Chapeter 2 Page 8 - Returning the favor

Evil Emperor Nick on June 18, 2008

Link of the week

Fishboy

Written by: E.E. Nick
Edited: Amelius

“'What do you think Prix?' I asked.

'I don't know.' Prix said as she eyed the little fish man on the bridge warrily. ‘I could shoot an arrow at him if you want.’

'Do you think it can talk?' I asked again keeping my eye on the little green bugger.

'Hello.' The fish boy said.

'Yep, it can talk.' Prix confirmed.

'Errr. Hi. Would you mind getting off the bridge so we can pass?' I said just as nice as could be, which truth be told wasn't really very nice.

'Well,' Said the fishboy with gusto. ‘I don’t mind, buuuuuuuuut I'm afraid you can't use this bridge.'

'Why not. The queen of the sea declare it off limits or something like that?' I said much less friendly this time.

'Hah. Something like that.' the fishboy laughed. ‘Just trust me. You don’t want to use this bridge. Now there is another one waaaaay down this way if you want to march around or if you're in a hurry I could make sure you get safely across.'

'How generous.' Prix said.

'Well I'd want to be paid for my efforts naturally.' The fishboy added.

'How mercenary.' Prix replied.

'What keeps me from shooting you full of arrows?' I asked him with an nasty edge in my voice they kind I normally reserve for when someone's been shot three times with a crossbow and I'm walking over to put ‘em out their misery.

’The fact that you don't have a bow.' The fishboy replied with an edge of snark.

'Alright then, what keeps my partner here from shooting you full of arrows.' I said rolling my eyes.

'Nothing.' The fish boy said evenly. ‘Except the fact that I’m reasonably sure you don't want to be hunted down as murderers if you don't have to.'

'He doesn't know you very well Skrag.' Prix observed quietly.

'Shyad up.' I told her in a low voice.

'Suppose we try and cross, are you going to stop us?' I asked him.

'Me? Heavens (and hells) no.' The fishboy said and he lept off the bridge into the water I guess to show his good faith or something.

'But you just won't warn us about whatever it is that you know about.' Prix reasoned.

'Now you've got it.' The fishboy replied.

'Aren't you worried we might get ride of you after we're on the otherside?' Prix asked.

'Not really. I've done this before and I'm pretty good at it. I'm pretty good with people. Maybe once you get to the other side we could go somewhere and I could tell you all about it.' The fishboy said with a wink in Prix's direction.

Prix rolled her eyes. ‘No thanks. We’ve got to get to Velsing for a job.'

'Well what about on the way back?' The fishboy asked.

'We're coming back a different way.' I said angrily at this point that little fish thing was pissing me off.

'Suit yourself. If you change your mind after the job just stop by any river though just ask for Phineas.' The fishboy said.

'Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?' I said. ‘We still haven’t crossed this river yet.'

'Yea, but I figure you two look like you've got enough common sense just to pay me to get you safely across.' The fishboy said evenly.

'I've got a good mind to thrash you sensless.' I told fishboy in a low menacing voice. ‘I don’t like yer business tactics.'

'Suit yourself.' The fishboy says. ‘I’m just trying to save people's lives and make a few bucks while I'm at it.'

And with that he did a quick about face and disapeared into the water before I could make good on my threat.

'Everyone's trying to make a buck off ya these days just because we travel from town to town they all treat us like we're rubes.' I complained walking out a little onto the bridge.

'Don't think think we should be careful though.' Prix said. ‘Might be he wasn’t lying.'

'Oh please it is just a little bridge. You and me got through that crazy battle at Takindorn we can walk across a little country bridge.' I said.” Skrag explained.

“Well that is all fine and dandy.” Vance interupted. “But I didn't ask for your whole story. All me and Gil need to know was did you drowned first of did you die from your injuries?”

“Aye drowned.” Skrag said unhappily.

“Yes!” Said Gil. “In your face Vance! You heard the zombie he drowned like a rat. Pay up Vance!”

“Damn it Skrag! I thought you were a good swimmer!” Vance said and he dug into his coat for some coins. “I was counting on you.

”It is darn hard to swim when you've only got one arm!“ Skrag shot back and flipped of Vance with his recently replaced arm which had yellowish and thick taunt mussles.

”You were always bragging about how you had more strength in one arm then I had in my whole body!“ Vance exclaimed.

”Hahahaaaaaa!“ Gil said taking the coins from Vance. ”Oh how sweet victory is.“

Gil dropped half the coins into the pouch and then shouted. ”Hey Phineas!“

A small fishboy made his way out of the crowd and Gil tossed him the small bag of coins. ”Here your share. Thanks for the tip.“

”No problem.“ Phineas said.

Skrag sputtered with seething rage. ”What are you doing here!“

”Yea.“ Vance added. ”What he said.“

”I told you at the bridge. I gotta make a living somehow.“ Phineas replied. ”Now if you'll exscuse me gentlemen I don't want to keep my new partner waiting.“

”Partner?“ Vance asked.

”Yea.“ Phineas said. ”She has an idea to build a new bridge and start charing tolls, better business and all that. If you guys want in we're still looking for investors. You can get all the details from her. Hey Prix!“

Prix made her way over from the bar where she had apparently been drinking unseen by Skrag or the De'Ras brothers Gil & Vance.

”Hey, what's up you got some new investors?“ Prix asked.

”Prix!“ Skrag said shocked almost beyond words. ”What are you doing working with this jerk!“

”Skrag! Good to see you again.“ Prix said and clapped him all the back.

Shrag shook her off angrily. ”Don't give me that! What the hell is all this about the bridge them?“ He shouted.

”Well I saw a good opportunity to invest some of that money I've been hoarding away. Besides he saved my life and I had just lost a partner.“ Prix said with a wink at Skrag.

Skrag turned angrily to Phineas. ”How come you saved her and let me drowned fishboy? What in the hell is that about?“

”Nothing personal.“ Phineas said to Skrag. ”Its was just that I could only save one of you and when Prix fell in she shouted that she was carrying all your money."