Curselock

Chapter 28: A Mug

After a full night’s rest in warm and soft beds, Leland, Jude, and Glenny made their way through the quiet streets. They ignored the hastened pitter-patter of civilians fleeing as they neared, they ignored the shadows watching them. They were outsiders here, Shoutwell simply didn’t have the need for adventurers compared to Liontrunk.

There were no monsters the city guard couldn’t handle, no nearby ruins to pillage, no dungeons to supply endless alchemical research. The city's import and export economy needed general security, not adventurers.

So, three young men walking down a dark street with the telltale signs of fighting experiences were cause for concern. Leland supposed he was the least intimidating of the three, only his enchanted mage robes signaling to the onlookers that he was not an average citizen. Well, that and his broken arm.

Jude was next in line for least fear provoking. Without his battle axe in hand, he simply looked the part of an armored goon. From the subtle plated armor below his tunic and bone gauntlet on his wrist, Jude was ready for battle.

Glenny was the most eye-catching despite his thinner frame. With slitted animalistic eyes and twin daggers upon his hip, the young rogue produced a certain level of threat as he neared. The fog wasn’t helping either.

Glenny had long been trained to look for an advantage in battle, such as moving with the ebb and flow of obscuring mist. He slowed and increased his pace when necessary, oftentimes blending into the shadows or hiding around streetlights.

Either way, the people of Shoutwell found safety when the group passed. A seventh body had been found, something even the guard couldn’t keep quiet any longer. That very morning, the city’s Mayor had given a statement about the killings. He urged everyone to stay indoors as much as possible and only to venture out for necessities.

It seemed most didn’t heed his words. Shops and workers were moving right along with the day, albeit much more cautiously. Leland could understand it. No one thought they’d be the next victim, not when people had mouths to feed. Work was a priority for some, especially of those with family.

Their first stop, much to the distaste of the patrons present, was a brewery named The River and the Cavern. From the moment they pushed through the door, alcohol and tobacco smoke met their noses. Despite being early morning, the tavern was nearly to capacity with rough and tumble sailors, midnight laborers, and the occasional simple alcoholic.

Entering the establishment brought many eyes to them, most of which froze with fearful expectancy. Some carried on drinking, pulling knives out of their boots and slowly sliding them along the wooden tables. The threat was clear, something Leland sought to rectify right away.

With a little urgency in his step, he headed straight for the barkeep. “Hello fine sir! How about a mug of your finest?”

The man just looked at him.

“Er,” Leland tried again. “I’ve heard that beer is popular here, how about a mug?”

Still, silence.

From behind, Jude facepalmed. He strolled up, slapped a gold coin down on the bar, and said, “Three mugs, whatever is cheapest.”

The barkeep looked at Leland before turning back to Jude. He scoffed, grabbing three wooden mugs and blowing the dust out of them. He then added a little extra spittle to the bottom of one particular mug. A moment later, the mugs were filled with the perfect ratio of drink and foam, thanks to the barman’s Legacy ability.

With the mugs before each of Leland, Jude, and Glenny, the patrons found better things to do. Most still watched the newcomers out of the corner of their eye, but knives were put away while ice melted.

“What? Not going to drink it? Too cheap for ya?” the barkeep asked Leland as he was the only one of the three who hadn’t taken a sip.

Leland eyed the frothing cup, wondering if he’d be able to taste the spit. A sideways look from Jude made him curse and take a sip.

“It’s delightful,” he said back to the man, receiving a curt scoff for his troubles.

They took a few minutes to sit and stew in the bar atmosphere but a nod from Glenny caused Jude to call the barkeep back over. Meanwhile, Glenny activated his heightened senses and listened.

A little loudly, Jude spoke after sliding another gold coin to the barkeep, “We are looking for information about a few… unique items recently smuggled into the city. Can you be of service?”

From behind, the patrons had slowed their own conversations and paid attention.

“Perhaps, what kind of items?”

“Body parts.”

The entire tavern went silent, even the barkeep. Slowly conversation filled back in, everyone suddenly disinterested in the newcomers’ conversation. Glenny’s ears twitched with stain.

“Can’t help you there,” the barkeep said. “Shoutwell’s not famous for monster parts. A bit of a hike, but Liontrunk is known for magical tigers or something.”

“Mana Lion,” Leland muttered, blowing into his foamy mug.

