After watching her friends depart, SJ wished Fasvil a good day and, changing, took off and flew directly to the stables. Landing behind them by the beloved tree she thought of as her lifesaver after her failed freefall, she entered the stables.
"Do you know who Grui is?" SJ asked one of the stablehands. The gnoll girl who replied resembled Cristy, but SJ struggled to differentiate between them. In truth, she was not the best at telling gnolls apart unless it was by their fur colour.
"He just left to collect a councillor," she replied.
SJ turned and left immediately, heading to the tower. On arriving at the steps, she saw three carts parked outside. She did not know who Grui was and headed to the first one. She was just about to speak to them when she was called.
"Ambassador?"
SJ turned to the cart furthest away and saw a young man. "Grui?"
"Yes. Jay said to speak to you to see if you had found anything?"
"Yeah. That one you are looking for was seen first light. One of the lads was on his way back from collecting councillor Darwin from his mistresses when he saw her. She was in District 4."
"Do you know whereabouts?"
"I think he said he was on Farrow Street."
"That's great. Thank you," SJ said, taking a silver coin from her inventory and handing it to him. His eyes opened in amazement at the coin. "I will call back later to check again if that's ok?"
"Sure," Grui smiled, pocketing the coin.
SJ decided she would head straight home again.
'Dave. I have a plan,' she thought as she flew over the city.
"A cunning plan?"
SJ laughed in her thoughts. 'I haven't heard that comment in a long time.'
"Sorry?" Dave asked, sounding confused.
''A cunning plan.' my uncle Dave always watched repeats of a TV series called Blackadder, which was a line from the show.'
"Oh. I haven't watched that one. I will have to see if we have copies in the archives."
'Anyway, as I was saying, I have a plan, well, an idea. You said on the map you can add notes, so I need to do some checking of the sightings of Raceillia.' SJ landed on her balcony, entered her room and moved to a table. She kept the drapes closed until she located Raceillia and resolved her current problems.
SJ called up her display and searched for the street name mentioned by Grui. Luckily, she had been there before and found it easily enough. 'How do I draw lines?'
"Three dots like other menus and options to add details. Can add start and end points."
SJ followed Dave's instructions. She then selected each area where Raceillia had been seen and connected them. Looking at the various points, she then connected lines from each of the locations to the others, creating a rather complex web of lines all over the map.
"What are you doing?" Dave asked.
'I am trying to see if there is somewhere central she may have been travelling from. It's just an idea; there are no guarantees it will mean anything.'
Once she had finished connecting the sightings, she zoomed in on the map to the centre of where most of the points crossed. It was offset slightly, but the area in the middle of all the sightings was close to the warehouse district in District 3.
"Oh. I see what you have done. Very interesting. You know it may mean nothing, though, don't you?"
'Yes. But it's somewhere to start. I will never get near her with random sightings because by the time I know anything, it's unlikely she will be there, so if I can locate where she is staying, or at least have an idea, it's somewhere to start from.'
"Well, we know how bad District 3 is."
'It's a shame Jay has left already. I really could have done with his help.'
"Speak to Larianco. I am sure she will help."
'I know she will. And I will do it once I have done some checks. I am going to visit the warehouse district.'
It was still early when SJ arrived above the warehouse district. Since yesterday evening's rain, the overcast skies held a weighty presence, as if ready to pour down at any time. She was missing Killic's glorious weather in comparison. It had been refreshing with the first rain, but the seasonal shift in Asterfal reminded her of the UK's temperamental forecast.
"The clock tower on the left will be the best place to watch from," Dave said, as she had been looking for a safe perch to rest. She swooped down and landed on the small platform at the top of the tower. It was the highest point in the area, and she could see clearly into the surrounding streets. Beneath the tower, the streets were busy with their usual traffic. The wagon's being on and offloaded. Shouts and calls from workers as items were moved and positioned. It was busy, and no one would pay attention to where she was now positioned.
Her increased sight from her dragon blood allowed her to see clearly from the distance she was, and she could even make out details on individuals' faces or clothing. The gift that Bob had given her was amazing, not considering it had saved her life on several occasions already. Everything about her senses was heightened. If she ever saw him again, she would have to thank him. The clock tower had a weather vane on its pointed roof and squeaked with its unoiled state.
Before leaving her room, she had brought some of her dry rations and waterskin with her. She was planning to stay for a while. She still needed to visit the enchanters, but that could wait now. Tracking down Raceillia was her priority. Removing the history book from her inventory, she flicked to the page she had been on. It was the start of a section on the Scrug Wars. She had heard it mentioned several times, but never read any of the details.
Floretta first mentioned the Scrug Wars when she first met Nexis in Killic, and Nexis also commented on them. The first time they spoke about creating an auction house in Killic, Nexis spoke about Edwardo, the paladin who had supported the God of Death. The book stated the wars started in 24348 and ended in 24593 when the System actioned amendments. The premise of the war was the fight for good vs. evil.
