Chapter 5

  Questions

  Zenthia sprinted out the door into the cold night on a mission she had pre-organized earlier that day, darting through dark alleyways jumping onto icy snow-covered roofs & sifting through the back streets passing pop up vendors & shops closed for the day, revealing the nightlife of the still-vibrant city.

  Songs & music from busking & tavern bards, cheers from crowds, firelight & glowing gems fill the still or just opening stores of numerous varieties, some healing tents placed around the city on call for the whole night in case of any brawls that go too far.

  In the centre of the midnight district on the second wall was

  Bellarosa’s house for the lost.

  The place Zenthia was meeting up with her friend, the den of companionship & indulgences was a comforting welcome from the cold outside. Deep drainage greats greet the front door for people to shake the snow off themselves before entering the fore, the inside had stairs leading to the landing where working staff took patrons to a more private boudoir.

  Pulling her hood back revealing her face caused other patrons by the bar to turn, nod, then return to their deep conversations with one another, or one of the lovely ladies or gentlemen working the floor.

  A new girl came to Zenthia charmingly, a tall slender figure in a burlesque short dress draped in a silk cardigan.

  “Is there anything I can get for you darling?” the young woman asked Zenthia, her voice was more inviting than seductive.

  “My name is Z. Is Miranda here tonight?’ said Zenthia politely, getting straight to the point of her visit.

  The young woman went off to go check & in a few short minutes, she returned. “She’s free now, right this way” said the young woman.

  Taking Zenthia by the hand & looping one arm, despite the relative height difference, the action was so well practised & gentle the contact was fluttering. As if she were a patron, the young woman’s soft tender hands, a contrast to her own rough & calloused, guided her to one of the back rooms where some of the girls would stay.

  Zenthia knew protocol by now after so many visits, knowing that if someone is not guided by a working staff to the back, the security is quick to remove, but still this new girl was good. Guiding more than taking.

  Beyond a vibrant red door was the breathless visage of Miranda draped in fine & colourful pieces of cotton & silks with beautiful embroidered illustrations of a rainbow peacock & a golden dragon. Her fine complexion was a deep amethyst purple, coiled back horns gently shown out the ridge of her head while a slight definition of black lines commanded focus to her sharp emerald green eyes, she bore a caring smile towards a close friend.

  “Z! Is everything alright you had me so worried I thought something had happened to you” said Miranda delightedly.

  She gracefully leaped out of her seat & pulled Zenthia close into a tight embrace, both covered by the same large silk robe wrapped around Miranda.

  “It’s good to see you too. It has been some time now I think about it, sorry to worry you” Zenthia’s hardened demeanour softened “I had a meeting with some nobles across the second ring” Zenthia choked while buried in affection.

  The two sat down by an ornate desk before continuing. Miranda poured tea as she inquired “Nobles huh, who were they?” said Miranda excited to hear

  “One called himself Surrugal Vahnderhart & a butler named Arthur Ravenwood” Zenthia was relaxed.

  “I didn’t know they worked together, I know them both, Arthurs an industrious one, more than Surrugal, but what I gathered they’re no laughable regular Nobles. Please be careful, especially around Surrugal. What did they want?’ Miranda asked with a now concerned look.

  “That’s one of the things I wanted to ask. There’s some new technology in the city, a new weapon, we don’t know its name or what it's capable of. Two others & I have been hired to see what we could find. Have you heard anything about a contraption of metal wrapped in wood” Zenthia said

  Miranda's eyes grew sharp “I have not sorry however if you go to the parts of the city between the fourth & fifth rings. There is a dive pub called the dungeons den, it has its ups & downs from what I have been told when it comes to who goes there, however from what I've gotten out of clients it can be a place to acquire goods.” Miranda paused “You said one of the things you wanted to ask. what else can I do for you?” the older woman asked, concerned yet sure Zenthia can take care of herself. She would love to meet her new companions.

  “Have you heard anything from Olo?” Said Zenthia in a soft-spoken tone

  “I haven’t… I know it’s been hard, but I’ll keep my ear to the ground, & you will find out as soon as I do. I hear rumours of a Terrapicta living in a city of ruins outside the city but that’s all” said Merinda,

  Finally something clicked for Zenthia “Wait both? Are both of them nobles?” Before catching herself. She perked up to continue saying.

