Chapter 17: Dealing with demons

  Silence, Ark and Mask staring at one another while Karja looked on.

  “Mr. Ark,” Mask said, releasing Ark’s hand much to the latter’s dismay. “Of what wish can the Rogue's Gallery fulfill?”

  “Careful, his words are laced with mana. Miniscule, but it's there.”

  Ark opened his mouth but quickly closed it, his mind heading Ireliex’s words.

  A Mephisto? Siren? Gjin? What am I dealing with here? Does he know about us? Ark asked, his mind going over the list of creatures he knew whose preferred weapon of choice were their words.

  Contrary to many fairy-tales and mouse-world movies from earth, fairies and genies were everything but friendly.

  “I believe it is a wishmonger. However, It is difficult to discern the true nature of the demon in my current state without revealing myself. But, I am certain he is not aware of our symbiotic union.”

  “Well Mr. Ark?” The demon wearing the guise of a man asked calmly.

  Ark pursed his lips, “I don't wish for anything, but maybe we can help each other.”

  At his words, Ark could have sworn he saw the demon smile despite the mask he wore to conceal himself.

  “A quid pro quo? Such a trade only works if you have something to offer me.”

  At his words, Ark produced his pouch of coins, tossing the leather bag with a loud clink that drew the ire of several nearby patrons. Even Karja's eyes wandered from the duo to the bag of metal.

  “Here. I need services rendered,” Ark said flatly as Mask picked up the bag laden with gold.

  “But gold is so boring, especially when an interesting man bearing the name of the Great Betrayer shows up on my doorstep. Even more so when said name isn’t an alias.”

  He's probing for information.

  I'm aware. Ark sent back.

  “I’m here to conduct business, not discuss my identity. If you don’t want my coin-” Ark said, reaching down to the coin purse that was hastily taken by the Masked Man.

  “Now! Let’s not be too hasty Mr. Ark,” Mask said, sitting casually back in his booth with his arms sprayed out, “Here at the Rogue’s Gallery, we can certainly put your coin to use. However the question is, what do you wish-”

  “I don’t wish for anything,” Ark stated flatly, glaring at the demon as if to say, I know what you are. “You would be wise not to test my patience.”

  All bluffs of course, in his current state Ark was no match for a demon of any caliber, let alone a gjin or lesser wishmonger.

  “Very well, can’t fault me for trying can you?” Mask said with Karja confused by the duo’s interaction. “What can we do for you?”

  A flare of pain erupted in Ark’s heart, his thoughts turning to Liliana and wondering what she would think of him consorting with demons.

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  “Here,” Ark said, producing a list of material twenty-four items he would require to kick-start his ki regeneration and help him regain his strength.

  Mask looked down at the list then back up at Ark, his head cocking sideways.

  “An interesting list of components. Nearly all of which are poisons? Hunting are we?”

  “Something like that,” Ark replied, “Can you get it?”

  “Since you've piqued my interest… I'm curious to see what the great Ark is hunting. Although this amount of coin won't cover everything on this list,” Mask turned to Ark, “Perhaps we can work out a loan?”

  “Hard pass,” Ark said, “Get what you can and don’t play me.”

  “So demanding,” Mask said, observing Ark, the latter unaware that to the demon’s gaze, Ark appeared as a raging, talking inferno that distorted the nearby surroundings.

  Beneath his Mask, the demon licked his lips, tasting the succulent rage and excess of raw emotion that lined the outline of that burning flame.

  Vengeance.

  Mask could see it as clear as day.

  “I’ll take your gold Mr. Ark,” Mask said, “But you must do something for our services, consider it a surcharge.”

  “And that is?”

  Mask placed a black coin on the table with Karja gawking at the item.

  “Take and keep this on your persons,” Mask said.

  “Wait? That’s it?! He just shows up and you give him a coin like that?” Karja exclaimed.

  “Hush,” Mask snapped, silencing the bandit.

  Ark eyed the metal disk, a sense of disgust emanating from Ireliex who recognized the magical enchantment around the metal object.

  “And this is?”

  “A token of our association, with it, no harm will come to you, at least not from another Rogue,” Mask said, “Carry it with you when you… conduct your business, and I’ll have your items delivered.”

  Ark picked the coin up, observing the thing that seemed like an ordinary memento, but thanks to Ireliex, he knew better.

  To the unwise, this was merely a membership, a piece of metal inscribed with an image of a hooded figure smiling, but to the demon, it was his food source and power.

  The item was enchanted to feed off emotions. More specifically pain and suffering, channeling the emotions from the ambient air around the bearer to send back to the caster. AKA, Mask. It even had a secondary enchantment to cease its magical effects on a whim should the holder be compromised.

  “Clever,” Ark said, looking at the demon directly who clasped his hands together. “With what you’ve built here you must have an unlimited supply of power.”

  “Strength in numbers as they say,” Mask said, raising his hand and summoning a platter of wine and drink by way of the local barmaid. “Why don’t we celebrate our newfound partnership-”

  “Pass, I’ve got things to do, and so do you,” Ark said, pocketing the coin as his peripheral vision picked up the heraldic emblems of Winterfell guards pushing their way towards Mask’s table.

  “Ah… right you are. Unfortunate. Everyone!” Mask yelled, rising to his feet, “Make yourselves scarce!”

  At his order, the population density within the bar quickly waned, moving like a river around the Winterfell guards with Ark blending into the crowd that pushed their way into the bazaar.

  *****

  Ark frowned, eyeing the bar door close. While he would have liked to stick around and eavesdrop on Mask’s conversation with his sister’s guards, there was a more pressing matter he needed to attend to.

  Time.

  “Tch, unbelievable,” Karja hissed. “It took me years to bust my ass and he just gives it to you.”

  “Envy isn’t a good look on you,” Ark said, flipping the coin around his fingers as his eyes glanced around the bazaar.

  “Whatever,” Karja growled, “So what now? Yous gonna shop around?”

  “I’m going home,” Ark replied, moving towards the exit.

  “Hey!” Karja snapped, “What about my cure?!”

  “Hm?” Ark said, raising his brow, “Oh that? I lied, I never poisoned you.”

  “Son-of a-” Karja hissed, unholstering her ax only to stop as Ark held up his coin to the woman’s face.

  “Consider it payback for attacking me,” Ark said, turning away from the bandit, “But remember, you’re only alive because I let you live.”

  Karja’s eye twitched, furious at being played.

  “Consider my offer Karja!” Ark called out, “We could have alot of fun together.”

  With those words, Ark left, leaving the bandit to stew in her hodgepodge of emotions that were felt by the Mask who was already receiving dividends from his investment.