Page 84 of Elven Prince

“Has he confirmed this?” the orc asked. His massive elbow plunking down onto the tabletop sounded like an axe splitting through wood before he tipped a grossly fat finger at Suit. “Big Boss doesn’t appreciate conjecture and gossip.”

“I’m quite sure. And I have confirmed it through several different channels, though I’m surprised this is the first you’re hearing of it.”

Big boss scrutinized the man, then returned his grasp around the handle of his tankard and shrugged. “News travels slower than ever these days. Others may still be in the dark.”

“Which is exactly why I wanted to meet with you.” Suit delicately clasped his hands on the table’s surface and leaned slightly forward, his expression unchanged. “I’m sure plenty of our associates and competitors in the city haven’t quite figured out what’s what. If that’s the case, this change may present us with a rather unprecedented opportunity. Should we want to get ahead of the game, now that Corriger is gone, I see a potential for enormous gains. For those quick enough to act and form new strategic alliances.”

“Big Boss is curious. How much has he lost recently in the game?”

Suit spread his hands in a mild-mannered shrug. “Not as much as some. More than I like.”

The orc grunted, spray of spittle bursting between his lips. “Big Boss sent two messengers to Corriger’s vault to remind him of another…partnership. They never came back.”

“Unfortunate for you. I have a hunch someone’s taken great pains to keep news of Corriger’s death from spreading. As I understand it, though, his private army is falling apart from the inside without their leader. I think you and I can find several ways to help each other.”

Big Boss took another long, crude drink from his tankard, then eyed Suit sideways. “What does he know about it?”

“I did say I’ve had my own share of obstacles, Big Boss. Lower-level handlers disappearing without probable cause and no evidence as to who is responsible for it. So I stepped things up a notch. Did some digging. Then, after Eduardo’s shipments were hit, the guy was adamant about the attack having been a Shade endeavor.”

The orc snorted. “Big Boss eats griybreki for breakfast. Sometimes dessert.”

The tiniest smile spread across Suit’s closed lips before he continued. “I thought I’d take matters into my own hands at that point. They shouldn’t have made it out of the amusement park, but somehow, they managed it. That somehow is the biggest threat we face now in the city. I won’t say that team and the necromancer I contracted were invaluable, but I don’t like the idea of a new player in town. Whether or not they had any idea beforehand who they’ve been fucking with.”

The two stared at each other for several long moments, sizing each other up, gauging the interaction, calculating next moves.

“Big boss agrees,” the orc finally grumbled. “What does he suggest?”

“A partnership,” Suit said. “This new unknown player has already eradicated a disturbing number of magical-owned and operated establishments in the city and the greater Chicago area. Impressive work, out of context, but resources are a little thinner than usual, before the power vacuum eventually corrects itself.

“I say we pool our resources, and we might actually stand a chance against this overconfident radical. After that, once they’re out of the picture, we make our move on Corrigan’s task force. They’re bound to be in shambles by now, regardless.”

Big Boss tapped a fat finger against his tankard’s handle, the slow rhythm of it almost counting down the seconds of his own personal assessments. “It would be risky.”

Suit tilted his head. “Isn’t everything these days?”

“It could be surprisingly lucrative.”

Suit spread his arms slightly before sitting back in his chair. “With great risk comes great reward, if the proper measures are taken and the most beneficial arrangements made.”

“Big Boss does not take orders. Big Boss gives them.”

“And I would expect nothing less of you. I understand the necessary level of suspicion inherent in nearly every aspect of our line of work. So, to prove the level of my sincerity to you, I suggest a meeting of our respective organizations. With both you and I in attendance, of course.”

A phlegmy croak of a laugh burst from Big Boss’s lips with another spray of spittle across the table. “He wants to have a fucking picnic.”

Suit’s smile grew. “Not quite. But a meeting together in a public place, with our combined forces in attendance, should help work out any pre-existing…kinks, if you will. You and I are able to sit down for a conversation like this, face to face. But this only works if our men come to understand, on their own relatively simplistic terms, that an alliance is both favorable and possible. All our efforts fall flat if our soldiers fail to refrain from slaughtering each other at first sight.”

Big Boss barked out another startlingly deep, disruptive laugh before slamming his tankard down onto the table. A splash of blue-glowinghinwisloshed over the side. “They always pick the slaughter first, don’t they?”

“Only until we work together to teach them otherwise,” Suit replied. “Though if this interests you, we would need to start making moves sooner rather than later. The chaos of sudden flux does lead to a certain unpredictability of circumstances. You understand.”

“Big Boss is smarter than he might think,” the orc replied with a flickering smirk of his own that snagged around his enormous protruding tusks. “Thursday. Midnight. Polly L Bridge. He and Big Boss bring their minions to play nice, and maybe this strategic alliance works out for everyone.”

“I do hope so,” Suit said.

“One more thing.” Big Boss wagged a finger at his potential new business associate. “That new operation that moved into the old prison. Big Boss has no desire to mix with that old-world piece of shit, no matter how much…flux.”

“Harkennr?” Suit raised his perfectly manicured eyebrows. “You let me handle that. The warlock’s kept to himself so far. His activity interferes very little with my aims, or yours, but once you and I start working together, I imagine even he won’t be a problem. Plus, a hostile takeover of Shade would significantly boost both our prospects, with very little risk.”

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