It is well past dawn. The city is already bustling. The market stalls are set up and the goods are put on display. The sun, late as always, climbs over the hills to the east, sending its warming rays into the streets of the western part of town at the sea.
The fishers are done for the day. The boats are tied to the piers and most fishers are at home already. Only a few still work on the nets after a night of fishing.
It is a city like many others and the view from the bell tower of the temple of Abadar is an idyllic one. The acolyte rings the bell four times to greet the day, and tell the city that the temple is now open for business. And many other businesses, that use this signal too.
"Bring me my purse, dammit. Do I have to spell everything out for you? Hurry." Persephone's stepmother shouts. She is preparing to go to the market together with Persephone's ten year old step brother.
"You are useless. I wonder why I still feed you. I should throw you out to live on the street."
Persephone finishes tying her brother's shoelaces and then limps to the nightstand in the bedroom to fetch the purse.
Actually its only a plain wooden chair acting as a nightstand as the beautiful interior of her real parents bedroom was mostly sold. This stupid woman she is stuck with gave everything away piece by piece for a few gold to get past another week.
And even though Persephone has to do all the work and is the only one with a job that actually earns some money everything is her fault. She had it with this insufferable woman. Today this will end.
Checking the content of the purse, she takes an almost empty but still heavy perfume flacon out of it and puts a dagger in. Weighing the purse in her hand a smile hushes over her face.
The eyes turned to the ground she walks back to her stepmother and hands her the purse.
"It's about time." the stepmother barks. "When I come abck the floor is clean and the toilet is scrubbed. Just because I'm out of the house doesn't mean you get to dawdle."
"Come Lionel, darling. We go now." she tells, takes the boy's hand and walks to the door with him. As she takes the door handle, she stares back at Persephone with all the disgust that is in her cold heart.
Lionel sticks his tongue out at Persephone.
Then they leave the manor house in direction of the market.
Persephone waits a moment. As she hears the steps moving away she walks over to the door and peeks through the keyhole. As she is sure the opening of the door won't be seen, she grabs the grey cloak from the clothes tree and follows outside.
She knows where her stepmother will go to. She doesn't need to follow. She can take a different route and be there before her. She hides in a narrow alley between two houses with line of sight to the stand where her stepmother always buys apples.
Persephone's stepmother walks with an upright proud posture through the streets. She knows she if a fraud, but the facade of it is still standing. For those outside she is still the wealthy widow that was once married to a respectable business man. The only ones to know, is the clerk who manages her bank account and the man she sells the silverware to.
"Three pounds of your sweet apples please." she says with her sweetest smile to the man behind the table.
"That'll be 12 copper." the man replies as he collects the eight most beautiful apples from the stack.
Persephone's stepmother opens her purse without looking. She finds her way around it blindly. But this time she flinches, as she reaches into the purse. Her gaze turns into the purse by reflex and her hand lifts the item out of it. A dagger, not a simple knife, but a fine dagger, with an engraved blade and a decorated cross guard.
That is the moment Persephone waited for. She quickly casts the spell on her stepmother.
Like in trance the stepmother takes the blade and stabs her son into the neck.
The boy pales and stares in shock at his mother. A woman starts screaming and a commotion follows. Someone calls for the guard. The man behind the stand drops the apples and stares in shock as the blood squirts from the boy's wound as he sinks to the ground, sliding off the dagger.
Three guards come running. Realizing what happened, one knees down besides the boy, while the other two disarm the woman and push her to the ground.
Two minutes later the spectacle is over. Penelope's stepmother is brought away to the prison, the boy is also taken by the guard in an attempt to save his life.
The people on the market stand in groups anxiously discussing what just happened.
Persephone steps out of the alley and approaches the market stall.
"Four apples please." she requests from the man.
"That's six copper." the man replies absentminded.
Persephone hands over the coins and selects four apples from the stack. Three go into the pockets of her coat, one she starts eating. She turns away and strolls roghly in direction of her home.
She enjoys the fresh air, the sunshine, the blue sky. A smile sneaks on her face. For the first time in many years her father's house will he a home to her again.
Closely followed by two kings men, Vorkatos horse races as fast as it can, he's on the run. Lucky for him, Peridi is trained and in very good shape, giving him a brief advantage.
From afar Vorkatos spots the entrance gate of a city.
"It's our lucky day Peridi, perhaps today you don't need to run all day!" Vorkatos squeals with joy as he sees the city.
He turns Peridi in direction of the city and makes sure Peridi gives it's all for the last mile.
