Demkaih walked into the gaudy inn and was instantly assulted by the smells and strange lighting. It was like a drug-induced dream come to life. He walked slowly through the lounging bodies, making his way to the bar. Once there, he nodded to the barkeep.

"I would like a cool drink of water, and to know if Willy is here tonight." He kept his talk short and simple, speaking in a low voice.

The bartender, a young man with a razor nose, gave a half-glare at the mention of "a cool drink of water," but arched a brow in interest when Demkaih asked for Willy.

"'E's waitin' downstairs wiv yer drink, man. Come 'round the bar an' I'll let'cha in," he jerked his head toward the end of the bar. He walked down the line, making a couple refills along the way, and propped up the end of the counter for the tall mugrobi to pass.

Demkaih complied and walked along the outside of the bar to the end, stepping through the opened end. This was all bizarrely elaborate, but it was very good. Hopefully it still went smoothly after this.

((Haha- time to de-glamorize it all))

The barkeep put down the counter piece and turned to pick something up. He turned back to Demkaih,"'ere, make yerself useful on th'way," and he pushed a sloshing spittoon and bucket of cigarette ash into his hands before turning him toward a doorway that led to the basement. "Jus' dump 'em down th'drains down there- you'll see'em."

Demkaih frowned darkly at the items put into his hands. They were disgusting, and one thing the man prided himself on was his hygine. Walking to the doorway, he carefully made his way down the basement. Sure enough, following sight and scent, he saw the drains and dumped the contents hurriedly, leaving the spittoon and bucket beside them. He looked around briefly, where was this Willy fellow?

"Hello?" He said softly.

There was a pause as his voice echoed. The basement, it seemed, extended further than one would expect. How far, he couldn't say, but it certainly seemed to include some looming halls...

"What are you looking for?" said a deep voice from the shadows. The voice echoed just as Demkaih's had- deep tones carrying far beyond the darkness. "Why have you come?"

Demkaih stared into the darkness, willing his eyes to pick up more light, but it wasnt happeneing. He stood warily.

"I was sent here for a cool drink of water, by a young lad. He said I might be of use to you, I could do some good." He frowned, feeling a bit foolish.

"Many come to us asking for a cool drink of water. But many also leave thirsty," The voice was accompanied by strange scraping noises, like metal on wood, then by liquid filling a vessel. One could only assume it was water in a tin cup,"Were you told anything else?"

Demkaih listened carefully, and thought about his words.

"I was told that it is not something to take lightly, and that their might be tests. I was told to mention that I have taken on a one Don Leom? And Scuro..somebody. The boy seemed to think it would be useful news for you."

There was a looming pause, broken only by the sound of the drainpipes.

"Interesting," the voice finally said. The soft hiss of shifting fabric preceded a blinding light- a heavy cloth had been removed from a bright phosphor lamp. As Demkaih's eyes adjusted to the light he saw a small, elderly man sitting on a crate beside a barrel. The man was pouring a bottle of clear liquid into one of several cups on the table. His quick and clever eyes alight, he slid the cup to the other side of the barrel where another crate stood, "Have a seat. You may call me Hortus."

Demkaih approached the makeshift table and chairs and sat himself stiffly on the crate, nodding his head.

"Hortus, I am Demkaih Alkrim."

"Very nice to meet you," he responded, nodding his head similarly. "Have a drink, then, won't you? I don't like drinking alone..."

He tipped back his cup. Demkaih had no way of knowing if it was water or not in that cup, though his own was filled with clear liquid. "Tell me more, if you would, about your experiences with Dom Leon and Scuro Viverti."

Demkaih picked up the glass and sniffed it deeply. It didn't seem to be noxious, but he didn't drink from it immediately.



The dark man rested his elbows on the barrel, remembering.

