Dame Sara Illou, Knight of the Land, strode into the warehouse district with Jayson. It was already mid-afternoon and the place was packed with people. The crowds parted for a member of the City Watch and a Knight of the Land, however, but Sara hoped they did not draw too much attention.
Yet she could do nothing about that now. Instead she walked briskly on, following Jayson's lead until he stopped outside a rather run down building, part of a row of six side-by-side. He looked around, then knocked on the door. After a few moments there was the scraping of a bar being lifted and the door opened. An elderly man eyed them suspiciously for a while before finally waving them in.
Jayson stepped through and Sara followed, and before she knew it they were climbing a set of stairs to the upper floor of the building. She wondered where she was being led.
At the top of the stairs was a corridor and Sara realised that it ran the length of all the buildings. Clearly these were designed to be more luxurious and secure than they seemed on the outside. Jayson knocked on one door and they waited. A lock unclicked and then the door was opened. Jayson stepped through and Sara followed, her eyes opening wide at what she saw.
It was a small abode but a very pleasant one, which surprised her given how the building looked on the outside. Everything was neat and clean and there was a certain amount of ornamentation that spoke of the wealth of its owner. Clearly whoever lived here did well enough for themselves even if they weren't quite rich.
"It is good to see you again, Jayson," said a smooth voice behind her. "And who is your friend?"
Sara turned to the source of the voice and almost gasped. An incredibly handsome man smiled pleasantly back at her, his medium-length brown hair worn loose but for two braids falling by his temples. Green eyes regarded her warmly and he was probably about 5'9", and lithely built. Yet it was his pointed ears that drew Sara's attention. They were not large enough to mark him out as an elf, so that made him a half-elf. He wore a simple brown tunic and tan pants with black boots.
Jayson nodded at the half-elf and smiled. "And it is good to see you too, Torvil." He gestured at Sara. "This is Dame Sara, a foreign knight here to help a visiting noble in this city. Sara, this is Torvil, my contact and esteemed friend here in the warehouse district."
Sara noticed Torvil's eyes appreciatively taking in her figure. She did not mind though - in fact her magic cunt flared at the look in his eyes. Then he smiled at her. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Dame Sara. Forgive me for being so forward, but would you perhaps be looking for a sword?"
Sara gasped. "Yes, I am. How did you know?"
Torvil grinned and spread his palms wide. "Information is my business, my lady. I know a noblewoman from our allies to the south has lost a sword, and I can tell you herald from the same country. It is not hard to marry the two together. And why else would such a beautiful woman visit my abode?"
"Can you help us?" Jayson asked, sighing. "I must return to the barracks promptly, so I don't have time to watch you flirting with a knight, Torvil."
Torvil smiled cheekily. "I'm not flirting, Jayson. I'll save that for when you've gone." He grinned at Sara. "More seriously, I do know where your sword is. It is being held by a group of smugglers here in the warehouse district. The most dangerous, powerful and malicious of all the smugglers, in fact."
Sara grimaced. That was not the news she wanted. "Can it be reclaimed?"
"I think it probably can, yes. But it will be risky."
"I'm a Knight of the Land. I can handle risk," Sara smiled. "What do you need me to do?"
Torvil strode past her to the window, staring out. "The only way to get into the warehouse is to be invited in. The doors are otherwise kept locked. On top of that, the plundered wares are kept in a storeroom rigged with oil and flame. Even if someone could break past the locks, the stolen goods would be destroyed before they could save them."
Jayson whistled. "A dangerous set up indeed. Do you need my help?"
"I do not think so," Torvil said. "To get Sara inside will require me taking her to meet the captain of the smuggling group, and convincing him to let her join. You will not be able to accompany us, Jayson. I suggest you return to the barracks, so I will know where to find you if I must."
"Is that alright with you, Sara?" Jayson said.
