The back of the tavern was the business end, and it took up the majority of the space. Rezkin could see through the single door opposite him that the front area, presumably open to any patrons brave or stupid enough to enter, consisted only of a long bar with a few wobbly stools. This back area, however, held numerous tables around which gamblers, drinkers, and otherwise unsavory characters gathered. While several of the women were like Attica and appeared to be just as rough as the men, others were scantily clad and buried under too much makeup. These women giggled and hooted at the men as they tossed around their coin and called for more drinks.

Rezkin focused on appearing as unimportant and inconspicuous as possible. It must have worked, because the guild members did not acknowledge his existence. Spitwad led Rezkin and Attica to a small office in front of which stood another merc who looked quite similar to and just as bored as Spitwad. He simply leaned against the wall and grunted as Spitwad and the others entered the office. An average-looking man with brown hair, brown eyes, and plain clothes sat behind an ordinary brown desk. To look at him, there was absolutely nothing noteworthy about the man, which Rezkin immediately noted. It was an advantageous look for thief.

“The new denleader, here, wants to see the Master,” Spitwad grunted.

The plain man leaned back and said, “Is that so? I don’t recall assigning a new denleader.” He looked over Attica and remarked, “The Slink Den, I presume?”

“Yes, sir,” Attica said. She tilted her head toward Rezkin and said, “He defeated Thorn in challenge.”

The man’s lips twitched as he looked Rezkin over and said, “Not a difficult feat, I should think. The man was an idiot who shouldn’t have been allowed to wield a butter knife, much less carry around that scrap metal he called a sword. Who are you, then?”

Ignoring the question, Rezkin asked, “Why did you put him in charge if you knew he was incompetent?”

The unassuming man barked a brief laugh when he replied, “Oh, he was competent enough to keep track of the street rats. He was also too stupid to calculate his taxes properly. He was always willing to pay more when we told him he was short. You haven’t answered my question, though. Who are you?”

“I am the man who’s taking over,” stated Rezkin.

“Oh, I can see that, but why do you want to be a denleader?” the man asked. “You don’t look like you’re hurting for money, and I can’t see a man like you hanging around the gutter rats.”

“I do not wish to be a denleader. I am taking over the guild,” the warrior replied.