An Unlikely Party 10: The Walker

          Walker was wrong about one thing. Guyil was the head of the shadow government, but that did not change the fact that there was more work to be done. They had already bought off some of members of the town, most importantly someone they called ‘The Mayor’. There was no government or mayor in Talama. While Walker spent time going over the papers in hopes of figuring out who this ‘Mayor’ was, the rest of them spent time gathering up the masses of coin that had been strewn across the room. It took Walker some time, but soon enough the story started to come together.

          This ‘Mayor’ was an original citizen of Talama. He knew many things, including the fact that the new human King was interested in expanding his reach. He contacted them first saying that if they helped set up the government in the city, he would in turn give them necessary insights to the city and gladly rule it for them. All mentions of who this ‘Mayor’ was though was unfortunately avoided in the notes, except for one. There was no honor among these thieves, as Guyil had planned to betray the ‘Mayor’.

          Walker grumbled and looked up from the papers, “You guys done looting yet?” he asked them. Everyone but Gorgos had handfuls of gold that they were shoving into their backpacks. Gorgos had spent the free time making a large effigy out of the corpses. They all stopped to look at Walker except for Gorgos.

     
  “Why?” Rede asked him.

          “Because if you guys are, then we’re done here.” Walker told him.

          “Figured out where we need to go next?” Shade asked.

          Walker snorted, “We’re going back to The Ladies’ Door. I need a drink.”

          Gorgos clapped her hands together proudly, “Done.” She said.

          Walker looked over at the grotesque broken and twisted bodies she had mutilated into a large sculpture. He smiled at her, “Absolutely gorgeous, Gorgos.”

          She thudded her fist over her chest and bowed slightly at him, “Thankful.”

          Walker chuckled and stood up, “So, ya’ll following me back?”

          “Gorgos and I will.” Shade responded.

          “Where does the other hallway go?” Callie asked gesturing at the hallway they did not enter in from.

          Walker shrugged, “Don’t know, don’t care. I already know where we need to go after this.”

          “Which is?” Rede asked him.

          “I’ll tell you once I get my creampie.”

          “What?!” Rede shook his head confused.

          Walker laughed, “It’s a bloody good drink at the Ladies’ Door.” He took a breath, ‘Come on, you’ve got more gold than you’re going to want to carry in that backpack.”

          “Nonsense!” Rede grunted as he struggled to pick up his backpack. He finally let it slam back down on the ground and sighed heavily.

          Callie chuckled at him and deftly threw it onto her back, handing him her backpack which was much lighter, “We’ve got enough gold to spend needlessly for months.” She said, “Let’s go.”

Rede got up reluctantly and followed everyone back to the Ladies’ Door.  On their way back Shade walked up next to Walker and whispered quietly, “You didn’t take any gold and spent most of yours on us last night.”

          Walker chuckled lightly, “And?”

          “That makes you a pretty poor criminal.” Shade joked.

          “I uses to say it made me a surprisingly good one.” Walker smirked.

          “What’s your reward for this then?” Shade asked, “Deal was we took what we found.”

          “Oh I know. I don’t need a reward.” He sighed, “Got enough to live on right now, don’t need more.”

          “Alright alright…I’ll stop asking.” Shade relented.

          “Thanks.” Walker smiled back and continued to lead them back. It was nighttime by the time they reached the Ladies’ Door, meaning it was filled to the brim with customers again. “Stick with me.” Walker told them as Shade was about to leave the group.

          Nearing the bar Para spotted them and smiled as they sat down, “Welcome back, Walker!” She said pleasantly, “Here for business or pleasure?”

          Walker smiled warmly at her, “Bit of both actually. Business can come after the drink though.” He pulled out a few coins from his pocket and handed them over, “Same as last night for me, please.”

          “You got it.” She scooped the coins up, “Anyone else?” She looked at the rest of the party. They went down the line and each ordered something.

          “So, where are we going?” Rede asked him as they waited for Para to make their drinks.

          “Need to talk to Pascal first.” Walker said, “His insight should be helpful.”

          “Why aren’t you just telling us what you figured out?” Rede asked him.

