NOVEL NEXT B2 Chapter 49: A Night on the Town
B2 Chapter 49: A Night on the Town
The dragon followed the column of Legionnaires, returning half a dozen times throughout the day. Often it brought with it other items such as additional massive tree trunks or boulders that were subsequently "presented" to the Legion—or rather, dropped directly in their path with all the enthusiasm of a child showing off a new toy.
They did try to communicate with it. Marcus knew more than his share of tales about the intelligence and cunning of dragons. Yet this one left something to be desired, to say the least.
Once he worked up the courage to approach and speak with the monstrous scaled beast, his reward was… nothing. A blank stare of incomprehension. The others were met with the same response. Even Iladrien who, for some bizarre reason, actually spoke and understood draconic had no luck. The dragon might as well have ignored them. Though perhaps things would have been different if the elf hadn't left his mount safely behind.
Each time the dragon approached, they managed to mollify it by sending ballista bolts shooting off into the distance. The simple action sent the great creature bounding away like a wolf after a rabbit. Sometimes it would bring the projectiles back and block their path again, refusing to move until another one was fired. Others, it would continue flying away and disappear for hours.
This was one of the latter times. Marcus watched as the sparkling pink form soared across the horizon, dipping down occasionally to explore some of the nearby hills. Deep gouges carved into their sides were visible even from this distance, the depressions made without apparent rhyme or reason.
Needless to say, the whole situation resulted in quite a tense march.
The Legionnaires around him remained on-edge as the day wore on. Gaius in particular kept one eye constantly on their new travel companion, the officer jumpier than a grasshopper on a hot stove. And no wonder. Despite their luck so far, there was no telling when it might run out and see all of them turned into crispy little morsels.
Marcus jogged alongside the column at a steady clip, trying to keep from feeling bored out of his mind. The elves had opted to remain out of sight for the moment, just in case the dragon had a taste for more than just horses, meaning he couldn't even pass the time by continuing his conversation with the diplomat. Not that it would have been particularly fruitful. He was far less confident in his conversational skills while running.
Still, the Legion was moving slow enough that he could actually keep up without feeling too exhausted. Without their horses, they needed to match their pace to accommodate their slowest member—the baroness.
The woman and her daughter weren't marching, of course. The Legion had loaded them onto a hastily-fashioned cart rather than deal with their absolutely sluggish pace. But evidently, pulling a cart was different enough from proper marching technique that the men couldn't take full advantage of their related skills.
Marcus glanced over at the baroness to see her chatting with one of the Legionnaires keeping watch over her.
"Do you have a family back home? A wife, perhaps?"
"No." The man shrugged as though it were hardly worth noting.
"Hum." The baroness adopted a thoughtful expression. "That's surprising."
"...Why?"
She gestured to the soldier. "I would expect that a man such as yourself would find no shortage of interest from any woman."
The man snorted. "Legionnaires don't marry. Though that rule gets… overlooked, occasionally."
"Ah. I see." She shifted her posture to more forthrightly display her "assets". "Is the ban only against marriage? Or…?"
Marcus winced. At first, he had been glad to see that she had seemingly suppressed her antagonism to the Legion. However, the more he listened in on her conversations with the guards, the more he became certain of her plan.
Fortunately, the woman was not exactly skilled in the art of seduction. But between her respectable charisma stat and the fact that she was literally the only woman around for miles, she didn't have to be. Her efforts were subtle enough to not be obvious to the Legionnaires around her. It also helped that there had been nowhere near enough women in Habersville for the entire army, and even fewer unwed ones.
So, as soldiers were wont to do, they smiled at her words and stared at her breasts. Of course, they had enough discipline not to actually harm or touch their captive in any way. Once he'd picked up on the issue, Marcus had also made sure to inform Gaius, and the officer had carefully chosen guards with good reputations from that point on to ensure they watched each other.
Still, Marcus kept an eye on the situation himself. Just in case. None of the Legionnaires seemed stupid enough to make any moves on the baroness they were ransoming off or try to help her escape. But smarter men had done stupider things for the sake of a beautiful woman.
