The Crimson Widow

After leaving the barrack behind, Niko led me back down to the slums where I had caught her earlier. Yet unsure whether to fully trust her, as well as taking into consideration the unsavory types prowling the area, my hand stayed on my blade’s hilt at nearly all times.

“In here,” said Niko, heading up towards one of the few decent looking buildings in the slums.

“A bar?” I asked, inspecting the establishment titled ‘The Crimson Widow’. Its paint and windows were as rundown as the rest of the slums, but it was larger and lacked the structural damage of the surrounding buildings.

“Yeah,” said Niko, opening the door to the bar. “As I said, I haven’t met with the brokers we’re looking for, so I’ve gotta get in touch with a contact who can set up a meeting.”

“Ah, I see. Though, wouldn’t day drinking be a bit too suspicious to use as cover for an illegal deal?” I asked.

“Day drinking isn’t exactly uncommon in the slums,” she said, walking past partially filled tables of drunken beggars and thugs to sit down on a stool at the bar. I reluctantly did the same, taking a seat to her left.

“Ah, if it isn’t little Niko,” said the bartender, heading over after passing a drink to the dwarf sitting a few stools down.

“Hey Finch,” she said, slouching as she laid her forearms across the bar.

“The usual?” the bartender asked.

“Nah, I’d like today’s special, on the rocks, hold the lime,” she said, deftly slipping a gold coin to the man. He nonchalantly pocketed the coin, glanced around the room, then turned back to us.

“Which one?” he said in a hushed voice.

“Wine and Liquor,” she replied, staring him down. He seemed to hesitate, as though contemplating her request.

“That may take a while, those two don’t mix particularly well,” he said nervously.

“I’ll need it made urgently, I have business to attend to,” she said, glaring at him.

“Now, now, be reasonable,” he said, almost pleading.

“How’d your fiancée like that ring?” she said, smirking.

“She was thrilled,” he sighed, looking defeated. He turned and poured a small glass of milk. “Here, have your usual while I see what I’ve got in the back.”

“Thanks Finch,” she said, taking the milk and eagerly drinking as the middle aged bartender stepped into his back room.

“So that guy’s your contact?” I whispered. She nodded. “Using coded language like that...gotta say, I’m impressed.”

“Pick up on that, did you?” she said, turning to me. “What all could you tell?”

“Ordering the special in that specific way signaled you wanted him to set up a meeting. The two types of **** you wanted signified the brokers you wanted a meeting with, Wine for Wizard and Liquor for Loanshark. Though, based on his reaction, I’d say those two don’t like each other very much,” I said.

“Color me impressed as well. You’d make an excellent criminal should the adventuring gig go south,” she said, taunting me.

“Hah, I doubt it. There was one thing that I couldn’t tell what it meant though,” I said.

“What’s that?” she asked, taking a sip of her milk.

“What was that about a fiancée and a ring?” I asked.

“Oh, that. That was literal. Mugged a jeweler a few weeks back, Finch used a ring we nabbed to propose to his girl,” she said.

“Heh,” I chuckled. Good to see she’s not all that bad after all. “So, what’s your story, huh? Why make your way by mugging people?”

“I was born in the slums. My mom died from a disease and dad drank himself into an early grave too. I was hungry and alone, so I started taking things. Got good at it too,” she said, staring down into the glass of alabaster liquid.

“I see,” I said.

“Eventually, it wasn’t just for survival. I got a thrill from it, and the money wasn’t half bad either. I even got those two goons following me like I’m their boss or something. They’re idiots, but, they’re all I’ve got,” she sighed, drinking from her glass.

“But, why pickpocketing? You could have signed up at the guild, do steady, honest work for some good pay,” I said. “You still can. I could even-”

“Pfft. No thanks, buddy. I’m not about to just drop everything and join that little harem you call a party,” she taunted. “Nah, after this is over, I’m done with you.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you. I meant nothing by it. Thank you for sharing your story. I doubt such openness is easy for you,” I said.

“Yeah,” Niko muttered, finishing her glass just in time for Finch to return from the back room.

“Better be grateful for this one Niko. Had to pull in a few favors for this vintage,” he said, placing a wine bottle in front of us. Niko grabbed the bottle and inspected the label before handing it back to him.

“You know what, hold onto it for me. I’ll have a drink later,” she said, standing up from the bar. “Thanks for the milk.”

“Anytime kiddo,” he said, placing the wine bottle below the counter. I got off my stool and followed behind her out of the bar.

“So...?” I asked.

“We’ve got our meeting set up. Come on, it’s in the upper quarter,” she said, leading the way again.