Robin wrapped himself in an illusion in the corner. It was practically instinct at this point, blending in with his surroundings. Rerebos was shrouded in shadow, hidden somewhere in the rafters above. He was hard to spot at the best of times. The little guy was naturally gifted when it came to the sneaking.

‘He’s going to come here eventually.’

Robin knew that voice! It was Zhatin! He’d wonder what that guy was doing here, but there were all too many options that immediately sprang to mind, like trailing Robin to get his deed back.

Which only made Robin wonder what was so incredibly valuable about this ruin? Property values couldn’t be that good, could they? No. There was something secret here, something valuable.

His instincts said it had to do with the well-disguised trapdoor, the basement level, and…well, he wasn’t sure what else, but he knew what stood out as odd about this place!

The other question was how many others Zhatin had brought with him. The man clearly wasn’t talking to himself, and there were more footsteps than two feet could produce echoing through the place.

Rerebos answered the question for him, sending three sharp pulses of alarm along their empathic bond. Good lad! Smart.

‘Why did you think using the deed to secure a wager was a good idea in the first place?’ The second voice was a cool tenor, light and sharp as a whip.

‘Zhatin doesn’t think.’ Third voice. A woman. Gruff. ‘He just does.’

‘The guy cheated,’ Zhatin complained.

‘Even if he did,’ the woman shot back, ‘why does that mean you get to drag us out here to clean up your mess? Bad enough the place got hit on your watch.’

‘Yes, my father was not pleased with you, Zhatin.’ The tenor spoke again. Polished. Educated. But with a bit of a brittle tone when speaking about his father.

Robin made a mental note. That might be something he could work with. If he had to face all three of these people. Which he would prefer not to do, if he could help it.

However, it didn’t look like they were going anywhere, and even if he did wait them out, he’d have to be looking over his shoulder constantly in fear they might be about to jump him.

How to resolve this?

He could offer to trade them back the deed, but he didn’t really want to give up something so valuable if he could help it.

Not without getting something of equivalent value in exchange, at least. Of course, trade required actual interaction, and actual interaction required the other party or parties not stabbing one in the gut as soon as one revealed oneself.

Or at least it did if you didn’t have access to a handy illusion spell which could speak for you. Robin checked his exits. He wasn’t in the best position, but he had three ways to run if things went south and they somehow figured out where he was hiding.

Good enough.

‘You know, it’s rude to invade someone’s home uninvited, to say nothing of plotting to harm your unsuspecting host,’ Robin had an illusory version of his voice say.

Ah. A flurry of movement as his words startled the group. There they were. He could clearly see Zhatin and the woman. She was tall and broad and blonde and looked like she could bench press three of him. Zhatin looked as rat-like as ever. Sorry. That was an insult to rodents everywhere. Zhatin looked like Zhatin: shifty, unreliable, and mean.

The third figure was just at the edge of Robin’s range of vision, partially obscured by one of the largest support beams in the room. He could see he was tall, possibly in very stylishly cut robes, but couldn’t get a good look at the tenor’s face.

‘It’s rude to use an invisibility spell when no one else in the room is,’ Tenor said.

Zhatin was clearly casting about the room, trying to locate Robin, a nasty-looking hooked dagger in his hand.

‘Less rude than killing someone just because it’s convenient for you to do so,’ Robin pointed out.

‘Who said anything about killing you?’ Tenor shifted, surveying the room, but still remained mostly out of sight.

‘Have you seen the knife in your friend’s hand?’

‘He’s not our friend,’ the woman interjected.

The words didn’t seem to faze Zhatin. The rogue was still hunting Robin. Fortunately, he was headed in exactly the wrong direction.

‘Right. Then who are you to him? In fact, who are you in general, and what do you want?’ Robin put an edge on his illusory voice.

‘He’s not invisible,’ Tenor said.

That startled Robin. He knew there were spells and magic items that could reveal the presence of invisible creatures, but this was his first encounter with one. If it was a spell, it was what? Tier 2? He quickly revised his estimate of the group’s power up a notch.

Zhatin changed the way he was moving through the room. The rogue instead started seeking out the obvious hiding places and ruling them out as Robin’s sanctuary. Both he and the woman were moving more quickly now. Less guarded.

‘Wow. Ignoring your host as well. Rude.’ Robin reviewed his attack spells. What’s the best play here?

‘We represent the rightful owners of this establishment.’ Tenor was visible now. He’d stepped out from behind the pillar as part of his magical sweep of the room for invisible beings.

‘I think you’ll find I won the deed to this place fair and square.’

‘It wasn’t Zhatin’s to wager with!’ the woman snapped.

‘That sounds more like a you problem than a me problem,’ Robin said. ‘It’s not my fault your not-friend is so not-smart.’

‘It will be if you don’t give us back the deed,’ the woman all but growled.

‘How much do you plan to offer me for it?’ Robin shot back. He needed to move this along before Zhatin got too close to his illusory hiding place. There was a chance that the rogue’s sharp eyes might pierce his illusion and then he’d be at a distinct disadvantage. ‘Fair is fair, after all.’

‘How about your life?’ Zhatin called out.

‘How about I skip on over to the local property magnate and sell them this deed for a song?’ Robin threw the threat out to test their reactions.

He was not prepared for the result.

The atmosphere suddenly got very tense. The three of them immediately sprang into action to block or cover the obvious exits from the room, taking out two of Robin’s three avenues of escape. Robin took a deep breath and tried not to let the sound of it betray his location.

