Chapter 14

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When we emerged from the dark passage, the sunlight that greeted us was slightly blinding and we had to shield our eyes from it. When our eyes have adjusted from the sudden brightness, we beheld an awe-inspiring sight.

My first impression was that of an ant hill. I've seen the interior of one when I was a kid. It wasn't an experience you'd easily forget since it involved getting insect bites all over you. The place we are in now was so alike, like the large version of an ant hill, that I briefly thought that we had shrunk and found our way into a kingdom for ants. An old woman passed us, she was pushing a wagon loaded with various fruits. Alyse and I both went to both of her sides and helped her push her wagon when we saw the dozens of watermelons on the wagon along with other fruits. How she has pushed the wagon thus far was a mystery to us.

"May the Divine bless you, young ones." She said gratefully when we had stopped in front of what seemed like a market place. She gave us some fruits as her thanks. Alyse handed her some coins in return but the old lady refused. "You'd do well to save it for a room in the tavern tonight. I see that you're weary from your travels. There's a inn just further down on this floor. I thanks you once again."

Alyse leaned in to whisper something to the old lady and they both engaged in a hushed conversation that took a minute or two then Alyse thanked the old lady and we went our way, leaving the old lady to sell her fruits.

"What did you ask her about?" I asked out of curiosity.

"I just ascertained that this place is what we thought it is." Alyse replied while enthusiastically counting her coins.

"And?"

"It is." She said, putting her coins back in her pocket. "We are officially now in the Red Party hideout. They call this the Anthill."

"Figures the architecture." I said as I pushed open the door to a tavern. "But as my fire of revenge could sustain me it also exhausts me trying to sustain it. Let's get some rooms."

"That's another thing about revenge." Alyse said as we walked towards the innkeeper. "Room for two please."

"One gold." The innkeeper said. I was then astounded by the astronomical price. I looked at Alyse and saw her with a smug smirk on her face as her eyes narrowly observed the innkeeper. Then she tossed over one gold coin to the innkeeper.

"Lead us to our rooms please."

-oOo-

"So what's with this place?" I asked Alyse as I lied down the bed.

"They hollowed out the mountain." Alyse started explaining. "This place is old, ancient actually. It is said that this was already made even before the war between Faeries and Dragons. Though the place already existed for that long, it was only about twenty years ago when the Red Party moved in here."

"You seem to know a lot about this Red Party. How is it so?" I asked. "Are you a member of the Red Party?"

Alyse chuckled. "No. And I'd be damned before I do." Was her answer before she disappeared into the bathroom.

When I heard the tap turn on, I scribbled a note for Alyse using the pen on the bedside table and left our room. I'm going to find the murderer.

I went downstairs and as I was making my way through the door a big burly man entered the tavern. I stumbled back.

"Oh," the man said as he noticed me. "Sorry, didn't see you."

I looked at him and saw the man Alyse and I met at Dragonfang. "It's you." I said as I remembered.

"Oh," his eyes glinted with recognition. "It's you, too. Are you following me?"

"We got here first."

"I don't thinks so."

"You know what," I said, sensing that this argument is going to take time. "It doesn't matter. Have a nice stay." I said as I went past him.

"My name's Brick." He said as the tavern doors swung close. Why did he tell me his name?

I've been dodging wagon traffic for almost thirty minutes before I finally got a lead from the fifteenth tavern that I visited. The tavern master told me that someone who fits my description goes to his place to drink.

"A hard drunk he is." The tavern master added. "But still quite in the young side. And now that I think about it, he may just be the same age as you. Can I get you something to drink. We have tea."

"I'll have it." I said and he placed a cup of hot green tea in front of me. "Do you know where he works?" I took a sip of my tea.

"I haven't the slightest idea about that but I do know his name. Ha, who wouldn't know his name?"

"Is it my name we're talking about here?" A brown haired stranger interrupted. "I'll have whiskey."

I was shocked. "Aren't you too young for that?" I swear, this stranger looked like we were just in the same generation.

"In my line of work, miss." He said as the tavern master poured him his whiskey. "There are some things that you see that would make you want to drink after. The name's Eris by the way."

"And what work would that be, mister Eris?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Hunting." He said as he drank from his whiskey. "And please call me Eris."

"For food?"

"Who do you think gets all the meat that the Regals stuff down their throat?" He gulped everything of his whiskey.

"The what?"

"The reigning family here." The tavern master answered as he took Eris' mug away.

"I got to go, Bill." Eris said as he placed his payment for his drink. "Magnus is coming home tonight." The tavern master, Bill, nodded as he accepted his payment. "See you around, young miss."

"It's Feyre." I supplied.

"Sure," he said with a smile revealing perfect teeth. "See ya." And he walked out the tavern.

"Who was that?" I asked Bill.

"He told you his name."

I took a final sip on my tea and paid for it. "I mean the one he said who was coming home."

"Oh. Him." Bill said. He placed his hands on the table. "Magnus. It's his brother. And that guy you were asking me about? That's him."

I thanked Bill and left his tavern. Then I found myself stalking Eris.

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