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Chapter 8: The Hunt Begins

    The three vampire hunters returned to Drake Street Inn from the Marfa temple. The priestess had since finished her rushed meal and felt her strength returning. N’shara paused from her perch atop her new horse to look over the inn. A chill went up her spine as she recalled what happened, but she looked on at the inn with sharp hazel eyes. The glass Aryen broke had been swept up and a board placed over the window he had burst out of.

    “So, what will we be looking for here?” she asked Rone.

    “Evidence of his passing,” the hunter said. “In a tumble to escape, most leave something behind. A torn piece of cloth, something from their pockets, and, most importantly of all, witnesses. You said you met this man in the commons room, I believe. Someone else had to see this man. Every detail is important. We should start with the innkeeper and speak with guests as well. Perhaps the best leads I have found in my times were helpful citizens, not footprints.”

    “Alright, N’shara you and Rone can look inside at the inn, I’ve already asked around in there, so if I enter with you two they may clamp down on any information they may possess,” Laies stated. “I’ll stick to the outside and see if I can find out anything from any of the spirits in the area.”

* * *

    “I left my things here anyway,” N’shara said, then began to climb out of her saddle. Taking her horse’s rein’s she loosely tied it to a post in front of the building, then lead the way inside.

    The common room was empty, save for one very bored barmaid who had the night shift. She recognized the girl from when she arrived the night before. It was probably a good thing they came at this hour, Aryen couldn’t travel in daylight, so he had to have come in at night.

    The young woman perked up as she saw N’shara. “Oh, good evening, priestess! I heard about...what happened earlier. I’m so glad to see you’re alright! Who is this with you?”

    “This is Rone Kalmaine, a Falis priest and vampire hunter,” N’shara introduced her companion. “We have some questions for you.”

    “Of course! I’ll help out anyway I can. You know, the attack drove away almost all our business,” she said with a frown. “We could use some help to clear it up.”

    N’shara nodded. “Certainly. If you go to either of our temples, the priests will bless the inn so a vampire cannot enter again.” The priestess slipped into one of the stools at the bar so they could begin their questioning.

    “I... we seek information regarding the events surrounding the attack. Do you remember the attacker? You may have seen him going upstairs with the priestess,” Rone said.

    The barmaid looked a little confused with Rone’s question. “Uhh...N’shara came in ah...oh! You think I was here earlier this evening! Oh, no, I came in late tonight, after dinner.”

    N’shara spoke up. “Well, do you remember a handsome dark haired man coming in last night or the night before? Maybe early in the morning, before dawn?”

    “Hmm...now that I think of it, yes, I did,” she replied, and then a blush came to her cheeks. “Tall, slim, and very handsome with blue eyes. I didn’t catch his name, but I felt so...so giddy I just did whatever he said.”

    “When did he come in?” N’shara asked.

    “Oh, about an hour or so before dawn,” the barmaid replied. “He wanted a room for the day and not to be disturbed. I thought that since he traveled so late, he would want to sleep all day. Is there anything else?”

    “And that was the last time you saw him? Renting the room for the day?” Rone asked carefully, looking at her intently. “Did you or anyone else speak with him?”

    “I wouldn’t know,” the barmaid replied, shaking her head. “I get off work after breakfast every morning, and he didn’t come down while I was still on duty. I logged his room and that it was paid for, so everyone knew someone was in the room. I don’t think any of the other girls saw him until he came down this evening.”

* * *

    Laies stayed outside, and went into the alleyway. {“Old Earth of Moss, Gnome chaser of soil, find my prey’s path. Ancient blood of elves which flow in my veins, seek a compromise with the dirt king of Moss and seek the drinker of blood that passed by this way. Hunt him, find him, and return to me.”} Laies chanted in elven. {“Wine for the finder of the one who gives me the true trail.”}

    Laies sat outside waiting for his answer from gnome. He didn’t have much to go on, and there was still the issue of paying the gnome when it returned.

    A cobblestone exploded near his feet as the gnome used the debris to form a temporary body. His trail is as dead as he is, although I can only take you as far as the last place he was. Laies quarter-blood, did this unclean one take something of yours?