After what seemed like an eternity, the dragon finally disappeared over the horizon. After an hour of marching without seeing hide or scale of the thing, Marcus felt their entire group breathe a sigh of relief. So much so that they quickened their pace in an effort to put some distance between them and the dragon. Though Marcus sincerely doubted it made much of a difference.
A couple of days later, the capital of the duchy came into view. The sprawling city of Dellend stood tall and proud, a bustling crowd milling about its gates. Beyond its white walls, the very tips of the mages' academy and adventures' guild stretched toward the sky as though competing to be tallest. The place was second only to the royal capital itself in terms of both size and grandeur.
The Legionnaires made camp some distance away, hidden in a copse of trees set amongst the seas of brown grasses. The Legionnaires quickly erected some defenses and concealed the camp that appeared to spring out of nothing. Between the fact that the road bent around the island of green and the density of the foliage, Marcus felt it would be surprisingly difficult for anyone but a scouting troop to spot them.
Once the initial flurry of activity had subsided, Marcus slumped onto a felled log with a long sigh and massaged his aching feet. When he'd decided to follow the Legion around and chronicle their exploits, he'd never imagined that it would involve quite this much legwork. If he had, then perhaps he would have reconsidered the whole deal. The idea of a warm bath right now sounded absolutely divine.
He paused. That gave him an idea.
"Gaius," Marcus called over to the officer as he sent a group of centurions about some task or another. Gaius looked at him questioningly. "You intended to wait until tomorrow to contact the duke, correct?"
"That's right. Why?"
"Well, what do you say to me going into the city today to gather some information?" Marcus tapped the side of his nose. "It wouldn't hurt to get the lay of the land a little bit, perhaps find out the latest news from the locals."
Gaius considered his proposal for only a second before nodding. "Agreed. That's not a bad plan. Give me a moment to finish checking in on the last centuries and I'll think of some questions for you to ask."
"Of course, of course!" Marcus agreed easily. "Though I would ask that you don't delay for too long. From this distance, it will take some time still to reach Dellend's gates, especially on foot."
Gaius winced at the reminder of their lost horses. "All right. I'll put together a list within the hour."
"Would you perhaps be willing to accept company?"
Marcus turned to see Iladrien's blonde form approaching, his forest-colored cloak seeming to blend in with the foliage around them even now.
The bard's eyebrows rose. "But of course. Although, are you entirely certain you wish to come? My understanding of your people is that you much prefer scenery such as this to the dark alleys and cold stone of a city."
Iladrien shrugged. "You are not incorrect. However, one's dislike of such things is no excuse to remain entirely ignorant of them. And I must admit to some curiosity. It has been quite a long time since any of our people have visited a human settlement, aside from your own Habersville." He nodded to Gaius.
"If that is the case, then your presence in the city may draw undue attention." Gaius pointed out.
"Ah, don't worry about that." Marcus patted Iladrien's shoulder and grinned. "I should be able to help on that front."
The elf stiffened slightly at the gesture of familiarity, but said nothing. The young Legionnaire nodded. "In that case, I have no objections. So long as you remain discreet."
Marcus's grin widened. "Discreet? What kind of bard would I be to slip through a settlement entirely unnoticed? But, we'll be sure to draw only the right kind of attention."
Gaius gave an amused chuckle and shook his head. "Fair enough. I'll get to putting together that list then.
***
By the time they arrived at the city, the sun was just beginning to touch the horizon and paint it with hues of deep orange and dusk. Even the crowd hoping to gain entry to Dellend had more or less dispersed for the evening. Those wagons and travelers who were too poor or didn't care to pay for lodging within the city gathered beneath its walls. The result was a makeshift little town of their own on the outskirts, almost like another district entirely.
Marcus looked over their little group. A handful of Legionnaires and elves had accompanied them with the intent to set up camp outside the city. That way, they could provide assistance or run messages back to Gaius as needed.
The Legionnaires looked distinctly uncomfortable, some of them having removed their armor to appear more like a mercenary band than a group of actual soldiers. The elves all wore hoods, Iladrien included, to hide their ears and ageless features. The final result was a band that looked perhaps a little shady and suspicious, but not enough to warrant further investigation so long as they stayed outside of the city.
