19: Treasure Hunters

                                    

                                          
Chapter Nineteen
                          
	Arthur had no idea what possessed Jack to add Hal Rez to their ranks. Well, he had an idea. But that didn't mean he had to agree with it. To Arthur, it was an insane decision, one that he didn't really have a say in. He wanted anything but to lead the offering of the deal. It was strange watching Jack bargain in order to gain himself an ally, since the only thing his friend really had to negotiate about was his curfew hour. 
                          
	Throughout dinner, Arthur had avoided starting any conversation with a certain thief. As he and Jack shook on their agreement and prepared to leave, Arthur couldn't wait to head back home and snuggle up in his blankets with a book. There was still a lot of work to be done. 
                          
	In fact, a few moments before they left for Robin Village, Jack had asked Arthur to translate a Midan word for him. Without Madelyn, it was up to Arthur to master the art of deciphering ancient languages. It was going to be a tough job without an expert helping him anymore, but the shopkeeper had given Arthur enough of a start for him to continue on his own. He wasn't going to back down from his challenge. 
                          
	Arthur's thoughts were interrupted once Jack got out of his seat, the chair squeaking against the floorboards. Cerise quickly followed suit. They were about to leave. 
                          
	Thank the Founders! But as Arthur began to rise, a hand fell on his shoulder. Suddenly, he was looking up at and into the pale eyes of Hal Rez. 
                          
	"Arthur, right? Got a minute?"
                          
	Hoping for assistance, Arthur's gaze found his friends. Jack and Cerise both shared confused glances. Figuring that there was no way out of it, Arthur shrugged Hal's hand off. He lifted himself up to his feet and followed Hal out the cottage and into a small clearing a couple of trees away. 
                          
	"You here to mug me?" Arthur groused as soon as they were hidden from sight by some redwoods and ferns. "I hear you're pretty good at that."
                          
	Hal seemed slightly startled by his quip, his eyes registered it, then decided to ignore it. "Since you're here, I assume you're part of Jack's crew."
                          
	Arthur nodded. "I conduct research and provide intelligence, which only sometimes involves paperwork and intensive reading." 
                          
	Hal seemed amused by his answer. "So you're sulking because you're convinced that I'm stealing your job." The guy who for once had more knowledge than Arthur on a situation? If that doesn't sound like a threat to his value, Arthur couldn't figure out what did. 
                          
	"Sulking? Who said I was sulking?" 
                          
	"You didn't seem pleased about Prince Charming there recruiting me." Hal crossed his tanned arms. "You got a problem with thieves?" 
                          
	"I don't have an opinion." Arthur really hoped that their talk was going to end soon. Everything was making his nerves squirm below his skin. How was it that Rez managed to keep his calm while conversing with a stranger. Possibly it was because Hal was the one looking down on him. Arthur cursed his height. 
                          
	"Why are we talking, anyway?" he muttered under his breath. Everything felt awkward, from the slight twiddling of his fingers to the sweat that had begun sticking to his neck. 
                          
	Hal's reply came faster than Arther had anticipated. "Because I get the feeling you don't like me very much." 
                          
	Arthur surprised himself when the laugh that escaped him was wry and dry. He had caught sight of Hal stopping a thief from approaching him and Jack back in the Coin some weeks ago. He had seemed different then, with an air of charisma and capability. Only to ruin his image that night by going after Jack. What Rez did was eliminate competition, and that was not the type of person Arthur wanted among them. "You pointed a knife at my best friend's throat. Try anything like that again, and you're going to be the one at sword point."