Chapter 1 The meeting in the Tavern
It's annoying, Amanda thought as she slipped in to the Harpy Inn, mindful of the other customers there, that I always end up with most boring jobs.
She causally widen the opening of her cloak to show the dagger sheathed on her belt as a warning to the more aggressive customers, particularly to the Maniors—a group of nasty beings who rather liked anything to do with violence—that stood not too far and were watching the front entrance with their yellow eyes as soon as it opened.
The statement was clear, she was not easy prey, nevertheless Amanda sunk into the shadows as a precaution. One wouldn't know if Maniors would take up the challenge instead of heeding it. It was her luck that the group turned back amongst themselves, in what seemed like an argument.
Amanda let out a breath she was holding, okay maybe not so boring jobs.
She scanned the inn, dim, shabby but known for its renown drink and especially bloody brawls it was full to the brim. She traveled deeper into the facility staying close to the walls where the shadows were long, and sidestepping other customers as she continued her survey of the crowd.
A loud bang caught her attention and along with it most of the crowd's. Amanda let out a small curse and a deep sigh when she saw who it was; she felt a sense of hope that it wasn't who she thought it was. But alas as she urged herself closer to the beginnings of a rather violent fight it was the man—well boy, whom she was looking for: Caleb Trinker, a rather loud, somewhat overconfident, shrewd boy of late teens.
Amanda took out a crumpled note from her breast pocket reading it over again just to make sure it was the guy that she was sent to find and bring back to headquarters. She sighed again, all that research and tracking paid off but Amanda felt as if her efforts were wasted and unneeded.
"Damn it." She breathed when she finally noticed who the boy was fighting against "A Manior of all creatures. I can't wait to take down a peg or two or three of his."
She studied the opponent, a rather fierce female with bulging muscles indicating her warrior class, sloping forehead, pale scars crisscrossing to and fro, and stout body.
She's a tough one, not likely to be beaten in a few hits.
By now the two had already drawn out their daggers and bets were taking place off to one side by a shadowy looking man.
Amanda frowned, was it always like this. She wasn't one to go in to places such as these, where fights were known far and wide. I think I'll rather choose a quiet drinking place than this.
A small crowded half circle formed and grew larger as the two fought it out. Chairs and tables broke but the owner who sat, short and stumpy like, at the bar gave the eye once then ignored them quite obviously used to these.
She headed to the man issuing the bets; there was a wild look about him as she neared, tousled wild brown locks and sharp hazel eyes.
"Excuse me," she said when she was close enough for him to hear her without yelling.
"What?" he grunted deep and husky annoyed by her sudden interruption, but he didn't glance her way.
"Do you happen to know a Caleb?"
"Why, lady I know many a Caleb, you gots to be specific." He wrote down a bet in a black notebook.
"Trinker, a Caleb Trinker." Amanda refused to let out any type of annoyance in her tone, it was light and innocent.
The man looked at her now before giving a sharp bark that all last minute bets were to be said quickly and finalized. When he was done he pocketed the book with a content slap to it, bide her to follow him to a table then folded his arms together.
"Aye I know of a Caleb Trinker," he said at last taking a cup of ale from a passerby waiter. "but whats a pretty miss like you want to do with him?"
Amanda let out a smile her brain formulating a plan, a story. "We'll you see I'm just a dancer and during my travels I've heard of Caleb Trinker. He's very well known, you know especially in my country. Is it true that he has defeat demons before? What about meeting the king himself? How did that happen? I heard he naught but nineteen. So young for one to meet so many hardships."
Her eyes were alight.
The man cocked his head placing an elbow on the table and hand on chin watching her. Amanda waited for his answer patiently looking back to the fight which was blocked by the cheerful drunken crowd.
"Perhaps," he said at last "have you seen him before?"
Amanda blinked turning back to him she smiled flushing. "Perhaps, rather I believe he is someone I know from my childhood, and recently I heard he's around this area as curious as I am, I searched for him. I was told to look for a man of your description to learn more about his whereabouts."
Amanda had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from sprouting more lies, but whatever she had said the man approved.
He grinned baring his teeth and beckoned her closer with a finger.
She leaned forward eagerly. "Yes? Do you know?"
He nodded. "Aye, I sure do. In fact I'll let you meet him but for a price."
"Oh really! Please do, what sort of price?"
He gave her a leer "I'll sort that out later."
She blushed and fluttered her eyes shyly. "Of course. But I'm afraid I don't know your name."
"John Picks, and yourself beautiful?" He gave a charming smile.
Amanda returned the smile. "Amelia Roe, delighted to meet you Mr. Picks."
"Call me John."
"Of course, I expect the same John." She batted her eyelashes laying on the charm like thick butter.
"Meet me by the town's fountain an hour after dark."
Amanda slowly stood up clenching her cloak tighter as if sensing the end of the conversation.
"Of course, John. I'll meet you and hopefully Caleb too. If it is him." She gave a little nod to him and left the inn not before glancing at the fight, the Manior was winning.
Amanda gave herself a round of applauds for her acting. Soon, I will finally have you within my grasp, and then I can finally go home. Amanda dodged a flying splinter of wood and escaped safely out the door.
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