Another Desk

Cassandra shuffled through the constant pile of papers on her desk wishing once again that there was less paperwork required for her position. She leaned up against her high backed chair trying to stretch the tight muscles in her lower back. It had been a long day and she had never liked paper work. She felt more comfortable on a battle field her life in constant danger ordering units and coming up with battle plans discussing tactics. Tactics were easy compared to the constant barrage of documents required by the city of Sharn. She did the work though without complaint to the other members. They had followed her and trusted her and she would do everything in her power to protect and take care of them.

She rubbed her eyes with her right hand trying to dispel the ach that was behind them. She then looked down at her other hand her namesake. She held it up in front of her and flexed the fingers. It looked more like a claw then a hand but what could you expect from those that gave it to her. Cassandra Silverhand and indeed the hand did have a silver sheen to it. Beautifully intricate and strong the hand would look more at home on a monster than its current owner but Cassandra would have it no other way. The hand was a testament of a past life. A life that had, as it were, a very high price to live.

She flexed the silver hand again and a quit noise of different parts stirring accompanied the movement. The magic that allowed the hand to move was ancient and would never wear down. Cassandra did not know how old the hand was or indeed were it had come from but was grateful for it all the same. She began to touch the thumb of the hand to the three claw like fingers in a series of movements. Exercises she had to perform every day when she first got her hand and was getting used to it. There was of course the constant hum of gears greeting each of her movements. The hand had never been made for stealth and indeed the constant hum had gotten her and others into trouble when silence was needed. The noise and hum of the gears had also lead a new friend to them. One, which was now a part of their lives and the company.

Cassandra allowed herself a small smile as she thought about him and his awkwardness with their society. As she was wondering how he was doing on his first quest away from Sharn her thoughts were interrupted by hoofsteps steadily getting louder. They continued to get louder and things in Cassandra’s small office began to shake as they drew near almost taking on an angry tone. The steeps stopped suddenly in front of Cassandra’s office door. Not letting the owner of the hoofsteps knock or announce himself she called out in a clear voice.

“Go ahead and come in Bloodmane its open.”

The first lieutenant of the Silverhand Company opened the door and began to enter shaking his head and letting out a soft bellow as he did so. The door into Cassandra’s office was not small but even so it had never been built for someone like Bloodmane. The big shaggy Minotaur had to enter carefully ducking his head and turning it sideways to allow space for his bullish horns. After safely getting his head through the doorway he entered first with his right shoulder a ropy scare running from his shoulder to his midriff clearly visible. A great lion like mane covered his head and most of his neck continuing in a line down his back. The mane and the shaggy hair that covered his legs making feathers around his cloven hoofs were a rust colored red giving him his name. A much shorter coat of chestnut fur covered the rest of him.

He came and stood in front of Cassandra’s desk fury in his eye. It is common knowledge that it would be better to put your head into a bucket of scorpions then to be in an angry Minotaur’s way. She could tell by looking at him that he was angry, but really anyone could right then. Eight feet tall and five hundred pounds anyone would be careful when Bloodmane was mad. Cassandra though slowly gathered her papers and put them into a draw almost ignoring Bloodmane’s stair. Suddenly both of Bloodmane’s hands slammed into Cassandra’s desk causing the sturdy desk to grown in complaint.

“Do you know what that son of goat, that that two bit half-elf has done know?” Bloodmane roared his sharp teeth flashing in the light of the everglow lantern. Usually calm and stoic it was generally hard to get more than two words out of Bloodmane. Quinten on the other hand had a knack of getting under his thick fur. Cassandra was sure that most of the time it was unintentional but other times she wondered if Quinten did some things on purpose just to see Bloodmane’s reaction.

“Before you go on to tell me could you please remove your hands from my desk I don’t want to replace it again so soon.” Bloodmane threw back his shoulders and thrust his thumbs behind the thick belt he had holding up his kilt. His anger a little abashed from the memory of the first desk he had ruined. The way that he stood it almost looked like he was standing to attention Cassandra had asked him not to do that anymore but some habits were hard to break. Sighing she leaned back in her chair.

“Ok Bloodmane why don’t you tell me what are good Quinten has done this time.”

“Good GOOD all tell you how good he is. You know that blasted awful smell that has been around for the last couple of days?” Cassandra nodded. She had not been able to smell anything but then Bloodmane had a very powerful nose likely the only other person that came close to his since of smell was Vallasar. “Well it was coming from his room. He had left food in their half eaten. The gluten couldn’t even dispose of it before he left.”

Cassandra listened quietly and calmly letting her old friend vent his frustration. She knew that this matter was not the real problem, even though it did annoy him and give him an excuse to come and complain about Quinten. Bloodmane didn’t like the fact that others were out helping the company and he was not. More to the point others were possibly getting the chance to fight while he was stuck in Sharn doing errands. He was no more suited to this life than she. Cassandra decided to get right to the point.

“I didn’t want you going on this mission because I knew it was something only Quentin could complete.”Bloodmane blinked and once again he was the calm right hand of the company.

“What do you mean?” He said gruffly.

“What I mean is that this was all a set up and it required Quentin’s background to complete.” she had not let on to Quentin’s background figuring that that was his to tell. She doubted if Quinten knew how much she knew of him. “A group came to me recently that know of Quinten they asked me for help. It seems that one of their number is a traitor and overzealous to boot. They asked me to help them come up with a plan to bring him out into the open so he could be dealt with. They also said that Quinten was the only one that could do this. It’s because of the hate that this individual has for him that is what would bring him out into the open. I don’t know why he hates him so much but looked at this as a good opportunity to make connections. Not the best connections mind you but we need this kind to, if we are to survive in the city. Already the number of jobs that have come are way have dwindled.”

“So what about Quinten haarm I mean what about those who went with him?” Cassandra smiled to herself for all of Bloodmane’s gruffness he also cared deeply for the company.

“They should all be fine. We found a small town in the mountains that had been destroyed and abandoned in the war. All we had to do was make up a good enough reason to go there then connect it to one of their high ranking members. As it was they are to look for documents and a rumor was put out in their organization that they were important and could ruin the individual that was connected to them. So more than likely Quinten will get to this village and find nothing there, or find some old dusty documents and bring them back. All that is left then is for the traitor to contact them and demand the documents thus sealing his dome. So in the end all it will be is a lot of walking.” When she was done talking she looked at Bloodmane as he processed all of the information. Suddenly he smiled showing the long canines that never belonged on a bull.

“He is going to be angry when he learns it was all a ruse.” Said Bloodmane.

“And I expect he never will, I have handled the situation so the payment comes through him.” Cassandra gave Bloodmane a piercing look and continued. “I will be very angry if I find out he learned of this conversation.”

“Do not worry about me, if you will excuse me.” Bloodmane said and started to leave the room as carefully as he came in. As he was about to close the door he turned around and commented with a smile. “It will be better if I’m the one who knows.”

Cassandra could only smile as she was once again alone in her office. She put her hand down and pulled gently and then a little harder on the desk drawer. Sighing she made a mental note to look for a new desk.