Chapter Four

**17 High Street**

“Annabel! Annabel!” a young boy squealed as he ran into the salon. The boy, no older than eight, scampered straight to Annabel and jumped onto the couch next to her. “Annabel! Annabel!” he repeated giddily bobbing up and down on the cushion.

A happy smile grew on Annabel’s face but she reached her hand out like it was a crow’s claw and clutched the boy’s arm. “Timon, we have guests,” Annabel hissed.

The boy, Timon, turned to face Jason and Trent. His face tilted in confusion as if he hadn’t noticed the pair during his abrupt entrance. Timon turned back to Annabel and remarked, “they’re just peasants?”

Jason's ears redden but Trent stifled back a laugh. Annabel’s face paled, aghast with Timon’s comment. “Timon, where are your manners, and I’ll have you know Sir Trent is a Sheriff and you’re no lord yourself, young man. Now say you’re sorry,” she commanded.

The boy huffed and slumped his shoulders, “sorry cousin.”

“No to them,” Annabel insisted turning Timon’s shoulder so that he was facing Trent and Jason.

Timon rolled his eyes and said, “I’m sorry sirs.”

“For what?” Annabel continued.

Timon groaned as if Annabel had just told him to run a marathon, “for interrupting your meeting... and calling you peasants.”

“What is going on here,” a heavyset female voice cried from the door. Jason turned his head to see an unfathomably obtuse woman waddle through the door. The curves of her face hinted at ancient beauty but that was hidden under pounds of chalky makeup and soft rolls. The entrant stop at the doorway and used the entrance as support so that she could pant for a moment. “Annabel,” she hissed, “let go of my son. And what are these two doing in the house?”

Annabel’s nose snarled up but she let go of Timon’s arm. “Auntie, you remember the good Sheriff from Finchead?”

“You’re to call me Lady Cullen you whelp and I know gods well who he is but I don’t know what business he has with you.”

Annabel cocked her head slightly but continued to compose herself. “The sheriff tried to bring the matter to my dear uncle but you see he isn’t feeling well today and as you were occupied I figure I’d settle the matter myself,” Annabel said innocently but Jason could hear the sarcasm in her voice.

“What! Your uncle is home?” Lady Cullen cried. “Come, Timon,” she ordered. The boy protested but his mother quickly rose her voice to repeat the command. Timon surrendered and scampered off the couch to the door. “Watch yourself, young lady,” Lady Cullen said with a sausage-like finger pointed at Annabel as she left the room. Annabel laughed the comment off, but her aunt was gone.

“Quite the relations,” Jason commented but he prayed he wasn’t overstepping boundaries. Trent glared at him but Annabel continued to laugh.

“Yes quiet,” Annabel agreed. She took a sip of her wine and continued, “but auntie will forget all about me by her next meal and my Uncle will have her occupied until he off gambling again.”

Trent snorted his noses to draw attention to himself. “My Lady if you are ready we would like to take the prisoner to the castle as soon as possible.”

“Maid,” Annabel said, “what hour is it?”

“The hour before noon my lady,” the woman answered dutifully.

“We’ll have to wait,” Annabel explained, “the king doesn't hold open court until after his lunch. I thought you knew this Trent?”

“He used to hold court every morning,” Trent responded in surprise, "back when..."

Annabel shrugged her shoulders and said, “he’s getting more relaxed these days.”

“Fine,” Trent said, “we have to get the prisoner from our inn anyway.”

“And I will meet you at the castle at one sharp,” Annabel promised. “I have much to settle here before I travel to Finchead. Just wait until that whale hears about it,” she grinned.

“Very well my lady,” Trent nodded.

Annabel nodded then said, “It was nice to meet you, Jason, I look forward to our future.”

“Me as well… my lady,” he said, “when you are finally in Finchead you will see there is much that can be done.”

Annabel smiled but didn’t respond. The servant step forward and gestured for Jason and Trent to follow him out the door. Jason looked to Annabel but she had already turned and was leaving the salon through another door. “Come on son,” Trent said leading the way out. When they were outside of the gates Jason stopped. Trent turned to him, “what?”

“I have someone I need to see in this part of town,” Jason explained. “Are you okay if we split up and I meet you at the castle at one?”

“Who could you know that lives on High Street?” Trent asked indirectly. The sheriff waved the thought from his head. “Hmm, that should be fine,” he grumbled, “just don’t be late.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Jason said with a smile. Trent didn’t waste any time and headed back towards their inn leaving Jason alone in front of the Cullen’s gate. Jason went into his UI and browsed through his quest until he found the one he was looking for.

Guild Quest: Joining the Wool Merchants of Laxtar Guild Part I

Notify Wilhelm that you have met all guild entrance requirements. The player is most likely to find Wilhelm either in the Wool Exchange or at his home, 17 High Street.

Reward: 750 Exp. and Rock’s sponsorship

17 High Street, Jason thought. He looked around at the front of the Cullen’s townhouse but couldn’t find a number. Jason looked at the house across the street and a quick glance didn’t reveal a number for it either. “Hey,” Jason called to the guard just inside the Cullen’s gate hoping that the man wouldn’t brush him off.

