Chapter 125: Dead-end?

For some reason, Ned's heartbeat skipped a bit upon hearing Master Woods' words: "I might know a distinguishing Roy."

The blonde man stopped. He never said another word. He skipped his fingers on the table as if waiting for something Ned had to offer. The forties or fifties of wrinkles hang under his brown eyes. Eyebrows lined with blonde hair, and an impassive look glared at Ned.

Ned opened his pouch. Slid twenty, but the man shook his head, which made Ned put thirty silver on the table.

Master Woods smiled dryly as he put the silver under the table. He then formed a tower with his fingers touching his chins.

"There's only one Roy," Master Woods had said. "That came into mind. According to old Deylan. He is Roy of Moorkeg, around fifties or sixties. Then, if I could match the description to that of the man I had in mind, then, he must be the Roy you are looking, Ned Sskat."

"Who?" Ned said eventually.

Master Woods wore a brilliant white robe, with black lining at the edges, and he seemed to have a necklace that was hidden under his robe. "House of Woods," he said. "Wasn't just for founding smaller houses. In order to protect our House, we needed to expand our security. And... "

He stood by sliding the chair against the well-polished floor and walked to nearby furniture; a wooden cupboard with six drawers from bottom to top. Master Woods, which by now Ned would assume that the owner of the House, pulled one of the drawers at the very top.

After some time, he pulled a paper. Checked by opening the folded paper and put it back to the drawer for he didn't found what he was looking for. He then pulled another, opened it, and with a quick 'ah' he closed the drawer without putting back the paper.

Once more he checked the paper after he took the time to sit back. Under the light of the stone beneath the yellow stained roof, Ned could see the old paper with a cramped surface, and ragged edges and a silhouette of a man portraits the center. Until the paper was flipped around, Ned couldn't clearly see if who or why was the man in the portrait necessary for his quest to find Roy.

Eventually, he gave the paper to Ned. "Five years ago," he then said. "Outside the capital, in a town called Moorkeg. The town razed under fire, no one left: young, old, abled man, father, mother. Aside from him." Directing his voice to the paper Ned has been holding.

The paper was a poster—wanted poster. A man: messy, long, and dark hair, that covered half of his black and troubled eyes. Wrinkles on his forehead. A small process of a wound on his neck. They were drawn with black ink, which made it more intimidating. At the top of the man was a label that read WANTED, in Kingdom's written language. At the bottom of the portrait of the man was writing also in bold kingdom's language: DEAD or ALIVE. And the bottom of the dead or alive label was his name: ROY ELDON of Moorkeg with digits that corresponds to his bounty: Twenty-five thousand silver.

It must be him. Ned thought as he memorized every inch of Roy's facial structure—which he doesn't need to, but he felt that he needed to etch every detail Roy has to satisfy himself.

"Is he dead?" Ned asked, putting the paper upside down and sliding it back to Master Woods.

"I hoped so," he said nonchalantly. "During the fire. One of the traveling merchants witnessed him ran around the blazing town and left unscathed.

The capital then hunted him down, even hunters participated. After the Great House of Soak did an investigation, it was later found out that he was a retired gold rank hunter from the capital, and Maker only know why he moved to Bogblot, but after he retires he settled in the town of Moorkeg, and from time to time he trained rookie hunter to earn extra income. After he fled, hunters wounded him, and trapped him in a forest at the island of Du'kki. After that, reports say that the burning man fled inside the deeper parts of the island in the Mountain of Du'kki and never to be seen until now."

Ned listened and frowned. So he wasn't dead. Why would the Knight wanted me to look for him? Ned thought as he unknowingly ran his finger under his lips. A gesture, not a fourteen-year-old kid should have done. In fact, he shouldn't be inside the House of Woods talking to the patriarch of the House, asking about fleeing fugitives, and throwing silvers here and there.

