VII

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Arc VII Chapter 10

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2nd Aqua Solar XI AAC 753

"..." Felix ceased his steps, coming to a sudden halt in the middle of the street, his hand gripping his heavy fur coat, pulling it tighter. The night was late and midnight had already passed. He paused, his eyes gazing at the building in front of him, made of wood, brick, and mortar, and the wooden sign before him. A grown stag reared his head, proudly displaying his antlers. "... ... ..." The Merry Hart ... This had to be the place ...

If Felix knew one thing, then that he had never been a particularly sociable person. Quite the contrary. People ... Crowds ... He loathed them as long as he was able to remember. The inexplicable discomfort ... The uneasiness ... The distress around them ... They always put him on ... edge. His mother said so. His father said so. His siblings. His relatives. Even his trusted retainers. At least, before they were all murdered, slaughtered, butchered by the Novrhelians and their loyal dogs.

That being said, it was an unsavoury matter, but sometimes the wishes of his liege led him to visit the more debauched places of society, such as taverns.

Felix entered the jovial establishment, stepping inside. The sound of music greeted him. The rhythm of clapping and stomping, accompanied by the chords of lutes and flutes. The entire place brimmed with folk, the tables packed full wherever his eyes fell.

"What shall we drink~♩,

Eight days long~♩

What shall we drink~♩,

What a thirst~♩

What shall we drink~♩,

Eight days long~♩

What shall we drink~♩,

What a thirst~♩

Nah~ Nana~ Naah~ Naaah~

Nana~ Nah~

Nah~ Nana~ Naah~ Naaah~

Nana~ Naaah~"

The heavy smoke of herbs filled the room, thick like fog, clouding vision and senses alike. The light of candles and crystal powder flickered, casting the shadows wide across the wooden boards. The strong smell of alcohol was in the air, always in plentiful supply in these lands where civilisation thrived. Ale, beer, wine, cider, and a lot of singed meat together with roasted potatoes. Intoxicated and inebriated as they were, people were laughing, cheering, shouting, singing, gambling, cursing, arguing. All while mugs slammed, dice rolled, and cards were played.

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"We'll drink together~♩,

Eight days long~♩

We'll drink together~♩,

Not alone~♩

We'll drink together~♩,

Eight days long~♩

We'll drink together~♩,

Not alone~♩

Nah~ Nana~ Naah~ Naaah~

Nana~ Nah~

Nah~ Nana~ Naah~ Naaah~

Nana~ Naaah~"

This was why he hated these places ... Regardless of where, people were everywhere the same.

"..." Felix frowned, his lips curling in disgust until a waitress caught his eyes, young, exceedingly well developed for her age, and with a pretty face. Their gazes met. The girl smiled at him from afar, skilfully, he might add.

Her leather bodice was tight and her skirt awfully short even for the low moral standards governing the world of the tavern business. Her blonde hair was loose and undone. Her blue eyes invited him, with her considerably ample bosom pressed against her cups and on open display, more than was strictly necessary, but certainly with the desired business promoting effect.

"We'll toil together~♩,

Eight days long~♩

We'll toil together~♩,

Lend a hand~♩

We'll toil together~♩,

Eight days long~♩

We'll toil together~♩,

Lend a hand~♩

Nah~ Nana~ Naah~ Naaah~

Nana~ Nah~

Nah~ Nana~ Naah~ Naaah~

Nana~ Naaah~"

"We'll stand together~♩,

Eight days long~♩

We'll stand together~♩,

Not alone~♩

We'll stand together~♩,

Eight days long~♩

We'll stand together~♩,

Not alone~♩

Nah~ Nana~ Naah~ Naaah~

Nana~ Nah~

Nah~ Nana~ Naah~ Naaah~

Nana~ Naaah~"

The girl in question approached him, her eyes and smile warm. "Look what we've got here~. How can I help ya?"

"..." Felix's gaze lingered briefly on her voluptuous arguments, more than strictly necessary and more than common courtesy. He looked up. "I was told that I am being expected. Here I am."

The waitress maintained her smile, studying his attire and probably primarily his purse. "Ya're a noble, ain't ya?" The girl kept her voice noticeably low, quickly grasping the implications of his presence. A smart girl, for sure.

"..." Felix neither confirmed, nor denied. He merely nodded.

The girl paused for a moment. "Who're ya looking for? Ya ain't the first guy today."

"..." Felix understood. This was her cue. Of course, the man would cover his tracks. Felix leaned closer, his hand pushing her hair aside, his head inclined, his lips whispering in her ears. "Sicut nox silentes." And silent like the night, they were. The effect of his words was instant.

The poor girl froze, a cold shiver running down her spine. Her smile vanished from her eyes, replaced with fear, dread, terror. And yet, she maintained her professional mask, not allowing her emotions to slip.

The girl looked at him with apprehension, the uneasiness written all across her face. "Follow me", she whispered, beckoning him to follow her before brusquely turning on her heel.

Felix followed her, past tables and chairs, stepping over an appreciable number of drunkards lying on the floor and their vomit in the process. They walked up the stairs, around the corners, down a series of corridors, venturing deeper and deeper into the building until they reached a room. The door to it was closed, made of heavy oak. Unsurprisingly, the advantages of a more private setting were appreciated.

The second they arrived, the girl accompanying him hastily left. The waitress stormed off without speaking a single word. It was probably for the best, though. The less she knew, the better for her life and health. Loose lips were ill seen in this line of business. They did not tend to live for long.

Felix entered, closing the door behind him. The room turned out to be completely empty, except for a single battered table in the corner. A man was sitting there, reading his newspaper, a full mug of beer next to him on the table. The man reacted now that he had arrived, putting aside his paper. Their gazes met across the room. His face was aged, his hair and beard already grizzled. His blue eyes glinted with cunning and a healthy dose of subterfuge, which was probably mandatory in his profession. He was the one whom they were looking for.

The man regarded him with considerable caution. "Your face ... You're new ... I don't think we've met before, have we?"

His head inclined, his arm bent, Felix offered a slight bow, introducing himself, albeit common courtesy was most probably wasted on him and his ilk. "Lord Felix, my name, I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

"..." The spymaster scrutinised him from hair to toe. His hand reached for his beer. "Eszett. Spymaster extraordinaire."

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