[[I?ve been through Riune?s and Valfaran?s posts and have to say that they are creating a beautiful and very inspiring story line. I was itching to join in the post but at the same time I did not want to ruin the magic with my much poorer writing skills. So I decided to come up with a new tread just remotely related which (with a little bit of help from any of you guys) might turn out to be a half decent story and if both treads proceed maybe allow them to cross paths in the future. (Riune, Valfaran are you going to keep on adding to the story or are you going to abandon it just like that? Please don?t keep us on edge) Just feel free to correct and criticize as you please.]]
Anakletos the Taladan high priest set behind his desk waiting for the guest to walk the hall towards him in silence. If it were up to him he would make the fat noble walk up and down the hall all the day if it just made him loose a little bit of that extra weight and maybe that irritating wobble in his pace. He wondered momentarily if the noble man would be able to pass through one of the waste shafts in one whole piece. This was no time to think about disposing of him, the greedy fool had his uses yet.
As usual the high priest and the noble would enquire about health and family along with informal greetings not that either one of them really meant it but both had some thing to gain from each other but like the noble man, Anakletos was no stranger to politics and the art of trade.
Once the greetings were done the high priest stood up and motioned with a finger to one of the acolytes who attended the priest. The acolyte promptly jumped into life and when over a small table, prepared two goblets poured wine from a decanter and readied the chairs for his master and the guest. This ready the acolyte clapped his hands briefly and left through a small service door behind the desk, accompanied by all the other acolytes who up till now were completely silent and motionless.
The two man sat down and took up the glasses in their hands
?So, what news do you bring me today my good friend?? started again Anakletos in a warm tone which one would use on his close relatives and friends.
?The favor you asked is complete.? The noble returned boastfully ?The rats have been purged as you wished? returned in a pitiful attempt to hide his feelings. Slight signs of greed and expectation and maybe even a bit of triumph showed on the noble?s face and the high priest would not miss those signs especially since he knew that a price was agreed beforehand for such ?favors?.
?Really? That quick?? Anakletos asked in surprise. Not that he did not know already, there were spies reporting to him at every corner and niche in Yliakum?s society and he could get to know of all major events within the hour but as the saying goes ? don?t show your left hand what your right hand is doing - especially not to the fool sitting in front of him. But a useful fool he was, if anything went wrong, all fingers would point at him. Even now it was only the merchant?s power and heavy guard that was keeping some of the lesser folk from putting a knife in his back. His greed and ruthlessness has already made him step on too much toes and one day he would find one who would manage to get through the defenses.
