[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aUgvyiS.png?2[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/ISudfjm.png?1[/img] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/992864037962526720/1000801172313092126/silas.png[/img][/center][colour=7B68EE][hr] [b]Interlude II [/b][/colour] [sub]Ersand'Enise: Common Dorms | Mudville Co-Post with [@Th3King0fChaos] [/sub] It was well past midnight when Silas crept through the third floor window that was his shared dorm room with Desmond. The latter was dead asleep on the bottom bunk of their still holding creation. Despite their efforts, it was still a trial to walk through the room quietly. Between Silas’ hoarding tendencies, Desmond’s constant workshopping, and their combined disregard for cleaning; it had quickly filled again after the gland was removed. A wide display of items scattered without rhyme or reason. It was a vision of chaos even in the tranquil stillness of night. Desmond’s snoring was the only sign of life as Silas approached. [colour=7B68EE]“Desmond” He hissed in a whisper.[/colour] While he’d yet to get into trouble for being out past curfew, it was because he was careful. Desmond turned in his bed as he heard the window open, he was a light sleeper and Silas coming in and out every now and again awoke him, yet Desmond never really called him out. Silas does his own things and Desmond did his. As Silas called his name, Desmond opened his eyes and looked towards Silas and said, [color=gold]”Hmm?”[/color] [colour=7B68EE]“You still selling your egg? I got a buyer but we got to go now.”[/colour] Already he turned away to pick through the other boy’s belongings in search for the object of discussion. Desmond began getting up as he slowly rubs his neck and sighs as he stretches and says, [color=gold]”Yeah I am, let me grab it”[/color]. As Desmond goes to the other side of his desk and grabs a thin metal pin, as he pushes it against the bottom of one of the drawers Silas was told to never touch and slowly he shifts it and a pop can be heard as he opens up one of the drawers where it can be seen a thin wire swaying and dangling in the drawer as he grabs the egg out of the large drawer, [color=gold]”Alright let’s go”[/color]. As once Desmond closes the drawer it sends a kinetic wave through the desk and allows Silas to see there was a large box inside the drawer filled with something he’s unable to fully see but it seemed like it was like sand and shifting. Silas hopped between feet, all nerves and excitement. [colour=7B68EE]“You got something to cover up?”[/colour] He considered for a moment. [colour=7B68EE]“Better not, actually. We’ll be looking shady enough. You can climb down the window with that?”[/colour] He nodded at the box, but his senses lingered on the shifted energy in the other drawer. A question for another time, he decided as he opened the window to leave the way he came. Using his own Gift to lighten the other boy's load. Desmond looked towards Silas as he seemed almost too excited to do this as Desmond answers, [color=gold]”Yeah I can get down with this”[/color]. As he began to follow Silas, not 100% sure where they were going, however with how Silas is acting, this is most likely a shady deal. As Desmond began to climb down with just one hand he seemed quite capable in doing so. Silas held a finger to his lips as they crossed the Arboretum, showing the quietest path across rocks through the stream where they were least likely to be stumbled upon. It wasn't until they were well into the merchant quarter that he relaxed enough to speak again. Desmond walked with confidence, he acted as if he was meant to be there, often Desmond knew he could blend in almost anywhere all you have to do is keep your head down and act as if you belong. [colour=7B68EE]"Sorry about all the rush and secrecy. But they've upped the guard like we've never seen before and it’s got people in a panic."[/colour] Despite the hour there was still a scattering of people milling throughout the squares, scant few wasting a second glance at the pair. The moon had long past and only the lighting of lamps and arcane magic guided their way. Or at least for Desmond. Even without his false sight Silas knew how to navigate the city, especially this close to home. [colour=7B68EE]“The buyer is in Mudville, not too far in, but still not something Zeno’s need to know about if you know what I mean?”[/colour] As once they made it to the Merchant district it seemed Silas was calmed enough for him to start speaking again. Desmond listened intently as they moved, as the information of upped guards and watchmen is quite valuable for many reasons, but mostly in case Desmond ever needing to use it. [color=gold]“Yeah I get what you mean. Hmm, I wonder why they are upping guards”[/color]. Desmond was quite curious and worried on why the guards and watchmen seem to have been upped, it must be something outside their scope at the moment, maybe some more dangerous business is at play in this school than he first thought. Desmond just made sure to be prepared for if something goes wrong or if they get spotted. Silas couldn’t help but snort. [colour=7B68EE]“I’m guessing the assassinations might have had something to do with it.”[/colour] He shook his head mournfully. [colour=7B68EE]“But they’re everywhere now. Sticking their noses in anything the least bit shady, however victimless the crime.”[/colour] Only when he noticed Ishto, waiting for them across the bridge to the docks, did Silas stop his hurried pace and finally face his companion. The fat red headed boy tapped his foot impatiently, scowling at the scattering of people walking past. [colour=7B68EE]“Alright. Last chance, any questions? Second thoughts?”[/colour] He asked, side stepping off the main road. Desmond sighed when the assassinations were brought up again, it was a subject that annoyed him. Not because he lost people to it, it was because he was asked to go and it was where Desmond saw how the school saw the students, they used their labor and promised less than minimal for it. [color=gold]”Yeah those would do it”[/color] Yet the conversation changed once they made it to their intended area, there they saw a rotund red haired boy it seemed they neared one of Silas’ boys. Desmond looked to Silas as he spoke and said without much of a thought, [color=gold]”Nope, none. Just ready to off load this”[/color]. He said as he followed making sure to keep watch around, as they could be caught up in some simple thing and then get ‘got’ by the many possible watchmen trying to stick their noses in. Silas relaxed at his answer and grinned “Great. Should be back in bed by dawn.” He turned on his heel and waved to Ishto as they made their way down the bridge. [colour=7B68EE]“Yes I know we’re late but it takes time to lug these things across the city you know?”