Chapter 65 The Market Rat
The black market. The novel conveniently left out the fact that it smells like a dumpster fire, a delightful mix of dead rats, sewage, and the musk of people who haven't bathed in weeks.
I pulled my ragged cloak tighter, burying my face.
I was disguised, thick cloak and face mask on, but I still felt itchy.
My perfume was still clinging to my skin, screaming in contrast to the absolute filth reeking everywhere.
At the end of this narrow alley stood a shack with a door hanging by a thread.
Inside was the guy I needed: Danon Teddler, aka "The Rat."
The shiftiest dealer in the business could make a forged land deed look more authentic than the original.
In the original novel, Lysandra meets him in the final episodes to save Didier from being framed.
I kicked that rotting wooden door open. Danon was sitting there, counting piles of gold coins. He looked up, his narrow eyes locking onto mine, sharp as knives.
"Who the hell are you?" his voice was raspy, repulsive. He scanned me from head to toe, then sneered. "Clearly not from around here. The way you walk, the way you hold yourself... way too stiff. You're a noble, aren't you?"
I sat down across from him and pushed my cloak back slightly. "I don't have time for small talk, Mr. Teddler. I know you've got fakes that could practically bring the dead back to life. I need documents to wipe the Varannes and Mercer family records clean."
Danon stared, stunned. Then, he let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Got some guts, don't you? Dressed like a commoner, but asking to cover up noble corruption? How the hell do you know about me?"
"I know a lot of things," I cut him off, fighting the urge to strangle him. "Like the fact that you're just a coward terrified of the royal military."
Danon stood up abruptly, face turning beet red. "You....."
"Shut it." I took a deep breath. I unclipped the Varannes heirloom earrings from my ears. These were worth a fortune, could buy a small house in the city center. I tossed them onto the grime, covered table. Clink! The sound of gold hitting wood rang out clear as day.
"That's your payment. Give me the documents I need. Now."
Danon snatched them up, eyes gleaming. But he was still a pain in the ass. "This... this isn't enough. Documents to cover up noble corruption? That's expensive, Miss! The risk of getting my head chopped off isn't cheap!"
I slammed my hand on the table, veins in my neck throbbing. "Are you out of your mind?! These are real! Do you want me to go broke? Or do you want me to kill you right here?"
We were shouting back and forth. I haggled until my face was bright red, and Danon was still playing hard to get.
He kept mocking my formal tone. "Your speech is way too stiff, Miss. Go learn how to mug someone before you try haggling here. It's painfully obvious you're not used to getting your boots muddy."
I was beyond pissed. Finally, after a long, dramatic shouting match, he agreed.
"Fine, give me one night," Danon said, tucking my earrings into his pocket.
I stormed out, breathing hard. I hated that rat so much. I speed-walked through the alley, desperate to get back to the palace before anyone realized I was gone.
Thump.
At the end of the alley, I saw a tall, sturdy silhouette. Military cloak. Sword on the hip.
Claus.
He was patrolling with his troops. I ducked my head as low as I could, trying to blend in with the pile of trash on the side of the road. My heart was about to burst. Please, don't look this way, please don't...
Claus walked right past me. Then, his steps faltered. He glanced my way, then scanned the rest of the filthy, stench-ridden alley. He took a deep breath.
"Perfume?" he muttered, his voice cold as ice. "In an alley this filthy?"
He didn't look directly at me, but his eyes drilled into the spot where I was standing. He paused, as if deep in thought, then kept walking, like he was just biding his time to catch me.
I held my breath until my chest burned. Please, let him not know...