"So you're the rich man paying to visit the Outer City?" Schofield sized Annan up. "Nobles have peculiar tastes..."
Some people's line of work was obvious at a glance, and Schofield was one of them. His badly worn felt hat, face crisscrossed with scars, unruly hair, and pockets all over his clothes might as well have labeled him a street thug.
"Why do you say that?" Annan asked.
"Only someone who's never suffered through the cold would think sitting in a ramshackle shack full of drafts was fun." He had taken Annan for a noble curious about the slums... which wasn't far off.
"Let's get this straight. I'll do my best to protect you, but if we run into trouble I can't handle, we're each on our own."
"Fair enough. Should I avenge you if that happens?"
"Your cousin already paid for that. But if you want to pay me again, I won't object."
"Then forget it."
Schofield clicked his tongue. Apparently, he'd never met such a stingy noble.
"I'd suggest bringing plenty of money. Those people won't care if you're a noble. Pay up and you might get away. No money... and you'll have to trust to luck."
"I brought some."
Annan waved his hand, and Schofield's eyes followed the ruby's arc through the air.
He was about to warn Annan not to show off anything valuable when Annan lowered his hand, hiding the Magic Ring inside the loose sleeve of his Mage Robe.
"Ahem... and her. Don't let anyone in the slums know you're a woman, especially a beautiful one."
Maria pulled up her hood. Her loose Mage Robe hid her figure too.
"Let's go."
Schofield let out a long breath. These two seemed sensible enough. He ought to earn his money easily... right?
He was wrong.
Unlike