Covenant will be completely removed. It will be as if you had never joined."

"I'm already on a mission."

"That is precisely the point. Your employer, the wizard Teterine, found some very interesting documents in Thrane, documents that might cast a bad light on the Aurum, where they to be published. He knows we have people watching him, which is probably why he sought a merc company to obtain the items, instead of going after them himself."

"And you want me to hand these papers over to you?" Quinten eyed the elf.

"We would rather they were never found at all." Captain Ireselan spread his hands wide, "It is quite possible that these documents were destroyed during the destruction of the city. A severe loss to the wizard, I am sure, but no fault of your own."

"It will look bad to my men if we 'lose' some of the things we were sent to find. Especially with the higher pay involved in recovering them."

"The Aurum are of course aware of these details, and are willing to make it worth your time, if you accept. If not," The Captain continued, "I am afraid we may have to send another team in after the documents, which might conflict with your own men. Loss of life is sure to occur, and we don't want any of that unpleasantness, do we?"

"If I accept, then the Aurum formally renounce me. I won't be contacted for any more little jobs, and our compensation doubles the price the wizard was willing to pay on completion." Quinten looked down at his hands, twisting his ring, around his finger. He family crest, a black eagle on a verdant field, stared back at him. "After this, there is no further association."

"I am quite frankly amazed you are not merely being assasinated, but your grandmother holds quite a bit of sway in some circles." Ireselan nodded. "I believe we can arrange for that." Quinten wasn't sure if he was talking about the assasination, or the double pay.

"You never did like me, Ireselan. How do I know you aren't just setting me up? How do I know this is official Aurum business?" He smirked, "It would be just like you, a member of the Copper Ring, to try to pass yourself off in this manner."

"I assure you, it is purely by misfortune that I am the poor victim they asked to take your leash. Although I wear the Copper, I expect a promotion soon. In any event, they did not see fit to send anyone of higher status for such as yourself." Ireselan pulled a small, folded red parchment from his coat pocket. "Here is the notary of the agreement."

Quinten took the paper, scanning it quickly for forgery, and then once more, closely, checking the fine print.
Finally, he looked up. "I accept."