Blackmail in The Mail

[Shadow Voice]

*Some pre-paid stock for the shop had arrived and was laying on Catherine Barter's Shop's doorstep.*

*Most of the Parcels and bundels looked the normal un-intresting, nothing out of the ordinery or out of place.*

*However there was a letter in amoung them. It seemed not only out of place, but out of place in an ominus fashion. It apperd to have been thrust into the pile, after they had been deliverd. It had been hiden but in such away as to draw attention to it.*

*There was no name or adress on it. The enverlope was dirt stained and grimy. There were some finger marks in the grime and it had a distict wiff of ciggeret smoke about it.*

[ModNote: Shadow Voice was last seen in Drinkers, Linkers and Thinkers.]

[Catherine Barter]

[ModNote: Continued from Making a Delivery.]

*Catherine slowly opened the shop door, placing a small wedge of bark beneath it to hold it open as she picked up the several parcels that had arrived with a sigh. Her skin was slightly paler than normal though nothing else seemed out of place except for that her finger nails had been bitten down. She was dressed in rather practical, warm clothing, a dark cream sheep wool jumper dyed a dark green and simple trousers as well as simple, comfortable shoes. The letter that she had received still had been left unopened and was currently hidden upstairs in one of the boxes she had made and used for keeping sentimental items. She was not sure why she had put it there but seemed as good a place as any until she finally made the decision to open it or not.*

*First she took one lot of parcels in and then the last few, the separate pickings having caused the disdainful looking envelope to fall onto the step. Her eyes landing on it as soon as she came back for the second lot a gently shaking hand reaching down and picking it up the same whiff of smoke that lingered on the one upstairs lingered on this one to hinting that she like the other truly did not want to open such but she knew she would have to in time as she turned around and took the parcels into the shop dropping them onto the counter and starting to open them one by one. Leaving the dirty envelope until last.*

[Shadow Voice]

*Catherine slowly and hesitenlty took her letter opener and slit the everlope open and took out the letter indside. It was wrtien on some high quality paper almost like that found in Monestryies. However like the enverlopes it was tainted by the smell of Cigerett smoke.*

*She began to read it and with in reading the first few lines knew her insticits about the letter had been corect.*



Dear Miss Barter.



I will assume that at the time of reading this you will have already received and read my previous correspondents with you.

That being the local judges findings in regards to one Marcus Wolfgang Brinkatore the 3rd Count of Brinkatore and his alleged activates and links to a criminal enterprise known as The Association. If you haven’t then let me assure you that while it says that the accusations against the Count are by enlarged unproven it dose make for some intresting reading.

However Not as intresting as the first had information and eye witness accounts that I also have in my possession in regards to your night time activates with your lover the same Count Marcus Brinkatore. Testimonies that I’m sure neither you nor your lover would not wish to be made public knowledge.

However I assure you that unless you both comply fully with my demands that is exactly what will happen and not only will they be made public knowledge but they will find their way on to the desk of the local judges who I’m sure would be interested to know what sordid activates 2 respected and public town figures engage in.

Further contact with demands and instructions will follow.



P.S: You may wish to inform your lover of this letter, as I am sure he has a lot more to losse and if you don't it will be made public knowlage what you to get up to..

P.P.S: It might also be an idea the next time you two love birds decide to express your feelings for one anther so passionately you do it in your bedroom or close the curtains before you do so.

[ModNote: Shadow Voice is heard from next in Hunting for supplies.]

[Catherine Barter]

*Catherine's hands began to shake slightly as she read through the letter a couple of times, her knees starting to feel slightly weak. She leans over the counter a moment, resting her suddenly over warm head on the cool counter top. After a few minutes of heavy breathing that slowly becomes steadier and more normal she rights her position and slides the letter back intot he envelope, almost shoving it in then putting the letter into one of the drawers along the counter.*

*She then starts to put the other items that had arrived in there assigned places, various books and items being put where they belonged before they were to be sold on and all she could do for now was long for the day to end.*

[Salamanda]

*Unbknowns to Catherine and just out of her line of sight out of her shop window, another trader was also getting ready for buissness.*

*However this trader was intending to leech off of Catherine's hard erned reputation and sucsess in this town. He started his pitch in his thick mexican accsent.*


"Come one come all. Roll up Senoirs, Senoiretas and the little bambinos."

"Come an trade with The Great Salamanda, the most magnifico trader in all of Wolfenden."


*Lord Fear's trader in Wolfenden Salamanda was back in buissnes and was determined to make a profit at the expence of Miss Catherine Barter.*

[ModNote: Salamanda was last seen in Bueno, Señor Lord Fear.]

