Eabha and Morihana eat breakfast in the noisy dining room the next morning and discuss the day ahead. Both are eager to begin the search for Dwiss, though neither is certain how to go about this without raising suspicions. And besides, there are certain things that need to be taken care of first. Like registering at Town Hall.
They are in the middle of putting together a schedule for the day when they notice the level of chatter around them decrease significantly. Looking up, they see a party of five--two men and three women--enter the dining room and take seats at a nearby table. As they do so, a tall, thin gentleman in grey pushes himself away from his table and leaves the room. Eabha and Morihana recognize one of the women as the bard who had entertained there the night before. They don't recognize her companions.
Gradually, the other patrons resume their conversations, though they continue to cast sidelong glances at the newcomers as they order and enjoy their breakfasts. It is difficult for Eabha and Morihana to tell if these people are esteemed, feared, or loathed by those around them.
A short while later, breakfast is disturbed once more, this time by the clatter of horses outside. Everyone in the room strains to see what is happening out the window.
Seconds later, a pristinely-dressed officer enters the dining room, approaches the party, and addresses a handsome, black-haired man.
"Mr. Shukup? Welcome to Cockermouth. You and your companions have been invited to the castle. The count wishes to meet with you there. A carriage is waiting outside."
The black-haired man nods, and the officer departs.
Morihana looks at Eabha and whispers, "A meeting with the count? They must be pretty important."
Eabha nods. "Let's follow."
The two women leave the dining room behind the mysterious party, and watch as they get into the carriage, which is accompanied by a squad of Elite Green Dragoons.
A noisy and excited crowd has gathered to watch.
Eabha, too, is a little awed by the sight of soldiers, some of the best and most highly-trained in the kingdom.
Some day, she thinks.
The carriage pulls away and the women watch it as it disappears down a bend in the road. About to head back into the dining room, they notice a youth selling newspapers nearby. Eabha and Morihana each buy one and quickly read.
Wednesday July 4, 1981
HERO RETURNS
A'mal Shukup returned to Cockermouth late yesterday. He and his companions brought news of the fall of Keswick and Rigg after a dangerous journey in the Wildlands.
Shukup departed Cockermouth very secretly about six weeks ago on a special mission for Count Mather. It is now believed that Shukup went to Keswick and Rigg with orders for the garrison there. One of his companions returned with news that Keswick was besieged with Wildhillmen and orcs two weeks ago. A company of Green Dragoons trying to reach Keswick was turned back last week when they met strong orc resistance.
Shukup, with the noble assistance of the Paladin Lorindel, was instrumental in the apprehension of several members of the elf/orc abominations that threaten our southern borders and trade. The abominations had infiltrated our town and murdered several citizens in the streets before Shukup and Lorindel confronted and slew these evil creatures.
It is also believed that Shukup and Lorindel were members of the army tactical squad that rescued the elvin heiress and royal ladies that were captured by the orcs when they slew Prince Waldeguard last spring.
Shukup's companions Lorindel and Priest Sarkoff failed to return and are believed to have given their lives for our safety.
In other news, the rat catcher, Ragest, is still at large. City officials have been unable to locate him in the sewers under the city. It is believed that he has fled the area.
It is market day in Cockermouth, and the main square is filled with stalls where merchants sell everything from weapons and armour to glass and jewellery. Countless pens contain chickens, goats, sheep and other livestock.
It's busy and noisy. Morihana, Eabha and even the wolf, Ashling, feel uncomfortable as they wander from stall to stall.
The women continue on to Town Hall where they register, more or less, all of their weapons. Eabha receives a mild lecture and is encouraged to enlist in the army when it is discovered that she has recently left a militia. Morihana promises they will "go by the recruiting office later."
From Town Hall, they are sent to the bank to deposit those weapons they will not be carrying with them. The cost of carrying all of their weapons is too high so they have to leave some behind. Morihana doesn't mind parting with her scimitar, at least temporarily. She is able to leave with her staff after convincing the clerk that it is nothing but a simple walking stick. Eabha, however, feels naked without her longsword. She was told she could keep her longbow, unstrung, in her room at the inn as she might be called upon to help defend the city against attack. Small consolation for losing her favourite weapon. She worries that she'll never see it again.
They did not even bother to bring their magic items with them.
It is around noon when Eabha and Morihana emerge from the bank, where they have deposited the weapons they will not be carrying. Ashling has been patiently waiting near the door. It's lunchtime and the women stop at a jeweller's stall to ask about a good place to eat. They inquire about The Green Lagoon to see if they can get any more information about the special spice used there, but the jeweller seems to have no idea what they're talking about.
As he lists several places in town that they might try, Eabha spots something odd in the crowd: a man with unnaturally bright blue eyes. But he disappears before she can really see him.
The jeweller is still speaking, telling them of a popular restaurant selling exotic food nearby, as Eabha looks around madly. But the man is gone.
They thank the jeweller and as they walk away, Eabha tells her friend what she saw. Morihana questions her, demanding details, but Eabha finds that she can't recall anything about the man except his eyes. Not knowing what to make of it, they sit down to enjoy a meal.
Shortly after lunch, as the women walk back out into Market Square, they are approached by a tall young man with broad shoulders, brown hair and hazel eyes. They recognize him as being a member of the party that was called away to the castle during breakfast.
He recognizes them, too. They make small talk for a few moments and agree to meet up again over dinner at The Green Dragon. Right now, he tells them, he's looking for a tailor. He needs to buy wedding clothes. Morihana asks him who is getting married but the man, whose name they still have not learned, is evasive. They help him locate a nearby tailor and watch him disappear into the shop.
The women are pleased with their new dinner plans; they suspect that this man and his friends are well connected and will yield the kind of information they are looking for. Morihana is more cautious than her friend and recommends that they do more listening than talking.
They wander about the market for a little while longer before deciding to go back to the inn, stopping at the stable on the way to visit their mounts.
But Cian and Chugi aren't in the stable. Neither is George's horse, and the stable boy Toomie is nowhere to be seen.
Back at the inn, they explain the situation to George, who is immediately concerned. Toomie is usually back by mid-afternoon, and so is now a couple of hours overdue. He gives the women directions to the paddock--out of town by the back gate, through an orchard and across a meadow--and fifteen minutes later, they find the spot.
Only, there are no horses.
Getting closer, Eabha catches sight of a bit of green fabric in the tall grass.
And lying in there, near a stone wall, is the young stable boy. He is breathing, but unconscious. A trickle of blood behind his ear indicates that he was probably struck from behind with a club, sap, or other blunt instrument.
Eabha stands from her position at the boy's side and scans the fields around her. It's then that she notices a small bit of movement behind a large bush a short distance off.
It's Bayard, George's horse.
The beast shuffles backwards as Eabha moves within ten feet of him. He stamps nervously at the ground, but she eventually wins him over and approaches him, stroking his neck and whispering familiar words under her breath.
Bayard isn't able to tell her much. The other horses were taken by a group of men, but he had been left behind because he'd fought back and been too much trouble for them. They fled to the east.
Eabha leads the horse back toward the spot where Morihana waits with Ashling, who sniffs eagerly at the ground, and the still unconscious boy. She tells her friend what little she has learned.
Morihana gets up and begins to study the ground around them, looking for signs of what happened there.
"There were three of them, probably human," she says. "All on horseback. Our horses were lead away, not ridden. Why would Chugi allow himself to be lead away?"
Eabha notes the anxiety in her friend's voice. Chugi is more than just a mount to the Druid.
"Don't worry," she tells Morihana. "We'll find them. First, though, we have to get Toomie to a doctor. Help me get him up on the horse."
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