    {“Not exactly,”} Laies responded to the small man of dirt and stone. {“He is a menace, that is my only reasoning.”}

    Laies quarter-blood, you are a terrible liar. But I will agree with you, what we do not allow into our comfort is a creature of darkness and destruction. I can only give you where his feet had taken him next, not the final destination. The gnome conveyed the directions for the next area of searching and returned to rubble and debris.

    Laies stood and popped his head inside the inn. “Let’s go,” he barked, “before the trail gets any colder.”

    N’shara turned in her seat when Laies popped in. Somehow he had found a trail. “Well, is there anything else you want to ask her, Rone?” N’shara asked the Falis priest.

    “I have nothing further,” Rone told N’shara and turned toward Laies. “Let’s continue,” he said. With Rone’s response, N’shara headed toward the door. Rone hesitated, as if he had another question, but shook his head and followed N’shara out.

    Laies took Rone and N’shara towards the gnome’s directions. The trail was slightly cold, but he hoped that gnome wasn’t too far off in his discernation of direction. “My source said that the vampire went this way, and took to another inn.”

    N’shara nodded to Laies, then turned to fetch her horse. She was feeling a little more energized after her hurried meal, but she didn’t need to waste than energy walking. The priestess mounted Tana on her own this time and rode the mare up to her companions.

    “Priestess! Wait!” the maid called as she ran out of the inn carrying a backpack. “You forgot your things!” The barmaid held the pack up to N’shara.

    “Oh, thank you,” N’shara replied, taking her traveling pack and slipping it onto her shoulders.

    “You’re welcome. Cha Za’s blessings for your hunt!” the barmaid added before returning inside.

    Laies led the trio northward, towards the directions that gnome had given him. ...towards his next stop but not the final destination...meaning that gnome is sending me on a wild goose chase. Laies shook his head and continued forward. “I can’t guarantee the validity of my informant’s information, although he’s never fully lied to me in the past.”

    As if Cha Za could do anything for us, Rone thought to himself. He never came to appreciate the other gods and their servants, with the small exception of certain priests of war. They didn’t help in the defense of the people and their very souls. Only Falis featured a sect of priests dedicated to protecting the world from enemies beyond mortal warfare. Any other cleric didn’t have the skills necessary. Sure, they might know a thing or two about the undead, but did they understand how they were created, their weak points, how they fight, and, most importantly, how to ensure they never rose again? Probably not. It was up to him, as usual.

    Kalmaine stayed quiet. He was listening and watching for signs from his god. Hunters claimed to be aided by their god in such pursuits. Little, recognizable hints, they claimed, were pointed out through their faith. He sought them now.

    While Laies and Rone did much of the searching for clues, N’shara rode slowly behind them. She kept her eyes open for anything obvious, but there was little she could see from her height.

* * *

    Nakira had already cased the goldsmith shop earlier that day. It looked like it should be an easy job to pull off. She already knew where a nearby fence operated, as she wanted to get rid of the evidence immediately. Stepping out of the alleyway beside the shop, she checked to make sure nobody was approaching before she went to work on the lock. Not counting on Laies and the others being in the area as she picked the lock, once it was open she looked at the unlocked door and whispered a small prayer. “Marfa forgive me, I know this is wrong...” she whispered quietly, knowing that she was hurting another’s business to survive, but they needed the money to pay the rent and buy their food.

    Seeing a dark shadow at the door of a prominent goldsmith, Laies’s first thought was to apprehend the thief but there were more pressing matters. Taking up a loose rock from the road he took aim and threw it at the thief’s back. “Get away from that store!” Laies shouted.

    Nakira felt the rock hit her and cursed her luck under her breath; people should be asleep by this hour. Any normal person would at least, then again the voice was eerily familiar and it made her turn around. “Just what I needed now... I was hoping you’d never find out. Are you going to hand me over to the guards now? If not, then allow me to leave, and we’ll forget this ever happened.”

    She quietly shut the door and stepped out of the shadows, an annoyed scowl on her face as she revealed herself to Laies and the others. This would damage her apparent good name, she had to find a way out that meant nothing came of this.

    N’shara rode up behind Laies as he tried to chase off a thief, and when thief revealed herself, N’shara was shocked to see the young mother that was at the temple the morning before.

    “Nakira, what are you doing? Why are you trying to breaking into this building?” N’shara asked from atop her horse. She wanted to know Nakira’s reasoning, and help her, if possible, instead of turning her over to the guard.

