"So what do you think Sif? Good plan right?"
Sif just cocked her head again in her cute manner, cooing. Marcus and Sif were both hiding in the bushes outside the north gate of Jakarta. After two days of travel, they had finally made it back. They had fished and hunted on their way here, so they had plenty to eat. Marcus actually got Sif to get her own fish, that alone saved a lot of time. Now they just had to get in the city, Marcus didn't think they would let Sif into the gates, he didn't know the policy on pets.
"Don't act like you don't understand me! We've been traveling together for awhile now, I know you can understand me!" Marcus said as he bopped her on the head.
Sif snorted at Marcus, turning her head away from him. Marcus had a hunch that she understood him. She would act like she didn't, but would always know what he wanted her to do if something important came up.
Once, on the way to Jakarta, they'd come across two orcs. They were just squating in a clearing, eating a fanged deer they had managed to kill. Sif was treating Marcus like her personal mount, looking around, enjoying the scenery. Marcus had told her to slide off and distract them so he could sneak up from behind. She followed his command perfectly, drawing them towards her so he could smash their skulls in with his hammer.
Marcus could have killed them straight on, but this way was much easier. Orcs were pretty much just bipedal pigs, too stupid to do much of anything other than use branches as clubs. They were known to kill anything they came across, trying to satiate their unending hunger. They were also known to kidnap and rape women. They were nothing but scourges that needed to be killed on sight.
For some reason though, they tasted extremely good. Much better than regular pork, no one knew why. Marcus didn't have a problem eating them though. He and Sif ate very well that night.
"Now, all you need to do is play dead ok? I'll just say I'm bringing you back to be processed. No problem." Marcus said, trying to reassure Sif of the plan.
Sif didn't seem to care much for the idea. Marcus figured she didn't want to pretend to be dead, he didn't know much about dragons, but figured they were prideful not deceitful. Once inside it wouldn't matter, he'd just say the guards let him in. As far as Sif was concerned, he would like to see anyone try to take her from him. Not only did they not have a claim to her, he would kill them before they could even try.
There was a registration process for beast companions at the Mercenaries Association, so he would try to get Sif registered to him, if he could. Usually the beasts that were registered were either wolves that were captured or tamed, or certain types of mounts. He'd seen a griffon walking down the street one time, but it did have a muzzle on.
"Please Sif, just this once." Marcus had to do a lot of persuading. Finally she snorted, then flipped on her back. She relaxed her muscles and was like a limp noodle in Marcus's arms.
Walking up to the guards with Sif in his arms, Marcus stopped in line. It was the busy part of the day so there were about twenty or so people in front of him. Like usual, many people were staring at him, but mostly at the creature he had in his arms. Sif looked just like a snake, if you ignored her wings and head. She was about eight feet long, as big around as Marcus's thigh, and golden in color. Her wingspan was six feet if she spread them fully. They were golden in color as well, sometimes reflecting the light making them sparkle. Her head was broad with stubs sticking out the top, horns that were just starting to grow. Her wide mouth was filled with sharp teeth, not the kind found in a snake's mouth, but like a dinosaur's.
Marcus had her wings folded against her body, trying his best to keep them concealed. If he could just make her look like a different species of snake, then his goal would be accomplished. Soon it was his turn for inspection from the guards.
"What in the hells is that?!" One of the gate guards asked Marcus. His voice ended in a higher pitch than when it started.
"Oh, it's just a snake I found. Was going to take it in to be processed."
"Right, you found it. I don't see any blood or injuries on it, is it still alive. I can't have you bringing a snake in the city. It might attack someone, hells, it's big enough to eat a child." The guards said, mild concern in his voice. He didn't want to be responsible if someone wound up hurt if he let a snake in the city.
"I found it in the river, I think it drowned." Marcus said as he held up Sif, hoping she would hold her breath for a little bit.
The guard looked the snake over, nodding his head after several seconds. "Alright, fine, you can go in. Still, I never seen a snake that color before, its head looks different too. But what do I know, I'm just a guard." He said, shrugging his shoulders, he didn't get paid to know everything. Just to make sure nothing illegal enters the city, that was it.
"Thanks." Marcus said, nodding to the guard. He didn't think he'd have a problem getting in, but you never knew.
"Alright, we're inside now." Marcus said as he tapped Sif's head.
She immediately let out a snort, and took her spot, wrapped around Marcus with her head on his. He was currently in the northern part of Jakarta, it was the closest to the noble district. Most of the people around him were dressed fairly well, mostly servants or maids of the wealthy people living not too far away. They were going about their day, shopping for their households, getting the daily baked bread from the shops.
They all made plenty of space for Marcus and Sif as they walked along the road. Staring with several different looks, some intrigue, mostly disgust. Many couldn't imagine having a snake, or whatever it was, wrapped around them. Most people found snakes to be repulsive, of course there were always exceptions.
"Excuse me sir, sir!" A girl dressed in fine clothing came running up to Marcus, shouting to get his attention.
