[b][center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BNyPcMytGo]Early Evening - Commoner Districts - Dockyard Inn[/url][/center][/b] [hr] Korkud wasn't sure whether he was dreaming or not. His eyes felt open, and the environment around him was that of the place where he had been sleeping. But there were a few things wrong with it - such as the tall woman sitting by the end of his bunk. She wasn't supposed to be there. But there she was, somewhat older than last he had seen her. Her lips were somewhat poutier now, and her face was bearing slight wrinkles. ''How long has it been, Korkud? 15 years?'' The groaning and the following silence she got as an answer was seemingly unsatisfactory. ''Still the clenching? You haven't been using the medication I told you, have you?'' She placed her hand on Korkud's cheek. ''It's alright. Open your mouth.'' And Korkud did so, leaving out a wheezing gasp, followed by a bunch of dry coughs. ''If it weren't for your dreams we wouldn't be seeing each other at all, and you waste time just grinding your teeth? Silly.'' Korkud was finally able to speak properly, yet what he was able to voice was no more than a single word. ''What?'' The woman smiled. ''I'm here to wake you up. Just wanted to stop by for a chat before I did it.'' On Korkud's face was no more than a fearful smile, like a child caught by his mother. ''I want you to know, Korkud. I'm watching you. Now, time to wake up.'' The woman put a simple kiss on Korkud's lips. He was able to answer with a flat 'wait' before he got slapped in the face, and suddenly, the room was empty. He hastily got up, not unlike a cat splashed with water, and frantically looked around the room. In his head was an ache so strong he felt like bashing his head to the wooden wall. He decided to open the window, get some clean air. And suddenly, there was an explosion, followed by sounds of fearful horses. In only a matter of seconds, Korkud had armed himself with his entire arsenal, hidden the stripped saddle underneath his bed, and rushed to the lower floor, where he found Fadl shooting towards unknown figures from a gate, with the innkeeper crouching behind him. ''Stolen?'' Fadl immediately turned towards Korkud. ''Yes, Ghazi.'' On his face was a look of sadness brewing from the fact he had failed his suzerain and friend. [i]'Great,'[/i] Korkud thought - '[i]first day in Voltas, and we've already been robbed of our horses.'[/i] He sighed. ''Ashradar?'' Fadl closed his eyes and put his head down for half a second. ''Outside, Ghazi. Short time ago he was a street away, seemed to be on lookout.'' But Korkud seemed to be not listening, checking the stables instead. Only their horses were stolen - and from the looks of it, it was quite a professional job. He took a sniff from the air, trying his best not to clench his teeth. She was watching, after all. ''Regular thieves wouldn't use gunpowder. Specific job. Probably the man who sent the courier.'' He turned to Fadl. ''Check the room, make sure your equipment isn't stolen. Hide it. Then check on Ashradar.'' Fadl nodded and rushed up the ladder once more, towards the room. As Fadl rushed off to do the tasks, Korkud turned his attention towards the innkeeper. ''Who did this?'' The bald man turned at him. ''I don't know, sir.'' Korkud nodded his head with an accepting expression. ''Any ideas?'' The man's expression was the same. "As I said before, I know nothing of the so-'' Before the man could finish his sentence, Korkud furiously latched his hand onto the man's fat, oily neck and pulled him out of his cowering spot, and threw him over a table covered with bottles and half-empty dishes. Following a short scream, the man opened his eyes and wiped the wine and glass shards from broken bottle off his battered face, he found the wide tip of Korkud's sword facing him. The innkeeper was a smart man, and did not want to disappoint Korkud's expectations. The innkeeper's attention snapped towards a nearby stairwell where several young boys and a woman appeared. Blood seeped down the man's face, yet the sad and desparate expression he gave his boys proved enough to provoke their gasps. The aproned woman mangaed to seize one boy yet her hands alluded the other. [b]"Babaaaaaa,"[/b] one of the boys tearfully screamed as he rushed towards the armed man, "Stop hurting babaa!" "Kurush, no," the innkeeper scolded, "Don't come any closer! Baba has business and debts to settle." The boy only cried further as the woman seized his neckline before wrapping an arm around his face. Her weary expression only further enhanced the notions that family suffered under the harsh times. The floors creaked as she heaved the struggling boys towards the stairwell and in the ensuing attempt, knocked over several stools and chairs. "This way boys," the woman fearfully whispered, "Babaa must keep the roof under our heads and earn money for us to eat so be good and leave our visitors alone to finish their business. Mamaa will take you to the kitchens so we can make Sangak for later, yes?" Moments later, the door shut, granting Korkud and the innkeeper their peace... [hr] [i]''Children,''[/i] Korkud quietly spat. He [i]hated[/i] kids. If they were not badgering for food or sweets, they were always either shouting, crying, or demonstrating their horrible inefficiency at fighting or any other useful labors. But they were seeds. It was necessary to conceive and nuture children. One