The voyage had been long, mostly boring, until the ship passed Churash. The island had risen out of the depths of the ocean like some distant breaching whale. Willow had never been there before, so the sight was new and awe inspiring. She wished to be docking there, but instead the ship sailed until reaching the Floating City.

  It was hard not to hear the news when she arrived, everyone was talking about it. There had been a terrible event at the arena. The details were still vague, but most people agreed that the explosion happened during the final match of the duel competition, a fight between Jerry and a man named Cadaoir, one of which was highly regarded in the profiles given to her by an information broker. She never once thought that the old man would appear to her so easily in her journey. The explosion was rumoured to be an enemy attack, or an act of revenge by a tournament participant who had previously lost to either the Swordsman or the Monk. The reasoning was not important to Willow, she only hoped that Jerry, her target, was available.

  Questioning the announcer of the fighting event brought up little. The two stood amongst the rubble as he supervised a hasty reconstruction of one side of the arena's seating. 'We lost track of Jerry after his loss.'

  'His loss?' Willow asked.

  'Yeah, he lost the final.' The announcer answered.

  'I thought the match was interrupted by an explosion?'

  'I don't know what stories you've been listening to. Let me tell you, the explosion was caused by those two men in the match. I don't know how, but it was those two.'

  'How did Jerry lose then? I was lead to believe he was quite a powerful man.'

  'No doubt, young lady. He lost by breaking the rules. He launched the Monk into the crowd and injured quite a few, and damaged the stadium. That loses him the match, we gave the win to the Monk.'

  'If the explosion was a part of the match, then why all of the tales of terrorism?'

  The announcer shrugged. 'People talk, stories change or get embellished.'

  Willow pulled on the strap of the quiver over her shoulder. 'I see.' She looked around at the damage. How can an explosion be caused by two men? The stadium stood strong, the damage was not too great. But one side of the arena was marked by a small crater, as if a rock had fallen from the sky and struck the seating at the side of the ring. 'So you have no idea where Jerry could have gone?'

  'Not at all, sorry.'

  'Is there anyone who might?'

  The announcer scratched his head. 'After she lost to the old man, I saw Wolf taking an interest in him. They spoke quite often in the stands, so she might have an idea.'

  'Where's she now?' Willow quizzed.

  'She's likely with the Hurdland forces who came to see the tournament, they're mostly staying on the northern side of the city, away from the Amaratese.'

  'That gives me something to work with. Thank you.'

  'No problem, young lady.'

  Willow left the stadium and headed north. The wooden streets creaked and bobbed, the salt water below them sometimes rising through the cracks. It was such an odd but exciting feeling to walk an entirely man made island. The Great Seafort of Churash was considered one of the three gems of the world, yet the floating city should be considered at least the fourth, if not the only.

  The colours of the crowds became mostly blue, an indicator that this part of the city was inhabited currently by Hurdland players. She stopped a Soldier in blue. 'Excuse me.' She smiled.

  'Hey sweetheart, what can I do for you.' The man asked.

  Sweetheart? 'I'm looking for Wolf.'

  'Wolf? Oh honey, I'm the only beast you need.'

  Is this guy for real? 'Thanks, but I'm not interested.' Willow walked away while some jibe came from the man. She came across a female Soldier. 'Excuse me, miss?'

  The woman looked up from a sandwich. 'Yeth?'

  Willow laughed. 'I'm really sorry to interrupt you.'

  The Soldier swallowed and coughed. 'It's fine!' She wiped her mouth of crumbs. 'Do I know you?'

  'No, sorry. I'm just looking for directions.' Willow moved out of the way of an oncoming Knight, then stepped to the other woman's side. 'I'm looking for Wolf.'

  'The Captain?'

  'If that Captain is a Wrestler, then yes.'

  'I don't know where she is right now, but she's been visiting a pub called the Rusty Roof in the evenings. You might be able to catch her there later on tonight.'

  'Are you sure that you don't have any clue where she could be right now?' Willow slipped her hand into a pocket and pulled out a gold coin.

  The woman looked down at it. 'I honestly don't.'

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  'That's a shame.' Willow flipped the coin over and over in her fingers. 'I'll be walking around town for a while, but I'll be at the Rusty Roof within the hour. If you happen to see Wolf and point her in my direction, I'll have a couple of gold for you. I need to see her sooner rather than later.'

  'I'll see what I can do.' The woman rose to her feet.

  'Don't worry, finish your sandwich.' Willow placed the coin in the Soldier's hand. 'And treat yourself to a drink to.'

  'A drink costs less than a silver...' The woman rubbed the gold coin with her thumb.

  'Make it an expensive drink, courtesy of a head hunter.'

  The Soldier looked shocked. 'You're head hunting Wolf?'

  'Who knows?' Willow bowed with a playful smile, then walked away quickly. The theatrics usually worked to motivate people, but had its drawbacks. I should have asked where that pub was.

