of speculation is above my pay grade.”
“So, a bunch of orcks are trying to destroy your city, you’ve got less than half the defenders you had yesterday, and they’re probably going to bring their A-game tonight,” Mazik summarized. “And you want us to help. Stand on the walls, that kind of thing?”
“We’re going to be keeping a reactionary force near the center of town—likely right outside this building, in fact—which we’ll use to quickly reinforce wherever the orcks attack,” said Sergeant Redsna. “Chances are you would be there.”
Mazik waved at his friends. “Huddle up.”
There were a couple of minutes of whispered conversation. Raedren shrugged. Gavi asked several questions, then frowned. Finally, after much talking from Mazik, she gave a reluctant nod.
“Despite the remarkable lack of information you’ve provided, it sounds like you could use some help. What would you say to a few more defenders?” asked Mazik. “For the right price, of course.”
“Of course. Payment for this job is—”
Mazik flicked a piece of paper across the desk, and then leaned back in his stiff-backed, government-issue chair as if he were a mafia gangster who had just told the sergeant he knew where his children played. “That’s what we’re charging.”
The sergeant looked at the slip. He looked at Mazik. He looked at the slip again. “I’m not at liberty to negotiate. You’ll have to talk to our bookkeepers about that.”
Mazik suspected that was bullshit, and that the sergeant just didn’t want to negotiate—but he let it slide. “Bookkeepers, gotcha. Where and when would we need to meet?”
“If you come to an agreement on the price, bring the chit they’ll give you and meet me in front of this building no later than nightfall. I suggest you stay nearby at all times—we’ll ring the raid bell if there’s an attack, and once that happens, we’ll be looking to move out immediately. If you’re late, you may forfeit some or all of your pay.”
“Which means I’m not in charge of making sure we get there on time.” Mazik turned to his friends. “Volunteers?”
Gavi sighed. “I’ll do it.”
Mazik grinned. “And that’s why we love you, Gavs.”
“Good to know I’m useful for something,” she replied dryly.
“Amen to that,” said Mazik, steamrolling right over her sarcasm. He turned back to the sergeant. “We’ll be there. Anything else we should know?”
“Be on time, follow orders, and don’t run off on your own.”
“Awesome. We’re great at all of those things,” lied Mazik again. The four of them exchanged farewells, and then the three adventurers headed for the door.
Mazik stopped with his hand on the doorframe. “Oh, yeah. One last thing.”
The sergeant looked up from his desk. “Hm?”
“If we were to, hypothetically speaking, take out the orck leader and/or stop the attacks entirely, what would the payment be for that? Hypothetically.”
Sergeant Redsna stared at Mazik for a long moment. “Like I said, we’re restricting our operations to defense at this time. However, there is a standing quest for the orck leader’s head. You’ll have to ask the bookkeepers for details, but I believe the reward is substantial. And if you somehow routed the entire invasion . . .” He shrugged. “This is a rich city. If enough of it is left standing to pay, you would be rewarded accordingly. But once again, that’s only if you see an opportunity. We need you on defense tonight.”
“Of course. Just asking in case we saw her.” Mazik patted his arm. “Red feathers, right?” He saluted and departed.
* * *
Less than twenty minutes after nightfall, the attack began.
When word came, Mazik, Gavi, and Raedren were sitting on a brick planter across from the guardhouse, playing a card game. Raedren was winning handily, and being frustratingly humble about it. They had spent the afternoon taking care of mundane errands—finding an inn,
“So, a bunch of orcks are trying to destroy your city, you’ve got less than half the defenders you had yesterday, and they’re probably going to bring their A-game tonight,” Mazik summarized. “And you want us to help. Stand on the walls, that kind of thing?”
“We’re going to be keeping a reactionary force near the center of town—likely right outside this building, in fact—which we’ll use to quickly reinforce wherever the orcks attack,” said Sergeant Redsna. “Chances are you would be there.”
Mazik waved at his friends. “Huddle up.”
There were a couple of minutes of whispered conversation. Raedren shrugged. Gavi asked several questions, then frowned. Finally, after much talking from Mazik, she gave a reluctant nod.
“Despite the remarkable lack of information you’ve provided, it sounds like you could use some help. What would you say to a few more defenders?” asked Mazik. “For the right price, of course.”
“Of course. Payment for this job is—”
Mazik flicked a piece of paper across the desk, and then leaned back in his stiff-backed, government-issue chair as if he were a mafia gangster who had just told the sergeant he knew where his children played. “That’s what we’re charging.”
The sergeant looked at the slip. He looked at Mazik. He looked at the slip again. “I’m not at liberty to negotiate. You’ll have to talk to our bookkeepers about that.”
Mazik suspected that was bullshit, and that the sergeant just didn’t want to negotiate—but he let it slide. “Bookkeepers, gotcha. Where and when would we need to meet?”
“If you come to an agreement on the price, bring the chit they’ll give you and meet me in front of this building no later than nightfall. I suggest you stay nearby at all times—we’ll ring the raid bell if there’s an attack, and once that happens, we’ll be looking to move out immediately. If you’re late, you may forfeit some or all of your pay.”
“Which means I’m not in charge of making sure we get there on time.” Mazik turned to his friends. “Volunteers?”
Gavi sighed. “I’ll do it.”
Mazik grinned. “And that’s why we love you, Gavs.”
“Good to know I’m useful for something,” she replied dryly.
“Amen to that,” said Mazik, steamrolling right over her sarcasm. He turned back to the sergeant. “We’ll be there. Anything else we should know?”
“Be on time, follow orders, and don’t run off on your own.”
“Awesome. We’re great at all of those things,” lied Mazik again. The four of them exchanged farewells, and then the three adventurers headed for the door.
Mazik stopped with his hand on the doorframe. “Oh, yeah. One last thing.”
The sergeant looked up from his desk. “Hm?”
“If we were to, hypothetically speaking, take out the orck leader and/or stop the attacks entirely, what would the payment be for that? Hypothetically.”
Sergeant Redsna stared at Mazik for a long moment. “Like I said, we’re restricting our operations to defense at this time. However, there is a standing quest for the orck leader’s head. You’ll have to ask the bookkeepers for details, but I believe the reward is substantial. And if you somehow routed the entire invasion . . .” He shrugged. “This is a rich city. If enough of it is left standing to pay, you would be rewarded accordingly. But once again, that’s only if you see an opportunity. We need you on defense tonight.”
“Of course. Just asking in case we saw her.” Mazik patted his arm. “Red feathers, right?” He saluted and departed.
* * *
Less than twenty minutes after nightfall, the attack began.
When word came, Mazik, Gavi, and Raedren were sitting on a brick planter across from the guardhouse, playing a card game. Raedren was winning handily, and being frustratingly humble about it. They had spent the afternoon taking care of mundane errands—finding an inn,
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