Post by Brandwyn on Oct 10, 2020 17:57:12 GMT -5
Anto slipped out of his sodden overcoat and hung it on an empty peg just inside the door of Bonnie’s Tavern and Meals. He hung his hat next to it and then placed his black cat back on his shoulder in her usual place. He gave a nod to Bonnie and settled into his usual table in the alcove to the right. The small cat jumped onto the table and sat, watching the kitchen doors across the crowded common room.
The kitchen door opened and Bonnie, the tavern owner, strode expertly through the crowd and between dancers, around the firepit in the center of the great room and over to Anto’s table. She set a bowl of milk on the table in front of the cat, and a plate of fried river clams on a bed of pasta in front of Anto. “You are a bit late tonight,” Bonnie smiled at the rover. “Your wife keep you?”
Anto slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her down onto his lap. “Wife? You break my heart, that you think I could be tamed by a wife.” Anto grinned. “I have far too many sweethearts, just like you, all over these lands to break their hearts by marrying one woman,” he joked.
Bonnie placed her hands around his neck, enjoying being held by the charismatic wanderer. He was handsome and funny and Bonnie loved his wild side. She knew he wasn’t married and would be very surprised if he ever did wed. He wasn’t the settling down type, and even though he was a mature man, he was still very good-looking and physically very fit. In fact, Bonnie thought he had the physique of a sailor if she didn’t know better. “Ahhh,” Bonnie laughed, “It must have been one of those other sweethearts, then.” She planted a kiss on his lips and then slipped out of his arms, still holding one of his hands. He followed her with his eyes. “Oh yeah,” Bonnie leaned down from behind him and whispered in his ear, “Muldoon is back in town.”
Anto tried to pull Bonnie back into his lap, but she expertly slipped out of his arms and started to walk away. At the mention of Muldoon, Anto scowled and gave her a nod of thanks, his mood changed. He ate his clams, sharing some with his cat, Spook. He ate quickly, wondering when Muldoon would show up and what goods the man wanted this time.
When he finished eating, he slid his chair against the wall and crossed his feet on the chair in front of him. Lighting his pipe, he glanced around the room, making a note of everyone currently in Bonnie’s Tavern and Food. Spook climbed into his lap and he stroked her while she curled up and started purring loudly.
The rowdy crowd was cavorting around the large fire in the firepit in the middle of the room. Anto didn’t waste much time on them. His contact wouldn’t be among that crowd, drawing attention to themselves. Anto scanned the people dining at the tables in the back of the room and then down the row of those drinking at the bar. His eyes roved around the room and back to the front door and there was Muldoon sitting at his table with a big grin on his face.
“You sure you haven’t had ranger training?” Anto asked sourly. “You seem to materialize out of thin air just like those King’s Rangers do.”
Muldoon laughed. “Me? A ranger? Now that’s a good one, Anto, my friend.” He slapped Anto’s foot which made Spook squawk in protest at being disturbed. “Never mind all that.” Muldoon waved his hand dismissively. “I have an order for you, and I need it by the next Little Rovo.”
Anto took a puff on his pipe and slowly exhaled the smoke. “What is it?”
“A couple of things,” Muldoon leaned forward and slid a piece of parchment across the table. “The boss wants to know if you can deliver.”
Anto stared at Muldoon and did a glance across the room before he picked up the parchment and read the items on the list. “No problem… okay…” Anto glanced at Muldoon, “That’s a lot of weapons. You guys starting a war?”
Muldoon shrugged, “I don’t know what they want the stuff for. I just know how much they are willing to pay if you can get everything in such a short time.”
Anto looked back down at the list. “The first three are no problem, but the last item is a tall order.”
“Well, can you?” Muldoon pressed.
Anto gazed at the ceiling, doing some mental calculations, “Maybe. Where’s Little Rovo this next time?”
Muldoon leaned in close and whispered, making sure no one could overhear him, “Shantytown in Skunk’s basement”
“The usual time?” Anto asked and Muldoon nodded. “It is cutting it close, but I will see what I can do… If the payment is right.” Anto winked at him.
“Ah, and now we get down to it.” Muldoon chuckled and leaned back. “The buyer is willing to go as high as 500 gold crowns.”
Anto guffawed, “Seriously? I suppose that paltry sum might do for a down payment. My suppliers do not sell on credit, you know.” Anto winked at him and stroked his long black mustache, curling the end. “I can supplement that with a good chunk of my own funds, but for the entire order, given the timeline, I cannot do it for any less than 2000 crowns.”
“Two-Thou-“ Muldoon screeched and then lowered his voice, glancing around, “That is ridiculous! That merchandise is barely worth $500.”
“We both know it is worth twice that, easy and then there is the risk factor fee, the delivery fee, the handling fee, and the rush fee.” Anto grinned, his blue eyes sparkling in the torch and candlelight. “That’s my price today… Tomorrow it will be twice that, unless you think you can find another who can deliver?”
Muldoon scowled. He knew there wasn’t anyone else he could trust to pull off the job. “Very well. Here’s the five.” He tossed Anto a good-sized pouch. “The rest upon delivery – but only if you make it one night before Little Rovo starts this month.”
