Back at home, a small apartment located on the second floor of a rundown building on the verge of collapsing, Elia told Muriel about the festival.
"What about it?" Muriel asked from his spot on the shelf, surrounded by various jars and papers, content now that they were at home at the slums. The windowless one room apartment was small but cozy and it was littered with books she was researching during her spare time, when she actually had time to spare.
"Apparently he's going to be there," Elia told him, starting to run a hot bath. She found a small bottle of relaxation salts and tipped the remaining flakes into the steaming water. After so long on the road, she needed to treat herself to a bit of time to calm her nerves and reflect on her future.
Her mark was not an easy man to find. She had come to this foreign land and city a year ago looking for him only to hear that he was always protected. It had been rumored he mixed with the most important people in Khore's society, who each had the same amount of protection. As a result, he only made very rare public appearances, and from the little information Elia had garnered, he was still always guarded from those who want to do him harm.
And she was one of them.
"What do you plan on doing to him once you find him?" Muriel asked.
"I will leave that to your imagination." Elia smiled one of her rare smiles and Muriel clattered his teeth, the skull's version of a shudder.
Elia stripped off her clothes and let out a long sigh as she sank into her bath tub. Her goal was so close to being achieved she felt the electric sparks of anticipation dance across her fingertips.
The calming odour of the salts washed over her, clearing her mind. Thoughts about how she could sneak into the festival and get some alone time with the chief mage seemed light and far away. Even pondering whether Eden would show up with the tickets or not didn't seem to bother her.
She suddenly sat up straight, causing the water to slosh over the rim of the bath. Getting in would be easy, she mused, but how was she going to get near her mark? The guards would most likely prevent her from getting so much as a glimpse of him.
After much pondering, the warmth of the water took the focus of her mind once more. It was getting late and she was in no mood to figure her plan out tonight; she would make mistakes. No, she would attack the problem in the morning.
............
"The chief mage is performing at the midsummer festival?" Grub repeated when she mentioned it to the bartender the next night. Grub owned The Wrong Rats pub, a privilege an elf like him would not have had in the old country where elvin folk are oppressed and enslaved by the humans. Elia could understand why more and more elves migrated to the New World every day.
"You don't know?" She raised an eyebrow, suspicious of the bartender. She hadn't known him for long but she knew he had a good ear on the streets. If Grub hadn't heard about it then something was off.
"First time I've heard of it. But then, they may have kept it under wraps considering the old country still has a huge bounty on his head," the short, chubby old elf mused out loud.
As he turned to serve another customer, Elia saw the side of his face where his tattoos should have been. Elves were always bestowed with beautiful coloured tattoos on their faces when they came of age, identifying their lineage. Elia had noticed when she first met him that Grub didn't have any, and she never dared herself to ask why even though it shocked her every time she came into the bar.
"He must not be very famous," Elia continued when Grub turned back to her. She took a sip of her drink and made a face. The brew was too strong for her taste, but then, she wasn't here for the drink. Not really. She was here for information and Grub would only spill the details when she had finished drinking every last drop of the disgusting liquid.
"On the contrary, it's because he's so famous that people want him dead." He glanced around furtively before leaning forward over the bar to whisper in her ear. Elia stopped herself from flinching back. She didn't like people getting too close. "Important people, if you know what I mean."
She did. Discussing the activities of certain individuals, specifically that of the mad king that currently rules Khore, was a dangerous game. The wrong people may overhear and report him as a spy to the authorities, and they would make an arrest whether the information was true or not.
"What did he do to make them so angry?" Elia asked, probing for just a little more information.
"Let's just say his speeches and ideas threaten their interests," Grub replied, "and people generally just don't like magicians-especially foreign ones from foreign lands."
"Speeches, you say? What kind of speeches?"
"The kind that could cause a revolt," Grub smirked and cocked an eyebrow, "Why so interested, Elia? you looking to meet him?"
Shit. He was onto her. Stay calm, she told herself as she adopted an indifferent expression. She shrugged, "I just wondered what kind of person he is to have such a bounty on his head." Plus, this conversation keeps giving me an excuse to keep on consuming this nasty muck you put in front of me. So tell me what I want to know, old man! "And who knows? Maybe I'll join his cause?"
It's not that she didn't like Grub, or have anything against him, it's just that she didn't know him that well. She didn't trust him or anybody else. Maybe if she knew the elf a little bit better? Who was she kidding? You can never know a person well. They will always surprise you.
Elia didn't like surprises.
Grub frowned and crossed his burly arms, another surprising feature about him. He was more muscular than the elves she knew, shorter too. "From what I've heard of the rumors, he came to Khore about seven years ago, seeking protection and refuge from the king. I don't know what he was running from, though."