    Nakira looked at N’shara and cleared her throat nervously; anybody else would call for the guard. She was being questioned right there, perhaps this might not turn out so bad. “Forgive me priestess, I needed money for food and the next month’s rent. I want my family to always have as good a life as I can help provide them. If the guild would get more jobs soon, I would not have to steal. For now I have had to rely on what I know best to survive.” She had little else to say. Re-packing her tools, she looked at her rapier and closed her eyes. She did not regret the choices in her past, and he had to accept the responsibility for how she lived.

    Thievery should be punished, Rone thought, but such things were not his business. Vampires, demons, and the undead were his works. Petty thieves and cut throats were a bit below him. Besides, there was a vampire running rampant through the city. Who cared if a lowly goldsmith lost a few coins when the mortality and innocence of women were at stake? “Let the gods decide her fate. We must keep moving.”

    Laies shook his head at Nakira, and then Rone’s disregard for the law. He understood that the vampire’s trail was getting colder, but Nakira needed to be taken care of. Laies was torn between the chase of the vampire that hurt N’shara and dealing with Nakira’s breach of civil ethics. The vampire...he can wait. He’s fed once, I doubt he’s hungry again anyways. “...Nakira.” Laies stared her down with his crimson eyes. “There are certain things that need to be addressed.”

    “Priestess N’shara, I will not wait for every common vagabond along our road! Tell your friend to think about the importance of his mission. What is a few coins from one man’s pocket as compared to the souls of the innocent?” Rone declared. “If he feels the need to punish her, then take her along and seeing the work I do will be punishment enough. Whatever is to happen, we cannot dawdle here.”

    N’shara frowned as Rone insisted on moving on. Despite her desire for revenge, she couldn’t just walk away from a follower of Marfa falling to such desperate means. She pushed her horse forward a couple steps to bring Nakira’s attention back to her. “Nakira, I will give you two options. We are hunting a vampire which attacked me earlier this evening, your skills as a thief may help us, and I can help you by paying you. Lend your skills to our hunt, or Laies will take you to the city guard. However, after this hunt is finished, you will be put on the guard’s watch list until you prove you have changed your ways.”

    After listening to N’shara’s offer, Nakira thought for a second. She was being offered a way to save her name here. Helping them was the better option, otherwise she could do nothing for her family from jail. “I’ll help you with your hunt. I cannot stand the thought of being separated from my family. I accept your offer priestess, thank you for sparing me from the guards.” Even if this became dangerous she could not back out. She had to see this deal to the end as if she had taken on a job from the guild.

    “Very well. Now let us continue,” Rone said.

    N’shara looked to the quarter-elf, “Lead on, Laies,” she said. “Just follow along, Nakira. We will see where this hunt leads us tonight.”

    Laies lead the way to where the trail stopped, a small exploded cobblestone where gnome had marked the last known destination of the vampire. “It should be around here.” Laies stated. “I’ll see if any of the spirits in the area know anything, and the rest of you should probably check out the...” Laies’s face fell as he recognized the surroundings. “...brothel.”

    “Already, his next victim has been claimed,” Rone muttered. “N’shara,” he called, turning to her. “Take off anything that claims you to the allegiance of a god,” he commanded. He himself was pulling off his weapons, symbols, and satchels. “Those that work in such places do not take well to our kind. they believe us thieves of their income by wishing to instill some shred of dignity upon them. We must keep our mouthes shut about our mission here. I have lost trails to such mistakes. If you cannot comply, you may wait outside and I will enter alone.” Rone left his sword on. The thought crossed his mind to employ the thief, but it was quickly removed. She was not trustworthy.

    N’shara raised her eyebrow at Rone, then looked down at her robes. Everything she wore was recognizable as the uniform of a Marfa priestess. “I’m sorry, but I’m not about to strip on the street to put a few prostitutes at ease,” she replied sarcastically. “Nakira, go inside with the men and offer any help they might need.”

    She would definitely have to wait outside. Gathering up the reins of her horse, N’shara guided Tana closer to the side of the building to wait off the street.

    And this is how she expects to find vampires? “Then keep watch of these items for me,” Rone grumbled. Throwing the cloak on and tying it tight, the hunter marched around towards the front. He did not wait for Nakira or anyone else. Rone had no hesitation as he pushed the doors open to the brothel...

