B3 Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

“Now we have the chamber to ourselves,” Orin said. “Are you prepared to speak?”

Lucan smiled. “You would not happen to have a map, would you?”

Orin guffawed, his barks deep and rich. He tapped his temple with a thin finger. “Young one, I have the greatest map there is in here. I know every major and minor territory the imperial canal passes through.”

“I see…” Lucan dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Then you must know what I intend.”

“I do indeed,” Orin said. “But how?”

“Before I speak further, I must be in the presence of at least one of the foremost mercantile guilds of Varencourt.”

“Is the Blue Guild not enough for you?”

“I would not demean the Blue Guild so,” Lucan said, though he had never heard of them before today. Still, he could not underestimate their means with what he’d seen so far. “I only mean that the support of Varencourt is indispensable. And though the Blue Guild is of grand consequence, you have said yourself that you are afforded the privilege of being here. You did not say that you owned the city.”

Orin chuckled. “Well said.” He then ran his hand over his stubble, humming. “Very well, I would not be against brokering such an arrangement with one of Varencourt’s guilds, but I must insist that my Blue Guild be included in this undertaking.”

“I am certain we can reach some manner of agreement,” Lucan said.

“I, too, am certain. Now, let me apprise you of the order of things in Varencourt.”

Lucan nodded and leaned in.

“There are two competing mercantile guilds of significance in the city. The Silver Blades and the Golden Wheel. The former were born out of the union of a merchant guild with an adventurer and mercenary guild. The Golden Wheel is a rather old and rooted mercantile guild.” Orin cleared his throat. “While I would broker an agreement with whichever one you choose, I would counsel against the Silver Blades.”

“Why?”

“As their name would suggest, the Silver Blades are a rather militant guild. They’re first and foremost a mercantile guild, but their strength of arms means that they have the best-protected caravans there are on land. This gives them a boon compared to all other guilds when it comes to trading in lands ridden with strife, like the Shattered Kingdom, and soon, Barwalis.”

“I see.”

“If you intend, as I believe, to revive the imperial canal for waterbound trade, then their boon is brought to naught in the west.”

“Then you would counsel going to the Golden Wheel?”

“Yes, though be warned, while both guilds are on the Low Council of Varencourt, and they are, in all manner of appearance, competitors on level ground, the Silver Blades have had the upper hand over the Wheel for years. They are only a step away from ascending onto the High Council. That is why you will need allies.”

“Allies like you,” Lucan deadpanned.

“Indeed.” Orin smiled. “Mind you, we do not come without our own boons. The Blue Guild has one of the largest trade fleets in the Union, both landbound and waterbound. And we don’t wield little power, even if we do not wield all of it.”

Lucan nodded slowly. It would indeed be of great benefit to have the Blue Guild in his camp, or at least, so it seemed. “Then I ought to converse with this Golden Wheel as you have counseled.”

Orin nodded with a soft smile. “Then I would ask for your patience, my lord. A few days to arrange this affair. Where may this one reach you?”

Lucan tilted his head, a quirk at the corner of his mouth. “As you have alluded, Master Orin, it is not only allies that I will attract with my venture. That is why I intend to keep my shelter a discreet matter for the time being. I will send my man to your Emporium every day. You may pass word with him.”

Orin nodded with a knowing smile. “As you wish, Lord Zesh.”

Lucan got to his feet. “Then it is time for me to depart.”

With some effort, though not too much, Orin too stood up. “You have honored us with your presence, my lord.” He did not bow or show any signs of deference, however.

Lucan walked to the door, and by the time he made it there, it was ajar by the hand of Orin’s Warden. Tomis was standing a few steps to the side, waiting for him. They shared a nod and headed to the stairs, where the servant was waiting for them.

In short order, they left the Blue Emporium behind, blending into the market crowd. Lucan glanced behind him, then said, “Watch for followers. They may wish to find where we rest our heads.”

Tomis nodded without a word, looking more suspicious of every passerby, though Lucan doubted the man-at-arms could become any more vigilant than he already had been.

They seeped back into the streets of the city, taking alleyways at whim, and keeping an eye on their backs, lest they be trailed. After they’d circled through the district for a while yet, they crept back to the inn cautiously. The sun was setting by then, and when they arrived in the common room, Ryder was waiting for them already.