Anto caught the pouch deftly and deposited it inside his poufy bright blue shirt. He grinned at Muldoon, “Challenge accepted.” He raised his glass and Muldoon saluted him and they sealed the deal with a drink.
Muldoon stood and tossed a couple of coins on the table, “See you soon, Anto.” He sauntered out of Bonnie’s Tavern and Anto watched him go, a sly grin on his face. He stroked Spook and took a puff on his pipe.
Bonnie winked at him while delivering drinks to the next table over and Anto grinned at her. He may have a job on a deadline to do, but he’d only been back in Desperation for a few days. He wasn’t about to leave without a bit of rest and relaxation. And perhaps a bit of female entertainment. It was late now and Bonnie would be locking up soon. Anto sat and watched the crowd clear out, following Bonnie with his eyes, until at last, he was the only patron left in the tavern.
Bonnie dowsed a bunch of the lights and locked the front doors. Her kitchen staff waved goodnight and made their way up to their rooms. Bonnie brought out a bottle of her best rum and poured them both a drink. She picked up Spook from Anto’s lap and cuddled the cat as she settled in its place. Anto slipped his arms around her waist, glad she wasn’t one of those pencil-thin serving girls. “So, you are leaving in the morning?” Bonnie asked him. Anto nodded, stroking a lock of her hair as he watched the light from the failing bonfire dance off her auburn locks. “and Little Rovo?” His gaze shifted to her eyes.
“I would have thought you already knew all about it,” Anto replied casually as he ran his fingertips from the back of her ear down her neck to her collarbone with a featherlight touch. Bonnie shivered under his touch. “You didn’t ask Muldoon?”
Bonnie wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Muldoon is a bit too much of a weasel for me, you know that.” She sat her empty rum glass on the table, refilled it a quarter of the way, and sat Spook in front of it. The cat lapped up the liquor. Bonnie placed her arms around his neck and played with his hair. “You aren’t going to tell me?”
“You always find out where it is happening without me,” Anto chuckled. “Besides, I have a better idea of what to do with you!” He slipped one arm under her legs and stood up, lifting her effortlessly. He carried her up the stairs and down the hall to her room, setting her on the doorstep so she could unlock her suite.
Bonnie hid her key behind her, leaning against her door, “And who invited you to my rooms, Mister?” She smiled sweetly at him. “Perhaps I need my beauty rest tonight.”
Anto didn’t say a word. He slid his hand down her arm behind her back and deftly picked the door key out of her fingers and unlocked the door with one hand while his other hand cupped the back of her neck as he kissed her soundly on the lips. The door opened and he gently pushed her inside, kicking the door closed behind him…
The kitchen door opened and Bonnie, the tavern owner, strode expertly through the crowd and between dancers, around the firepit in the center of the great room and over to Anto’s table. She set a bowl of milk on the table in front of the cat, and a plate of fried river clams on a bed of pasta in front of Anto. “You are a bit late tonight,” Bonnie smiled at the rover. “Your wife keep you?”
Anto slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her down onto his lap. “Wife? You break my heart, that you think I could be tamed by a wife.” Anto grinned. “I have far too many sweethearts, just like you, all over these lands to break their hearts by marrying one woman,” he joked.
Bonnie placed her hands around his neck, enjoying being held by the charismatic wanderer. He was handsome and funny and Bonnie loved his wild side. She knew he wasn’t married and would be very surprised if he ever did wed. He wasn’t the settling down type, and even though he was a mature man, he was still very good-looking and physically very fit. In fact, Bonnie thought he had the physique of a sailor if she didn’t know better. “Ahhh,” Bonnie laughed, “It must have been one of those other sweethearts, then.” She planted a kiss on his lips and then slipped out of his arms, still holding one of his hands. He followed her with his eyes. “Oh yeah,” Bonnie leaned down from behind him and whispered in his ear, “Muldoon is back in town.”
Anto tried to pull Bonnie back into his lap, but she expertly slipped out of his arms and started to walk away. At the mention of Muldoon, Anto scowled and gave her a nod of thanks, his mood changed. He ate his clams, sharing some with his cat, Spook. He ate quickly, wondering when Muldoon would show up and what goods the man wanted this time.
When he finished eating, he slid his chair against the wall and crossed his feet on the chair in front of him. Lighting his pipe, he glanced around the room, making a note of everyone currently in Bonnie’s Tavern and Food. Spook climbed into his lap and he stroked her while she curled up and started purring loudly.
The rowdy crowd was cavorting around the large fire in the firepit in the middle of the room. Anto didn’t waste much time on them. His contact wouldn’t be among that crowd, drawing attention to themselves. Anto scanned the people dining at the tables in the back of the room and then down the row of those drinking at the bar. His eyes roved around the room and back to the front door and there was Muldoon sitting at his table with a big grin on his face.
“You sure you haven’t had ranger training?” Anto asked sourly. “You seem to materialize out of thin air just like those King’s Rangers do.”
