After two months of searching
It's been over two months since I saw her or touched her. Not that much more than that ever since I saw my sister. Ever since I sent Patricia and her son Jacob to stay with them, hopefully they are still safe. I went crazy thinking about them. I sent letters, but only one reached me back, saying the following:
Your friend is safe. You better explain it when you get back.
I fucking ached to be around something that I knew, something familiar. The dusty bar that I was currently sitting at was nothing but a stranger.
It was loud, and there were plenty of patrons more than willing to make a ruckus of the place. But no one disturbed me besides the woman who kept sitting on my lap, and I kept sending her away.
I've been looking for someone to help me narrow the search. Apparently, "the merchant," a sea captain who has made a name for himself, has been gone for the last two months ever since the war broke out.
And I was meeting the guy who supposedly knew where he was. I know it's a long shot, but this is what I have resorted into.
People have been saying that he's a dangerous man who has been profiting from the war, selling weapons to both sides, and more than that, he could get anything you want, including information about absolutely anything.
Which I desperately need. I have searched high and low for Helena, but it's been extremely hard considering two very important facts:
One, my girl knew how to hide. Helena is a smart woman. She wouldn't drape around calling herself the princess. She would hide pretty damn well if she knew she was safe. And two, I could not search for the princess for fear of revealing her identity. Soon enough after I left, I realized that bounties have been offered up all over the land, not just for me but for Helena too. They've been searching for us.
Every time that I went searching for her among bounty hunters or authorities or even pirates, I saw wanted posters.
That reminded me to hide under my cloak better. I dyed my hair into a darker shade, hiding my hazelnut hair.
Throughout this journey, I've heard all sorts of rumors about the crazy jester that kidnapped Majesty the queen. The butcher looking for her, to add her corpse to his already high pile of dead massacred bodies. They say that he keeps some of the parts on display. I also heard of his rule of tyranny back in Malp. He's trying to establish a stronghold there, and I heard chatter that he's been turning the castle up and down looking for something.
I have no idea what he's looking for, and I honestly am grateful that I don't know. I have enough trouble as it is, but it does prick some deep side of me that is curious.
What could be important enough that he would kill that many people over? And more importantly than that, why hasn't he found it yet?
Someone moved beside me to sit. The movement was so jaw-droppingly shocking to me that I fucking jumped from my seat; I really needed to relax.
"Is the seat taken?"
I shook my head, allowing him to grab the chair.
I crinkled my eyes, giving him a once-over. He was younger than me and clearly out of his element; the uniform screamed, navy man.
Sailor?
I could only assume.
He sat right in front of me, narrowing his eyes at me. He was trying to get that stiff position that the army seems to instill in its soldiers, but his clearly green slouching gave him off. I kept my laugh in, asking, "Are you the man I'm looking for?"
That got his attention because his slouching position turned into steel.
"You're looking for the sea merchant?"
I kept features blank. I smirked. "I'm looking for something, and I could trade for information." I could not. Supplies ran out weeks ago, and I had to resort to stealing. I was going to figure out that part later when I knew where Helena was.
"I would need some guarantee," a greedy glint as shown in his eyes, and I could not keep the expression from my face because I just had to roll my eyes.
I whipped out my dagger, sticking it into the wood of the table. His eyes widened as soon as he started getting out of his chair and moving to run. I grabbed hold of his hand, holding it against my knife. "Now you see that's not very nice," I chastised the young lad.
I didn't care that he was just a kid or that he was probably just a greedy fucker who wanted money for a pint; I was so fucking tired.
He tried to fight me, but I was stronger and older than this one. I've been fighting more than my fair share of merchants and mercenaries and thieves for the last few weeks. This idiot was maybe the stupidest of the bunch. "You wouldn't want me to stop being nice." I dangle the knife in front of his finger, moving towards the table down as if cutting it off.
Not even moving yet to draw blood, he yelps, "Please don't. I'll tell you everything."
Just to make sure that he understood the rules. I hung on one breath moving the knife away, then drew it back into my holster.
He drew a full breath, getting some color back in his cheeks.
Now that he seemed composed, he looked scared.
I guess that's why I am now the scary guy.
He stammered, "usually hangs out at the wench's pub. He always wears a mask and a wind cloak that covers his entire body so he'll be easy to spot in a crowd, but be careful; he's a dangerous folk."
I slightly turned and tilted my head, wondering if he's trying to give me an honest warning or just being a dick. It still seems shook up, but it had that strange fear that people talked about—the butcher or the killing rampage he was on, this man. clearly has a reputation, if not like the butcher, then more.
I stood up, grinning. I also noticing that he turned into a brick when I tilted my head towards him, handing him over a few coppers to order a pint of ale for him. I walk away looking for the man.