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I have no idea what I'm doing with this yet; I just wanted to do a bit of writing before writing my English narrative so I came up with this one-timer. I rushed a bit in the middle to get to the climax, which I don't like but I'm too lazy at the moment to fix XD. C&C appreciated.
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The door to the Jolly Roger Inn opened with an audible creak and admitted a man cloaked in black, his attire buffeted by rain. He quickly shut the door behind him and sat down at a nearby table, keeping his face well hidden in his hood as he surveyed his surroundings. The inn had not changed since the last time he had stepped in it - the cups were still dusty, the floor was still rather unkempt, and the air still smelled of drinks and spirits. He could have sworn that even the people inside the bar were still the same old drunkards who visited the tavern the couple years ago that he had last been inside. With his examination complete, he slyly signaled to the barmaid. He saw her hesitate and smiled slightly, for he knew that she knew what was coming. After all, she was still the same old woman who worked at the inn from back then as well.
She kept her head down as she got to the table he was sitting at. “What would you like sir?” she asked, her voice quavering as she attempted to act professional.
He noticed her eyes refused to meet his face and his smile widened. “Oh come on Josephine, don’t act all full of business around an old friend.”
She stiffened. “But that is what you’re here for tonight, isn’t it?”
He gave the slightest of nods. “Perceptive as always, I see. That has not changed from the years, if anything. However, since you bothered to ask, I will answer: yes I would like something to drink and yes I am here for business. Ale scented with cinnamon will do, and then after that we will talk.”
“And will you pay-never mind,” she said, hastily changing her answer when she felt his unwavering stare, “my apologies, I will go get the drink.” She bustled away to the counter.
The cloaked man leaned back in his chair, putting his arms behind his head as he sighed. Life around the Jolly Roger Inn was always dull and boring, the perfect environment that he enjoyed. No one bothered him and no one cared about him, and that was how life should have always been. Unfortunately, he had chosen a career whose path was the complete opposite of the life he wanted. But that was his fault and he knew it, so he kept his complaints to himself.
“Here you go, sir.” The barmaid had returned with his requested drink in her hand. She put it on the table and then sat down on the bench across from him, this time keeping her eyes on the face within the hood.
He took a small sip of the drink, making a big deal of swishing it around in his mouth before swallowing it and exhaling. “The drinks have changed as much as your keen mind. They’re still wonderfully blended. There’s still the perfect pinch of cinnamon blended in with the ale, making every taste sparkle inside my mouth.” She sat silently through his compliments.
He threw up his hands in resignation. “So much for a friendly chat for the sake of old times. Fine, I understand. To business it is.” He leaned in closer on the table and whispered, “The White Knights - they’re moving. Do you know where to?”
She shook her head, a little too quickly as well for he caught the movement and said, “Now now, don’t try to fool me. I know you go to Falador every week to converse with that barmaid in the Blue Moon Inn. That place is about three meters away from the White Knights’ castle. I thought we had a deal that you would go and try to pick up some information, didn’t we?” He slid a few gold pieces across the table and sipped his drink again as he waited for a response.
She hesitated, then snatched the money from the table. “Why do you want to know?”
He shrugged. “Why not? Why is the grass green? Why is the sea blue? Who knows? Come now, it’s never been so hard to get the information from you. Didn’t we used to be-”
“Don’t remind me of the past!” She slammed her hands on the desk, her body suddenly full of rage. “I know what happened and I know what you did, you deceitful wretch! Don’t try to think you can just disappear for a few years and come prancing back like nothing’s changed and expect nothing to change!”
He cocked his head. “I wonder…or have they?” He took from within his cloak a small bulging bag and handed it to her. Her eyes grew wide as she took it in her hand. He smirked and crossed his arms. “Have things changed, dear Josephine? Two hundred gold pieces are in your hands right now, and your mind is still adamant about keeping secrets?”
“Don’t call me your ‘dear’ you dog,” she said, though not nearly as angrily as she was a few seconds ago. Her eyes were intent on the bag in front of her. “Two hundred you say?”
He nodded. “Two hundred, fair and square. Now I repeat: where are the White Knights going?”
She faltered at first, then gave in. “Rimmington. They’re building a secret base there. That’s all I’ve heard.”
“And that’s all I need to know, although I would have been much happier had it not come with the cost of my salary.” He finished the last of his ale and stood up. “Thank you Josephine, I shall see you again rather soon I believe.”
