Renalt Selling the Spoils in Hetha

Renalt makes his way to their room. Heading over to a corner, he quickly draws up a note, signed with the seal of some local friends he made, and breaks the bread into large chunks. He carefully places the note on the outer sill of their window, then adds the chunks of bread for any wanderers by. Normally, he would be eating himself as well, but Venko had fed him quite well at the circus. And so rather than sharing a meal with the locals, he simply got a meal for them and made it seem shared. A bit underhanded, he is aware, but in fairness the sharing element is key for those who would wish to take it to not fear taking it. A hold over from days past when those with ill intent might give out food that had gone bad, to cull the less desirable population without appearing to do so. He does keep for himself one of the chunks of bread, both so that clever rogues would not see a full loaf on the sill, and so that he might himself have a midnight snack if so needed. He is briefly tempted to make yet another offering to the goddess, but then he remembers a warning from long past. ‘To placate death with an offering is good, but it does draw her gaze to you. Too frequently, and she might grow curious, rather than content.’ So, he does not ritually burn any more food today.

Ren lies down on the single, large bed. It is large enough to fit all five of them, albeit not particularly comfortably so. That said, with Den seeming to wish to string up hammocks instead, it is a bit better. Den, as he sets up, looks at Ren. “What’s the plan for the morn?”

Renalt smiles. “Any who wish to accompany shall be arising with the sun. First we shall gather the box of silks and the barrels of booze, then taking a cart we will visit with a cousin of a friend of mine, Wachelle. She runs a quaint little operation that buys goods from travellers. From there we shalt head to Iscorrim of the Vine, a lovely brewer who makes effective but discounted potions and knows some fascinating people I met yesterday. Finally we shall visit a circus run by the Fantabulous Venko, the gentleman who kindly lent me that bear, as his circus is a brilliant front for some arms dealers.”

Sitting up from the other side of Felazo, Sister Hilan marvels, “You did all that in a single afternoon?”

Renalt shrugs. “In all fairness, I knew there was a cousin of the Helsonette family somewhere. It was just a matter of finding him. And while I was looking, I did happen upon an advert for the Fantabulous Venko’s Circus of Charms, and I hath known of Venko for quite some time. So all I truly had to do was learn of and meet the lovely Iscorrim.”

Lying down on the bed, Felazo chimes in, “That is still impressive.”

Den climbs into his makeshift hammock. “Not particularly. That is what he does.” Then, after a pause, he adds, “THe real question is, in that process, how many enemies did you make for the rest of us?”

Renalt laughs. He lets the laughter sit, as it was a good joking question, but he does answer. “One. Well, technically two, but one of them is not so much an enemy as a jiltee, so he should not care about the rest of you.”

Denlo laughs at his friend’s answer. After the laugh, Renalt does ask one final question. “So, who among you wisheth to bargain through the city with me this coming morn?”

Felazo, still lying down with his eyes closed, shakes his head. “I’m going to be readying the Ekzokia for departure.”

Denlo adds, “I can help load up, but someone should help the captain.”

Sister Hilan shakes her head. “I can aid Felazo in his requirements, you should keep Ren safe. In the circles he is to be travelling, your outfit and demeanor is likely to dissuade attacks better than mine.”

Renalt nods. “Very well,” he says, “And what of you, hushed huntress?”

“Will answering get you to be hushed as well?” Sari replies. Much like Felazo, she is trying her best to relax and get to sleep, but where Felazo seems to be relaxed, she is not. If Ren had to venture a guess, this bed is not up to the former noble’s standards for what a bed ought to be. Understandable, the bed itself feels stiff and poorly maintained.

“Mayhaps,” Renalt can’t help but be obnoxious in reply.

Sari sighs, but does answer. “I will go with you, to make certain things run smoothly.”

It takes a bit longer for them to actually fall asleep. Renalt knows he should be planning the coming day, or the specific prices, but his mind keeps turning to the song. He cannot help it, for the song being incomplete as it is feels wrong, and so trying to turn the song in his mind to see a truer form is natural. But, at the same time, he does know the song is incomplete because the story is incomplete. He needs to see more of the tale to tell it truly. And yet, his mind cannot help but turn the song over and over again, trying to complete an uncompletable task.

The sun peeks in through the east facing window, stirring Renalt awake from his sleep. Checking the sill, the food is gone, and in its place sits a small wooden coin. Not great news, but seeing as they were already intending to leave this afternoon, not too great a problem. He would likely have to warn Venko to move on from this town, else risk losing the trust of their mutual ally. Taking the coin and pocketing it before anyone else sees, he burns the letter. The fire awakens Sari, who sits up rapidly.

“What are you burning?” she asks.

Ren replies, “Apologies, but the letter left to dissuade theft has no more use on the sill, so this humble bard figured that a small flame might burn away the paper without awakening anyone who still needs such rest.”

Sari shakes her head, then stands up, “Well, we need to head out anyways.”

