[Busted] Diary of an Ooze Witch (Joseph de Steel) 2.3-2.4

2.3

We arrived in Hasbeck a little before sundown and reserved a room at the local inn. Jeru immediately took to the nearest tavern like the lush he is to “gather information.” I saw no reason to dissuade him from his frivolity as I had other business to handle that would benefit from his absence. Talking with the local merchants in town, I found that Hasbeck had recently surveyed an iron ore deposit in the mountains north of them, driving down the price of our own iron and hampering our goals. Fortunately, I was able to get in touch with a blacksmith in the vicinity who recognized my family’s crest and sought to bargain for a portion of our iron. He confessed that he had dealings with our family in the past and that our iron was some of the best he had the opportunity to work with. Grateful for the chance to unload some of our stock, I cut a deal with the blacksmith to purchase a fifth of our stock for a premium. Not the plan that I had hoped for, but still better than nothing.

With my business concluded, I sought out Jeru at the local tavern, “The Swollen Clam.” When I arrived, he was already three sheets to the wind, singing a tavern song with some fast friends he had made. It was fascinating how quickly he could inebriate himself so readily, as if he were trying his damnedest to drink himself into oblivion. While I waited for a chance to pull him away from his frivolities, I sat at the bar and ordered something light from the bartender. As he poured me a beer, I asked him if he had seen anything unusual in recent times. He responded with a shrug as he served me my beer. Pulling a Gold Milan Coin from my purse, I offered it with an additional question of if he had seen any particularly comely women enter his establishment. Understanding what I was getting at, the Barkeep smirked and palmed the coin in his large, meaty palm. He told me that comely women come through Hasbeck fairly often, but he knew I wasn’t looking for just any beauty. There had been a woman passing through the town about a week ago who refused to leave his mind. The Barkeep seemed wistful as he recalled that the woman had dark hair and lips, her skin pale and eyes bewitching. But it was her figure that gave him pause: svelte and voluptuous were the words he used to describe her, a beauty with only the most womanly of curves. My attention hung on those words as I bid him to speak further. With her ample bosom and devious charm, she had apparently been the toast of the tavern. While it did not completely match the description of my Brother’s muse, it still felt like a lead to go off of. I asked the Barkeep if he knew which way she was traveling, to which he made mention of her heading back to Ventigiore through the Iron Pass.

I thanked him for his information as I scanned back around for Jeru, finding him debauched and playing parlor games with his new friends. When I felt the moment was right, I pulled him away from his entertainment and chastised him for getting so drunk that he was barely able to stand up. Throwing one of his arms over my shoulder, I allowed him to lean on me as we made our way back to the inn. Once in a bed, Jeru fell instantly into a slumber, one that I intend to follow him into as I finish this entry.

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2.4

The trip to the Iron Pass was rather uneventful. The sale of a fifth of our iron stock had made travel slightly easier for us, but only marginally so. Jeru suffered from his night of drinking as we trekked forward, something I delighted in teasing him over. He balked at my attempts to jeer him and tried to change the subject several times before electing to stay silent.

Upon reaching the Iron Pass, we were approach by several Templar Knights. They inquired the purpose of our travels. Having nothing to hide, I told the truth to them and stated that Placedo had been my destination. One of the knights recognized my family crest and took that as proof enough of my trustworthiness, expediting the inspection of our caravan. When the inspection was over, they allowed us through without any further incident.

When we were out of earshot, Jeru wondered out loud what gave the Templars the right to patrol the Iron Pass. It was a fair question and one I was inclined to entertain him on. I explained that at one point, the Iron Pass was hotly contested by both the nations of Ventigiore and Scinok as a valuable trade route. Before unification, the two sides would contest ownership of the pass, often times coming to blows over it. When the nations were unified under the Kingdom of Wide, King Veidhardt met with Baron Van Scipio of Steelbane and Baron Cleral of Placedo to make an arrangement that both sides could be amenable to. As neither side trusted the other to allow soldiers to patrol the Iron Pass, a compromise was made as King Veidhardt tapped the Order of Midas Knights Templar, a neutral order in the conflict, as the sole faction allowed sway in the pass. They would be its caretakers and mediate any disruptions between the two sides.

My verbose explanation only drew Jeru’s ire as he gave me a look of derision. While I do admit that my tongue may have gotten away from me, I relish the idea of lording my education over Jeru from time to time. Perhaps I am too prideful in the matter, but seeing the look on his face brings a smugness to my smile as I savor a small victory in this matter.

Regardless, we continued into the pass without incident. Aside from some fellow merchants and the occasional Templar, our trek proved rather uneventful. By the time nightfall hit, we were able to make it to the halfway point of the Iron Pass, where our diligence was rewarded with the sighting of an unnamed Inn. Despite Jeru’s grumblings of there not being any proper accommodations here, I found the dwelling to be a bit rustic but ultimately a welcome reprieve. It would appear that Jeru would have to find other means to whet his appetite for drink. Even as I write this, Jeru is wandering nearby, looking for some form of alcohol from any of the nearby travelers. I fear his search may be hopeless in this regard.

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