"I’ll give you the godsdamned broach if you’ll only promise to keep quiet."
Jillian raised a brow. Obviously, she needed to explain a few things to the elf because apparently he wasn't thinking too clearing at the moment. She forgave him though since he was probably too worried about the injured youth dozing in his arms to see the whole picture.
"I could just knock you out and keep you out of trouble, but I’m not going to do that. After all, one of us still has the broach, and I doubt you’ll do anything that might compromise your own interests."
Jillian bit back a laugh. Although the idea of being captured by a man as handsome as Rowan had appeal, she doubted he'd ever be able to catch someone as slippery as her. Plenty of others had tried and failed miserably. For years, Lazareth and his guildmembers had attempted to put an end to the elusive thief who stole things right out from under their noses yet they didn't even have a proper description of her! In fact, most presumed the thorn in their asses to be male and she saw no need to correct that presumption.
As she was about to set Rowan straight on her position in this messy, stolen gem, murder business, Xue spoke up asking about someone calling himself Jeremy. She tried to keep her face expressionless when the elf asked her to stay human while fetching this Jeremy. Her eyes did widen a bit though once he got around to mentioning the word, werewolf. Sweet god of stealth, what sort of people have I gotten myself involved with? Xue certainly didn't seem to possess the nasty demeanor of werecreatures Jillian had encountered in the past.
She tapped her foot impatiently while waiting for Rowan to finish the new conversation he started with Cas once Xue left the building. Rather than answer the horn-headed boy when he asked her where he could obtain some quick food, she turned her eyes to Rowan.
"If you intend to clear your boy of all the charges against him, you'll have to return the brooch when you turn over the man responsible for the crimes. The guards already saw the brooch in Soran's hand and will expect it back, or he'll be arrested for stealing stolen merchandise."
Jillian grinned at the stupidity of that statement even though it happened to be true. "So you see, Rowan...you can't possibly give me the 'godsdamned brooch if I promise to keep quiet' because that plan doesn't work. The thing that will work is you and your group paying me 3000 gold to lead you to the guilty party, and getting you proof that he committed the crimes. That's the deal. Think about it while I accompany the cute, curly haired boy to an inn for food. I'll expect an answer later tonight." And if it turns out to be no, I can lead the guards right to your front door and pick up an easy 1000 gold in reward money.
She got to her feet, adjusted her hat, and beckoned Cas to follow her. "The streets in this section of the city are like a maze, so stay close or you'll end up lost and alone, and easy prey for the vultures who roam the area."
A grin tugged at the corners of Jillian's mouth when Cas muttered something about fearlessly dealing with punks swarming around Bizmar all the time. She never visited that city, but heard quite a lot about it...none of it good. She stopped to have a brief chat with an elderly beggar that greeted her as Huck. Harven wasn't as blind as he professed to be, but his eyesight was poor due to cataracts that developed before he reached 40.
"You and your friend best be careful tonight, Huck," he said. "There be guard patrols scattered about lookin' for a murderer. I hear tell they be after a young blonde boy who bludgeoned 3 people to death with a pitchfork."
The rumors that constantly spread around Annib like a wild fire never ceased to amaze Jillian. "Don't ya be worryin' none about me and my friend, Harven. We's headed to Voltor's place. We's gonna spend the night with his ponies cause ya know how he always forgets to lock them stable doors." She tossed a copper coin into his tin cup then dragged Cas down another dark street.
"Voltor's place?"
Jillian scooped up some dirt and smudged it on Cas' face before replying. "That was just bullshit. If anyone's looking for Huck they'll search there instead of thinking to hunt for him in the abandoned buildings around here." She pointed to a shabby looking inn at the end of the block. "That's Red Beard's Tavern. The place is owned by a pretty tough barbarian and frequented by a bunch of his barbarian friends. If any of them make eye contact with you, lower your head cause that makes 'em think you're afraid of them and only then will they leave you alone. They love to start shit with other races who think they're stronger and braver than they are. The brutes have a soft spot when it comes to poor, street urchins so play the part well and we won't have any problems."
She led him inside the loud brightly lit inn, and waved at a number of barbarians as they made their way to the bar. "How dos it, Red?"
"Things is doin' just fine, squirt," the huge bartender-owner answered. "You looking for a free meal again?"
Jillian rubbed her soot covered nose then shook her head. "Me and a couple a pals is thinking bout starting up a gang. We's havin' a big meeting to discuss just that on the docks in a bit so I needs enough grub for about 8 hungry lads." She patted Cas on the shoulder. "Horn head here's gonna pay cause he found a sack a coins near the old well just south a here."
"Found it, eh?" Red asked with a laugh. He set 2 small mugs of mulled wine down in front of them before making his way through the swinging doors leading into the kitchen.
Once Jillian made sure there wasn't anyone close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation, she tossed an arm around Cas as if he were her best friend. "Talk to me while we wait for the food, kid. Why don't you tell me more about these people you travel with and what brought you all the way from Bizmar to Annib. And by the way, are those cute, little horns on your head real, or part of some kind of strange disguise designed to scare people off by making them think you're a real demon?"
