Turn 95A -- Kre & The Silver Crown

Evening. 7th day of Alturiak. Silver Crown

Taking his leave of the others at the Baron of Mutton, Kre steps out into the chill night air pulling his cloak tight around his shoulders. Left hand resting on the hilt of Coldheart at his side, Kre's eyes scan the darkened streets of Milbourne as the sounds of the celebration drift through the night. Making his way to the Silver Crown, he hopes to find the type of man he needs to procure the items he wants.

A blast of heat from the fireplace strikes the face of Kre as he steps through the doors of the Silver Crown. The seedier establishment of Milbourne, the Crown is populated by the rougher individuals from the mines as well as the more shady travellers passing through. Like the Baron of Mutton, the Silver Crown is crowded much more than usual this evening as several of the miners have come in to celebrate and there are even more travellers in town; not to mention the increase in the 'adventurous types' coming to Milbourne. No one takes any undue notice of Kre as he makes his way across the room to grab a stool at the bar. Kre's eyes pass over the many miners and obvious townspeople in the room, his intent looking for someone a bit more dangerous than them.

A group of four men sit at a far table in the southern corner of the room, three of the four carrying the heavy swords and armor of the normal mercenary type, with the demeanor to match; while the last man appears to be more along the lines of the profession Kre is looking for. Without pausing too long to gaze at the man, Kre's eyes move along to search out another.

Don't want to conduct my business with one who has friends, he thinks to himself.

After a few minutes of hidden search, Kre spots a potential partner. Sitting at a table playing dice is a skinny man with pale skin and eyes that constantly search the room; a bit nervous perhaps but ever wary. The man has a leather tunic over a dark wool shirt. Black walking boots pull up over his dark breeches, two daggers hanging from his belt. Kre can make out the distinctive bulge of another inside each boot. Catching the man's eye, Kre nods his head as his hands flash.

I need some items, meet out back, Kre signs to the man in the popular Cant of his profession. The man nods to Kre as he turns back to the dice game momentarily. Dropping his half finished mug of ale off at the bar, Kre makes his way back out into the cold air.

Blowing into his thinly gloved hands to warm them, Kre slowly paces back and forth behind the Silver Crown, waiting on the man from inside to meet him. A few more minutes of pacing are rewarded with the man silently stepping around the corner of the building.

"Sorree, got on a bit o' a roll," smiles the man as he sees the furrowed brow of Kre.

"No problem," mumbles Kre, "I need a few 'special' items and thought you might be the man to get them for me."

The man smiles broadly at the words from Kre, exposing stained and broken teeth, "Ye 'ave a good eye 'bout ye. Came to the right man ye did. If'n it can be had, I can get it fer ye. What do ya be needen?"

"Just a few items. Smoke bombs, thin trip wire, caltrops, flash powder and a cloak of invisibility if possible," Kre looks at the man expectantly after reciting his list.

Nodding at the list of items from Kre, the man smiles as he tallies the items needed. "No smoke bombs ta be had but can get ye some pepper bombs fer 20 gold crowns fer 10. Can be just as effective as smoke bombs if'n ye know how ta use 'em. Trip wire will cost ye 5 gold crowns per 15 feet and the caltrops 10 crowns per bag. Sorree, no flash powder or this cloak ye mention."

Kre frowns at the prices the man quotes but knows that he is in no position to bargain. "Ok. I'll take 20 pepper bombs, 60 feet of trip wire and 4 bags of caltrops. When can you have it?"

The man smiles broadly as he hears Kre's order. "I can have it fer ye in four days. Need half payment up front."

Kre frowns at the prospect of having to pay half up front but he knows there will be no way of getting around it, "Ok, but you betray me and I promise you you'll spend the rest of your life regretting that decision."

"Ne'er fear, I'll not betray ye. I know who ye be, Kre Novablade."

Another frown from Kre as the man speaks his name, "And don't be going round spoutin' that name about. What about any poison, can you get that for me?"

The man gets fidgety at the mention of the poison, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. "Quiet man. Ye get hanged fer just mentioning poison in these parts. Can't get that. No sir."

"Ok. Ok. Forget about it." Kre pulls out the heavy purse given to him by Ras and counts out the 50 gold crowns to give the man.

Nodding and smiling broadly as he is being paid, the man takes the money happily. "I'll find ye in four days when I have the goods," he says.

"Just remember..."

"I know, don't betray ye..."

With that, the man disappears around the corner and into the night. Kre rubs his hands together to try and return some warmth to them as he makes his way around the building as well. Seeing the night is young and remember the dice game the man was at, he decides to return to the Silver Crown. Walking through the doors of the Crown, he turns to make his way to the bar and runs headlong into one of the most attractive women he's ever seen. Standing at a height equal to his own, possessing black hair as dark as midnight she holds her mug of ale out from her trying to keep the sloshing ale from spilling onto her. A dark black cloak is draped about her shoulders, a fine white silk blouse beneath that. Dark breeches under black riding boots complete her outfit. A pair of fine daggers hang from a belt about her thin waist.

"Ex...Excuse me..." stammers Kre as he looks into her dark eyes, a smile spreading across her full lips. Tan, unblemished skin absorbs the smile as she looks at Kre.

"No problem, it's kinda crowded tonight. You're the one they call Kre, right?" she asks as she steps closer to Kre, the crowd pushing them away from the bar. Kre can smell the scent of honeysuckle about her as she steps closer, his heart strangely beating faster in his chest.

Surely she can hear that, he thinks to himself. It's going to explode out of my chest!

"Will you join me for a drink?" she asks as she motions to the bar.