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legendary in the mercenary world. Jasper was an elite mercenary. So the man had better not try and pretend to be too poor when it came time to put coin on the table.
    “Thank you for meeting me. Semaj says you are the best.”
    Semaj, bar owner and all around shady fellow, was often an intermediate for Jasper. People would come to Semaj with a job, often dangerous, always illegal, and Semaj would find the right person to do it. When it came to murder, espionage, terror, and kidnapping, Jasper was often the right person. When Semaj said he had something big for him, Jasper accepted the interview. He rarely met with clients, but this one insisted. But for the money, Jasper would put up with his eccentricity. “Semaj is correct,” said Jasper.
    “For your sake I hope so. You will need to be for this job.”
    Jasper shrugged his shoulders. He’d heard this song and dance many of times. Every client thought his job was the most important, dangerous, rewarding, blah blah blah. “How about you tell me about the job.”
    “I want to wage war against an individual. I was to hit his business interests. I want his friends murdered and his allies too terrified to support him.  I want him living in a sea of confusion and despair, unsure where the next attack is coming from, or who it will strike. I want his life to be a living hell.”
    “It can be done with the right resources, but these type of jobs bore me. Perhaps you need someone else.” Personal vendettas were easy; they didn’t offer any challenge or enough pay to offer to make it worthwhile. 
    “Oh, I don’t think so. I think this job is sufficiently difficult enough that you would do it just to say it could be done. More importantly, I think you will take this job for personal reasons,” said the potential client in his bad disguise.
    “Who could you possibly have in mind that you think would inspire me to take such a job.”
    “Prince Valentine Astor.”
    Jasper smiled. Well, that was interesting, very interesting. “That is a rather large job. One that would take significant funding if I were to undertake it.”
    “I understand. I am prepared for such costs.” The man slid a coin sack across the table to Jasper. “That should get you started.”
    Jasper ignored the coins. “Besides the cost of such a venture, there is the risk factor for myself to consider. Once I start down this road, there will be no turning back. I will likely have to flee Draisha if I am found out. Even if it is successful, I may have to leave if things don’t play out the way you plan.”
    “There is enough coin in this for you that you will be able to go anywhere you desire and live out your days as a rich man. The reward equals the risk. I have a list of names of people I want to meet a most tragic end. There are also several shipments of goods that can’t make their destinations. They will be part of well-guarded caravans, especially after the prince realizes he is being targeted.”
    “Caravans are easy. There are plenty of bandits and mercenaries that can be bought for cheap. The killings, I will take care of personally. We can’t afford any screw-ups.” He’d seen enough plans destroyed when a would be assassin was caught and interrogated that he wouldn’t risk using any underlings for those important parts of the plan, those he would do himself.
    “So I take it you are interested?”
    Prince Valentine Astor was a man Jasper would gladly kill, getting paid to make the man’s life miserable was a job he couldn’t say no to. “Yes, but how do I know you actually have the coin to make this all happen? One small sack of gold coins isn’t enough for something like this.”
    The man lifted the hood off of his face, revealing his identity.
    Interesting , thought Jasper. Not someone I would’ve expected to hate the prince . But it does make sense.
    “Now you know who I am. You know I have the coin, and you know I am now tied to you. I expect results. Failure will have a