Blurb and Preview of My Novella!

“There’s my favorite freelance wild man. Aren’t I the luckiest girl in the world? You’re just the face I was hoping to see today!”

The chipper greeting almost had Alnyx turn and walk right back out the door he had barely made his way all the way through. The way his nearly empty coin purse hit his thigh convinced him otherwise.

“Yes, hello to you too Fish. Do you want a little snack?”

His traitor of a companion practically pushed his legs out from under him to get inside when their name and “snack” were said close enough together. The white and gray hound sat in front of the high counter, looking over its shoulder to Alnyx. He had no choice but to go in now.

“You have something for me then?” He grunted, the heavy door swinging closed behind him. “Potential for an unpleasant storm scared my last escort group off.”

“Everyone loves the Divines until late autumn.” The mortal girl behind the desk giggled when the hound stood on its hind legs and put its front paws on the counter, sniffing about for the promised treat. She took a piece of meat from the sandwich she had been eating out from between the bread and handed it over. “Have a fresh one, right off the Guild Master’s pen. Good one too. Tracking work.”

As troublesome as working within the Tasker guild could be, it meant there was always work to be done. The re-organization of what was formerly several Mercenary clans into a proper business model meant an end to meeting in dark allies and price gouging. The cut the guild took for “ensuring future contracts, burials, and general upkeep” might have been more than Alnyx would have liked, but it made sure all the work he did take was legitimate.

“What sort of tracking are we talking, Marigold?” The fact he remembered her name always kept him on the girl’s good side. Which kept him top of mind for high-paying jobs when he rolled in.

“Came in from the Hunstmaster up in the Kingswood. Royal crest and everything. Apparently they’ve got a nasty beast of some kind on their hands that’s scaring away all their game. Took out at least one of their men too.”

Exactly up his alley. Alnyx held his hand out for the paperwork to sign and claim as she lifted it from the top of a pile. The way she paused and left her fingers on it when she set it on the desk had him arching an eyebrow.

“There is….One little thing. A Teeny, tiny, insignificant little change that came down from the top a about a fortnight ago. I tried to send a notice to you, but you’re a hard man to track down you know….”

“A change?” Alnyx wrinkled his nose. “More fees? Whatever. Give me the new amount to sign off on.”

“Not fees, for once.” She laughed. “The Guild Master and council aren’t allowing for solo contract work. After the incident with the Queen of Iris, all Taskers are on the Buddy System until further notice. Especially if they are, and I’m quoting here, without family and of an attractive face.”

“Incident” was one way to put it. The Queen of Iris had hired a Tasker to serve as a private, personal guard when she took a trip to a temple on the far edge of her empire. Nine months later, a blond child was born to the raven-haired King and Queen.

“You’re joking.”

“Wish I was. Concessions had to be made to keep the office over there. Lots of work comes out of the region. All jobs are on a two Tasker minimum until a re-negotiation period. Exceptions are possible for extreme circumstances or a confirmed need of subtlety, with signoff at time of acceptance from at least two thirds of the Council.” She said the last part as if she had been made to memorize it off of a missive.

“And I’m assuming they haven’t upped costs to a two plus to compensate.”

He didn’t ask it as a question, and she didn’t answer it as one. They both knew.

“I don’t suppose Fish can act as my second?”

“Not unless he’d stop you from impregnating a member of a monarchy.”

Alnyx glanced down, as if he was going to ask the beast. He was smacking his maw, having eaten the bit of meat it had been given. The snort and way he flopped on the ground to lick its paws clean was answer enough. Bastard.

“Very well. You have a Resident of a Contractor in town you have in mind, I presume? Expedited for a crown and all, since I might not have been coming in.”

“Gosh you’re bright. And handsome. How issit there isn’t a Missus wild elf yet?”

“Mister.” Alnyx deadpanned with a shrug.

“Ugh! All the good ones are either married or wanna screw one another.” She finally took her fingers off of the contract so he could sign it. “You know what, I DO have the perfect person. He’s staying at the Snakehead Inn right now, and is on loan to us from the Scholars. Goes by Absinthe. The barkeep’ll know him for sure.”

“Absinthe.” Alnyx repeated to himself, his signature on the acceptance line more a scribble than proper letters. “Thank you, Marigold.”

“Sure thing. You come back safe now. Need my favorite eye candy.” She winked and giggled again when Fish stood with a single bark. “And I’ll make sure to have a proper treat for Fishy Fish next time too.”