Have you ever felt betrayed and let down? Ever feel that gold and riches had slipped through your fingers? Do you have hideous scars from the past? Obediah Balfour does. Only the thought of revenge has kept him going all these years. He feels he is close now, so close…
To earn a crust, Obediah finds employment as a mercenary or sometimes even as an assassin. He was very happy to get a new contract that would take him to Clockhaven as that was exactly where he wanted to go.
“This contract will be most straightforward” he thinks to himself. It is from a disgruntled merchant who long ago had lost a rich cargo to that brigand Spinner and his pirate crew. Unable to get to Spinner, who was too well protected, the merchant was satisfying himself killing off any former members of the crew that he could find. Obediah reads the description of his target: “Female, red hair, working as a private detective, Clockhaven, New Babbage. Favourite haunt: Gangplank Tavern”.
Saturday afternoon, and Obediah takes a seat at the bar of the Gangplank slowly drinking a mug of mediocre rum. There is much merriment with the locals at the neighbouring table, orchestrated by Miss Star Macbain the proprietress, as they joke and gossip about the latest shenanigans in Babbage. Finally, Obediah’s patience is rewarded as a young confident red headed lady enters the tavern. With happy shouts of “Sky!” from the locals, she joins them at the table and is soon engaged with their merry making.
Obediah, slyly gets out his knife. Although he has only one good eye, his aim with this weapon
is uncannily accurate. While everyone has their back to him he prepares to throw, but something about the girl Sky makes him hesitate. As a consequence, the knife narrowly shaves her red hair leaving her totally unscathed and embeds itself in the table. A long silence follows as all eyes in the Gangplank look around and settle on Obediah – the one stranger in the place.
Keeping his cool, Obediah pretends nothing has happened. Comments are made, but no-one knows for sure who threw the knife. Sky gives Obediah a most piercing glare with her strong blue eyes but he holds firm. After a few minutes Obediah gets up and casually leaves the Gangplank, seemingly he has got away with it. “Why did I miss, however”, he thinks to himself, “What was it about the red head that made me hesitate so?”. Perplexed, he skulks off into the shadows, the contract can wait for now as he goes back to his thoughts of revenge.
The story continues here:
There seems to be quite a bit of amour in the newly autumnal air lately. Perhaps the poor fellow’s caught a touch of it?
Not yet – but willing to accept any armour in good condition that is surplus to requirements.
Picture evidence now posted
the apes courtship rituals confuse and infuriate me!!!
((Must…resist…obvious…joke…))
(( Shave at the Gangplank? Twoooo biiiiiiiiiiiits! ))