Chapter Thirty-five

 

Stern woke slowly— he hadn’t slept well. The previous evening had crawled by for them. He’d gotten them some soup for dinner, remembering how his father had a hard time eating when he’d been stressed before. It took all of them cajoling Cammie to get her to eat at all, but she did, in time.

 

After dinner, the women had all curled up on the sofa as they waited for any news. The evening turned to night, and the stress of the day eventually claimed its toll. Cammie was the first to fall asleep, with Pawly on her lap, purring away. Cyra and Trish weren’t far behind her. Neither of them had been willing to move, fearful of waking Cammie. Once they’d all fallen asleep, Stern snagged a blanket and carefully covered them. He’d taken a seat in the chair nearby and waited for sleep to claim him, too.

 

Now, he woke up a little stiffly from the angle he’d slept in, but he stifled any sound as he popped his back and neck. All three women were still asleep, so he snuck out of the room. He was back up the stairs a few minutes later with a tray of broth, bread, and tea.

 

As quietly as he could, he snuck into the room. Three soft snores greeted him, so he exhaled in relief and set the food and tea on the coffee table. He settled back into his own seat and had breakfast.

 

The watchers downstairs hadn’t seen anyone suspicious, and no letter had been delivered. Stern was getting a little anxious, but he also figured Bloodcoin would try to get information out of Vulk before making his move.

 

Can’t tell Cammie that, though... she’d panic more, Stern thought as he finished his breakfast.

 

A soft sound of complaint came from Cammie, and she stirred. That roused Cyra and Trish, causing them to shift and wake Cammie fully.

 

“Morning,” Stern said. “I have some broth and bread on the table for you.”

 

Three sets of eyes focused on him as sleep slowly faded away.

 

“Any word?” Cammie asked.

 

“Not yet,” Stern replied. “We can go take a poke around the city today. It would be for the best, and Bloodcoin shouldn’t think anything of us doing it. I also want to drop a message off at the post.”

 

Cammie’s grief and anguish rose when he said there was no word, but she pushed them down. “Okay. Let’s—”

 

“Breakfast first,” Trish said gently. “It won’t do any good if we faint before we find him.”

 

Cammie gritted her teeth together, but couldn’t refute Trish. She jerked when Pawly’s head popped out from under the blanket. “Pawly…!” Exasperation and relief filled Cammie’s voice in that moment.

 

“Meow?”

 

Grabbing Pawly, Cammie squeezed the cat to her chest. “Thank you for last night, but please, no surprise wake-ups.”

 

“Meow...” That one had an edge of complaint, but not much.

 

Setting Pawly down, Cammie picked up the bowl of broth and her bread. “Nothing at all?”

 

“Not yet, but the sun is just barely rising. I’m sure Sarah will be here before too long to tell us what everyone found.”

 

“I had a thought,” Cyra said. “My dream was about a manor outside the city. Bloodcoin was all about power and money. Can those places be rented?”

 

Stern inhaled slowly. “He’d have no trouble getting a bound Vulk out of the city. The guards don’t check outgoing wagons... Hmm, that’s an idea. We can start there if Sarah doesn’t have anything.”

 

Cammie nodded, trying to hold her worry in check. “Okay.”

 

~*~*~

 

The sun was fully risen when there was a knock on the door. Stern was the first one to his feet, so he answered it.

 

“Sarah, come in.”

 

“Thanks,” Sarah said. She gave the others a sorrowful look, the dark circles around her eyes telling them that she hadn’t slept. “We couldn’t find any hints during our walks yesterday. Others are taking over so we can get some sleep. We’ve been keeping it as quiet as we can.”

 

“Thank you,” Stern said. “We appreciate you all doing what you can.”

 

“Not that it’s done much good,” Sarah sighed.

 

“But you’re helping,” Cammie said, getting up. “We’ll be checking things ourselves today, as it’d be right for us to do so.”

 

“Understood. I’ll let the others know. Are you going to bring in the guard?”

 

“Not yet,” Stern said. “Bloodcoin has corrupted guards before.”

 

Sarah nodded, then stepped farther into the room to address Cammie directly. “We’ll be heading back out as soon as we get a nap and some food.”

 

“Thank you,” Cammie said, choking up a little.

 

“We know how much your crew is doing,” Sarah replied softly. “If we didn’t help now, why should we think others would help us later? Walkers should stick together.”

 

Cammie closed the distance, hugging Sarah. “Thank you... All of you. Let them know that, please?”

 

Sarah patted Cammie on the back. “I will. Just trust in the Goddess to keep him safe.”

 

“I will, but I’ll trust in my crew a little bit more,” Cammie said as she stepped back. “Rest well.”

 

Sarah patted her shoulder, then left the room.

