Stathis left Hakara to her wardings, stepping out into the street. Without armour, but still with her sword, she started to explore, trying to find the Crippled King. The locals gave her searching looks, turning away without talking to her, distrustful of outsiders. Telling the difference between ‘alleyways’ and ‘roads’ was all but impossible, paths narrowing or widening without any obvious reason, the city built without any plan or order, old buildings absorbed and built over by newer ones, brick, stone, wood and mud all merging together. It looked like a fire, some patches of stone seeming melted, although it must have been a good few years ago.

She hadn’t got far when a voice hissed at her from a nearby alleyway, one of the omnipresent beggars gesturing her over. Stathis kept a hand on her belt pouch, other on her sword, just in case, as they spoke. ‘A missy from the guard told me to look for the tall lass with sunny hair, reckon that’s you. Head down that way, ask for the rosewater brew. Said to mention that you met when she had bells in her hair, and your sis couldn’t hold her drink.’

Well, that showed it was Brina. ‘OK, thanks.’ The beggar coughed meaningfully and stared at her, until Stathis reached into her beltpouch and pulled out a coin at random, passing it over.

‘Thanks, sunny missy. Always a pleasure dealing with someone generous.’ With surprising speed for someone that appeared crippled, he retreated back into the alley.

Having to walk through the streets did little to improve her impressions of the place. The Crippled King wasn’t hard to find, a statue of some past ruler, arms broken off long ago, likely responsible for its name. Inside was the usual grimy wooden bar and tables, workers drinking away their sorrows, as she approached the tired-looking barman and asked for rosewater. He pointed to an area in the back, a tatty curtain separating it from the rest of the bar. Moving carefully, she passed through, heading up some rickety stairs and finding a small chamber, with a bed against one wall, a shuttered window opening to a dark alleyway beneath. Brina was climbing up, Stathis reaching out to haul her the rest of the way into the room.

Brina raised a hand, signalling silence, checking for any holes in the wall where someone could be spying from. When didn’t find anything, she relaxed, and held up her hand, palm out. A glowing blue symbol, the familiar sword-and-wings of the Iristari crest, appeared there before she smiled.

‘Gods, I’m glad to see you! I wasn’t expecting any support, has your mother sent you? She must be taking this seriously. How powerful are the others?’

‘Um, I’m actually here for the temple, I need some healing, I got messed pretty badly up by a ghost. Sorry, I’ve no idea what’s going on here; you’ve joined up, I guess? You’re an agent of the Iristari now?’

Brina made a decent attempt at hiding her disappointment. ‘Yeah, your mother think’s somethin’ real big is comin’ down. Did a few jobs as freelancer, but it’s decent pay, and doin’ good for the world. Didn’t think I’d get stuck in this pit, but it’s gold, all the same. So, anyone else comin’?’

‘I’ve no idea, sorry. I saw Carissia a few months ago, she didn’t mention anything. I think she’s mostly busy with god stuff, although I’ve no idea who she’s worshipping these days.’

‘Shit.’ Brina chewed a knuckle.

‘What’s the problem? The place is rundown and crap, but there’s no ghosts or demons or anything around, are there?’

‘Well, I don’t really know what I’m allowed to tell you, it’s all secret stuff.’

Stathis sighed. ‘Really? Do you think that matters? If there’s something going on, let me help. Or do you think I’m secretly a traitor to whatever mother’s up to at the moment? Which I’d appreciate being told about, by the way. Carissia’s getting all twitchy about something. Is this more prophecy bullshit?’

Brina bit her knuckle again, considering. ‘Well, I don’t know that much about her plans, that’s all ways above me. And, yeah, there was a prophecy. Crap, how’d it go?’ She tapped her fingers on the table in a rhythm. ‘Crowned and bound in iron, the white king kneels, to unleash the scream of death. An ancient fire shall waken, and the words of darkness shall blacken the light of the sun.’

Stathis rubbed her forehead and groaned. ‘Eugh, anything actually useful in there, or just vaguely ominous bullshit? Is there at least any standard political stuff, or a demon cult or something? Whoever is in charge here really needs to do a better job of it.’

‘There’s politics all right. The Duke’s paranoid, there’s loads of advisors, the entire place is getting’ crappy. He’s got his thugs beatin’ up everyone downcity, settin’ up for something, but no-one knows what. There’s disappearances ‘n all that, and whatever stuff is going on in the castle. Some rich kid went missin’, lots of questions ‘bout that. And gangs wantin’ bloody overthrow and revolution, y’know, all the good stuff. Managed to get a guard position, but getting’ anywhere higher is takin’ a while. An’ I’ve heard a rumour that the Tremari are coming, and they’re bad news, probably gonna try and raise an undead army or some shit.’