Marcus stopped, he and Sif both turning their heads to the sudden noise. The girl was wearing a beautiful blue and white dress. It was the kind you might see in Victorian times, frills and lace all over, with a wide polonaise at the bottom. The corset she had was tied tightly, making her breaths shallow as she ran, holding up the hems of her dress so it wouldn't drag on the ground.
She had curly blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. Not a blemish could be seen on her young face. She looked to be in her early twenties, just out of her teens. What looked like a maid was chasing after her, chastising as she did so.
"Sir…. is that…. a snake…. you have." She said in between panting breaths.
"Is it tamed. I just adore them so. I have a pet grass boa at the manor, his name is Philex." She continued with a wide smile, showing her perfect white teeth.
Sif seemed to take offense to being called a snake. She gave a snort and hid her head behind Marcus's back. The girl couldn't see Sif's wings so she assumed she was a snake.
"I'm sorry miss, but Sif here isn't a snake." Marcus explained.
"I'm not quite sure what she is for certain, but snakes don't have wings." Marcus didn't want to outright say he had a baby dragon, why cause trouble when you can just avoid it easily.
"Young miss, you really ought not run off like that. Master will be very angry should you get lost or hurt." The maid had finally caught back up to the young woman.
"I'm sorry Mina, but when I saw such a gorgeous creature I couldn't help myself." She said with a slight blush on her face.
She really loved animals, especially snakes. There was just something about them that she found so intriguing, and beautiful. Ever since she was a little girl, she would play with the animals in her father's garden. They seemed to love her too, never biting her and always letting her handle them and pet them.
Turning back to Marcus, the young woman asked. "You said it has wings? Can I see them? That would just be lovely!"
"What do you think Sif?"
Sif just snorted, not moving a muscle.
"I think you need to apologize, I don't think she likes being called a snake." Marcus said, with a deadpan face. He didn't know that Sif had such an attitude.
"Apologize? Of course. I'm very sorry for calling you a snake. I was mistaken, and deeply regret my words." She said with a very serious face, seemingly not finding it strange to apologize to an animal.
Sif peeked her head up from behind Marcus's back, revealing just her eyes. She looked at the young woman for a moment before extending her head towards her.
"May I pet you?" The woman asked.
Sif made her cooing noise and gave a little nod. The young woman slowly lifted her hand and started to gently pet Sif's head. She had a dazzling smile on her face, she looked like she had died and gone to heaven. She continued for a solid minute, enjoying the softness of her scales and the cool feeling.
Marcus cleared his throat. He had places to go, so he didn't want to waste a whole lot of time. He didn't mind the young lady, but couldn't be standing around all day.
"Oh, please forgive me. She's just such a gorgeous creature." She said while staring into Sif's golden eyes. She looked like she was enraptured with her. Even Sif was getting a little uneasy, she liked being called gorgeous, but the eye contact made her uncomfortable. Sif once again hid behind Marcus's back, avoiding the uncomfortable stare.
"Right... we'll be moving along then. It was nice to meet you miss…." Marcus paused, indicating that she hadn't given her name.
"Sorry, I'm Sylvia Bishore. My friends just call me Sylvie." She said with a slight curtsy.
"May I ask your name as well?"
"Just Marcus. No last name. Once again, it was nice to meet you Miss Bishore." Marcus gave a bow and turned to leave. Wanting to get some distance between them.
"Goodbye! I hope we meet again soon!" Sylvie yelled at Marcus's and Sif's departing figures. Her voice carrying loudly down the street.
"She was a weird one wasn't she." Marcus said to Sif.
Sif gave her trademark cooing noise in agreement. They both thought she was nice enough, just a little eccentric. It didn't matter, it was unlikely they would run into her again. It was a big city, and they lived in two different worlds.
Putting Sylvie Bishore in the back of his mind, Marcus made his way to the Mercenaries Association. He would get Sif registered to himself, then turn in the fangs he'd gotten out of the mountain serpent's mouth. With the money he'd get from the reward he'd upgrade all his equipment, maybe even buy a house. You could do a lot with one-hundred gold coins.
.........
"He's finally returned to the city. You have permission to proceed with the operation." A plain man was talking to a hooded figure while sitting at a table in a popular bar in the city.
People were eating and drinking all around them, not paying any attention to their conversation. Not only was it loud, but who would stick their nose in anyone else's business. Not only was it rude, but could get you killed as well.
"Good, it's about time. The others were getting a little antsy. Just be ready with the rest of the gold. It will be done in the next day or two." The hooded figure said as he finished off his drink, stood, and left the table. Leaving the plain man to pick up the tab.
"I hope you're worth the money." He said, shaking his head and flagging down the waitress. He'd pay for the drinks and wait for some good news.
He'd paid this group of assassins forty gold coins to take care of his problem. The other ten coins would go towards his escape just in case things don't go as planned. It was always a good idea to never put all your eggs in one basket. He had a ship standing by to take him to the next port, just in case.