Out Of Character.

Douglas was extremely perplexed by the bartender's words. He should head upstairs? What did he mean by that?. He got up and followed him to the other end of the bar.

"I was told the informant will be brought to me!" He said in a whisper, disappointment was written all over him.

"Yes! But your case seems different actually!" He replied whilst wiping the table "You should be glad that you were sent upstairs. It means that someone of a higher class with more experience will be assigned to you!".

Douglas stared at him, everything about this place seemed wrong and dubious. He firmly held his sword. From the corner of his eye, the bartender observed him.

"I will not do that if I were you!" He warned.

Douglas let go of his sword and stared at him, bewildered at his warning.

The bartender sighed and kept the cloth he used to clean the table, staring at him like he was hopeless.

"Ninety percent of everyone here works for the guild, the other ten percent are ordinary men. So if you pulled your sword, you will be asking for a death wish and they will give it to you. I'd advise you, do not be stupid and do as you are told!" He said and continued with his work.

Douglas looked around the tavern, seeing the men and the few women in a whole different light. He could not believe that this amount of people were killers and informants. He exhaled, he had to finish this job as soon as possible.

>>>>Douglas stood in front of the wooden door, hesitating a little to walk in. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and walked in. He was taken aback by the room's interior decor. It looked more like an office which looked odd in the establishment.

At the far end of the room, he noticed the chair had it's back at him. He walked closer as he approached it. She heard the footsteps draw nearer, tapping her nails slightly on the arm, she swiveled around on the chair and faced him.

He drew backwards when he saw a lady sitted on the other side of it. The shock in his eyes was not missed by her.

She scoffed, he was probably one of those men who thought little of women.

She exhaled, inching closer to the table, heading straight to business.

"Let's get this over with shall we?" She said in an irritating tone.

She gestured for him to take a sit, he slowly complied to her request.

Douglas stared at her, giving her a once-over. She looked like she was in her mid-twenties, her hair was pulled back and tied to a pony tail. Her deep brown eyes had seriousness etched all over it. She was pretty but he felt like she was one of those women who didn't have time for men in their lives. Well considering the business she did, it wasn't much of a surprise. It seemed that she wanted to be done with this business as much as he did which made him feel a little lighter.

"Who do you want to get information about?" She asked.

He shook his head a bit, gathering his composure.

"I need information about this man!" He pulled out a sketch of the nobleman and handed it over to her.

She stared at it and smirked a bit. Of course, it would be him. Hearing rumors about him She gathered a little data on him but never really had time to dig more about him. However, handling this job she would get every bit of information she wanted.

"Fine! I will get someone right on it!" She said, placing the sketch on the table.

"Great!" He clapped his hands together, glad that it will finally be over. "How long will it take?".

She thought for a bit, pondering for an accurate answer.

"About a week or two but it usually doesn't last for more than a month!" She replied.

He nodded, pulled out two pouches of coins and placed them on the table.

"That will be enough for everything, won't it?" He asked, getting up.

Using a tiny stick, she opened one of the pouches slightly, she gasped at the glittering amount of gold it held.

As much as she hated it, she had to comply to his wishes.

"Do not accept any money from him!" He ordered.

"Why can't I?" She asked, shocked at the sudden order.

"I can't tell you why!" He replied, dropping the topic.

"Then what shall I tell him, if he asks why I rejected his money?" She inquired with folded arms, infuriated at him.

"I am sure you will think of something!" He replied casually, relaxing on the couch whilst closing his eyes.

She bit her inner cheek in annoyance, this was the first time she had to reject this amount of money. It was going to be exceedingly difficult to do it.

"I am sorry but I cannot accept your gold!" She said slowly, restraining herself from grabbing the pouches and running away with them.

He furrowed his brows at her, baffled at the words she spewed.

"Why can't you?" He questioned.

She sighed, her blood boiled hotter than larva at the words she was about to say "This is your first time being here, so it is free, no money has to be paid!" She said with a forceful smile.

He didn't look convinced at her words, not wanting to pull the situation even further he agreed to let go of it, atleast Lady Rosalind will be pleased that her money was returned to her, the exact amount. He reached out for the pouches, out of reflexes she placed her hands on them, stunning him. They had a bit of a squabble with the pouches, finally she let go of them.

For someone who didn't want the money he offered, she really didn't want to let go of it. He shot her a questioning look, she smiled forcefully at him till her cheeks hurt.

"Alright!" He turned around to leave, feeling ever grateful to be done with his task.

"Wait!" He halted and turned to her.

She stood up and made her way towards him, Douglas eyes were fixed on her as she approached him. She was curvaceous, her clothing hugged her in all the nice places especially her leather pants. She would definitely turn heads in the streets if she walked around in those.

"I have something for you!" He waited patiently as She took out a crystal like object from the bag she carried.

"What is this for?" He inquired, pointing at it.

"For communication!" She said simply "Give this to whoever sent you!".

His eyes flashed with astonishment. Was it so obvious that he was sent by someone?. Here he was thinking that he would pull everything off without raising suspicions.

She noticed the shocked look on his face and found herself smiling "Don't worry I will not ask who!" She assured him, extending the crystal at him.

"We will keep in touch with your master!" She said, he accepted it subconsciously and walked out of the room, his mind was trying to grasp what made him stand out.

* * * * *

"Has he finally gone?" He asked, walking out of the door that connected the rooms together.

She rolled her eyes at him, she could not let go of the fact that she had to reject that huge amount of money.

He ignored her childish act and headed towards the table, the sketch of the nobleman drew his attention, he picked it up and gazed at it. A smile formed in his lips. His theory was right. It was really her.

"What is putting a smile on that annoying face of yours?" She inqured, drawing close to him.

"I will handle this one!" He said, folding the paper and placing it in one of his pockets.

She stared at him bewildered by his action.

"Okay! That's it. First you tell me to send him upstairs which is very absurd and then you tell me not to accept the money he offered and now you want to take over his request?" She asked in a high-pitched tone, staring at him like he had nuts loosed in that head of his.

He chuckled, amused at her outburst.

"You will not understand, if I told you!" He replied and exited the room.

She blinked twice, staring at the closed door. He was acting out of character and that never happens. Something was off with him and she will figure out what.