Introduction
Welcome back to Maledicturs Terra. This is a Chain Story between myself and @lex-zaiya, meaning that we each write the parts alternatively.
If you have not read Maledictus Terra Book 1: Mortis Custos yet, it starts HERE at Part 1 and ends at Part 101 HERE. At the end of the Part 101 post you will find links to all 101 Parts!
Maledictus Terra Book 2: Sanguifex started HERE with Part 1 and ends at Part 111 HERE
The previous part by @lex-zaiya can be found here!
Part 56
Darius was lucky the Disciple Stredentia had been concerned about his mission to Dragonshold. She had knowledge, whispers of thoughts ripped from those that she had raised from the dead and everything she knew of the place indicated power and danger.
She had forewarned him of direct approaches. Avatars, Mages, Ghoulkings and even literal Gods. His skills at making himself invisible to the eye and the spirit. Yet there was a good possibility that some other ability possessed by the Queen's party would find him...
Getting close enough to see with Letulah Molder was in the Castle was out of the question.
If Letulah was in league with the Queen and amongst those individuals, her spirit would be hard to detect.
Thus, Darius employed another, more subtle art that he had not used in quite some time. He pushed open the door of the building and was greeted by a wash of noise and heat.
As he walked in nobody really paid him any mind, except for one of the serving girls who approached him. "I'll take a seat at the bar." He said and she smiled and pointed.
The noises and smell should ordinarily bring someone comfort. The sound of conversation and laughter. The smell of hot food and the crackle of the hearth.
These are the thinks that would have brought him joy and comfort as a child. Under the teachings of the Prophet he could see now that these things were also chaotic.
They were warm, but laughter could turn to mockery. Conversations could turn to gossip. As safe place and hearth can be used to control someone, they could be used to manipulate and coerce.
And while that negative aspect exists it could become positive again within a moment. Nothing was constant or consistent. The Cold One, the Lord of the Dead promised serenity.
There is a certainty in death. A certainty of purpose and goals. There was no falsity or sudden changes of motive and attitude. It was order over that chaos.
He ordered a big mug of beer and drank it slowly. He merely sat and listened to conversations around him. He conversed some pleasantries with the Barmaid and some of the other patrons. He told stories that had told dozens of times before.
The story went that he was travelling to another town and was just passing through. He used to have family in the city but they had passed away many years ago, but that he still enjoyed the city. The destination City would change depending on where he was, but the story was fairly non-descript.
People would feel that he is somewhat like visiting family. The distant relative of someone who used to be their neighbors or the neighbors of their parents. But it could never be verified.
He did not question anyone specifically about the castle or the Queen, that sort of thing from a stranger would rouse suspicion. If there was something noteworthy to speak of in the castle, it would come out as gossip.
Soon enough this sort of thing started popping out. Some of it was speculative or the recounting of something someone else had said they had seen. Darius learned a lot about the Princess and Prince and their collection of dangerous family and friends.
Finally the piece of information that he had been looking for came to the fore.
"And now there is a new woman in the castle, apparently she and the Queen had been friends for a long time." A woman was saying. "I can't imagine it. We ran a bath for her and the tub had a layer of dirt at the bottom when we drained it. She must be feeling quite light in her boots now!" The woman and the people at the table laughed.
"So who is she really?" One of the men asked.
The gossip shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. She seems to be some sort of adventurer or hunter. She has a crossbow. With all the monsters and things that have been running around the world recently, who knows? Perhaps there is a fine business in hunting things that give others the terrors!"
Indeed... but that sort of business would get you killed.
He tipped the barlady generously enough to make her happy but not so much to make her remember him. He then made himself scarce while she had her back turned.
He had what he needed...
Back to Lex to move the characters in the castle!
Thank you for reading!
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