Chapter 1 – Part 1
Richard looked at the man below him in disgust. The filthy liar was bleeding on the ground, perhaps dying, but Richard still felt as though the man had robbed him by falling unconscious so quickly. He weighed the small pouch in his hands again. He knew by the weight that the money wasn’t going keep him or his mother off the street, let alone feed them.
With an almost audible growl, Richard kicked the man brutally in the sternum. He felt it crack under the force and smiled ruthlessly as the man’s chest caved in. The man, suddenly unable to draw breath, woke up and clawed at his throat trying desperately to save himself. Richard watched until the black face had turned gray. It was either suffocation or drowning, but in any case, the man was dead. Richard felt a bit better as he left the alleyway, pulling up his hood. Koresh wasn’t his home town, which meant it was dangerous. No point in being noticed if he didn’t have to.
He walked quietly, following the roads back to the docks. It was the only other place he could try to get the money from. He passed by a cart selling roasted parrot and was annoyed as his mouth grew wet, though his stomach didn’t growl this time. Since his Father’s death just a few months before, Richard hadn’t been eating regularly or well.
He walked into the warehouse office just to the right of “Merchant’s Honour”, a boat that had come all the way from Khybar, if he’d heard correctly. The idea of traveling from so far away awed him and his next thought, forced into his mind was that it was stupid to be in awe simply because something had come from far away. After all, he had traveled quite extensively in his childhood. That had been years ago before his Father’s business had fallen through, leaving he and his family stranded in Koresh. Richard reminded himself that he was the lucky one of the family. He hardly remembered those glory days now and so he didn’t miss them like his Mother did.
One day, he hoped he’d forget entirely.
He ran up the stairs quickly and was pleased that this time his presence hadn’t even been questioned. Listening at the door was almost second nature to Richard now, and he heard heavy breathing, motion, and a faint feminine grunt. Ahaum seemed to have female “company”, but that tended to put him in a more amenable mood to pay back his debts.
Richard’s smile held a touch of malice to it as he opened the door and walked in. The woman gave a little shriek as the door opened but Ahaum didn’t stop thrusting into her. She was leaning over Ahaum’s oak desk, mostly dressed, but her robes were up around her ample chest. She squirmed trying to get Ahaum to stop, but he slapped her ass, smiling at her discomfort. If there was one thing Ahaum enjoyed from a woman, it was feeling as though she wasn’t entirely willing. With such an advantageous situation, Richard couldn’t go wrong. He walked over to the chair and sat down to watch until Ahaum was ready to talk. The woman squirmed more trying to look away from Richard’s unblinking gaze.
“Richard,” he began conversationally and then grabbed the woman’s hair, pulling her head up so that she was looking at Richard. “Stop squirming whore.” Her eyes filled with anger, indignity and shame at the treatment. Her angry eyes aroused Richard, but he schooled himself. Though Ahaum wasn’t averse to sharing, Richard never liked the feel of a woman who’d just been taken.
“Ahaum. Hope I’m not interrupting.” Ahaum thrust once more and the woman struggled for a moment while he spent himself. When he was finished she then fell rag doll-ish to the desktop, obviously glad that her ordeal was over. After a moment, Ahaum released her and then started pulling up his robes closed while he answered Richard.
“Not at all. I’m just testing the latest merchandise.” He carelessly smacked the woman’s ass to let her know he was finished with her. She started to stand, pushing her robes back down when he added. “You don’t want a give her a try before she goes, do you?”
Ahaum was the one of the principal underworld members at the docks. Any women he was “testing out” were likely to have been kidnapped from the street. Ahaum would send them to other cities, untraceably, and receive kidnapped women from those cities in return. Exotic, Richard had learned was worth more and only of value in the eyes of the beholder.
The woman looked horrified at the idea of being passed around. Richard momentarily considered her anger and horror, then shook his head, “Not my type,” and gestured for the woman to be on her way. She rushed out of the room slamming the door behind her.
“Well, if you’re not here for pleasure than what are you here for?” Richard looked at Ahaum and tilted his head appraisingly.
“I need some cash and you still owe me for that info on the Ralishann.” Ahaum’s pleasant mood dropped out but Richard wasn’t going to be put off. “You owe me… and you know it, Ahaum.”
Ahaum shrugged, nonchalantly. “Your words, not mine. I seem to recall you asked for a favour in return. A favour isn’t cash.”
Richard gritted his teeth. “Maybe, but what I need right now is a bit more solid than that. That info was worth about 5 gold… and I’m here to collect.”
