into my
own palace. If we can strike a deal then I think I can get you into
the Citadel.’
‘ So you want to make some money?’ asked Cassiel
coolly.
‘ I provide the service and you pay me my money, plain and
simple,’ replied Falsig, his grin extending from ear to ear.
Cassiel looked to be deep in thought for a few moments. He was
formulating a new plan in the space of ten seconds.
‘ If you get us inside then we’ll give you a third of
everything we take,’ said Cassiel with a firm tone that completely
convinced Falsig. Red’s mouth fell open at Cassiel’s
words.
‘ We have a deal,’ agreed Falsig.
‘ Good, but no more than a third,’ repeated Cassiel.
‘ I accept your offer,’ said Falsig.
**
They sat in
the cabin after Falsig had left. All their eyes were cast downward.
They all knew that Falsig was a real risk to their plan
succeeding.
‘ He’ll be furious when he discovers that we aren’t thieves and
there is nothing in it for him,’ whispered Eben.
‘ He’ll have to be happy with a third of nothing,’ whispered
Cassiel with a slightly humorous smile that was rare for
him.
‘ It’s not honest,’ whispered Stella.
‘ It’s also not dishonest. None of us said that we were
thieves; he made that assumption himself. We didn’t say we were
stealing anything; he assumed that too. I said that he can have a
third of what we take. He will have to be happy with a third of
nothing. A deal is a deal. We need a way into the Citadel of Zyran,
and we can’t tell anyone our plan. The truth is that if our plan
succeeds Falsig will be rewarded in the end; he just might have to
wait until King Ignis takes back his throne.’
‘ You’re cunning like a Zyranian,’ said Red. ‘I think we should
tell him what we’re really up to and see if he wants to help
us.’
‘ Firstly, I was born on the Island of Zyran; that makes me a
Zyranian by birth. Naturally I am well versed in Zyranian lore and
culture. And secondly, we have to make the best of our situation
and that means never letting Falsig know our real plan,’ said
Cassiel firmly.
Red stared at
Cassiel frostily for a few moments. ‘You’re not the leader of our
group, Cassiel.’ Cassiel took a deep breath and looked away.
‘ We don’t have a leader,’ said Eben. ‘We are in this together
and must try to get along. We have to rely on each other to
succeed. All this arguing is not helping us at all.’
A few moments
went by and no one said a word.
‘ Falsig won’t be happy,’ said Red. ‘I already have enough
people who want me dead. King Ignis better give him the reward
after we free him.’
‘ Our plan is risky to say the least. I’m willing to take any
opportunity that will help us succeed,’ said Cassiel.
**
Eben and Red
stood on the deck at the front of the ship looking out at the sea
as the sunset cast flickering orange light across the gentle waves.
Eben felt he had never seen such beauty as the light reflecting on
the water.
Falsig
appeared and walked over from the back of the ship. ‘What a lovely
evening,’ he said, a big sly grin covering his face.
The sun was
slowly sinking beneath the waves ahead. It was truly a beautiful
sight. Eben felt a sense of wonder looking out over the sea at the
shining light. Watching the water brought a sense of peace to his
heart.
‘ I’m wondering, Red. What does a thief need a bag of fireworks
for?’ asked Falsig.
‘ Have you been looking in my bag?’ asked Red
tensely.
‘ Just checking on my investment,’ replied Falsig, his grin
instantly fading into a stony expression. ‘Red, I get the feeling
you’re not telling me everything.’
Red looked
away toward the sunset and waited for a few moments before
replying. ‘The full details of our plan will remain a secret,
Falsig’.
Falsig roughly
grabbed Red’s arm. ‘Listen to me. If your cheating me I’ll make
sure you pay,’ he said fiercely.
Eben quickly
turned and immediately raised himself to his full height
own palace. If we can strike a deal then I think I can get you into
the Citadel.’
‘ So you want to make some money?’ asked Cassiel
coolly.
‘ I provide the service and you pay me my money, plain and
simple,’ replied Falsig, his grin extending from ear to ear.
Cassiel looked to be deep in thought for a few moments. He was
formulating a new plan in the space of ten seconds.
‘ If you get us inside then we’ll give you a third of
everything we take,’ said Cassiel with a firm tone that completely
convinced Falsig. Red’s mouth fell open at Cassiel’s
words.
‘ We have a deal,’ agreed Falsig.
‘ Good, but no more than a third,’ repeated Cassiel.
‘ I accept your offer,’ said Falsig.
**
They sat in
the cabin after Falsig had left. All their eyes were cast downward.
They all knew that Falsig was a real risk to their plan
succeeding.
‘ He’ll be furious when he discovers that we aren’t thieves and
there is nothing in it for him,’ whispered Eben.
‘ He’ll have to be happy with a third of nothing,’ whispered
Cassiel with a slightly humorous smile that was rare for
him.
‘ It’s not honest,’ whispered Stella.
‘ It’s also not dishonest. None of us said that we were
thieves; he made that assumption himself. We didn’t say we were
stealing anything; he assumed that too. I said that he can have a
third of what we take. He will have to be happy with a third of
nothing. A deal is a deal. We need a way into the Citadel of Zyran,
and we can’t tell anyone our plan. The truth is that if our plan
succeeds Falsig will be rewarded in the end; he just might have to
wait until King Ignis takes back his throne.’
‘ You’re cunning like a Zyranian,’ said Red. ‘I think we should
tell him what we’re really up to and see if he wants to help
us.’
‘ Firstly, I was born on the Island of Zyran; that makes me a
Zyranian by birth. Naturally I am well versed in Zyranian lore and
culture. And secondly, we have to make the best of our situation
and that means never letting Falsig know our real plan,’ said
Cassiel firmly.
Red stared at
Cassiel frostily for a few moments. ‘You’re not the leader of our
group, Cassiel.’ Cassiel took a deep breath and looked away.
‘ We don’t have a leader,’ said Eben. ‘We are in this together
and must try to get along. We have to rely on each other to
succeed. All this arguing is not helping us at all.’
A few moments
went by and no one said a word.
‘ Falsig won’t be happy,’ said Red. ‘I already have enough
people who want me dead. King Ignis better give him the reward
after we free him.’
‘ Our plan is risky to say the least. I’m willing to take any
opportunity that will help us succeed,’ said Cassiel.
**
Eben and Red
stood on the deck at the front of the ship looking out at the sea
as the sunset cast flickering orange light across the gentle waves.
Eben felt he had never seen such beauty as the light reflecting on
the water.
Falsig
appeared and walked over from the back of the ship. ‘What a lovely
evening,’ he said, a big sly grin covering his face.
The sun was
slowly sinking beneath the waves ahead. It was truly a beautiful
sight. Eben felt a sense of wonder looking out over the sea at the
shining light. Watching the water brought a sense of peace to his
heart.
‘ I’m wondering, Red. What does a thief need a bag of fireworks
for?’ asked Falsig.
‘ Have you been looking in my bag?’ asked Red
tensely.
‘ Just checking on my investment,’ replied Falsig, his grin
instantly fading into a stony expression. ‘Red, I get the feeling
you’re not telling me everything.’
Red looked
away toward the sunset and waited for a few moments before
replying. ‘The full details of our plan will remain a secret,
Falsig’.
Falsig roughly
grabbed Red’s arm. ‘Listen to me. If your cheating me I’ll make
sure you pay,’ he said fiercely.
Eben quickly
turned and immediately raised himself to his full height
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