32. Fenric
Time to get off the Dark Lady and do some reconnaissance at fucking last.
Despite the weather delays—including a sudden storm this morning that had delayed them docking, which nearly had Lirion crawling out of his skin—along with the prior multiday ship repairs, the trip hadn’t been all bad considering how frequently he got sexed up by the sexiest man in existence.
But still, it was good to be on dry land, sneaking about and just doing what he did best—shady shit.
Fenric adjusted his cloak, enjoying the bit of fur Belstrom had stitched on to protect his neck against the cool winds sweeping through Baza now the sun was setting.
Summer was dwindling fast, but while evenings in Bjornkill would still be comfortable and warm, Baza was much farther north.
The city would be seeing its first snowflakes in a month or two.
But short summers and bitterly cold winters didn’t stop Baza from being one of the largest port cities in the known world.
Huge and sprawling, the city took up most of the peninsula it occupied.
The main harbor and along the northern shore housed an entire community of houseboats, which largely contained the city’s poor.
Each boat was little more than a single room with a tiny clay stove and a tie to the land.
Meanwhile, the bulk of the city was lush and opulent, populated by multistory buildings with ornate trim. All the roads were neatly cobblestoned, and there were torches and oil lamps spread everywhere to light the broad avenues, welcoming travelers at any time of day.
“The rich get richer,” Fenric muttered under his breath, “and the poor get poorer.”
“Would you kindly bestow your musings once more?” Belstrom joined him at the railing, and he was dressed in thick trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, and a thick leather jerkin.
Fenric had just watched Rain, Malfas, and Maxie head off to see about finding temporary accommodations so they could sleep somewhere that didn’t rock with the wind and waves.
After sending back word of where they were to stay, everyone was to start scouting for where Count Pierres’s illegal sex ring operated.
It was the one serious drawback to their plan currently—they had no idea of the sex ring’s location.
They would need to do some information gathering and skulking about before they could formulate a plan to save Lirion’s sister.
Meanwhile, Hapi was currently getting all his skelebabies settled and out of sight below deck. There was no need to advertise that a necromancer was on board and get the city watch paying attention to them before they could start trouble.
Fenric lifted his face toward Belstrom and sighed. “Just feeling philosophical. You going in with me for reconnaissance?”
“I am. It has been several years since I last wandered the winding avenues of Baza, and treading these old paths will help refresh my memory when I must concoct our brilliant rescue scheme.”
Another person joined him at the rail and stepped in close, hand brushing along Fenric’s side, their shoulders pressed together.
He knew without looking who it was. Only Lirion stood like this, like he was a second away from cuddling against Fenric’s side.
Fenric hadn’t known what to think of this habit at first, thinking maybe it was a carryover from all the sex they were having.
Of course, Lirion would be more comfortable in his personal space because of it.
Their physical familiarity did and didn’t explain it, though.
Lirion had said nothing in response to Fenric’s little confession of caring about him.
The silence had left Fenric feeling a bit awkward at times, convinced those feelings of concern were perhaps one-sided and all Lirion saw him as was a warm meal and a means of saving his sister.
Fenric didn’t fault him. All of Lirion’s mind had to be on saving Aria.
And just maybe the only thing Lirion could offer Fenric was his body.
Regardless, Fenric was determined to take what he could get and not expect more. He had zero intention of calling the man out. If Lirion enjoyed being next to him, Fenric wasn’t about to shoo him away. If anything, the touch was nice.
Lirion frowned at the shoreline. “I need to go with you.”
“That’s fine.”
Tilting his head, Lirion looked at him quizzically. “No argument?”
“Why should I?”
“Because you can be incredibly overprotective and I’m not clearheaded where my sister is concerned?”
“Why you come at me with logic like that?”
A flock of seagulls let out a burst of angry cries farther down the dock, and Belstrom huffed a laugh, shoulders shaking. “To be equitable to Lirion, you do tend to be overprotective, Fen.”
“Shut up. I’m working on it, okay?” Fenric cleared his throat and tried to get this conversation back on track. “My instincts aside, I don’t know what your sister looks like. I know you said she has pink hair like you, but don’t most succubi have pink hair?”
