After they finished breakfast, SJ took the family to her home. By the time they arrived, Yawnee and Lurtew were already busy downstairs in the garage performing their cooper’s tasks.
“Hi Yawnee. Lurtew. I want to introduce you to Holly and her two sons, Joel and Harry,” SJ said as she entered the garage.
“Morning. I assume these are friends of yours?” Lurtew asked.
“They are indeed. They are staying locally at the inn nearby, but I have asked Holly to do some work for me. I wondered if you would mind keeping an eye on the boys for her while she is busy?”
Yawnee grinned. “Of course, that is no problem.”
Harry had already entered the garage and walked over to the rack where the tools of their trade were stored. Joel was a little more resistant until Lurtew approached him.
“Can you give me a hand?” Lurtew asked Joel.
“With what?”
“I am just about to finish this latest barrel, and I could really do it with someone helping to tighten the frame to get the bands in place.”
Joel looked over at where Lurtew had a half-made barrel. The shaped wooden panels were facing upwards and were supported by a copper band near their base.
“Here, I will show you what to do. Would you mind helping?” Lurtew said.
“Sure,” Joel replied, shrugging.
“Are you sure they will be ok staying here?” Holly asked.
“They will be fine,” Yawnee replied.
“I will be back later, and when I do, if you have both been good for Yawnee and Lurtew. I may introduce you to Kibbles,” SJ said.
Harry turned to look at SJ. “Who’s Kibble?”
“He is my pet miniature wyvern,” SJ beamed.
“Really!” Harry said, his eyes wide with excitement.
“Yes, as long as you behave while your mum is away.”
“We will, won’t we, Joel?” Harry said. The children’s change after being taken somewhere other than the district was clearly visible.
“Let’s leave them to it,” SJ said to Holly as she turned to leave.
Holly stood watching the boys for a few moments before she turned and followed SJ.
“Are you sure they will be ok?” Holly asked as they walked down the street.
“They will be fine. I am sure that Yawnee and Lurtew will keep them both busy. They don’t stop working most days with the quotas they require.”
The streets of Asterfal had started to get active. The usual calls and noise of a busy city in the morning as it woke up. Traders and peddlers called out, and shop owners stood outside their premises trying to persuade passersby inside alongside the traffic of wagons that now flowed through the streets. With the change in weather, it seemed many more were out today.
“So, where is this Dragon’s Den bar situated?” SJ asked.
“It is in the middle of the district, near the trader’s market. It looks like a nice place from the outside, but the beings it serves are less desirable. As I mentioned before, when I first arrived in Asterfal, I started there but soon found another job.”
“If it is home to a gang, are the guards not aware?”
“I am sure they know that it is gang-affiliated, but unless they have a reason to go there, it is like any other bar or inn in Asterfal.”
“I see,” SJ said. There were so many bars and inns in the districts that to keep an eye on many of them would be challenging.
It didn’t take them long to reach District 10, the buildings the clearest sign of crossing the district areas. As they moved down one of the streets, Dave suddenly spoke up. “Left road. I just saw the sign for the Emperor’s Arms.”
‘What’s that?’ SJ thought, puzzled by his sudden comment.
“Carlito quest. Olivia Sharcastle, a cheating wife.”
‘Oh. I haven’t even considered the quests.’
“It’s two perk points. It would be silly not to, and if we are close to it in the same district.”
‘True. I suppose I should accept the quest then. Nothing was said there would be a penalty if I failed to achieve results before I left for Killic.’
“The only penalty would be losing reputation with Carlito.”
‘I haven’t ever seen anything saying I have a reputation with him?’ All of SJ’s other reputations were visible to her when she viewed her display details.
“Not so much the usual reputation you have with other beings, but if you fail his requests after accepting them as a trainer, he could refuse to work with you in the future. I doubt he would do that straight away, but it will be his guild reputation that gets affected if the quests aren’t completed, not your own, since he will be the one claiming them for you to complete.”
‘I see. That makes sense, although I doubt his reputation with the guild could be damaged easily. He is renowned.’
As they continued towards the Dragon’s Den, SJ opened her display and accepted the class quest ‘Three for Two’. The five sub-quests appeared on her display. She needed to complete three of the five to earn the two perk points.
“Holly. Do you know the Emperor’s Arms?” SJ asked.
“Yes. We just passed the street it is on,” Holly said, looking back.
“Is it a busy bar?”
“It gets rowdy when they have acts. They usually have bards or groups playing most evenings. It is one of the best bars, but it is a little noisy for my liking. I haven’t worked there.”
“Do you know anyone that does?”
“No. Unfortunately, the bars I worked in are further to the outer wall.”
SJ didn’t continue the conversation but noted the bar’s location on her map, adding the tag ‘Oliva Sharcastle’.
It took them another ten minutes to wind through the streets of District 10 before they came to an open market area. Stalls were positioned all around, reminding SJ of the street markets in the UK—various types of stalls with multicoloured awnings covering many vendors and their goods.
“The bar is off the main street to the right over there,” Holly indicated.
“Okay. I assume you can easily recognise the being called Francis?”