Vorkatos arrives at the gates and has high hopes to gain entrance with his words directed at a city guard.
"Good men, I'm in a hurry and have little time to waste, would you mind letting me in? I'm not looking for trouble, simply a place to stay for the night."
But Vorkatos realizes his words weren't as convincing as he had hoped for and begins to worry: 'When do the two men catch up?'.
The guards stand to the right and left of the wide open door shrug and wave that rider through. "But none of that crazy gallop in the city." one of the guards warn him.
"Yes, yes I'll keep it down, no worries." Vorkatos ensures the guards as he rides through the city gates down the main road.
"It seems today really is our lucky day Peridi, just look what's going on up there."
Vorkatos jumps off his horse and continues on the main road into the middle of the turmoil. Once he's there the action is already over but there are enough people left to start asking around if someone would be willing to lead him to someone, who could provide maintainance for his horse.
"The blacksmith is that direction. You take the wide road to the temple and then it's somewhere in the alleys to the right. Maybe you can tell by the hammering." a woman replies.
Vorkatos thanks her with a quick "Thank you!"
and hurries through small streets instead of the main road but in the direction of the temple, he doesn't want to get cought on the main streets. As he hears the ringing of the hammer, Vorkatos follows the noice and is happy he has found his way around.
Vorkatos approaches the blacksmith: "I heard you could take care of my horse? Some new horseshoes and if you're done bring it to a stable."
He takes out his coin purse and asks: "How much?"
The smith ponders the question and answers "New horse shoes cost four silver. The stable for your horse costs a silver per day. How many days do you want your horse to be taken care for?"
Vorkatos hands the blacksmith 2 gold and Peridi by it's halter.
"Alright my name's Vorkatos and I'll take 2 weeks. The change is for your service, don't want to be wasting your time."
Vorkatos remains silent for a while but then asks: "I'm looking for some work, do you know where to find some for a sellsword like me? Or maybe you have some yourself?"
"Thanks." the man replies as he takes the coins. "I have no job, that's worth your time. I suggest you check the taverns. Jobs for sellswords are mostly offered there."
Persephone wanders the streets munching on her apple. With the other hand she plays with the remaining coins in her pocket. It's not much. Maybe it will last for another day. She could make it to another day with the money she earns scrubbing floors. But the slightest problem could cause the end of that life. Like the property tax for the house being due. And what life would it be anyway. There must be other jobs than that. As if to answer that, her gaze gets caught by a notice board. Placed behind the counter, but visible through the door.
Her fingers quickly count through the coins again. What difference does it make if I run out of coin today instead tomorrow? she asks herself and answers by entering the place. "An ale please." she orders and sits down at the counter, right in front of the notice board.
"I'll be off then"
Vorkatos finds his way to the tavern, once again by asking people where to go. Even if he had seen the tavern before, it didn't catch his eye. He hides his red hair in his hood to stay low and enters the tavern, though his figure will probably betray him. Instead of ordering something, Vorkatos goes straight to the notice board, he's not in the mood to risk his life over a drink.
"Anything to put my sword to good use?" He asks the woman sitting at the counter, 'She looks like she's been sitting here for a while'.
The tavern - The Pigs Whistle - has only a few patrons at this time of the day. The one server around is busy cleaning up the mess from yesterday night. Tables need cleaning, chairs have to be put back in place and the few customers have to be served.
"Here is your ale." Isabella states, putting the mug down in front of the limping woman at the bar. Then she moves on with the damp cloth in hand to bring the tavern back to pristine condition for the evening, when everything starts over again. She hums a joyful melody - her personal cleaning song.
She wipes down the old piano, made of oak, that dominates the eastern wall. Changes the candles in the iron candle holders attached to the sides of the music rack. She checks the doilies and the vases that hold the dried flowers on the window sills. Two of the heavy round oaken tables need some moving to their intended positions. She gives the floor a long look and decides that there is no time for this now even though it is in dire need of cleaning.
She walks over to the new customer and inquires "What will it be?"
The notice board is rather large and features a list of job offers that's nothing to sneeze at. Among the offers are
- Cleaner wanted; apply at the House of Flame)
- Dockworker wanted; apply at Marinelli's Warehouse at the docks
- Help wanted for The Pigs Whistle; No Bards need apply, we have enough of those - we need people who can work as bouncer, cook and cleaner.
- Exterminator wanted to clean out rat infestation at Bear Grove Farm.
