The younger of the two frowned, "How do we know your not a enemy?""

The older man looked Uthar up and down. "Pass him on my responsibility."

The younger man glared hard at the old man as he opened the gate.

With a curt nod of gratitiude I strolled past them and looked at the map, unsure of what to do next. The ache in my bones grew every more fervrent as my fatigue gripped me further and I found myself wanting a strong drink. Moving to the closest person I could find; a small, slim young woman.

"Excuse me, is there a tavern or an Inn in this village?"

The woman turned and cast him a seducing look. She a wore revealing light green dress and her voice sounded sweet and smooth. "Sure darling, but wouldn’t you want to keep a lonely girl company instead?”

She walked towards him letting his vision take her figure in.

I pursed my lips for a moment in thought, she was very attractive, and the tight dress revealed a veluptious body. But I still required a strong drink after my close death experince.

"Maybe... Do you have ale?"

Laying her hand on Uthars arm she gently pulled him down one of the streets, until they stopped before a small building. "This is the Black Pig inn. Mark is the owner here, just tell him Jade sent you in and you shouldn't have any problems."

Pulling away Jade left down a side ally and quickly disappeared.

I was a little dispointed that she lef but yet my tone was not exactly inviting; I was too tired to flirt and play that game. I abled in to the 'Black Pig' and moved straight to the bartender. A few weary, suspicious eyes took in my sword as I told the bartender, who I guessed was 'Mark', and told him that 'Jade' had sent me. Mark had cracked several jokes about her and asked a few questions about my scars and 'Thral', my steel companion. Eventually though a customer came up to the bar and he had to leave and I was finally able to enjoy my drink in peace.

I moved over to a booth near close to the fire, took of my sword and placed on the table and I slowly punished my liver with the potent liqour.

After some time had passed, Mark moved over to the strange man, he got uncomfortably close to him has he whispered in his ear. "You here from the guild, or what?"

Taking a seat across from Uthar, Mark sat down avoiding Uthars eyes and keeping his gaze on Thral. "I've kept up with the payments, I've done everything your guild told me to do." Mark glanced up at Uthar for a moment before continuing in a subdued tone. "Are you here to kill me?"

I thought about it, I still didn't know what I was supposed to do here, maybe I was supposed to kill this man as repayment but I was not tempted to, this man had nothing on him that would benefit me or draw me closer to the vengence I sought. In the end I simply said;

"We'll see. If you prove yourself useful then I will not... but fail and the guild will have your head."

I had some tasks and some information that I needed, maybe this fool could help me in.

Mark nodded vigorously, "You got it."

Standing, Mark walked over a wall and moved a curtain, Uthar could briefly make out beer barrels and other such containers, it was probably the taverns storeroom. Shortly Mark came back with a little dusty flask.

Taking away Uthars beer, Mark set down the bottle. "Only the best for the guild, free of charge."

I raised an eyebrow and thanked him with a nod, "I need information," I said casually, "About a man, with enough money and associates to get his hands on a healing poultice, goatee, short black hair. Get back to me when you find him, this must be done in the silence, I don't want to hear of your work, because it'll mean others will have too. Understand?"

Mark smiled. "A man fitting that description checked in about three hours ago, he's in room 3, up the stairs and to the left."

I raised an eyebrow and took my new drink by the neck;

"Thank you, this will go a long way in assisting your reputation within the guild."

I slid out of the booth, grabbing my sword as I did so and slipping it into the sheath I moved upstairs, finding the third room, I took a breath and knocked heavily on the wooden door and wonders what I was doing here.

Dryn was studying some schematics of a castle when he heard a sharp knock on the door. Standing with a sigh, he carefully rolled the parchment up and slid it into his belt pouch.

Moving over to a window he undid the latch and half readied himself to leap out the window if need be. “Come.” Was his short reply.

I tensed up slightly, and readied myself. Pushing the door open I moved in to the room. The man that had saved my life stood near a window. I said nothing as I pulled out the map I had found and tossed it towards him. I kept an eye on him as I surveyed the room looking for potential danger.

When the door opened Dryn was relieved to see the stranger from the woods.
When the man tossed the parchment towards him, Dryn caught it with ease.

Looking the man in the eyes, Dryn smiled. "So know that you have found me, what do you intend to do?"