Halrum appeared in the common room of the Down Dunrall one morning. When Renado stumbled down the steps from the second-storey quarters, he rubbed his eyes sleepily. The hair near his temples was still wet from washing, but his clothes only showed wrinkles where they’d been neatly folded. He reached the common room and stared at the strange errand runner.
“My mistress has news for you, Master Renado,” Halrum told him.
Renado sighed. “I’ll drink a coffee first,” he said. Karsef and Woodro were already sitting there, though Ren had heard Asar washing up in his room still. He dragged his feet and flopped down at the bar. Halrum had no choice but to wait.
By the time they left the tavern, the streets had begun to fill with the busy inhabitants of Vagren. Halrum chose a less direct route to avoid the oppressive throngs of citizens that were opening shops, setting to work on construction tasks, or perusing for a place to spend their coin. They crossed a small field of rye grain along a dirt path, and Halrum waved to the farmer. At the edge of the crops was a pig pen, full of livestock.
By the time they left behind the stench of shit laden mud, Ren was much more alert. He knew where they were, and walked astride with Halrum through an alley. They emerged on a main street, amidst a group of women carrying rolls of textile to their seamstress shop. It wasn’t much further.
Miss Irrith’s guard opened the door for Ren and his men. They sat in the same sitting room again, though the air held an air of action. Ren was ready to do something. They’d been sitting on their hands for weeks.
“How has your stay been?” Irrith asked.
Ren forced a smile. “Vagren is truly a comfortable place to stay,” he assured her. “Did you receive news from Gra—”
“Yes, from the Isle of Dusk,” Irrith said, correcting him. Clearly, use of his name was to be kept to a minimum. “Your men and you are to find out what happened in Ith, and locate Lotha. When you do,” the magician said, pausing, “You’re to establish her continued loyalty by whatever means are necessary to determine the truth.”
Ren blinked. Skeptical, a little? he thought. “At once,” he said. “And Axar, or the Mage Kings?”
“The new method is to take things, in this rather active region, step-by-step.” Irrith sipped a tea she had not offered them. “When Lotha is returned to the fold, we’ll devise a plan for dealing with Axar and his supporters if he still lives. The Mage Kings and the state of Ith can wait.”
Woodro muttered, “I’m sure the citizens there wouldn’t—”
“That’s enough,” Ren said, giving his man a scolding glare. “Anything more, Mistress?”
Irrith smiled at Woodro, and then looked back to Ren with her wide eyes and vacant expression. “Don’t overestimate your security in Ith. Very few places are as dangerous these days, it seems.”
With a nod, Ren reclaimed his feet. “Enjoy your tea,” he said, with a smile.
Halrum sat on the steps outside, waiting in case he was needed for anything more. “That wasn’t long,” he said to Ren, as they walked out.
Karsef nodded, but Ren brushed past him. He wanted to get moving. He heard his soldier speak behind him. “Doesn’t take long to be told we can do what we came here to do,” he drawled. The team of four left the House of Miss Puzzle together. They had places to be, now. Thank the gods.