"Hold on, Aoife", Roderick got nearer to her and tapped her shoulder from behind, "do I really need to marry some Earl's daughter?"
She took a step forward, maintaining distance and replied, "you're the one who wants to get rid of his bastardhood, aren't you? It would also facilitate your operations since you would have an official status..."
"Sure but... fight to marry? That sounds tedious", he said, "is there no other way?" Roderick was gesturing as he spoke.
She glanced at him sideways with a raised eyebrow and said, "It is said she is quite beautiful."
"So what? So are you...", he shrugged, "am I supposed to marry only for that reason?"
She abruptly turned towards him, arms crossed, eyebrows knitted and face flushed, "Hmph, you're free to find another one then!", she had become very animated, "political manoeuvring is not my forte... I just thought that winning the tournament and... her hand would greatly help with your mission."
Roderick grinned awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. "Right. Sorry, it is a good suggestion. However, such a straightforward plan may not be our best bet."
"What do you have in mind then?" Her posture was defensive and her tone uncertain but her eyes betrayed her curiosity.
"Only a conniver can deal with a conniver. I have to move in the same milieu, partake in the same profession, engage similar entourages if I want to meet smoothly make contact with her. Nevertheless, if I can ally myself with a new player in town - like the one who would marry the Earl's daughter - it indeed would make things easier."
"You have someone in mind?" She appeared more relaxed now.
"No. I don't know anyone there..." He rubbed his chin and walked back and forth, "but I wouldn't only depend on that of course. The more common interests I can find with people of all walks in Clearwater Port, those in the shadows and those in the light, the quicker I can find her."
"Good," she said after silently looking at him, "it seems I made the right choice with employing..." She paused. "I mean choosing you as my knight." Her rosy cheeks weeks were lifted as she curved her lips.
Roderick promptly looked away while rubbing his nose and chuckling, "you only want me to locate her?"
"Yes, uhm, yes! Confirming her presence in Clearwater Port would already be enough but..."
"You want me to recruit her as well?"
"That would be too much to ask... at least establish contact and maybe a working relationship with her... if at all possible", she said.
"Why? If I may ask?"
"As I implied, I have no interest in joining a faction and her power is something useful only to those who wish to powerful actors of society. Nevertheless, I want to help witches like her who feel like they have no other options," she seemed saddened as her gaze wandered.
"I will do my best to relay your intentions." Roderick bowed respectfully.
"Sorry, I'm not great at conveying what I mean..."
He slammed his fist in the middle of his chest. "Trust me, she will know she has an ally who doesn't want to take advantage of her."
Aoife looked up to the sky before resting her gaze on him. "Thank you." Her voice was almost inaudible.
Roderick nodded and said, "you can thank me after I succeed."
"I will." A subtle smile appeared on her face.
...
"How much time do I have?" He asked.
"As much as you need. This is not something that can be achieved in a day."
"Indeed. You don't need me for anything else?"
She shook her head. "I contacted the old lady with the sole intention of finding someone for this mission. I have no real need of a uhm... I mean I haven't thought of any task besides this one."
"Yet?" He asked.
"Yet." She mirrored his smile.
"So, you didn't really need the Tears of the Lake?"
"It will be useful but it was more of a..."
"A test?"
"Yes." Aoife took out the pouch again. "Since this will be dangerous, I requested her to recruit someone to find those tears as both a test and a way to dramatically increase our chance of success."
"And how will they be useful?" Roderick recalled the strange phenomenon he had lived through and got closer to see the tears.
"It is said", she gave him the pouch, "that only the one who could retrieve the tears would know."
He took the tears and examined them, "Really? You think it's true?"
"They only shine after you touch them, there must be some truth to it", she grabbed one tear; it stopped shining while in her hand.
"That seems like a risky play to be honest."
"For you, as a witch, I can tell you that a magical relic of this order is worth great risks, even if we don't know how it'll serve yet", she put the tear in his hand and held his hands, "trust me, I can feel the power in these tears, keep them close at all time."
Roderick nodded, "I will." He hung the pouch to his belt. "You said 'of this order'? Are there other similar finds? I've never heard of anything similar to the Great Wolf Lake's phenomenon."
"None that are known", she placed her index finger on her lips and said, "factions go to great lengths to keep whatever they find secret."
"There's never a normal civilian who finds out?" He asked.
"Almost never and if there is, they are usually convinced to keep quiet about it."
"I see... so the Great Wolf Lake... why couldn't it be kept a secret?"
"I ignore why but I heard that those 'who know' were convinced it wasn't worth the trouble. No faction worth its salt has had any interest in sending people to retrieve those tears." Aoife eyes narrowed put her chin between her thumb and index finger. "I really don't know why but," she started rapidly tapping her index finger on her chin, "the event attracts so much attention anyway, it would have been impractical to try to hide it."
"Those who know?"
She closed her eyes and paused. "That is how I call them..."
"I'm not surprised even powerful groups wouldn't go after this." He looked at his pouch and sighed. "I was really desperate, huh? No one survived this..."
Aoife grabbed her right wrist with her left hand, "the old lady assured me that she'd only send someone whom she was sure would succeed!"
She materialized another pouch, "anyway, I'm glad you made it but it was risky indeed." She threw the pouch with coins toward him.
'Feeling guilty much?' He thought.
"Hey! You weren't forced to do it!"
'Could you stop reading my thoughts, please?' Roderick smirked at her.
She stomped her feet and walked away.
"Aoife! I was joking, are you just going to leave me here? How can I get to Clearwater Port if I don't even know where I am?" He quickly ran after her.
[...]
In The Kingdom of Greycastle, Seawind Region.
Weeks had passed since Roderick had parted ways with Aoife. He had travelled through the Kingdom of Dawn to reach the Kingdom of Greycastle. All along the way, he had taken a cautious approach, using disguises and fake names, travelling in random groups and mainly by riverboat, taking indirect routes, staying for days in some inns, just in case someone was tailing the one who had successfully retrieved the Wolf-King's Tears. He had also used that time to acclimate himself to the different localities and learn about their ways, he especially made an effort to acquaint himself with well-connected people.
Roderick was now to the northeast of his destination, Clearwater Port. He was travelling southwards with a rich merchant and his guard in a luxurious horse-drawn wagon. He had met that merchant during his stay at a well-known inn in the Kingdom of Dawn.
"Well, well, well, Roderick. Who would've thought some chance meeting would work out so well?!"
Roderick looked at his new associate, Balthazar Rover, a gregarious, heavyset gentleman wearing red satin clothes and said, "The feeling is mutual Balthazar." He smiled and was about to suggest opening a bottle of wine to commemorate their deal when the wagon abruptly stopped.
*Crash!*
"Seven Hells! Rufus!? Did you fall asleep?" Balthazar wanted to get out of the wagon but Rufus, his guard, had entered while gesturing them to keep quiet. One hand was covering his mouth while the other was behind his back.
"Sir Rover, bandits lie in wait please keep still for now."
"Oh, dear", Balthazar turned to Roderick and saw a fearful expression on his face, "what's going on, Roderick."
*Stab!*
"Balthazar!"
Roderick wanted to grab his sword but couldn't find it, "Damn it!", he slammed his fist on the bench.
Rufus cleaned his dagger on Balthazar's clothes, "sorry boss", he said, "at least it's the same colour, right?"
Roderick glared at him. Rufus, on the other hand, had a carefree expression on his face. "I need you to hand it over, now", he said after pushing Balthazar's motionless body to the side.
Roderick instinctively grabbed his pouch, "hand over what?", he asked while backing down.
"The wolf's tears, Roderick!"