Chapter 21: The Gentle Caress
Oh, this is really nice. It's been ages since I've slept in such a soft bed...And there's a hushed sound of water somewhere not far away. It's barely audible, and it reminds me of my room in the castle where I would listen to the rain running down the roof on some nights. It's very relaxing. Wait a minute. Water? Running?
I rise from the bed. That sound is definitely not coming from above but from down below! I press my ear to the wall. Yes. It sounds like there's water running through under the house. This house doesn't have a cellar. But maybe of the adjacent building? I gather my equipment and left for the streets.
This...this house is right next to mine. A good place to start investigating.
Inside the house, I can spot a lone dwarf, awake in his living room.
I decide to remain hidden and investigate his cellar. The door is locked, but picking his pocket yielded the key. I descend into the dark cellar, dagger in hand.
A few rats emerge, but posed no problems. A metal door leads deeper below the house.
The sewers, I was right! I remember this place! This was where I saw the Dhorn soldier talking to the cloaked figure! I should investigate this. Or maybe that dwarf upstairs can tell me more? Oh, what's that...?
Hey, it's...
It's Caron!. Whats he doing here? And he has a very odd expression on his face, too...
Hello, Caron.
I smile at him. He clumsily reaches out for me. Actually, all his movements are rather slow...
Is everything okay?
He opens his mouth, but only a gurgling sound escapes from his lips. In place of his tongue and teeth there's only a bloody pulp.
Oh no, Caron!
I rush up to him. He clutches my shoulder and tries to speak out but only makes that gurgling sound again. Then his feet give way under him and he slowly sinks to the floor. A huge, dark stain cover the front of his armor. I kneel by his side. He must be badly hurt, there's no strength left in him. How did he get these wounds? I desperately open the front of his armor in order to treat his wounds.
Caron, hang on...I can help.
My fingers are immediately soaked with blood. I barely manage to suppress a scream when I open his coat. Somebody has slit his belly, starting at his genitals, almost all the way up to his neck. Worse, it looks like his bowels have been removed. Parts of them are still hanging out...
I try to discipline myself and attempt to suppress the urge to vomit. I failed. I bend over and puked. It's just too terrible to see. Caron lets out a soft sigh and lies still.
Caron, no! Don't die on me!
He could not speak...his eyes closes for one final time, a smile formed on his bloodied lips. His hands unmoving in mine. I clutch it tightly, cursing my helplessness.
No....
White, hot tears streamed down my eyes. He's gone. I hugged him close, letting the his blood soak onto my clothes. I gave a silent vow to get the bastards who did this to him before letting go.
Caron...I'll...be back for you. Wait here, okay?
LP Comment:
Aeris has nothing on this. This is...horrible.
I gently set his body on the ground and stand up. Mourning can wait. Whoever did this is still around, and it's up to me to find them!
I crept closer to the spot where I spotted the two Dhorns speaking in the sewer and found various tracks on the floor. There are two different sorts of tracks. The first seems to be made by a pair of heavy boots, like a soldier might wear, leaving sharp prints on the dirty ground. I would say this was the Dhorn. The second sort is more difficult to make out. The tracks are smaller in size and not so clear. This was apparently the second figure. All in all, not a lot of useful information.
I let out a sigh of frustration. I need more than this. I scan my surrounding and found a lone open door. Could it be..?
Blood. Must be Caron's. I can hear murmurs ahead. I crept closer.
I froze in place. Suppressing the urge to attack the two Dhorns. My eyes wide open to appraise my foes.
No good. I can't take them all on by myself. I decide to stay silent and listen for clues.
I wonder how far our brave little fellow's gonna get.
Think we should have killed him?
No. Probably won't even reach the stairs, anyway. And even if he did... it's unlikely he's going to talk.
Hehe. I just wish we could have learned more.
Yeah, me too. But it was fun, anyway.
Want to go to Tald's later?
Sounds good. I could use a drink. And a hooker would be nice.
Don't let the lieutenant hear that.
Hehe, I meant for tickling.
Oh. Hehehe.
Tald's tavern? That sounds familiar. I need to tell Master Nathan about this! I retraced my steps. I was about to carry Caron along when I remembered the dwarf above. He's alone. I can take him.
Wait here, Caron.