  Miranda smiled & nodded, “That's right, Arthurs noble who likes the art of being a butler. Almost as crazy as me I suppose, but yes he is part of a powerful family, the Ravenwoods I’m sure you have put that together. He’s a good man” Zenthia nodded & Miranda stopped & made a practised sigh “From what I know those two are good at keeping their deals but that's all for now.” Clapping her hands declaring that subject to be over “Right then, I have something for you, let’s call it a celebration of your first big job. However, I also didn’t want to miss your birthday. It’s in 3 days, isn’t it?”

  Letting go of Zenthia & going into a locked desk & pulling out a box about two feet by one foot & handing it over to her.

  Zenthia was taken back though she shouldn’t. Miranda was always like this, thats why she wasn't just liked, but loved by her clients & friends.

  The dark-elf took the boxed gift. “Yes it is, you shouldn’t have. What is it?”

  Zenthia opening up the box saw she paused. It was an odd almost comedic shape, the handle & guard was the shape of a mushroom, the cap was red with white spots like an Amanita, forming the handguard & the stem forming a comfortable almost leather like bound to handle. Protruding out of the top of the cap was a steel-like double edge blade coated in florescent green when the light glinted off, it was a dagger.

  Miranda gave Zenthia a beautiful smile. “I got this from a travelling merchant who claims to have been from Atheirus” Giggling to herself seeing the childish reaction to such a strange blade.

  “Atherus!? You mean this came from the country at the bottom of the continent” Zenthia asked in a shocked tone.

  Holding Miranda once again in a loving embrace, then had to leave, it was time for Mirandas client to arrive.Departing understanding that she could not keep her for much longer as a non-paying customer.

  Outside the building Zenthia plotted her next move “I should start heading to the tavern”

  Not long after Zenthia leaving Remidemus & Oskar alone, the two began heading to Gloria’s wondrous emporium.

  Oskar was staying close to Remidemus, using him for both as a guide & a guard, the wizard was determined to not get jumped again, going as far as keeping a handful of the necessary components for a spell buried in his coat pocket.

  “What brought you to the city Oskar?” asked Remidemus, breaking the silence & his chain of thought while walking down the main road.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  “I was going on a pilgrimage to find spells & adventure south, & some way or another I wound up in this city” Oskar said optimistically, caught a little off guard by the question.

  “A pilgrimage ay? Now that’s something we have in common somewhat, your whole outfit reminds me of some of the strange monks in the church district in the second ring, they may be someone worth talking to as well” Remidemus said back jovially.

  “You don’t say Remidemus, sorry Remi”

  Remidemus chuckled “no worries”

  “Do you know what the Name of the monks were” Oskar asked inquisitively wanting to hear more on his pilgrimage however knowing that’s none of his business

  “Not off the top of my head bu-but I know where they are so I can take you there after this if you’d like”

  Oskar was intrigued but focused “Perhaps not this evening, we have to go to this Gloria’s wondrous emporium first after all & get some information, & if they are wizards it’s probably best to wait until morning, If I know anything we wizards really like two things, sleep, & undisturbed study. What I need to do can wait, truth be told I am more interested to find one of these devices they sound fascinating” Oskar said seeming more lively

  “Alrighty then let me know when you want to go, & I can take you there & speaking of places we need to go we are here” Remidemus said, pointing one shop head to the written in some kind of glowing paint on an oval oak sign;

  Gloria’s Glorious Emporium.

  It took all the way for Oskar to realise that he had not thought of falling over or how far they walked, for he was focused on Remidemus, it was almost as if mealy being in the presence of Remidemus gave him the courage to take solid strides over the snowy roads.

  “Well fuck me we’re here” Oskar remaiked now realising what Remidemus was doing.

  He was keeping him distracted with conversation. Remidemus couldn’t hide his grin

  “Thank you for keeping me company & taking me this far,” Oskar said, feeling calm & relaxed for the first time in a while.

