Tiff - Chapter 2 - Part 1

Chapter 2 - Part 1

The topmost layer of Maeralssin was the trading hub for the underground drow city. It was densely packed, and always bustling with activity. The city was located in a great cavern, many miles across with a high ceiling covered in large stalactites, pointing down into the urban sprawl. A high bladed wall encircled the area, and numerous tall spired building rose up from the ground, like a great pit of jagged spikes.

The powerful houses of the city had based their secure compounds in the labyrinthine network of tunnels and caverns below. The area was mostly off limits for non-drow, with the exception of slaves and those who have been specifically invited. But in the top layer, other races were allowed to trade and work, as long as they understood they were subject to drow law, which could be very harsh and discriminatory.

The seedier area of the markets was home to several of the lower slave house, gambling and prostitution dens and other places of ill repute. There were many dark alleyways leading off the run-down streets, in which shady dealings took place. This was where the fallen drow noble, Nathrae had come to attend her own shady deal.

She wore a dark grey cloak over her skimpy purple slave outfit, and only had a small concealed dagger for protection. Her matron had ordered her back to her post in the Great Northern Tunnel as soon as possible. She was defying her by coming here first, which was a very dangerous thing. Nathrae looked around nervously as she entered the gloomy alleyway, she hoped she had done enough to evade any eyes that could report back to her matron.

She had hopes that she would be accepted back into her house when she had returned to the city with the human slave she had captured. Those hopes were quickly dashed by her contemptuous matron. But she did make plans in case she had to go back to the dwarf, and that was what brought her to this sleazy part of the upper city.

There were two figures waiting for her in the alley, one was slender, the other was short and broad. As she approached them, she could better make out the older male drow with short white hair flecked with gold, and sharp red eyes. He wore simple street clothes that would not be out of place in this area, and had a small satchel slung around his shoulder. Standing next to him was a male duergar, with grey skin, a bald head, short white beard and loose-fitting dark robes.

Nathrae stopped a couple of paces from them, standing tensely.

"You're the one who contacted me?" asked the male drow, in a hushed tone that didn't carry far.

"Yes. What's he doing here?" Nathrae asked, nodding down at the duergar. She didn't like him, he reminded her of Rugnar.

"Don't mind him, he is simply here to verify your payment."

"Does he speak our tongue?"

The grey dwarf gave her a cold stare with his dull black eyes. The male drow spoke, "What does it matter? Do you have the stone?"

Nathrae saw movement in her peripheral vision and looked up. She could clearly make out the outline of three figures spread out above them on the rooftops. Behind her, she could see another person standing at the end of the alley. Her heat began to thump in her chest. She may have made a big mistake dealing with this scum.

She looked at the male, scowling. "Just precautions," he said. "I'm willing to trade fairly if you are. But if you are not, it will be the last thing you do."

Nathrae did her best to appear calm and confident, "And do you think I would come here without precautions also? I do not display them so openly. If you see my assassins, it will be too late for you."

He gave a half smile, "If they do indeed exist."

"Do you really want to find out?" said Nathrae. She glanced down at the duergar. She knew some of his race had psionic talents. Though she trained to defend her mind against psions since she was young, she hoped that he couldn't see through her bluff. The grey dwarf just continued to stand there staring.

"No, I want to make this trade and get out of this stinking alley."

"You and me both." She reached into her cloak and pulled out a small pouch. The male drow held his hand out expectantly.

She held it tightly, "Let me see the item." He slowly nodded, and reached into the satchel. Nathrae tensed again, this could be the point where he produced a weapon to kill her. Instead, he pulled out a roll of parchment, bound with a thin red leather strap. Nathrae was not particularly talented with magic, but she could feel the magical power emanating from the scroll.

She handed the pouch over, and the rogue grabbed it from her hand. He fiddled to getting it open with one hand and peered inside. A slight smile crossed his lips and he handed it to the duergar. Nathrae waited anxiously while the dwarf carefully appraised the rare gemstone that she had stolen from Rugnars' hidden treasure cache.

He finally grunted and said something to the male drow that she didn't understand, but it sounded positive. "Your payment seems legitimate," he said.

"I know that. Now give me the scroll."

He handed the magical scroll over and Nathrae quickly tucked it away into her cloak. "It had better do as I specified, or you may see my assassins yet."

"It's what you wanted, and was not easy to acquire. I can't be held accountable as to whether the magics will have the desired effect for you, noble. I believe our business is concluded. Go back out the way you came. Give us no trouble, and you can expect none in return."

Nathrae didn't like that he had called her noble. She didn't know what had given it away, perhaps he was just assuming. He may try to make some extra coin selling information about the activities of a noble of one of the cities houses. But she was careful not to let him know who she was. She pulled her cloak tighter as she slowly stepped back. She gave one last nod to the drow rogue and reluctantly turned her back to them as she began to stride out of the alley.

She didn't allow herself believe that she was out of danger yet. The scroll she had tucked under her cloak was a precaution, yet she had taken such a big risk to acquire it.

Continued in Chapter 2 - Part 2