He
will talk. Or die. I ready my shield and ascend the stairs.
Who's there?!
Your Dhorn friends have killed a friend of mine in your cellar!
You're not going to talk!
He attacks, I was ready for it. I threw a bag of caltrops to his face, covering him with prickling wounds. He howled in agony as blood flowed. I quickly stab him with my short sword, giving him no chance to recover. Finally, his breaths grew shorter, and he knelt before me, begging for mercy.
Hold! I surrender! I give up. Please don't kill me.
I'll expect a couple of answers then.
But I don't know anything!
A friend of mine died down there, disembowelled by two Dhorns! And the only entrance is your cellar! D oyou really want to tell me you've never noticed anybody?!
The Dhorn...they pay me.
He stares at the floor.
Could you identify them?
I must have been visited by more than thirty of them. I could point you to pretty much any officer in the city.
He's right, too many Dhorn. I just need to nail the informant.
What about the people they meet with?
They come with their faces hidden...
You should really be able to tell me a little more, or I'll be forced to come back with people who know how to get answers...
I drew my blade closer to his throat to emphasize the point. He pales.
Oh, no, please. I really don't know anything!
We'll find that out shortly enough...
I press the blade closer.
Oh! Wait! Maybe something. I once noticed a strong smell on one. He smelled of oil!
Go on.
Yes. Oil and sweat. It was not very pleasant. I have no idea why anybody would coat himself with oil.
LP Comment: Getting this fact is worth 500 EXP. This is the informant we spotted much earlier during the sneaking lesson. Not the two Dhorns we avoided.
Please, may I go? I have to get out of the city. It's not safe for me anymore.
I...I should let him go? No..if I do that, he might betray us to the Dhorn again just to save his skin. He deserve to die. I grip my blade tightly, staring at his face.
No, I think I'll kill you just to be sure.
I withdrew the blade back, temporarily allowing the dwarf some relief before slashing at his chest. His eyes widen in shock as blood spurted from his chest.
That's...for Caron.
I spat at his corpse and return below to retrieve Caron's body.
Caron, I'm back. We're going home.
I knelt before him and gently carry him behind my back. My legs shaking from the burden.
Slowly, I climb up the stairs, out of the house.
Hey..Caron. See there? It's my apartment just next door. I...I really wanted to show you when I got back...but you weren't..there...
The tears flow once more.
We're home, Caron.
What on earth is that supposed to mean, Aisha?
Master Nathan points at Caron's body.
It's Caron.
I can see that. What happened?
I wiped the tears from my eyes and cleared my throat before continuing.
I found the secret spot in the sewers where I had heard that Dhorn soldier talking to the informant. It can be accessed through the cellar, in a house next to my apartment. Caron was also in the sewers, but...
How did he die?
Someone disemboweled him. Literally. I overheard two Dhorns down there. They were the ones responsible.
What did you overhear, Aisha?
They tortured Caron.
And?
One of them complained that they hadn't learned a lot from him.
Let us hope that is really the case. I'll take a couple of precautions, anyway.
The Dhorn also said something about going to Tald's Tavern.
That's where most of them go when they want to have a drink, yes.
Master Nathan looks me straight in the eyes.
I want you to stay away from Tald's, understood? That place is too dangerous.
I want to make them pay.
We'll get them in time, be sure of that. Did you find out anything else?
I questioned the dwarf who owns the house. He admitted to taking money from the Dhorn to let them use his cellar as a meeting place. He told me that one of the informants smells strongly of oil and sweat.
Oil, you say?
Yes.
Hm. There are no oil traders in the city. And a lot of people use oils for personal hygiene. Maybe someone who does personal hygiene professionally might tell us more.
He rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Put Caron down, Aisha.
I didn't want to leave him in the sewers...
His expression softens, I carefully place Caron's body on the floor.
He should have a proper funeral.
I'll take care of it, Aisha.
Thank you, Master Nathan.
He briefly touches my cheek, then motions for one of his guards to pick up Caron's body.
I'll let you know, okay?
I nod silently. Bidding farewell to Caron one last time before leaving the Bear's Pit. Outside, I quicken my pace. There's debt to be paid. I opened the sewer entrance and make my way to the hideout to prepare myself.
Caron, you will be avenged. I swear it.
Music:
Somewhere Out There