Myths of Power

Eventually, the three catch up to each other in a small clearing, some minutes later.

"Look," Joseph points ahead of them. "Do you see those people?"

Celine peers ahead, straining to see what Joseph was looking at. "Ya, barely. What about them?"

"That's the docks. They must be some fishermen heading for the boats. It's almost dawn. The sun will be rising behind us by the time we get there so that can help us with our cover."

Celine continues to scratch. "Can we just get there so I can do something about this. I'm going crazy!"

Leland leans over her shoulder. "Must be fleas."

"I've never had them, and never will. The human I took this from must have had something."

Leland steps back quickly.

"Okay you two. Let's get going. and keep things as human as...on second thought, Celine, just keep quiet and follow my lead."

The port town of Sandry was built up from a small fishing village and, other than a fair bit of expansion, hadn't changed all that much. The townsmen set off early in the morning in their fishing boats and came back late at night. During the day, the market, which was set up close to the docks ended up being a gathering place for dock workers, wives, children and others whom most would call, "unreputable".

It was these others that were coming and going from a dock tavern by the name of 'The Maiden's Anchor'. A rather seedy little hole whose patrons consisted mostly of drunkards, thieves, women of ill repute and, most importantly, traders. Traders of various goods, notably not their own, silks, weapons, spices, the occasional slave, and perhaps the most valuable and rare of all... Information.

As Joseph and Celine enter the tavern doorway, a dozen or so heads turn and look at them with cautious stares. As Leland fills the doorway they all, quickly, stare back at their drinks.

"Celine, Leland? You two stay outside."He hands a small purse over to Celine. "Here. Look through the market and get something to stop that scratching. Leland, you make sure she doesn't start any trouble."

Celine grabs the purse. "You're no fun, do you know that?" They turn and start into the market.

Joseph heads into the tavern and mumbles under his breath. "And you're just a barrel of monkeys, Celine."

"I heard that!"

Joseph winces and heads to the barkeep.

He tosses a coin onto the counter. "Ale."

The old man behind the counter was rough and well aged. He had obviously seen more than his share of war and strife. A face full of small scars, only half of a right ear and missing a few fingers on each hand. Joseph thought to himself how this human could hold a drink, let alone serve one.

The barkeep reaches down, grabs a dirty tankard and fills it with a putrid yellow ale that Joseph could smell, even with a human nose, half a league away. "Yer new 'round 'ere?"

Joseph ignores the question. "I'm looking for information."

The barkeep starts to pick up the coin and Joseph grabs his hand. "Special information..."

The old man pulls his hand out of Josephs grasp. "Not sure I can helps you there, mister!"

Joseph hears chairs scrapping against the half rotted wooden floor.

He readies himself for a fight and turns to see that all the patrons have moved aside. From a darkened corner a voice speaks.

"Joseph Wildmane...It's been a long time..."