          “Agreed.” Callie said, “You’re holding back on us.”

          Walker sighed, “Look guys, just trust me for once in your bloody lives. You don’t see me holding a grudge on all these things.”

          “Walker what is it?” Callie asked him nicely, “It’s not that-“

          “What we’re dealing with is difficult.” Walker interrupted her, “I can guarantee I’m the only one here that’s dealt with the same type of things before. When we get as far as we’ve gotten you need to tread very, very carefully. I know exactly how to do this, you guys don’t. If I fill you in, you might accidentally ruin our chance of closing this job out.” They looked at him in a mixture of annoyance and contempt, “I’m being serious guys. Please just follow my lead.”

          Para returned back with a tray full of drinks before anyone could respond. Handing them out she spoke up, “You guys look so serious tonight. What’s going on?”

          Walker chuckled and took a drink, “Oh you know, job’s just was bit more difficult than we anticipated.”

          “I’m sure you guys got this covered. You are Walker are you not?” She asked him.

          “Damn right I am!” he chuckled, “Think we could have a private conversation with Pascal about it? Never know who’s…watching.”

          Para nodded at him, “Of course, of course! Let me go get him from the back.” Para quickly walked off to find him.

          “If we’re following your lead…what do we need to know?” Callie asked him.

          “Nothing honestly.” Walker took a drink, “I could do this alone, but I’d rather have you guys there.”

          “What?” Rede asked him, “I don’t want to just go in blind when you have the information!”

          “Look, Rede,” Walker sighed, “You don’t like it, then go spend your money on the strippers and whores.”

          Rede grumbled and finished off his ale. Para quickly came back out, “He said he’ll take ya downstairs right now. I’ll lead the way.” They all quickly finished their drinks and followed Para behind the bar to a small staircase leading down. “He’s real glad you guys are working on this. Has him real concerned about the future of Talama.”

          Walker nodded at her, “I’m not surprised. These things can get real serious.”

          Para led them into the cellar that was full of multiple kegs, bottles, food, any supplies a bar would need. There was a large table in the center where Pascal worked on his bookkeeping. He smiled at them and gestured at the other end of the table, “Don’t have any other chairs down here, but please, relax!” Pascal greeted them with a smile.

          Walker looked back as Para turned to leave, “Wait!” He called to her, “Stay for a minute will you?” He asked.

          “…Why?” She asked him. Walker nodded at her with cold, hardened eyes. She sighed and nodded back, “The other ‘tenders can handle the bar for a minute or two.”

Walker smiled at her and then came right up to the end of the table and sighed, “House was a good lead.”

          “I knew it!” Pascal said proudly, “My intuition is still kicking.”

          Walker pulled out a folded up piece of paper and slid it across the table to Pascal, “Glad to hear it.”

          “What’s this?” Pascal asked as he slowly picked it up.

          “You tell me.” Walker responded. Pascal’s expression changed drastically from the happy and cheerful bar owner, to a darkened and displeased individual. Walker sighed as Pascal continued to read, “Why’d you want to take away this cities freedom, hm?” He asked.

          Pascal crumpled the piece of paper up and threw it across the room, “Those treacherous bastards.” He hissed, “I knew I couldn’t trust them.”

          “Says the person who hired us to kill them.” Walker sighed, “What made you think you could hire me to kill your own employees without me figuring it out?”

          “You only learned about me because they were planning to kill me.” Pascal growled at them.

          “YOU?!” Para shouted at him, “You’re part of this shadow government?!”

          “Bah!” Pascal shouted at her, “It’s bound to happen sooner or later in this city. Figured I’d at least get on the good side of things for when it does.”

          “Para,” Walker spoke to her, “You think you could run the Ladies’ Door?”

          “HEY-“

          “Gorgos shut him up for me will you!” Walker shouted over Pascal. Gorgos smiled and quickly placed one of her massive hands over Pascal’s mouth, using her other hand to grasp his wrists so that he couldn’t use any weapons against her.

          “Para,” Walker looked over at her with a smile as he spoke calmly, “Do you think you could run the Ladies’ Door? Become its new owner?”