    Nakira looked to N’shara and then to the brothel, she had never been in such a place before. This was a situation that meant she had to, so she would do what was necessary. “I’ll do what I can, please be careful while waiting.” She then followed Rone and brushed some hair our of her eyes. She had no idea what to expect once they were inside. If the vampire was still here, all she had was her rapier and academy training if they got into a fight.

    Laies sighed. “I’m sorry N’shara. The Gnome instructed me that it was a place of sleep and rest...not...” He pointed at the brothel. “...THAT. I’d offer my garment to make you look less conspicuous in the brothel, but I fear it might be too heavy for you.” He thumped his fist on the hidden metal plates. “This is more armor than just a simple overcoat.”

    N’shara nodded to Laies. She honestly didn’t care what the place was, so long as it revealed some information on where to find the vampire. “I’ll be fine out here,” she assured Laies. “Go on.”

* * *

    Inside the brothel, the main room was quiet and empty save for one well-dressed woman. At this early hour of the morning, they saw few customers, but it did happen from time to time, which was why someone was there to greet them. This woman was not the owner, nor a prostitute, she worked the late night and early morning shift, handling what business came and went. It was rather odd to see a man and woman entering together, especially at this hour, but it wasn’t as if a brothel didn’t see strange things.

    The woman moved into Rone’s path and greeted him with a grin. “Welcome to the Red Queen Bordello. What is it you’re lookin’ for? We’ve got a healthy variety of girls to choose from.”

    Rone opened his mouth as if to chastise the woman, but shut it again. This was one part of the job that he hated. He had to be careful. “I am, in one sense, seeking a woman,” Rone replied quietly. “I will be plain with you, miss. There are rumors of a kidnapper of sorts and your establishment would have been at risk. Is it possible that any of your girls could be missing?” Rone hoped she didn’t suspect him any more than a bounty hunter. All signification was removed and, while priests of Rada and Marfa might have marched in trying to convert the girls of the brothel, rarely did they come armed and muscular as he did. As gruff as Rone was, he did look more like a mercenary than anything else.

    Nakira let Rone do the talking. The woman seemed more interested in getting his business at first. Though the way he handled it was rather blunt, this case called for such measures. As the two spoke, she scanned the room for anything that might help their search, even if it was just a set of keys or their recent list of clients.

    The woman paused and thought for a moment. “I don’t think so. The last time we checked, all the girls were fine.”

    “Have you accounted for all of them? Have perhaps some of them not arrived here since this last evening? It is imperative that you make certain of this.” Perhaps Rone’s people skills lacked, but he made up for it in his strong appearance. If there was anyone in the city who looked like he could take down a dangerous criminal, it had to be Rone Kalmaine.

    Laies gave a forlorn sigh and entered the brothel behind Rone and Nakira. The pale quarter-elf looked around silently, sulking behind Rone. He avoided the eyes of the madam of the place skirting over the decorum a few times. When his crimson eyes finally met hers, the embarrassment of his predicament caused his pale cheeks to flood with color.

    “The women all live here, we don’t usually make house-calls,” the woman informed Rone. She only gave Laies a glance at first as he entered and joined the pair. However, he deserved a second glance. She was struck silent for a moment, seeing his deathly pale face and red eyes, but she regained her composure to continue speaking to Rone, “If it would make you feel better, we could check rooms to make sure everyone is accounted for. Or maybe you could tell me what this kidnapper looked like?”

    As they spoke, a man and woman came downstairs. The man ignored the group in the waiting room and dropped a few coins on the front desk. The woman, wrapped in a silk robe, waited on the stairs. She was obviously one of the girls employed here. Curious of the newcomers, she remained on the stairs to listen.

    “Checking the rooms would be an excellent precaution. The man we are hunting has a palish complexion. He would have appeared after the sunset. He would have very striking eyes, one might consider them beautiful. If you would have noticed anything about him, it would probably be his eyes. Anyone come in like that at all?” Rone was rough in his speech. Falis wasn’t giving him much to work off of and the fact that the only woman who saw the beast wouldn’t even walk in to describe the man made it all the more frustrating. All of Rone’s previous witnesses, if they were done by the same vampire, were dead; the only living one was too uptight to help.

