Chapter 13
"So you think what splashed on that wall was a person..."
"Yes, that definitely wasn't a large bird, like you assumed," Maiq said to Shiro and Chaska.
"I was there, I can confirm," Franka said, riding alongside as their carriage moved into the city.
"Unless that large bird you were picturing was featherless and wore clothes. I saw it. Bits of it splashed on me on impact. I literally watched the mush fall."
"That had to be a horrible sight," Shiro said. "How did that even happen?"
Maiq shrugged. "How am I supposed to know?"
However it happened, they'd all agreed on one thing: whatever caused the chaos had been moving at high speed through the air, a dozen meters above the line, its displaced air wrecking everything below it.
Shiro couldn't help picturing someone launched from a giant slingshot, though he wasn't sure how else to make sense of it.
"Flight ability, maybe," Franka theorized. "That's the only thing I can think of." She mimed with one hand something flying parallel to the ground, and with the other, a wall. "Flew from wherever, then splattered right into that."
That made more sense than the slingshot, but still. "That's a dumb way to die," Shiro said.
"It sure is. Aren't flight skills and abilities supposed to be hard to get for awakened humans?" Maiq asked.
"Yeah, for martial classes it's basically a dead dream, but for magic-focused ones it can happen. Even then, it's not handed out to just anyone."
"The way that guy or girl pulled it off made it look like it's handed out to just about anyone."
"Maybe they were testing out a newly acquired skill or ability."
"That would explain and excuse the death a little," Shiro said, then reconsidered. "Nevermind, still an impressively dumb way to go."
"Definitely. Could've toned down the speed a bit," Maiq said. "The dead bastard wrecked seven of my wagons with the chaos he caused."
"It did get your nephew and his wares out of trouble faster, though," Franka teased.
Ironic as it was, while you could blame the mysterious individual who'd gone mach speed into a wall for the carnage that cost half the people in line their carriage, horses, or vaulters, you could also credit him with speeding up a process that apparently hadn't even existed as a bottleneck a few days earlier.
"Don't put it like I meant it that way."
"Aw, why so prudish about that side of you," Franka teased. When Maiq urged her to knock it off, she relented. "Alright, sorry, forgot we had guests." She glanced at Chaska and Shiro, who was busy taking in the city.
"Welcome to Eudeussac, both of you, by the way," Maiq said.
Behind the tall walls was a city that felt, to Shiro, like an outright blessing, especially after days spent surrounded by nothing but distant horizon. He'd finally reached what his heart had been aching for: civilization at last.
The moment their wagon crossed the threshold of the massive iron gates, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The gravel road gave way to a dense, interlocking pattern of cobblestones, and the wagon began to rattle in a new, rhythmic, frantic rhythm.
Shiro watched in amazement as the city unfurled around them, a labyrinth woven from stone, plaster, and heavy timber frames. Out here in the outer sections, the houses spread horizontally along narrow streets, built from pale clay and capped with steep, red-tiled roofs.
Looking further ahead, toward the distant inner rings, he could see the landscape changing. Far off, grander buildings of dressed limestone rose several stories into the sky.
The symphony of city life rushed in to meet them: the rhythmic clatter of hooves on paving stones, the distant, steady clang of a blacksmith's hammer, and the melodic chime of bells that his mind immediately tied to a temple, its spire just barely visible above the crowded rooftops in the distance.
While he was taking in everything the city had to offer, he noticed Maiq and Franka watching him. Even Chaska had joined in. "What?"
"What's up with that look," Franka asked.
"What look?"
"You were staring at the world like a country bumpkin who's never seen a real city in his life."
"Of course I have. I think."
"What's that supposed to mean? You either have or you haven't."
"That sounded like a textbook country bumpkin denial."
"Now that you mention it," Maiq said, "you did say you'd been living a reclusive life. What village are you from?"
Shiro glanced at Maiq with a raised brow, seeing through the man's attempt at a casual question. He was clearly still trying to figure out what made him special enough for Anya to care about. "Be subtler next time."
"I went through the trouble of bringing you safely into this city, shouldn't—"
"Don't play the fool, you got paid for that. Handsomely, I'd say."
The man let out a "tch," then declared, "I did my part of the job. You two can manage on your own now."