          Para glanced around fearfully as she swallowed heavily, “I…it would be difficult at first, but…probably.”

          “I was hoping you’d say so. Then take that paper he threw and post it wherever you can. People need to know why Pascal is no longer the owner of this place.”

          She nodded at him and quickly picked it up, “What then?”

          Walker chuckled, “You’re a good lady, get on out of here. We’ll clean it all up for you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          The party had spent one more night in town after dealing with Pascal before setting out again. As per usual, they had gotten up and left early in the morning before anyone else had woke up. The farther they could travel in the day, the better. “So where are we headed?” Callie asked them as they aimlessly walked off.

          “Let’s get this out of the way first.” Walker said coldly, “Should I be walking a different direction? It’s pretty damn obvious that Rede hates my presence.”

          “Woah!” Shade called out, “Ain’t no one leaving this party!”

          “Why not?” Walker asked him, “You’re the only one who actually likes me somewhat, Callie puts up with me, and Gorgos…well to be honest I’m not sure what she thinks.”

          Rede finally spoke up, his voice was fiery, “You know what-“

          Callie slapped him silent, “Shut up, Rede!” He stared at her in shock, “Stop being so fucking selfish about everything! He’s right, you’re so used to having every single luxury handed to you on a silver platter. We get it, you’ve lost some things in the past, we all have!” She snapped at him, “You aren’t the only that’s hurting, you aren’t the only one that wants some revenge, you aren’t the only one! You’re not!” She took a deep breath, “I do love you, but if you can’t even accept Walker’s difference’s…then I’m following him.”

          Everyone, but Gorgos, stared at her in utter shock. Gorgos snorted and clapped to get everyone’s attention. She spoke using many hand gestures as well, “We not same. We...different. We weak.” She paused and nodded her head, “Together strong…like rock. Need all…or will break.”

Callie smiled at her, “Gorgos…I don’t know how, but you just spoke what we all don’t want to believe…but it’s true. You’re right.”

          Rede sighed and groaned, “Look, whatever. Let’s just let this shit blow over and see how it goes.”

          “I’m down with that.” Walker said, “But there is one thing I need.”

          “What?” Rede asked.

          “We need to go to the capitol of the Trade Correlation, Port Phishk.”

          “Sounds fine by me.” Callie said, “What for though?”

          Walker sighed heavily, “An old friend’s been looking for me. I want to know why.”

          “Well then, guess we can go find out.” Callie took a deep breath, “Time to find ourselves a port.” She said before leading the group off.

          Shade once again walked up to Walker and whispered to him, “So, you didn’t take any gold…what’d you get in return for helping out? A night with that bartender lady?”

          Walker laughed, “No…not at all. I just need the good ol’ satisfaction of helping out those who need it.”

          “What do you mean?” She asked him, “We killed the guy who hired us, gave the bar to someone underprepared, and then just left.”

          Walker smirked and smiled to himself not responding.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          Para slowly came down the stairs into the bar she now owned. She sighed and stressfully ran her hands through her hair. Taking a deep breath she was caught off guard by a letter that was placed on the bar. Shrugging she opened it up and a key fell out.

          Para, I apologize, but we always leave a town we’ve stayed in without any notice. I have faith that you will run The Ladies’ Door without any troubles and I will certainly be returning to say hello. Take this key to the cellar. Under the table there will be a secret door. Use this key to unlock it, it should help with anything you need.

          Until next time...

          The Walker.

          She sighed, sad to hear that they had left, but curiosity quickly took over her mind. She grabbed the key and went down into the cellar. She went under the table and looked for a keyhole, but she could not find anything that stood out.  She knew Walker wouldn’t send her on a pointless errand though. Without any obvious options she put the key into a small hole that was naturally formed into the wooden board. To her complete surprise she heard a click and the ground pushed up against her lightly. She pulled the key out and crawled backwards just enough to see the trap door. She pulled it open and her mouth dropped to the floor in shock and tears filled her eyes. The hole opened up into a large room that was filled to the brim with gold.