Ahaum shook his head. “Richard, Richard, you know it doesn’t work that way…” His tone was patronizing and Richard cut him off with a wave of his hand as he stood.
“Don’t try to pull that crap with me. I may be one of the new kids on the block, but I did not just get off the fucking boat.” Ahaum raised an eyebrow, annoyed as Richard finished. “If you must, consider it a loan and forget the favour, for now.”
Ahaum sighed. “A job?” Richard thought about it, then nodded reluctantly. Ahaum must be in straits if he was offering jobs instead of cash this easily. “Fine by me, but it had better pay double or more. I’m not playing around with this kid stuff.”
Ahaum sat down and pulled out a few papers from his desk. While he looked them over, Richard sat back down to wait. A job meant that he wouldn’t have the money in time, but with the extra, it might make the next month a bit easier… Better than nothing, he supposed.
After a moment, Ahaum handed him a sheet of parchment. Richard looked at it in disgust. Yet another damned pick pocket job. He tossed the sheet of paper back. “I don’t think so, Ahaum. I’ve been doing damned cut-purse jobs for fricken ever. I said double and I meant it. Something else.” Richard’s tone was authoritative. Ahaum raised an eyebrow, but then sighed and threw him a pouch from his upper desk drawer. Richard caught it, and then the sheet of paper Ahaum slid his way.
“Gold and a hunting job with another street rat tomorrow. There are snakes in the tunnels… and they’re getting a bit too close to the ‘Nap’s Way.”
The Napper’s were a set of sewers large enough to be lived in, and relatively dry, in anything but flood weather. Living merchandise that was going to be moved out of the city was kept there for a fee, and thus the underworld called the area, Nap’s Way. However, the ones in control were also paid to make certain that nothing happened to the merchandise. If they had an infestation, it could cost the family dearly. Richard considered. The job was dangerous, but should be worth the money. Looking at Ahaum, he asked, “Who with?”
“The kid’s name is Perrin,” Ahaum answered grudgingly, “He’s skilled. Meet him outside the market ward in front of Raphe’s shop at midday. He’ll take you to the right spot. Listen to him down there. He knows more about it than you.”
Richard left, taking the gold and the note with him. As he walked home, he resisted the urge to pick up some extra food. He had close to the right amount… Grantz might accept in leiu of his Mother’s services. Speaking of which…
He looked up and realized that the sun was nearly down. Richard broke into a run, cutting two more pouches on the way. A few coppers, nothing more. Hardly even worth the effort, really.
He arrived home and saw Grant sitting at the table waiting for him. Richard tensed, immediately went on the defensive. Grant was a pimp, and not a pleasant one. He expected good money from his women, whether they were working or not. Today “Rent” was due and he insisted on a hell of a lot considering the hovels well worn state.
Grant’s cold black eyes stared at Richard, his gaze hostile, but fortunately he turned his attention quickly. It was common knowledge on the streets that Grant hated the kids produced by his women’s trade. It was also known that his women who didn’t take care of the pregnancies themselves tended to have “accidents”, like being beaten until the woman aborted.
Grant lit up a pipe, “Hey kid… you got your Mommy’s cash?” The way he said ‘Mommy’ turned Richard’s stomach, as if he thought Richard was an idiot for even trying to help. Richard clenched his fists, but controlled himself. No point in starting a fist fight when the other guy had a knife.
“I’ve got most of it…” Richard started. Grant waved away the rest of his comment and took a drag from the pipe.
“Then keep it for next month, kid. She’s already been bought and paid for.” Richard knew what his mother did out in the streets. He hated it. Grant continued smugly, “The guy and his friends are going to be dick deep in your Mom’s ass till sun-up.”
Richard grinded his teeth hard enough that they hurt. Grant just smiled. He enjoyed Richard’s anger and was especially fond of crudeness where his Mom was involved.
Richard’s Mother walked in then and she looked momentarily annoyed at Grant’s coarse language. Just once Richard wanted to see her stand up for herself. He knew she wouldn’t though. Some guys wanted a woman he could beat to a pulp before using her… they wanted the power more than they wanted any physical gratification. Only one lesson had been required and she’d understood.
She turned to leave, leaning on Grant’s arm as he took her away. They both hated the situation and Richard picked up a plate from the table, seeing his face distorted in it. She hadn’t even bothered to ask if he’d managed to come up with enough money. Richard heard Grant laugh from outside and threw the plate at the wall. Watching it shatter to shook his head as he sat down. Something had to break.
© B.A. Matthews – 04/June/2010