17 Estate (1/2)

After eating the soft stewed meat Syldis brought, he changed clothes, very similar to the clothes mercenaries were wearing. The shirt was of a dark green shade and just a little too big, not to the point to be uncomfortable or even a bother.

In the morning he woke up to another cloudy weather, but way brighter than the day before.

The streets were still humid as the sun was just raising up. It would take a couple of hours to completely dry the streets.

Riou got to the ground floor of the tavern, it was empty and very well cleaned, no mugs or dirty plates anywhere to be seen. Arriving By the counter he could see something cooking in the kitchen while Syldis was sat down in one of the tables at the front of the shop, someone was with her. It was a man dressed in yellow, laid back in the chair holding a conceited smirk in his face.

As he looked at Riou, Syldis also turned imagining it was the boy. She called him to join them and take a seat.

Riou followed her indication, pulling a chair from the nearby table to seat, as both of them occupied most side of the table.

-”Do we have a deal Viktor?” Syldis was the first to speak

-”Let me recap… you want me to babysit this boy while he searches for his lost 'father' around town… and for that you will forgive my groups debt and also put in a week of booze's worth, on the house… just for us am I right?” Said the man with a displeasing attitude

Syldis just nodded confirming… before completing – ”And….” She said, pausing up expecting the man to continue

The man still holding a conceited smile, almost cynical, leaned in towards the woman, inspecting her

-”And for that, my best crew and I myself will have to go with him… isn't that right?” he said in the same tone.

Syldis just nodded once, also holding a smirk of her own. Viktor laid back once more and without taking his eyes of Syldis he raised his hand, pointing with his index finger to the boy continuing in his unpleasant behavior.

-”What I just don't understand, is what makes this little boy here, so damn important that require my personal attention…” He said still looking straight to Syldis, trying to grasp any hint from her expression.

She laid back as well on her chair

-”Let's just say, that there is a small chance that his father is involved with very, very dangerous people…”

Viktor eyes gleamed for an instant

-”Hoo, dangerous you say… my kind of danger?” He asked intrigued

She smiled and pierced him with her eyes before answering slowly

-”No… My kind of danger…”

His eyes shined once more, she knew he was hooked. But before anything else, he squinted his eyes and looked sideways to her. He was on to something.

-”What is this boy and his father to you, that you would pay so much for bodyguard duty?”

Syldis dropped the act, and became serious for a moment

-”The old man is a very dear friend of mine, and this boy here is trying to help him…”

Viktor for the first time lost his smile and looked seriously at the boy.

-”Very well…” he said before returning to his normal self – ”You just got yourself a very expensive babysitter… Rejoice boy!” Finished smacking the table with his fist which gave out a loud bump sound.

Riou who was watching silently so far, looked at Syldis with uncertainty in his face

-”Is this really necessary?” He asked – ”I can take care of myself…” he concluded very seriously.

Viktor laughed heartedly while Syldis leaned towards the boy and in a motherly condescending tone said

-”I'm sure you can my dear, but please accept this so my heart can be a little less burdened. I'm not the fighter I used to be… and Viktor here is one of the best mercenaries, I know him for a long time, so please, do me this favor.” She said patronizing the boy as a little child.

He knew her intentions were good, but he was not sure. ”Perhaps having someone who knows his way around this land is not a bad idea…” he concluded after pondering for a moment.

-”If you insist Syldis… then I can't really argue” Said him smiling to her.

She also smiled back and in a satisfied mood got up

-”Wait here, I will bring you some food so you can go right away…” said happily the big woman leaving for the kitchen.

In the table now was Viktor and Riou… Viktor was still laid back in the chair watching Syldis leave, and when she was out of reach he said.

-”Very wise boy… you should never contradict a bear…” he said referring to Syldis

-”A bear?” asked Riou having trouble to understand the reference.

-”Yeah, or don't you know? When she was younger she was so fierce in battle that even the bear beast man recognized her as one of theirs, and that is no small feat.” He said confidently

Syldis got back bringing some fresh bread and what seemed to be some sort of cheese, with few slices of cooked meat by its side, she put it on the table with a mug and a jug of water. While Riou ate she sat down again and looked to Viktor. She seriously said once again

-”Look after the boy… I mean it” She concluded

He nodded with a bit of indifference

-”Yeah, yeah, a contract is a contract, don't worry… I must confess I think you are overdoing it… but oh well, who am I to deny easy money?” He said once again in his displeasing tone – ”So where are we going young master?” he questioned.

