Faefalling (working title)

17- I return to civilisation and find it still sucks

I rolled my eyes within the confines of my hood. "Your parents are well off, aren't they?"

He scrunched his brow. "They're councillors to the king... but... what's that got to do with it?"

"Nothing. Just polite observation."

He was silent for a few moments, staring at me. "Are you not loyal to Prince Daemon?" A flash of shock crossed his face. "Are you loyal to Scathliath?"

I leaned back in the wooden chair. "Neither. I'm a bounty hunter, lad. Not loyal to anyone or anything."

"A bounty hunter, eh?" a new voice piped in.

Another fae broke off from the group of soldiers and made his way to the table. A captain, telling from the stripes on his arm. A droplet of sweat rolled under my chin as he pulled up a seat opposite me.

"We've had a whole bunch of your type flocking in. None've made any progress in catching the basterd. I bet even Fionn here could find him quicker than you folk, if he was given the chance." He slapped an arm around the young boy with a laugh. Fionn grinned. The captain's wandering eyes fell upon the forgotten piece of paper at my fingertips. "What's that you've got there?" he asked.

I hesitated, debating whether holding the information back would get me arrested or not. I gave in as his expression turned sour. He snatched the flimsy note out of my fingers with a smile, yet his face went blank as he studied what was now in his hands, head snapping back to mine.

"Where'd you get this?" His tone was frantic.

Fionn pointed to the table across from us. "They gave it to..." the words died in his throat.

I almost sagged in relief. Agaveah and Lazuli had taken their chance to scram.

"There were two women there just a moment ago," Fionn muttered.

The captain nodded, eyes only leaving my shadowed visage for an instant to look around for the perpetrators. Finding no one, he turned his inspection back to me. Suspicion marred his features.

"These are very hard to come by. You've arrived only today and somehow an invitation has already found you..."

I nodded, though it was hardly a question.

"Well, you must be special if they've agreed to see you." He handed me back the card. "You be careful when you go down there. Cutthroats and thieves, the lot of 'em. And take care not to lose that note."

He got up, dragging Fionn with him. I waited a moment as they turned away, wondering how far I could push my luck.

"You wouldn't happen to know the way to this Samh Corner, would you, captain?"

A good many more patrons had entered the tavern, and I had to raise my voice to be heard over all the merrymaking. Everything hushed when I named my destination. The captain stopped dead in his tracks.

"Of course. Anything to help catch the Scathlian maggot. Fionn and I would happily escort you."

I could tell by the astonishment on Fionn's face that the captain was not usually so kind. As long as he got me where I wanted to go, whatever he was scheming could be dealt with later on.

"Olright then, let's get going, shall we?" I said as I rose.

A couple of the other Deaintinn soldiers stood as well, aiming to join us, but the captain waved them off. "We'll be back in under an hour, lads. You hang around here and be back to the barracks by sundown for night shifts."

They all grumbled at the orders, but turned back to their third round of drinks. The captain nodded at me.

As soon as I left the establishment, Agaveah and Lazuli emerged from a small alleyway opposite the tavern. I shook my head, and waved them into the shadows just as Fionn and the captain came out behind me.