  Remidemus shaking off the snow & taking the first step in through the door caught sight of the projectile wrench first & ducked.

  having it land in Oskars face, his nose now broken & dropped to the ground with a loud

  ‘Thud’

  Groaning on the ground he didn’t see the second wrench. It came flying directly towards Remidemus, he caught it with lightning speed, his danger sense now in full engagement scanning the room, despite the darkened shop he saw a small shadowy figure standing on the counter top, the store itself looked like the den of a well-organised hoarder. Then he switched gears

  “Whoa whoa calm down Gloria it’s Remi!” Remidemus cried out, both hands out one with a wrench in hand ready to parry & the other open to catch anything else that may come flying out of the dark.

  “Remi? Oh dear, is your friend alright!?” The older woman's voice panicked & called out from the dark shop. “I am so sorry Remi let me put on some light”

  The illuminated room revealed the shadow figure. a very short elderly woman stood on the shop counter.

  Remidemus looked down, “Oskar, are you okay?”

  “I’m awesome” the wizard groaned on the ground

  The sound of clapping hands activating the glowing gems bringing the rest of the darkened emporium to light, revealing the composed old gnomish woman of a portioned just over two feet in height standing in a battle stance, her wire-ry arms from decades devoted to the craft. Beside her was a toolbox the size of herself full of items handles pointing up at the ready to be thrown.

  The two by the door, Oskar now picked up on his feet, looking at the contents of the rest of the box both had the same thought,

  ‘Thank the gods she didn’t start with the hammer & chisels.’

  Oskar holding his face in one hand leaned on the edge of the entryway, taking point at the door breathing heavily & trying to calm down, the wizard let the held spell fizzle out turning into a small tail of red smoke seeping out of his coat pocket.

  Remidemus took charge “What happened Gloria, why was this place in lockdown, what’s with using customers as target practice” keeping a calm yet concerned demeanor.

  He knew Gloria was a tough cookie however he was still shocked at the strength & aim of this old lady. Remidemus picked up the wrench on the ground that hit Oskar. He calmly walked to Gloria & handed them back to her.

  “Oh, these savage goblins came to my shop demanding I sell them some items for a ridiculously low price, I refused & with some coaxing they left, I was simply waiting for some retaliation” Gloria said, with a new spark of confidence & gesturing beside her where a still golem made of metal & clay, with the word coaxing written in gnomish across its chest. “I was curious as to what was going on, I followed them some distance into a side street. They visited other places. What I had heard from the outside sounded like they were a new gang in town offering their ‘protection’. For a price of course. Then when they got to the end of the side street I heard someone pleading & crying & then a loud thunderous bang came from the alleyway, the crying stopped & laughing from the goblins began. It was awful” said Gloria mournfully.

  Oskar was quiet taking in all of what Gloria had just said, surely not the same group. The wizard adjusted his hat & took a better look at the golem, the looks of which he could tell was old.

  The golem named Coaxed was about seven & a half feet tall it's head was a pearl white stone with eyes that had a small emerald & a sapphire both clearly enchanted but not certain with what, the shoulders did not match, the left had an iron pauldron while the right held a seat that almost looked like it was a rocking chair, the chest was of a smooth white clay covered by a old brown apron with multiple pockets with a small ladder & of course as If it were a tattoo a well painted nameplate was written in gnomish

  ‘Coaxed’ its waist appeared to be able to rotate around completely, a belt of green metal with runes carved in, following down its arms, the left was of steel wrapped in white clay leading to its forearm appeared to be interchangeable to other items it could use as hands while the right was a large hand holding a mallet, large elephant like feet with two iron toes on each to keep it well balanced,

  “Glad to see you are okay. Did you see where they went afterwards?” Remidemus asked Gloria ,now deeply concerned, thinking this might be a clue to what they're looking for.

  “I didn’t, no it was getting dark, & I am old, this cold isn’t pleasant for my bones, I may be tough. Not to mention if I was to get chased down they would outrun me so I kept myself busy in here & when I heard the bell from the door, I was afraid it was them, sorry about the wrench” Gloria said regretfully.

  Putting the tools away & walking along the counter towards Oskar, now standing just over eye level to her, she reached out for a handshake.