[/colour] Ishto glared at him, looking much more petulant child rather than underworld trader. The small boy walked up to Desmond, craning to see the top of the box he held. “Really gots a dragon in there?” Silas pulled him back by the collar harshly. [colour=7B68EE]“You the one buying Ish? Didn’t think so.”[/colour] The pudgy younger boy folded his arms indignantly and fixed his glare on Desmond. “You ain’t a rat?” Desmond looked towards the egg shaped child as he seemed to almost question Desmond’s motives and if he would rat them out. Desmond snorted as he said looking down onto the red haired boy, [color=gold]“A rat? I mean I’ve been called a rat bastard. But I ain’t here to rat. Just want to off load my shit and be done with it”[/color] [colour=7B68EE]“Give it up. He’s fine, and we’ve already been standing here too long.”[/colour] Silas pointed his head towards the road, urging the others to follow. [colour=7B68EE]“Where we going?”[/colour] Ishto took them to a tavern near the south side of Mudville, right before the main road turned north again. Even before they entered they could hear the liveliness inside, drinking, cheering, and singing. Silas found himself practically pushing through the crowd of grown adults that made no notice of at least two obvious children in their establishment. At least Desmond didn’t look terribly out of place. The groups thinned as they made their way past the bar towards the back room. Inside the second door on the left sat two men. Silas didn’t recognise them, but he wasn’t exactly one for faces. Both stood as the three walked in. Or at least Silas and Desmond did while Ishto stayed in the doorway, only to make himself scarce before the strangers could speak. “You’ll understand if we forgo introductions.” Said the first. “Might we see the object?” Desmond’s walk was one that seemed to modify in the places he was, almost like he was changing as they went through. As they pushed through the tavern, Desmond made it easily through and then made it to the back where they would find 2 men. Desmond took notice of them as they spoke as he nodded about forgoing introductions and took the egg out for them to see. Close enough for them to see the egg, but just far enough away so they wouldn’t be able to just to snatch it. Desmond was wary however, as this could be some elaborate trap to steal the egg from him, or worst, get Desmond for any other crime or things he had done in the past some people would want to get him for. The man hummed as he inspected the egg from a respectful distance. “You are rather young to have such an artifact?” Silas didn’t move from his place behind Desmond but felt his muscles tensing. His paranoia told him a trap was waiting here. Surely Moriff knew they’d come and hatched some plan to get the egg and kill him at the same time. The strange buyers muttered together in a language he didn’t understand or recognize. “We offer thirteen hundred neskals.” The second that had been silent before finally said. Silas squeezed Desmond's arm as the older boy stepped forward. [colour=7B68EE]“They brought at least twice that with them.”[/colour] The luggage of the buyers was nearly the size of their own. Despite it’s sturdy make of wood, brass, and leather its contents eventually revealed their general shape to him after a moment of focus. Desmond listened to the men calmly, with them noting his age and then beginning to mutter to each other. Desmond had no clue before giving the offer of thirteen hundred neskals. As Desmond wasn’t going to allow the first price to go as it was, as he stepped forward and spoke out for the first time, as he began to haggle them up starting at almost double to price. As he was going to shock them to then start working down to the price he actually wanted. As they negotiated Desmond was able to get the men to settle just slightly above even what he was aiming for, 1.6k Neskals wasn’t a bad amount as Desmond settled quite happily with a smile. [color=gold]“Thank you for doing business”[/color] The egg was replaced with an impossibly large bag of coins that weighed the box down enough it took both boys and a hefty implementation of the gift, to lift it again. [colour=7B68EE]“You’re a natural,”[/colour] Silas smiled when they were alone again. [colour=7B68EE]“I’d make you buy me a drink in celebration but, people around here can smell money.”[/colour] Desmond chuckled as he said, [color=gold]”I never said this was my first time did I?”[/color] Desmond chuckled once more as he said afterward, [color=gold]”How about I get you something when we get back to the house?”[/color] [colour=7B68EE]"A deal then."[/colour] A cough came from the doorway, causing Silas to start. But it was only Ishto, apparently having thought enough to return at the most opportune timing. Silas grumbled and dug into his own pocket to produce a single neskal only to fling it at the boy. There was no way he was going to show the daft boy the box’s new contents. [colour=7B68EE]“Not a word of us you hear!”[/colour] Even as he called after, the boy had run down the hall and back to the worst of the crowds. [colour=7B68EE]“So, back home?”[/colour] Silas asked, taking one the box’s sides. [color=gold]“Yeah, don’t wanna get questioned on why we have this much cash on us. I know these kind of people to get something from us if we wait around”[/color]. As once they got home, Desmond gave Silas 40 Neskals and said, [color=gold]”Thanks for that. I definitely know who to go for when I need to get things out of my hands”[/color]. Silas nodded in response. His arms were sore from carrying their haul across town, and the lack of sleep was beginning to show signs of wear. [colour=7B68EE]“Anytime.”[/colour] He yawned, clumsily lifting himself to the upper bunk. [colour=7B68EE]“Goodnight Des.”[/colour]