Even though I had decided that I'd let him see me, and was more angry than I had ever been in my life, I felt a whimper of fear when he questioned me, and I had no idea what to say or how to get out of this. For several, tense seconds we just looked at each other, and in his eyes I could see that he knew that I knew everything. Then he started to show fear, and, it being my only way out, I jumped on it.

"You see, Hadassah and I had this falling out." I began, sarcastically, staring directly into his eyes the whole time. "I thought I'd spend the night here, but wouldn't you know it? I couldn't sleep. I thought I'd grab a bedtime story, but these books of yours are so engrossing, I didn't sleep a wink. You should publish these. They'd be a sensation."

"I'm not in the mood for jokes, Mishkal!"

"Neither am I!" I hissed at him. His eyes grew wide at this. He had never seen me as anything but a complacent, naive boy. He had no idea just how mad I was or what I was capable of, and this frightened him more than anything. Even still, he started to realize that if he didn't do something, he was going to get pushed around by his own puppy. He narrowed his eyes again.

"Who told you about this? Did Hadassah put you up to this? Who?"

"Maybe I just put it together myself."

"Bah! You?! Never! Oh no, don't take me for a fool, Mishkal! You're too wrapped up in contemplating everything under the sun to take the time to suspect me. I'll ask you again. Did Hadassah put you up to this?"

"I told you before, we had a falling out. Over this garbage, I might add. I could see that something was bothering her, but she served you well and kept her mouth shut, so I left. You want to know who's responsible?" I said, almost laughing. "I'll tell you. When I left the apartment, I saw and followed a Keeper to the Circle of Stone and Shadow. The Master there put me in touch with Garrett, who came here to visit you last night." I saw Lord Tahnit grow extremely pale at this. "So we had a nice little chat and he's the one who told me to look here. There you are! There's your culprit. Go ahead; track him down and make him pay."

His face was deathly pale and his eyes were weary after I told him this. He looked here and there around the room as if he wanted to sit down, but then decided that he was going to continue to stand, if only to be on the "same level" as me. We stood there for a few minutes in complete silence, just looking at each other. He then changed his mind and decided to sit down.

"Alright," he said, "you've got me. You know everything I've been up to, how I've used you, all that stuff. So, what do you plan to do about it? Didn't get that far did you?"

I sat back down in the chair behind his desk and said, "I'm not the only one who needs a sudden change of plans."

"So you intend to leave then?"

At this I glared at him. "How dare you even think that I would stay!"

"Ha! Again, what are you going to do? Become an independent? That's a very rough life, Mishkal. Let's see... if you and Hadassah aren't together, then you certainly couldn't go running off with the B'nai..."

"Perhaps I'll leave The City and go start an honest job someplace."

He chuckled at first at this, but slowly settled as he saw the dead straight look in my eyes.

"Oh my... You're serious, aren't you?"

"Very."

He then bubbled again, and broke out into full laughter. "Oh, Mishkal! When are you going to realize that you are going to work for me no matter what? I could keep you so well paid it would even make Ramirez green with envy."

"This isn't about the money."

"Oh, yes of course. It's not about the money." he said, mockingly, "If you are so high and mighty on values, then why don't you run back to your parents. I'm sure they'd love to see you in your new getup. Then again... who knows? Something could happen. They might not be able to."

My eyes narrowed at this.

"Oh, that hit a nerve! Don't forget, your father still works for me. It would be a shame if he got... fired. Oh, don't interrupt by saying 'He can get another job'. Do you think I don't have brains? Who knows? Maybe something could happen to him to where he couldn't work for me. Or anyone else for that matter. Wouldn't that be a pity for your poor family? Don't you have a younger sister? It would be a shame if your father couldn't provide for her. She might even have to go out on the streets..."

At this I jumped out of my chair and approached his. He started to get out of his as well, but I whisked my sword out of its sheath and swung it in front of him; the tip just barely cutting through his night robe and sticking into his chest.

"Funny, there's a lot that can happen to you too." I said. "Sit down, please."

He winced as a trickle of blood started to stain his robe, and slowly sat back down.

"If anything happens to my family, I will come back here and kill you. You can put all the guards you want in front of the door, have yourself surrounded wherever you go, it doesn't matter. Then, who knows? Perhaps Ramirez will put one of his puppets in here and take over everything you've done to try to beat him." Lord Tahnit's eyes flared up at this. "Oh, that hit a nerve!" I said, mockingly. "Now, do you see that I will leave your services no matter what? In fact, let me tell you what will happen, not what could."

I pulled my sword away from him, sheathed it, and walked back over to his desk, grabbing the older of the two diaries.

"I'm going to leave this place, and you, and I'm taking this book with me. If you send any authorities after me, should they catch me, they will find this book on my person."