Muldoon laughed. “Me? A ranger? Now that’s a good one, Anto, my friend.” He slapped Anto’s foot which made Spook squawk in protest at being disturbed. “Never mind all that.” Muldoon waved his hand dismissively. “I have an order for you, and I need it by the next Little Rovo.”
Anto took a puff on his pipe and slowly exhaled the smoke. “What is it?”
“A couple of things,” Muldoon leaned forward and slid a piece of parchment across the table. “The boss wants to know if you can deliver.”
Anto stared at Muldoon and did a glance across the room before he picked up the parchment and read the items on the list. “No problem… okay…” Anto glanced at Muldoon, “That’s a lot of weapons. You guys starting a war?”
Muldoon shrugged, “I don’t know what they want the stuff for. I just know how much they are willing to pay if you can get everything in such a short time.”
Anto looked back down at the list. “The first three are no problem, but the last item is a tall order.”
“Well, can you?” Muldoon pressed.
Anto gazed at the ceiling, doing some mental calculations, “Maybe. Where’s Little Rovo this next time?”
Muldoon leaned in close and whispered, making sure no one could overhear him, “Shantytown in Skunk’s basement”
“The usual time?” Anto asked and Muldoon nodded. “It is cutting it close, but I will see what I can do… If the payment is right.” Anto winked at him.
“Ah, and now we get down to it.” Muldoon chuckled and leaned back. “The buyer is willing to go as high as 500 gold crowns.”
Anto guffawed, “Seriously? I suppose that paltry sum might do for a down payment. My suppliers do not sell on credit, you know.” Anto winked at him and stroked his long black mustache, curling the end. “I can supplement that with a good chunk of my own funds, but for the entire order, given the timeline, I cannot do it for any less than 2000 crowns.”
“Two-Thou-“ Muldoon screeched and then lowered his voice, glancing around, “That is ridiculous! That merchandise is barely worth $500.”
“We both know it is worth twice that, easy and then there is the risk factor fee, the delivery fee, the handling fee, and the rush fee.” Anto grinned, his blue eyes sparkling in the torch and candlelight. “That’s my price today… Tomorrow it will be twice that, unless you think you can find another who can deliver?”
Muldoon scowled. He knew there wasn’t anyone else he could trust to pull off the job. “Very well. Here’s the five.” He tossed Anto a good-sized pouch. “The rest upon delivery – but only if you make it one night before Little Rovo starts this month.”
Anto caught the pouch deftly and deposited it inside his poufy bright blue shirt. He grinned at Muldoon, “Challenge accepted.” He raised his glass and Muldoon saluted him and they sealed the deal with a drink.
Muldoon stood and tossed a couple of coins on the table, “See you soon, Anto.” He sauntered out of Bonnie’s Tavern and Anto watched him go, a sly grin on his face. He stroked Spook and took a puff on his pipe.
Bonnie winked at him while delivering drinks to the next table over and Anto grinned at her. He may have a job on a deadline to do, but he’d only been back in Desperation for a few days. He wasn’t about to leave without a bit of rest and relaxation. And perhaps a bit of female entertainment. It was late now and Bonnie would be locking up soon. Anto sat and watched the crowd clear out, following Bonnie with his eyes, until at last, he was the only patron left in the tavern.
Bonnie dowsed a bunch of the lights and locked the front doors. Her kitchen staff waved goodnight and made their way up to their rooms. Bonnie brought out a bottle of her best rum and poured them both a drink. She picked up Spook from Anto’s lap and cuddled the cat as she settled in its place. Anto slipped his arms around her waist, glad she wasn’t one of those pencil-thin serving girls. “So, you are leaving in the morning?” Bonnie asked him. Anto nodded, stroking a lock of her hair as he watched the light from the failing bonfire dance off her auburn locks. “and Little Rovo?” His gaze shifted to her eyes.
“I would have thought you already knew all about it,” Anto replied casually as he ran his fingertips from the back of her ear down her neck to her collarbone with a featherlight touch. Bonnie shivered under his touch. “You didn’t ask Muldoon?”
Bonnie wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Muldoon is a bit too much of a weasel for me, you know that.” She sat her empty rum glass on the table, refilled it a quarter of the way, and sat Spook in front of it. The cat lapped up the liquor. Bonnie placed her arms around his neck and played with his hair. “You aren’t going to tell me?”
“You always find out where it is happening without me,” Anto chuckled. “Besides, I have a better idea of what to do with you!” He slipped one arm under her legs and stood up, lifting her effortlessly. He carried her up the stairs and down the hall to her room, setting her on the doorstep so she could unlock her suite.
Bonnie hid her key behind her, leaning against her door, “And who invited you to my rooms, Mister?” She smiled sweetly at him. “Perhaps I need my beauty rest tonight.”
Anto didn’t say a word. He slid his hand down her arm behind her back and deftly picked the door key out of her fingers and unlocked the door with one hand while his other hand cupped the back of her neck as he kissed her soundly on the lips. The door opened and he gently pushed her inside, kicking the door closed behind him…