Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

Chapter 149 - 149 - Meeting new people

I bow to the older, even if possibly not by much, dragon in human guise, pretty much in apology. I doubt that she doesn't see the excuse of her younger brother for exactly what it is, even though the circumstances surrounding it are very much real.

"Lady Sezemat …"

That is as far as I get before she waves me off.

"I know, I know. My brother too has business he simply has to attend to. Maybe I'll see you around though … Viviona. I'd very much like to get to know my brother's newest acquaintance a little better."

She is up to something, I'm pretty sure of that, but there is no polite way to decline anyway. And besides getting to know her better might be advantageous for me too. Thus I nod in agreement as I answer.

"I'll try to make some time. Maybe at the theater? The early performance of Lantern Lights, that's the name of the play if I'm not mistaken. That is unless you know it inside out already and would be bored to tears."

The disguised dragon lets out honest laugh and seems to brighten up considerably at the suggestion.

"I know bits and pieces, but I have not so far enjoyed the play as a whole. I'd usually go for the late performance. If you have other plans for the night though, I certainly wouldn't mind catching it with you."

This settles it then, as I do indeed have other plans for the night. I still want to check up on the ghosts of Hangman's Hill. I can't keep pushing that ahead of me day after day until it's too late to do something. I sketch a slight bow.

"Very well, lady Sezemat …"

Beldragor doesn't let me finish though.

"Yes, yes. You'll catch each other at the theater. Now, let's get going. We wouldn't want to keep the others waiting. See you Sezemat!"

And with these words he is off. Not with his usual youthful spirit and liveliness though. Judging by the looks of it, I'd say that he has seriously overeaten. But beyond everything else I can feel a subtle telekinetic tug urging me to follow the young dragon, thus I do.

I'm a little torn on this development. I was looking forwards to a casual visit of the theater to enjoy that play without any strings attached. And now, I'm pretty sure, there are most certainly strings attached to the event. I don't speak up about it though. Not right away anyway. I wait until we have left the grounds occupied by the caravan again to dive into the alleys of the city instead.

"What did I just agree to? And are you sure you want to visit the tavern and the others right away? You look like you could use a little nap first. I take your visit with Sezemat was somewhat exhausting?"

He lets out a long, drawn out sigh. At the same time he slows down a little too.

"Much as I would like to just curl up on my hoard for a nice nap, I can't. Sezemat would know. Somehow she always knows. I have to take this issue you made us aware of serious."

He sighs again. This time the sigh does not quite speak of the same amount of suffering though.

"For some reason she always overfeeds me when she is in town. Like I'm still a little child that can't properly take care of itself. It's … it's so annoying!"

This time around I snort in amusement.

"But you didn't tell her off either."

He sighs once more. This time around it almost sounds like an admittance of defeat. Very curious.

"No. No, I didn't. It was just too good. I think she might have had one of just about everything prepared. Well, of everything anyone serves at her fair anyway."

Now that makes one of my eyebrows arch a little. Could it be?

"Say, is it possible that some dragons collect more than just coin?"

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Now he snorts in amusement, apparently back in a better mood.

"Most dragons do. Once they figure out what really tickles their fancy. With Sezemat it's cooks from just about every corner of the known world. She goes well out of her way to lure those in. Not all stay in the long run, but that isn't necessary either. Whenever one leaves some new ones are sure to show up too. Some come, others go. The exact makeup of her caravan is always changing. Some say that's part of the charm and I'd have to agree."

I nod along with his words, as I can easily see what he means. And even better, I can feel my [Gather Information] skill edge a little closer to the next level up too. What I learned about Beldragor's sister so far raises even more questions though. Is it just masters of the culinary arts she is collecting? Or does it go beyond that? What about the rest of the caravan? The performers at the circus and the actors of the theater?

Finally we reach the tavern at the downstream waterfront. It seems my musings distracted me too much to take proper note of our progress through town. As Beldragor is about to enter, drawing more than just a little attention, I decide to take my leave.

"Take care and a good nap, once you are done talking with Wiktor and the brothers. You look like you need it."

Even as I turn to leave he waves with his tail. It seems his mood is already improving.

This leaves me with a dilemma of sorts. What am I going to do until the afternoon show at the theater? I have been pondering cutting some purses elsewhere in the city, but I'm not quite sure about that anymore. Maybe I could check out the quests at the adventurers' guild again? Maybe there is some job that doesn't require leaving town, even if it's not terribly well paid, something like that would help pass some time and anyway, a few coins are better than no coins.

