The group gathered in the corner of the inn's common room, the atmosphere thick with the mix of excitement and anticipation. The clinking of mugs and the murmur of conversations filled the space as Reinhardt, Lea, Guil, and Inoue discussed their plan for the evening.
Reinhardt leaned in, his expression serious. "Lea and I will head into The Broken Dagger to gather information about Dross's whereabouts. With your bardic skills, Lea, you should be able to get people talking."
Lea nodded, her fingers idly strumming her lute's strings. "I'll do my best to charm some useful details out of the patrons. Hopefully, we can find a lead."
Guil looked over to Inoue. "While they're inside, we'll wait out here. Inoue, would you like to help me feed and clean Bramble?"
Inoue giggled at Guil's question. "You're too obsessed with that horse, Guil."
Guil laughed, shaking his head. "I just love animals. They're good company."
With a shared smile, Guil and Inoue stood up and made their way to the stables. As they exited the inn, Reinhardt and Lea began their preparations. They discreetly donned their disguises—a simple change of clothes and hats to avoid recognition. Reinhardt adjusted his cloak, while Lea checked the new, plain-looking lute slung over her shoulder.
At the entrance of The Broken Dagger, Reinhardt paused, surveying the bustling street. The tavern was known for its rough clientele and reputation, but it was also the place where secrets were often traded over drinks. He gave a curt nod to Lea.
"Ready?"
Lea grinned. "As ready as I'll ever be."
The pair stepped into the dimly lit tavern, the loud noise of raucous laughter and clinking glasses immediately enveloping them. The smell of ale and smoke hit them as they pushed through the heavy wooden door. Inside, patrons huddled in small groups, talking and drinking with little regard for discretion.
Meanwhile, outside the inn, Guil and Inoue made their way to the stables. Guil efficiently prepared Bramble's feed and cleaned out the stall, all the while chatting amiably with Inoue. She assisted with a mix of amusement and skill, clearly enjoying the task despite her teasing.
As they finished up, Guil looked over at Inoue. "Thanks for the help. I guess we should stay alert for any sign of trouble while waiting."
Inoue nodded, her eyes glancing toward the bustling street. "We'll keep an eye out. Hopefully, Reinhardt and Lea will have some useful information soon."
Guil and Inoue worked side by side in the stables, brushing Bramble's coat with steady, rhythmic strokes. The sounds of water and the horse's contented snorts created a calming ambiance.
Guil broke the silence, glancing up at Inoue. "Hey, Inoue," he started, his tone serious. "What do you think of Lea?"
Inoue paused, her brush hovering mid-air. "Why do you ask? What's on your mind?"
Guil's expression was grave. "I've been thinking. Lea seems to be hiding something from us."
Inoue looked puzzled. "Hiding something? What are you talking about?"
Guil leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Remember when we were camping in the woods? Lea mentioned something about being a Gunhild. And now, we've met the king, whose last name is Gunhild. Did you notice that slight grin she had when we received our rewards?"
Inoue's eyes widened in realization. "I hadn't thought of that," she admitted.
Guil continued, his tone more intense. "You're royalty Inoue. Only the royal family has red eyes and blonde hair is normal just isnt common. I didn't think much of your hair before, and i thought your eyes might be contacts. Now I realize it's something much bigger."
Inoue's face went pale. She recalled Sister Mary's warning from the orphanage: always keep your hood on and never reveal your dentity. She sat down on a nearby stool, her mind reeling.
Guil kneeled in front of her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Inoue, don't worry. I won't tell anyone about your real identity. That nun must have had her reasons for keeping this from you."
Tears formed in Inoue's eyes. She quickly wiped them away, her voice shaky. "How could Sister Mary keep this from me? I don't understand."
Guil gave her a comforting pat on the back. "It's okay. We need to stay on our toes around Lea from now on. Just act normal when we get back to the inn. We can't let this distract us from our mission."
Inoue nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Thank you, Guil. I'm really grateful you're here for me."
Guil offered a reassuring smile. "We're a team, remember? We face things together. We'll figure this out."
They finished with Bramble, the weight of their conversation hanging between them. As they headed back to the inn, their bond felt reinforced, their resolve strengthened by the new understanding and the challenges that lay ahead.
Back inside The Broken Dagger, the tavern was exactly as described—a shadowy, uninviting place in the lower quarter, frequented by those who preferred to remain unseen.
Lea moved toward the bar, her eyes scanning the room for anyone who might be of interest. Reinhardt stood nearby, his presence a silent warning to anyone who might think of causing trouble.
After ordering a drink, Lea began to play her lute softly, a gentle melody that drifted through the room. She knew that music had a way of loosening tongues, and she hoped it would work in their favor.
As she played, she listened carefully, catching snippets of conversation here and there. Most of it was mundane—business deals, complaints about the city—but then she heard something that made her pause.
"Dross? Haven't seen him in a while. Heard he's lying low after that last job made him rich."
Lea continued to play, pretending not to notice, but her heart raced. She glanced at Reinhardt, giving him a subtle nod. They were on the right track.
Reinhardt leaned against the bar, catching the eye of the man who had spoken. "Dross, you say? What's he up to these days?"
The man, a rough-looking type with a scar across his cheek, eyed Reinhardt warily. "Who's asking?"
Reinhardt smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Just someone who's interested in doing business with him. I hear he's good at what he does."
