Chapter 288 - A Tale of Taxes and Thieves (1/2)

”Aegin, why are you not wearing the chain you were gifted?”

Because I'm not a dog you can collar? Because if someone were to give a decent effort to try and kill you, I don't think I could be bothered stopping them? Because I'm only sticking around for another week tops? Take you pick of the answer, thought Aegin. But instead he went with the classic, ”I lost it”.

”Lost...” Reishin Irons turned to his assistant, ”We'll have a new one prepared for you”.

”Terribly sorry,” Aegin stated, ”Owning my own things is a rather new concept”.

”Yes, I imagine it is difficult,” Reishin Irons stated.

Neither of the two sounded like they meant what they said, but that was the end of their conversation.

Aegin sighed in boredom and stood, headed for the door.

”Where are you going, Aegin?” asked Bosca, sounding exasperated.

Aegin paused turning back to Bosca, then he pointed to his assistant whom Aegin hadn't bothered to learn the name of, ”Do you want me to frisk him for hidden weapons?”.

The Assistant went pale as he looked a little shocked. Bosca sighed, ”Why would you do that?”

”No? Then perhaps I should investigate him for anything he may be doing to undermine you?” asked Aegin.

Bosca frowned, ”Aegin, please get to the point”.

”You are not scheduled to leave this afternoon, you have guards out in the hall, and the only one in here is him. If he and they are no threat, exactly why am I here?” asked Aegin.

Bosca pursed his lips in clear discontent. Yeah, Aegin wasn't exactly thrilled with this arrangement either. He'd hang around a bit longer for the gold perhaps but that was it.

”You were hired to be a bodyguard, and-”

”You're still alive, there is no immediate threat, I'd say job well done,” Aegin replied, ”Unless of course you want to extend the job requirements? Word of warning though, with how bored I am at the moment, I'm liable to squeeze far too hard if you ask me to hold your c.o.c.k as you piss”.

For a moment nobody said a word, Bosca looked as if he was ready to burst with anger at the disrespect Aegin had just shown, instead he took a breath a spoke.

”Your payment will be halved for the day if you leave-”

”Deal, I'll see you this evening in the pits,” Aegin said, then he turned around and left without another word. After all, that was still 250 gold he was getting paid for doing shit all, wasn't like he was losing out.

***

Had he intended to come back here? Not really. They were two insignificant humans. Petty thieves. And yet...they had not run from him. Perhaps that was what it all came down to, the fact that they had not run nor assumed the worst after watching him feed.

”Aegin?” asked Rima in confusion as she opened the door to him. She was one of the shortest young women he'd ever met. Barely up to his c.h.e.s.t. And so petite that one wrong move would surely snap her in two. Yet, this girl seemed tougher than she had any right to be.

”Afternoon,” Aegin said, stepping around her to come inside their little one room apartment, ”I brought lunch”.

Rima frowned, ”Shouldn't you be...?”

”I got bored,” Aegin shrugged. Tigin stood from where he was sat in the corner trying to mend a jacket. His fingers were far too big for the needle so he was struggling. Aegin nodded a greeting to him, putting the food he'd brought on their little table. Rima sighed and closed the door.

Tigin really was a big guy. He towered over Aegin, and his body was quite broad too, if a little malnourished for someone of his size.

”Aegin...we didn't expect to see you so soon,” said Tigin.

Aegin suddenly realised that perhaps he'd read the invitation wrongly last night. Perhaps Rima had just said it to be polite.

”I can leave if-”

”No, no,” said Rima, ”It's fine. We're just still wrapping our heads around the fact that someone directly below the Reishin is speaking in such informal terms with us”.

”Someone we heard about as being part of the Nine Reapers of Herguard only a year ago,” Tigin added.

”The Reapers are so well known here?” asked Aegin.