Underhanded Deals

“So, lemme get this straight,” said Akazamzarak, his goblin accent putting a somewhat jarring cadence on the words. “You want me to put a loop through the wards around Dalaran, so that something big for some friend of yours gets teleported somewhere down to the isles, without being noticed by any other magic-user in this city?”

“That’s right,” replied Aranya. Before the he could laugh, scoff, or protest, she asked, “Can you do it?”

A very loud razzing sound blew through the diminutive ex-performer’s pursed lips by way of immediate answer. “HA! Of course I can do it, sweetheart, but you gotta understand,” he explained, gesturing with his open hands. “The Tirisgarde pay me big for this gig they’ve set me up with. I go doin’ this for you and it jeopardizes a good thing I got goin.’“

The Thalassian sorceress had expected as much for his answer. “Tell me, Akazamzarak, what are you paid in?” Aranya asked.

The goblin summoner frowned, not quite following. “Gold, of course,” he replied shortly, as if it should be obvious to even the most brainless of ogres.

“Uh-huh,” said Aranya. “Standard gold.” Her emphasis on the word ‘standard’ was not lost on the goblin, and his eyes narrowed as her clear voice went softer. “But I’m prepared to pay you with something a bit harder for someone in your position to acquire, yet no less valuable in this city.”

So saying, a sightless eye coin appeared between the tips of her slender thumb and forefinger, held before the goblin’s face.

A low whistle came from Akazamzarak, his own gravelly, brassy voice going more hushed as he said, “So the rumors were true, huh? The respectable Arcanist Ver’Sarn has gone and made herself a tycoon down below?” Her ever-so-slight lopsided smirk was answer enough, and his face split into a grin. “Attagirl, arcanist, attagirl,” he chuckled with congratulatory glee under his breath. “How much you offerin’?”

“Five-thousand,” said Aranya.

“Make it ten-thousand,” countered Akazamzarak.

“Five-thousand now, and another five-thousand when it’s done.”

The summoner’s top-hat shifted a little on his green head as his eyebrows moved in a distinctly impressed fashion, “Ooh-hoo, a woman who knows how to bargain! I like that!” He stuck out his hand for her to shake. “Deal.” His hand was accepted and they shook. “But I gotta ask, arcanist: if the other things they say about you are true and you lived here before - Second War, Northrend, yadda yadda - how come you never took that kind of initiative before?”

For a moment, Aranya looked away at nothing, considering, remembering her history with this city. Within the light of these enchanted walls and towers, she had been scholar, mentor, defender, diplomat, and now… “I was focused on other things.”