Elia knew. In the old country where she was originally from, there was an inquisition of sorts. Every magic user was identified and forced to work for the government or else be hanged. This led to a war as magicians tried to protect their rights but despite the fact that they had something as powerful as magic on their side, they lost. The government had been ready for them and overtime had developed technology and weapons that most magic could not compete with. Moreover, as a result of some of the crimes committed during that war, people began to fear magicians even more so than before and soon even commoners began to support the governments' claim that magic users are too dangerous to be allowed to roam free. Another reason they lost. But long story short, her mark had played a big role in that war and came to Khore to avoid persecution.
And Elia had followed. Tracking him all the way from the old country.
"Anyway," Grub continued in a low voice, "He came here and made a name for himself as the king's chief magician. I think he wants to change the public's opinion on magic, make people more open minded to-"
Suddenly a commotion started over at the other end of the bar. Two men were arguing drunkenly. One of them pushed the other and it escalated into a fist fight.
"Keep it down, you nitwits!" Grub roared. "I'm trying to have a conversation with the pretty lady over here. If you want to fight, do it outside." One of the men raised his arms in defeat and left.
Despite his appearance Grub has an aura that demands respect.
"Good for you, Grub!" The other man stumbled over to them drunkenly, swaying with every step. Elia was sure he would collapse before he made it over to where she and Grub were talking. "But that's just Elia. Can't you hit on someone your own size, old man?" Gavin, the local drunk, hiccupped.
"You're just jealous because the ladies love me," Grub retorted, folding his arms across his chest.
"Yeah, yeah." Gavin turned to Elia and leaned forward, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Why don't you come with me tonight? I'll show you a real man."
The stench of his breath made Elia gag, but she stood her ground, eyeing him up. "I think I've already seen what there is to see," she told him. "Didn't I see you running around naked at the market last month?"
He immediately backed away from her as if she was on fire. "Gah! You saw that?!"
"Yes," she said slowly, as if to let it sink in. "I think all of Khore saw you streak past their windows, but only a few would have noticed the city guards chasing after you. I take it, they didn't catch you."
"Is that disappointment I hear in your voice? I'm hurt." Gavin pouted. "I thought you cared about me."
"Why were you naked?" Grub asked, suddenly interested. "Did somebody mug you and steal your clothes?"
"You wish." He glared at the hopeful elf. "It was just so hot, I had to peel them off. I swear, man, they were sticking to me like a second skin," he complained, gesturing to the clothes he was currently wearing.
"It wasn't even summer then," Elia had to point out.
"No, but I felt it coming." Gavin shivered. "I'm never doing that again. They're calling me the Exhibitionist now. The guards almost caught me that time."
Elia and Grub exchanged a glance. That time?
Wanting to get back to her own conversation, Elia turned to Grub, but the bartender wanted to know more. "Oh, so you've done this before?" he asked eagerly.
"I get in trouble every now and then," he admitted modestly. "They must have tightened security at the marketplace after the Duke's son went missing a couple months ago."
Elia's eyes narrowed at that. The news must've spread recently. "Was it a kidnapping?" she asked, wondering how much they knew.
"They think so, except there's no demand for ransom so far. Apparently he was out at the market and ditched his guards like he usually does. If you ask me, I think the brat just ran away," said Gavin dismissively.
Grub was too interested in Gavin's gossip to pay further attention to Elia, so after leaving a few coins on the bar, she left, heading back home.
"Psst! Mistress." A voice hissed from a dark alley to her right. She looked up to see a familiar street urchin crouching in the shadows.
"Lea." When Elia had first met her, she was dressed in rags, her hair cut short like a boy's, face streaked in dirt and grime. Looking at her now, she was disappointed to say little had changed.
Elia had needed a friend when she first came to Khore- someone to show her way around- though she wouldn't call their relationship that. Lea had tried to rob her several times. Each time failing. Each time Elia had let her go. Until one day, she showed up on her doorstep injured and bloody. Elia had killed Lea's abusive father and in return Lea now owed her a blood debt.
"I told you not to call me that." Elia frowned sternly.
Lea made a face and crossed her arms in reply, "See, you shouldn't have told me that, because now I'm gonna have to keep calling you Mistress, forever."
This little shit. You'd think she'd show her a little respect, hell, maybe even a little fear after she saw what Elia had done to her no good father.
"Anyway," Lea grew serious. "I heard you came back, so I'm here to report." She stood up straight and gave a mock salute. Not so serious after all.
Right. Back to business. "How's my cargo?"
"Safe and secure. I won't say anymore, in case someone may overhear."
Elia nodded. Lea wasn't stupid, that's what she liked about her. She knew when to keep her mouth shut. That's why Elia had hired her to guard her stuff while she was gone.
"Anyway, I've done my part, now I believe you have something of mine?" Smiling, Lea held out a hand and wiggled her fingers.
Did she also mention that Lea was the most greedy ungrateful brat ever?
Elia tossed her a small coin bag. She had known at some point the girl would come looking for her payment and had been ready.
Lea pocketed her recent income immediately.
"You're not going to count it?" Elia asked half mockingly.
"No need," she replied, "I trust you." Lea disappeared into the dark street.
Elia stared after her. Ha. Next time she was going to give her a bag of stones just for laughs. That'll teach her to trust me.
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