Night Vision
34 Zi'Da, arc 716
Eddrick left the estate compound by the front gate, the guards even going so far as to give nods of acknowledgement. He had his doubts that they genuinely approved of his vocation, those that knew it anyway; but if they were to express disapproval of that which gained prosperity for their employer, they would certainly be granted reprieve from the dishonor of their jobs. Their dedication to propriety fell just short of that extreme. Eddrick smiled to himself at that observation.
He'd had a meeting with Korieji, the patron of one of the middling-rich merchant families in the desert city of Nashaki. It had been the merchant's idea to hold it within his own compound. With the arrival of so many Athartians for the war effort, Eddrick's identity would be a liability to anyone caught associating with him. He was a deserter from the Slave Raiders of that west coast city. It was not truly from cowardice or ideological differences. He had been made the fall guy for a murder of a member of a Qi'oran diplomatic entourage that had visited Athart a number of arcs ago. It had only been the warning from a friend within the Slave Raiders' ranks that had given Eddrick the chance to slip away. He'd been a desert bandit ever since.
Korieji was the merchant that had backed Eddrick against the schemes of Kalid'hi, the son of a rival of Korieji. Kalid'hi had tried to use Eddrick to aid his efforts to advance his own agenda; and had intended to then betray him to advance it even further. But Eddrick had learned not to trust an offer that appeared to be so generous. So he had met with Korieji, and they had worked out a deal of their own. It was a strange irony that the very fact that Korieji and he did not truly trust each other that gave them cause to trust each other.
Now Eddrick made his way to a gemworker of considerable repute among the trade in Nashaki, where fine crafting was only short of divinity. He had a very special project in mind. Korieji had assured him that Elaka Niervane's connections to the Council of Gems would benefit from his 'special possession'. He would gain yet more political backing and protection, provided he was not arrested before the meet could take place.
He'd had a meeting with Korieji, the patron of one of the middling-rich merchant families in the desert city of Nashaki. It had been the merchant's idea to hold it within his own compound. With the arrival of so many Athartians for the war effort, Eddrick's identity would be a liability to anyone caught associating with him. He was a deserter from the Slave Raiders of that west coast city. It was not truly from cowardice or ideological differences. He had been made the fall guy for a murder of a member of a Qi'oran diplomatic entourage that had visited Athart a number of arcs ago. It had only been the warning from a friend within the Slave Raiders' ranks that had given Eddrick the chance to slip away. He'd been a desert bandit ever since.
Korieji was the merchant that had backed Eddrick against the schemes of Kalid'hi, the son of a rival of Korieji. Kalid'hi had tried to use Eddrick to aid his efforts to advance his own agenda; and had intended to then betray him to advance it even further. But Eddrick had learned not to trust an offer that appeared to be so generous. So he had met with Korieji, and they had worked out a deal of their own. It was a strange irony that the very fact that Korieji and he did not truly trust each other that gave them cause to trust each other.
Now Eddrick made his way to a gemworker of considerable repute among the trade in Nashaki, where fine crafting was only short of divinity. He had a very special project in mind. Korieji had assured him that Elaka Niervane's connections to the Council of Gems would benefit from his 'special possession'. He would gain yet more political backing and protection, provided he was not arrested before the meet could take place.