Eli.
It took a long time to navigate the complicated streets and bridges and shops until I got to Farth Street. When I arrived it did live up to its name. It was dark and the shops sold everything outside from fresh body parts to crying people.
I ignored them all. There was nothing I could do for them as much as it broke my heart. My sister could though, as queen she could and she would fix everything. I would help her. We would make this better together.
The door I was searching for had a bell that tinkled as it opened. Too cheerful for the area or the business therein. Inside was smoky, and a light scent carried on the air. Lavender, maybe. A young voice called from deep in the shop, "Can I help you?"
I scanned the room searching for the source of the sound and didn't see anyone. "Yes, I'm looking to speak with the apothecary."
The voice laughed and a man emerged. He was handsome, with elegant features and Mat'ar from his beautiful golden eyes. Mat'ar are an ancient race of people said to be from Lumis, the city to the north east. "That's me, what is it that I can help you with sire?" He motioned to a chair in front of a small bubbling pot. I looked down at his hands for the telltale sign of a brand or mark signifying he's part of the slave class, most Mat'ar have been enslaved since the days of my great great great great great... well, since a very long time ago. This man had no such mark, which was rare.
The man noticed my glance and frowned at me. Taking a seat I put down a large bag of coin. "I'd like to hire your services, not as an apothecary, as a sorcerer," I began. The man eyed the coin warily.
"For what would you be seeking my help?" He responded evenly.
"I'm seeking to liberate a woman from the Aviary." I stated plainly.
The apothecary burst out in laughter. "Whoever she is, she's not worth it. If you'd like to meet a pretty woman, I can introduce you to ten just on this street." He answered, waving his arm in an arch out towards the street, when he caught his breath. He wasn't wrong about the ten women, I'd seen at least that many chained up outside. Their golden eyes would haunt my dreams tonight.
I frowned, "Can you help me or not?"
The man stood up, "no" and gestured for me to leave his shop. I picked up my coins, pocketed them and without saying anything walked outside. That cheerful tinkling bell mocking me with every step away I took from the help I needed to rescue her. The presence was still there when I stepped back out into the dark alleyway though so I hurried back to my inn, but whoever was following me never stepped from the shadow.
I heaved a relieved sigh when I was back in my temporary home upstairs behind a locked door. If I was robbed I only had a finite amount of funds with me to fund my sister's rescue and I needed every coin to accomplish it.
Eiríkr.
The foolish man was obviously the missing prince of Salva, with his distinctive blonde curls and mesmerizing green eyes characteristic of the Royal family. The royal family is loved... and hated, in equal measure. Running around in the open like that is an easy way to lose your head to an agitated hungry bystander.
He must think that the princess is in the Aviary, trapped in that old hag's Birdcage. It's been months since the throne was usurped, and nobody has seen the princess since the night of her birthday and would-be coronation. More intelligent men than prince Eli have been searching for her tirelessly, and more tactfully than the prince, without results.
Another knock sounds on the door to the apothecary, and a man in a dark garb enters to the tinkling of bells. "Updates?" he gruffly asks, "not tonight" I answer with ease. He nods stiffly and turns to leave.
I turn to extinguish the lanterns all over the shop before locking the door and making off to get myself some dinner.