square. It was evidently up to Katja to handle the communications. She needed to learn more than combat and Serdra’s mien was ever off-putting. She handed the woman the lead and separated from her.
There was much to see at the square, but in spite of different clothes and food and instruments the mood in general was familiar.
People talked about anything and everything as was to be expected. But among the snippets of personal chat, haggling and general news she caught whispers and sometimes exclamations about this terrible fiend that had run wild so close to the city. She even spotted a few talismans. Too bad reliable sources told her those didn’t work.
Where and how to start? Farnar City was populous, but if she just walked about and asked people at random it might nevertheless draw attention.
She spotted a tea house where a small crowd of people in average clothing sat sipping and talking. It seemed as good a place to start as any. She walked to the window that the owner stood by and bought herself a mug of green tea along with a small bun. The money came out of Maron’s pocket and would last a long time for such everyday expenses.
Katja examined the seating area in front of the house. She tried to be quick and nonchalant about it, but was in fact looking for a good place for eavesdropping.
She chose a stool where most of the people would have their backs to her. She dipped the bun in the tea and pretended to be occupied by it.
The people were mostly discussing the same topics as the crowds and though no one was loud the voices held considerable tension. It sounded like people were arguing about the presence of mercenaries in the city. Some defended the chancellor’s decision to call the Sparrows, as they were called, to the city when they had been meant to go to the northern territories. Others insisted they were ruffians and that the decision had nothing to do with the city’s safety.
The latter ones were convinced it was purely done to take the airs out of some lord Katja had never heard about, and at the worst possible time at that.
“There is no end to conflicts over the Grinvin lands and Lava City!” hissed the most passionate one. “Magni the Red committed one last act of mischief by dying without naming an heir. Why do you think the price of iron has gone up in the Stonefoot lands? People are arming. And the chancellor weakens the border defences to get back at one man! There is no wisdom in that!”
“Watch what you say,” an older woman close to him said. “There is also no honour in earning a flogging.”
The man looked around. He seemed to be checking for listeners. He noticed her and Katja wished she had hidden the sword under the cloak as she sat down. He took some interest in her but looked away quickly.
“The security of the north is in everyone’s interest,” he said with a bit more restraint.
“And what about the city’s security?” a middle-aged man with a belly asked and sipped his tea. “I don’t want this monster causing such chaos within the walls.”
“What is this talk of monsters?” Katja said and tried to sound casual. “I just stepped off a ship.”
The people looked at her and some seemed irritated about the conversation being invaded. Perhaps this was a private party to some degree.
“A terrible monster rampaged a few days ago,” the older woman said. “It came out of the night and tore into everything in its path.”
“Indeed?” Katja said and scratched her head. “And it’s not a tall tale? People can exaggerate...”
“There were dozens of witnesses,” the passionate man said. “And those eleven who died were not torn apart by a nightmare or a howling wind.”
“A cousin of mine saw it,” a man said. “It came out of the forest west of Bytna. When people scattered every which way it chased some poor man to the Rose Manor and apparently vanished there.”
“Oh... indeed,” Katja said and hoped she knew how to fake astonishment. “Was
There was much to see at the square, but in spite of different clothes and food and instruments the mood in general was familiar.
People talked about anything and everything as was to be expected. But among the snippets of personal chat, haggling and general news she caught whispers and sometimes exclamations about this terrible fiend that had run wild so close to the city. She even spotted a few talismans. Too bad reliable sources told her those didn’t work.
Where and how to start? Farnar City was populous, but if she just walked about and asked people at random it might nevertheless draw attention.
She spotted a tea house where a small crowd of people in average clothing sat sipping and talking. It seemed as good a place to start as any. She walked to the window that the owner stood by and bought herself a mug of green tea along with a small bun. The money came out of Maron’s pocket and would last a long time for such everyday expenses.
Katja examined the seating area in front of the house. She tried to be quick and nonchalant about it, but was in fact looking for a good place for eavesdropping.
She chose a stool where most of the people would have their backs to her. She dipped the bun in the tea and pretended to be occupied by it.
The people were mostly discussing the same topics as the crowds and though no one was loud the voices held considerable tension. It sounded like people were arguing about the presence of mercenaries in the city. Some defended the chancellor’s decision to call the Sparrows, as they were called, to the city when they had been meant to go to the northern territories. Others insisted they were ruffians and that the decision had nothing to do with the city’s safety.
The latter ones were convinced it was purely done to take the airs out of some lord Katja had never heard about, and at the worst possible time at that.
“There is no end to conflicts over the Grinvin lands and Lava City!” hissed the most passionate one. “Magni the Red committed one last act of mischief by dying without naming an heir. Why do you think the price of iron has gone up in the Stonefoot lands? People are arming. And the chancellor weakens the border defences to get back at one man! There is no wisdom in that!”
“Watch what you say,” an older woman close to him said. “There is also no honour in earning a flogging.”
The man looked around. He seemed to be checking for listeners. He noticed her and Katja wished she had hidden the sword under the cloak as she sat down. He took some interest in her but looked away quickly.
“The security of the north is in everyone’s interest,” he said with a bit more restraint.
“And what about the city’s security?” a middle-aged man with a belly asked and sipped his tea. “I don’t want this monster causing such chaos within the walls.”
“What is this talk of monsters?” Katja said and tried to sound casual. “I just stepped off a ship.”
The people looked at her and some seemed irritated about the conversation being invaded. Perhaps this was a private party to some degree.
“A terrible monster rampaged a few days ago,” the older woman said. “It came out of the night and tore into everything in its path.”
“Indeed?” Katja said and scratched her head. “And it’s not a tall tale? People can exaggerate...”
“There were dozens of witnesses,” the passionate man said. “And those eleven who died were not torn apart by a nightmare or a howling wind.”
“A cousin of mine saw it,” a man said. “It came out of the forest west of Bytna. When people scattered every which way it chased some poor man to the Rose Manor and apparently vanished there.”
“Oh... indeed,” Katja said and hoped she knew how to fake astonishment. “Was
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