He Who Dares...

Chapter 1: The Job

Stepping along with his head bowed slightly to the cobbled street ahead, Livewire thought and battled through mixed emotions. Every woman in his life had faded into the horizon like his every breath on the chilly night breeze…

First Shadoweave, then Alena… “Some commitment” he muttered to himself as he paced on. He gave a shallow sigh, pulling the fur-lined jacket tighter around his chest, taking a quick glance about his person before crossing Broadside walk and turning a few doors down into the WooHoo tavern…

“A little late for you isn’t it?” said the Barkeep lifting his head, acknowledging another latenight patron.

Livewire chuckled. Indeed it was a little late in the night for a drink… However, this wasn’t the case…

“Yes ya right… Only I’ll just have a glass of water. I’m supposed to be meeting someone, but I guess they haven’t arrived yet…” replied Livewire taking a glance about the near empty tavern as he approached the bar pulling a seat behind him and finally sitting down…

Whatever it was that they wanted it had better be important. He wasn’t in the mood or state of mind to be dealing with petty requests, and he wasn’t at all happy about leaving the children at this time of night either!

Pulling out his pack of smokes and tossing them onto the counter after he took one out and put it to his lips.

“It’s bad for your health that, mind you, so is keeping people waiting,” said the Barkeep as he placed the tall frosted glass on a mat, grinning as he tilted his head towards the far corner of the room where it wasn’t so well lit…

Livewire gave him a somewhat puzzled expression, then turned his head a little and caught sight of whom he was ‘waiting for’… Coireatie and Abradix were already sat down and were both looking in his direction quite patiently…

Taking his glass of water Livewire stood and moved over to their table taking a seat next to the fire.

“Hello Livewire” said Coireatie; “About time you showed up… we were about to leave”

“Yeah well you don’t have kids to get to sleep do you?” replied Livewire, ready to get up and leave

Coireatie gave a slight grin and nodded to Abradix, whom immediately proceeded to unravel a length of parchment on the table, seeming to be at first glance, a map.

“Now then.” Coireatie began, “I need you, well due to your abilities you were the obvious choice for the task. You see, we seek a Tome.. But not just any Tome.. This is a Tome of immense power, and once studied could be of invaluable use to us… Oh, as a clan of course!” He grinned almost relishing the thought of having it in his possession.

Tilting his head to the side slightly Livewire thought for a moment. “Its just the Tome your after?” he burst into laughter at the puzzlement of the other two. “Well why don’t you get it yourself? Im not a petty burglar who goes around robbing libraries ya know!” He regained composure and took a drink, “What you take me for?”

Coireatie coughed, looked at the table for a moment… then raised his gaze to meet Lives… “Ok lets put this into perspective here. This, Tome… Is one bound in the skin of an ancient dragon slain by the very wizard who owns it to this day. If anyone were caught trying to take it, they would surely be killed and most likely traced back to whoever put him upto it, or anyone he is close to… they would surely be killed also. So I thought the best tactic would be if he never even knew it was gone, let alone who took it… that’s why we need you” He nodded to Livewire, awaiting a reply...

Taking a few moments to think it through Livewire nodded. He took the map, folded it into his jacket and left out the door and along the street… “Damn mages…” he muttered as he made his way back to the house…