The man grunted, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. But if you're looking for him, good luck. He's not the kind of guy who likes being found."
Lea finished her song, the last notes lingering in the air as she turned to face the man. "Dont worry about our luck. We need to find him. Can you help us or not?"
The man hesitated, then nodded toward the back of the tavern. "Try the basement. That's where the real business happens. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Lea and Reinhardt exchanged a glance, then made their way toward the door at the back of the tavern. The tension was thick, but so was their resolve. This was their chance to finally confront Dross, to get the answers they had been seeking.
Reinhardt and Lea approached the basement door, the noise of the tavern fading as they descended the creaky steps. The air grew cooler and thicker, filled with the musty scent of old wood and stale beer. The basement was dimly lit by flickering lanterns, revealing a space cluttered with mismatched furniture and scattered crates.
Lea's eyes adjusted to the gloom as she scanned the room. The basement was less a proper meeting place and more a collection of disjointed tables and chairs. A few shady figures huddled in conversation, their voices low and guarded.
"Stay alert," Reinhardt murmured, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He led the way to a corner where a particularly grizzled man sat alone, nursing a mug of ale.
Lea cleared her throat as they approached. "Evening. We're looking for someone who might have information about Dross."
The man looked up, his eyes narrowing. "Dross? You're not the first to ask about him recently. He's a slippery one."
Lea smiled, leaning against the table. "We're prepared to pay for any useful information."
The man's gaze flickered to the bag of gold hanging at Lea's side. He tapped the table,
Reinhardt and Lea exchanged a look before Lea reached into her bag and pulled out ten gold coins, placing them on the table. The man's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he took the coins and slipped them into a pocket.
"Dross," the man said, his voice low, "he was part of a large slave trafficking ring. They'd kidnap elves, ghouls, humans—anyone they could capture—and sell them to the highest bidder. They made a fortune on a big deal years ago, but after that, Dross and most of his group vanished. Word is, though, that his old boss is still around the warehouse district."
Lea frowned. "The warehouse district? What should we watch out for?"
The man leaned closer, lowering his voice. "The warehouse district is rough. The people there don't take kindly to strangers poking around. Be careful. They're not afraid of dealing with anyone who gets in their way."
"Thanks for the tip," Reinhardt said, his tone firm but appreciative. Lea nodded in agreement, and they turned to leave.
As they climbed the creaky stairs back to the tavern's main level. Lea and Reinhardt exited the tavern and walked briskly back to the inn. The street was quieter now, the evening winding down as the city settled into a more subdued rhythm.
Reinhardt glanced at Lea. "We'll need to plan carefully for the warehouse district. It sounds like it's going to be a tough place to navigate."
Lea nodded. "Agreed. We'll need to be prepared for anything."
They arrived at the inn and quietly made their way to their rooms, careful not to attract attention. Once inside, they shared their information with Guil and Inoue, who listened intently.
"So, it looks like our next stop is the warehouse district," Guil said, rubbing his hands together. "Sounds like it's going to be challenging."
Inoue, her face thoughtful, added, "We should come up with a solid strategy. We need to be cautious and ready for anything."
The group spent the rest of the night discussing their plan, their excitement tempered by the gravity of the task ahead. As dawn approached, they prepared to face the dangers of the warehouse district, knowing that their next challenge would test their skills and resolve like never before.
Reinhardt and Lea arrived back at the inn, the night air cool against their faces as they approached the entrance. Guil and Inoue were waiting for them in the common room, their expressions a mix of relief and curiosity.
Guil's face brightened as he saw Reinhardt and Lea. "You're back! We were starting to get worried."
Inoue gave a warm smile, though her eyes were full of questions. "Did you find out anything useful?"
Lea nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, we did. But let's discuss it in our room. It's not something we want to say aloud."
The group moved upstairs, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting. They reached their room, a cozy space with a large table and a few chairs. Once everyone was settled, Reinhardt and Lea took turns explaining what they had learned.
"We spoke to an informant," Reinhardt began, "and it turns out Dross was involved in a large-scale slave trafficking ring. He and his group used to kidnap various beings—elves, ghouls, humans—and sell them off. After a big deal years ago, they disappeared, but the informant mentioned that Dross's old boss is still around the warehouse district."
Lea picked up the thread, adding, "The warehouse district is known to be a rough area. The locals there don't take kindly to strangers, so we'll need to be cautious. The informant warned us that it's not a place for the faint-hearted and that we should be prepared for trouble."
Guil listened intently, his expression darkening with concern. "Sounds like we're heading into dangerous territory. Do we have any leads on where exactly to find this boss?"
Reinhardt shook his head. "Not yet. The informant didn't provide a specific location, just the general area. We'll need to do some more digging once we get there."
Inoue nodded, her eyes thoughtful. "Then our next step is clear. We need to prepare ourselves for whatever might come next and be ready for a rough encounter."
Guil sighed, a mix of determination and apprehension in his gaze. "We'll face it together. If this boss is still operating, we have to make sure they're brought to justice."
With their plan laid out and their course set, the group settled into a quiet discussion about their next moves. They reviewed their equipment, ensured they had the necessary supplies, and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead.
As the night wore on, the room fell into a contemplative silence, each member of the group focused on the tasks that lay ahead. They knew the road would be perilous, but their resolve was firm. The next day would bring new trials, but for now, they rested, ready to face whatever awaited them in the warehouse district.