Ice warriors

Chapter 4

The coach rattled along the road, seeming capable of finding every pot hole ever. Nard and the squad were thrown about with every jut, though Hastian seemed to fairing the worse.
"You going to vomit again?" Sneered Gertain.
"We wouldn't have to be on the back of this rattle box if you could.." Nard glared him down. They had the back of the coach to themselves but the driver might hear them. It did not do to announce who they were. Dressed in plain browns and greens, they were young boys looking to find apprenticeships in Haven head. A fair cover but not one that would stand up to scrutiny so the rule was to be vague.
"We shouldn't be long now," Nard Said they all understood what he meant so remained silent.
Indeed they weren't long, another hour of difficult travel and they were pulling through the western gate. The wagon driver, Hecton took their coin and pointed them in the direction of the docks they watched him leave then slipped down the nearest alley.
In hand language Nard instructed Gertain and Djan to head towards the docks, he and Hastian would head into the upper quester and they would meet back come midday.
Gertain interrupted asking where so Nard told him where the currently were. Gertain sneered but commented no more then he and Djan set off and so did the other two.
The city was a vast sprawl of building, perfect for navigating the city overhead. Though he wouldn't want be caught in a skirmish along these narrow winding alleyways. Nard had read as much as he could on Havenhead before their arrival but that had not been enough . All mission briefing were destroyed before they left, in presence of Rusfelt so he'd had to remember the key points.
The richer quarter, where their targets manor was supposed to be, was in the north western quarter, as far away from the docks as possible. That they had been provided with such scant detail lead Nard to believe this mission was another test, but perhaps not, it really shouldn't matter anyway.
'Do you think Gertain is purposefully a dick?' Flashed Hastian
'No talking unless we have to'
After an amount of winding and a few good guesses they were walking along wide paved streets, lined with grass verges and trees and massive grand multi storied houses either side.
From the hidden depths of his cloak Nard produced a fairly innocuous brown wrapped parcel. He went to the closest house and pulled the bell.
After some time a smartly dressed elderly man came to the door.
"Yes?"
"Hello sir we have a parcel for the master of the house shall we leave it with you?"
"The master was not expecting any parcels,"
"Sorry sir I was told this was Lord Witherfields Manor,"
"Well it is not, master Witherfield lives on Hafting Street," the man then quickly closed the door.
'I thought I was supposed to make him forget that conversation' gestured Hastian
'Silence'
They walked along the street systematically without any luck then they stumbled upon a man in a white coat delivering bottles of milk. Nard asked for directions, the man shooed them away with hasty directions.

Finally on Hafting Street Nard approached the nearest building and pulled the bell, no one answered.  Three more doors later they were greeted by a man of middling years which a slight belly and small eyes.

"Good day," he said, his voice strained.

Nard smiled and told his lie again, the man told them Lord Witherfields address although appeared hesitant almost suspicious. Hastian offered his hand for thanks, the man took it, his inbuilt sense of politeness to much to overcome. Hastian shook it then told him to forget their faces and this conversation and to go inside. The man smiled then turned and closed the door.

They walked in silence to 32 Hafting Street, the manor house larger than most offers with an extra floor. They strolled past not looking at the house by absorbing the details all the same. Their mission complete they headed back to wait for the other two.

As they wound back along the alleyways Nard spotted an acceptable looking Inn, the Black Goose, he indicated to Hastian they would go inside. Inside was the wrong sort of clientele, sharply dressed titled men all drinking glasses of wine, they would not be able to keep the guise as simply apprentices here. Nard quickly indicated they should leave, hopefully the other two would have better luck finding accommodation.