SIX: Strong-Armed

It was a quiet day at Jefferey's Bail Bonds. Chao Jefferey, the owner, sat at his desk in the middle of his small office and was taking a break sorting through his numerous paperwork by smoking one of his expensive imported Sica cigars. Sica was a nation that had a large dwarven population, and their dwarf-made cigars were considered the best on the planet. The pungent aroma of the strong herbs and tobacco filled the small office space, and caused the other occupant in the room to cough loudly.

"Dammit, boss. Can't you smoke those outside?" Jie complained. He was seated at a smaller desk by the wall to the right of Chao's and was catching most of the cigar smoke coming from his employer.

"Don't be stupid, Jie," Chao said while taking another puff from the thick brown cigar. "You can't smoke these beauties in the open air. Part of the experience is being soaked in the vapor, breathing the surrounding air that's flavored with the fine vintage of true Sican tobacco." He leaned back in his chair and took a deep huff, then blew out the thick cloud of smoke up towards the office's lone ceiling fan. "Man, you can almost taste the dwarven sweat that went into making these."

"Okay, that's pretty disgusting, Boss," Jie muttered.

Their conversation was interrupted by the front door opening, upon which two peculiar figures entered. The one behind pushed the first none too gently into the office, causing him to trip and splay himself onto the hardwood.

"Well, well, well," Chao grinned as he looked down on the thin, balding man currently lying on his floor. "Qiang Willowbrook. So nice to see you again. Why, the last time we saw each other was at your hearing, right before you jumped bail and left me hanging in the wind for two thousand gold."

Qiang quickly got up on his knees and gave Chao a vile glare. "Damn you, Jefferey! I'll pay you what I owe, alright? Just keep that bitch away from me! She's crazy!"

Chao turned his attention to the second figure and smiled. "I'm guessing I have you to thank for bringing our wayward Mr. Willowbrook home to us?"

"No need to thank me," Edelweiss said as she sauntered into the office. "The bounty on this idiot will be thanks enough."

The bail bondsman laughed. "True enough. Jie, go on and pay the lady, would you?"

Jie nodded. He stood up from his desk and entered a side-door into the room where the safe was held.

As his employee counted out the money, Chao continued his conversation. "So, you're the elf freelancer that I've heard so much about lately. Damn, girl. You really keepin busy!"

Edelweiss smiled, glad to know that she was making a name for herself in the city. The more people who knew she was around meant more jobs coming her way. "Well, Drakhaven's a pretty busy place. People like Qiang here never seem to want to give me any rest." She patted the kneeling man's head, which caused him to flinch and whimper.

"Haha, that's true," Chao took a puff from his cigar. "Say, if you ever do get a day off, why don't you let me show you around? I know all the best spots in the city."

"Thank you, but no," Edelweiss said. "My boyfriend might get jealous if I was seen galavanting around town with a strange man." Okay, small lie there. Detective Schmidt wasn't really, technically her boyfriend. Yet. It was only a matter of time, right?

Chao groaned. "Man, the pretty ones are always taken. Well, just let me know if it doesn't work out between you and your beau. I'll treat you right."

Edelweiss laughed. "Oh, I'm sure you would."

Jie entered the office again, this time he was carrying four rolls of coins wrapped in plastic sleeves. "Here you go, miss. Four hundred gold."

The elf took the offered coins and almost dropped them because of how heavy they were. "Thank you."

"Aw, leaving already, doll?" Chao asked.

"Afraid so. I need to get this cash into my bank before it closes," Edelweiss waved goodbye to the men before she left through the front door.

Chao leaned back in his chair and took a puff from his cigar. "Man. That was quite the woman."

Jie shrugged. "I guess."

Willowbrook merely frowned. "Quite the crazy woman, you mean."

*****

After dropping off the four hundred gold coins at the bank, Edelweiss began the short drive home. Although she usually preferred to be paid with bits, she had to admit that being paid in cash felt much more satisfying. There was just something pleasing about actually touching the money you had earned with your bare hands. Getting electronic bits credited to your bank account wasn't nearly as rewarding. It was just too bad that the damned things were so heavy.

The car was nearing her apartment when Duke's voice suddenly sprung up in warning. "The sensors at your place are reading two people waiting outside your door. Be careful."

"Right." Edelweiss prepared herself for a confrontation.

As they approached the building, she was able to spot the two Duke had been talking about. One was a human, average height and build, with graying hair and dressed in a brown suit. The other towered over the man; he was an orc with a powerful build, wearing jeans and a baggy red jacket. Both were just standing near the entrance to her warehouse, seemingly waiting, until they saw her car approaching.

Edelweiss slowed down as she neared and parked the Fairlady in front of the building. She watched carefully as the two figures approached. Taking a deep, calming breath, she exited the vehicle.

