B2 Chapter 164: Deadacre pt. 9

Leaving the artificer’s shop Kaius made his way through Deadacre with Porkchop glued close to his side. It was interesting to watch how the general populace of the wider city’s reaction to them had changed now that they were not fully suited up in their armour.

He supposed even if his travelling clothes were reinforced with thick leather, they were much closer to standard hunting gear than true protective armaments. Regardless, while plenty of people still openly stared at them, it was with far more curiosity than wariness now.

Internally, Kaius thought that it was Porkchop doing the heavy lifting. Without his barding on display, his coat was revealed in all its gleaming density. He caught sight of more than one child step towards his brother with wide eyes full of delight, only to be snatched back by aghast parents a moment later. More than a few women too.

“What are you smiling about?” Porkchop asked, as he watched a young lady stare at his brother with open want.

Kaius martialed a straight face. “I’ve just watched about fifteen people in the last few blocks who looked like they’d sell their left leg if it meant they got a chance to pet you.”

“What?” Porkchop asked, looking over the moving crowds with curiosity. “Why?”

“Your fur.” he explained, still struggling not to laugh like a mad man in the middle of the street.

“Oh, that makes sense. It is very healthy.” Porkchop said plainly, though Kaius could feel the wave of satisfaction emanating across their bond. It was nearly enough to make him crack.

Shaking his head, he led them onwards, snaking their way towards the caravaneer’s association. They kept to the main streets, the wide arterial pathways that were flooded with carts and foot traffic, even if it was a more winding route. Undoubtedly the smaller roads would be more direct, but even if he knew the basics of the city, he was in no way as familiar with navigating its labyrinth as a local.

Turning a corner, Kaius spotted someone familiar looming head and shoulders out of the crowd, platinum hair shining like a beacon in the summer sun.

Kaius elbowed his brother lightly. “I think that’s Ianmus! He didn’t manage to get a caravan after all, or at least not yet.”

“Let’s hope he’s not just waiting for passage then.” Porkchop replied.

A moment later, Ianmus spotted them from down the street. He raised his hand in a friendly wave, making his way through the thrum of bodies to approach them as his pack thumped against his back.

“I think we might be in luck. He looks a little too hurried for a simple hello.” Kaius mused, smiling as he led the way down the street.

“Kaius!” Ianmus called as soon as he was within normal speaking distance. “I was just coming to ask after you.” The magi gave Porkchop a subtle nod of acknowledgement.

Stepping in, he gave the man a clap on the back. “Ianmus, it’s good to see you. How goes securing your passage to the Dukedoms?” he asked.

“We thought you might have left already.” Porkchop added.

A pained smile crossed Ianmus’s face, the mage stepping off to the side of the street to less impede the flow of traffic.

“Not…great. The association was flooded, and caravans were completely booked for months. They doubled the guard positions on each one, but I didn’t have the levels to secure a working trip.” he explained.

Kaius schooled his expression, trying to keep the victorious joy that flooded his chest from showing on his face.

“Ahhh, that’s a shame. I was worried that might happen.” Kaius said with a sympathetic shake of his head. “How about I treat you to lunch? I actually have something I wanted to ask you about, and we passed an eatery earlier that looked pleasant enough.”

Ianmus’s face brightened, even as he had to rapidly press himself against the stone wall of the building they stood under to avoid a sudden rush of people.

“That sounds great, actually. I had something I wanted to ask you as well. Where did you have in mind?” the magi asked, schooling his expression quickly into a remarkable mask of calm and friendly interest.

That piqued his interest. Afterall, he’d gotten the measure of the man on their journey together, and he didn’t seem the type that would beg after coin.

“A place back in the delver’s quarter.” he pointed over his shoulder. “Not too far from here, shall we?” he asked, keeping his thoughts to himself. He’d find out either way soon enough.

“Let’s!” Ianmus said, falling into step with him as they turned to make their way back down the street.

A groan of relief slipped from Porkchop’s mouth, startling a few nearby residents, though they quickly calmed when Porkchop showed complete disinterest in them. His brother’s gaze was razor focused on their path ahead.

“Thank the Matriarchs, I’m starving.”

….

Seated at an exterior table at the edge of the eatery’s space so that Porkchop could join them, Kaius smiled at the waiter who handed him an earthen plate with a heaping sandwich on top of it. He’d spotted someone eating one on their way from the artificer, and the heaping pile of meat, relish, and salad had been more than enough to clinch the deal for him.

He’d even managed to get them to give Porkchop one of his own, though he got the feeling it was an only moderately unusual request considering where the eatery was located.

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The waiter smiled back, the faintest hint of pink spreading across her pale cheeks before she hurried back into the store.

Taking a quick bite of his meal, Kaius chased it with a sip of his beer before he turned his attention back to Ianmus.

“So, look, I thought I would just cut to the chase.” Ianmus said cautiously, taking a break from his own sandwich. “Ever since we separated a couple of days ago, I haven’t been able to get that fight with the irontusk out of my head, and the thought just kept churning when I found out I wouldn’t be able to leave Deadacre for some time.”

Kaius’s stomach sank. The man was rattled, he had to be. Of course he would be, how could he have been so stupid? No sane man wanted to fight something twice his level and twenty times his size. No way the man would join him now.