The Foolhardies 135 Nowhere Inn

"And hello to you as well, Commander," he chuckled, his eyes glancing over my bandaged arm. "I see you've been busy."

"Busier than some, apparently," I countered. "I suppose there's a reason you're getting cozy by that fireplace?"

"Indeed, there is. My squad and I were just following up on a rumor regarding the proprietress of this establishment," Thom inclined his head toward the woman behind me, "having secret knowledge of many things that happen within the city."

"That's Zephyra, alright," Shanks laughed. He leaned down and whispered conspiratorially into my ear, "Sylphs are all gossips."

"I heard that," Zephyra said.

"I know," Shanks chuckled.

Seeing the easy-going, smooth-talking way Shanks interacted with the people around him once again reminded me how opposite he was from his warrior brother.

Zephyra walked through the counter she'd been sitting behind so she could stand in front of me. And if I hadn't heard earlier that she was a sylph, I might have thought she was a ghost.

She had long silver hair that was like fluffy gray clouds. The features of her angular face were hard to describe as they seemed to flit and change constantly like wispy clouds. All except for her eyes which were like two constant silver points in a cloudy sky.

Despite this, I could tell she was very beautiful.

"Welcome to the Nowhere Inn, Five-Hundred Man Commander Dapper," Zephyra said, inclining her head toward me.

She was close enough now for me to notice that the skin of her bare arms and legs was the same ethereal complexion of her face. Only the blue summer dress she wore seemed like it was solid.

"Thanks," I said. "I'm hoping you have enough room for us. We're a big party."

"There are enough rooms for the hundred warriors you bring with you." She spared a gleaming eye on Varda who'd been placed in an empty couch. "Fresh baths and warm meals as well for those in need of it."

"You're very well-informed," I said cautiously.

"Whether I ask for them or not, the winds often carry many secrets my way," she replied in a wispy voice.

"And how does one listen to the winds, I wonder?" Thom asked, a curious expression on his face.  

"Anyone who listens may hear the voice of the wind," she answered mystifyingly.

My brow furrowed as an idea struck me. "Could some of these secrets be shared with others?"

"Only among friends," she smiled playfully. Then she tiptoed up so she could reach the upper part of Shanks' arm. "Luckily for you, I do count Shanks here among friends. Perhaps we can do business… after I've seen to your other needs."

She clapped her hands together, and immediately afterward, two giggling children formed of the same stuff as Zephyra breezed into the common room.

"See to our guests, Zeru, Sora," she said.

It took the better part of an hour to get all my people lodgings in the Nowhere Inn, but once that was done and Varda had significantly sobered up, Zephyra loaned us a function room so my officers and I could finally get to the matter of planning our rescue.

"Bought some healing potions from the local apothecary, nabbed a few vials of befuddling fog too," Qwipps reported.

He and his Talons had arrived after we'd checked into Nowhere Inn rowdy as ever.

"Found some interesting weapons materials you might find interesting, Dean, but," he sent sideways glance at Pike who was sitting beside Luca, "I was prevented from procuring these rare items by, ahem, unimaginative minds."

"I doubt the Commander has a need for manticore spinal fluid or phoenix tail feathers, Qwipps," Pike shot back at him.

Although she was right about that, I did think that these things sounded interesting enough to warrant a look, and I took note of asking Qwipps to take me around the shops if we had a chance.

"We did get a map of the city as you asked." Qwipps got up from his seat and unrolled a large parchment onto the table we were all gathered around.

The map was a detailed woodcut of the Undercroft, complete with tiny descriptions in common of the different city quarters and important locations. In fact, the far right corner of the map had 'The Gold Quarter' written across it. At the northern end of this quarter, in what looked like one of the larger buildings in the woodcut, the words 'Wailing House' was written next to it.

"Here," I said, pointing to that spot on the map. "This is our target… wish we had schematics of this place…"

Qwipps and Pike gave each other a somber look that I caught.

"What?" I asked curiously.

"Never told you where we got that map, huh," Qwipps began, "Actually, Pike and I stumbled into a cartographer's shop operated by the Pilgrimage…"

For some reason, the word 'Pilgrimage' evoked a strange reaction among the fairies in my group. Most of them had stiffened visibly. Even Thom looked momentarily unnerved.