Marcus watched as the group began erecting a small outpost of their own with the practical efficiency he'd come to expect from the Legion. He couldn't help but shake his head at the sight. Hopefully they wouldn't go so far as to encircle the thing in a defensible wall like they did every other camp. That would be certain to raise some eyebrows.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"This is where we part ways, it seems." Marcus called to his companions as they worked. "I suppose we'll see you all tomorrow?"
"Seems like it." One of the older Legionnaires scoffed. "Still can't believe you got away with this shit. 'Gather some information' my ass. The only information you're gonna be gathering is about the different venereal diseases in the city."
"How crude!" Marcus looked affronted. "I am a man of duty in all things, dear Augustus. The tribunus laticlavius gave me a list of information to gather, and I intend to do just that. Now, if I happen to be particularly efficient in my mission and find myself with a bit of free time…"
"Whatever." The Legionnaire gave Marcus a hearty slap on the back. "Do us all a favor and bring back some good booze while you're in there. The officers and centurions claimed most of the good shit when we took the last city."
"That, I can certainly do." Marcus grinned. He turned to Iladrien. "Are you ready to go, Andra?"
The elf nodded at the alias they'd agreed upon. "Indeed. Although it appears that a bit of haste may be in order on our part."
He raised a finger toward the gate. As Marcus followed the direction he'd indicated, he saw the massive portcullis just beginning to lower.
Marcus swore under his breath. "Farewell, lads! Don't miss me too much!"
With that, the two set off at a run.B2 Chapter 50: Word on the Street
"Wait!"
Marcus called up to the gatesmen with a cheery wave and a flash of his brightly-colored cloak. He slung his lute from his back to his front to more clearly convey his profession. After all, no one denied entry to a bard. Not when letting him in could mean an hour or so of entertainment around the barracks and guardhouses.
By himself, Marcus had wheedled his way inside many a town or city far past when he should have been allowed in. Of course, his hooded companion was a different story. But that was why they were running. So long as the gate wasn't down, they stood a much better chance.
At his shout, the guard turned away from the winch and gave them a quick once-over. He seemed to debate for half a second before stepping toward the still partially open gate and waving Marcus forward. Marcus and Iladrien both redoubled their pace.
"My thanks, good sir!" Marcus said, managing to pant only slightly as they slipped beneath the gate. He flipped a silver coin the guard's way. The guard caught it, and the coin disappeared so quickly that Marcus wasn't even certain where it had been secreted off to. Either the man had quite an impressive [Sleight of Hand] skill or some specific skill related to taking bribes. Marcus had never heard of such a thing but wouldn't honestly be surprised.
"Of course. Though you're lucky. You made it just in time." The guard heaved between each sentence as he finished lowering the gate. The massive portcullis settled into place with a thud of finality. As it came to a halt, the guard sighed and dusted off his hands. "Gates have been closing at sundown exactly the past couple of weeks."
"Oh? That certainly seems early. What brought about that kind of change?" Marcus asked, surprised. Guard shifts were certainly an area of interest to Gaius, as would be the news that led to a heightened sense of security.
"Yep. Sunup to sundown. It used to be midnight to sunup we would close." The guard said, seeming more than happy to talk. His expression turned bitter. "Means I've still got another four and a half hours on my shift, it does."
Marcus nodded in commiseration. That certainly explained the willingness to talk. Still, he wouldn't mind listening to the man's complaints so long as they proved informative.
"As for why things changed all of a sudden… Well. There's talk of something going on over in the southeast. Some kind of trouble brewing."
"Trouble?"
"Yep. Word is there's something nasty that's causing havoc through the whole barony of Wellshire. I heard it wiped out a whole army of adventurers that the baron sent to deal with it—level twenties and thirties, too! I wouldn't expect the place to last another week, if it's not all razed to the ground already."
Marcus's eyebrows shot up with interest, but he didn't betray a hint of anything else. "My, that certainly is a cause for concern. Tell me, have you heard what form this great threat has taken?"