‘Wow. That valuable? Thanks for letting me know.’

‘I will kill you,’ Zhatin screamed.

‘Quiet!’ Tenor snapped at him. ‘Do you want to alert the watch? We’re on the intersection of Vinewood and Halston for pity’s sake! They investigate screams here, not ignore them.’

Well, that was something. Not necessarily something Robin wanted to rely on. The Watch, in his experience, was a suspect organisation no matter which world you hailed from, but if these guys were afraid of it…then they really shouldn’t be here.

And possibly they had their fingers in some very shady pies.

‘We can be reasonable,’ Tenor said after a long pause. ‘What do you want for the deed?’

He was handsome, now that Robin was able to get a good look at him. His skin was a light brown or a deep tan and his hair was inky black. He looked like he came from money. Good skin, good posture, soft hands.

‘Depends why you’re all so interested in this place. I mean, I assume it has to do with the basement—’

‘How in the name of all that is unholy did you figure that out so fast?’ Zhatin snarled.

‘Well, unlike you, I take the time to observe my surroundings,’ Robin replied.

‘Who do you work for?’ Tenor asked intently.

‘Right now? Just the White Star Company and the Adventurers’ Guild. Oh, and myself first and foremost, of course.’ Robin decided to push his luck just a touch. ‘Why? Do you have a job offer for me as well? This is a very welcoming city.’

‘That might not be a bad idea,’ the woman called across the room to Tenor. ‘Zhatin clearly can’t handle this place.’

‘Hey!’

‘Quiet!’ Tenor looked thoughtful. ‘How would we know if he’s trustworthy though?’

‘Zhatin isn’t trustworthy and your father entrusted the place to him anyway,’ the woman countered.

‘True.’ Tenor looked thoughtful.

Zhatin looked apoplectic.

‘Look, I own the place fair and square,’ Robin said, ‘but I’m not opposed to a bit of business happening on the side. I’m sure if you agree to, say, not attack me on sight, we can come to some kind of arrangement?’

There was silence. Tenor was clearly considering it. Zhatin was searching furiously for Robin’s hiding place, but didn’t want to leave the doorway in case he snuck past invisibly.

‘He did beat Zhatin once already,’ the woman said.

‘And rumour around the Guild is that he came back with Lantha,’ Tenor said. ‘He’s probably good at what he does, especially if he’s already White Star.’

‘And he can’t be too moralistic,’ the woman added. ‘Like you said, he came in with Lantha, and Zahn signed him immediately. Zahn doesn’t do that unless he’s got a really good reason. And Zahn’s good reasons align with your father’s more often than not.’

Whatever this was, it was fascinating. Robin suddenly realised there was quite a lot to the local politics that he was missing out on.

That could be dangerous, but he hadn’t gotten this far by being overly sensible. He had an exit planned. Might as well roll the dice.

‘Put a collar on your boy Zhatin there, and we can talk,’ Robin said. ‘I don’t see why we can’t all get something nice out of this deal. I’m an easygoing guy. Just ask your boy there. I even let everyone win back their personal items in the game last night.’

‘No way you’re that good!’ Zhatin glared around the room.

‘Good enough to beat you and win this place,’ Robin reminded him, unable to resist needling the humourless rogue.

‘He’s got you there, Zhatin,’ the woman said.

‘Shut up, Jhess,’ the rouge snapped back.

‘Quiet! Both of you.’ Tenor took control of the situation again.

He was definitely in charge, and not just because Daddy was important.

‘Zhatin,’ Tenor said, ‘knives away. Now.’

‘You’re not serious? I knew you were weak, Drev, but this is insane!Just because you don’t like killing? This is why your old man—’

‘Daggers. Down. Now.’

The room could have iced over at the chill in Tenor’s—Drev’s—voice.

Zhatin held out for a few moments, but quickly slammed his blade back into its sheath. His face looked like a thundercloud with IBS.

‘Well?’ Drev called. ‘We’ve collared our attack dog. Are you going to step out?’

Robin checked the angles, once more, mentally reviewed his spells, and let the [Visual Phantasm] shrouding him drop so he could use it to instead conjure the vision of him stepping around one of the pillars across from him.

He wanted everyone looking over there, for as long as he could keep their attention.

No sooner had the illusion appeared than Zhatin whipped his dagger out if its sheath and sent it spinning through the fake Robin’s eye. The blade sunk into the wooden pillar with a schick!

As soon as Zhatin moved, Robin hit him with [Minor Enchanted Slumber]. The rogue slumped to the ground even as Drev and Jhess shouted at him in alarm for breaking the truce.

They stopped when Zhatin slumped to the floor. It was telling that neither one rushed over to help the man.

‘I suggest you tie him up so he can’t interrupt us again,’ Robin said laconically from his actual position. He waved and shot the other two a small smile. ‘Hello.’

They looked him up and down, Jhess’s gaze harder than Drev’s.

‘Shall we get down to it? He won’t stay asleep forever.’ Robin jerked his chin at Zhatin. ‘Unfortunately.’

‘Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?’ Drev asked, his tone curious, rather than demanding. ‘I don’t think you can. No one who knows my father, even by reputation, would dare assault one of his men like that. Even a sorry excuse of one like Zhatin.’

‘Not a clue,’ Robin admitted cheerfully. ‘Why? Who’s your daddy?’

‘Are you kidding?’ The woman, Jhess, shot him an incredulous glance. ‘Drev’s father is Don Cor’Draconis. He owns Noviel’s underworld.’

Fan-bloody-tastic.