Jude flicked his eyes from his friend back to the drink pourer. Much quieter than before, he spoke, “Not monster parts. Not human parts either, if you were wondering.” He slid three more coins over. “Something that, say, people would collect. That the right group may kill for.”

Abruptly Glenny stood up and walked out of the building. Jude and Leland didn’t acknowledge it, neither did the barkeep.

“I might know something,” the man said. “It's going to cost you more than a few coins, however.”

“Give us a taste and we might be inclined to pay more.”

The barkeep leaned in, whispering, “I’ve heard rumors about odd shipments coming in over the last few months. Seems there’s a hole the Onryos haven’t patched yet.”

“Patched? How do you mean?”

The man held his hands up. Jude sighed, pushing another few coins forward.

“Ah, I remember now. A smuggling hole, a crack in the guards’ dock security leftover from House Icewillow. Went dormant after the House fell, but suddenly it's back up and running.”

Jude slid more coins over, nearly an entire purse. “And where is this hole?”

“Ah, that is the question,” the keep purred, his eyes wide with greed. “Some say it's in plain sight. Others say it’s a day away on horseback.”

“You don’t know.” Leland said frankly.

The man glared at him then turned back to Jude. “I do not, correct. But a smuggler named Poppy might. She’s a bit of a loon if you ask me.”

“Reputation or personality?” Jude asked.

The man smiled, shifting his eyes to the sack of coins.

“Ah. Know where we can find her?”

“I do not.”

“I see.”

“Anything else I can help you gentlemen with?” the keep asked.

Leland rapped his knuckles against the wooden bar. “Do you sell beer by the barrel?”

The man just stared at the mage.

“He’s serious,” Jude added.

With a sigh, the man said, “Yes we do. How many do you want?”

Leland smiled. “Just one, and the most expensive kind you have. Do you deliver?”

The barkeep was not impressed.

Back outside, after Leland handed over about half the number of coins Jude did, they found a semi invisible young man crouching behind a cart. Glenny revealed only his hand, signaling a direction further into the fog.

Jude and Leland turned the opposite direction, and walked away – leaving the rogue to do his thing.

Glenny slowly made his way through the dense fog. He could only see about fifteen paces ahead, but that was all he needed. He, if forced, could potentially follow his mark blind. Those without sensitive ears never would truly know how loud footsteps were. Especially when the person making them was trying to be silent.

It was a bit of a misleader as Glenny’s parent had taught many years ago. Those actively trying to be silent, unless trained or making use of a Legacy ability, always left evidence of their route. So, despite not knowing where his target was, all he had to do was listen.

Slip – pitter-patter.

Glenny dashed forward, making his own footsteps sound as if they were on cotton.

The Huntress hated fog. Such a simple thing could cancel out most of her Legacy abilities. She could hear and smell, sure, but those two things were nothing compared to eagle eyed vision.

Still, tracking the boys had been easy if not a complete cake walk. Frankly she wondered why she even decided to investigate those three any more than she already had. Sure, they had secrets, Leland especially, but was this really worth her time?

They had brought the young Onryo home, their job was done. It would be a while until they found a new quest to take – Shoutwell wasn’t exactly known for catering to adventurers. No, the town was a port, maybe they’d take a job as some harbormaster’s muscle.

Hopefully they don’t, the Huntress thought. Otherwise I’m going to go broke from hiring thugs to attack them.

She internally groaned. Why was she doing this? Because she felt something was off with Leland? Because she trusted her gut and knew something diabolical was going on with the young mage? Or was it the simple fact that she hated to be wrong? She hated to lose and felt stalking three children was a perfectly fine use of her time.

As the hours ticked by, she slowly found herself leaning to the latter. At least, until a silent green streak passed through her vision. The streak circled around her once before falling just before her eyes.

She rolled her eyes at the primitive summons notice, idly thinking of writing another petition to have the Royal Inquisitor messaging system revamped. How many times had the streak blown her position? How many times did her target get suspicious from the light show in the sky?

Luckily, the boys didn’t notice. They were too busy in some dive bar.

The Huntress grabbed the streak, finding it dissolved into a parchment letter. She glossed over it, reading each like a chore.

She paused, then reread the letter.

The Sightless are here? And other Inquisitors won’t be here for a number of weeks. She laughed. Oho, looks like my gut was correct after all.

Watching the rogue named Glenny stalk through the fog covered streets, the Huntress wondered just how the boys were going to get themselves involved.