simply fostered a greater legacy through youthful training and fair discipline. He had a child once, he remembered. He was dead now. The woman who had given birth to the boy was dead too. The woman's father was dead, as was Darya; in fact, everyone was dead. "Babaaaaaa," one of the innkeeper's boys had cried. He had taken a passing glance at the dark-skinned, dirty haired kid. ''Miserable.'' He did not like listening to the wailing of children. It made his ears ring. Thankfully, the innkeeper and his wife had taken them away. Any longer, and he would have taken the matter in his own hands. The ringing in Korkud's ear felt somewhat better now, and he was much more willing to listen to the innkeeper now. "Sir," the man sighed a relieving breath before whimpering, "If you do not kill me, I would promise to deliver you to those who might know who is responsible!'' Korkud pulled the man up and pushed him to sit on a chair. ''Speak.'' "Please do not kilI me! I must look after my wife and sons! If you want to find who is responsible it is the Valanian resistance," the balded man fearfully whimpered, "I know this because they are the culprits and the reason for much of the city's madness! There is not even enough to eat and yet they still manage to roam the streets. They know where to hide and how to smuggle weapons, gunpowder, and supplies through the city!" [i]'Resistance?'[/i] Korkud had not heard much of them. Mostly because his intelligence was not centered around Voltas. Mistake. Now, it was a possibility that they had his horses. Big mistake. Of course, he did not expect a Valanian resistance group to find him in the middle of the Akha mountains - he did not do away with the possibility that it was all planned, by someone else. ''Tell me more.'' His jaw clenched, and as if feeling an incoming reprimand by the ghost of his lover, he opened it with some difficulty. ''Locations. Names. Valid info, and you keep the five coins meant for the horses.'' He took a few steps back. Fadl and Ashradar were here. In his bid to rise and guide the armed leader towards the stairwell, the man clumsily stumbled before colliding through a particular table edge. Wincing, the keeper painfully seized his leg as his face dripped with sweat and blood that had inadvertantly also coated his cloak. "You will not find a man more affluent than a certain noble living in the Noble's Quarter for he is wealthier than any Valanian I have ever heard of save perhaps the Lord Sovereign himself!" Groaning, the keeper dabbed several cuts along his eyebrows in his bid to retrieve embedded glass shards across his forehead. His gasps and winces did nothing to alleviate the armed leader who had since appeared to grow increasingly impatient. He was not a man to anger or infuriate his tenants and given how low the times had truly become; dismissing what little business that still fluctuated through this part of Voltas proved as unwise as it was to entice his family's demise. "You asked for information and names to aid in finding your horses so I will tell you everything I know," he uttered, "If it is information you want, the man responsible would be none other than Frederic D'Aubigne and his associates. The Valanian is an Ecuyer and will know who is responsible for he is perhaps the wealthiest Valanian alive and the most credible patron to offer the resistance their material support!" Wincing again, the balded proprieter expressed a loud gasp as blood seeped across his neckline and in wiping his face, smeared dried scabbing over his temples. "The Valanian resistance are not known to share their information outside their own circles and there is a chance they will kill any who they suspect to infiltrate their ranks. D'Aubigne is also known to conduct his business under his watchful eyes. From what I hear, he is a very busy man and only convenes with those he trusts or wishes to conduct business. You must believe me! I do not know anything beyond what I have seen or heard and if there is anything you must know, it is that it is nearly impossible to associate in his company without a proper introduction or business partnership." "Blood. So much blood ..." he weakly uttered as his panting grew heavier. Through repeated swallows and dimming eyes, the innkeeper continually quivered upon sight of his wounds. ''D'Aubigne.'' The man who had called him to Voltas - the man who knew he was still alive - was a particular associate of the D'Aubigne. Seigneur de Beauvais, Ecuyer de Aubigne. And now, here this bald man was, talking about a Frederic D'Aubigne. A wealthy man, a supporter of the resistance, why would he need Korkud? Was this horse thievery a way to attract more attention (unnecessary, if the man knew Korkud any)? If the man was as wealthy as he was said to be, why would he need a bunch of horses? Korkud found it odd. The men, these D'Aubigne people, they had a lot to answer for, to quench the gnawing questions inside his mind, to instill Korkud with even more tension. The resistance, the horse thieves, the invitation.. There were too many questions, and nowhere near enough answers. He turned to Fadl and Ashradar. ''Help the man,'' he said, pointing at the innkeeper. When they neared, he stopped them. ''Afterwards, find the thieves,'' he said in a whisper, to make sure the innkeeper would not hear it. ''When you find them, you know what to do. I have to visit