"That would seal your fate. I'm sure the Hammers would love to read that passage about you killing one of them." Lord Tahnit spat.

"It would seal your fate as well. As a payment for giving me the rest of my life, I will give you the rest of yours. How you care to continue your business is your concern, not mine. Just leave me alone, that's all."

"Payment? Oh my dear boy, I've given you everything! I'd say you owe me quite a bit."

"Owe you?! You stole me from a loving family so you could slowly bring me into your fold and use me for your own ends! What about that bag of gold I brought you last night? Where is it? You said I could keep it, so where is it now?"

He looked around rather sheepishly at this.

"Of course, you planned on giving it back to me in increments as you earned it back from whatever you 'invested' it in. Very typical. I shouldn't have expected anything less. Well, how's this then? You can keep the stinking bag of gold if that's all that matters to you! Consider it payment for all the trouble I've put you through. Then again, you wouldn't have any of this if not for me, right? Whatever mad visionings I had when I got sick, right? Oh no, it's you that owes me. But you can have all of it, I just want my life!" I shouted at him. I could feel my cheeks burning hot and my fingers trembling from the anger which I was unleashing on him.

His face gave the air of defeat, his gaze drifting listlessly across the floor. He seemed almost lifeless. As if it somehow just occurred to him as to what he had become and had stooped to. For a moment, I almost felt sorry for him. Underneath the pleasant lord there was a ruthless, cunning crime boss, and underneath that was a now past middle-aged boy who simply wanted to take his place, destroy those who would take it from him, while at the same time trying to insure better, better, and still even better that he would never know hunger again. This is what was left of him now, what I saw.

"Very well then, go. You're free to leave." he said, almost inaudibly.

I then threw the book into my pack and left the usual, secret way. Dawn was just beginning to come out over The City. I remember thinking about how much had changed in the last twenty-four hours. If I only knew then how much would change in the next! After everything that had happened that day I was exhausted, and headed back to the apartment.

Daylight was almost full by the time I reached the apartment, but the streets were still pretty much abandoned. When I went in, I was taken completely by surprise. The apartment was empty except for the furniture. The courtesy blind was folded up and against the back wall. All of the dishes, pots, food, bedding, all of it was gone. I was too tired to really wonder that much about it. I just resigned that Hadassah had up and left. I wasn't about to walk over to a tavern for a place to sleep, and even if I felt up to it, I doubted that they'd be open at that hour of the morning. So I simply removed my gear, wrapped myself in my cloak, laid down, and went to sleep.

I slept rather well, all things considered. When I woke up, I just laid there in bed for a while, and then I noticed something curious over by the sink. I got up to look closer and found a note tucked just behind the sink, barely visible. I pulled it out and read it.

Mishkal,

I know you didn't get your money. I'll explain why, and everything else to you, later. For now, I felt it best to leave The City. I didn't want to leave this note just lying around, but I only hope that you read it and know that it is not safe to sleep here tonight. I will try to either come back into town or message you within a day or two. Until then, please take care.

Hadassah

Once again, I found myself unsure if I even wanted to be contacted, but in the end I thought that it would be good. Either one of two things would happen. The first, we would officially part ways, and I could wish her a good journey. The second, perhaps we'd find something together, or some other arrangements would be made, and I would go with them. I really didn't know and didn't care either way. What had my immediate attention was that, on this evening, I felt vastly different than I had in months. Garrett had advised me to just get out of the business, go somewhere and leave this all behind me. For the first time since that fateful night when I had delivered that message for Lord Tahnit, I felt completely free. The future was a clean slate in front of me. I looked at the bag of gold I still had. It was rather heavy, and all gold coins. If I lived carefully, frugally, I wouldn't have to work for at least a year, especially if I didn't have to constantly invest in thieving equipment. The thought even occurred to me to sell what I had. That would bring in even more money, especially if I sold the sword. I could probably buy a small house with what that must have cost. As I thought of it though, I really didn't like the idea of selling the sword unless it was absolutely necessary. I wasn't sure what I could run into, and I was a lot more familiar with how to handle that blade than any other.

After musing on this, I realized that I was completely famished, and went to the tavern down the street where I had seen Hadassah that fateful time, and ordered myself some food and drink. There is something to be said about the first meal one eats after he realizes that he is free. It is as if every last taste bud suddenly opens to reveal the full flavor of the food, the complete experience of eating is somehow completely renewed. It is truly as if one is eating for the first time. I even remember the walk being rather different, the air had a different smell to it, and the sound of my boots hitting the cobblestone was so bright and clear. My path was simple. I was going to wait a couple of days for word from Hadassah. If I was to be without her, I would ask for an idea of where to go. If I was to go with her, then I'd move over to the B'nai camp and wait there. If I didn't hear from her, then I would simply set out on my own, to wherever the wind would take me.

Chapter Eleven