Jared Stavros walked up the stairs quickly, his eyes scanning his surroundings. A shop in the Midlands district with an entrance on the second floor wasn't exactly like braving the Shingles, but it was closer than he'd like. He wouldn't be here if his friend hadn't given the place such a shining recommendation.
The store certainly looked the part. Dimly lit, the shelves were crowded with magical bric-a-brac that Jared couldn't recognize, but knew better than to touch. He instead occupied himself with trying to identify the incense suffusing the store, and examining one of the small paintings on the wall.
The painting was vivid, even fantastical. A knight in armor was confronting a loathsome beast. The creature floated in midair, it's enormous eye matched by its fearsome jaw. The most disturbing thing about it, though, were the tentacles surrounding its face, each topped with another eyeball. Jared was trying to decipher how what purpose such a thing could possibly serve when a voice broke him out of his reverie.
"An interesting selection."
Jared spun around, barely suppressing the urge to cry out. Before him was the man he had come here to see: tall and foreboding, with a knowing look in his eye. A fine tracery of scars started at his right temple and decorated much of the side of his face, contributing to his intimidating appearance. He seemed pleasant enough, for now, but Jared had a feeling he didn't want to be on his bad side.
"What is that thing?"
"Ah," the man said, stepping up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jared and gaze companionably at the picture, "now that is something of a mystery. Some say it is a creature from the time before time, a beast that used to terrorize adventurers before Golarion was even conceived."
"Is that what you think?"
"I think it's more likely a painting by a chemically assisted artist. I do enjoy collecting such things," the man said, before clapping Jared on the shoulder. "But enough chit-chat. You're here about a very important contract negotiation."
Jared gaped at the man for a moment, before the copper piece dropped. "Tavi told you about me."
The man smiled as though Jared had passed some sort of test. "Indeed he did. I can grant you good fortune, but good fortune is little good to a fool."
Jared wasn't quite sure how he felt about that, but held his peace as the man led him to a small table. They sat facing each other, and the man directed Jared to hold out his hands. Taking Jared's hands in his, the man began a low, sonorous chanting.
Moments after he began, the light in the shop dimmed noticeably. Jared shifted slightly in his chair, but held steady. A scuttling sound seemed to come from just outside of his sight. Jared startled back, but found his hands held in an iron grip. He looked up in shock to see that the man's eyes had rolled back into his head, leaving only the whites visible.
"The spirits are here! Focus on nothing but your goal!"
Jared did his best to obey the command, focusing his every thought on the importance of securing the best possible deal for his family. With any luck this could be the contract that moved them up to the Heights.
The man started chanting in the harsh syllables of a language Jared didn't understand. A moment later he stopped, and the light gradually returned to normal. He released Jared's hands with a sigh, then favored him with a friendly smile.
"It is done. The spirits have blessed your endeavor."
Jared didn't know quite what to say to that. He reached for his pouch, but the man held out a hand to stop him.
"No. Once your bargain is struck, pay me what you feel is right."
ooOoo
Aison chuckled to himself as the young noble hurried out of the shop at a pace that was only just short of a run. With any luck the lad would credit him with all of the success his venture enjoyed, even though Aison was providing him with only a little nudge in the right direction. That poor lad was just begging to be conned by somebody; Aison felt downright virtuous to be providing an actual service to go with the dog and pony show.
Of course, selling the whole act was a lot easier now that he had the power to back it up. He felt a twinge of an old sympathetic ache at the thought of the old days with Gaedren. A bump on his shins brought him back to the present, and reminded him of the partner who was the other reason things were better these days.
"Yes, yes, you've outwitted a Korvosan noble."
The scorpion standing by his boot stretched out, seeming to preen under his gaze. That done, it began capering from side to side until he laughed and tossed it a mealworm from the jar he kept by his desk.
"Don't act like you're the first familiar to ever pull that off," Aison said, shaking his head.
After years of scrimping and saving to afford the deposit on a storefront, and then more years of building up a reputation, he finally had an in with the nobility. Minor nobility, but still. If things went well, Aison could really start moving up in the world soon. Of course, moving up would be a lot easier without the anchor of Gaedren Lamm's continued existence dragging him down.