[Catherine Barter]

*Catherine stood on top of a small set of wooden steps, her left arm high in the air as she reaches up to slide a heavy, crystal ball onto a shelf out of children's and dangers reach. Her hand losing the grasp almost when she hears the loud almost seeming to boom voice of the stranger outside. The sound far too loud to be at the same reasonable distance as the other stall holders. She quickly puts the fragile crystal up on the shelf before jumping down from the steps onto the ground and walking towards the open door. The few customers in the store winced slightly at the over loud noise and gave her slightly displeased looks.*

*She stepped outside and watched Salamanda a moment her arms folding firmly over her chest and her eyes narrowing to dark slits as she saw how close he was to her shop. Normally such would be dealt with properly and through the right channels but her wild temper won out with the last few days upsetting happenings going on. She turned back into the store and went to the back to the small kitchen and began to boil some water,to give the new stall holder a warm welcome.*

[Salamanda]

*Sal didn't notice Catherien come out or go back in he was to busy with shrilling his wares.*

"Come on Senoirs & Senoiretas. The Great Salamanda he has everything your harts they could a desire."

"Perfumes from the far Orient, spices from my dear ol Mexico, Silk from a pershia."

"Roll up, Roll up and a Trader with The Great Salamanda The Most Magnifico a Trader in all of Wolfenden."

[Catherine Barter]

*She waited until the water was boiling and then poured it into a small cup then placed the cup on a small plate while reaching up for a small jaw of what looks to be grey powder on the topmost shelves in her small kitchen putting one small spoonful off the powder intot he hot water. It turned the water grey a moment before fading, she takes a slice of cut fruit and adds that tot he hot water before going otu side. A small smile spreading over her lips gently as she moves towards Salamanda.*

I see we have a new comer to our little place of selling wares. I though you may find this welcome on this chilling day though could I ask a small favor. Could you please lower that voice of yours from the heavens. I am rather sure the gods are aware of what youare up to without trying to tell them so as well?

[Salamanda]

*Salamanda turns and see's Catherine Barter. Although it is the first time they have met he reconises her from the discription his benefactor Lord Fear had given him.*

"Ahhh Senorita grascias, have i how you say, the plesure of makeing the aquintences of Senorita Catherein Barter??"

*Sal takes the cup from Catherine and places it on his stall for the moment.*

[Catherine Barter]

*Catherine gives a very faint nod of her head as she watches him a moment paying no attention at all to the cup as he puts it down but instead giving the items on his store a look over.*

That you have though you seem to have me at a rather unfair advantage as I am not sure I have met you before. Mister Salamanda though I must ask you a favour.

Could you please tone your voice down a little, or see fit to move your stall closerto the other stalls.

[Salamanda]

*Sal smiled politley at Catherine.*

"Your reputation around this town it how you say proceds you Senorita Barter."

"Though the stories do not do your magnificant buetie the justice Senorita. Senior Barter he is the luck man."

"A Were would be best for my stall then senoritia. As i have a...what you call it....permisons a slip to set up stall in a Wolfenden Market, i was not told there were no a go areas Senorita."

[Catherine Barter]

*Catherine sighed quietly. She knew most of the workers never gave information to the new stall holders about what was to be polite and fair business trade.*

That is unsurprising they very rarely do such it seems. There is not exactly a no go area exactly but there is what is believed and accepted by everyone, that everyone is given their own space and do not crowd the stores or other stalls in a chance to take the advantage of forcing oneself on another business's customers.

Plus also prevents noise being so distasteful on customers in another's shop.

[Salamanda]

*Sal smiles at Catherine, his smile is sinceare but like with his accent so OTT that it becomes suspect.*

"My appolagies senorita, the offence it was not inteded. The Great Salamanda he no want no trouble espechialy with a lovely Lady like a yourself."

*Before she can react Sal takes her hand bends down and kiss it.*

"Grassias for your advice, in the town were I grew up such a mistake it would probaley have ended with the blades been a pulled and Ol Sepiro he get himself another customer and Silvaneto rings the bell again."

[Catherine Barter]

*Catherine nods and smiles ever so faintly, though lets her hand only remain in his for what is as short as politely possible before pulling it back and folding her arms across her stomach. Her feet stomping slightly against the ground as the cool air begins to cool her skin, her feet stomping in effort to warm them up slightly.*

That is not a issue. Now you are aware of the situation I am sure you are able to sort the situation out amicably.

[Salamanda]

*Salamanda smiles again and nods. Though his devious mind is already plotting some new methords of leeching from Catherine.*

"Ahh see see, Senorita we how you say come to the compramise that is satisfactory to you an a to me."

"Mabey if i were to move my stall a bit more over to the left away from a your shop some a what??"

*spies Raven and Elizabeth looking around the stalls. (in Return To Wolfenden)*

"I think one or mabey the both of us we be getting a coustomers soon."

*He also see's Addias and Flaccus dealing with Oliver Scaramounger (in Requip & Resupply) . He nods his head in Oliver's direction and says to Catherine*

"That a Wepons smith he no good you know Senorita. You ever seen a his stock?? I meen what he don't put on a show for the public. It full of the weapons that are no permited by the feberales an a local judges if you catch Salamanda's drift."