Riou Looked to Syldis… - ”We need to check Landgrave house, which is inside the city by the east wall if he is not there then Eleanor place by the Dracar River source”

Viktor interjected… - ”Oi oi, wait a moment, by the Dracar you say? That's a long trip to go in one day… as there are no roads, and if you intend to get back in town before dark we need to move now to the Dracar” He concluded…

-”Why can't we go to Landgrave's house and then move to Eleanor? Can't we camp during the night? We bring a few torches it should be fine right?” Said Riou trying to make the both stops as quickly as possible.

Viktor moved around in his chair… clearly displeased by the boy's idea.

-”Boy, you 'really' don't want to be near the Dracar at night.” He emphasized

Syldis nodded

-”Eleanor place is far from here, it will take a lot of time to get there and come back… it is not safe near the Dracar at night.” She agreed. – ”Also if he is not at Eleanor's, you can go to the Landgrave once you get back, you should be back before dark and since his house is inside the city you would still be able to go there.”

Riou looked once more towards Syldis

-”Are you sure Eleanor is the best bet?” Asked Riou afraid to lose lots of time in a fruitless endeavor

Syldis was uncertain, but as serious as she could be, she began to explain her thoughts.

-”I only got to know Eleanor” She paused for a moment ”Max barely spoke of his last pupil, and from what I heard, I don't think they parted in good terms… also he was his pupil a long time ago…” She paused once more, a sadness could be felt from Syldis expression

-”Eleanor… Max has a more recent history with her… I mean, they had something in the past… but she ended up marrying a noble, lord of the lands near the Dracar… So that's why I think if something made him drop everything in a hurry… it must have been because of her.”

Riou pondered for a moment, it made sense, if he had such connection with her, they could have lured him easily… also her house was far away, he'd take a lot of time just to get there.

-”I understand, let's go to Eleanor…” Confirmed Riou…

Viktor smiled and got up from his chair…

-”It's settled then, let's move boy, we are wasting daylight already.”

Going outside, the city was almost empty, few people walking around and most merchants were still just opening up shop.

Riou noticed 2 shady figures as they left the tavern.Hidden from the general public attention, trying to conceal their presence, but his keen sense was able to detect them lurking nearby.

Viktor was already on the move when Riou looked back to him, forcing him to pick up his pace to catch on to him. Before he could alert Viktor, the strange man spoke first

-”Seems like I didn't give enough credit to the bear… we have 2 friends of yours following us already, and they are not the common kind either, they are good at concealing their presence” He said without looking around…

Riou was impressed, Viktor seemed very aware of the situation.

Viktor and Riou were walking towards the city exit while the 2 shady figures were following them, keeping their distance and never showing themselves completely at any point, Riou understood why Viktor complimented them.

After a while of walking, Viktor said without moving his head

-”Pay attention boy, follow my lead, and run only after you completely out of their sight…”

Suddenly Viktor took a sharp turn to the right, he signaled to Riou do the same. Once they were out of sight of the main street he called the boy to quickly run after him… they rushed forward in a sprint… in the half of this street Viktor took another turn to the right into a small and concealed alley between two houses, it was dark enough to conceal them. He quickly pulled Riou and put him behind him.

-”Shhh!” Viktor made the sound holding his hand up towards Riou, requesting him to keep silent. Viktor kept listening to the surroundings, his attention was all focused on the street sounds.

He suddenly leaned even more toward the wall and lowered his stance, and pushed Riou to do the same… Viktor was expecting the two shady figures to pass by them soon, as he readied his sword.

Didn't take long for 2 men wearing dark green hooded cloaks, covering their heads and faces, to pass by them in a hurry. Fortunately the stalkers didn't noticed them hidden in the dark alley as they were rushing forward in a hurry.

After a few moments Viktor relaxed, and moved closer to the street to look around… As he noticed they were gone he stepped out and called the boy… they started to move once again towards the city entrance in a fast pace.

Viktor was clearly having lots of fun with that action early in the morning, and looking to Riou he said in joyous tone – ”I have to hand it to you boy, seems like you really know how to stir the hornet's nest…”

While they moved towards the city entrance, Riou thought who those two might be working for… ”They couldn't be part of the Council”… as no one knew him there yeat… ”Unless the prisoner talked…” he thought remembering black the mage that was rescued. ”No, impossible, he couldn't have realized anything, he was unconscious… perhaps one of his friends watched us?No, I was very careful at that time… the two stalkers must belong to another party” concluded Riou…

-”Are you sure those two weren't after you? Nobody knew I was on the Drinking Bear…” Said Riou to Viktor.

