Shapeless Hero

42 - Eyes and Ears

Danil raises his voice, as he wafts through the water towards us. "What a pleasant surprise! Not many travelers know of this place." His gray hair, both on his head and chest, in combination with the necessary muscle mass for heavy armor, show a well aged veteran. It was hard to guess, when he was in full armor at the gate, but now he stands in mere braies.

The commander raises a hand in greeting. "The feeling is mutual, Danil." I just wave and smile instead, leaving the talking to her.

A yard away from us, he kneels down into the water, submerging himself up to his neck. "How's Alya?"

The commander furrows her brows. "I'm afraid there was more than just her state of mind to be worried about. We should get an update tomorrow from the doctor. Chances are, she's back on her feet by tomorrow, though."

A slither of surprise shows on his face. "You even hired a doctor for her? ...from the bottom of my heart, thank you." He chuckles. "I made the mistake to tell my kids that Alya's back. Now, they can't wait to see her again and ask me every hour, when she's coming over."

"Glad to hear, she has somebody to return to.", the commander responds, "She needs to receive some warmth, especially after the loss of her party members." She then gestures for Danil to sit next to her, who promptly follows suit.

He leans back and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath of the scented air. "One less problem to worry about."

"Rough days at work?", the commander inquires.

His eyes still closed, he nods. "More adventurers from outside come for the cave systems. Tensions between groups emerge and now we have to mediate." He groans. "I know damn well that new discoveries are time sensitive and all, but I wish, they would at least try to learn the basics of the local language."

His eyes open. "Ah, there is something, I need to tell you."

Both the commander and I turn our heads to him.

"Some newcomers asked, if I've seen three people move through the gate: A well armored dark elf, a blonde lady with an unusual orange dress-code and a mage in blue robes."

I lean forward to face him better. "Hold on. Who asked?"

"A patrol of Tyllat's coast rangers. They didn't tell me exactly why, but they were probably interested in you lot."

"Did you tell them?", the commander asks, a slightly threatening tone in her voice.

He shakes his head, laughing. "Somehow, my cherished memories of a dark elf from decades ago, who just so happens to look like you, stopped me."

"Does your wife know of your daydreams of another woman? Should I go tell her?", the commander asks in jest.

"Please don't.", he pleads, equally light-hearted.

Danil, Kella, Melika... the people, the commander left behind for her imperial duties. Was she forced? Did she need the money? No, I'm sure there are better, safer jobs to earn some coin, as good as the hazard pay must be.

The commander bows her head. "Thank you for telling us. I doubt, they can do much to override the imperial will."

"Gotta look out for our country-peeps." He shows a warm smile, before abruptly turning his head towards the entrance. Following his gaze, we see a colleague of his enter the bath. Should there ever come the need for a "bara" rabbit-kin, it was now added to my shifter-repertoire.

Danil stands up and wafts back to the entrance. "Ah, it's time. If you excuse me, I wish you both a pleasant evening."

The commander and I say our farewells to him.

"Would you mind, if we'd stay for another hour?", I ask the commander.

"They close in two, so it should be fine."

"Sweet." I submerge myself in the pool-water. I let the gentle currents move my limbs around like seaweed. This comes close to an ethereal bliss, without the need to die for a reincarnation. 

After five minutes, the commander pulls me up by an arm. I look around for anything or anyone, who might prompt her to do so, but I'm only welcomed by the relieved faces of other visitors around us.

"That's quite the lung-capacity, lady Fylka.", the commander whispers to me. "Let's not do that again, shall we?"

Once it dawns on me, I respond with a hasted nod. "Sorry about that."

#

Liszka rubs her hands in glee, as she stood behind one of the pillars in the public bath. She can report some people to the coast rangers for additional coin! She's glad she decided to continue her stalk... investigation. 

The question is, what will make more money: Dungeon exploration or the report? She doesn't know, why the coast rangers look for the lady and the other two companions, so there's no way to estimate the finder's price, she would get. Maybe the rangers just want to say hello and she ends up with just spare change's worth of a reward.

And she would feel bad, if the lady, who helped her out in the guild, would be arrested for possibly bad reasons. Liszka knows to well, how authorities can make up stories to get you in jail, regardless of the truth. Although, considering the company, the lady keeps around, she's probably fine. That dark elf must be her bodyguard or something.

An idea comes to the arctic fox-kin: She'll help with the cave delving first, to see what kind of person that lady truly is. If she's bad, Liszka will sack her part of the quest reward, then report that hairy lady to the coast rangers. But if she's fine, Liszka will keep helping out with the dungeoneering. There's quick money to be made both ways. Content with her own plan, she nods to herself. Brother would be proud.

She freezes. Somebody is watching her. Carefully turning her eyes, she spots a very young panther-kin, matching her height, unabashedly stare at her. The threat assessed, she lowers her shoulders again. 

"Can I help you, child?", she asks.

The kid keeps staring,. "A-are you a ghost?", it asks instead.

"No, I'm just white.", she responds with a deadpan face. "Look closer. It's just fur."

The kid maintains the stare, fear showing on its face. "I'm sorry, miss ghost, I don't understand ghost language."

Liszka just shakes her head. Right, language... She has no energy left to talk in the local language. Having heard and seen enough anyway, she leaves the bathing area.

The young panther-kin heaves a sigh. "Phew! I live another day."