- Bell man wanted for the old cemetry - ask Father Grimburrow
"It's cleaning, carrying heavy stuff, more cleaning, cleaning again and joining the dead." Persephone summarizes the job offers, before taking another swig from her mug.
"How much does the cleaning pay?" she inquires from the bar maid.
"Worktime for cleaning is in the morning. Everything needs to be ready at noon. Then in the evening you have to work in the kitchen and help throw out drunkards who cause trouble. You get a mug of ale, a warm meal and a silver a day. If your cooking is good enough to leave you alone in the kitchen it'll be two silver."
"If you start right now, you get an extra ale for free today." Isabella replies, pointing to Persephone's mug.
Vorkatos glances through the job offers to find the "Joining The Dead" quest and takes it off the board.
"Guess I'll be joining the dead." Vorkatos jokes. 'A person with a little humor helps from time to time.'
He then turns to the bar maid: "I'll take a bottle of whatever you got, no mug needed and uhm ... where can I find this Father Brimburrow?"
He raises the note for clarity.
"We have a nice bottle of well aged red wine for 10 gold?" Isabella offers.
"The old cemetery is to the south - a walled in area with iron gates in all four cardinal directions. In one of the corners is a small chapel. You'll find Father Grimburrow there during daytime."
"Sounds fair enough." Persephone replies and downs the rest of her ale. "Where is the bucket and the scrub?"
Once handed the tools, she limps to the corner of the room, kneels down and starts scrubbing. Not as easy money as I thought. This floor hasn't seen a brush in a while.
He takes his hand in front of his mouth to surpress any unwanted words but you can still hear some muffled words: "Holy s*&@, this will be the death of me". '10 gold??? how much can a wine be worth? I have never had something like this at home'
Vorkatos needs a few seconds to collect himself but then replies not so calm and collected: "Ok, but for 10 gold I'll also get a bottle of normal wine." He lays 10 gold on the counter.
"Sure." Isabella replies and puts a bottle of the cheap wine in front of Vorkatos. Then she disappears somewhere in the back to fetch the good wine. As she comes back she hands over the precious bottle and collects the gold.
Vorkatos grabs the wine. "Thank you very much, I'll be off drinking with the dead." Vorkatos bids good bye."
He makes his way to the cemetery and into the chapel Isabella spoke of. Not interested in looking around he just calls: "Father Brimburrow?"
The chapel is a small building with benches for maybe four dozen followers. But the narrow windows with the pointed arch at the top and the spiral symbol in the colored glass window over the altar leave no doubt that this is a temple of Pharasma.
Father Grimburrow stand in front of a small shrine to the side where visitors light candles in remembrance of the deceased. He turns to face the visitor. "How can I help you?"
It takes Persephone three full hours - way beyond noon - but then the floor is clean. The smell of curd soap fills the room. Her back hurts, but that is nothing new. What is new is the attitude of her employer. Finally someone who is happy about the result and not scolding her for a missed spot, that is actually a discoloration in the marble - and has been like that forever. And she gets to keep all the payment. The first half of it being a warmed up stew and another ale.
Sitting in the cleaned taproom she slowly enjoys her meal and ponders what to do next. That job will keep me fed, but at a rate of one silver a day I'll never get out of these rags. I need a job that allows me to save some money.
Persephone sighs. With the afternoon off I could check some of those other jobs. Maybe if I get another job - or one that is better paid?
She is not afraid of rats, but walking all the way out of town to that farm doesn't appeal to her. And dock work isn't her thing either. So it'll be another cleaning job.
Vorkatos walks up to Father Grimburrow and gets straight to the point: "Hello father, I came for the job you offered. If I seem fitting for it to you and it pays right, I'm ready to start tonight."
With his figure, his armor put on and his greatsword on the back, Vorkatos is sure he'll leave an impression and get the job.
"That would be nice if you'd accept the job. But let me describe the task to you, before you accept it." Grimburrow replies while walking over to the benches and taking a seat.
"See, this is just a small cemetery in the middle of town. I tend to the graves and crypts, and do the funeral services for those who want to be buried here. It's not much that is to do here, as the cemetery is full and only those with a family crypt, or family grave here can have additional relatives buried here."
"But lately someone has taken an interest in smearing obscenities on gravestones and crypt walls at night. I'm old and slow and even if I manage to not fall asleep, I won't be able to catch them. That's where you'd come in. But I don't think this fine armor or this really large sword will be of any help with that. Maybe you'd accomplish, that they soil their pants. But my goal is to catch them and, depending on who it is, hand them over to their parents or the guard for disciplining."
