Shadow Honor - Book 1 of The Trial

Shadow Honow - 8

"All right Kirra, what is our next step?" Lady Alsha asked as they stepped out of the tavern and onto the busy street. It was late afternoon and the city was bustling with people going about their business, doing all they could to make use of the fading daylight. There wasn't a great deal of daytime left for them to continue their investigation, and if they made the attempt after nightfall, they were sure to attract a great deal of attention.

Kirra remained undeterred by the lateness of the hour, though he was having reservations of a different sort. "Something is going on. We know that now. Don't you want to take command?"

"If it comes to that, yes," Alsha replied, but she smiled and insisted, "but you're doing well. I see no reason to step in yet."

"Very well," Kirra agreed, resolving to make good use of the experience, "I suppose we need to find out more about this Sabreeza. Unless you think that we should confront him openly?"

"I think a little more reconnaissance is in order," Alsha agreed. "Where should we look next?"

"If he leads the merchant guild, perhaps we should visit a merchant in the area?" Kirra wondered aloud, then with a mischievous grin he said, "Maybe we should visit the fruit vendor across the street."

"That sounds like a solid idea," Alsha replied with a reserved smile. "However I don't think the fruit seller is a big enough player to provide us with the information we require."

"So we need someone more established, with more to lose if he falls out of favor with Sabreeza," Kirra responded thoughtfully.

"Good, you're starting to think like a proper investigator, Kirra," Alsha commended, clapping him on his shoulder, "Do you have any merchants in mind?"

Kirra began walking down the street, looking in detail at every shop and stall they passed. He had no idea what he was looking for, but he was hoping that he would spot something that would lead him in the right direction. After a block of walking he had yet to come up with anything. He was sure he had missed something, and was starting to get frustrated. Alsha was looking at him with concern, though he knew that she wouldn't say anything until he asked. Driven by the need to avoid letting her down, he stopped walking for a moment to calm himself. Drawing upon his heritage, he took several meditative breaths and reached out with his Gor senses.

The difference was subtle, but by entering that state he became calmer. It was a calm like that of being at the eye of a storm, giving him the opportunity to observe the swirling chaos around him with greater clarity. In this state, he could see and hear things that a full-blooded human would never perceive.

His eyes flashed open and he saw what he had missed. In a window of a shop across the street was a sign that read: "twenty-five years serving Pentalus". He smiled as the words rolled through his mind. If there was any indicator of a well-established business, that was it.

"How about that one?" He said to his commander, pointing at the small shop.

"A blacksmith, huh?" Lady Alsha replied. She shrugged and smiled as she conceded, "It's worth a shot I suppose. Okay, what's your plan?"

"I don't know, to be honest," Kirra answered, shaking his head helplessly, "I would prefer to do it without threatening the shop owner."

Lady Alsha nodded understandingly. It wasn't a tactic she was keen on either, and Kirra knew she was more than happy to support that line of thought. But he was at a loss on how to avoid it, and he breathed a sigh of relief when Alsha offered a suggestion. "We could always go incognito."

"What exactly did you have in mind?" Kirra asked, intrigued by the prospect.

"Mr. Swallow ought to know a thing or two about the area, considering all of the diligent watching over the pillars he does here," Alsha replied dryly, drawing a snicker from Kirra. She went on with a broad grin, "Perhaps he'll be able to give us a tip or two on blending in."