Careful what you wish for.

“We can pay you Medicine Man, whatever you wish?”

John Greywolf looked up from his cup of Peppermint tea with a raised eyebrow to the tall man who had spoken. “It’s not about money sir, never has been.”

The two men, one tall and built while the other was short and slim, sat across from the Shaman at the table in the Incense shop wearing the same exact blue suits, like a pair of uneven bookends. They had come in, looked around before spotting John, and then made a quick dart to the table. Whatever had them…perplexed, well it must have been serious the Shaman thought sipping his tea. After a few minutes explaining what it was they wanted of the Shaman it was now up to John to explain it was evident the men were looking to the wrong person to help them.

He wasn’t making much progress.

“Then what is it, transportation to our home world of Kilika?” The short man asked. He seemed to be in charge.

“We can provide that for you Mr. Greywolf.” The tall one added quickly.

John put his cup down and leaned forward in his chair. He noted Kilika and wondered what these two were when they were home. “They are others who could do this for you gentlemen, all you need is ask Twylah and she can give you a name-“

“No sir,” the short one shook his head with a fast jerk as if John was starting to frustrate him, “we need you. We need…your skill set.”

The Shaman’s eyebrow went up another inch. “My skill set?”

“Yes sir, someone who has knowledge of the world we cannot see.” The tall man whispered.

The two men were hiding something but John couldn’t see what. They had come asking for him to ‘track’ a person with his magic, his sight. They would provide personal articles with the person’s energy still fresh, a requirement they had been told about the objects the Shaman would read. They could even provide the living quarters of the person; all John had to do was accompany them back to Kilika. There was just one problem. There was nothing about being a bounty hunter that interested John Greywolf one bit and he had no inclination of helping these men find someone. It wasn’t what he used his magic for, and yet, those last words, a certain ‘skill set’ rang in the medicine man’s mind. He knew he should have packed up his things and left the shop, he had other stuff to attend to, but now his curiosity was stoked and burning.

“Who is this person you wish me to ‘look’ for?” John asked.

“No one special I can assure you Mr. Greywolf. No one wanted for a crime or a heinous act.” The short hume responded.

“Is the person male or female?”

“Does that matter?” The short one asked back.

“It could,” John smiled.

“We can’t tell you that information.” The tall hume said flatly.

The Shaman looked to him no longer smiling. “What race?”

“We can’t tell you that information either I’m afraid.” The short hume sipped his water.

Well that was it John thought. There was no way he was going to involve himself into this without some background information on just why these two wanted to find the other. He was about to tell them their business was done before it could be started when both suddenly rose from their seats. The short one reached into his jacket and pulled out a card with names on it while the tall one spoke.

“Our contact information Mr. Greywolf, a number to use if you wish to speak with us.”

And they were gone, out the door before John could tell them he was not going to help. The Shaman sat at the table staring at the card with the words ‘skill set’ echoing in his head. Just what were these two up-

An explosion, loud and powerful enough to shake the Incense shop cut off John Greywolf’s thoughts. The windows to the shop cracked and splintered from the force of the blast and the few inside took to the floor covering up as dust fell from the newly shaken ceiling. John ran for the door and swung it open hoping to see the two humes, but they were gone. Only the burning hulk of some transport burned in the street. The Shaman looked from it down the walk to his left and there among the crowd he spotted a familiar person.