"Hello," said the human pleasantly with a smile. He and the orc converged upon her and stopped, not close enough to be in her personal space but definitely close enough to be intimidating.

"My friend and I were told that there's an elf freelancer living at this building," the human continued speaking, his smile never leaving his face. "I'm assuming her to be you."

"That's right," Edelweiss said. She was about to say more when she spotted a familiar looking lapel pin on his jacket. It was of a silver lance in front of a stylized golden shield. She looked over at the orc and saw the same pin on him.

"Thank goodness," the man spoke up again. "We've been waiting quite a while to make your-"

"I'm not interested," Edelweiss interrupted him.

The human paused, wearing a confused look on his face. "... I'm sorry, what?"

Edelweiss frowned and looked the man straight in the eye. "I know you're with the Freelance Guild. I'm not interested in joining."

The orc grunted angrily while his partner continued to stand there, confused. "But, I don't understand. If you know who we are, then you know that the Freelance Guild represents all freelancers worldwide."

"Not all of them," she said. "Some of us choose to remain independent."

"And you holdouts make the rest of us look bad," said the orc, his voice deep and rumbling. "You charge a cheaper rate, take needless risks, and even break the law whenever it pleases you. You take good jobs away from us legitimate freelancers, all to fill your greedy pockets!"

"It's called capitalism, big guy. Look it up." Edelweiss gave him a smirk. "What's the matter, afraid of a little competition?"

The orc looked like he wanted to punch her into the ground. Thankfully, the human spoke up again, allowing his associate time to calm down.

"Look, Ms. Edelweiss was it?" the man said. "We get nowhere by competing with each other. When all freelancers stand as one voice, we are heard. The Guild has quite the political clout. As a member, you get to share all the benefits that the Guild can provide you. We have connections within the government and police force. We can provide you with equipment and tools. We can set you up with great paying jobs, so no more running around town looking for scraps. And all members work in teams, so safety is-"

"All those I can provide for myself, not to mention I get to keep the 35% of my income that the Guild charges for all their 'help.'" Edelweiss sighed. "Look, I already told you that I'm not interested. You've wasted enough of my time, so let me through."

The backhand slap from the orc sent her sprawling.

Her ears were ringing as she lay on the ground, her face feeling like a sledgehammer had just smacked into it. She tried to sit up, but her head ached and she felt dizzy. She felt something warm and wet dribble from her lips.

"Damn it, Huss. That wasn't necessary!" She heard through the ringing.

"Bitch wasn't listening. Now she'll listen."

"What? You think she'll join us now that you've smacked her around?"

Her head was starting to clear, the ringing much softer now.

"She'll be fine, I didn't even hit her that hard. At least now she knows we mean business."

As soon as the ringing stopped and her head cleared, it was replaced with something else: utter rage. How dare these hoodlums lay a hand on her? With a swiftness only her elven heritage could allow, Edelweiss sat up while simultaneously drawing her gun. She flipped Riflebird around in her fingers until she was holding onto the frame and barrel, with the grip of the revolver facing forwards. She then lashed out with all her strength, bringing down the butt of the gun onto the orc's kneecap.

There was a loud crack which was soon accompanied by the orc's pained scream. He doubled over, allowing Edelweiss to swing her makeshift club upwards, smacking the gun against the orc's jaw. The elf then leaped to her feet and began pistol-whipping the orc viciously, smashing the butt of her gun against his head, arms, and face.

"That's enough!" The human shouted. He tried to grab Edelweiss to stop her assault on his friend, but she pulled out of his grasp and bashed him in the face. There was a loud snap as his nose broke, and the man yelped and backed off, blood gushing from his face.

She continued to pummel the orc until his green face was all but purple from bruises, and he lay silent and whimpering at her feet. Edelweiss stepped away, beads of sweat covering her face as she took deep heavy breaths, exhausted from beating up an orc that was four times her size.

"Get out of here!" she shouted at the bleeding and beaten freelancers. She watched the human, still holding a hand to his bleeding nose, help the orc to stand. He draped one of the orc's thick arms over his shoulder then began to lead his limping partner away.

"And if I see you around here again," Edelweiss said in between heaving breaths, "I'll skip the polite conversation… and jump straight to the shooting you part!"

She watched the two limp away until they turned a corner and were gone from sight. With a final deep breath, Edelweiss collapsed onto her knees.

"Are you alright?" Duke asked.

"Ow."

"I'll take that as a yes." Duke appeared in his human figment, standing over Edelweiss's prone form. He leaned down and placed a hand on her shoulder. Although she couldn't feel it, the elf was grateful for the gesture. "You should get inside. Get cleaned up. You cut your lip up pretty bad."

"Okay."

"I'll keep an eye out, in case they come back."

"Okay." Edelweiss groaned as she forced herself up onto her feet. "Thanks, Duke."

"Don't mention it."

The elf reholstered her weapon, a bit sick at all the blood on it.