"Come on, don't pout on me, buddy," Shiro said, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "I still need you for something very important."
Maiq's eyebrow rose with interest, wrongly assuming this would finally give him a hint about what he wanted to know. Shiro just smiled, then said, "I need directions."
"Directions where?"
"Where do you think I could find, erm, you know, ladies. Ladies who do things for a living."
"You mean brothels?"
"Hush, hush," Shiro urged, waving him quiet. "Yeah."
"We just walked into the city and that's already where your head's at—" Maiq started, then gave up halfway through. "Well, I suppose that just makes you a healthy man."
Shiro could only nod tragically at that. The guy had no idea he was thinking about brothels precisely because he wasn't a healthy man.
"You got money?"
"Of course."
"How much?"
"Reasonably enough, I think."
"If you're confident in your funds," Maiq said, "then I've got a suggestion for you." With that, the merchant rattled off names, directions, and a few actual recommendations, all of which Shiro carefully committed to memory.
"But honestly, I'd suggest you two find a place to stay first. Neither of you has anywhere lined up, right?
" He glanced at Chaska, who Shiro only now noticed had been watching them the whole time.
"Then head to a temple to look into whatever's going on with her.
Actually, I think you should start with that. "
"We'll find a place to stay first," Chaska declared. "I'm fine."
"Whatever suits you," Maiq said dismissively, then asked, "Need a suggestion for a place to stay? I have one."
"I'll take you up on that." For another dozen minutes or so, they rode through the city, until Maiq finally stopped the carriage and announced this was where they parted ways.
"Leave it, I'll carry it," Shiro insisted, as Chaska tried to shoulder her own bag while climbing down.
He understood her hesitation about him carrying her precious skull, though he'd gotten used to the weight of it by now, and honestly, what was there to worry about?
He still had zero interest in stealing the thing.
"I'll carry this too," he added, slinging over his shoulder the holster carrying her three pistols.
"Good lord," Maiq said. "I was somewhat nervous about dropping a country bumpkin like you into this wild urban jungle, but seeing you like this, I realize it's the city's people I should be worried about."
"Yeah, yeah, real funny."
"Anyway, that's it for me. See you around, or not, I suppose. I'll be packing up my caravan and clearing out of the city in two days. Unlikely our paths cross again, unless, nevermind, just rambling. Keep your wits sharp and your coin purse hidden. Goodbye."
"Bye, Maiq," Shiro waved, as the merchant urged his carriage forward, leaving Franka to say her own goodbyes. "Say hello to the kids for me," Shiro called out to her, before turning to Chaska. "Shall we find this place, then?"
Given how inconspicuous he looked hauling around an arsenal of deadly weapons, it was something of a relief that it didn't take them long to find the place Maiq had suggested. Tucked away on a street thick with the smell of fresh bread and blooming jasmine, they spotted it.
Standing by the steps leading to the entrance was a young girl, maybe fourteen, in a clean apron, leaning heavily against a wooden sign, using it to prop up her head while she indulged in a mid-morning nap on her feet.
He and Chaska stood there a beat, impressed she hadn't managed to snap her own neck in such a precarious position, until a very deliberate cough from Chaska woke her. She wiped a stray line of drool from her cheek, clumsily, her groggy eyes widening the moment they landed on the two of them.
"Good morning, gentlefolk! Or, is it afternoon already?
" the girl asked, her voice snapping back into a practiced, professional lilt.
She straightened the sign, which bore an intricate painting of a colorful bird tangled among branches.
"If you're looking for a room, you've found the right nest. Our second-floor suites offer a magnificent view of the pretty five-story house two doors down, and we've got baths that can run as hot as dragon's breath, if that's your wish.
" She rattled off the services with practiced, almost robotic efficiency, before her eyes lit up with something more genuine.
"And the food! I personally recommend the Savory Mea—" She cut herself off abruptly, having apparently just noticed what he was carrying. Guns.
"A room will be a fine start," Chaska declared, everything out of her mouth sounding like a declaration of some kind.
The girl hesitated, glancing warily at Shiro, who smiled as warmly as he could manage. "Right away," she said, motioning for them to follow as she led them in. "Boss, we've got guests, they want a room!" she practically shouted the second she crossed the threshold.
