The Price of Blood

Chapter 9: A Huntress Named Valerie

"Are you certain this is the place she was staying, Auguste?" Giselle withheld her grimace as they slowed to a stop in front of the Battershin Inn. It was surprisingly large and well-kept compared to the sparse cottages around it. The ruckus coming from inside and the smell of beer and bile in the street, however, made her feel dizzy. The sooner they were done, the better.

"Lord Arion insisted that most of the reports of undead bounties confirmed to be killed by the Witch were submitted by the Guild Master that ran this inn," Auguste said, seeming unfazed by their dirty surroundings. "Best introduce ourselves. If we are lucky, the Witch might still be here."

"I don't know about you, but I wouldn't trust this stable with my horse," Giselle muttered to Alfred. They dismounted their horses, handing the reins to two of the six knight enchanters that had accompanied her to the inn. On the off chance this witch ended up being wanted or in any way hostile, she wanted as much assistance with nullifying magic as possible. "If any of you hear the bar go quiet for too long, or you hear magic erupting inside, it probably means we're going to need backup. Be alert."

The stablehand pitching a pile of dirty hay into a cart outside the stable eyed them leerily, pausing his work as he watched them enter the inn. The inside bar was crowded, full of raucous laughter and shouting. But, the moment the door shut, the inn went silent. Giselle kept her gaze on the woman standing behind the bar with the barkeep. She had her arms crossed and a frown on her face.

"What brings you out here, little wolf cub?" Master Marta growled.

"I'm looking for someone," Giselle said, taking a few steps forward. Her boots on the wooden floor were deafening in the silent bar. "Lord Arion's records tell me that you've been housing a huntress named Valerie. That true, Marta?"

"What business do you have with the Witch?" She asked, seeming unfazed.

Auguste patted Giselle on the shoulder to signal her to be quiet. He stepped forward, smiling at Marta. "I assure you she is in no trouble with the law. We are here because of the undead incursion. Miss Valerie has potentially valuable information about the vampires that we need in our investigation."

"You lot arrived a little late to the battle. I'm sure you know that Valerie already solved the worst of the problem?" Marta's tough exterior softened as she smiled back ever so slightly at Auguste. Giselle withheld a gag. Ever the woman charmer. "Guess you wouldn't be here if you didn't. I hate to give you bad news but Valerie checked out of the inn yesterday evening. Said she was heading east."

"I see. Is there anywhere you think she might have stopped by on her way out of town?" Auguste asked.

"Sunderarms," Giselle said. "Anyone who's got the coin knows it's well invested by going there to resupply. Thank you for the tip, Marta."

"Next time send a warning before you come barging into my establishment. You scare off the clientele," Marta called after her as she and Auguste headed for the door. "Good luck catching her, little wolf. She's a tricky one." 

There was already a crowd of horses outside Sunderarms by the time they reached the smithy. There were several apprentices and master smiths on the forges out front working away on the anvils and bellows. Surprisingly, Master Garrig was not in his usual place observing the main forge. It was a nice change to have no one look up and stop their day to stare at her as Giselle walked up the steps and entered the shop.

Almost every single one of Harold's salesmen was busy inside the emporium, discussing weapons or armor with clients. There was no sign of Harold, however. Giselle couldn't recall the last time she had seen the master enchanter away from his sales floor. His first apprentice, Tori, came rushing over from her master's usual seat behind the counter.