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A New Contract

Deep in the mountains, resting on a narrow cliff accessible only after a somewhat treacherous climb, is a small tea house. Visitors are readily welcomed, and quickly offered a place to sit along side a long koi pond, where they patiently await their tea. Served in shallow porcelain bowls, the tea is considered to be some of the best anywhere, not because of it its flavor or color, though both are excellent. It is the combination of everything, color, flavor, and, above all, the phenomenal view of the surrounding mist covered mountains that make the experience worth every grueling step.

This was Faust's favorite place to meet with clients. The trek up the mountain path was almost two hours of rough stone paths and vertical climbs. It made those seeking the dark furred fox truly consider their desire for his services. Faust only wanted clients who were absolute in their desire for someone dead.

The gray skinned boar, his soaked clothes completely unsuited for the excursion to the tea shop, was beginning to reconsider. His fine silk trousers were stained and ripped in several places, and sweat was dripping from his snout. It was too late to turn around, though. The red peaked roof of the tea shop was now visible through the trees.

Faust hear the plodding of the heavy boar long before he saw him. Smelled him first as well. The odorous swine made his way over to where the fox, the only patron currently, was kneeling by the pond.

"Are..Are you Faust?" he panted.

Waving for the boar to take a seat beside him, the fox said, "Please, sit. Enjoy some tea."

Dropping to the ground with a wet thud, the perspiring boar said, "I prefer coffee." When Faust's face darkened, he said, "But I will take some water."

"Why not just drink tar?" Faust thought to himself, but aloud said, "I'll call you some ice water." Waving to the proprietor, a tall brown spotted rabbit, the fox requested the drink.

Sighing in gratitude, the smelly animal said, "Thank you, friend." then he seemed to realize to whom he was speaking and he gulped, "I'm, uh, not actually that thirsty."

"Relax, Mr. Gleeson." Faust said with a thin smile, "If your contact knew anything about me, she would have told you I don't use poison. It's a cowards weapon. I prefer a more, shall we say, hands-on approach. And I also don't make it a habit to kill perspective clients."

Gleeson said, "Forgive me if I'm overly cautious." It was at that moment when the rabit returne, carrying a tall glass pitcher filled with ice cold water and poured some into a glass."

"Please, drink." Faust said, nodding to the glass, "This will be much easier if we are both as comfortable as we can be."

Hezitating for only a moment longer, the boar gulped down the drink and refilled it. Once he had drained it again, Gleeson said, "Much better." He reached into his ruined jacket and pulled out two leather carrier envelopes. He opened one and slid its contents over to Faust. "I represent a wealthy banker in Gung Ya City, who wishes to remain nameless until our deal has been fully arranged."

"Some months ago, you were involved in, uh, certain events that transpired at the Tower of Infinite Strength."

Arching an eyebrow, Faust said, "Was my work unsatisfactory?"

"Oh no." Gleeson said quickly, shaking his head, "In fact, we manage to make a rather lucrative loan deal with the monks to hire someone to rebuild the tower." He chuckled, more to himself than the fox, "They actually thought they could get the job done by, 'appealing to the goodness of the people's hearts.' When they were laughed out of every construction business in the city, they had nowhere else to turn but to us."

"It's a shame you spared Dala Stone Fist." Faust opened his mouth to reply, but the boar waved it off, "I was merely stating a fact. You honored the agreements of a contract, so I will say nothing more of it."

Not giving a response, Faust perused the papers Gleeson had given him. Two were maps of neighborhoods in Gung Ya, in the wealthier districts. The others were sketches of three animals. One he recognized instantly, and his eyes went wide at the reward being offered for her capture, dead or alive. "Dala." he said quietly.

Nodding, Gleeson said, "Yes. It appears that after the incident at the tower, she..snapped. Went completely berserk. Killed three people. She fled the city and hasn't been back since. Or at least, until about two weeks ago." He opened the other leather carrying envelope and passed the single sheet of paper to Faust. "We received this message, stuck to the front doors of the bank with a knife."

Still listening, the fox read the letter. It was short and to the point.

Murderers and defilers of the Tower. You and your sell sword will answer for your transgressions against us. Prepare yourselves, cowards, for justice will come at the harvest.

"That's Dala's signature." Faust said with a nod.

Gleeson was emptying his third glass of water, and took a moment to reply, "That's what we feared. We have reason to believe Dala will make an attempt on my employer's live on the Autmumnal Equinox. Now, I've been told that you are still under contract with Dala, and I respect that, I really do."

Raising a paw, Faust said, "My contract with Dala stipulates that I cannot kill her. Injury, however, was specifically left out because of the necessities of the job. If you desire, I can hunt her down and make her entirely unable to fulfill her threat."

The boar shook his head vigorously, "No, if Dala can't carry out her threat, she'll just send someone else to do it. She's amassed a number of devout followers, each fairly skilled in some way, but two who are particularly dangerous." He pointed to the other two sketches he had given Faust. "The buffalo is Yu Tang. A brute without conscience. He once went berserk on a job and reduced a city block to rubble, killing ten people."

Pursing his lips, Faust asked, "And the crane?"

Gleeson sighed, "Batah is a bit of a mystery. Our reports say she's a former monk, like Dala, turned vengeful assassin. Some say she's a fighter, like Dala, but others think she prefers poison to the blade. Either way, she's proven to be very dangerous to our agents. We sent four of our agents to spy on the hideout we had suspected of housing Dala. Only one of our agents made it back, and he had barely even seen the building before being assaulted."

"What really worries my employer is that no one has actually seen Dala to confirm her actual presence in the city. We have only heard rumors from sources that are, shall we say, less than trustworthy in their observations."

Nodding, Faust said, "I have some contacts in Gung Ya that I trust for good information. Maybe they can catch sight of her."

"So you're in?" the boar asked excitedly.

Blinking, the fox said, "I'm still not sure what you're hiring me for."

"Oh, my humblest apologies. The climb must still be getting to me. My employer needs you as an added security measure to his home. People like you, Mr. Faust, are trained in how to circumvent normal security, in exactly the same way as Dala will."

Arching an eyebrow, Faust said, "So you want me to train your guards to watch for someone who knows how to be invisible to your guards?"

"No." Gleeson said with a shake of his snout, "What we want from you is to wait on the grounds when she makes her move. Kill her companions, then drive her away. Make her regret ever being born. In essence, we want you to send a message to others like Dala."

Smirking, Faust said, "Telling them that your employer is off limits, and this is what happens to those who try."

"Precisely."

Grin spreading across his face, Faust said, "Usually my clients hire me to act as a sword, not a shield. I must say that I'm unaccustomed to it."

Gleeson managed a smile as well, "I could say the same thing, Thunderer. I'm not usually the one sent to speak with clients."

Raising his tea, Faust said, "To changes."

Eyes wide, the boar raised his glass as well and said, " To changes. Does this mean you'll take the job?"

Nodding, the fox said, "Of course. It'll be an interesting challenge. But before I sign, we will have to discuss my fee."

Gleeson shuddered as he had a premonition of the assassin's charging rate. But the boss had said, "Agree to anything." and so the boar would.

Knowing this, Faust named his price, and smiled as Gleeson almost feinted.