  Willow walked for half an hour, still searching for Wolf with no luck. She happened across the Rusty Roof in a particular busy part of the city, Hurdland men and women clogging the many doorways on the tightly packed street. The pub was situated between two other bars; melting into the timber built street, Willow only found it by noticing the large sign painted in white above its door.

  She pushed through the players in the doorway, strode past the busy bar and found the only free seat in a dark corner of the room. It smelled of damp and stale food. Willow sat and waited, listening to the conversations around her. Some locals spoke of the explosion that happened at the tournament two days before; Hurdland Soldier's loudly planned to visit the Amaratese in the city and start trouble; a group of Riflemen were discussing the advancement of Fayyim Tallhart and her celebration in Garroway City. That made Willow smile.

  An hour flew by, the morning turned to afternoon. Willow remained patient and it paid off. The bar cleared as a broad woman entered the building. Her hair was cropped short, a wolf skin cloak was draped over her shoulders, a Hurdland blue lining was revealed as the woman's feet kicked the cloak as she walked. Behind her was a group of men in leather armour over blue tunics, a white shield badge with a blue cross was fastened over their left breast. They approached the bar and ordered drinks.

  The large woman took a tankard of golden brew and sucked it back, slamming the empty vessel on the bar when she was done. The clay smashed and toppled off the edge of the wooden counter top. 'Who does the Wolf fight for?' She called out.

  The men with her shouted. 'Hurdland!' The other Hurdland players clapped and yelled in agreement.

  'Who will win the war?' The woman in a wolf cloak asked loudly.

  'Hurdland!' The patrons all chanted. 'Hurdland! Hurdland! Hurdland!'

  The woman raised a hand to silence the crowd. 'Then tell me.' She looked directly at Willow. She had been informed. 'Why would a head hunter think I would accept an offer from any other nation?'

  The men in the bar drew their swords, insulted by the mere thought of Willow turning their Captain into a turn-cloak.

  This is all I need. Willow stood from her seat and raised her hands in a gesture of submission. 'Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not here to recruit anyone from Hurdland. I'm only looking for some information that the good Captain may have.'

  'Oh?' Wolf folded her arms. 'What information would that be?'

  'You know that head hunters don't speak so freely about our work.' Willow gave the kindest smile that she could. 'Perhaps I buy a round for all of the blues in the bar, and we talk amongst ourselves, Wolf?'

  The large woman flexed her shoulders and then turned back to the bar. She took another drink and raised it in the air. 'Drinks are on the head hunter!' The men cheered, Wolf continued. 'I'll have a word with our new friend.'

  Thank you. Willow was relieved. She pulled a seat out at her table and gestured for Wolf to sit. The Hurdland Captain spun the seat around and sat on it backwards, leaning on the back of the chair. 'What's your deal, head hunter?'

  'Call me Willow.'

  'What's your deal, head hunter.' Wolf sniffed.

  'Very well.' Willow sat up straight, presenting herself as professionally as possible. 'I'm looking for a man named Jerry.'

  'Why?'

  'That's not open for discussion.'

  'Tell me or I will kill you where you sit.'

  Hmm. Willow openly ignored the threat. 'I'll tell you what, you have nothing to worry about, I'm working for Hurdland on this job. Truthfully, scout's honour.' Willow saluted.

  'That's not enough for me.'

  'What will it take? More drinks? A pouch of gold?'

  Wolf scoffed. 'You can't buy me on this matter. Do you even know who Jerry is?'

  'Rebel. Saviour. Swordsman. Put Cairo on the throne of Hurdland. Yeah, I know, he's a great guy.'

  'He's a damned God to us!' Wolf slammed the table. 'I won't sell him out.'

  'I told you, I'm working for Hurdland, you won't be selling him out.'

  'You're a foolish woman. It doesn't matter who you work for, Jerry doesn't want to work for anyone any more.'

  'So you've spoken to him, you know this for sure?' Willow gave a confident smile.

  'I'm done here.' Wolf began to stand.

  'I will find him.' Willow stated. 'With or without you.' This made the Wrestler pause. 'If you're in contact with him, it can be on your terms, his terms, not mine. Set up a meeting for me.'

  'You're annoying me!' Wolf slammed her hand on the table again, the wood cracked. The men around her placed their hands on hilts.

  Can these people never respond to diplomacy? 'I'd love a fight, Wolf, but in this matter we're allies. If you kill me, I'll only come back again. So why not just introduce me to Jerry? Please? With you as the facilitator, no harm can be done. Trust me, this can only benefit him.'

  Wolf placed both hands on the table and hung her head. She took a deep breath and then blew the air out with a long exhale. It seemed to last forever. The Wrestler looked up and into Willow's eyes, staring for a moment. Reading her. 'He won't accept, but I'll try.' She was defeated. 'Just promise me that you will keep it short and not bother him so much. He's an important man.'

  'Willow stood and offered her hand. 'You have my word.'

  Wolf shook Willow's hand. 'Thanks...'

  'Sit with me, have a drink.' Willow sat back down. 'We can work out the details.'