The Company of Thieves

The Winking Widow

The Winking Widow Inn was not really an inn, at least not by the standards of anyone above the docks district. The term was more loosely applied in it's case - there was drink and plenty of room to fall over and sleep it off. Nevertheless, it was bustling with people, mostly full of ale and good cheer. It wasn't a special event or a celebration. It was the way the Winking Widow always crashed, clattered and occasionally thundered during the late hours of the night. From sailors to dockworkers, the lowest of Stoneport society spent their days working hard to earn some coin. Therefore, it was only natural that they should spend their nights in pubs, taverns and inns. Where they made good use of said coin, one drink at a time.

However, on a very particular Wednesday evening, something quite unusual happened in that most usual of places. A gentleman entered the Winking Widow. An honest-to-goodness gentleman, complete with top hat, ruffled collar, kerchief and gilded cane in the newest fashion.

He, disappointingly, rather roughly pushed his way through the crowd, much like an ordinary man would. He was, however, bearing a large, rolled-up parchment whereas other patrons bore drinks. And he apologized as he jostled a number of patrons while wading through the mess of merrymakers - earning himself not a few glares of distrust. He stuck out like a sore thumb.

Finally, after much wading, he reached a table in one of the dark corners of the hall. It was big enough to seat six. It was private enough to conduct shady dealings, too. Thus, it was perfect for what the gentleman had in mind.

He had been seated for mere moments when he was suddenly joined by three other individuals. They all appeared suddenly at his table, almost magically, in his opinion.

The first was a short man. He was about five feet tall, but his arms were the size of tree trunks. He had mutton chops and a receding hairline. His nose was rather large and his ears were keeping pace.

The second also looked to be a gentleman with a top hat and white gloves. He twirled his waxed moustache and smiled. To the common eye, he wore a suit. To the trained eye of the upper society elite, he wore a cheap suit.

The last to join was a beautiful woman in a red dress. She wore a feather boa upon her shoulders. Her face was painted with beautiful colors. Her deep red lips, aforementioned boa and an impossibly long string of white pearls conspired to hide her rather prominent adam's apple.

"Righ'," grunted the short man, "I think we are all 'ere. Shall we begin, then?"

"We are expecting another," said the actual gentleman as he unrolled the parchment on the table. He took two mugs that the table's previous occupant had left and used them as paperweights.

The short man was very insistent, however. "Well we don't 'ave all night. If ye want ter wait 'til tomorrow, it is going ter cost ye another..." he paused to consider the price, " hundred crowns," He looked to the other two who nodded their confirmation.

"He will be here soon. I am not starting without him," the gentleman said, but nervously eyed the door. "Why don't you take the time to introduce yourselves?"

The three each looked to the others to see who would go first. The man with the waxed moustache and cheap suit waved a hand at the woman and suggested, "Why don't we let the lady go first. We are all gentlemen here."

"How flattering. Thank you sir," the lady replied. She blushed before continuing. "My name is Bobby Jones. I am a tier one enchantress from the Stoneport School of Enchantment. I have studied enchanting for the past three years and graduated at the top of my class."

The man with the waxed moustache tried to hide a chuckle.

"You find this funny?" The woman asked, her smile becoming decidedly fixed and frosty.