I stepped out of the alleyway and into the main street, looking around at all the people milling about. I had learned from Marie that it was called Merchant Street since most of the shops were along here. There were a few other streets that intersected with it, but they weren't as busy with people and shops as this one was.
The stench in the air was less here since the wind was blowing in the opposite direction, but there were still stables close by that were adding to it. Since my pets were still busy at work, I needed to get my hands on a map of this city so I could start planning things out, but first, I needed to figure out where this north-side mansion was.
I started walking down the street, looking around at all the people and shops as I passed them by. There weren't many places that looked like they would sell maps, so I was going to have to ask around. Most of the people here were keeping their heads down, but there were a few that looked more friendly milling around as well. They all seemed like they had places to be and things to do, so I wasn't sure if they would have time for me or not.
"Excuse me," I said as I approached a group of three women who all stopped and looked at me curiously. "I am looking for the Grashalor family manor. Do you know where I can find it?"
The women all exchanged a look with each other before one of them, a brunette, stepped forward and shook her head. "I am sorry, but we don't know where that is."
"That is because it doesn't exist," another woman said, and I frowned at her in confusion. The woman had blonde hair pulled up into a bun on the top of her head, and she was holding a basket of bread in one arm.
"What do you mean it doesn't exist?" I asked curiously, and the blonde woman huffed before she started walking away from me.
"It is better if you don't know," the brunette said quietly before she also started to walk away, and I frowned at them as they both walked off in different directions down the street. Something was definitely going on here, and I didn't like it one bit. If the Grashalor family was as powerful as Marie made them out to be, then I needed to be careful.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair before I started walking down the street again, looking around at all the people and shops as I passed them by. There had to be someone here who could help me out, but everyone seemed to either not want to talk about it or didn't know where it was in the first place. After a few more minutes of walking, I finally found someone who was willing to help me out.
"Excuse me," I said as I approached a woman who was walking in the opposite direction as me. She had blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, and she was carrying a bundle of clothes in her arms. "I am looking for the Grashalor family manor. Do you know where I can find it?"
The woman slowly nodded her head before she started walking in the same direction as me, and I frowned at her in confusion. "Follow me," she said quietly, and I did as she asked, following a few steps behind her. She led me down a few streets before we came to a stop in front of a large building that looked like it was abandoned.
"This is it," the woman said quietly as she gestured to the building, and I frowned at it. It looked like it was about to fall over, and there were no lights on inside.
"Are you sure?" I asked skeptically, and the woman slowly nodded her head before she started to walk away.
"Yeah, I am sure," she said over her shoulder before she rounded a corner and was out of sight. I sighed and shook my head as I walked up to the building, looking up at it skeptically. It didn't look like anyone was home, but I supposed it was worth a shot.
I stepped up to the door and knocked, but there was no answer. I tried again, but still no answer. I was about to give up and leave when the door suddenly opened, and I stumbled backward in surprise. A woman with long black hair stood in the doorway, looking at me curiously.
"Can I help you?" she asked in a cold voice, and I nodded my head before I cleared my throat.
"I am looking for the Grashalor family," I said, and the woman's eyes narrowed at me.
"What do you want with them?" she asked in a cold voice, and I tried to think of an excuse before I spoke.
"I am just looking for some information," I said quietly, and the woman's eyes narrowed at me even more. She looked like she was about to say something else when there was a sudden commotion from inside the house, and the woman's eyes widened in surprise.
"What is going on out here?" a woman's voice said, and the woman quickly stepped to the side so that I could see her. She was a large woman with muscles that looked like they were about to burst out of her shirt, along with an impressive rack of boobs to go with them. She had long black hair pulled back into a ponytail, and she was looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
"I am sorry, mother. This woman was just looking for some information," the woman said quickly, and the large woman's eyes narrowed at me.
"What type of information?" she asked in a cold voice, and I took a deep breath before I spoke.
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"I am looking for Hilda," I said quietly, and the large woman's eyes widened in surprise.