"This Dom Leon, he was threatening innocent people outside of the bakery in Vienda. I simply did what any man should do, I stepped in. We exchanged heated words and he left. As for Scuro Viverti, she was harassing a boy and I will not see that happen. I mearly pointed out that she was disrespectful, yet demanding respect. I stood between her and the boy. I do not think I did anything outstanding, but the boy seemed to think so."

"Yes, Thani. He's rather easily impressed, to be honest. I'm sure you'll forgive me for my skepticism. When he said he'd sent another our way I was doubtful," he paused to sip from his cup,"But I can't detect a hint of a lie on you, Alkrim. I know your people aren't into it as a group, but as an individual can if he wishes to, I like speaking face-to-face. You speak honestly."

He broke off to drink deeply and refill his cup from the bottle. Satisfied, he continued,"And I should know. I am one they call when they want the truth."

Demkaih picked up the glass and drank from the clear liquid, it tasted like water. He nodded once to the man.

"I am mugrobi, I do not lie, and I am glad you can see that. Only honesty will bring you to the Great Ocean." He sipped again.

"It is wise to be skeptical, taking things for granted can lead to terrible things." Tapping his fingers on the cup, he looked at the man, waiting.

"You exhibit my case and point. You exhibit total honesty, and yet a good degree of skepticism. You did not drink until you had seen me do so. Tell me: why would you think there had been nothing in your cup before I poured the water in?" Hortus leaned over the table, eyes alight. He was genuinely curious.

As petty as his words seemed, he was gauging Demkaih, and wanted to understand how his mind worked. The problem with the resistance was that it was full of fighters. There weren't nearly enough level-headed thinkers around. This Alkrim fellow seemed to be on the right track...

Demkaih sipped on the drink again, eyeing the man over the brim. He placed in down on the barrel slowly.

"I would think that this resistance is something of great import to a man such as yourself, and in this time of need you would not choose to poison a person coming to aide. It would be futile in your cause. When I raised the cup to my lips, you had already deduced I was not a threat, nor a liar. If it had been made to kill me, you would have stopped me." He spoke, his voice rich and deep, words belaying what ran through his mind.

"Very good, very good..." he leaned back, fiddling absently with his mustache, "and if it hadn't been poison? There are many things that can be put in a cup that won't kill you."

Demkaih inclined his head.

"If it was not intended to kill me, why would we have discussed trust? If it was to obtain the truth, I have nothing to hide. If it was to make me ill, that is a small sacrifice to gain your trust." He looked directly at the man and took up the cup, finishing off the liquid and putting it down again.

"I am here for the cause of the many and the lives of the oppressed. I do what I do for freedom."

"That's a nice gesture. You 'do what you do for freedom.' Very nice that. I like the sound of that. I like the sound of you for that matter. You have the look, too..." He paused.

"You have the air of someone who can calm a storm or quench flames at a word, Alkrim. And I know there are those who like to be up front and center, but then there are also those who prefer- or need- to stay hidden, but still need to get a word out... Yes. I'll put in a good word for you. I'm sure you're just what someone needs. You'll be contacted about it soon, I'm sure..."

Hortus took a pocket watch from the front of his jacket, checked it, and slid it back neatly. "When you wake up, you will follow your instructions. They are the sign of compliance, and a confirmation of location..." He checked his watch again,"That sedative should be kicking in right about... now..."

Demkaih could feel his body responding to the drug almost immediatly. He inclined his head to the man.

"I will do what is asked. Just...leave..it..." He slumped forward onto the makeshift table, the man and the light fading away.

Yes, he should do quite well, Hortus thought.

Demkaih would wake in his bed at home. He would find a blank envelope on his kitchen table, with a small piece of parchment inside reading,

Market.
Purchase loaf of bread and duck.
Pen duck in front yard and leave loaf whole for it.
You have 60 hours to decide.
Burn this.

It was a very odd letter. The task so simple, and yet not something that people would do every day. It was an unobtrusive task, one that would not garner much suspicion, and was something the resistance could verify with a simple walk-by.