SJ struggled to fathom a war that lasted for almost 250 years. The book didn't go into many details but directed her to further books covering the war. SJ thought she might have to visit the library to see if she could get a copy. The basic details covered the major battles and factions that had formed. The war had only occurred on this continent, but many had travelled from other continents to participate. It had been concluded when the System had stepped in and amended the rights of the Gods.
Initially, the Gods hadn't been involved, but with the increase in tensions and a significant increase in death, several of the gods got involved directly. It was a time when followers received some of the most powerful astral items ever created. Many of these had been removed when the System stepped in. The conflict concluded with a battle between the gods of Death and Healing. An area of the continent was stripped of anything living, stretching across two previous territories known as the Scrug Scar, where their battle had devastated the land.
Just the brief explanation in the book sounded intense.
'What year is it now?'
"25163," Dave said.
'So there may still be some alive apart from the undead who remember the war. Or were involved.'
"Possibly. There may still be some Legionnaires who are alive. Especially the elven ones."
'Do you know who the oldest Legionnaire is?'
"I believe there is an elf based on one of the other continents who is over 2000 years old."
Knowing she may live until she was 7000, 2000 didn't sound very old for a Legionnaire. 'Do you know who the oldest is here on Axynllrewam?'
"I am not sure. I could probably find out if you would like me to?"
'Just out of interest for no other reason.'
"Many Legionnaires on this continent died during the Scrug Wars. The number here is lower than other continents. The number of deaths was insane by the time it concluded."
'It doesn't say why it is known as the Scrug Wars?'
"Ah. Scrug was a farmer. He owned a property in the North of the continent. A neighbouring farmer poisoned his herd, which stemmed from there."
'An argument between two farmers caused the war?'
"Yep. Something so minor caused the deaths of millions of Amathereans."
It was amazing to consider the thought of such a minor issue bringing about the demise of so many and the System's deliberate actions ending the conflict. SJ placed the book down and took out some rations. She had been there for a few hours, and there was no sign of Raceillia. After the previous sightings, she wasn't sure if she was in the right area, but she had to start somewhere.
'Dave. You know you mentioned the other code changes?'
"Yes."
'The last increase in our synchronisation occurred due to you freeing your code locks. Do you think that the cause is because of my status as an anomaly or yourself and your code changes?'
"Umm. In all honesty, I'm not sure. My code has never been altered as much as it is now, but I also do not think the synchronisation would occur with a being with a new brain. I think you still have your original grey matter in your head is allowing, or supporting the synchronisation. It is an unknown, so I can't really be certain either way. I know I could never see the neural pathways inside another Legionnaire the way I see yours. It's like watching a huge jumble of roads with pulses of electricity as vehicles move along them. It is pretty amazing, really."
'I suppose we will never know what the actual cause is.'
"Possibly not, but I can see it being hugely beneficial. As long as I speak to you about anything prior," he added shyly.
'Unusual movement at 2 o'clock,' SJ thought, seeing the cloaked figure appear from an alleyway in front of the main warehouse area. She couldn't see details, just that the being had a slight frame with a cloak and hood pulled tight around its face. It was raining but not heavily enough to be hiding to the degree they were.
"Don't think it's fae," Dave said.
'May not be just very strange behaviour.' The being disappeared down an opposite alleyway, moving between two warehouses.
'I am going to check,' SJ said, dropping her rations and book into her inventory and taking off. Flying directly down the clock tower face, she reached the rooftop and, staying low, moved to the separation between the warehouses. Reaching the edge, she landed and looked down. The figure hurried down the alley until it reached a doorway near the end. It stopped, glanced backwards, and then knocked on the door. A shutter in the door slid open, and it held something in its hand before it was allowed inside. SJ could not see what it was or hear if anything was said over the steady beat of the rain on the warehouse's roof.
"I think that was a dark elf," Dave said.
'What makes you think that?"
'The build of it, but also the colour of its skin when it held whatever it held up to the door. It had a purple-green hue to it.'
'I haven't seen dark elves in Asterfal?'
"There have been a couple of traders who were dark elves."
SJ hadn't specifically been looking at the various beings closely unless it was a race she had never seen before, which there had been a few since her arrival.
'Very suspicious behaviour.'
Taking off, SJ flew down into the alley. Staying up high so as not to be visible to anyone glancing down it, she approached the doorway. The end of the alley was thirty feet away, and she continued to the end. It crossed with another alley that ran behind the warehouses. It was full of boxes and discarded rubbish, and anyone trying to move down it freely would struggle. High at the rear of the warehouse were some windows. Flying to the window, she hovered, trying to peer inside. It was filthy, and she struggled to see anything clearly through it. Reaching out, she wiped it in one corner, the thick black grime coating her hand.
Just inside the window, she could make out a raised walkway that looked as though it stretched around the inside of the warehouse. A set of wooden steps led up to the walkway, and opposite where she was, she could see an open doorway leading into an office area. The warehouse's ground floor was full of typical crates, boxes and sacks she had seen being delivered. Looking at the interior design, the upper area was only accessible from the rear of the warehouse. There were no steps that she could see from near the front. There was a cage that separated the front from the back about three-quarters of the way inside.
