A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Nila got between them. "They're not! What're you two doing interrupting, anyway? Are you just here to scare my business partners?"

"Business partners?" Judas repeated with a sniff. "I don't like the look of them. You sure you want to be doing business with this lot?"

"Quite sure, thank you!" Nila said, trying and failing to shove him away, before hopelessly turning to Beam. "Can't you get rid of him? He's just scaring everyone."

Beam shrugged. "Judas, I'll come over to see Greeves in a minute."

"Alright. But if you have any bother, ya don't need to dirty your hands with it. Boss' orders – gotta keep our young associate happy," Judas said with a toothy grin as he shoved his way back through the crowd.

Nila sighed again, watching him go. "Uhm… Sorry about that," she said.

The butcher looked as white as a ghost. "My apologies, girl… I didn't realize you were associated with Greeves. I wouldn't have been so rude had I known…"

He sounded genuinely terrified as he said that. A sign of Greeves' ruthless reputation amongst fellow merchants, especially those of lower status, like the butcher.

"I'm not," Nila protested. "I've only met him once. It's him that's associated with Greeves."

Beam didn't deny it, even if he didn't like the title, it was useful. The only reason he'd come over in the first place was to ensure that none of the men that Nila had gone out of her way to work with would take advantage of her. She needed stout allies to support her. And even though he knew it was meddlesome, he figured a little bit of fear would go a long way.

The eyes rested on Beam once again. "My apologies," he said.

"And now everyone's scared of you too…" Nila noted in exasperation. "I'm going to finish up here, Beam. Are you off to see Greeves? I'll wait for you and we can talk afterwards."

"Sure," Beam said with a smile.

As he strolled away, he heard Nila's voice from behind him.

"What're you all standing there like statues for? Is it just because of Greeves? Like I said, I have nothing to do with him. No one's going to hurt you," she said.

"Thanks for that," Beam said as he once more rejoined Judas outside of Greeves' house.

Judas just shrugged. "I saw the little lass doing business, n' I was rooting for her a bit, y'know? And when I saw you go over, I figured ya were going for a bit of intimidation, to make sure she's kept safe. You might not like him, but the boss' name does carry a lot of weight."

"So does yours, apparently," Beam said. "Just what kind of madness have you been up to that everyone is so scared of you?"

"Ay, I woulda thought you knew better than everyone else what it took to be an outcast," Judas said good-naturedly. Beam noted the wariness in his eyes as he spoke though, as though he was deathly afraid of upsetting him.

"Anyway, should we go in?" Beam said, sticking a foot up on the step.

"Ah, I shouted in a minute ago and the boss said he was a bit, y'know, busy?" Judas said awkwardly.

"Busy? He's meeting with someone? Then I'll go in a wait – it should hurry him up," Beam said, opening the door himself and stepping inside.

"Shit – wait a second! Ah. Boss! The kid's here!" Judas ran after him in a panic and hurriedly shouted out to Greeves.

Beam raised an eyebrow at the reaction, but Judas avoided meeting his gaze. As Beam walked through the house, he heard frantic movements coming from Beam's office, as footsteps rushed around to accomplish some sort of task.

Just when Beam was about to grab the door handle, the door flung itself open, almost hitting him in the face, followed by a wave of lavender perfume.

A woman, wearing nothing save for a Greeves' robe that she clutched in front of her like a towel, ran out with a giggle. Her painted red lips curled into a seductive smile as she caught sight of Beam. "Ohhhh… Is this the boy?" She asked Judas, apparently in no hurry, despite the state of her undress.

"C'mon Vivanne leave him be. Yer hardly dressed," Judas said.

"My, but I haven't done anything, have I? Besides, he doesn't seem to mind," she said, pinning Beam in place with another one of her smiles.

Beam turned to Judas, ignoring the woman. "…Can I take this to mean the meeting is over?" He asked.

Judas grimaced awkwardly. "Aye, probably… I'll just go and make sure the boss is dressed." He walked to the door, before turning round and noticing that Vivanne was making no attempt to leave. He tutted. "Vivanne, get going I said. You know you're not meant to be here when the boss is discussing business."

"As grumpy as ever, isn't he?" She said, speaking instead to Beam. "I had better get going. But it was nice meeting you, sweetie. I hope to see you again."

And then she walked away with a feminine strut, the shining black curls of her hair bouncing on her unclothed back as she walked. A moment later, Beam heard the patter of bare feet ascending the wooden stairs.

"You can come in now," Judas told him.

Hesitantly, Beam stepped inside, expecting things to be much more of a mess than they were. Instead, the only thing different was a slightly sweatier Greeves than normal, as he downed a glass of red wine, a satisfied look on his face.

Beam was unable to hide his irritated expression as he sat down. Greeves burst out laughing upon seeing it.

"Seems like no matter how hard I try, things between you and I are always going to be difficult, aren't they boy? You caught me at the worst possible time. Normally – you might not believe it – but I wouldn't be whoring during the day. Such things ruin the mind for business. But there are times when you just got to get it out of yer system, y'know? And that Vivanne is a charmer.

Knows how to get you excited and then settle you down again," Greeves said.