I nod to myself and with my mind made up I set off in the direction of the gate. No need to risk being spotted crossing over the wall in broad daylight. I probably could. In all likelihood without any trouble, but why should I even risk it?

It's not much later, when I actually reach the gate, with my guild tag arranged for easy visibility that I find out why I might have been better over going over the wall instead of through the gate.

The first warning sign that should have tipped me off is, that there is a queue at the gate despite the time. The morning rush should be over by now. Except, here we are and I'm standing in line with merchants and other people trying to get in.

The reason for that quickly becomes obvious too. One of the guards on duty today is a youngster who has to be younger than me for sure. He is new as far as I can tell. Not because he is any more incompetent than other guards in general, but because he is trying entirely too hard to line his pockets.

I really ought to have turned and left the moment I realized this fact, except for some reason I didn't. Instead I stand there, moving with the queue, staring like I'm watching some unfathomable disaster unfold in slow motion. Sure, there is plenty of grumbling, but so far no one has dared to make a fuss. That the other guard, a much older and more experienced man is napping on the job, leaning against the wall by the gate, doesn't exactly help either.

The young fool sure as hell takes note of my guild tag too, as I finally reach the gate, but that doesn't stop him either. No, it just makes him grin briefly. Oh, of course, adventurers tend to have coin. Is he seeing me as a worthwhile mark for his ill advised hustles?

"Well, look at that. Who do we have here? An adventurer. An armed thug. Woman, are you sure your weapon is up to the city's requirements? I think I should check! Your sword, please. Now!"

Goodness gracious, is that the angle he attempts to play? Make me hand him my sword so he can fine me because I technically don't carry weapon of the required length anymore, with the sword in his hands? He can't be serious! Hasn't he seen the knife I carry on my belt in addition to the sword? Goodness, no, he really hasn't! I'm carrying it at the back after all.

I smile and draw my sword, handing it to him, hilt first, as he has requested.

He twitches nervously, as I pull the blade free of its sheath. He almost drops it too, as he grabs it. He doesn't move to measure it right away, which really doesn't come as much of a surprise.

Before he can actually move on to the next step of his doomed scheme I shift my utility knife on my belt, so he should be able to see it. I don't exactly leave it at that though.

"Listen close, pup. Don't take me for stupid and should you really want me to scrub the cobblestones around here with your face, file it as a request with the Adventurers' Guild instead of whining in circles … let's hope you don't come apart at the edges and start to cry though. I have little patience for tomfoolery like this as things are already. Now measure the sword or give it back."

This actually earns me a little progress for my [Intimidate] skill, which probably is just about the most positive thing that can come from this situation. There are some snickers coming from the other people standing in line and waiting to pass through the gate as well. My tone certainly is enough to wake the other guard too, judging by the feeling of an identification skill being used on me by him. His skill actually manages to pierce my shroud.

I don't mind for a change, as at least this means that my [Shrouded Soul] skill makes a little more progress in exchange. What annoys me is, that apparently the damned boy is too daft to realize that he is in over his head. No, his next words suggest that common sense is not on his skill list in any way or form.

"Oh? Or else?"

Oh, damn that stupid lad! I'm so tempted to say something crass, but I hold back. Threatening the lad any more directly is not an option I want to make use off. Not right now and not while wearing the one face I'm really comfortable with. Thus I swallow down the initial response I want to throw in his face. My voice is terse anyway.

"Stop wasting peoples' time. Get one with it. Measure. The. Damned. Sword."

Thankfully the older guard steps in. He isn't on my side of course, not really, but he doesn't want too big a mess on his shift obviously. I get the impression he'd much rather go back to napping instead. He slaps the back of the youngsters head.

"Get your act together and stop needlessly bothering people, lad. Especially if it's adventurers that could use you to paint the street red."

What he means clearly isn't that the youth should stop lining his pockets with fines or bribes, after all I'm pretty sure that there are standing orders from the guard's captain to do so. No surprise since said captain probably receives a share of the money raised this way. No, what the old guard means to say is, that the young man needs to learn to pick his targets with greater care. It's about as much common sense as one can expect from this bunch.

Still, the lad finally gets to measuring my sword, even though the result is quite obvious from the very beginning. He still has to do it to save at least some face though. No way around it for him.

I for my part am just glad I don't have to commit a very public and messy act of violence against the local authorities, although there is a chance that such a thing might actually be well received by the public. Even in the best case the result would have been inconvenient for me. Never mind though. After sheathing my sword I'm off again with a slight nod to the older guard. It's not that I actually like or respect him, but at least he intervened to resolve the issue without bloodshed.