Heart of Dorkness

Terror Five - Data

Terror Five - Data

I stare at the temple for a while. I dont know what it is about it thats so captivating; after all, its just some burnt wood and torn down stones.

Maybe its less the state of the temple and the idea behind it?

Im not the cleverest girl around, but Im hardly an idiot. A glance at the buildings around the temple and I can see that none of them are burnt. This wasnt a fire that hit all of the temples here, just this one.

Which means that it might have been done on purpose.

I realize that Im lacking data, I mutter.

What was that, Miss? Felix asks. Her smile is still on, but theres a melancholic twist to it.

Do you know who did this? I ask.

She shakes her head. I heard that there was a fire.

And suddenly Im disgusted by her. How... why didnt she tell me about it? But no, its not her fault, and I take a deep breath and settle my core.

I didnt know it was this temple. Maybe it was an accident? she continues, unaware of my reaction.

I dont think so, I say.

I need to find out what happened here. Mom would want to know. Better yet, shed be pretty happy if Im the one to figure it out.

That means that I need to find someone that I can ask a whole lot of questions to. I consider the other temples for a moment. There are plenty of them here, small as they might be. But I dont trust them. Mom said that shes not on friendly terms with... any god, really. There are a few she trusts, but shes very weird about how she trusts people.

So maybe not the temples then.

Visiting this temple was only part of my chore. The bigger, more important part is securing the next shipment of books.

I swing my backpack off my back and rummage through it until I find a notebook. I took notes when Mom was telling me about my task. Notes are good.

I flip through them for a moment until I notice Felix paying attention. Are you okay? I ask.

She nods and glances away. I havent seen many books, she says. Only one of the older ones in the Roughs can read. Sometimes hed read stories to us, when we were really hungry. She smiled. It made it easier to forget.

You dont know how to read? I ask with dawning horror. Thats... thats just awful.

She shakes her head. I dont have eyes. You can't read without eyes, Miss.

Yeah, I guess not, I say. My grip on my notebook tightens. Its not often that Im reminded so starkly of how lucky I am. You could still learn your letters, and how to count and such.

Felix nods. I can count. You need to know your numbers to use coins. The people at Mortimers will teach you numbers if you want, for free too, and they give you food while you learn!

Right, I say.

Most people probably know that much, then. I eye my notebook, then trace a finger over to a name. Javier Jurez. Hes the man that Mom uses to buy books from all over. A merchant that Mom has blessed in exchange for a good price on the things she wants: mostly more books, but sometimes meat and foods that cant grow around home.

Hes supposed to have a big home in the capital, but he spends most of his time here, in Santafaria.

I need to find him.

Come on, Felix, I say. I do feel bad for her. Maybe I can hire a healer to look at her eyes? It would only cost a few gold, I figure. At the very least, I can get her something to eat and a little silver. Hey, do you know where the best place to learn stuff would be?

What kind of stuff? Felix asks.

Like, rumours, whats going on in the city, stuff like that?

Felix nods quickly; she looks happy to help. Yup! I know a few places like that. Most of them are in the Roughs or in the South Quarter. Mostly the taverns, but you can hear lots of rumours in the markets, and some people will buy those rumours.

I nod. And what about in the nicer parts of town? I ask.

The inns, I think. The fancier folk dont talk in the same places. I think they do all of their rumour stuff at balls and fancy parties where they have lots of free food.

I pause in my walk when I realize that Im not too sure where Im heading. I just have to walk, and the road seems inviting. Lets go to the inns then, I say. Its past midday already, and Ill need a room soon.

The inns are that way, right? I ask as I point towards what I think is the west.

Felix follows the direction of my finger, then nods. Yup. On Innstreet.

Imaginative name, I say.

Its where the inns are, Felix says.

I cant really fault that logic. Kind of a boring name, but I guess it works. Was the inn that guard mentioned any good? The Ocuous one.

Felix shrugs. Im not the kind of person that can go to an inn. I know its very expensive. Are you sure you dont want to go to an inn in the South Quarter? Theyre only a few silver a night. You even get a bath and some food.

Thats alright. I think the security is better around this part of Santafaria. Midtown has guards. We cross two of them chatting at an intersection, neither doing more than eyeing us quickly, and more of their attention is on Felix, who looks a bit poor compared to the people here.

Its an eclectic mix. Some workers, but all of them look clean, and there are plenty of others in nicer clothes. Not nobility, I dont think, just people who are well off.

I shake my head and refocus. The walk is a good opportunity to think.

Someone destroyed the temple. Is it possible that theyve done more than just that? Mom will be really miffed if someone burned her books, she doesnt even allow candles in the library.

Once I find Mister Jurez and ask him, maybe things will clear up. I still have the impression that things arent nearly that simple.

Felix is good with directions, she cuts across an alley or two, avoiding spots where there are more people on the road, and before I know it, were back on Innstreet. I think its that one, she says, pointing to a fence. I heard about it from others. No one knows what it actually looks like.

The Ocuous Inn is hidden by a fence covered in a thick layer of vines that obscure anything behind it. Theres a gate in the fence, with nothing but a plaque next to it with the inns name.

I walk up to the gate and push it open. Theres a little garden on the other side, with carefully tended flowers in raised banks, benches and a few big shrubs. The inn itself is just as well maintained: a two story building, with a wide balcony around it and a shingled roof.

Some lights are lit within, so I invite myself in, Felix right on my heels. The girl makes herself smaller, shoulders hunching and head down. She probably doesnt feel comfortable here.

The interior was just as clean as the outside, with a large dining room behind some sliding doors to one side, and a desk right opposite the entrance. I walked up to the desk and to the man standing behind it. Hello, I said.

Maam, the man says. He looks down his spectacles at me. I dont know if he's snobbish, or if Im just short. May I help you? He glances at Felix, and I notice his nose twitch.

Yes, please. I need a room for the night. A decently large one. And enough hot water for a bath... perhaps three baths? Food as well, of course.

I see, he says. I think hes trying hard to remain professional. The Ocuous Inn is one of--if not the--finest establishments in Santafaria. Our cost--

I tug my hand out from within my cloak and place it over the desk, then open it to spill a handful of gold over his guestbook.

How much is a room for a night? I ask.

One gold is sufficient for a week, he says, somewhat faintly.

Wonderful! Theres nine gold there, that should be enough for a day or two. I trust that such a distinguished inn knows how to remain discreet.

Of course, maam, he says.

I nod. Can you bring up supper right away? Before the baths. And would it be possible for you to find some clothes for my friend here? Shes in rags.

Felix doesnt turn her head my way, but I still have that itchy feeling of having her attention be entirely on my back.

I hope thats repayment enough for the help shes provided so far.

***