“Huh,” the man said, his eyes fluttered and Jason guessed he had been drifting in and out of an afternoon nap.

“What’s the house number?” Jason said getting straight to the point.

“House number? How would I know that?” The guard said then turned away from Jason.

“Do you at least have any idea where I can find 17 High Street?”

The guard went still but then slowly nodded suspiciously, “aye what do you need to do there?”

“Business,” Jason said starting getting frustrated with the guard, “that concerns your masters so are you going to leave me waiting or help me.”

“Alright, alright,” the guard said. He pointed up the road but at no particular house. “Just go that way. It’s the biggest one.” The guard didn’t say anything else and went back into the Cullen’s compound.

I was hoping for more specific instructions, Jason sighed to himself but started to walk. But by the man’s reaction, I shouldn’t miss Wilhelm’s house.

The guard hadn’t lied, Wilhelm’s was the largest and it only took Jason another minute of walking to spot it. Situated just outside the castle's fortifications, not even the King’s compound could dwarf 17 High Street. While the houses along High Street varied in size most lot sizes were uniform. They were built in a step-like fashion to accommodate the rising altitude as the street wove up the hill. 17 High Street broke this pattern and took up the equivalent of at least four normal lots. The hill itself had been terraformed with stone buttresses and packed dirt to create a plateau for the house with its gates at the top of the hill. In truth, due to their proximity, some people might mistake the gate of 17 High Street for the Castle gates except that the castle was built like a fortress while Wilhelm’s house looked like a residence.

A short light stone wall surrounded the perimeter of the property, low enough that a tall person could almost poke their head over and see the other side. Ferns and manicured trees lined the wall like watchmen observing the outside. While a guard stood at the gate, people walked through freely. Jason relaxed then walked through the gate like everyone else and sure enough, the guard didn’t even look his way as he passed.

Within the walls, the property revealed its true magnificence. While the house itself was small, the same size as the Cullen’s townhouse, the property was breathtaking. Directly inside the gates, there was the house, surrounded by a large stable, two small warehouses, and a kitchen building, there were a few smaller shacks scattered around but Jason couldn’t guess their purpose. But all the latter took up only a quarter of the estate. The rest was a lush garden holding a thousand varieties of plants in hundreds of hues. A clean gravel path wandered about weaving through little ponds and soft patches of grass.

“Who are you?” an aggressive voice asked drawing Jason away from the view. Jason turned and saw a short well-dressed man carrying a thick book under one arm and a sharp quill dangling from his other hand. “Out with it before I call the guards,” the man growled but more so with impatience rather than anger.

“Um I’m here to see Wilhelm Rock,” Jason replied.

“Ha,” the man laughed, he pulled his head back and Jason could see the hairs of his neck as his throat contorted. “Everyone is here to see Wilhelm Rock,” the man said once he recovered. “Now really tell me your business now or leave before…”

“I’m the wool merchant,” Jason said breaking the man off, “Wilhelm is helping me to enter the Wool Guild.”

The man didn’t answer and instead scanned Jason. His unimpressed smirk revealed he didn’t approve of Jason’s drab clothing. “Wilhelm wouldn’t…” he began.

“I wouldn’t what?” A familiar voice asked loudly. Jason and his integrator turned in the direction of the garden to find Wilhelm a dozen yards away and approaching quickly. “Jason,” he called happily with his arms raised. Jason was surprised by Wilhelm’s appearance. He typically saw the master merchant in expensive robes but now he wore a simple tan tunic and green pants. I probably already saw him in the garden and mistook him for a gardener, Jason thought. This thought was reinforced by the sight of dirt on Wilhelm’s clothes as came into clear view.

“Sir?” The man asked confused, “You know this man?”

“Yes this is Jason,” Wilhelm said happily. “Sorry you have to see me like this, I like to spend time in the garden before my lunch.”

“I was almost worried I wouldn’t find you here and you’d be at the exchange,” Jason said.

“I don’t go to the market until after my Lunch that is when the most action is and my sources have time to deliver any important updates,” Wilhelm explained.

“I was in the neighborhood and I thought I’d try.”

Wilhelm raised an eyebrow, “I guess there are still things I don’t know about you if you have contacts on High Street, Jason.”

Jason smiled and decided it would be best to keep his relationship with the Cullens secret for the time being. “I have news for you.”

Wilhelm wiped his hands on his pants and said, “well I’m just about done for the day so why don’t you come in and have lunch with me.” Jason agreed enthusiastically then Wilhelm shooed off the short worker. “You chose a good day to stop by, my chef is preparing a lobster dish,” Wilhelm said as they walked by a squad of workers unloading a wagon.

“I’ve fixed the situation in…”

“Jason,” Wilhelm said in his typical tone, “you can wait until we are inside to discuss this.” Then Wilhelm pulled on the large iron door ring and led Jason into the main house.