Ren nods, and turns to leave. It’s only then that he notices Denlo is not in the makeshift hammock. He looks, takes it in, and realizes the Elfi’ika is likely down in the tavern eating breakfast. Waiting for them. “Right you are, sagacious Sari,” Renalt replies as he heads out. She takes a moment longer before following.

Sure enough, sitting at a table with breakfast for all five of them, is Denlo. “You’re late,” he coldly informs them as he is already halfway through his meal.

“Apologies, Den,” Renalt offers, “I did not sleep as well as I ought to have. Thoughts twirled in my head far longer than proper.”

Sari comes down the stairs, sees the food, and seats herself. “Thank you. I had to awaken the others before we left,” she says as she starts to eat.

Ren takes a few bites, but mostly slides his breakfast into pouches on his belts, for future snacking. Denlo was right, after all, if they truly are to leave before noontime, they ought set out sooner than later. Halfway through scarfing down her meal, Sari notices that Denlo and Renalt have both finished their own, and so folding it into a napkin, she says, “Then we’re off?”

Sister Hilan and Felazo both come down the stairs as Denlo nods quietly. They take the trio’s place at the breakfast spread. Unlike Denlo, Renalt, and Alessari, Felazo and Sister Hilan have a less packed schedule. More labor, likely, but fewer items on the agenda and much less travel.

It did not take them too much time to load up the cart with the boxes and barrels, and Ren makes certain to bring the silver with them as well, just in case it proves necessary. Sari takes up position in the back, bow out and ready, as Renalt and Den take the seats driving the cart. Den looks at Ren. “Are we good?”

Ren looks at Den confused. “What?” he asks.

Den explains. “Saw the coin, seemed to be a message.”

Of course his criminal friend would recognize a message when he saw it, Renalt muses. “Should be. Assuming we leave close to on time.”

“How bad?”

“Remember when we first did meet, before the incident in the Kinslums? We be not the targets, of course, and yet…”

He nods. Renalt knows that Denlo realizes what he’s actually saying. He’s telling his old travelling companion not to do anything that causes trouble that might escalate the quiet search going on into a checkpoint scenario. Den nods. “Understood,” he says, returning to his standard cold disposition.

They head over to Wachelle’s shop, a small washhouse that smells of the work they claim to do. Sari keeps on the cart as Denlo and Renalt enter. After some polite but not forceful negotiation, Ren sells the silk and alcohol. Renalt feels like he might be able to push her further, but it is far more important to keep the Helsonettes happy and willing to work with him than it is to earn money in the present, especially if the sale of goods of questionable or dubious origin is going to become a common occurrence.

From there, they take the cart to the brewhaus of Iscorrim. Sari joins Ren as an expert in herbs, leaving Denlo to tend the cart. The full bearded dwarf man is much more willing to negotiate his prices and they manage to get a fairly good deal, especially with the huntress calling out the lovely Iscorrim on some more questionable additives for what they would, or more importantly would certainly not, do.

And finally, they take the cart out of town, to visit a circus. Several real visitors to the circus are milling about, enjoying the entertainment. The wild, rare animals roaming free around the grounds, the performers conning the people out of their money in an entertaining enough way that no one minds. And, ignoring them, Ren heads to Venko’s tent, around back of the place. As the cart approaches, the massive form of Venko pushes his way outside to greet Ren. “Old friend,” Venko states, as the cart approaches. Denlo and Renalt slide off of the cart. Venko’s wellbuilt ork form stands about as tall as Denlo and broader still. He takes note of the Elfi’ika, and the raidcaptian’s blade sitting on the Elfi’ika’s belt, but says nothing about it. Instead, he cocks his head and a massive five headed snake exits from a nearby tent and coils around Venko. “So, to business then?”

“In a moment,” Renalt says, “But might you and I have an aside, if you mind not?”

Venko nods and, leaving the Hydra behind to continue its staring contest with Denlo, he leads Renalt into the tent. Unlike the rest of the circus, Venko’s tent is clearly that of a weaponscrafter. “What is it you wish to tell me?” he asks flatly.

“I did receive some troubling news,” Ren begins, pulling the coin from his pocket and keeping it in his palm. “And though I be certain you and your extensive connections to friends understand, I figured it was warranted to warn you just on the off chance news has yet to reach out this far.”

Venko waits, staring Ren down. Ren twists his wrist, pulling the wooden coin out from his palm and holding it between two fingers. Venko stares at it, thinks, then asks, “How certain?”

“My being present and safe would be in the best interests of mine source,” Ren replies honestly. After all, those that needed the meal were those that offered the coin. And for those that needed it, my providing it freely is generally preferable to whatever else they might have to endure for it.

“Then I suppose we shall have to strike tonight. Thanks,” Venko offers, then quickly warns Ren, “Not getting you a discount, but thanks.”

Renalt smiles. “Of course not. I would not expect a discount, ‘twould be foolhardy to think such thoughts.” Then, his voice gets darker as he adds, “No, I simply would hope this means, whenever we may meet, you are open for pleasant and equitable business. No matter the circumstance.”