Chapter 7
Sebastian had ordered his men to stay on the ship after they had docked in Crestal, it would not do to have a sudden force of Ferrum soldiers stomping through the streets. It would raise suspicion, and there were already too many rumors about Evangeline’s disappearance.
Taking to the colorful marketplace on his own, he had donned a heavy cape to disguise the vast majority of his military uniform. Hard gaze swept over each vendor, their calls to purchase wares falling on deaf ears; he had a purpose, he had to find Evangeline. Truth be told, this was as far as he had ever been from Ferrum, and the surroundings had come as a surprise.
Nobles were given a higher education than soldiers, though it was those soldiers who were fed more of the truth. They knew Ferrumwas small, that magic was still allowed in the world, but so close? This was the first true city traveling North from Ferrum, and it was riddled with magic users and creatures he had never seen before.
A boy with bright green eyes caught his attention, the knowing smile he had painted across his lips impossible to ignore. Fire red hair and pale skin, the lad could not have been more than ten years old. The boy turned on his heel and darted into a nearby alley, leaving an echoing laugh in his wake. Sebastian made quick work of following without much in the way of secrecy, hand moving to the pistol at his side. Stepping into the alley, brows furrowed when he saw nothing but a wall of colorful rocks, venturing further in to search behind barrels and stacks of crates filled with trash.
“Do you always follow children around, or is this a new hobby?” Wheeling around, Sebastian found nothing behind him and frowned harder. “Are you some kind’ve pervert? I bet you are. You look like a pervy one. Ma’ says I shouldn’t talk to strangers and you’re the strangest of them!” Laughter at his own words now. Sebastian found the boy was perched atop one of the side walls indian style. Holding onto his own feet, he leaned forward and grinned at Sebastian as though he had won something.
He had fangs like those of a cat, both the top and bottom; it did not make the child look cruel, but it was difficult to ignore. Hand poised still on the gun, the seasoned Captain did not look as amused as the boy, “If you intend to rob me, child, I advise against it.” “Rob you!?” He snorted, head shaking side to side, “Mister, if I wanted ta’ rob ya’, you’da been robbed by now!” Taking a deep breath and willing himself not to shoot the child down from his obnoxious little perch, Sebastian straightened his posture further and raised a brow, “Then what do you want?” “Tsk. Yer no fun! My Master wanted me to give you a message is all.”
A message? His presence here had not gone undetected as he had hoped then. Did someone have Evangeline? Know where she was? “What is the message?” “Hm? Mmm..I forgot!” Shrugging, he rocked back and then forward again on the ledge, watching Sebastian from his place. “Forgot!?” “Yep! Buuuut, I bet I could remember!” Sigh. He had a feeling where this was going, hand moving from the gun to the pouch at his side, “Let me guess, boy. You want gold.” “Gold!? Might just be tha’ miracle I need to remember!”
Hopping down from his wall, he landed gracefully on the ground where others might have been injured. A tail, the same red as his hair swished to and fro behind the boy as he extended his hand. Opening the pouch, he withdrew a gold coin and placed it in the child’s hand, the boy closing his small fingers around it and beaming, “Lord Bastion wants you to meet him at The Wren Inn! It’s just up tha’ street there, can’t miss it, big sign’ ya’ know.” “Why?” The Captain had no intention to walk into a potential trap, Ferrum had many enemies, “I’m just a messenger, mister!” Of course.
“’Cause you don’t look very smart, I’ll make sure ya’ get there! C’mon, follow me!” Restraining himself from knocking the lad on his feet for the insult, Sebastian just sighed and followed the now prancing boy out of the alley and into the bustling streets. It was a short walk, the boy chattering the entire way, “My pa’ was like you! A soldier!” “Mm.” “He was s’sposed to teach me how to use a sword, ‘course it’s hard ta’ do that when you’re dead!” Most would have sounded remorseful or sad at the statement, but it rolled off the boys tongue like a conversation about candy. Body language was a different thing all together, the childs tail had stopped its joyful swishing and now hung down, nearly dragging.