The guard shrugged. "The details are a bit fuzzy on that one. You hear a lot of different stories from people coming through, you understand. Some claim it's giant spiders swarming out of the forest. Others say the elves have all of a sudden decided to invade. I even heard one crazy old coot babbling about a dragon. A dragon! Can you believe that?"
The guard chuckled and shook his head. Marcus just smiled while Iladrien remained silent next to him.
"Me, I'd guess it's orcs." The guard continued. "They probably snuck around the other side of Novara somehow. Bad news for the war if that's the case. But anyway. I'm surprised a bard hadn't heard about all this already."
"Oh, I've heard my fair share of tales." Marcus winked. "But none that I'd swear by. Well, not unless I was in front of an audience."
The guard let out a hearty laugh. "Fair enough. Well, I'm sure that you'll hear even more rumors from folks around the city. Though with how things have been, I'd wager they'll want to hear stories of a more heroic sort. If you're planning on playing, of course."
"Always." Marcus reassured him. "Do you know any places that might appreciate some entertainment tonight?"
"Hmm…" The guard coughed, and Marcus flipped him another coin. This time it was only a copper, though the guard didn't look disappointed. They both knew this info was far less valuable than letting someone through the gate at the last minute.
A smile brightened the guard's face. "Now that you mention it, there is one place that comes to mind. The Feathered Crown. It's not too far from here, and the owner is a friend of mine. I'm sure she'd set you up with a good deal. Just tell her Blythe sent you."
After getting directions, Marcus and his companion bid the guard farewell and headed into the city. Though the gate was closing, that didn't mean that the place itself was any less busy. The streets bustled with people and carriages rushing about. A few small clusters of vendors that had staked out a spot nearest the gate shouted at passerby, hawking their wares or advertising various stores within the city.
Marcus breathed it all in. It had been too long since he had been to a city—a real, proper city. One with all the conveniences and trappings of modern life. Sure, he was still talking all necessary precautions to alter his face with [Glamour] while he was here, but the stamina drain was worth it. It was good to be back.
He continued walking past them all, offering an apologetic smile here or a few words there as appropriate. By his side, he noticed Iladrien taking in the sights with interest, the elven envoy scanning his surroundings as though to fix them in his mind.
"If there's anything in particular you'd like to see, don't hesitate to stop me." Marcus offered. "While an inn will likely be one of the better venues at which to gather information, I can quite easily make do wherever we are."
The elf thought a moment, then shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but will decline. I suspect that I'll have enough to keep me busy simply by going about our mission."
He kept his voice low as he answered. They'd previously agreed to let Marcus do the talking, not just because of his familiarity with cities and his status as a bard, but also because of his accent. Elven speech did not endow Iladrien with as distinct an accent as some, but it was distinctly foreign—enough that it may invite questions they did not want to deal with.
Marcus sensed a bit of hesitation in the man's refusal. "Are you certain? Nowhere at all? A market, the crafting district, a theater? I won't judge if you'd like to see some of the, shall we say, seedier sides of the city either."
"Ah?" Iladrien perked up at the last option. "Is there a public garden in the city then?"
Marcus stared at him. "No. I mean, not one worth noting. Why would you—oh. Oh. What a clever bit of wordplay, friend!"
He chuckled at the elf's wittiness before recognizing the look of confusion written plain across his face. Marcus coughed into his hand. "Er… no. By 'seedier' I meant more… unsavory. Like perhaps a poorer district of the city or a brothel or…"
Iladrien did well to keep his expression still. Yet Marcus could still make out a slight flush to his features. "Ah. I see. Thank you, but no. If you do insist, however, perhaps a market would prove interesting."
"A market. Perfect." Marcus smiled. "I was planning to take us that direction anyway."
He returned his attention to the city around them, mentally reviewing Gaius's list of questions as he did. Most of them he could get answered at any halfway decent inn. The rest were… stranger. Why did the man want to know the going prices for so many goods? Metals and various pieces of equipment made sense, but grain? Was Gaius a soldier or a farmer?
