All Chapters of Jayden's Luck: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

- "It blew up." - "You wouldn't lie to me, would you, Ken?" he asked. Then he answered himself: "No, I don't think you would." I resumed my tale (leaving out Sylvia's massage - though I would have liked to tell him that part, just to see his reaction). I didn't fabricate, or obfuscate. Just the facts. - "How did you find Molun so quickly?" he asked. - "I have ... contacts." - "Is that so?" - "Are we in trouble because ... because we took justice into our own hands?" I asked. Ledomir frowned. "That's not ... an issue." - "Is it about the tax on the loot we took?" Ledomir took a deep swig of his ale. Rundown though it may be, there was nothing wrong with Anson's ale, which was why sailors and pirates kept coming back, night after night. - "No, Ken. The late, unlamented Molun had money stashed in several places. He'd also invested in property across the city. Since he

The next night, I was too exhausted to pretend to be nice to gamblers and glad-handers. Sylvia had worn me out, during the daylight hours, all in the interest of furthering her philosophy of 'Enjoy the Sweet'.   But it was impossible to sleep at night. The Narimac was a marvelous source of profit; unfortunately its inverted hours were wreaking havoc with my sleeping habits.   My malaise went deeper than that, though. I didn't know what to do with myself. Yes, I can hear your heart breaking in sympathy for me: lucky bastard survives dragon, wins casino, sleeps with fabulous Jasmi. What was I crying about?   I wasn't a thief anymore. I couldn't run a successful con anymore, when everyone with money knew who I was. And why steal at all? It hardly made sense to steal a few hundred from some rich man's house when I could rob him repeatedly when he came to the Narimac.   I would just have to find something to do. Something consistent with the kind of life I liked to le

The waitress was well beyond her prime, but that made no difference. I was polite, and tipped generously. If I was going to come back to the Eagle regularly, it wouldn't hurt to cultivate her. Sources of information come in many shapes and sizes. But for my present needs, this place was perfect. As I nursed my second pint, I thought about the task that Inavar and Ledomir had dropped in my lap. I needed to know more about Jerian - much more. I wasn't going to break into his house (not yet, at least), or run a scam on him. Then again, my marks didn't usually have a fleet of ships and a private army of three hundred pirates. I would have to tread carefully. When I ordered a third pint - unusual, for me - I realized that I was grinning. I had been feeling sorry for myself, not knowing how to keep myself occupied. Well, I was occupied now. This job could be dangerous: but then, I'd always lived dangerously. It could also be fascinating, and might earn

I started by visiting a few of my more reliable contacts. I had new questions that I hoped to find answers to. Then I got together with one of my best street operatives.Her name was Denya, and she was a black-haired, eleven year-old wharf rat. She worked with her little brother and another orphan. They stole, but Denya was careful. She was also clever; she knew very well that they could earn more performing simple tasks for me than they could in a week of stealing - and with less risk.I put them onto Teeshay. Once they knew where she was meeting me tomorrow, it would be child's play (literally) for them to tail her.- "I want to know where she goes. If possible, it would be nice to know who she talks to. Be careful, and don't let her spot you."- "Teach yer grandmother to suck eggs." said Denya's little brother. Denya cuffed him in the ear.- "Shut yer gob." she snapped. "I does the talkin'. An' you show Master Ken some respec

- "It won't be easy, though." said the wizard. "Or cheap." - "Uh-oh." I didn't like the way she'd said that last bit. "How much?" Taliesine shrugged. "Anywhere between a hundred and two hundred and fifty thousand." I gaped at her. It wasn't that long ago that I'd have considered 250 a good score for the month. Now I was listening to the raven-haired wizard calmly throwing out a sum a thousand times greater. "There are components we will need. I can't even begin to imagine how we'll obtain some of them. Magical resources, consultations ..." - "We can afford it." I said. "How much do we have on hand, partner?" Sylvia put her hand on my arm. "Slow down, Ken. We have to maintain a considerable reserve for the Narimac. You need money, as well, to buy a house. Taliesine is earning her reward." - "Kima and I have found a suitable place." said the wizard. - "There you are." said Sylvia.