As they approached the inn, music and loud laughter drifted from the open windows, a horse tied up beside a mount that looked like a giant lizard, though neither beast seemed phased by one another. Pushing the door open, Sebastian used his free hand to grasp his weapon, still uneasy about this whole affair. Nothing seemed to change upon his entrance, the music continued and people went about their drinking. Were this a trap, now would have been the prime time to strike.
“Over there! That’s Lord Bastion!” Then he was off like lighting, bounding through the streets. Sebastian turned his attention to the man sitting at a large round table, a taller fellow, well-built and handsome. He was young in appearance, mid-twenties, with shoulder length light brown hair. His eyes, a shade similar to honey met with Sebastian’s and a calm smile was offered along with a wave of his hand. Still unsure, the Captain weaved through the busy room and came to stand stiffly before the table, a brow raised, “What business do you have with me?” Blink! Bastion laughed heartily and leaned back in his chair, gesturing to the one across from him.
“Right to business then, hm? Please, sit! You must be thirsty after your journey!” A white shirt with rolled up sleeves and an open front, no jewels on his person, this man hardly came off as a Lord. Light facial hair along his jaw was not something one saw on a noble as much as a carpenter. No doubt though his presence commanded respect, a silent power about him that radiated even when he was smiling in such a friendly manner. Sebastian hesitantly took a seat but stayed stiff, a sideways glance in either direction given.
“I trust Owen was helpful to you?” Helpful? All it took was the look on the Captains face to send the Lord into another laugh, shaking his head, “The lad means well, he does. He just has his own ways.” “Yes, he made me pay for the message.” Another laugh, it seemed Bastion was at least in a pleasant mood, “He must have learned that from me, always get the money up front. I will see that you are reimbursed. Now..Captain Sebastian Morray of Ferrum, was it?” “Yes, and you are Lord Bastion. We know one anothers names, though I am curious what you want from me.” “From you? Oh, no. I have something you might want, though.” Brows furrowed some, Sebastian ever skeptical, “What would that be?” “The whereabouts of the High Inventors pretty daughter.”
Sebastian nearly left his seat, hands pressing to the table now and eyes narrowing sharply, “Do you have her?” Yet another laugh, this one softer than the others, “Ah..no. But I do know who has her and how to retrieve her.” None of this sat right, “If this is true, why have you not retrieved her yourself and returned her to Ferrum? You are a Noble, it is your duty.” Though the Captain knew that it was the last thing Evangeline would want, “Yes. That is my duty..only she is under the protection of the other Lord of this city. I cannot touch her.” Politics? Perhaps.
Had Evangeline sought help, protection to keep her from going back to Ferrum? Would she have even known to? Easing away from the table to lean back in his own chair, Sebastian leveled his gaze with Lord Bastions, “If she is under the protection of a Lord, I have no say. I will have to send word of this to Ferrum, if this other Lord does not release her, then he will have the law to deal with.” “On the contrary..Ferrum law does not apply here. No one wants a war, and her removal will have to be one done without the knowledge of others.” So Lord Bastion had told no one of this, Evangeline’s whereabouts were still largely a secret.
“Lord Vince is very powerful, and very wise, but he has a weakness for beautiful women. I have heard of the Lady’s beauty, that is no doubt his reason for protecting her and her kidnapper. I owed him a favor, under a contract I cannot break and he called it in when he came to possess her. I can’t touch her, nor can any of my men or those under my hire. Nor can I touch the man who kidnapped her, as much as I would love to rip his throat out with my teeth.” A literal growl like that of an angry canine passed from his throat at the thought, eyes flashing.
Clearing his throat, Bastion smiled again and crossing his arms across his wide chest, “Fortunately, he also likes to show off. This morning he announced he would be holding a masquerade ball tomorrow night, just another one of his lavish parties. No doubt he will have her in attendance. You will come with me.” Come with him? Why? “What exactly are you hoping to accomplish?” “Simple, really. I will get the Lady Evangeline alone for you to take back, in exchange for you killing the wretch who kidnapped her.”
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