He set the matter aside. What was going through the Legionnaire's head wasn't his concern right now, even if he was a little curious. But if he wanted to get answers at the market, then they'd want to get moving before evening's onset.
***
As the sky darkened, the pair found their way into the dim common room of the Feathered Crown. Its ale-soaked tables were less than halfway full of customers despite the relatively late hour, which was never a good sign for such an establishment. Behind its long counter stood a woman polishing an empty glass with a rag.
A few inquiries from Marcus had let him know that the place had fallen on a bit of hard luck as of late though, so it wasn't unexpected. If anything, it was an opportunity. A quality bard drawing a crowd was usually worth a few drinks, but he was all but certain this place would be willing to throw in a free room or two.
Marcus led Iladrien toward the counter straightaway, his purple cloak drawing looks of interest from the patrons immediately. More interest, it seemed, than the comparatively plain fellow in the hood at his side. The woman behind the bar looked up as they approached, her eyes widening.
"Good evening, milady." Marcus bowed theatrically. "My name is Yonnas, and I am but a humble traveling bard. I—"
"A bard?!" The woman "Oh, thank the gods! Finally, one that hasn't been snatched away by those pricks at the Tipsy Troubadour. Please, please, make yourself at home! We have a stage right over there if you'd like to perform! I'd be sure to make it worth your while!"
The woman was clearly desperate as she practically bustled Marcus to the stage. He held out a hand to calm her. "Please, please milady! Of course I'd love to perform. Especially if you could provide rooms for my friend and I."
The woman's eyes sharpened. "For both of you? Hmmm… perhaps one I can do, but two may be more than I can afford to give… Especially since I guarantee you'll find no cleaner rooms on this side of Dellend!"
"I assure you, you'll see more than their value returned to you in purchased drink by the night's end. Especially if I am motivated by a cut of whatever is brought in." Marcus's eyes glittered.
The pair went back and forth, bartering over what Marcus's services were worth. In the end, he managed to snag two rooms and a small purse of coin for his time, provided that he managed to fill the inn with patrons.
Marcus shook his head with a chuckle and got ready to perform. It truly was nice to be appreciated. Of course, he could easily find a place in a more prestigious and high-class place than this, but doing so would take more time and walking than he really wanted to commit to. Besides, his face was a little more well known among those circles, enough that he didn't want to risk showing it—even disguised as it was.
With one final look over his lute, he settled onto a stool atop the stage. Most of the patrons sitting around the room looked up with interest at the promise of some entertainment, but not all of them. Marcus would have to change that.
He struck up a jaunty tune, an old favorite with words well-known enough to sing along to. The song had men all around the room tapping their feet and shouting along in mere moments. The music spilled out the door and into the streets beyond, and before his first number was over, more laborers and passerby were already peeking their heads in to investigate.
Marcus kept up the energy. Song after song he played, drawing more and more people into the Feathered Crown until it was packed to the rafters. The increasingly inebriated singing of its patrons rose in volume and enthusiasm as the barmaids rushed about to refill tankards and glasses.
He glanced toward a corner of the room. There, Iladrien sat at the only table that wasn't entirely full, a corner booth that would have seated four. He wasn't entirely sure whether he'd managed to keep everyone else away through a skill, a spell, or simply by emitting an unfriendly aura. But whatever it was, it worked. Well enough that Marcus was able to sneak the coins that began overflowing his lute case to the elf every once in a while as he listened in on the conversations around them.
After all, he was making a killing. He always did. How could he not? He was a proper [Royal Bard] bard, not some humble tavern musician screeching away on a flute. His skills were of the sort that impressed kings—or, more recently, emperors.
But a glance about the room revealed that drunkards were not the only ones taking in his performance. A few considerably shadier figures hung about the edges of the room, each doing their best not to watch him too intently. Marcus kept a close eye on them without letting slip that he'd noticed. He wouldn't have been surprised if at least one worked for the duke.
He tried to get a feel for what they wanted of course. But as the night wore on and the ale flowed freely, there was one more figure that caught his attention. A serving girl with sapphire eyes and just the right amount of curves.
It really was good to be back in a proper city.