Work in Progress Section 2
Please, do post comments about what you think of this! I'd like to know what you think of the story so far before I post up the entire thing. ^.=.^
Anyway, here are the next two pages:
All around him, fine art hung from the walls and where there weren't paintings, there were shelves of manuscripts from some of the local monasteries. Up at the top of the stairs stood a hawk, adorned in fine clothes, with a grin on his face. "Welcome," he exclaimed loudly, his arms and wings opening slightly, "to my humble abode!"
"Humble," Donichus sniffed, looking up.
"Of course. It's of modest proportions, even for someone as... freelance... as myself. But not at all suitable to be flapping about in, that's for sure." A harking laugh echoed throughout the circular room as Talos heeded his own joke. Donichus's countenance, however, remained of stone.
"You know the reason of my arrival."
"Yes, indeed," Talos replied shuffling his tan feathers around as if to wave off the urgency of the matter. He turned and proceeded to head down the stairs, towards Donichus. "But I see no need for haste. Unless, of course, there is a matter on your agenda of greater importance...?"
The hawk and the raptor now stood side by side.
"None," Donichus said in almost a growl.
"Excellent!" exclaimed Talos, throwing a wing behind his guest to usher him forward. "Then come and share a drink with me. We can discuss the details of our little business venture over a glass of brandy, aye?"
When Donichus caught sight of Talos looking expectantly at him, he continued forward on his own. "Sherry."
Another harking laugh. "Splendid!" He showed Donichus the way towards his study, heading to the right of the staircase, and entered the first door on the left. Inside, there was a finely carved desk adorned with candles, a few rolled-up pieces of parchment, some blank pieces of parchment, and a bottle of ink with a quill resting in it. The walls on either side of the desk sported two different portraits of Talos by two different artists, and on the wall opposite the desk was a small shelf with a smaller collection of manuscripts. It never ceased to amaze Donichus how much money such illegal vendors managed to acquire. One would think to stay away from vendors who pay guards to possibly defend him against the forces of the King, or vigilantes such as himself. But, apparently, people needed their illegal merchandise so much to the point that they were willing to deal in the black market, and Donichus was now finding himself in the middle of such a shortage.
Talos veered off to the side of the room, where a small table with assorted bottles and goblets stood. As he prepared the drinks, a servant, a rather tall raccoon, followed him into the room. "Would you kindly bring this gentleman a chair?" asked Talos.
The servant bowed. "Yes, my lord," he replied, and hastily went off to find a chair. Within minutes, he was back, and he set it down in front of Talus's desk. Donichus gave him a smile and a nod as he sat down. The raccoon, apparently appreciating the show of gratitude, gave a slight smile back, and then stood up and faced his master. "Will that be all, sir?"
"No. Have Jaquaran stand by the door in case I need him."
"It shall be done," he replied, bowing again, and then he turned and exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Just as Donichus settled himself onto the chair, a guilty pleasure swept over him as he realized just how comfortable it was. Comfortable enough to disregard the half-filled glass that was being offered to him until there came a tap on his shoulder. Immediately, Donichus straightened himself and received the goblet with a small clearing of his throat.
"You seem distracted, my friend," Talos said as he came around the desk and sat down on the other side, his own glass held up beside his head.
"Forgive me. I had to pass through the outer circle to get here."
"Ah yes," he scoffed. "That side of town can be a trek in itself, wouldn't you agree? It's simply degrading, pushing through troves of beggars just to get to the sanctity of my own house!"
"One would think," Donichus smiled through slightly gritted teeth, "that nobility would do well to drive the riffraff out. Visitors would not be so easily turned away from this place without them."
The corners of Talos' beak upturned knowingly. "Well, I can't say their presence is of complete worthlessness."
"And why do you say that?"
"It's a simple concept, really. When there is poverty, there is great demand. And when there is great demand, there are great, respectable individuals, such as yourself, who will resort to any means to get what they want."
At this, Donichus's brows furrowed. "Elaborate. Please."
"You see, my friend, in these troubled times, there's always someone in need of something. Something they usually can't get if they... play by the rules, so to speak; a landlord looking for a control spell to keep rebellious peasants under control, a farmer who'd be willing to sell his own soul to feed his family for a year. Or perhaps a noble in need of a little extra manpower to take care of some other business...?"