‘I don’t think that’s an issue, that’s just Janaxia - she’s with me, the one in the fancy robes.’

‘Ah, keepin’ a close eye on her, smart. I hear her blood’s up to somethin’, callin’ in old favours and stuff. Although I’d have thought she’d have more skulls and dead stuff, and a tatty robe - she’s got some style goin’ on. Necromancers don’t normally look good, but she’s definitely easy on the eyes.’

‘She’s not a necromancer. She’s not actually, uh…’ Saying she wasn’t “evil” was obviously a lie ‘…all that bad. Vain, self-absorbed, a bit strange and I don’t know what’s up with her magic, but I don’t think she’s done much that’s properly evil. So, what’s your plan?’

‘Got an invite to a classy party tonight, meet some ‘o the fancy. See if it’s a demon thing or whatever, y’know, like an orgy-cult or somethin’. You can come with, be just like when we met! Only without your mother scaring holy piss out of us at the end. Or almost dyin’, I hope. Can probably get somethin’ nice for you. It’s a masked thing, so might get a bit freaky, you know what high blood are like. Uh, no offence.’

‘None taken. OK, so possibly a cult thing? Hopefully nothing too weird. How’d you get an invite?’

Brina winked conspiratorially. ‘Got meself a contact. Well, he’s my boss, but got some influence. Some cousin of the Duke here or somethin’, pretty nice guy, unless that’s just a front. Reckon you might get on, actually. But he’s got rep as a ladykiller, so I reckon he’ll be glad of some company like you.’

Stathis grimaced. ‘Is he going to be all grabby?’

‘Nah, he’s actually pretty chill. I mean, I don’t go that way, but I’m a little offended he’s not tried more! Not bad, if you’re into the buff ‘n fightin’ type. If anyone asks, you’re an out-of-town mercenary. Bonus of bein’ mostly true as well. Just simper a bit an’ act dumb, see if we can find anything out. He’s got a lot of friends everywhere, seems pretty popular, at least compared to the Duke. Anyway, what you been up to? Bet it’s all super-important stuff, not stuck in some deadend mud-pit.’

Stathis filled her in on recent events, or at least a better sounding version of it that skipped over the worst parts, such as how they had gotten past the medusa, and virtually everything in the underworld, or when she almost got killed by a ghost. In contrast, it seemed that Brina had been working for her mother, involved in what was, essentially, spying work. Mostly keeping tabs on the various lords and rulers, some occasional fights against bandits or undead, so at least nothing that was sordid or dodgy.

After bringing Brina up to date, Stathis asked a question. ‘You know anything about weird shadow-people? Got attacked by one earlier today. It had a strange curved knife?’

Brina shook her head. ‘I’m stuck on gate-duty, don’t even get to do any excitin’ guard stuff! Nothin’ like that. Had time to piss anyone off yet?’

‘I’ve only been here a day and a half, I’ve not had a chance to yet.’

A bell tolled, and Brina flipped her hood back up. ‘Hey, you’ve always been a fast worker! But I’ve got to go, but you need to get ready yourself. I know someone that can fix you up; go to the warehouse district, find the Rusted Knife. They owe me some favours, and probably have somethin’ in your size. Unless you want to give me a real treat, and wear somethin’ from that place you’re stayin’, that’d be nice to see!’ She gave Stathis a tight hug, smiling up at her. ‘Shame I’ve got to go, been a while since I’ve been able to relax with someone, but there’s a lot goin’ on.’ She stood up on tiptoes, giving Stathis a kiss. ‘Come up to the castle, say that you’re with Captain Awdelly. And watch out for the red helms, they’re the top-dog guard, and none-too-nice.’ She jumped onto the window ledge. ‘Lookin’ forward to see you in somethin’ fancy, just like that time at Cannington!’ With a leap, she was gone, back into the alleyway.

Stathis followed the directions she’d been given, walking through the city, one hand on her sword still, just in case. There was a brawl going on in a square, several guards looking on, as a mob fought amongst themselves, for reasons Stathis couldn’t tell. As she watched, one lunged, steel flashing as they sliced someone’s pouch off their belt and ran, vanishing before anyone could stop them, the fight intensifying and spreading. She walked faster, heading towards an area of grey, anonymous warehouses, each sub-divided into smaller units and managed by countless individual traders.

