Gadib Azul
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Dear Master Azul,
Congratulations on your recent expedition to Kyonin. I understand that your services were beyond admirable. Keep up the fine and profitable work!
Now, to business. Your most recent supply requisition has been extensive and will take some time to procure. Thankfully, your expeditions are becoming more and more lucrative for the pair of us - the coffers are fat! Continue to bring
Also, your time in Absalom will be extended some seven more years. I made another friendly wager with that cur Pavo that my fighting slaves had improved beyond his weak, white-skinned ‘slips,’ but yet again he had hidden some jackal amongst his goats and I wore shame upon my face. You will receive an update of the new terms of your contract, though nothing will be changed beyond the duration. You remain on loan to Pavo to serve his ‘Pathfinders’ until the First of Abadius, 4720, or the return of Aroden, whichever comes first. Abadar’s walls, it bothers me that he saw fit to cram that messianic dogma in your contract. He knows how dead gods irk me.
Your family sends their warmest wishes. Your wife and litter were most distraught when the news of your death came to us, but when I saw the receipt for diamond dust (and such a quantity!), I assured her that your death was not like what she sees in the markets, but much more of a temporary setback. Oh, how did Pavo glower that day! I feel he fears that should your luck run out, he would fail to have anything to hold over my head with his pudgy Chelish arms. So by all means, keep showing that marvelous resilience, but if you were to die a few more times, I could do with seeing some of his smug superiority wiped away.
I have been trying to get the fat bastard to allow you a return visit to us in order to propagate your bloodline, but Pavo remains staunch on his terms of bringing your family to you. I remind him again and again that your children have no role in creating more children, but his stubbornness would vex a shaitan. I will not be sending the entirety of one of my most profitable breeding lines by risky boat trip to Absalom, for fear of those Andoran pirates having a fit of liberation and making me the laughingstock of the halfling bodyguard community. If you should find your way to Sedeq, perhaps we can arrange a conjugal visit for the good of the business, hm?
For now, continue to serve Pavo and his Society as the finest warrior I have produced. Your offspring and wife are safe with me, remaining until such time as I can rejoin you together.
May the gentle sun shine upon your walls and fields, and your coffers ever swell.
Your patron and master,
Xoshak, Merchant of Fine Weres and Halfling Warriors
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A knock on the door caused Gadib to carefully fold the letter and placed it under his bed. “Enter,” he said emotionlessly. A nervous young human peered around the doorframe.
“I was called, Master Azul?”
“Just Gadib, novice. I am no master,” the halfling said. He began to shrug himself into his adventuring gear, a curved sword nearly the size of him strapped across his back. “You’re one of the Scrolls, correct? Valsin said you’re good with mechan-... mech-...” He shook his head. “You unlock things well.”
The novice bobbed his head in agreement.
“Then show me.” Gadib gestured to a small pile of slave collars in varying sizes. “How long for the stack?”
The novice stared a moment. “Sir?”
“How long to free that many slaves? Penned together?,” the halfling asked impatiently.
“Half an hour, maybe. L-longer if the locks are good,” stammered the boy.
The halfling glowered. “The locks will be the finest.” He sat quietly for a minute, massaging his temples with his small, powerful hands. “Your fingers are too large and clumsy,” he abruptly said, breaking the silence. “Teach me. I can do it better. And quickly - I need to shame a certain bearded longshanks in some wizard-world in a few hours.”
“Are you sure you have time for this, sir?,” the novice asked, even while he rolled out a collection of different picks, hooks, and other tools foreign to Gadib’s eyes.
“Plenty,” the halfling said, picking up one of the tools and eying it apprehensively. “Should have done this a long time ago, in fact.” He selected the smallest collar and looked at it. “A long time ago.”