Downtown Druid

Chapter 23: Dust, weed, favor, coin if they have it

Chapter 23: Dust, weed, favor, coin if they have it

Dantes moved quickly and comfortably through the outskirts, shifting through narrow passageways, and avoiding sealed passages and dead ends. This was a more frequently tread path for him, one that he didnt need much thought to move through. It had the added benefit of being rarely traveled by anyone except for him. The kobolds would approach from a different direction, and while hed occasionally seen a random orc or drunken dwarf with Mez, none of them wouldve approached from Collared territory and taken his path. This meant he could relax, at least as much as was possible for him.

The trek loosened his muscles and he started finding some relief from his soreness. He began to extend his perception around himself, sensing rats, mosses, mushrooms, roaches, and all sorts of other critters surviving on the fringes of the Pit. Before hed often thought of the Pit as devoid of life, and empty of anything of value, but he had no such misconceptions now.

What are we doing? asked Jacopo from one of Dantes jacket pockets.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Heading to see a contact of mine.

To feed? The fruit would go much further with me and other rats.

No, the fruit is for him to use to make booze.

Booze?

Dantes scratched his chin. You know in the Undermarket, the buildings with a strong smell that people gather at?

Jacopo was silent for a moment, and Dantes could feel him searching both of their thoughts. He attempted to send an image of one of the bars to Jacopos mind.

Yes. I know this place.

You ever drink from one of the cups that fell on the ground? Sip from a puddle near it?

Jacopo nodded, an expression Dantes could feel, but not see as he ducked under a partially collapsed doorway.

Yes. It caused my vision to blur and I proceeded to the nearest female for mating.

Dantes inclined his head. Yes, booze definitely has that effect on some.

You wish to have it made for yourself?

Dantes shook his head. Some of it, maybe, though I need to stay sharp for now. No, I need it to trade.

For what?

Dust, weed, favor, coin if they have it.

Why not simply take those things?

Ill be doing that too, but it helps to have a semi-legitimate trade going as well. Trading the booze will give me more opportunities to steal, kill, bribe, manipulate, and control.

Jacopo scratched himself behind the ears. You and your people are very complicated.

Only when we arent desperate. The more we have the more complicated we make things to have more until we have layer upon layer of complication. When I was first thrown into the Pit, things were much simpler. Now theyre becoming complicated for me again.

And if others come to take what you have the simple way?

The mage folk, did they mention they were sent by me?

Mez flicked his tongue and sighed. They did the one with the oddly pretty hair was very insistent you told him I gave good rates.

Did you?

Yes, I only charged them double.

Dantes nodded, that was still quite a bit cheaper than what theyd be paying in the undermarket where the markup was much higher. He gave a light cough and held out his hand.

Mez went over to a far corner of his cave and rifled through a few broken pieces of porcelain under which Dantes knew he had hidden a small cache of goods. He came back to Dantes with a small pouch of dust, and a bag of dried food. Seems light.

You could leave a hand lighter if youre not happy with it, responded Mez baring his teeth.

Dantes held up his hand. I trust you, just wondering if the Mages got the better of you in the deal is all. The lie was reflexive and easy.

Mez shrugged. Not like I get many customers. I mostly just charge what I need to in order to keep working anyway. So, what are you here for? Just to get your cut, or wanting to get a little something for yourself to make the days pass by quicker? I could use a fresh palate to sample some of the new stuff with me.

I actually came here to do a different kind of business with you. Dantes placed the sack on the ground between them, and opened it enough to show Mez what was inside.

His eyes widened. Fruit!? Fresh fruit!? Whered you get this?

Dont worry about the source.

This much He squinted. What do you want for it?

I want whatever you produce with it. I can get you even more than this every single week. Dantes had a feeling he could manage a full sack a day, but it was better to underpromise and overdeliver in his experience.

What would you even do with it? Drink yourself to death? Trade it?

I want to make a deal with the Smallfolk Consortium with most of it. The rest I was thinking Id sling on the side. Cut you in on the profits of course.

Fifty-fifty?

Dantes shook his head. You can have fifteen or I can throw this sack and the rest of it in the caves for the rats.

You start worshiping the God of Greed all of a sudden, you bastard?

Fifteen is because I like you. If I didnt it would be ten.

Mez looked at the sack of fruit, the gears turning behind his eyes as he considered all of the new equipment he could buy and the amount he could produce.

Did I ever tell you that youre the most handsome Midtown Mutt Ive ever seen.

Dantes smiled. Alright, twenty it is. He held out his hand, and Mez clasped it.