This made Master Wood gazed Ned with amusement and confusing eyes. "You shouldn't be here, kid," he said with eyes peering Ned. "Month from now, the academy will open, did you join one? If you did, depending on your traveling condition it might take you four to five months going to the nearest academy which is in the other region."

Ned shook his head and stood, he clipped his hand near his chest and bowed. "Thank you for the information," he said. "But, I needed to find the man on the poster, if he isn't dead, then he is inside the island." Ned spun and walked behind him at the door and—

"You don't intend to enter the mountain of Du'kki?" Master Woods asked.

Before Ned could reach for the door, he was stopped by Master Woods spun around to face him, and said: "I just don't intend. I will."

For the first time after they met, Master Woods laughed: short, rapid, and almost a burst. "Kid," he said, lines scattered on his forehead. "You really are not from here. In order to enter the island, you need to be a Hunter. Monster hunting is the main source of Bogmoor's income. Everything that is related to hinting is managed by the Hunters Guild Association. Not even merchants or nobles are allowed to enter the island."

Ned remained standing as he pondered things. Soz its a dead-end. Ned thought sighing. Looking at the planks of woods lined to make a floor. Information, I needed information. "What about the library?" He asked.

"Nobles, hunters above rank silver, some privileged merchants are the only people allows to enter the library," Master Woods explained. "And the capital's library is located inside the Canton of Commerce. Which—by any chance, you knew someone from the inside. Then you can't enter it unless you are—again—a hunter ranked at least silver or a noble. Give it up, kid." Master Woods stopped by sneering.

Still a dead-end. Ned shook his head. "Master," And whispered out his thoughts. I needed to be a Hunter to join and in order to be a Hunter's I need to finish academy. Ned breathes a long and warm air.

A hunter. He thought. His eyes gleamed silver. That's it. "Companion," Ned said. "Companions are allowed to enter, yes?"

"Persistent, are you kid?" Master Woods said, shaking his head. "Yes, you can enter as Companion. But are you up to it?" You look, without your leather bags you are skinny."

Even after his workouts, Ned was still skinny. I really need to eat a lot. Ned sighed. But now, I have a way to enter the island. "Where do I—no, how do I become a Companion?"

"Hunter's Guild Association," Master Woods replied. "The association's main branch was under the great cliff of Bogmoor. I could make you a letter... but... "

"Silver of course," Ned finished Master Woods words.

"Correct, a hundred will suffice," Master Woods said, rubbing his index finger with his thumb. "But, once you became a Companion, you must strictly follow the rules. Most of the time, you will be with your Hunter, and leaving them is not allowed. You'll find more of it once you have a contract."

Ned nodded. Went back to the seat across Master Woods, reached for his pouch, and with a thought, gold coin appeared clipping between his fingers, he then slid it across Master Woods.

Master Woods accepted the coin with a smile. "Come back here tomorrow," he said. "The night is old. We both need to rest. I'm sure a kid like you needed that."

With the cold breeze coming from the circular window behind Master Woods entered, Ned decided to call it a night. He stood, gave a small bow, and left.

Ned exited the House of Woods with the Upper Wind month's wind blowing the crowded street of Bogmoor. It was late at night, yet, it felt like this was the time wherein people of different statuses were fully awake. Taverns, inns, shops, food stalls lined the streets and alleys that could accommodate thousands of the public.

After he filled his belly with meat, and some refreshments. After he roamed around looking for a place to stay. Ned eventually found an inn ten to twenty minutes of walking near the House of Woods.

Ned was confused by not smelling the people around him. The smell went off from time to time, and sometimes, to his surprise, Ned could smell the reek coming out from their body.

After he entered the inn and paid fifty silver coins for a night Ned was lucky to have enough silver and gold that made his travels with ease. But he knew that his resources won't last long. Sooner or later, he needed to work to keep on moving forward. And being a companion would save him some time.

He entered the room with a thought of uncertainty. He sighed. I needed to make sure to find Roy. Looks like—Ned thought and continued by whispering: "I will become a porter."