The Mimic Becomes a Merchant King

Come the next morning, Coin had the strength to make his way downstairs. He still ached in places, but he was doing far better than any human would if they'd had that much emerald venom pumping through their systems. He was greeted by the sound of Pearl strumming her lute, and the scent of Essine's fried food.

"Ah, Coin!" the kobold said, scurrying to greet him. She smiled excitedly, gently pressing her palms to his chest. "Are you feeling better?"

"Much. My thanks, for everything you've done for me," he said, managing a wan smile. "And... sorry for worrying you."

"Oh, so this is your injured friend?"

The unfamiliar voice sent a bristle down Coin's back. His eyes snapped to attention, and he found himself staring to a figure seated by the back of the inn with a book resting in his lap. A staff with a meteorite metal spike rested against the wall beside him.

"He is a... friend of sorts, Coin," Essine assured him.

The mimic nodded slowly. "I see." If he was trusted enough to be allowed here, then he supposed he'd trust him too. "It's nice to meet you."

"Igrei. I'll admit that this is not the... ideal way to meet new people, but needs must," the wizard said, closing his tome and rising to his feet. He closed the distance and held a hand out to shake, which Coin obliged.

As unexpected as it was to meet a new person, Coin didn't get the same sense of unease he got from Fatty Broadfellow's men, or Leona's ilk. If Coin's instincts were to be trusted, then this elf didn't hold any ill intentions toward them.

"So, er," Coin slowly withdrew his hand. "Why are you here? From everything I've heard, this place isn't exactly pleasant. Can't imagine many people come near here by choice." He took a step back as Essine swept toward her cookpot.

"I'm not for the scenery, I can tell you that much." Igrei chuckled, folding his arms. "I have a passion for finding and dealing with Bleak-born artefacts, and I have reason to believe that one still lingers here. Something that could be problematic if left unattended."

Coin frowned. "Sounds dangerous." In truth he knew very little about the Bleak. Just that people cursed and groused about it, and that it was meant to be the home of some horrible creatures. And, if Charnyll was any indication, their presence could be... impactful.

"Indeed it is. But it's a job that needs doing."

The door creaked open as Elijah entered, the old man muttering to himself as he tucked a spyglass into his coat. "Seems Dancer is fully recovered. We pushed the old boy rather hard the other night though. So, to be on the safe side, I'd rather not leave until tomorrow."

"Ah, good. Seems everyone will be rested and ready by then," Pearl said, pushing up from the crate she'd been using as a makeshift seat. "And not a moment too soon. This place makes my damn skin crawl, and I'm jumping at every shadow!" Indeed, she looked as if sleep had been evading her.

"Yes, well as long as Coin is-" He froze as he glanced up at Coin. "Goodness, he's already up and about. Don't overdo it lad!"

"I'm fine, really," Coin said, raising a hand. "My shirt, less so. At least I had a spare."

"Clothes can be replaced, your life can't," the older man replied, offering him a wan smile. "And if you're up for it, we can get back on the road come tomorrow. I was using my spyglass too check the land beyond Charnyll, but I found no trace of anyone nearby. Seems we've slipped our pursuers."

"For now," Essine replied, plating some fried chicken for Coin. She handed it over to him, but kept her gaze on Elijah. "This one doubts are pursuers will give up so easily. We must be cautious with what route we take back to Sentinel."

"Already planned for, lass. I've spent the past night checking my maps, looking for obscure back roads we can try. Once we get close enough to Sentinel, within range of guard patrols, only a suicidal moron would try to pursue us."

"They seemed suitably suicidal and moronic when they insisted on chasing a man throwing lightning bolts at them," Pearl retorted.

Elijah shrugged. "Knowing Broadfellow's reputation? Coin was probably the safer option."

"Goodness. You really have found yourselves being pursued by dangerous individuals," Igrei said, tilting his head. "Though our paths may diverge, I'll still do what I can to aid you if any problem comes your way while we're together. My ancestors would curse me if I didn't."

"Very appreciated, young man!" Elijah cheerily replied.

Igrei wore a strained smile on his face. "I'm... likely older than you, ser."

"Ah, right. Hard to keep track of such things when it comes to elves, I'll admit."

