Xunbu shuffled to his feet and scurried off bowing the whole way.
Leone then continued the down the stairs. He entered the small tavern's main hall. His eyes fell upon a group of goblins and ogres engaged in boisterous dirking and card games. He was about to stop the merriment when he noticed someone was out of place.
A tall figure dressed in a black suit stood facing the bar. The stranger did not bother to turnaround when the Drake had entered the room. Leone new at once the rogue assassin had come for a visit. The Drake frowned. He loathed Cyclops and preferred not to engage their services. Since their only loyalty was to the size of a buyer’s purse. He would have to speak with the vermin to find out what he wanted. If by chance he was here for a hit, well there would be one less Cyclops in the world.
The Drake entered the room proper. He removed his black spectacles, and his reptilian eyes flashed with fiery anger. Even those in the throes of drunken behavior understood they were no longer welcome. The tavern emptied without a single complaint from once boisterous patrons. Only the Cyclops remained and with cool swagger he turned to face Drake Leone.
“Drake Leone, Draconian Crimson Kith, Mob Boss of Belbognia it is a pleasure to meet you.” Odin said with a gracious bow never taking his eye off his host.
“You seem to know me quite well, but your stench is unfamiliar to me. Please divulge your name and purpose. Before I decide to have my next meal, despite the terrible taste that hit my tongue."
Odin knew better than to antagonize a Drake in his home turf. He was well aware the spell-gun under his jacket would be of little use in fending off a dragon attack. Yet he could not help but smile at Leone’s justified arrogance.
“My name is Odin Seventh-Sight, Descended of Gilos. Not that my heritage would mean anything to one who has lived so long.” He waited for a response from his host and got it in the form of a slight smile of cruelty upon the Drake’s face. Odin also knew the importance of complimenting a Dragon. “I have come to you this night with a proposition, but I need more information to bring my designs to full birth. I know if information is the goal, then one should seek out the wise.”
“Your flattery will only buy my patience for so long one-eye. Get to what you want before I render you to shreds for amusement alone.”
“I seek to repay a wrong done to me, accomplished by the killing of a wizard named...Mendel.” Odin watched the Drake’s face and saw excitement flash over it.
“Murder now there is an activity I can support. A wizard’s demise especially that one, would be most satisfactory to me. How can I help you make this happen?”
“I need a map of his master’s shop. So, I can find the best point of entry.”
“Do I look like a cartographer to you? “
“No but you do have access to certain keepers that would hold such information.”
“The records you seek would only be in one place and guarded it is. My Kith and your kind are not permitted entrance, so how could I help you? “
“You have a hand in the EEPS if I am not mistaken. They could gain access for an official matter of course.”
Drake Leone became intrigued by his guest’s knowledge of his doings. He made a mental note to devour this creature if he got bothersome.
“You are correct. I have an agent that could gain access to Runegund and retrieve the plans you seek.” Leone then smiled grand; his large fangs now present in his grin. “I will secure the plans you need by tomorrow’s moon. Let me be clear one-eye, connect me to this game of yours and you will wish your prey had killed you first. “
“My eye poked out, I will not reveal your help.” Odin bowed once more. “I do not wish to keep you any longer from your profits and domination of lesser creatures.”
Drake Leone waved Odin away with a nonchalant flick of his wrist. The Cyclops needed no further instruction and left the tavern thankful that he was alive.
Drake Leone knew this assassin would come in handy. Yet he had never anticipated such a stroke of luck and strike against his mortal foe, one, Robin Fairborn.