Narlissa Quickhands, half-elf and master thief, waited in the common room of the tavern for the innkeeper to return. Eamonn had left to fetch supplies early in the morning but Narlissa guessed he would not mind her waiting alone in the inn. Reece was nowhere to be found and she wondered if he had wandered off with the pretty young blonde girl from the night before. All of which annoyed Narlissa slightly because as usual she had woken up horny and there was no one around to help her sate that desire. She drummed her fingers on the table impatiently, trying to ignore the throbbing in her magic cunt.
Then the door opened and a bald, slightly fat man of middle years strode in. Narlissa guessed he was the barkeep. He looked slightly surprised to see her but when she explained that she was a patron he smiled.
"You are here with Reece then? I saw him outside on the way in," he asked.
Her cunt flared up at the thought of Reece being close by but she ignored it. Narlissa knew the barkeep was really asking whether she had shared a room with Reece - no doubt to gauge how much gold he had made through room rentals - and although that was a lie she guessed it would be simpler than admitting she had actually fucked his son. "Yes."
"Excellent. It is not often we get a bard through this town."
Narlissa stood then, offering a hand. "I am Narlissa, sir, and I was wondering if you could help me."
"Oh?" the man said, striding over to the bar to place some things behind it. "What is it I can do?"
She paused, wondering whether she should say anything. If this man was in league with the ship's captain then he might lie to her. But she had nothing to lose at this point. So she carried on.
"I was wondering if you knew anything about a ship that may have passed through here yesterday. I am following it."
The innkeeper's face darkened and Narlissa prepared to run. When he spoke, however, she relaxed.
"That bastard," the barkeep hissed. "He took all my supplies and then fucked off before paying for them. I'll have his hide the next time the guard come through here." Then he glared at Narlissa and took a step forward. "Why are you asking about him? Are you with him?"
She held up her hands. "Not at all. I am following him because he stole from me, too. I was a passenger on his ship until he took something of value that belonged to me and threw me off the ship. I am trying to catch him."
"I'm sorry to hear that, miss. I'm also sorry to accuse you of anything," he said sympathetically.
Narlissa was not offended. She knew how annoying it was to have her treasure map stolen so she did not blame him for being angry too. "Think nothing of it. Such actions leave everyone in distress. I hope to bring him to justice but I do not know where that ship is going."
"I believe it's heading upriver to Hallowblossom, miss," the barkeep said.
"Hallowblossom?"
"Indeed. That's the name the farmers have given it anyway, I don't know what it was called originally."
Narlissa looked at him quizically. "How do you mean?"
"It's an ancient elven fort, miss, from back when the elves built towers. Almost completely fallen apart, of course, and there's no trace of the elves anymore. A small village is there now. Nice enough folk, but you wouldn't catch me going up that way. Too eerie."
Narlissa laughed inwardly. Humans often found elven ruins eerie, though she had no idea why. Then again, humans often found human ruins eerie too. She liked the isolation and solitude. The presence of undead in ruins was very, very rare.