"The only thing you get to drink here is watered down wine. And they water it thoroughly. She's back there on the training yard assigning the tasks for the day."
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Carl stops. "I'm not afraid. But an offer to become your training dummy isn't very appealing. I can see you got quality weapons, quality armor and you're an elf. That makes for how many years of practice?" "And you don't fight mace and shield, so not even my style. There is nothing to gain from this for me but embarrassing myself."
"I am Carl." Carl takes a close look at the elf. "No thank you. I'm good." he declines, and keeps working on the wooden dummy.
On the training ground is only Carl, who is swinging his mace at a wooden dummy.
"I'm not going into this stinking hole." the guard replies. "Also the monster is dead."
After a while four guards come along carrying two wooden frames to block the road. They place it and then put two lanterns at it to make sure no one falls into the whole at night. "I'm not aware of any goblin problem." The guard takes a look into the hole to get a glimpse of the critters. "No. Haven't seen those in town ever."
Finally two guards from the city watch appear. As the dangerous part is already over, one of them leaves again to report the incident and organize some barricades. The other one orders the spectators to stand back and inquires what happened.
"Ah, yes." Carl enters the building. A few moments later he comes back out again. Some time later two other guards come carrying something that looks like a corpse wrapped in sack-cloth. They put it on the cart. "Here it is. You're good to go."
"Thank you mam. Have a nice day." Carl replies and leaves. He is glad not to have to deal with sobbing relatives for a change.
"Hello Mam." a guard interrupts as Persephone leaves. "I'm here to inform you that Lady Aghasta Pembrooke is dead."
"The dagger was bloody, but that was it. All the blood was on the ground." Carl brings Menan back outside.
"That's 'Lady' Pembrooke. Not very lady-like to slaughter a kid if you ask me."
"There was a lot of screaming and when I came over to see what's going on there was the woman with the dagger in hand. The boy lay on the ground, blood gushing out his neck." "I guess you could simply visit the vendors at the market and ask them. Most are regulars. At least if you go on the same weekday, Toilday that is. For customers I don't know, you'll have to ask around." Meanwhile Carl walks Menan into the dungeon. It is a long dark corridor only lit by a torch at the entrance that those who want to go in take along. There are cell doors to the left and right with small barred openings to look into them. "Here we are." Carl points to the door.
Some minutes later Carl arrives. Inside the office of Kasadei he receives instructions. When emerging again he introduces himself to Menan. "I'm Carl. I'm assigned to answer your questions regarding the case and lead you to the prisoner. You can ask on the way. Follow me." He obviously hopes to get this over with fast.
"I don't know. Ask in the offices." The guard replies and points in the general direction of a building.
"Good to have you back sir." the guard replies as Roryx enters the tower. "Nothing out of the ordinary happened in the time you were gone. Some brawls some thefts, as always. No sighting of gnolls."
"For now she will stay in prison. There will be a trial sometime soon I guess." "From our side that is all. My condolences for the loss of your step brother." "Farewell." The two men turn and walk away.
The guard is uncomfortable to be confronted with details of family drama and thankfully takes the change of topic. "You shouldn't come personally. You arrange the burial with a priest of your faith then they take care of everything."
The guard looks startled. "I'm afraid your stepmother isn't coming home. She was arrested three days ago for murdering her son on the market place in bright daylight." "And we are here to inquire who will take care of the burial of the boy. And to see why no one came to ask about the woman and the child."
In front of the house are two men from the city guard. "Good afternoon. Is this the house of the Pembrooke family? We'd like to talk to the head of the family."
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.
"Who's that friend you're looking for?"
"That doesn't answer my question. Who are you and what is your business here." the guard demands to know. The second one on guard turns and whistles - obviously as a sign for those inside.
"What do you mean - vampires?" the guard replies unsure what to make of this.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing there?" a city guard that comes along shouts from the other side of the boulevard.
The portcullis are opened to let Delgros, Duristan and his entourage through. But the porter and the guards make sure this opportunity is not abused.
"We have not been told to expect new guests. Please wait." one of the guards tells and sends another guard to get the lodge’s porter.
"He has no papers and may not enter town." the guard replies, before following Ilvara back to the north gate.
"What do I know? Just come and make him go away." the guard replies.
The guard listens to the greeting and thinks hard what that could mean. But doesn't come to a meaning he is comfortable to tell the lady of the Rock. "Please come in and feel free to tell her yourself." The guard replies.
The guard raises a brow but replies "I'll inform him." And closes the door again.
"And why would he want to see you?" the guard asks annoyed.
"The curiosity circus is over there. You can see it tomorrow at the trial." The guard replies pointing at the Crooked Kin's wagon and closes the door again.
After a moment the small door in the large door gets opened. "Yes?"
"Where is that temple?" Carl asks.
"Free beer for everyone?" Carl asks.
"But you will be here anyway, right?" Carl asks as he starts calling the kids in.
"Would trying to hit me be good enough too?" Carl asks worried. "And some of the kids are no angels. I don't want that thing chasing the kids around."
As the last person got his or her wage Carl says "I'm going to shoo the kids back in and help getting them ready for bed." "And please don't forget to be here tomorrow when the thugs appear again to collect the protection money." he reminds Jimmy with a concerned look.
"No but it is getting so dark that it is not reasonably possible to continue with the work for today." Carl replies.
Carl approaches Jimmy followed by a large queue of people "Sir, eh ma'm. The workers are asking for their payment."
"Thank you." Carl replies relieved and goes back to his post.
"I would at least need something to write to fetch all that information." Carl states.
"What kind of registration do you need? I can barely tell you who has to get three silver this evening. If we take more people I'll be totally lost." Carl replies.
Carl approaches. "Jimmy? There are more and more people who hear what's going on here and want to register for the job. Shall I still take more?" he asks.
"Sure I can do." Carl replies and turns to the crowd. But as soon as about forty people approach all at once to register he isn't as sure any more. He asks everyone his or her name and tells them to start working. He hopes to remember the faces while they are working and maybe some of the names. 'That will get a mess this evening.' he worries.
Coming closer to Jimmy Carl asks "But you'll be here to pay the people, right? Because I don't want to be seen with that amount of money here in Underbridge." Carl voices his concerns.
"I'll go take a look what it's about." Carl replies and moves out to check.
"What is that?" Carl asks pressing his hands on his ears until it is over.
"No, they didn't tell anything but the price we would have to pay. Hundred gold every month." Carl answers.
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