Luca, who'd noticed the change in atmosphere, pointed this out in a very direct manner, "What's wrong with you all?"

"The Pilgrimage is a human-centric organization that has shown considerable antagonism against the fay clans," Aura explained.

"They're terrorists," Thom added. "I'm surprised you weren't gutted right then and there, Qwipps…"

"Ain't that the truth," Qwipps chuckled nervously. "They were actually very helpful… the clerks even gave us maps we didn't ask for…"

Pike rose from her seat beside Luca and pulled out four rolled-up maps she'd been keeping her pack.

"This is a map that details the city's catacombs," she unfurled a map and placed it on top of the first.

Under the glow of the ceiling's light-emitting gemstone, the two maps seemed to combine into one, providing an overview of both the city above and the catacombs that ran underneath it like a sewage system back on Mudgard.

"Interesting," Varda said.

Yes, she'd sobered up enough to be able to stand on her feet. Dwarves had remarkable resilience after all.

"And this," Pike unfurled the third map and laid it on top of the others, "Is probably what you're looking for…"

The third map was a schematic of an impressive five-story building with a built-in auditorium inside it with seats in the gallery just like an opera house would have.

"Why would they give you this…?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing.

Qwipps shrugged. "How am I supposed to know the minds of homicidal humans?"

"It was almost like they knew exactly what we were looking for and who we were working for," Pike added as she sat back down.

"That's a worrying thought… although certainly a possibility," Aura admitted.

I glanced toward. "Why would you think that?"

"You're a human officer in a fairy clan," Aura explained. "That's bound to catch their notice, especially after your defeat of Azuma and Jimmy, two humans who were gaining prominence in the central region."

"But is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Ashley asked.

Aura shook her head. "I don't know… but it'll depend on whether they see Dean as a threat or as someone they can make use of."

That was a worrying thought. I had enough fairy enemies. I didn't need other humans on my tail as well.

"Great… as if we didn't have enough enemies," Luca said, saying out loud what I thought inside.

I took in a deep breath and rose from my seat. "Nothing we can do about that right now… whatever and whoever they are, we'll deal with them if they come our way."

I placed my hands and straightened out the final map on the table.

"This right here is our priority," I said. "I want everyone to focus on this now so we can figure out a way to rescue Ty before this auction takes place on the night of Samhain."

I glanced toward Thom who was twirling a knife between his fingers.

"Got any intel to share on this?" I asked.

"Isn't that why we're here?" Thom pointed the tip of his dagger lazily at the door. "We're here to gather intel."

Zephyra stood just at the threshold of the door. Behind her was the very large Shanks. Both of them were obviously waiting for my invitation to enter.

I nodded.

Shanks, who didn't fit in any of the seats in the room, opted to lean on the wall opposite me while Zephyra walked over to the table and inspected the maps laid out there.

"I see the Pilgrimage has done good work exploring the city," she said approvingly. "They have certainly made it easy for anyone seeking to cause harm to the Undercroft to do so without much difficulty. I assume that's not what you're planning?"

She turned an inquisitive eye on me.

"No," I promised. "We only want—"

 "—to save your friend, Tyberius Cruz," she finished for me.

"How do you—"

"—I know his name because he is in the city just as I know all your names," she answered flatly. "If you have spoken it once while in the Undercroft then I know it or will learn of it soon enough."

"That sounds useful," Ashley commented.

"Yes, it can be," she answered with a smile.

"The question is," Luca butted in, "are you willing to share what you know with us?"

"If you answer my request… then I might be able to provide you with enough information to make your plans a success," she said.

"What do you want then?" I asked, sounding a little too eager.

Zephyra tapped a finger on the table. "Shanks tells me that you plan to build an inn by a lake in your territory."

A light bulb turned on in my head. I knew what she wanted.

"A cavern beneath the earth is no place for a sylph," I reasoned. "Help us save my friend, and I wouldn't mind letting you run the inn outside our tower. It's in a good spot too. The wind often passes by the lake."

Zephyra smiled an impish smile. "You must be psychic, Dean Dapper. It seems you've read my mind.

Chapter end