Father Grimburrow pauses a moment. "The pay isn't that great, as it is - hopefully - no dangerous task. I'd pay you a silver for the night and another silver if you catch them."
After listening to the old man talking Vorkatos sighs, but with nothing at hand ...
"You're in luck, apparently there is no need for big swords in this town. Might as well help an old man ... if I catch the kid, where should it stay for its night of fear?"
"You simply drag them into the chapel and wake me. We'll bring them to their parents or to the guard then. No need to hold them ourselves."
"Until then" Vorkatos waves his hand to greet good bye.
For the rest of the day Vorkatos walks around the cemetery looking at graves and flowers but also drawing himself a picture of his hunting grounds. As the sun sets, he makes his way to the entrance and waits until everyone has left. When all are gone, he installs some kind of stumbling block with his rope and hides behind a bush near the entrance. He then waits patiently for any signs of intrusion.
While Vorkatos waits for the night to come Persephone limps through the streets towards the House of Flame. As she reaches the place on which it stands she hesitates. Where is the servant's entrance? she thinks, while staring at the magnificient building.
The whole building is a puzzle of arches and columns with niches and carved out stonedoors that are walls and smooth walls that are doors. The magnificient main entrance is obvious, with a large arch at the faace and another arch set back 20 feet and the flames licking at the shadows on the wall in between. But the other arches and balconies that suggest three stories to the building don't reveal their purpose to the casual onlooker.
Surprisingly - or not, to those aware of the insides of the temple - no one uses the prominent stairs that lead to the main entrance. Around the building is a lively marketplace. Musicians are playing, entertainers are performing and artists are offering their artwork for sale. One could easily mingle with them and then take a turn to disappear in one of the arches. If it were clear in which one.
Persephone sighs. If they don't want the staff to use the main entrance they should put up a sign where the service entrance is. She climbs the stairs to the main entrance, walks through the outer arch and knocks at the door that hinders passing the inner arch.
A small door right of where Persephone stands opens. It is masterfully, almost invisibly, integrated into the right wings of the large door that fills the arch.
The elf that opens inquires after Persephone's wishes and on mentioning the cleaning job, she drags her in. The main corridor that has an impressive height of 15 feet and leads to an altar. The sides of the main corridor are a concatenation of niches, recesses and alcoves. And into one of those the elf shoves Persephone through another arch to the right side that leads into a small domed chamber. Like all of the temple so farit is lit with red flickering flames created by magic.
The elven woman is a head taller than Persephone. She wears a simple white dress like drapes hung over her shoulders held together by a golden cord worn as a belt. Looking down on Persephone - literally and figuratively she musters the human. "Ridiculous. How are you supposed to clean when you're dirty from head to toe." The elf takes her time to clean her hands with magic after touching this human. "Get out of these dirty rags." she commands.
Persephone is taken by surprise as the elf drags her in and shoves her into that room. The inside of the House of Flame is overwhelming. The contrast between the visual of fire and the chill of the cold stone gives her gosebumps.
The sight of the elf is breathtaking. Perfect porcellain skin, pink eyes, gracious movements. It wasn't force that moved her into this room. Just a precise yank to put her off balance and some guidance to direct the falling into the desired direction. And as Persephone had caught herself she stood where the elf wanted her and had to listen to the condescending talk. Next she's gonna tell me to sit and scold me a bad dog. I'm going to give her a piece of my mind.
But as the command hits her, all that comes out of her mouth is "What? NO!" Instinctively she crosses her arms.
"Oh, get over it. Even with your plump body it can't look worse than with these rags on."
Staring at the human she waits. "Don't waste my time. I don't have all day. Drop it." and makes a commanding gesture.
Persephone's hands grab her rags at the shoulder and the next thing she knows, they drp to the floor. Together with her mouth, that drops open in astonishment.
Unmoved the elf casts the cleaning spell again. This time on Persephone. After doing so thoroughly for almost a minute she stops. From a small pouch at her belt she pulls a dark grey dress much like her own and a white cord. "Put that on and follow me."
The elf leads out of the room, across the main hall and through another arch into a winding corridor. "Hurry. Don't fall behind."
Through three hidden passages which are covered by illusions making it look like part of the wall and one actual door secured with a magic lock she leads into a straight corridor with five doors to each side.
"There is a cloth, there are the fresh sheets. Wipe everything clean and change the sheets. Make the beds. Put the laundry in that bin."
"Put that key around your neck and don't take it off. I'll come back to lead you out once you're done." With that the elf turns and leaves. The door with the magical lock clicks shut behind her.