 

“Okay, here’s my idea,” Stern said. “We check with the people who would rent out the expensive properties. I’ll be the one to approach and ask, because they won’t be able to hide their responses from me.”

 

“It might tip our hand,” Trish said.

 

“If I feel that they’re in on it, we just apply pressure and, if needed, we’ll bring in the guards or Walkers to help,” Stern said. “For this, I need to go in my best clothes, not armor, so I’ll need one of you to bring it with us.”

 

“I’ll bring it,” Cyra said.

 

“Okay, let’s get ready,” Stern said.

 

~*~*~

 

It took them a little while to get their gear on again, and for Stern to pull out his best suit. Once they were ready, they left the inn. Trish paused to speak to the few helpers who were staying there.

 

Stern flagged down a guard as they walked down the street. “Sir. Question: who deals with renting manors?”

 

“A few people. Do you mean inside the walls, or outside?”

 

“Outside, preferably,” Stern replied, feeling the man’s unease. “I know that my being an irregular makes people nervous.”

 

The guard exhaled slowly. “Ah, yes. Sorry. You’ll want to see Garton. South three squares, then west two. Big building called Garton’s Exquisites.”

 

“Garton’s Exquisites?” Stern asked.

 

“He deals with… specialty undergarments,” the guard coughed. “For women.”

 

Stern blinked. He’d heard of such things before, but knew they were a rarity. “Ah, hmm... very well. Thank you. Who else? Just in case I can’t come to terms with Garton?”

 

“Kelick, right next to the south gate. He has a few, but also has a handful inside the city.”

 

“Very well. Thank you again,” Stern said, shaking hands with the guard before striding off.

 

One street over, Cyra, Trish, and Cammie joined him and he filled them in.

 

“Garton and Kelick,” Cammie nodded. “Okay.”

 

“Garton first,” Trish said. “It’s closer.”

 

“My thoughts, exactly,” Stern agreed.

 

The trek over to Garton’s wasn’t long. Stern walked straight into the shop, slowing when he did. Mannequins stood around the massive front room, showing off provocative attire.

 

“Good morning…” a jolly voice started, but it faded fast.

 

Stern turned to see a portly man losing his smile as fear washed over him. “Good morning, sir. I’m looking for a manor to rent for a few months,” Stern said.

 

The man gave him a hard look, but he was still afraid and apprehensive. “I do not have time for jokes.”

 

Stern pulled out a large gold coin, holding it up. “Jokes?”

 

The man smiled cheerfully. “Well, I do apologize, good sir. I do have a number of buildings that might suit your needs. We get wealthy travelers in who find that they’d rather stay outside the walls.”

 

“Exactly what I want,” Stern smiled as he approached Garton. “But have you rented to the rich merchant families? I can’t let my family name be lowered by staying in a place that our contemporaries like Bloodcoin would disdain.”

 

“Bloodcoin? Ah, the merchant family from Bloodstone,” Garton nodded. “My properties were too expensive for him. He went with another who has lesser properties.”

 

Stern managed to keep his mask in place. “Good, good. Wait… he’s in the city? I will have to go snub him. Do you know where?”

 

“I don’t, but he rented from Kelick,” Garton said. “A truly deplorable man. He has no understanding of station. He’ll rent to Walkers if they can pay for it.”

 

Stern’s eye twitched, but he laughed, making it seem like a wink, instead. “Walkers? Those poor souls?”

 

“Exactly. I never entered a single dungeon, but look at me. I created this whole shop from nothing.”

 

“Impressive,” Stern nodded. “Can I see one of these manors for rent? To verify it for myself.”

 

“I can easily do that. Would you be free in an hour? I have to arrange for someone to take over for me.”

 

“Of course. I’ll return in an hour,” Stern smiled. “Thank you.”

 

“No,” Garton laughed, “thank you. Knowing that you chose me over Kelick will keep me smiling all day.”

 

“I’ll return,” Stern said, shaking hands with the man as he put his gold away.

 

“I shall be ready upon the hour,” Garton called after him.

 

Stern walked right past the women, his chin up as if he were superior. Once he was around a corner, he paused and waited for them. “Okay, Kelick rented to Bloodcoin. Kelick and Garton are old foes for renting to the rich. Let me slip into an alley to put my armor on. As soon as I do, we go to the city hall.”

 

“City hall?” Cyra asked.

 

“They’ll have all the property records,” Trish said. “We’ll find out what he owns, then stick some stealthers on them to spy out which place it is?”

 

“Exactly,” Stern said. “Might take a few hours, but we’ll know without tipping our hand.”

 

Cammie exhaled slowly. “We’re coming, Brother.”

 

“Yes we are,” Stern said. “Come on, let’s go.”