Turning, Igrei sauntered toward his staff. He hoisted it, the cookfire glinting on the sharpened point of his staff. "But, for now, I have one more spot I want to check in this town. I've spent some time narrowing down possible locations to check, and and if you're leaving town tomorrow, I may as well check it too."

Coin gave Igrei's back a wary glance as he gnawed some of Essine's chicken. His worries were so palpable that they drowned out the juicy taste of the chicken.

"I could do with a walk, and some fresh air." Though anyone who described the air in Charnyll as 'fresh' would be called a damn loon. "Maybe I should tag along with you."

Just in case he wasn't as wholesome as he let on.

Igrei shrugged. "If you feel so inclined, my friend."

"Then this one shall come along too. Just in case anything lurks outside," Essine replied. "The ears and nose of this one will warn of danger."

"Mm. I've been told kobold's are fine trackers. I doubt any creatures from the Bleak linger here but in matters relating to that cursed place... caution is strongly advised."

Pearl gawked at the trio as they made for the door. "You're willingly going out in that horrible place?" she asked.

Coin downed the last of his offered meal. "If there's something dangerous here, I'd prefer to deal with it rather than run the risk of it creeping up on us." And if, by chance, Igrei was secretly tied to one of their adversaries... it was just common sense to keep a close eye on him.

"Very well. Just don't be gone for too long," Elijah called after them. "You're only barely recovered, after all!"

"I'll be fine," Coin assured him. And he would be, now that he was on his feet. Though he was hungrier than he'd care to admit, and would need to eat something... raw to recover some of the biomass he'd used up.

Once outside, a cool breeze hit his face. Stale, unpleasant, carrying a scent unlike any Coin any had known before. His eyes roamed about as they travelled, examining the scorched buildings and collapsed structures.

Old bones and skulls were left scattered in the narrow alleys. Some of them sported teeth marks.

Well, it wasn't like Coin was in a position to judge...

"So, Igrei, I notice you're using a staff for your promethium?" he asked, deciding to distract himself. "I was under the impression rings were the norm."

"They are, usually. Rings, bracelets, bracers... anything that can be worn. It's safe, you see, to have a catalyst you can't drop or have flung for your grasp. Indeed, even I have a spare ring on my person." He patted just under the collar of his robe. "But this staff is special. A family heirloom, passed down since the Age of Grief."

Coin nodded, completely and utterly oblivious to the finer points of history. "Must be fairly old then," he said.

"Oh yes, centuries. Magic was a different beast in those days."

They drew steadily toward the eastern wall of the town, and the atmosphere grew noticeably heavier as they progressed. Gradually, the streets opened out and parted to reveal the remnants of a large brick structure with a partially collapsed roof. A tattered flag hung from one of the walls, much of the colour having been faded from time and the elements.

The streets surrounded the building in a circle, lined with many gouges, scorched craters, and clawed footprints that had punched into the cobbles. Whatever beasts had left these marks behind, it had clearly been large.

"A barracks," Igrei noted, his voice barely above a murmur. "When the demons attacked this town, I don't doubt they swept toward here like a pack of locusts."

"Makes sense. Those would be the only people who could fight back." Broken swords and discarded hilts were scattered among the debris. "But they fought with everything they had, regardless." Even as a mindless mimic, Coin had known better than to underestimate the fires of human desperation.

Essine came to a stop, a shiver racing through her body. The two men looked to her, but the kobold seemed almost paralysed. "There is... something in there," she muttered.

Nodding, Igrei aimed his staff toward the damaged structure. The tip of his staff adopted a white hot glow, and the wizard spent several moments examining something that seemed visible only to him.

"An aura hangs above this place," the elf noted, the corners of his lips tugging into a thin line. "Potent. Could just be an after effect of how pronounced this battle was, or..."

He fell silent, staring toward the barracks.

Coin couldn't sense what he sensed, not to the same degree at least, but every primal instinct in his brain was setting off alarm bells in the back of his head. The building could only have looked more imposing if it was actively on fire.

"Well then..." Igrei lowered his staff and cracked his neck from side to side. "Only thing to do is press on."

"Y-you are certain?" Essine asked, her whiskers twitching from the mounting unease.

"Ha. Certainly not. But it needs to be done," Igrei said. He turned and started toward the barracks, his staff clutched carefully in both hands.

Coin stared at his back for several moments, and ultimately pressed on after him.