A Different Approach

Once again the twins were working at the meat stall and Hunter was again put to work. The twins were relieved to see he was well again and his leg was doing better. It was also a blessing that he made them four gold coins in one day from Gonyaul. This money would make the winter a lot more comfortable since they could by more food as needed on top of Hunter's regular pay. Hunter went back to prepping the meat skewers for the drunken customers who were in high spirits after seeing the public hangings. The locals were using any excuse to get drunk.

The day was gloomy, the sky, overcast and drizzly. Tiny beads of rain collected in the corners of the tall man’s wide, black hat and long, dark leather overcoat as he slowly approached the meat stall carrying a walking stick.

“Not expectin’ ta see so many folks about today. Seems like yer makin’ good business, eh?” he said to the twins in a somewhat gravely voice. The man’s face was mostly hidden behind a high collar. Something about the undertones of his voice put Hunter’s ears on alert from his position in the back.

“Two skewers.” said the man as he slid a folded strip of paper across the counter with his coin.

The twins nodded and began cooking the skewers after seasoning them. They preferred to make them fresh unless they had a huge crowd. Hunter looked at the man from the corner of his eyes and sucked his teeth as he studied the man intently while moving a tray of skewers so the twins could cook them anytime. Hunter watched as the twins took the note and removed the coins. Out of concern they opened the noted but could barely understand a few words from it since they were not properly educated. Then one twin passed the note to Hunter who quickly looked it over as he read it silently.

-Meet me near the dock ward. Make sure you aren’t followed.-

Hunter then folded up the note and stuck it in a hidden pocket. Then he washed up and cleaned his knife before removing his apron. Then he looked at the twins as he ordered a few skewers and payed them with a gold coin. When they saw the gold coin they knew he was going out on a job again. They asked him to be safe before they cooked his skewers and he left while eating. As usual he was armed to the teeth, but no one could tell as he was wearing an old looking leather cloak and looking like a poor commoner. By now he no longer needed the staff to walk with. He walked to the docks in a round about way to see if he was being followed. Seeing that he was not followed, he made his way to the docks and snagged a fishing rod and a bottle of booze to blend in. Then he looked around as if he was deciding where to fish.

The tall man was walking nearby holding a long pipe up to his hidden mouth looking over the various collections of fresh fish.

Hunter noticed the tall man from the stall and took a fake swig from his bottle of booze. By putting his tongue in the way he could stop the booze from coming out of the bottle while looking like he was drinking Then he followed the tall man from behind about ten feet away. There was a sort of strut to the tall man’s walk. While Hunter smirked a bit, keeping to himself a bit as he walked behind 'the man' looking at 'his' behind. He planned to go fishing where the tall man stopped.

The tall man waved away a fisherman with some comment which sounded like ‘lobster’ and he continued past blowing out the smoke from his pipe. He stopped on the pier just staring out into the misty blue-gray horizon.

Hunter scratched his rear end as he walked up from behind the tall man and moved to the side of him as he pretended to bait his hook with some meat from his skewer before casting it. He then pretended to drink from the bottle again. After making sure they were alone he muttered, "Aye, ya look mighty good no matta wat ya be wearin'."

‘Good thing his masters at least allowed him an education.’ the Arbiter thought. Hunter had arrived and if what he said about his past was true, Voah figured he was able to make it this far without any tail. Beneath the disguise, she smiled at the thought that she was still making her Goddess Hoi proud.

Hunter then spoke softly, "Nice night for some fishin'. Know of any good spots?"

“Aye... farther out on the pier... away from where the waves fuck the sand... at high tide… Anywhere in the gentle Arms of Cambena.” she laughed, still putting on the convincing gravel in her voice.

She turned toward Hunter slightly so she could speak to him a little bit better but appear as a man casually bantering with a fisherman. Passed her hat and high collar, Hunter could see the whites of her eyes. Her face was a bit mottled with what appeared to be dirt or ash. The look was pretty convincing but Hunter was good at his job.

She spoke quietly now in her own voice, “The twins have got a good thing going on there in Suncross. Delicious and succulent, good quality meat. Life with them seems to be treating you well.”

Hunter nodded.

“We rushed into things a bit hastily last time, understandably as we were pressed for time, but we can’t afford to make the same mistakes again. It’s nearly the full moon and we are not much closer to stopping this ‘Creed’. We’re looking for a man named Blank. A sailor… confirmed creed member. He hangs out in Lowood but lives in one of the warehouses here in the dock ward. We find him. Follow him to somewhere private where we can squeeze some information out of him. As discreetly as we can, he doesn’t even have to know who we are unless it comes to that.”

Hunter nodded as he said, "Aye we be aven a nice night." he knew to much whispering would attract to much attention.