“It’s a common trait,” Lirion admitted. The wind whipped across the deck of the ship, causing Lirion to pull his heavy cloak more tightly about his arms. Waves crashed against the docks and the odd wooden groan rose around them from one of the other ships moored nearby.
“I think the odds are good of that place having more than one succubus in there. So on the off chance we get a peek at her from a distance, I’d like to have you on hand to confirm it’s her. Surely they let people sit near windows; it’s free advertisement for them.”
“It is not a bad thought,” Belstrom mused. “Assuming we can even locate this illicit den.”
Lirion made a noise like a scoff. “It can’t be too hard. If it was, how would he get customers?”
Belstrom nodded and scratched his chin. “You make a superb point. A business endeavor that makes itself too exclusive is destined for failure.”
“Enough jawing,” Fenric said grumpily. “Let’s get moving.”
They descended to the dock and split up, with Belstrom wandering in one direction and Lirion following Fenric in another.
“Have you been to Baza before?” Fenric inquired as they moved into the crowds of people.
The sun was setting, but it seemed as if no one was in a hurry to head home just yet.
The shops and taverns were still doing brisk business.
Lamplighters were busy plying their trade, causing a mix of lights to pop into existence to chase back the dark.
Depending on the wealth of the shop owner, the lights were candle, oil, torch, or even some magic orbs casting a warm, colorful glow.
“No, I don’t like traveling this far north. Gets too cold and you have to wear too many layers just to stay warm,” Lirion complained.
Fenric smirked. “Are you a warm-weather incubus who prefers skimpy clothing?”
Lirion finally cracked a smile. “It’s either that or rely on my meal to give me some cuddles to keep me warm, and we both know how reluctant certain people are to cuddle.”
Fenric let out a mock groan while keeping an eye on anyone who seemed to be paying too much attention to Lirion. “You’re never going to let me live it down.”
“Nope. Never.”
But the smile Fenric had worked to put on Lirion’s lips faded as quickly as it had formed.
Since getting within a day’s journey of Baza, Lirion’s mood had become grim.
His normal playfulness was nowhere to be seen, but it was to be expected.
He’d been searching for his sister for so long and he was finally on the cusp of finding her.
All his focus was on getting her free and making sure she was safe.
“What about you?” Lirion asked as they paused at a street corner that presented them with a motley of options.
Directly in front of them was a cathedral dedicated to Yerin, the goddess of marriage, while on their left were two different brothels.
The final corner of the crossroads held a small shop that appeared to specialize in ointments and lotions.
They probably did brisk business thanks to the brothels.
“I’ve been here a few times and know the general lay of the city. I’ve got a few ideas of where Count Pierres might be operating, but there’s someone I want to consult first. An information broker who is good at having all the dirt on who’s doing what illegally around town.”
If he was lucky, Tookie hadn’t changed his office location.
Well, “office” was being used very loosely.
Tookie had a corner in the open market next to the wharf where he normally sat and doled out wisdom.
On the surface, he sold string bracelets, just cheap little trinkets he wove between customers.
However, when Fenric and Lirion reached his spot, he wasn’t there.
“Damn,” Fenric muttered under his breath.
“What’s wrong?” Lirion asked as he peered down the block.
“He’s moved. I can’t imagine he’s out of business altogether. He was the most reliable informant in the city.”
“Let’s ask some of these other vendors. They look like they’ve been here a while. They might know something.”
Fenric nodded at Lirion’s suggestion and pointed for him to take the other side of the street.
Cursing his luck, Fenric started asking other vendors in the market.
It didn’t take him long, thankfully. An old man selling meat-and-pepper skewers directed him to another market closer to the city center.
An interesting change of locations, to be sure, but Fenric hoped that meant the man had found some success and been able to upgrade his business.
“Got it!” Fenric announced as he shoved a wood skewer of meat and green peppers into Lirion’s hand.
The incubus stared at the skewer, his brows lifting toward his hairline. “I thought we were looking for someone named Tookie, not dinner.”