The Black and Red Dragon

Chapter 5: Planning a rescue

"Freeing your daughter?" I ask with a little suspicion. "Yes but let's talk somewhere else. Too many potential listeners here," the man says. "Before you lead me to some alley to be killed and robbed. Where will we discuss it?" I ask him.
"Don't trust strangers much do you? Probably smart in this place. If you wish, you could find another person to take you there. Although, I think you already talked to pretty much everyone," the man argued.

He is probably right. Yesterday I already spoke to almost every captain or person in charge of a vessel. Everyone declined or flat out refused to go there.
I sigh " You're right nobody wants to go there." The man chuckles "Of course they don't. It is full of Stone Man or some other ghastly creature. I don't care why you want to go there. Treasure or to learn some forbidden magic tricks. But if you help me, I promise I'll get you there. My daughter is very important to me."

"Alright, where do you want to discuss it," I say with a long sigh. "I think some fresh air on the water would be good for the both of us," he says.

We made our way to the docks to find his ship. When we arrived at his ship I was expecting something... better. His ship was akin to a rowing boat, only slightly larger and bulkier than a standard rowing boat, with a sail attached to it. Even so, the man is a very skilled sailor. I offered to help with the sails, but he declined stating that I would be more trouble than help. He was probably right, I have never been on a boat before.

"Alright this should be far enough," he say. We are now give or take 10 minutes out of the harbor of Volantis. During the whole trip, I just sat on one of the wooden benches and looked over the sea towards Volantis and seeing the city growing smaller and smaller. Occasionally, I looked at the sailor but his face does not reveal much. He keeps himself busy with steering the boat and adjusting the sail when needed.

"Okay, you said your daughter needs to be rescued. From what exactly?" I ask the sailor. "From slavery. A brothel to be exact," he says. "Are you serious?! You know they are kept under constant watch to prevent escape," I say. "I know, but she is not "working" for a big place and it is located near a canal. It should be doable. And what are you saying! You want to go to a place where you will die most likely. This should be easy compared to that." I looked at him more intently. He looked very determined and confident that it will work. "At least tell me you have a plan..." I said.

The plan is very simple. The sailor, whose name was Martin, already scouted the place out and said there was a back exit to get supplies in and out. From there it should be easy to get to the lower level where the slaves are being kept. He was not sure where his daughter would be on that level but he did notice there weren't many guards during the night. Most likely because they have the slaves chained to a wall or locked in rooms. When I would find his daughter I would bring her to the offloading point near the brothel and we would escape via the boat. Just to be sure Martin wasn't lying I also scouted the place out and it was pretty much as he described. There was an offloading point near the back exit and at night the number of guards was small.

We decided to do the rescue on a day when the church dedicated to the Lord of Light would have a big ceremony. That way most people would be away and fewer people should notice us sneaking about. Also, Martin would visit the place to "spend" some time with the ladies, but in reality, he would try to get the keys from the guards to open the doors. Which he succeeded in.

"Alright, are you ready?" Martin asks. "As ready as I'll ever be. Just make sure everything is ready to get away quickly. I doubt everything will stay quiet," I say. "Of course, good luck," Martin say. "Well... here I go"