“Oh please, take your time.” With the gold bag in her hand, she hustled back to the counter without looking twice at him.
He smiled and turned to leave.
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“198, 199...200.” Josephine stared with disbelief at the pile of coins she had just finished counting. He had not lied - there were 200 in the bag after all. She slumped back in her chair, exhausted from the day’s work and the thoughts of how much richer she now was. Oh, all the things she could buy! A new work apron, furniture for her house, and perhaps, perhaps even new swords for them…
The Varrock bell tolled in the distance and Josephine sighed as she stood up. It was time to close out the inn. The drunkards, knowing the signal and knowing what would result from the annoyed barmaid if they stayed too long, hobbled out the door. She had to shoo one of the particularly stoned ones out the door with many pushes and shoves.
Josephine tidied up after the customers, gathering their many cups and throwing them into the sink. She would wash them in the morning, as she always did. It was too late at night for her to concentrate, and she knew from experience that it was not always smart to wash glass objects when she was tired. After quickly wiping off the tables with a wet cloth, she grabbed her jacket and tucked the bag of money into one of the pockets before walking outside. She fastened her cloak over her garments, pulling the hood up to protect herself from the rain. After taking one last good look around the area, she closed the door and locked it with her key.
She could hardly contain her glee despite the fact that the weather was the complete opposite of her feelings. It was a torrential downpour, and yet Josephine still didn’t care. The walk back to her house was about ten minutes, and yet it felt like barely a few seconds due to her immense ecstasy.
Once Josephine got back to her house, she lit the fire and hung up her wet clothing near it to dry. Ignoring the housework that had to be done, she took out the bag of coins and opened it. She picked one up and bounced it in her hand before her eyes caught something. She moved closer to the candle to make sure it wasn’t a trick of the light and her heart skipped a beat.
There was no stamp of Asgarnia on the coin.
But had he known? Why would he give her counterfeit money? He never had …unless…
Her hand knocked over the bag of coins in her franticness. Ignoring the discarded money, she ran over to her jacket and put it on hurriedly, disregarding the fact that it was still wet from the walk home. She had just finished putting it on and was about to open the door to run for her life when she felt something that made her freeze.
A sword point digging into her back.
“Well then Josephine, I told you I’d be back.” She didn’t have to turn to know it was the cloaked man from before. How he had gotten inside she didn’t know, nor did she want to know.
“What do you want?” she whispered, her heart pounding as the felt the point dig in deeper.
“The truth. Like I wanted before, but I didn’t get.”
“I don’t understand, that was the truth, I swear!”
“That was the truth no more than those coins were, as you now know. Come on Josephine, I don’t want to be in this situation any more than you do. Just speak up and I’ll go.”
Her mind raced, but she knew she had no choice. It would have come to this eventually anyway. Quickly, she crouched down and drew two knives from her boots. With striking speed, she threw them backwards at where she estimated the man would have been standing. The sword point was removed from her back as he moved to dodge the knives. Without hesitation, she drew another knife hidden in the sleeve of her shirt and threw it at his torso. It flew with great swiftness as it pierced the air. Despite this, he still managed to snap up his arm and have the knife glance off it. She swore, as that was her last knife and nearly her last hope that she would get away.
He stood up slowly, making an effort to dust himself off before turning to her. “Luckily I thought to come prepared in case I met resistance, as I clearly did just now. But now playtime’s over. I’ll give you one last chance Josephine - tell me and I will let you go.”
Josephine smirked. “You have been gone for too long, <name here>. I obey you no longer.” Her hand yanked open the door and she attempted to run out, but he was suddenly in front of her again, a dragon longsword in his hand.
“Ah, I had hoped it would not come to this. I do not like killing current or past comrades. But it cannot be helped. Farewell, Josephine.” She didn’t manage to speak a word of retort before he stabbed the sword through her chest. After several seconds, he pulled his sword out and let the body fall. There was no longer any life in her eyes.
He walked over to where one of her throwing knives had landed and picked it up, inspecting it in the light. “Hmph, the White Knight’s Armory. As I thought, she had already turned sides. I need to keep more with the times, this was too close of a call…” He turned away and teleported, leaving a rather bloody mess for the milkman to find the next day.
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Dragon Member #90
Last edited by Jamie on September 13th, 2008, 5:38 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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