章 14: Secrets For Sale

"So, what's it to be?" Morn asked, her voice now on the line between business-like and sultry.

"I didn't come here to go demon-dipping," a man said aggressively.

"Are you sure? I find people as stuck up as yerself in public are often the wildest in bed," she teased. "Come on, aren't you curious? One gold for a taste."

"No," the man said. "I want information, not your cursed-"

"Fine!" There was a sound like rustling clothes. "Five silvers to start. That's my discretion fee."

The man made a disapproving sound, but Kir heard the clink of coins being counted out. There was another set of clinks as they changed hands.

"Tell me what you know about Kir, the other demonkin," the man ordered.

"Oh is that his name? He's so boring I'd quite forgotten," Morn replied.

"Don't play dumb with me. I saw you two talking before the caravan set out. Everyone knows your kind always plot trouble." The man accused.

Morn tsked. "Well since he and I are such good pals, snitching on my own's gonna cost extra."

There was another set of clinks and Kir heard what sounded like more coins changing hands. "That's seven. Keep upping the price and maybe I'll take a go at you with this."

"Would be the biggest 'sword' you've had in your hands," Morn shot back. "What do you want to know? For seven I'll give you two questions."

"What's he traveling for? Are those hags trying to get him raised up or something?"

Raising up meant becoming a noble. It was something only nobles were allowed to do, but typically only did for knights, which meant whoever was talking was wondering if Kir meant to become a knight.

"Hardly. Boy's Academy bound, his mams don't say what they intend to do after, but it seems big to have a pair of living legends on the job. But oh, you're heading out to that city too, no? With your dear sister no less." Morn's voice was full of confidence.

"Eavesdropping whore," the man said. Kir realized now that his voice sounded familiar. It was Lugh.

"I know what I'm good at at least, how about you?" Morn said. "That's your questions. Any more will be another silver each, and since I'm feeling generous, I'll tell you he has three big secrets."

A ringing sound spoke to another coin being flipped her way.

"A gold! How generous!" she said as soon as it hit her hand.

"Hardly. Give me those silvers back. That should get me the first secret." Lugh said.

The exchange rate was pretty simple. Ten coppers to a bronze, ten bronze to a silver, ten silvers to a gold, ten gold to an orichal. Aside from coins, there were also strips that represented five of a currency and bars that represented ten. Coins tended to be around two centimeters in diameter regardless of the metal.

"Miser," Morn said, but by the sound of it she made the exchange. "His first secret it this..."

To Kir's frustration, Morn whispered what she knew. It threw him off enough that by the time he'd circulated enough mana into his ears, she was done revealing it.

Lugh started to chuckle. "Is that so..."

"Sure as I'm standing here," Morn said. "How about the rest?"

"Hmm... no. I've got enough. Now it's time for you to answer a question about yourself." Before she could speak, Lugh asked, "Why should I believe you won't go running into his arms the moment we get back to camp?" His voice took on a sinister quality. "I doubt anyone would miss you if I pinned you to that tree."

"First off, you paid for discretion and I barely know the brat. He's not even old enough to fly, much less have a purse worth a damn. Second, you hurt me and it'll be the entire circus beating you black and blue and tying you up for the birds to peck out your eyeballs. And trust me, they know their way around ropes. Third, I don't think you want to be leaving your sister all alone. How would that affect her grades, going to the Academy without knowing what happened to her big brother?"

Kir heard Lugh shift where he stood, and he imagined he heard the man pulling back his gauntleted arm as if to strike her, because the next thing Morn said was.

"Do that, and I'll make sure all of Norneau knows you wanted to dip a demon and couldn't live with yeself after. I'm sure your sister will still think the best of yeh, after you're dead." Morn's confidence never wavered.

Kir risked a peek and saw her holding a knife with the tip pointed at Lugh's throat.

He was primed to step in, but thankfully Lugh did not escalate any further.

"Tell no one. I'll go back to camp first. You wait here and come back when it's dark." He ordered.

"Bugger that. There was crystalbranch deer about. I'm not sitting on my ass waiting for whatever other monsters are roaming around." Morn raised her voice as she slid the knife into its sheath. "So how about this: I'll fly back and you can walk, prick."

There was a slight flapping sound as her wings unfurled, and then the sounds of gusts as she flapped, and the rusting of branches as she forced her way through the tree line.

Kir stopped listening after that, grabbing the boar and trying to be as stealthy as possible as he angled himself away from a direct path to the camp.

He didn't feel angry at Morn for selling him out. On the contrary, he knew that his kind wasn't welcome in most places and couldn't fault her for doing what she could to survive. His time on the road and observations had taught him that most of what the circus folk did was survive, regardless of their heritage.

It was people who were well-to-do that had to be watched out for. People like Lugh Hirda; rejecting any perceived disruption to their narrow, comfortable world.

The fact that he wanted dirt on Kir had only one purpose: to cause trouble. To start a fight that Kir would once again be the victim of.

This time, he planned to be ready.

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