He sat at a corner table, apart from the more crowded ones in the broad room. Lucan and Tomis joined him quietly, with the latter taking the place beside his brother-in-arms to keep an eye on the inn’s door.

“Word?” Lucan asked simply.

“Well, at least the innkeep was not swindling us when it comes to coinage,” Ryder said with a rueful smile. “Silver has indeed been in decline around here for the last year.” Lucan nodded for him to continue.

“Folk are also wondering why the guilds are letting some of the gangs run so rampant through the city.” He paused. “They seem to be seeking something, though I could not divine it, no matter how many people I asked.”

“I see.” Lucan nodded. “Nothing else?”

“Well…” Ryder cocked his head. “It seems that the rumors of grisly murders were not rumors. At least two corpses, torn apart and mutilated, have been found by the townspeople, and there were several more corpses, if hearsay is to be believed. Some claim that it’s the gangs, but others say that only beasts could have left such savagery behind.”

Lucan hummed. “Concerning, though our ventures remain untouched by such things.”

“Indeed,” Ryder said, nodding. “I have brought word of the largest guilds in the city as well, and what is known of them.”

“Pray tell.”

“There are four guilds on the Low Council of Varencourt,” Ryder began. “The Iron Shods, a populous but minor craftsmen’s guild that is on the council by way of necessity. The Golden Wheel, a merchant’s guild, ancient in its wealth but in decline as of late. The Silver Blades, a mercantile but part-militant guild that has been on the rise in recent years. And lastly, the Aegis of Batia, an adventurer’s guild, famous for its many mages, even compared to some of the most powerful guilds in the Union.” Seeing Lucan nodding for him to continue, he went on, “There are several minor and foreign guilds, foreign to the city, that is.”

Lucan raised a hand to stop him. “What do you know of the Blue Guild and the Yellow Hides?”

Ryder rubbed the back of his neck. “There was little to hear about the foreign guilds. The Blue Guild seems to have plenty of renown. Respect, or perhaps fear, seems to precede them wherever their name is spoken. I’ve heard little of the Yellow Hides. They are a mercantile guild, on the Low Council of another city.”

Lucan nodded. “You’ve gathered plenty for us today.”

“I worry that tomorrow will not be as fruitful,” Ryder said apologetically. “The wells will run dry. There’s only so much a townsman knows for certain. I’ve already had to part with some coin for the more knowledgeable folk.”

Lucan nodded again. “That is well and fair. Keep to your efforts, and we will keep to ours.”

For the next two days, Tomis was dispatched to the Blue Emporium every morning for word, with Ryder following to keep watch, after which the latter would melt into the city and look for any knowledge of worth.

At such times, Lucan would explore the city, blending with the crowd and avoiding scrutiny. He saw the most armed men unbound to a liege he’d seen in any city. Adventurers, most of them. They wandered the streets, purposeful at times, and belligerent at others. Lucan heard more and more about a dungeon, word of it common on the tongue of adventurers.

Upon returning to the inn that day, Lucan sat at the counter across from the innkeeper, waiting for his men’s return. Then he met the man’s eyes, wondering if he could glean some answers from him.

Sensing his stare, the innkeeper cocked his head.

“Why are your people so enamored with dungeons?” Lucan asked. “Has the union revived an old imperial tradition?” He’d considered it. The Veti Empire had, at times, permitted the use of some criminals for popular fights. The practice had provided coin for cities’ coffers and saved some of the expenses that came with feeding and sheltering prisoners. It was often reserved for the worst of miscreants, but near its end, the empire had become desperate enough for even some pickpockets to find themselves at the end of a spear inside an arena.

The innkeeper frowned, confused. “I doubt the cities of the empire had beasts trapped in their bowels.”

“Beasts?”

“Yes, it’s a beast dungeon.”

“What in the hells is a beast dungeon?”

Another voice broke into their conversation. “Come but recently to these parts?”

Lucan turned to see an armed man standing beside him at the counter, waiting for a drink. They shared an incredulous frown for a moment as they stared each other in the face. Then–“Cedric?”

“Sir Zesh?”