EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Since they had received the information they needed from the woman, Meesei simply gave a polite farewell to her and left her fish stand along with the others to return to the pack. It was difficult to listen in to the conversation they had over the noise of the crowd, so as they were leaving the market, Meesei started to explain what had transpired to the others.

"We have received another lead; hopefully the last which will be required before finding Cyrus himself. He has evidently taken to pursuing high-risk bounties, as he has departed the city to meet with an East Empire Company representative to take a new bounty. We do not know exactly where or who this representative is, but we do know that Cyrus hired one of his friends, who is a carriage driver, to take him there. Her name is Daraza gra-Nargal, and she will likely be returning to Sentinel within the week. Unfortunately, this does mean we will have to wait for a time before we can continue our investigation, and we will need to be checking for her arrival every day." Meesei explained.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That's not relevant." Matami answered tersely to Sabine, though she did gladly start to wrap up the fish that Sabine requested. If nothing else, she was pleased to be getting some business out of this deal.

Matami was a bit more forthcoming towards Fendros' question. "Well, I guess I'd have to tell you. Her name is Daraza. Daraza gra-Nargal. She keeps her horses and carriage in the same stables as all the other carriage drivers, so you'll probably find her there. Only Orc woman whose a carriage driver in the city, so you shouldn't have a problem finding her when she gets back."

After the Redguard handed over the fish they had purchased and double checked the count of her coins, she gave the group another, somewhat hesitant look. "For what it's worth, I...do hope you find what you're looking for. Especially if it ends up with you talking some sense into that fool. He might be making stupid, selfish choices, but he still doesn't deserve to get hurt. He's a better man than that."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

While she was wrapping up the next fish that Meesei had purchased, Matami responded with a strong hint of skepticism in her tone. "You are telling me that this powerful axe supposedly has a curse on it that makes it dangerous to own, and you just so happen to care enough to track him down and lock it away. For, what, the 'safety of the people?' Sounds like it could be a noble cause, or it could be that you are trying to con him out of a powerful relic so you can use or sell it yourself."

Matami laid the fish down in front of Meesei and leaned forward onto her stall. "Luckily for the lot of you, I don't care. Whether it is cursed or not, that stupid axe has made Cyrus more foolish than a Crown scholar. He cares more about building his 'legend' than he does his own betrothed. If it brings him home, then I don't care what happens to the axe." Matami took in a deep breath before continuing. "He left to pick up a bounty. A bigger one than usual. He heard from an associate that the East Empire Company itself has been offering hefty bounties from a representative out of a small fishing village to the east. A strange place for a bounty office, I know, but the Empire has some restrictions on how it can operate inside Hammerfell. I don't know which village it is, but it has been a while since he left, and the carriage driver he hired is a friend of ours. If he isn't with her, then she will know where he is. I would say just wait around in the city for a few days, no more than a week, and talk to her when she gets back here."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Even with Fendros' explanation, Matami looked to be skeptical of them. "You...actually want to try and take Cyrus' axe?"

"Purchase Cyrus' axe." Meesei clarified.

"Right, purchase the axe that he loves so much. Even if I were to help you find him, you do realize how difficult it would be to actually get him to part with it, right? He thinks it is the greatest weapon he has ever wielded, and since a group of strangers are suddenly showing up asking about it, I'm inclined to believe it. Cursed or no, he's been a lot more successful with his bounties since he got that infernal thing." Matami explained, though she started looking once again towards the crowds of people walking past her stand. "I know you want your answers, but I can't afford to stop working during the busiest part of the day. It's already hard enough to..."

Once more, Meesei interrupted. "But you are working. The, uh, driftfish. I would like to buy one of them." She said, placing another few coins down in front of her."

Matami gave a sigh, then crossed her arms. "Why should I trust you?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Matami's eyes narrowed at Fendros as her demeanor completely shifted. It seemed that several of the people who knew Cyrus were suspicious of those asking about him. "Look, I don't know what the 'Synod' is, or why you'd want to see Cyrus of all people. But, I have a business to run here, and I need to focus on actual paying customers, so..."

"How much for the sablefish?" Meesei asked.

The Redguard raised her brow. "Huh?"

"I do not wish to waste your time, so if we are going to speak to you, I would like to buy something from you in the meantime." Meesei clarified.

"Okay...for a fillet, it's seven coins." Matami answered, still in a somewhat suspicious tone.

Meesei laid out the coins in front of Matami, prompting her to start wrapping up one of the sablefish fillets. "So, do you mind telling me exactly what you want with my friend?" Matami asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Given how close they were to the market, they did not have too much time to discuss the topic before they were closing in on the market's northern entrance. Fortunately, they were not in so much of a rush that they needed to get the children back to Blackreach immediately, so they could concentrate on their investigation for the moment.

While there was more than one fish stand in the market, there was only a single stand near the northern part of the market which was being run by a Redguard woman with dark hair. She was obviously the person they had been instructed to speak to, and like before, Meesei wanted to avoid crowding her too much, so she instructed the rest of the pack to wait nearby while she, Sabine, and Fendros approached her. The group waited patiently nearby while the woman, Matami, finished a sale with a customer, then approached together.

"Welcome, I have the freshest fish in Sentinel, right here. Can I interest you in a choice sablefish fillet? You will not find any better in the city." Matami greeted as they stepped up to her stall.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha held a serious expression, though it was clear from the look she gave Fendros that she did not disagree with him. "Yeah, the thought crossed my mind. I think it's a bit, uh...pessimistic to think that he already knows we're in Sentinel, since we've only been here a few hours. But still, the situation is getting serious. I know we want to give the children experience, make sure they have the skills they will need when they grow up, but Do'rhajul is way too dangerous to let them anywhere near him. I know they won't like it, but it might be best to have Rhazii look after Julan and Leaps back home for a while. Well, I'm not sure about Leaps. He might be pretty useful if we have to go up against this team the General has formed. It's just...well I don't want him to get hurt either. Leaps is kind of a big target. I wonder if we can throw together some armor for him..."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Sure." Ahnasha answered simply as the group started to stand from the table. Not all of them had finished their drinks, though Lorag was certainly sure to quickly down the rest of his before they began to head out of the tavern.

The city streets were, of course, not a private place to hold a conversation, but the general bustle and noise of the crowd made listening in on any particular person difficult, especially if they were moving. Meesei started to lead the way back towards the market, while Ahnasha ended up trailing behind near the back of the pack with Fendros.

Since she was not precisely sure what Fendros wanted to talk about, Ahnasha kept her voice softer than she perhaps needed to. "What exactly is it that's bothering you? Did that Nord say anything alarming?" She asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The barman gave a single nod. "Aye. Not much more than any thick-headed young warrior, but more than usual. Too confident in himself, and that axe. He bought a new set of armor with his last bounty, and now wants to go out and get a house with his next one. I know he was going after a specific bounty being given by someone outside the city, but I don't know exactly where. Just talk to Matami. Short, dark hair, probably smells like fish. Look for her stand in the north of the market; you can't miss her. Now, I don't really have anything else to tell you, so do you want any drinks, or are you done?"

"That is all we need, thank you." Meesei answered before turning away from the bar, then walking back to the table to fill everyone else in on what they had learned. "We have something. Matami owns a fish stand in the marke, so we can head there right away instead of waiting here. Just keep a sharp eye around you when we are in the market. We need to avoid any more altercations; I am already worried that rumors of what happened in the market might reach the General's ears."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The drive will be sort of long for me. The closest point of totality to me is going to be in Tennessee, but it will be worth it.