Very loud argument woke Tia up from her sleep. She carefully looked around the room she was sleeping in but it seemed like she was safe. At least for now. She put her clothes on and decided to check what was going on on the ground floor. Her wolf was still sleeping so she let it rest.
When she arrived on the ground floor, she saw two men. The innkeeper and someone she hadn't seen yet. "I'm telling you we need to leave the city as soon as possible!" the stranger shouted.
"I can't leave! Brother you know how much money and time it cost me to build this inn..."
"It will also cost your life if you won't leave!" before he could respond to that, they realized someone arrived into the room and both of them looked at Tia.
"Sorry, my brother didn't want to wake you up." The innkeeper said, the stranger was annoyed and turned back to his brother.
"This is your last chance. I'm telling you something really bad will happen soon." but he realized there was no point in trying to convince his brother after the angry stare he received from him. "Fine, keep in mind I've warned you." then he left.
"What happened?" Tia asked him, but the innkeeper waved his hand.
"Don't mind it, you wouldn't probably understand anyway." he then continued with his work, totally ignoring Tia's confused face. She went back to her room, packed her things and woke up her wolf. Then she headed to the city.
After walking a little she arrived to the quarantine. She was observing the Poor District from the distance. She needed to create a good plan how to get in and out of that part of the town without getting shot by guards. The first idea was to get over the walls at night, but she quickly rejected it. Then the two wagons full of supplies arrived and the guards assembled around the gate. The gate opened after they were sure it's safe. Tia could see how the Poor District looked like. Burnt houses, beggars on the street, dead animals. It was terrifying. Four guards walked in and the wagons followed them. When they got far enough from the gate, two guards stacked up the goods on wooden platform and then they quickly returned back to the safe part of the city. The gate was closed immediately.
This entire scene gave Tia an idea. All she had to do was get into the wagon before it arrives to the gate. "How do I get out though..." she asked herself. Then something strange happened. Group of masked people appeared and walked to the guards. One of the strangers said something quietly to the leader and then handed over a big leather purse. Then the guard smiled and ordered other guards to leave. When they left, the masked people took their place instead. Group of residents were surprised by it too.
"What is going on? Are they even guards?" she could hear these questions coming from the crowd next to her. She realized it was probably the best time to leave before something happens.
*
Anju was taken to an abandoned warehouse. She locked the door behind him and then finally revealed herself. She had long red hair and face of a human, but he sensed demon power radiating from her. "Who are you?" he asked her.
"My human name is Cass," she then cancelled her spell and her face got suddenly demon like. Her eyes turned red, her face features were more sharp and her teeth were longer, "but my real name is Yashara."
"You already know who I am. But still.. my name is Anju." She smiled with excitement in her eyes.
"The oldest son of the demon lord, what a pleasure to meet you." He ignored her comment.
"So, who are you and what do you want here?" he leaned on wooden crate while she sat in front of him.
"Im a daughter of the leader of this city." she frowned. "That's why we had to go here, I mustn't be seen in public." He was surprised.
"I would expect someone from such a powerful family to have more freedom."
"I used to have that. But then it changed." she sighed. "That's why I needed to talk with you... I need your help Anju." she said while she looked into his eyes.
"My help?" he was curious.
"There is very influential criminal organisation in Melisse and they have been blackmailing my father." her voice was suddenly sad. "We suspect that they even got the disease into the town."
"That sounds more like a job for the town guards, not me." he said with neutral face.
"We can't trust guards with this, those thugs have men everywhere. Please Anju, my father can be really generous man."
"I would love to help you but I'm busy with my own problem right now."
"Maybe we could help each other, I know this city perfectly and you are strong enough to get rid of some bad guys." But he wasn't that interested in this idea.
"I will think about it... is that all you wanted to talk about?" she disappointedly looked at him and jumped back on her legs.
"People of Melisse need you Anju.. I need you." she said, put on her cape and left the warehouse. Anju sighed, everything was getting more difficult every day.
*
It was evening already and Tia arrived in front of the inn she stayed at last night. She opened the door but what she saw terrified her. The innkeeper was sitting on the floor with his back leaning on wall, beaten, his face was covered in blood. She immediately ran to him. "Who did this to you?" but he looked into her eyes with hatred.
"I am supposed to deliver you a message." he said and coughed. "Those men told me to say this: Meet us at the Dragon Inn tonight or we will spread the disease all over the town." she was shocked.
"What? Who said it?" he coughed again, but this time he spat out blood.
"There are thugs that rule over this city, they gave me this message. Now get the fuck out of my inn, I don't want you to cause me more trouble."
"But I.."
"Get out!" he shouted with his last strength and she did what he told her to. After hearing this message she realized why some masked people appeared at the quarantine today... and that reason creeped her out.
*
After wandering a little through the city she found the Dragon Inn. There were two elves standing in front of the entrance. As she got to them, they blocked her way. "Leave your wolf outside, human." She looked at them.
"I don't think I will." she answered with an angry voice.
"Oh you will, at least if you wanna save residents of this city." they both started laughing. She got down on her knees and whispered to her wolf's ear:
"Run away from this place, I will find you when I'm done here." the wolf somehow understood what she told it and ran away. Then they let her go inside.
The inn was crowded. All possible races were sitting at the tables and minding their own business. At first she didn't know where to go, but then one lizard man showed her with his finger to come to him. He was sitting at the biggest table with four more men. Everyone looked at her when she arrived to them. "Please, take a seat." he said and chuckled. She did as he said. "Want any drink?"
"What do you want from me?" she asked him, ignoring his previous question.
"Right to the main topic huh, I like it." then the other person talked, it was an elf.
"Don't take it personally but we got paid a lot of gold for you." she got scared.
"By who?" but he shaked his head.
"Sorry, can't tell ya girl." then he pulled out an iron dagger and thrusted it into the wooden table. "I suggest you won't make any problems, am I right?" everyone started laughing, except her. She looked around the inn, looking for a possible escape, but a big humanoid-wolf creature smirked.
"It's too late girl, your fate was sealed right after you walked in, every person here works for us." and they laughed again. She might had been able to defend herself against those rascals at the table, but not against the entire inn. Then the elf snapped his fingers and everyone stood up with weapons in their hands.