MTG Salvation

"It's our affairs, the necromancers', and does not concern mere mortals like you," replied Mok evenly, narrowing his gaze trying to intimidate the inn keeper. "Do you or do you not have a map?"

The innkeeper's facial expression changed to one of anger. "Look I'll give you your food", he said. "But then I want you to get out of this place, as soon as possible."

This conversation was starting to attract the attention of the partying group.

"Rest assured, I will," replied Mok evenly. "I assume the transaction is in agreement then?"

"Yes, just tell me what you need here", the innkeeper replied. "I can provide bread, salted meat, cheese, wine and ale. And how much do you want to stock?"

"A week will suffice. I'll get more from elsewhere if I need more," said Mok thoughtfully. "You are sure you do not know where the Keep is?"

The inkeeper threw in supplies and wrapped them all up in a neat clean cloth. "Here - go now", he said, indicating that he had not heard the question.

Mok suppressed the annoyed feeling within his chest, grabbed cloth bag, placed the appropriate amount of money onto the table, and turned around.

He was wondering what happened to that jovial crowd within the inn just moments ago.

One of the persons at the inn called out, "Bye necro go back to your bones. Time to party here", he added, as he grabbed a new glass of beer.

Mok suppressed the urge to reduce that imbecile to a pile of dust on the floor. His spells were too valuable to waste on a mere drunkard.

"Who among you is Lexis?" asked Mok coldly, settled for a glare at that person instead.

The man who had just spoken took a step forward.

"And what would you want of me?", he asked.

"Come closer to me from the prying eyes and ears," said Mok, beckoned with a finger for Lexis to come nearer. "I have in need of your service. Apparently your name was recommended by the innkeeper."

Lexis lost his daunting composure. In fact he appeared somewhat uneasy as he inched closer to Mok.

When Lexis was near enough, Mok began to speak softly, "Do you know the location of one Grismauld's Keep?"

His tone sharpened menacingly. "And I will tolerate no lies from you if you DO know what's good for you."

"The Keep of Death?! Yes I know where that is, but why are you asking?", he replied sounding downright scared.

"I am very certain that is none of your business," said Mok acerbically. "I merely require a transport there and YOU are the person I have selected to provide said transport."

A slight pause, and Mok lowered his voice to a deep whisper.

"I pay well indeed."

Another slight pause, and the whisper sharpened to an icy knife.

"I trust there won't be any objection from you?"

Lexis hesitated.

"It's a dangerous place." But then his tone changed. "How well can you pay?"

"You'll be safe with me," replied Mok with a straight face.

He sneered slightly. "Enough to put you into retirement for the rest of your life, if I find your service extremely satisfactorily."

"So, when do we leave?", he asked getting interested.

"Now, if at all possible," said Mok, turning to leave the inn. "Make your preparations in haste. I will tolerate no delay."

"Erm ... yes ... ok. I'll prepare my horses and carriage then. Just give me a moment. Wait here, I'll be back soon."

Without waiting any further, Lexis walked out of the inn.

Mok turned around to observe the rest of the interior of the inn while tapping his fingers impatiently on the nearest surface he could find. He was eager to start on his quest to immortality and minor inconveniences like waiting for a carriage seemed so... irritating.

A good uneventful hour passed by, as the inkeeper and all the pundits kept their safe distance from Mok for fear of him wanting their services. Some persons started retreating to their rooms and then suddenly the silence of the ageing night was broken by the sound of the neighing horse and the rolling wheels of a carriage.

Mok started to move out of the inn into the chilly night by pushing open the doors, his eyes sharp for his supposed carriage.

It was dark outside, largely because some dark clouds had covered the sources of nocturnal lights and were promising to deliver a thuderstorm.

A small, old carriage, drawn by two horses stopped a few inches away from Mok. Lexis called out: "Hey hop on board, necro."

Mok said nothing and moved forward to sit within the carriage, with only the rustling of his robes to mark his passing.

He patted reassuringly at the supplies he had bought from the inn just for comfort's sake.