Surprisingly easy to write. So far.
Even the Newhomers noticed, and they were new to the business. “What’s going on here, Doc?” Jim Moonein asked me, as we stripped our gear down to what we’d need for an extended hike in the brush. “Bigwave, he owe the other stepladders money?”
“What, out here?” I replied, more heartily than I felt. I had wondered the same thing, you see. “If there’s a human bill collector following us, they’d be pretty damn dedicated. Besides, I got paid in advance.”
Jim snorted. “Yeah, so did we. Our House’s got our quest gold already, nice and safe.” He gave a quick look around, mostly I think to see where Bigwave was. When Jim talked again, he kept his voice low and even. “But this ain’t a normal quest, amirite? Stepladders don’t solo like this, and you’re too cheap to spend your own gold. No offense.”
“None taken,” I replied evenly as I pulled out a smoke, offering the pack to Jim. “Snake-skinned, not stepladder, remember? — You’re not wrong, though. Humans love using other people’s money. Between you and me, I figure the guy’s looking for something in particular. As long as he gets it, he won’t give a molt about anything else. If he doesn’t get it?” I shrugged, and took a drag. “He might be inclined to make things get messy.”