Viktor laughed once more

-”I have a lot of enemies, boy… but none of them have the coin to hire this level of assassins. They could have been following you since yesterday… and probably preferred to wait until you left the tavern to attack, you know, because of Syldis reputation, then you left the tavern with me… they probably decided to take their time, and attack at a better opportunity” Explained the mercenary.

Riou did not notice anyone following him the day before, with that rain, he surely should have noticed something… ”No, someone told them where to find me… they were clearly waiting for me to show up in the morning… but who… and why?” Riou was having a hard time putting the puzzle together, he clearly needed a few more pieces to make sense of the picture.

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When they were about to leave the city gates Viktor made another turn, and kept walking by some small alley, between the city houses and walls, the ground was dirt and grass.

-”Where are we going?” Asked Riou confused to the new route Viktor was taking.

-”Calm Down, we will get some help and then we will leave…” Said Viktor a few steps from the alley exit.

Riou could see an empty space near the city walls, it was wide enough to fit a few houses, but instead it was filled with tents. Hundreds of them, many more than he had saw when traveling with the first army.

Probably this space was reserved for big companies like the mercenaries here to be able to stay in the city for a few days, inside the protection of the walls.

Viktor was striding between the tents, no one was awake at that hour, Riou thought it to be very different from the army soldiers who always ready within the first hours of the day.

Reaching about the middle of the tents Viktor entered one of them, Riou waited outside, and looking towards the entrance he was able to recognize, it were the 2 brothers that were sit down with Viktor the last night.

They were sleeping shirtless one in each bed inside the tent, empty bottles of liquor could be seen around the tent's floor. They were almost twins, red hair and ponytail, snorting in deep sleep.Riou estimated they were about their 30 years.

The tent was a mess, lots of weapons and all sorts of armors lying around, Axes, spears and halberds, swords, daggers hanging around the table and on the dirt floor.

Viktor vigorously kicked each of them before shouting

-”Wake up you morons, we have a job to do…”

The two sleeping man eyes widened up when they heard the word job. They quickly rose up on their feet, clearly wide awake and ready for action. In a Serious tone Viktor continued

-”Grab your stuff, bodyguard duty, we are going light so do not overdo with the weapons…” Said Viktor pointing to one of the man who was already reaching for a big axe. – ”Be ready, we leave immediately.” As he finished, he left the tent and began to walk towards the one in front of it about 10 steps distance.

In the middle of the way he whistled very loudly and raised his right hand with 2 fingers up, the index and middle finger held tightly together.

Shortly after a woman comes out of the tent in front, fully equipped in leather armor covering her right shoulder and arm. She held a sword in the sheath to her waist level on the left side. A pretty woman, near her 25 years with a tanned skin and short black hair, she was not very tall, just a bit taller than Riou was. She came to meet Viktor.

Viktor nods to the approaching woman, while from behind the two red haired man also approached fully equipped. Both were wearing Leather armor on the chest, from the arms to the shoulder, with some pieces even covering parts of the thigh and legs. One was wearing a two handed sword tied to his back while the other had axes that resembled hatchets to both his sides and a bigger two handed one to the back. They had the same height and were shorter than Viktor and taller than Riou.

Viktor Looked to him and wearing his usual smiling said

-”I said we would be traveling light…”

The man with the axes shrug and in a cynical manner explained – ”And so I'm only bringing 3 weapons”

Another man was approaching the group, wearing a dark shaded green hooded cape, very similar to the one the stalkers were wearing. But his went on until his ankles and seemed to be made of better and lighter material.

He removed the hood as he approached, he had blue eyes and a darker shade of long blond hair, shorter and loosened in the front, braided at the back. He was shorter than Viktor about the same height of the brothers. He had a long bow and a quiver to his back, a dagger to his waist and many throwing knives held by a belt, neatly displayed and ready for use, making an arch from the left shoulder to the right side of the waist.

The blond man joined the group and Viktor began explaining.

-”Listen up, bodyguard contract… We will babysit this boy over here while he looks for his old man” Said Viktor pointing to Riou who was near them.

Riou didn't make a fuss about it, he understood that for them he was just an ordinary teenager, probably unaware of the dangers of the world, no point in arguing, he intended to use their knowledge to reach his destination.

The blond man remained calm while the woman sighed clearly displeased, the two brothers where not so subtle, they swore and stomped around for a few moments, then suddenly went up to Viktor clearly invading his personal space.

-”C'mon! Really? We did nothing this time…” Said the brother with the axes.

-”Yeah, Hugh was the one who picked a fight, send him on this fucking errand!” Said the other one.