    The prostitute had remained on the stairs, either listening to the conversation, or waiting to speak to the madam. It was a good thing she had stayed, because she spoke up. “Oh, ye know what? I saw a handsome fellow outside me window, on the balcony. ’twas the weirdest thing, ’cause he just dashed across the balcony so fast, an’ I never heard a door or window open. I think he was up on the roof!”

    Rone’s eyes grew wide and he pushed right by the woman at the front desk. “The roof? Godspeed, miss, show me where you saw him and what way he went!”

    “Umm...alright,” the prostitute murmured, quite surprised by Rone’s sudden enthusiasm. “It’s upstairs,” she added, and turned to lead him up to her room.

    For the first time since Rone’s appearance, on the case, his face lit up. The prospect of a lead was a great relief. Falis be thanked, Rone thought to himself as he hurried the woman along to her room. As they entered, Rone moved to the window. “Anything you can tell me could be helpful. Be thorough, miss.” Rone paused for a second. In the past, prostitutes had been very skimpy on the information, but it wasn’t for want of it. They simply needed a few coins to loosen their gullets. If she was weak, he would make the offer, but every coin for the cause counted.

    “Well, he was tall, slim, an’ had dark hair. He was dressed in black, but all I saw was him runnin’ ’cross the balcony. I don’ know which way he went,” the prostitute explained.

    Rone glanced out the window, taking note of the side of the building, listening to her explain. Rone inquired which direction he ran across the balcony, to which she directed him. “Thank you for your time, miss,” Rone said. With all she had to say said, he placed a standard fee for her time on the end table by her door. “If you have nothing else to say, then I’ll take my leave of you.”

    The prostitute beamed when he left money on the table. “Yer welcome, sir. I don’ know nothin’ else. Good luck with yer search!” she said, bidding Rone farewell.

* * *

    Laies quietly slipped out back onto the street. There was no need to follow Rone up to the roof when he could fly up there himself and scout any possible escape routes. This explains why gnome lost the trail here. The vampire left the domain of the gnome. He sighed silently, thankful that he was out of the atmosphere of debauchery.

    “He went onto the roof,” Laies reported to N’shara.

    N’shara had waited anxiously until Laies returned. When she was alone outside, she started losing her courage. His return was comforting, but his words weren’t so soothing. N’shara frowned and glared up toward the roof. They knew little more than they had when they arrived. “Well, at least he didn’t find another victim here,” she replied.

    Nakira headed out after they had gotten what they came for. Looking to Laies and N’shara, she seemed very intrigued by this situation. Perhaps she could be of use passed this night, if anybody knew who walked the shadows it would be those who worked within the shadows. “So where do we search next? Maybe there’s some information or rumors to be had in the shadows themselves.”

    “Can the spirits guide you any further, Laies?” N’shara asked her quarter-elf companion.

    Rone hurried out of the inn with a much lower portion of gold in his pocket. He swung around back, where they had met. Rone shot N’shara a glare before picking up his things and placing everything where it belonged. His common sense had warned him not to let the priestess follow along. If she couldn’t even do what it took to track the thing, what use was she? Dead weight to hold him back, was all it was. She better become useful soon, before I have to go ahead without her, so no more suffer because of her inabilities. “He went over this way,” Rone said, taking a few steps in that direction. “Anyone find anything else?”

    “No evidence that I could take discreetly and make useful, though from the info we got there was obviously none,” came Nakira’s answer, she had not even taken on coin in her looking. She had to maintain her integrity if she was to honor her deal with them, all she could take in her mind was stuff related to this search.

    “I could petition my sources again,” Laies noted, soft spokenly. The more he asked of the spirits the more he had to do for them in return. Gnome had brought them as far as it knew, and the vampire took to the roof. Since there was no spirit of shingling, Laies would have to rely on whatever information he could dredge up from Sylph. The young quarter-elf shook his head in advance. Any information that Sylph would give would be in riddle and rhyme, and too distorted and cryptic to give a quick response that Rone obviously wanted. “It would take a little time, however. Perhaps that time would be better spent if we just checked the other inns in the area.”

    “Then we move on,” Rone said, looking about. “We head that way,” he said, following the edge of the balcony in the direction that the prostitute had pointed.

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