  Oskar, no longer furious, took her hand in a gentleman's manner & gave it a light kiss avoiding contact with his broken nose.

  “Remidemus tells me you may have a wand for sale” said Oskar in a cavalier tone

  Gloria blushed despite her age “As a matter of fact I might have one still, let me go grab it” Gloria said, excited she disappeared.

  The sound of draws pulled then closed, Gloria returned with a wrapped in a black cloth, carved from a branch from an ash tree with different type’s metal rings & punched runes.

  “This is beautiful, how much?” Oskar asked in awe.

  “Four hundred gold pieces” Replied Gloria. “Usually”

  Oskars's jaw dropped

  “Come on Gloria surely you could give Oskar a discount, you did throw a wrench at him after all” Remidemus said butting in, looking at the blood-soaked rag over his nose, “Oop one moment gloria” Remidemus removed his gloves “let-me fix that Ozzy” removing the cloth gently he saw the break, lifting his head up to face the tall man, his silver eyes reflecting back to the wizard, before he could say anything a loud crack came from Oskars nose & was realigned followed by a loud

  “yeeeooowww”

  Oskar quickly examined the damage through a mirror on the wall to show the broken skin was slightly healed over already & the pain fading, however, the blood & inevitable swelling remained.

  Putting his arm over Gloria, Remi smiled jovially.

  Oskar, knowing what he was doing, pulled out all the gold he had & placed it in Gloria’s hands, bowing his head then looking Gloria in the eyes. “I am aware that magic items are expensive, believe me I do” his eyes reflected with decades of magic knowledge “but we are looking for this thing that killed that person, however my friend & I haven’t the ability to help fully as we are now. Even if I were to give you all I have” Holding out his pouch of three hundred gold “And when we find these people I will come back & give you the rest. It would be an honour to be in your debt” said Oskar with the utmost honesty, his face still bloody & beginning to puff up.

  Remidemus saw Oskar, seeing a person that spoke so proper & through his eyes he saw as if a peasant bowing to a queen. Remidemus smiled, took his arm off Gloria & put an additional fifty gold on the table for both to see.

  Oskar looked at him & gave Remidemus a nod with an honest look

  “No need Mr Oskar was it? We can call this a wrench discount” Gloria said, taking all but the fifty gold pieces & handing over the wand wrapped in black cloth. “This wand has a spell in it so don’t go waving it about in my shop, from what I saw it do it shoots a bolt of magic & blows into a cloud glimmering & sparkling magic” smiling Gloria her cheeks now rosy red, tucking back her hair of chestnut brown with a strip of chalk white. She quickly pulled away reluctantly. “Is there anything else I can do for you,’ Gloria asked

  “Do you by chance have any potions?” said Remidemus

  “Of course, gimme just a moment,” Gloria said, stepping down off the table. Pulling a wooden box of clinking glass bottles & placing it on the table. “What I have here is a bit of a mixed match of potions, what are you looking for?” Gloria asked in an enthusiastic tone.

  Remidemus locked eyes on one of the eight potions, a bottle of ruby red & a cloud of much deeper scarlet red stirring within it. “What’s this one, it looks like a mending potion” He asked

  “Good eye Remi it is, if you are badly hurt drink this & it will speed up your recovery over time that’s fifty gold” said Gloria still keeping business in mind.

  He nodded & gave Gloria the fifty gold, then leaned in & gave Gloria a kiss on the cheek as he took the potion & left the emporium without saying a word with Oskar almost left behind running after him looking back to see a rose red face reaching for the ball-pein hammer.

  The two were heading down the street, it was illuminated by open store fronts, burning brasiers & other lights

  “Where to next” Oskar asked catching his breath the cold air hurting his lungs. He looked at Remidemus, new wand in hand still wrapped in the black cloth

  “I believe that’s all we needed to do for now” He pondered for a second before continuing “We should meet up with Z” Remidemus said.

  “Right shall we then, I'm still a little lost” Oskar said once again catching himself on the slick street.

  Remidemus caught him under the arm “Tuskenstein Tavern then?”

  Oskar affirmed & the two took off.