somewhere.'' [hr] [b][center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnLZ1ufk1UQ]Mid Evening - Commoner Districts - Dockyard Streets[/url][/center][/b] [hr] In the chaotic streets of Voltas, Fadl was able to see a certain pattern of mayhem that was obviously indicating the path the horse thieves had followed. It was foolish of him to not use his musket instead of his pistols, but the explosion had caught him by surprise, and he had to give credit to the thieves as well - they were quick. It was possible that he had wounded one of them, but it was also possible the man had simply flinched from one of the many obstacles a man or horse could face while galloping through the miserable, thick and narrow city streets. The explosion was also bound to attract attention. The mirror trick was also good - but it was not sensible in this context. It would attract more attention compared to the eyes it would blind. And they were unaware of one last thing, one thing so crucial that skipping over it would cause very big problems. That thing they were unaware of was Fadl. But now, what was more important was Ashradar - orders were to be followed. And for Fadl, finding someone that he had known for 15 years was easier than pronouncing a long word. And indeed, not far away from where he had last seen him, he saw him. Perhaps to test himself, or perhaps to merely entertain himself, he sneaked up to the boy and put his hand on his shoulder, while trying to keep a fair distance as to not risk a fatal reflex from the boy. ''The horses got stolen. We'll be here longer than expected.'' Ashradar had merely been moving in circles around the inn, though with each passing moment, his paths became increasingly erratic. He was but one person and could barely notice all possible suspicious behaviour. Still, it allowed him to ignore the fatigue that threatened to set in and feel slightly more comfortable with the area. At the very least, if he knew the surrounding cityscape, he would almost certainly discern a means for an escape. The weapons he carried on him were all within close reach. Just in case. Though the young man was quite perceptive enough to discern and gauge his surroundings he failed to notice Fadl's presence until just after sensing a hand along his shoulder. In a split second reaction, Ash chose to unsheath his sword over his bow after instinctively deciding upon the quicker weapon to draw. This quickly evolved into a catlike whistling pivot as the young warrior immediately lunged towards Fadl, tip first. It was upon discerning the man's identity that he apologetically lowered his sword before rightfully returning it within its sheath. "Stolen? How?" Ash looked perplexed, before letting out a soft curse. Even as he spoke he turned to head back to the inn, quite sure that there was a reason Fadl had been sent for him and it was most likely to bring him back. "Is Ghazi Korkud annoyed?" Though that was quite likely, he felt it necessary to ask. After all it told him whether to tread carefully upon reaching the inn, or not. Of course Ash was always careful about what he said. But it was better to know, than not. As he expected, the boy had reacted in quite a dangerous matter. Thankfully he was also trained enough to halt himself. Life was easier for Fadl when people did things he usually would have to do. He was looking at the inn while talking. [i]'Afraid?'[/i] And, as if answering, he asked about Ghazi Korkud. [i]'Afraid.'[/i] He sighed, rolled his barely seen eyes, and then licked his lower lip before speaking. ''When isn't he annoyed?'' He did not understand why people were afraid of Ghazi Korkud. He was a good man, so long as you did what you were asked. And Ashradar was not ordered to take care of the horses, the innkeeper was. And he was the one who was going to pay for it, after all. ''He's the same as always. Now let's go, before he really gets annoyed.'' Fadl nodded with his head towards the inn and then started to walk back towards the inn. "True," Ash responded with a slight shrug, quickening his pace as they began to head back to the inn. "Yes, it would certainly be best if we got back quickly." The young man felt quite tense and though he hid it well, it was noticeable in the slight clenching of his hands and the way he looked about. It was a combination of factors really. This entire place put him on edge. And having to stay any longer? That was quite a terrible thought. "How long do you think we will be staying?" He doubted that horses were in large supply here. Fifteen years. Ashradar was still afraid. Maybe it was owed to Fadl's talent for seeing such things, or perhaps he simply knew well Ashradar too well. ''For as long as Ghazi Korkud orders us to.'' He walked through a crowd near the inn and waited for Ashradar to come as well. The boy was following close. ''Good.'' He stopped by the inn entrance, near the gaping hole on the wall. Before Ashradar could continue, he blocked his way with one hand, and, after feeling him bump into his arm, turned back to him. ''Just a word of advice - relax.'' He entered the inn. There was some blood on the floorboards, and an overturned table. One hand went to his shaska instinctively, but relaxed after seeing Ghazi Korkud next to the innkeeper, who was trying to close a small gash on his face. He had left for a minute and already Ghazi Korkud had started working. He leaned back onto a wooden pillar. The interrogation was not over yet, it appeared to him.