The Rusted Knife was marked by an easy-to-find marker, its namesake of a giant knife hanging from a post, looking to be an actual, functional weapon, just huge, and worn and pitted from exposure. The door was closed, and very heavy-looking. Stathis knocked, a slit opening, voice sounding out, smooth and sibilant.

‘Whaddya want?’

‘Brina sent me, said you could help me. I need some clothes, for a party.’

‘Hmmmm. Yes, looks like ye need some help.’

There was a lot of clanking of locks and bolts, before the door opened, and Stathis was pulled inside by a strong grip. A dark space surrounded her, a mirrored lantern illuminating only a small patch of it. What she could was a mass of boxes, crates and barrels, beneath a layer of other… stuff, for want of a better term. There were robes, cloaks and dresses, varying between elven antiques, tossed atop a bust of some ancient warrior, to tatty traveller’s cloaks, atop a triangular stack of whisky barrels. The owner was equally shrouded, a roughly humanoid shape wrapped in layers of clothing, bright green eyes gleaming out from beneath a silken veil, face invisible. There was a heavy scent in the air, chemical and astringent.

‘Little Brina’s friend, you say? You could do with something a bit nicer, yes? Oh, and don’t take anything, unless I say so.’ The eyes flickered, burning brilliant green for a moment. ‘Don’t you worry none, I owe Brina for dealing with a little vermin problem, I’ll find you something nice. But what’s mine is mine, and I don’t take none too kindly to others trying to make it theirs. So hands off, lest ye want to loose them.’

The door slammed shut, something oily flowing over them and making the locks and bolts click back into place. ‘Uh, thanks. So, is this a pawn shop or something?’

The shape laughed, an unnervingly liquid bubbling sound. ‘Something like that. I collect things, old and forgotten things that would otherwise slip away into dust, trash and treasure both, not that there’s much of a difference here. I find it makes for a more interesting collection, than simple and tawdry gold and gems. Now, you may call me Kalente, as that is my name in this place. So, something pretty for Brina, but I’m guessing you don’t want anything too fancy? Your hands show that you can use that sword, and…’ They sniffed. ‘That’s an unusual scent. More than human, aren’t you? But that’s none of my business, unless you do something to make it my business.’ They held up the lantern, light shining over what seemed to be a vast, endless heap of stuff. They walked, a thin path of floor between the heaps, Stathis keeping close.

Kalente gestured, thin tendrils of something translucent flying into the darkness. ‘Brina has good taste. She’s told me a little about you, but it seems as though there’s a few things she didn’t tell me. Or that you haven’t told her. That might be funny.’ They chuckled, as a number of items came back, borne aloft by shimmering tentacles.

They had moved into something similar to a room, except the walls were formed by stacks of barrels and crates, all sorts of off knickknacks crammed into the gaps. Several mirrors were propped up on the wall, making the size of the space even harder to tell. ‘Now, let’s see what we can do. Oh, and a mask. You humans and your faces, such a weird concept.’ They gestured again, several masks hovering through the air; plain white curves, a demonic face, a jewelled harlequin, a sparkling shape of prismatic gems. Each was held over her face for a moment before being rejected, before something covered with feathers, golden-white and gleaming in the light, was found, giving the impression of a wing on each side of her face. ‘Yes, just the thing. Amusingly thematic, I think. Do try and keep it clean, yes? And don’t be sneaking around, unless you can find a field of snow to hide in.’

A suit hovered in the air in front of her, visibly changing in size as some magic took effect. It was a bit showy for her tastes, and the golden buttons were a bit much, but at least it had a sword-belt, and was the right size. There was a flash of magic, and suddenly she was wearing it, shifting around and pulling it until it settled right.

‘Hey, where did my clothes go? And some warning would have been nice.’

‘I will return them, afterwards, upon return, yes? Rather impressive, although as expected, you are good raw material. Little Brina has impressive taste, as expected, yes. Now, do please try not to disrupt the city overmuch, yes? Rulers may come and go, but the city endures, and I with it. And I would very much rather it endures longer, yes?’ The eyes burnt green again, light diffused by the veil.

‘I’m not here to disrupt the city, or destroy it or anything! I’m only here to get healed, because it was the closest major temple.’

The glow flickered and faded. ‘See that you remain true to your word. But now, some ornaments. A touch of black, I feel.’

Stathis sighed and prepared to be preened, as decorations floated through the air, string of arcane energy already playing with her hair. Why couldn’t she just have enemies to fight, this was almost as bad as Janaxia!