“I can. He is a draconian, yellow scaled.”
“I don’t think I have ever seen a yellow-scaled draconian before.”
“Yellow scaled draconian are from the desert regions,” Dave said. “Lythonian is an example of a forest draconian; that is why his scales were green. You also get frost draconian. They are the three main types, although there are other colour variants.”
“There are a few in the city,” Holly said. “How do you want us to go about this?”
“I think watching the bar for now is the best approach until we can identify this Francis. You mentioned that it is only rumoured, so we would need to confirm he is a member of the sanction. Would anyone in the bar recognise you?”
“It depends on which staff still work there. It has been a few years.”
“Well, I think it best that I am not seen for now. Are you able to visit the bar?”
“I could but have no coin, and they don’t take kindly to those who aren’t drinking.”
SJ removed a silver from her inventory and went to pass it to Holly. Holly’s eyes opened in amazement.
“A silver,” she stammered.
SJ knew that getting a drink of most ales or wines only cost a few coppers, but a silver piece was nothing in the scheme of her money.
“It’s fine,” SJ said, dropping the coin into Holly’s hand.
Holly looked at the coin for several moments before it disappeared into her inventory.
The pair crossed the market and entered the street where the Dragon’s Den was situated. The street was busy with the daily traffic, and the bar doors were already open, allowing patrons inside. Many of the bars and inns in the city seemed to be open all the time. The bar looked inviting from the outside, a large sign hanging from a pole of a dragon in a cave mouth. The name the Dragon’s Den was painted in golden script. The wooden facia of the building was whitewashed, and the morning light shone brightly off it. The paned windows were expansive, and SJ could see inside what looked like a cosy-looking bar. Long seats with cushioned furnishings and polished tables. It was more upmarket than she had expected.
“This doesn’t look anything like I was expecting,” SJ said.
“Its looks can be deceiving. They don’t pay well, and the beings that frequent it are the problem.”
“Who owns the bar?”
“A man named Salvino and his wife, Elouise. Elouise looked after the hiring and firing; she has a temper on her.”
“Will you be ok going in there?”
“Of course, as long as I have coin to spend, that is all they are interested in.”
“Okay. I have some errands to run, and I noticed a few stalls in the market which may have what I need. I will then head back home. If Francis turns up, watch him. Don’t put yourself in a position that could be dangerous.”
“I won’t,” Holly said as she walked to enter the bar.
SJ watched her enter before she turned and walked back to the market. Terence was after a set of chisels for detailing, and Charlotte was still after several seeds. SJ had seen various stalls that may sell the items Terence sought. She spent a significant amount of time walking from stall to stall and browsing the items they sold but still did not manage to find what she was after.
‘I really need to remember to ask Yawnee or Lurtew before I start walking the streets. I am sure they would know where to go.’
“I am sure they would,” Dave chuckled. “Are you going to visit the Emperor’s Arms while you are here?”
‘It’s probably a bit early. I was thinking of coming back this evening to find out about this Olivia character.’
“There really isn’t much to find out. You just need to identify and end her. The reasons and details aren’t your concern.”
‘You know I have to check.’
“No, you don’t. You just have to do the task.”
‘You are right. I just don’t like acting without proof. I don’t want to be completing the work of those that are evil. It may have been created by a disgruntled husband wanting to run off with a mistress.’
Dave let out a deep sigh. “If you are concerned about your alignment being affected and whether you fight for good or evil, you don’t get impacted by completing assassination tasks. The responsibility lies with the individual who assigned the quest. Even if a target is good by nature or alignment, an assassin completing their sworn duties under a quest will not suffer.”
‘What? Why have you never told me this before?’ SJ thought with surprise and confusion from Dave’s response.
“I never really considered it, but if it helps, you complete your class growth without worrying about the consequences of your actions, then needs must.”
‘It still doesn’t stop me from potentially killing beings that don’t deserve to die. And information like that could have been really useful to know before now.’
‘Sorry,’ Dave replied sheepishly.
The bar already had several patrons at tables when Holly entered. It was still only early morning, but the time of day didn’t affect those who frequented bars. Holly didn’t recognise any of the patrons or those who were working. The smell of roast hogling mixed with the sweet scent of pipe tobacco filled the air. A large orc sat at a table near the entrance, a mountain of food on his plate and a double tankard overflowing with froth.
Holly walked the length of the main room. She knew the layout from her time working at the bar and that there were enclosed private areas. Since she had only recently eaten the largest breakfast she had had in several weeks, she wasn’t even sure if she could stomach a drink of anything. She had already felt bloated from the morning meal. She called the silver coin to her palm from her inventory and slowly turned it in her fingers as she sat at an empty table. It had been so long now since she had held a silver coin.
She was filled with shame. The last few months had been hell for her and the boys, and she was still in a daze over what had happened over the past twelve hours since the fae ambassador for a town she had never heard of had suddenly taken them from the slums. The fact that they were able to sleep in a clean, warm, comfortable bed. Never mind them all. Being able to get baths was a dream she had been hoping for for weeks.