The two of them stepped through the double doors into an expansive lobby with high ceilings and thick wooden beams. The room mixed dark hardwood floors with stone walls, dimly lit by wall-mounted lamps.
The steady glow felt oddly familiar to Shiro.
If not for the difference in color, he'd have sworn it came from the same blue material he'd seen lining the dungeon walls.
Past the decor, he noticed the arrangement of tables and chairs suggesting the space doubled as a restaurant.
The dining tables sat empty for now, though a few patrons occupied a cozy seating area off to the right, settled into armchairs plush enough to swallow a person whole, atop a thick red rug, nursing drinks and murmuring in low, rhythmic conversation.
Following the girl to the grand bar with its gleaming countertop across from the entrance, they were greeted by the man behind it.
"Welcome to the Bower's Nest," he said as they reached him.
Despite understandably eyeing what Shiro was carrying, his voice stayed steady, coming from a tall, middle-aged man with a welcoming smile that reached his eyes.
"I'm Headbird, the owner. Some folks just call me the Head-Bird, feel free to do the same. You're looking for a suite, I hear?"
"Two, actually," Shiro chimed in, keeping his voice low, feeling like he needed to establish he wasn't some bloodthirsty psycho despite appearances. "For a few days."
He reached for the coins in his pouch. Chaska reached for hers too. "I'll pay."
"No, it's fine, I've got it. Honestly, I've got too much money," he teased, holding up his full purse.
"Where'd you get that?" she frowned. He didn't answer, just gave her a smile that let her guess it herself. "Her?"
A raised eyebrow was his only confirmation.
"What did you do to her to make her pay you?" she frowned harder.
"Ah, that's a secret," he smiled, sorting through the coins in his pouch before realizing he had absolutely no idea what any of them were actually worth.
Noticing that, he asked the owner, setting a coin on the counter, the third largest of the three coin types he was carrying. "How long will this cover us for? Your best rooms, please," he specified.
The owner's eyes widened at the golden glint of the coin. He pressed a finger against it, as if confirming it was real.
"For a T'.Baelor, we can offer you both five full days of our premium package," the owner replied, his tone taking on an even more polished lilt.
"Five days," Shiro said, watching Chaska's frown deepen.
"For this," he said, tapping the coin, "each of you gets a second-floor suite. You're welcome to inspect them first. Grand four-poster canopy beds, a private writing desk, and a view that'll wash away the trials of the road."
Curious, Shiro asked, "What are your bathrooms like?"
"Did I forget to mention? It's included in the room. Toilet, sink, and a bathtub spacious enough for a noble. Most inns in this region will have you scrubbing in a cold basin, but here we've got the latest technology, so the water comes out warm, lukewarm, or cold, exactly as you wish."
Perhaps sensing Shiro was the better target for his sales pitch, the man continued.
"That's not all. On top of guaranteed breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you'll get a half-price discount on our Savory Meadow Combo, which is divine, I assure you, you'll want it every single dinner.
Our cook was born for the hearth. And to top it off, we've got the best bard in the city performing right here in the lobby every five days," he said, gesturing toward the cozy seating area with its small podium.
"You'll have the best seat in the house to wash it all down with wine while he performs."
He tapped the gold coin once more. "In short, Master—"
"Shiro."
"In short, Master Shiro, the five days you'll spend here will be worth every bit of that T'.Baelor."
"We might not even stay two days in this city," Chaska suddenly declared, drawing surprised looks from both Headbird and Shiro.
"We might not?!" Shiro asked. This was news to him. When had they decided that? He leaned toward her. "Is this a strategy to get him to lower the price, or do you actually mean to find another inn? Or leave the city entirely?"
"Not without you."
That was a fairly romantic declaration, but since he knew exactly why she was saying it, he could only grimace at her. "I'm not leaving this city in under three days. We just got here."
"Five?"
"Nuh-uh."
"Six? Seven? Eight days?"
Shiro turned to the owner and slapped down another coin. "Give us ten days." She practically glared daggers at him for that.
"At once, Master," the owner declared, pocketing the coin before it could be reconsidered. "Let me show you to your rooms."
Chaska shot him a murderous look. "We need rest," he said, poking mock-seriously at her shoulder. She stepped back, proving his point. "Especially you. And I—well I need time to sort out several deeply personal issues."