'That's strange. That area can only be accessed from the back.'
"Very strange," Dave agreed.
There was no way of entering the warehouse at the rear. The only access was via the alleyway's side door. SJ flew higher onto the roof of the warehouse, scanning its surface. Its tiled roof met at an apex where it slanted to the left and the right, down to either side. Flying over its surface, many of the tiles looked cracked and worn. Eventually, she spotted what she was looking for and flew towards a tile that looked loose and had slipped. She landed on the tiles gently, uncertain of their strength, and crouched to see if they could be moved.
In her miniature form, she grabbed the tile with both hands and gave it a tug. She wasn't ready for the sudden release and fell backwards, sliding down the warehouse roof with a tile following her. The tile scraped across the warehouse's surface, and as she gained her balance and pushed off the roof into the air, the tile continued to slide. It wouldn't stop and fell over the edge into the alley below.
SJ panicked, not having meant for the tile to move as it did, especially not to fall off the roof. She immediately moved back up and away again, back towards the clock tower. Once she reached the tower, she landed again, letting out a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding.
"Do I state the obvious?" Dave said.
'No, but you are going to.'
"True. Your strength is still what it is. It isn't affected by your size. It is only your mass. If you were trying to hit someone with such little weight, your hits and kicks would have no power behind them. Inert objects that you grip and pull have an equivalence. Imagine you had just been grabbing a table and moving it. That is what you did to that tile. It was like gripping a table and yanking it. You didn't even check to see how loose it was."
'I know,' SJ said, feeling annoyed at her stupidity.
There was a cry from down on the street below, and SJ saw a goblin walk towards the alleyway and begin down it. After composing herself, she flew back down to the roof's edge, peering into the alley. The goblin kicked the broken pieces of tile with his toe and looked upwards, SJ pulling back and lying flat on the roof.
'What is up with me?' she thought.
"I'm not sure, but if you are trying to be seen or get noticed, you are doing a good job," Dave said unhelpfully.
'I knew he would look up. It's a natural reaction.'
"Yep."
'If you think I am about to do something stupid, can you at least try and warn me?'
"I didn't think you were going to be that stupid. It's unlike you."
'Maybe this isn't such a good idea. Perhaps I should just leave it to Larianco to find Raceillia and sort the problem out.'
"My only concern is if she has attacked you here and has now lost her permission to stay in Asterfal as a fae representative. What will prevent her from following you back to Killic or somewhere else to try and kill you? She no longer has anything to lose."
'True.'
Another goblin appeared at the alley entrance. "Boss said he wants you to get a ladder and fix it. Rains getting in and dripping on the flour stack."
"Why me?"
"Simple. You're the newest member in the warehouse."
The goblin in the alleyway cursed loudly as he trudged back towards the front of the warehouse.
'And now they are going to be climbing on the roof. All that has done has made it even harder for me to watch from here.'
"It's already early evening. I doubt he will have time to fix it today before it's dark. That means it will probably be like that overnight."
Back up in the clock tower, SJ watched as a long ladder was brought out to the front of the warehouse. After a lot of cursing and cajoling, the goblin from the alley cautiously made his way onto the roof. In his fear-stricken state, it took him a long time to crawl across the warehouse's roof on his belly. He looked as white as a sheet as he did. Eventually, he returned to the edge, looking down at the other goblin.
"I can't fix this. Not without new tiles. This roof's falling apart. Grab a canvas sack from inside, and I will cover it for now, stopping the worst of the rain."
The goblin at the ladder's base disappeared inside and returned moments later, carrying a canvas sack. He scurried up the ladder without care or fear and handed the canvas to his terrified colleague.
Cursing, the goblin on the roof complained bitterly that he could have done it, knowing that he feared heights. With raucous laughter, the second goblin scurried back down the ladder, leaving his colleague to crawl across the slick tiles back to the hole. Thirty minutes later, as the light had started to fade, the hole had a temporary cover over it, with a canvas sack wedged under the other tiles. The goblin who had secured it moved back to the ladder and gingerly climbed back down.
"See. You can still get in there. Now, all we need to do is wait for them to finish for the night."
The streets were now bathed in lantern light as they had been lit as the night drew in and it was still a few hours later before the streets outside quietened, the noise of the inns beginning to fill the night air. The rain was still steadily falling, and it looked like it was in for the long haul, looking at the grey skies.
'Okay. Let's go see,' SJ thought as she took off and flew down to the hole. She had adjusted her dress to that which she used at night, and with her new black boots, the only areas of her body visible would be her face and hands. She needed to consider getting a cowl or perhaps designing a balaclava. She doubted they were a thing in Amathera, but as a tailor, she was sure she could muster something up. Making a mental note, she landed near the canvas.
The edge flapped in the breeze, and she lifted it and ducked underneath. There was still enough ambient light for her night vision to work, so she moved to the hole and peered down into the warehouse below. There was a light in the room where the walkway was, but she could see no movement. Lowering herself inside, she flew onto one of the thick wooden beams that held the roof up.
