Twilight's End

Part 5 - Surprises

Vessa thought she'd fallen asleep again, but she must have only drowsed because when she opened her eyes, the same purple evening light still filled the windows. She felt much more refreshed, however, so she went around the room gathering the various bits of her armor and clothing that she had tossed aside the night before. Buckling on her brigandine of hardened black leather, she checked the secret pocket where she had slipped the pouch with her share of the jewels Sahm had traded them for the Eye. She emptied the small bag into her hand, mesmerized by the glittering colors. This was her big score. This was what would finally let her hang up her swords. She felt giddy as she sifted through the stones with her finger, trying to guess how much each was worth – but also, surprisingly, a little sad, because she knew that a part of her life which had come to define her was now finished forever.

That feeling proved fleeting, however, as by the time she had made her way downstairs and entered the common room, she was again excited by the possibilities her newfound wealth afforded her. It was a quiet evening at the Grot: only a handful of tables were occupied, and the conversation seemed subdued. Vessa looked for Carine but she wasn't there – instead the inn's owner, Kell, loomed behind the bar, furiously polishing a set of dented metal tankards, his face twisted into a scowl. When he noticed her descending the stairs, his expression darkened further, if that was possible, and he angrily tossed away the rag he'd been using.

"Vessa!" he barked, motioning for her to approach.

"Kell," she said, wondering if he was upset over Carine's absence. Well, if so, she'd calm him down by showing him her pretty new jewels. Kell was an ornery bastard, but she'd seen him crack a smile once or twice when rich patrons had started throwing money around the Grot – and finally she was in a position to do just that.

"What in the black balls of Garazon is this?" he snarled, holding up something small pinched between two fingers.

"I don't –" she began, but then it caught the lamplight and flashed green.

Oh no.

"You don't know? You mean you settled your very sizable debt with me – and added to it significantly last night – with a jewel you never bothered to have appraised?"

"It . . . I . . ."

"It's worthless!" Kell bellowed, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. "A bit of colored glass! The only reason I don't have the guard in here right now dragging you off to an oubliette is because you must have thought it was real or you wouldn't have slept away the entire morning upstairs!"

"Did someone summon the guard?" said a new voice.

Her head whirling, Vessa turned from the fuming innkeep just as a cowled man in a dark cloak stood unsteadily from the table in the corner where he'd been sitting alone. Gods above and below, what's going on?

She knew who it was before he even pulled back his hood – the limp was so recognizable she wondered why he even bothered to go about Malakesh in disguise.

"Vigilant," said Kell, ducking his head, the white-hot fire of his rage snuffed out instantly.

"Innkeep," Malz said, nodding in greeting. "May I have a word alone with Vessa?"

"Of course," Kell muttered obsequiously, then scurried like a chastised dog through the door behind the bar that led to the kitchens.

"I hope you don't mind me interrupting," the Vigilant said, flashing her one of his lopsided smiles.

Vessa struggled to make sense of what was happening. The jewels are fake? Malz wants to speak with me? Where is Del? "Not . . . not at all."