Zar stifled a yawn. He had risen early and came to town. The guards were the most asleep then. Zar was sprawled in a chair at the table, rocking slightly. Now it was Zar's turn to sleep as he listened to Gorch ramble on about something or another. It was the perfect rhythm to sleep to.

"They pulled me to the side and said I had to pay them!" Gorch scoffed. "Pay them! Are you hearing me Zar?"

Zar jerked himself upon hearing his name. "Mmm."

"They wanted me to pay them!"

Zar stretched, "Good for you." He rested his head against the wall.

"Your despicable Zar. I'd like to see how you fair when guards pull you over."

Zar's head snapped up. He put the legs of his chair down. "The guards pulled you over!"

"Yes! It was terrible! I was already running low on money, and they just--"

"We're you caught?" Zar froze. The guards weren't dumb. If he had said anything, if the guards found out...this place was compromised.

"No! All they wanted was money. I can't believe they would pull over a lord! No respect!"

Zar put his head in his hands. "That could have ended worse."

"It did!" Gorch sat in a chair next to Zar. "I was bringing the money for our delightful friend--"

"They took it!" Zar moaned. That was many months work of pay. Pay that wasn't for them. He had to fix things before their 'delightful friend' decided to make an appearance. No longer tired, Zar stood and made for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Gorch glared, obviously not done with his disastrous story.

Zar opened the door. "To get the money back." Zar shut the door behind him. He paused, then reopened the door. "Do you know when he will arrive." The look in Gorch's eyes was enough.

"Do you?"

Reventown was empty in the morning, save the guards in the streets and beggars in the alleys. Good thing too, because he could barely contain his fury. The guards took the money that they-- no, he made! Job requests, missing items, missing people, guarding shipments, assassinations...so much time and effort. Zar subconsciously moved his hand to his left shoulder. And injuries. The sun outlined the mountains as it inched from its hiding spot.

People began exiting out of houses, heading to shops, or whatever morning business they had. Zar had business of his own. Zar turned into an alley on the other side of a tavern, where a man reeking of ale sat.

"You er." The man slurred. "Yer get outta my alley yer hear!" He rose his fist, but didn't rise to his feet.

Zar crinkled his nose. He could never stand strong drinks, possibly because that's all his father drank. "The alley is all yours." Zar ran up the side of the tavern and grabbed a window sill. Then he grabbed a drain pipe and hoist himself on the roof.

"Darn feller." The man grumbled beneath him. "Think'n they c'n fly. When I was..."

Zar sighed. "They waste their lives rather than fight to save them." He made his way to the guard house. The sun rose as he made his way, being careful, though he doubted any of the occupants in the building would suspect anything.

He felt the sun on his face. Normally, the sun was obscured by dark clouds. Ever since Titan's dark army and sorcerer came to Vitraya, life was under a thin veil of gloom. For a brief moment, nothing was wrong. Only for a moment.

"Pathetic, I know." Came a voice behind him. "Zar?"

Zar whirled around. Not just anyone could sneak up on him, and know his name. The two didn't mix, unless it was... "Who's asking?" A figure slipped out from the shadows. A hood concealed his upper face.

"Relax." His face twisted into an oddly chilling smile. He looked at Zar's side. Zar followed his gaze, and let go of his sword. Did everything always put him on guard? The man took his hood off, revealing an eyepatch slung across his right eye.

"Mr. Price." Zar responded, crossing his arms. The lack of steel in his hand made him feel exposed. It also didn't help that he didn't know the name about the man. Actually, he knew nothing about him out of his work. "It's been a while." Not long enough.

Price bowed. "The capital is plagued with security. It wasn't an easy feat to crawl out of there alive."

Zar arched a brow. "Trouble?"

"No one noticed my coming and going, I assure you." He gave Zar his trademark smile. Zar shivered. "But I have a price."

"Oh." Zar grumbled, the guy always had a price. He didn't know why they still bothered to hire this guy. His actions were with the rebellion, but his heart was on money, so his loyalties could change. But then again, all people could be persuaded for the right money. It made Zar's stomach burn. "Gorch has your money." Or had. This could get dirty really quick.

Mr. Price shooed the notion away. "I don't want to speak to the lazy one, but the active one."

Zar laughed. At least someone noticed what he did. He had nothing against Gorch but his lack of courage. "A man should fight for what he believes for, not hide."

"Then he is not a man, my friend."

Zar turned. "You want something, what?"

"I want to get paid." He danced around the question.

"I'll get it. But what else do you want?" Zar knew dealing with thieves and spies was a dangerous game, but the enemy of his enemy was his--

"An ally?" Mr. Price raised a bushy brow.

Zar paced to the other side of Price, so the man had to look into the rising sun. Price was a rare person. Rare to see, and rare to live to tell about it. Something deep in Zar's stomach clenched. He didn't trust the guy. More than once Price had walked out on his so called 'allies'. He looked gangly, defenseless, and weak. But those were the ones you fear the most.

"You will have your pay, but you'll find no ally here."

Price cocked his head, then his playful mask dropped. "Then I'll take my pay upfront."

Zar winced, then recovered. The money that was kept for private enterprise was all they had. Zar cursed.

"Forgive me, but it seems your wasting time." Price said, without as much as a hint of forgiveness . Spys like this guy had uncanny ways of setting people on edge.

Think! "Sorry, but I was on my way to pick up a few treasures." Zar continued with a relaxed tone. Cool and crisp, or at least Zar hoped that was the affect.

Price's demeanor switched back to chillingly happy. "Treasure?"

"Yeah, it will more than cover your price." Zar smiled. Killing two birds with one stone. Get him the money, and learn more about our informant.

"Hmm," Price gazed at Zar, "How could I pass up an offer like that." He flashed his yellow teeth. "Pay me right, and you'll get all you want to know about King Titan and his precious army."

Zar plastered a smile on his face. "Have you ever broken into a treasury before?"

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WeirdWonder