Chapter 174: Meeting Her

"People saw it, Ned," Quintin said, drumming fingers over the table. "I saw it, I was there. Too late, but, I was there. I know it was you, I saw you here three, four days ago? Fuck the booze."

Ned frowned. Quintin the drunkard, saw him approached the tavern, saw him when he was slumping like an idiot in the corner of the tavern, smelling booze. He must be good, too good for an idiot. He was a hunter, that's why, and Ned felt too good a hunter he was.

"So, what now?" Ned said, not a hint of childish voice. He frowned, looking both at Master Claire and Quentin. They were talking about me even after I came over, Ned thought.

"Who do you work for?" Quintin said, looking up at Ned. The drumming stopped, his dagger gleamed under the orange light. Behind them, guests murmured with a decreasing voice.

"Kid," Master Claire said, scratching the scar under his right eye "Answer the man. We wanted to know who we are dealing here."

"Too young to be Ghostbloods," Quintin said. "Yet, too old as an urchin spy. Able to afford a room"—looking at Master Claire with those brown eyes—"and has killed a goblin of Evolved form even Silver Ranked might have a hard time too."

"If," Master Claire said, looking at Quintin. "He was from someone's House, sent to spy on Soak's. Then it will be a bad thing. He saw you here, Tin."

"I don't have any idea what you two are talking about," Ned replied, leaning over the table closer to the two. "And yes. I did kill Gog—no, the goblin. But, that was because he was already wounded."

"No, Ned," Quintin said, raising a finger to make a point. "I said 'defeated', not killed. The goblin is alive, held captive inside the Hunter's Guild. As to where that's confidential."

You've said too much, Ned thought. That goblin's tough, tougher than Gazul. Luckily he wasn't a Hybrid.

"Also," Quintin added. "You're not lying, I know I tested you, mentioning Ghostblood didn't stir anything inside you. Not even a twitch." He smiled.

"Then," Ned replied, retracting himself off the table. "Why call me here? Why ask me? What do you want?"

"I wanted to make sure what I'm hauling in, kid," Master Claire said, looking up at Ned. "Better safe than dead."

"Or tortured," Quintin added, smiling. White teeth gleamed under the light.

He was too far from the guy Ned had first met. Shaggy hair, uncleaned cloth, saliva drooling. Too far. Hardly the same. Yet, the air around him was regal. Who are you? Ned thought. Soak he said, must be the son, perhaps someone closer to the Great House of Soak.

"I'll be leaving then," Ned said, turning around.

Su'aya breezed the tavern. Delivering dishes of some sort, she smiled at Ned after meeting the latter's eyes. Ned nodded in response.

"Kid," Master Claire said. "Be wary of House Tarragon, they are not what you think they are."

Ned frowned. "Why?" He said over his shoulder. Couldn't hold the urge of waiting for a response, he spun around, facing both once again. "Have you been spying on me?"

"Told you," Master Claire said. "I'm just making sure what I'm hauling in. You're a traveler kid, a rich one to say, I don't know how long you are staying. But, do not bring those traitor's dust inside my tavern."

Ned frowned, looking at the scarred soldier. Quentin raised a hand, calling for Su'aya.

"Do you want me to leave then?"

"No, kid," Master Claire remarked. "I'm just telling you to choose who your attentions are clashing with." He then nodded, gesturing to halt the conversation.

Ned left without leaving too much discord, he was right in some ways. Ned already made some ties with House Tarragon, as of now, they were the closest to Ned's quest. Whether he liked it or not, he needed their help. Yet, he barely knew what House Tarragon was. Were they allied toward the Crown? Remember, they were once the Royal House, barely able to stand on their feet, and now, almost losing to other Houses. Ned was somewhat in the middle of something he doesn't have the slightest idea.

Ned stepped out the Forgotten Pint onto the wide and winding road of Sudden Plate. Just like any other road, the road leads to the center, then broke out in different intersection that would end, if not on the swamp then onto the sea and forest.

The rain muffled the sounds of the crowd and carriages over the stony road. Making the area feel isolated.

Moments later, Ned took a carriage. After half an hour of turning and stopping and handing House paper, Ned arrived at the center of the city.

The rain wasn't strong, but enough to make the hunters walked the fountain with drops of liquid flowing off their clothes. The fountain, which now Ned learned as the Fountain of Mark (since it marked the center of the Sudden Plate City, or maybe even marked where Hunter's gather the most) spun with a diameter of almost fifteen meters. Circling the fountain were wooden boards, that hunters could take on request. Quests were given by the Association, depending on the rank was the position of the quests on the board. To Ned's left, the highest paper pinned at the top were Grade As and Bs, bottom were Cs. The next board was the same, As atop Bs at the bottom. As for the highest grade quest, Ned only assumed it was given from the inside of Association—which he doesn't have access to. Ned wasn't a hunter, nor a student of an academy. As far as he knew, and as far as people knew about him, he was a traveler striking silver line between luck and regret as a Companion.

"Third Hunter's board," