In the affluent district of the city Horton stood behind a corner in a luxurious alleyway watching the rich stroll in and out of the high end Regent Tavern. His target suddenly came into view and disappeared inside. He gathered himself for a minute, patting down his best clothes and took a breath then strolled confidently out of the alleyway across the street.
‘Don’t attract attention to yourself,’ he thought.
He reached the doors and opened them. Inside he looked over the lively tables and booths lining all the walls around the grand bar. They were filled with important looking well-to-do people from all over the city. He was knocked into from behind and locked eyes with none other than the king’s general who grunted at him and walked on. Horton apologised backing into a corner and continued to scan the tavern for the man he’d come to see.
He spotted him sat on the other side of the bar. He glided quickly amongst the crowd, receiving a few looks on the way and dived into the corner booth seat opposite him.
Merek looked up nonchalantly from a cup of glühwein.
‘Evening.’
‘Thanks for meeting me,’ said Horton looking over his shoulder. No one had taken notice.
‘You’re welcome, I guess. What can I do for you, scribe?’
‘I need a favour.’
Merek nodded. ‘Uh huh.’
‘I need to know something,’ said Horton gravely pulling out a note.
‘The mystery continues. Spit it out.’
‘What do you know of God-King’s–’
‘Don’t say his bloody name here!’ hissed Merek looking about. A few heads had turned their way but eventually looked on.
‘Sorry,’ said Horton leaning in and lowering his voice. ‘What do you know of His contacts?’
Merek shot him a bemused look. ‘Well there’s a few, which ones?’
‘Relations.’
‘Family? No one knows.’
‘Well, what do you know for certain of His origins?’
‘He doesn’t talk about that.’
‘At all?’
‘No.’
Horton’s shoulders slumped a little. ‘Damn.’
Merek took another sip of wine. ‘Do you want to try this? It’s premium.’
Horton declined. ‘Do any of those legends about his power ring truer than the others?’
‘He’s travelled, that’s for sure. He keeps artefacts from all over. One particularly caught my eye when I was cleaning the royal chamber other day.’
‘What is it?’
‘I believe it’s a sand crystal.’
‘From the far deserts?!’
‘Yes.’
‘So he has been out there!’
‘Looks like it. He’s mentioned sand lions in his sleep.’
‘What about the desert tribes?’
‘Those too. Even between snores he doesn’t shut up.’
‘So the legend’s true then!’
‘Well he’s also mentioned genies, winter ghouls and witches, so you can’t really rule those theories out either.’
‘Oh,’ frowned Horton.
‘I do know he’s keen on visiting the islands again.’
‘That’s interesting. On what business?’
‘He’s building a fleet for exploration. There’s some wreckage in the western seas he wants to retrieve but with the amount of sea monsters that way they’re having to fortify the ships more.’
‘What’s in the wreckage?’
‘He won’t say, but you can bet it’s something that’s better left sunk.’
‘Didn’t you say last he was planning to go to the east?’
‘Yes,’ said Merek, rubbing his chin. ‘Yes, that was interesting. He was definitely thinking of getting up to something there.’
Horton eyes widened an unnatural amount. ‘You’re torturing me here.’
‘He wanted wine but that’s not important. No, he was talking about going out by himself to uncharted territory.’
‘That’s what he said?’
‘That’s what he sleep-murmured.’
‘That sounds like suicide!’
‘This is Him we’re talking about. It could be nothing. Is there anything more you’re after?’
‘No,’ said Horton. ‘But I think this gives us something to go on.’
‘It does?’ chuckled Merek. ‘If you say so.’ He finished up his drink and stood up. Horton exited the tavern with him. Stepping outside Merek swiftly departed for the castle. Horton immediately began making his way toward the docks; there was another person he needed to see.
ns 15.158.61.42da2
