EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Kaleeth laughed. "If I didn't remember when he was first born, I would never remember how old Rhazii actually is. He is just so...big. I can kind of understand why he is so confident that he can protect himself and Julan, since he just towers over everyone. He has always been the biggest and strongest of his friends. Even with his scars, I don't remember any of the other children his age ever being mean to him about them, and that is probably why."

After another few moments to focus on her breakfast, Kaleeth gave a sigh. "Of course, we both know that size and strength can only take you so far. We would have easily defeated all of our enemies if that was all we needed. I'm worried about what Do'rhajul has planned. I was thinking about it before, and since we have been working against him for so long, he has to know what we are all able to do. I'm sure his people has just as many agents and spies as ours, and anyone who survived an attack from us could report on how we were fighting. So, if he's had all this time to plan, then he's surely planned on how to fight all of us."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I will concede that remaining in crowded places would be reasonably safe, and I can always create a portal in our rooms if we stay in an inn, but I cannot say if it would be worth the risk." Meesei answered. "There will be time beyond just this week for you to learn from us." She pointed out.

Kaleeth did not like to restrict Julan too much, but she also hated the thought of the General being anywhere near him. "I think they should just...wait at home for now. Maybe we can see later in the week if we can do it safely." She said, hoping to placate the children. Ahnasha quickly agreed, which seemed to place the consensus on having the children return home, at least for the moment.

---

Unfortunately for the pack, they did not uncover any more solid leads as to Cyrus' current whereabouts, even after conversing with some of his other acquaintances. Eventually, the pack decided to remain in the city for the week, or until the Orc carriage driver returned to Sentinel.

As planned, the pack returned Rhazii and Julan to the clan out of concerns for their safety. They did not encounter any trace of the General or his men during their week in Sentinel, nor did Saras' agents have any more information to give.

Nearing the end of the week, the pack was expecting the Orc to return soon, if not the same day. It was early in the morning, and the pack was waking up from their beds in the inn. They were not in any particular hurry, so they were all getting up and ready at their own pace. Kaleeth was having her breakfast in the tavern downstairs, and was sitting with Fendros across the table. After taking a bite out of her duneripper steak, she spoke up casually in a somewhat tired voice. "Me and Janius went and visited the children back home yesterday. Both of them still really want to come see us. Rhazii was still talking about those warships."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei added her own input, maintaining a calm, but serious tone. "Do'rhajul is one of the greatest threats we face, aside from Vile himself. Over a decade ago, when you were still a cub, Do'rhajul defeated me in single combat. I only barely survived." She explained. Given what Rhazii knew about her abilities, it was a potentially startling statement for her to make. Julan had been ready to argue right along with Rhazii, but even he was getting nervous about how worried the rest of the pack was about this General.

Nevertheless, Julan was not looking forward to being separated from the pack entirely for the next week, so he decided to, somewhat hesitantly, put forward some of his own thoughts that came to mind. "I...guess he does sound dangerous, but do we really have to stay away all the time? I mean...if he can't attack us when it's crowded, then can we just stay in crowded places? Maybe you can send us back home most of the time, but we can visit you for a just a few hours a day whenever you have time. And you can send us back home when we're done. That way...we can still learn about what you're doing, but not be in danger." He suggested.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

We can probably skip soon. They, unfortunately, will not be able to find anything that will prevent them from having to wait on the Orc.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei nodded to the others. "Of course, we can continue searching any leads that might produce information, but if we do not find anything, we need to make sure to watch for the Orc's arrival. If we miss her while she is in the city, then it could set our search back weeks, if not longer. I am certainly as uncomfortable as everyone else about remaining in one place for too long, but at the very least we will be reasonably safe while in the city itself. To attack us here would bring the Sentinel city guard down upon Do'rhajul, and even he would not be able to stand against them in an open fight."

"That does...bring up another point." Ahnasha began, somewhat hesitantly. "If we do have to stay here, we should make sure to take some extra precautions. I know you are not going to like it Rhazii, Julan, but it is going to be too dangerous here for you. This man we are talking about is exceptionally dangerous, and you do not yet have enough training to stand against him. It would be much more...appropriate for you to wait back home. Though, I do not know if we should keep Leaps with us."

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.