By the end of the day, I was exhausted especially from my third bell class- swordsmanship. I had been paired with Maverick Beckman who I had been once been engaged to. He was still as vile as he was back then and training had never bent him to kindness. He was a long swordsman so he had the advantage. I wasn't used to blocking with a shield- my father had never made me practice with one. The whole class had been disheartening indeed. I knew the Swordsmaster had paired me with him as a test to see if I could work around all his strengths.
Even with the physical exhaustion, my mind turned back to the Halfling lioness in the dungeons. I lit my lantern and went to my desk where Xavier's notes were and opened it hoping to gain more understanding why they were pressing her for more information. Who was the Blood Moon mercenaries? Why were we looking for their leader?
I scanned through his elegant writing learning that the Blood Moon ban was a ban of werewolves that had grown into power dating older than the forming of Reytor and the firsts kings. Back when we hadn't become a country, but had been ruled by warlords.
The ban passed down from father to son for centuries. Because of how long the ban has been around going village to village, their wealth is abundant. They rule the lower city and don't fear the government or the blow back as they feel they have eyes everywhere in the lower city.
As I read, my thoughts turned to Sasha. I sprung from my chair and looked in my dresser for my black cloak. Perhaps visiting her would quiet my thoughts.
I heard my maid's adjoining door open on a squeak of its hinges.
"Where are you going in such a rush, Lady Eveline?"
Worry was written all over her face.
"I'm going to go check on Sasha and Twill. Don't fret. I'll be back in a few hours."
"As you wish, my lady," she said.
She shut her door gently. I left quietly. It was strictly forbidden after curfew to leave the inner circle, but after today's events in charm speaking class, it would put my mind at ease to see Sasha and Twill were alright.
For being forbidden, sneaking out of the inner circle was quite easy. There were only a few guards patrolling the wall and most were busy talking idly to pay close attention to me sneaking about.
The upper city was somewhat busy especially where there was a tavern. When I came to the gate of the lower city, I was surprised to see the oak one dropped leaving it so I could slip through the metal bars with ease. Once I was through, I brought up the cowl of my cloak and trudged through the mud towards one of the taverns hoping to find Sasha.
The air reeked of garbage and horse manure with the faint smell of wood burning in fireplaces. The first pub was easy to find. It was named Dragon's Tongue Tavern and seemed to be boiling with life until I walked in. All eyes were on me and a whispered roared around the business using only a single word. Nephilium. I walked up to the bar keep with all the confidence I could muster.
��Have you seen a she wolf and her brother in here tonight?"
He was a heavier set man with balding peppered hair and blue eyes.
"Seem to be a bit lost, Nephilium," he said as he dried out a glass. "Your kind only ever bring trouble to us."
"Please, sire. She's a friend."
He snorted.
"If she was truly your friend, you'd know where to find her. Now get lost Keltcher scum. You can't intimidate me."
Keltcher? Was that a new term for the Nephilium that the Dark Bloods used?
I understood why they hated us especially when they were made to live in such conditions. Even our poor had better housing than these folks. I knew he wasn't going to give me any information so I slipped a silver Noble from my pocket and slid it on the counter for his trouble before leaving. If she wasn't at the other tavern, I would try again tomorrow. The lower city was small so it shouldn't be that hard to find her.
As I walked across the lower city, I saw citizen's shut their curtains in fear, quickly step out of my way, or flat out run from my presence. I knew we were hated, but why did they fear me as if I could let loose the fury of hell on them?
The other pub was across town towards the back gate and called the Lonely Dove Tavern. The crowd here wasn't as rowdy as the one across town. I walked in and no one seemed to care. I finally caught a glimpse of her in the far back corner.
"Sasha," I greeted.
Her head snapped to where I was standing looking feral for a moment before her expression softened.
"Eve, sit!" she said scooting over in the booth to give me room.
I scooted in wondering if she was still on edge that much because she thought her pack was still hunting her.
"What are you doing here so late?" she asked.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright."
She smiled weakly. "It isn't that bad here. Quinn got us settled nicely. Why what's wrong?"
"I just wanted to check in."
Food arrived at the table- a whole cooked Cornish hen with mashed potatoes and greens. My stomach growled lightly.
"If you are hungry you can have a bite," said Twill.
"Can I get you anything?" asked the tavern wench that had to be an elf with as long and pointed as her ears were.
"A warmed mead please."
She stood there awkwardly and I immediately knew my mistake. She needed to be paid before she grabbed me a drink. I got two Copper Nobles out and gave them to her as payment. She left without another word.
"You risked much just to come check on us," said Twill between bites.
"I just wanted to make sure you two were alright. I felt as if I abandoned you."
"What rattled you, Eve?" asked Sasha.
I sighed and looked at both of them. Perhaps they could help me.
"For one of my classes today, we interrogated a Halfling Mountain Lioness. It just made me worry about you two is all. I needed to make sure you were safe."
She locked eyes with Twill. Had they heard something?
"What is it?" I asked.
She shook her head. "We're just surprised to hear of another Halfling being here. Why are they interrogating her?"
Could I trust them with this information? I had already said too much by letting them know she was our prisoner.
"We're looking for the leader of the Blood Moon Mercenaries. I don't know how she's involved," I whispered.
Again I saw her lock eyes with Twill as if they were communicating silently.
"Sasha, please tell me what you know."
"The Blood Moon protects us," she whispered.
I cocked my head to one side because I was sure I hadn't heard her right.
"They are a ban of thieves and murders."
She shook her head vigorously. My drink arrived.
"You have to believe me," she whispered. "They protect us from the real threat."
"What threat?"
Before she could say more, a figure slid in beside Twill.
"Out a bit late aren't you, Nephilim?" he asked.
I looked at him and realized he was the man that had chased me out of the lower city yesterday- Quinn.
"What business is it of yours?"
He bent himself half way across the table so his face was mere inches from mine.
"Your kind bring nothing but trouble for the Dark Bloods," he sneered.
I took a sip from my tankard trying to not show he intimidated me knowing I was failing horribly as my hands were shaking even as I sat the cup down.
"It's my duty to protect-"
"If that's the case, release Aslan back to the lower city," he said cutting me off.
He knew her name without me even mentioning her. Was he part of the ban in some way or even its leader? No- there was no way the leader would come talk to me directly. I tried to see if he had a tattoo that they all had of a bleeding star somewhere on him but his long sleeves and the deep cowl of his hood hid everything other than his hands and his face. Quinn was the same name Aslan had given up today. How common a name was it among the Dark Bloods?
"And what would that prove?"
"That you could be trusted," he said simply. "And I'd make a powerful ally, Nephilium."
"How would I even begin to get her out of the dungeons?" I asked.
He smirked. "Your cunning. I'm sure someone like you will figure it out."
With that he left. I heard the far off toll of midnight. It was time to head back to my room and sleep over tonight's events. I bid Twill and Sasha farewell before slipping back to the inner city.