Since Mark had died, she had slowly been losing all hope. Joel had become ill, and whatever was afflicting, she didn’t know, but there was no way she could ever afford to buy any healing potions or similar. Their survival had been by raiding the district tip loads. The rubbish of others had become their lifeline. Most items were only worth a copper if they were lucky, but a copper meant that they could at least get some food each day. The best haul they had made was when Joel had collected an old backpack with broken straps. Inside, they had found a small pouch which contained five coppers. The whole family had eaten that day, including herself. She usually ate so little that she worried about the boys getting enough to eat.
In her prime, she had been so fun-loving and light-hearted, but after Mark’s death, it was as though the world had turned dark. Everywhere she looked or everything she did now appeared tainted. It was only through the act of the ambassador that she was now sat in clean new clothes in a bar. She didn’t trust the ambassador. She didn’t trust anyone these days. Everyone always wanted something in exchange. She sat contemplating whether she should just go back, collect the boys, and disappear back into the streets. The silver would cover them for a while easily if they ate sparingly.
The fact that a being would do what she had already concerned Holly. Nothing was done for free, there was always something expected in return. I hope the boys are okay she thought as she sat staring at nothing in particular as her thoughts ran wild in her mind.
“What can I get you?” a cheery voice asked.
Holly hadn’t seen the serving girl walk over. She only looked young, maybe in her teens at the most. She was a human girl with bright red hair and a freckled face. Her smile was slightly lopsided, which made it look awkward.
“Sorry. I was daydreaming. Could I just get some tea, please?”
“Of course. Did you want any food?”
“No thanks. Just a tea,” Holly smiled. The girl’s carefree and friendly nature was as she had once been, and it pained her to notice the resemblance in her past self.
“That will be two coppers.”
Holly still fingered the silver coin before handing it to the girl.
“I will need to get change,” the girl said, collecting the coin and hurrying back to the main bar.
Holly watched as the girl spoke to the barman, who looked grumbling, before she noticed him counting coppers out and exchanging the silver coin with the girl. The girl came back and placed neat piles of copper coins on the table for her. Holly watched as the stacks were made before she collected them into her inventory.
“Thank you,” Holly said.
The girl just smiled back and turned away again, moving to the next table, where a small group of goblins had taken residence. Holly recognised the flash that several were wearing on their arm and knew they were members of one of the street gangs. She couldn’t remember its name as there were several goblin gangs across the districts. Not long after, the girl returned with a pot of tea, placing it on the table.
“Who are they?” Holly asked the girl quietly, indicating the goblins.
The girl turned her nose up and, with her back to them, whispered. “Thugs. They come in nearly every morning. It always seems one or two of them have fresh injuries.”
Holly glanced over and noticed the fresh bruising one goblin had around his eye.
“Do you know the gang they belong to?”
“No, sorry. They never cause any problems when they are here and usually deal with the draconian.”
“Which draconian?”
“Oh. He isn’t here yet. He will probably be in soon. His name is Francis. He is lovely. I am not sure why he has anything to do with the goblins, though.”
Holly’s heart skipped hearing the name. At least it confirmed that Francis still came to the bar. The only thing she wasn’t one hundred per cent sure about was whether he was a member of the sanction. If there was one thing that Holly was well aware of from working as a barmaid herself, it was that if you wished for information in the city, the barmaids were usually one of the best sources of information.
“Holly. Is that really you?” A female's voice cut across the bar.
Holly turned to look at Elouise's face. She was a thin woman, wiry and strong. Her hair was cut in a bob around her sharp, chiselled features. Her nose had a slight hook to it. Although she smiled at Holly, her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Elouise. Good to see you again,” Holly said, forcing a smile. She had never liked the woman when she worked there.
“What brings you here?” Elouise asked in a tone that held no pleasure.
“I just came to get a drink while I was nearby, and I know the tea was always to die for,” Holly lied. The tea they served was no better than any other bar in the district.
“I see. The last I heard, you were living by the outer wall. It seems the rumour may not have been true.”
The fact that Elouise knew that Holly had been living by the outer wall took her by surprise.
“And how would you know where I was living?” Holly asked.
Before Elouise could respond, a tall, smartly dressed draconian walked into the bar.
“Good day,” Francis called as he entered, his yellow scales shining in the light from the large windows.
Elouise immediately turned from Holly, ignored her, and walked towards the draconian.
“Francis, my darling. Would you like your usual?” the smile that radiated from Elouise’s face was genuine this time.
“That would be perfect, thank you, Elouise. I would take my usual seat, but I see it is taken this morning,” Francis said, glancing at Holly.
Holly didn’t consider where he might sit, as she could not remember precisely from her brief time working there. That was probably why Elouise had come over to get her to move. She hadn’t meant to be noticed while there.
“I’m sorry. Is this your seat?” Holly asked Francis.
“Not mine,” he smiled, but I do normally sit there.
“I don’t mind moving,” Holly said, picking up her tea and moving over a table.
“That is very kind of you,” Francis said as he slid into the seat Holly had vacated.
Holly was now sitting with her back to Francis, close enough to hear any conversations that may have taken place. ‘ Let’s see what I can find out, ’ she thought as she sipped her drink.
