I decided that joining the military can wait a bit, I thought about working in a
bookstore again but when I was walking around the city a certain scene changed my
mind, a bunch of kids were kicking a little puppy when his mom came she started
biting and scratching the kids who ran away, it reminded me of my past, I am fifteen
now, yet my life was nothing like the life of these kids, I realized that what I wanted
was power, and in this kingdom, power means authority, with my experience in
working in the lord's mansion I knew what I needed to do, at least I know where to
start, my first step would be money, I need a lot of it, stealing wasn't an option now,
but I know that the legal ways would take me a long time, so I decided to go to the pub
close to the gates, where the guards spend their break time, I kept on going there for
two weeks, I offered the bartender working there for meals and he agreed, you would
be probably be asking how could he accept so easily, well sadly his former assistant
died in an unfortunate accident, by listening to there drunken whining I knew who is
my target, an old guard who had five kids and was struggling financially, first I had to
attract a client on one of my off days I had gone out of the city and waited on the road,
at night I approached a camping caravan, the head merchant was a short bald man,
because of my looks they weren't on guard against me, I talked a bit with him, before I
left him I hinted to him that if he wanted I could help him sneak some stuff in, he
smiled and nodded at me, I told him that f he needed my help he should come to the
an old pub in slums and order a cup of water and a small meal, I had already agreed with
the owner on informing me if someone did and for insurance, I agreed on a secret code
with him, after a month of waiting the old pub owner contacted me, the merchant
needed some help with his goods, he had some stuff that the kingdom won't be
happy about, I went to the pub and I found the merchant sitting in a corner with a big
guy standing beside him, when he saw me he said" how trustworthy are your channels?
" I smiled at him to which he smiled back at me and pointed at the sword hanging on
the hip of the big guy, I wiped the smile off my face and told him" I will need a week
to prepare and I will need my payment up front", he looked me in the for a few
seconds then nodded to the big guy, he threw a pouch on the table, when I pulled on
the pouch to take it he whispered to me "the things I want to get in are quite valuable
to me so unless you want to see your own spine in front of you, you better keep your
greed in check" I nodded and left.
POV, THE GUARD
" Boss, what makes you trust this kid soo much if the kingdom's guards know
about our business we will be in a lot of trouble", the merchant replied to him "relax
even if they know about the merchandise they will blame it on the kid if not for the
fact that our old partner has gone and got himself killed for some noblewoman we
wouldn't be even be doing business in this backwater city, still, it might be a blessing
in disguise, the eyes of this kid were really interesting, reminds me of myself when I
was younger" he laughed loudly when he said this, at these words the guard gulped
loudly.
when I left the old pub I went back to the one I work in,I waited for a few hours till
the old guard came in, I waited for him to sit down and then I offered him a drink,I
had gradually got close to him for this past month, he would always complain to
me about his life, how hard it is, how hard his work is, how much he hates his
commanding officer, when felt that the time was ready I told him my offer "hey old
man I have a friend of mine who needs some help" he looked at and "what kind of
help?" to which I said "the kind of help that would make stop worrying about money"
at these words his eyes got a bit brighter then he told "why don't you help him
yourself" I then gave him my most dazzling smile and said "he needs 'special' help
that only you can give" when I said this he told me "I need to think about it" I agreed
and I told the owner that the guards drinks were on me today, the guard smiled at me,
got up and left, I then started thinking about how to protect myself in this type of
business, and then I remembered a word I learned from the dictionary in the bookstore
'leverage' that's what I need witnesses were too risky, so I decided I will make
contracts, two days later the guard approached me at the bar and said "how much?" I
raised five fingers, which ironically was all I had, he frowned at me and said "copper?
" I replied "silver" and a small grin was drawn on my face, the merchant had paid my
fifteen silver coins, the guard asked again "when will I get paid?" I said "when the job
is done," he asked, "what do you want me to do?" I pointed at a room that was used
for card games, I told him to follow me and we got in, "I need you to smuggle
something in without a single soul knowing or else both our heads will fly" I said
solemnly to which he nodded nervously, "when will we start," he asked "in five days"
I answered, he then asked me "what should I do then," I told him the merchants
carriage will have a mark, I drew the mark for him and he nodded nervously and left, I
sighed deeply when he closed the door I sank into my chair and looked at the ceiling, I
found myself muttering "so my spring has finally arrived" I smiled a real smile for
the first time in years.