Alburet left her as she started to clean the room up. He went down the stairs to find the bartender behind the bar. “Morning sir,” Alburet approached the bar wondering how to ask what he had been told to ask. “I have a question about a long term lodger such as myself acquiring one of the employees as a full time maid while they stay here.”
The bartender eyed him with narrowed eyes for a time, “Which of me daughters put ya up to this?”
Alburet blinked before replying, “Stacia. She can be quite demanding and forceful when she wants to be.”
A snort of muffled laughter came from her father, “Ya don’t be knowin’ the half of it. Iffin she asked ya to ask then the price be ten gold for the month ya be stayin’ with us.”
Frowning slightly at the high price compared to the room, Alburet dropped five gold onto the bar, “Can I pay the rest tonight? I have to sell some things before I have the rest.”
“Aye. Pay the rest by this time tomorrow and we’ll call it a deal. I have a question though, iffin ya willin to answer it?” Alburet nodded so he continued, “Which of ya started the contact?”
“Stacia,” Alburet replied. “For some reason she seems fascinated with me. I tried to warn her off but she persisted. I’ll be back later, I need to get going if I’m going to make the appointments I’ve already agreed to.”
“Good day and luck be with ya,” the bartender replied as Alburet set out. As Alburet left the bar the owner motioned to Stewart, seated at his usual table. “Stew, we need to be havin' a talk about tha' one.”
Alburet left the inn sedately, then started to jog to the portal guild to get a portal to Stormguard fort. Just as he was about to pass through the graveyard a sharp blow hit the back of his head, stunning him. As he tried to regain control of his body a sharp pain pierced his back just as it had the night before. The same two debuffs appeared on his bar. He wanted to yell at the attacker but all he could do was topple over as he was pushed. The same voice from last night came to his ears a moment later.
“This is two, only one more death to go until we complete our contract. Remember, it is unwise to upset the House of Gilden.” The assassin let Alburet see the knife for a moment before his throat was cut again.
Alburet wanted to scream in rage as the assassin cleaned his blade before vanishing just like the night before. Two minutes later he was alive again with his anger still high. Taking a deep breath he started jogging for the portal guild. He was a little calmer but still angry when he got to the tower. Entering, he saw it was busy, with several groups gathered in the waiting are. He took a moment to look over the crowd in the waiting area, but didn’t see anyone he knew. Sighing, he went to the desk where the helpful receptionist sat.
“Morning sir, and welcome back. Where are you off to today?”
“The Stormguard fort, actually,” Alburet replied, his anger abating some at her friendly smile.
“Taking an easy day today? That is always good to do once in a while. There are a number of groups heading there today, if you want to try and join one of them…” she paused as Alburet shook his head.
“I’d rather just pay the gold and sit in line. Last time I asked about joining a group it almost went very badly and I’d rather not deal with idiots today.” He set a gold on the desk. He had felt slightly bad about not paying in full for Stacia right away, but he knew he was going to need coin for the portal.
“Of course, sir. Take a seat please, and thanks again for coming to us for your travel needs.”
Alburet gave her a small bow before he went off to the waiting area. He went by the group of muscle bound idiots from the day before who were also waiting for a portal today. Finding a seat out of the way, he pulled out his Mindstone and sent a message to Karen letting her know he was waiting on the portal. He also sent messages off to Mary, Gerald, DrFrank and Fluffball letting them know that he knew of a quest that was about to start.
A moment later his mail icon lit up as he got a message from Karen telling him she would wait for him, she was already at the fort. No other messages came before the portal mage took him to the portal room. He tipped a gold to the mage, thanking him before he stepped into the portal.
He took a moment to get his bearings before stopping at both the merchant and smith to offload the junk in his bags. Coin in hand, he entered the fort proper looking for Karen. As he passed through the doorway he felt a tap to the back of a knee, causing his leg to buckle. He turned that into a roll, coming to his feet as he spun to face a smirking Karen.
“Glad to see you’re still ready for a fight,” Karen laughed as she tossed him a group invite. “You ready for some fun?”
Alburet shook his head ruefully, “Should have known that was going to be you and yes I am.” He accepted the invite with a smile, “I let the few people I know that there’s something afoot, but no one has replied as of yet.”
“There are a few steps before the boss spawns. We can get some of them done ahead of time.” Karen said, eyeing him with a quizzical expression before her lips quirked up into her normal smirk. “So, have a good night or a good morning?”
Head tilting slightly in confusion, Alburet shrugged, “I had a good night, a nice hot soak followed by a massage.”
“Ah, so a happy ending then?” Karen said nodding her head. “You seem way more relaxed today.”
Understanding dawning, Alburet chuckled, “No, I didn’t have a happy ending during the massage actually. I was seduced by the masseuse this morning though, and let me tell you she knows what she’s doing.”
“Darn and I wanted to re-pop that cherry tonight,” Karen mock pouted.
“On the plus side, I’ll last longer now that I’m not all pent up from five years of fasting,” Alburet grinned.
Putting on a pensive look, Karen nodded, “You do raise a good point. We shall have to see, but first let’s get this ball rolling.” She stepped over to Sergeant Jasper, “Sergeant, I have something you might be interested in.”
Jasper looked up at her, “What do you have?”
Karen took the scroll from the Goblin Messenger from her bag with a flourish before handing it over. Jasper read the scroll, his eyes widening, “The Commander should see this. Follow me, please.” He tugged a bell pull and a private came running up, “Man the desk for a moment, private.” Jasper led them up the stairs then down a hall to another set of stairs. Two guards were posted at the base of these stairs, looking bored but alert. He held a quick muttered conversation before he motioned again and the trio went up. He led them to the first room, where the door was open. Stepping in, Jasper coughed softly.
“Sir, I bring news and the ones who brought it,” Jasper saluted from the door.
An old man with thick white eyebrows and a very thick mustache looked up from some paperwork, returning the salute to Jasper then eyeing Karen and Alburet. “Very well, Sergeant. Bring them in and tell me what is so important.”
Jasper nodded, coming to stand before the desk flanked by Karen and Alburet. He handed the scroll to the Commander and fell into parade rest. Alburet mirrored Jasper subconsciously but was a touch shocked when Karen did the same. The Commander eyed them again for a moment before reading the scroll. Pursing his lips, he nodded. “You did the right thing, Sergeant. Return to your duties. I will speak with these two alone.”
Jasper saluted, marching out of the room with a friendly nod to Alburet as he went by. Alburet returned his gaze to the Commander, who was studying him. “Tell me, are you the one my men have been talking about the last few days?” The Commander’s eyes were hard to read as he studied Alburet.