Zhi stared down at him, and in that moment she knew she could take the book and be gone before he awoke. She knew she could escape him. She knew she could hand her reward over to Galleon, complete the contract, and be on her merry way. Lalataru didn't know the city like she knew the city; she doubted he'd find her. Styrmsthal posed more of a problem, but she had confidence in herself.
What she didn't have confidence in was Galleon. She was expendable, had been from the beginning, and the way the man wanted the book -- he was like as not to kill her over it, good job or no. But, if she were to switch sides, she had no guarantee Lalataru wouldn't kill her, either. Oh, sure, he played the nice uncle up to the hilt, the man who took in strays and kept them like pets, but she'd not seem him pressed by betrayal. As far as she knew, he might as well be ruthless once his little games ceased to amuse him, for all his reputation painted him as an upstanding member of the Arcanist's Guild. She didn't trust none of them.
The book was heavy as she took it fully from the lalafel, its weight perhaps a testament to what she was taking on by its removal. Either way, she courted death. Either way was a tricky road. But she knew the tricks Galleon was likely to play, knew his kind. He wallowed in his own filth, and she would see it. But Lalataru? He was too much an enigma. Too much a risk.
She left without making a sound, book securely tucked under her arm.
What she didn't have confidence in was Galleon. She was expendable, had been from the beginning, and the way the man wanted the book -- he was like as not to kill her over it, good job or no. But, if she were to switch sides, she had no guarantee Lalataru wouldn't kill her, either. Oh, sure, he played the nice uncle up to the hilt, the man who took in strays and kept them like pets, but she'd not seem him pressed by betrayal. As far as she knew, he might as well be ruthless once his little games ceased to amuse him, for all his reputation painted him as an upstanding member of the Arcanist's Guild. She didn't trust none of them.
The book was heavy as she took it fully from the lalafel, its weight perhaps a testament to what she was taking on by its removal. Either way, she courted death. Either way was a tricky road. But she knew the tricks Galleon was likely to play, knew his kind. He wallowed in his own filth, and she would see it. But Lalataru? He was too much an enigma. Too much a risk.
She left without making a sound, book securely tucked under her arm.
