Beggers, Thieves and Merchants

Jp with mdman and Cindy

Cronk looked around at the poor and the destitute. Certainly there were enough resources in Paris for these people. But the elite in society would scoff at that thought, which is why Cronk was beginning to hold the Lady Elizabeth I’m high esteem.

Cronk scratched his ear, not understanding the French spoken. He figured that the young lady was selling flowers to people just so she could eat. Cronk wished to help her. That wasn’t all the woman was selling. Cronk had seen women wear more clothing in some of the brothels where he and Quinn had often celebrated.

Cronk reached in a small pocket of the belt he wore and pulled out a coin. It wasn’t much. It was the last of the money Quinn had given to him. He smiled at the lady, handing it over to her.

Elizabeth watched Cronk start to hand over money to the woman. "Mr. Cronk a word please." She pulled Cronk to the side. "She wants to know of you want to buy a flower from her or ...well... other services. She's not really looking to sell flowers." While prostitution was legal in France, women that couldn't afford the license to perform such work, tended to pretend to have a different business, so if the police asked they had a cover. Elizabeth had never actually seen this in reality before today, but had been taught to recognize it. "I believe I can pay her for information, instead. It is amiable that you want to contribute but it isn't necessary."

Cronk hadn’t been paid yet, as neither had the team. Elizabeth, unfortunately, wasn't in charge of that, as pay came from headquarters. Elizabeth doubted he really had the money to give to the woman. So, she would help.

Cronk looked at Lady Elizabeth with sadness in his eyes. He looked around at the destitute people round them.

“No Lady Elizabeth,” he sadly stated, “Cronk them.”

It was at that moment Cronk developed an idea. Whatever came his way of any worth, he would share with these people. Cronk didn’t need much, except food and shelter. He could even do without clothing. In fact, at times he preferred it. If Paris elites were not willing to help these people, Cronk would take it upon himself.

“Thank you,” Cronk managed to say, “for help.”

"It is my pleasure to help," Elizabeth meant that. It was pretty much a part of her. Though she didn't really understand why Cronk said no, at first. As she was actually translating what the woman had said, but it didn't matter very much. It then dawned on her that maybe Cronk was saying it she hadn't taken him in, he might have ended up like the people in this place.

Elizabeth walked back to the woman, "Je vous paierai pour des informations." (I will pay you for information.)

"Combien?" (How much?) The woman responded.

The bartered for a bit, because Elizabeth wanted to the woman not to think of it as charity, having a feeling that might be taken the wrong way. Eventually, arriving at an amount that was more that Elizabeth should have been paying the woman for information but she didn't feel a need to lower the amount.

"Connaissez-vous un homme qui s'appelle Sokratis Staniadis?" (Do you know of a man called Sokratis Staniadis?) Elizabeth asked.

"Pourquoi? Essayez-vous de me tromper? Garde l'argent. Je ne dis rien." (Why? Are you trying to trick me? Keep the money. I say nothing.) The woman responded.

"Pas de truc. Garde l'argent." (No trick. Keep the money.), Elizabeth tried to convince the woman but was getting no where. Until she absently brushed a strand of her auburn locks behind her ear, revealing its point.

"Tu n'es pas avec eux. Cet homme - déteste votre espèce. C'est un client parfois. Je ne dirai rien d'autre." (You're not with them. That man - hate your kind. He is a customer sometimes. I will say nothing else.) The woman took the money Elizabeth had just given her, her cart and ran off as if she didn't want to be seen with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth quickly moved her hair back in front of her ears, so they were covered and went back over by Cronk. "Mr. Cronk, I believe the man we are looking for could be dangerous." She didn't add the words, to me, at the end of that.

Something said had put a fright into the woman selling her wares. She didn’t seem to share much with the Lady Elizabeth. Cronk had wished he knew French. He would need to have others translate until he began picking up the language on his own, which may be a while.

Lady Elizabeth might not be able to teach French to Cronk. She was busy heading things up. Perhaps he’d get Frenchie or Sasha to do so. It couldn’t be more difficult than English.

“Cronk more dangerous,” he assured the lady by his side as he ventured a look around.

The continued down the shadowy, dank alley. The street was slightly wet here, even though it hadn't actually rained in several days and Elizabeth was certain she didn't want to know why.

Some kids, boys, what some would call street urchins hung out outside one if the run down buildings. They seemed to be in varying ages. Clothes were pretty much rags, torn, dirty. Their appearance was unkempt.

The smallest one, who couldn't have been more than six, was sort of shoved away from the group. He stopped in front of Elizabeth and Cronk’s path and held out a tin cup. "S'il vous plaît, Madame. J'ai faim. Je n'ai rien à manger. S'il vous plaît aider." (Please, Lady. I am hungry. I have nothing to eat. Please help.)

Elizabeth felt bad for the young boy and the boys on the corner. Who were suddenly gone, disappeared into the shadows it seemed. As suspicious as it was, Elizabeth pulled out some money to give to the boy.

Suddenly, the other boys surrounded Elizabeth and Cronk. One of the boys, probably the leader, looked at Elizabeth, then at Cronk then back at Elizabeth. "Nous ne voulons pas d'ennuis. Vous ne devriez pas être ici, madame." (We don't want no trouble. You shouldn't be here lady. )

Elizabeth was about to ask why when she felt a tug at her small leather coin purse. She instinctively, threw magic at whatever was trying to steal from her and knocked it away, stunning it.

Looking up at her with silver eyes, was a member of the Hudufolk. Hudu's were known for a few things, their silver eyes, dark hair, the fact that they were even shorter than gnomes or dwarfs and for being excellent pickpockets. Most of the time they got away, this one hadn't been that lucky. He seemed though unhurt, just stunned.

Cronk turned at the sound of the man hitting the ground. He towered over the small person, sneering down upon him. No one would treat his new boss this way. She had been so kind, demonstrating a heart that cared for others, not just Cronk, but also those who couldn’t repay her kindness.

Cronk knelt down, putting a massive hand on each shoulder, lifting him up to his eyes. The hands upon the shoulders were tight as a woodworker’s vises. A growl protruded from his vocal box.

“Why do?” he demanded. “You want dead?”

Cronk wished he had known French. He wasn’t certain what the boys had said. “You treat Lady bad,” he said. “Cronk kill all! You and friends!”

"No, please. Mr. I'm just trying to eat." The hudu spoke, surprisingly, in English with a think Scottish accent.

Elizabeth was stunned when she heard the Hudu's voice. "Thank you, Cronk but please let him go."

Looking at the terrified looks on the boys faces. "At least one of you knows English, because I know you are working with the Hudu, who is it?"

"Me, Miss." A boy who couldn't have been more than 12 stepped forward. His accent was thick but his words were English.

"You were smart enough to learn two languages but not smart enough to know that messing with an Orc is a bad idea?" Elizabeth asked the boy.

"We just really needed money, Miss." The boy with the chestnut mop of hair and brown eyes replied. "Asking, doesn't do no good and he'll hurt us if we don't pay."

Elizabeth caught sight of the Hudu, nodding.

"Who?" Elizabeth asked.

"Mossey. That's what we call him." The boy explained.

"Where can we find Mr. Mossey?" Elizabeth asked.

"Down this alley and two blocks over." The boy said.

Elizabeth handed the boy some money. "This never happened. Split that."

"Mr. Cronk we can let that Hudu and these boys go. I believe we can get a bigger fish." Elizabeth said.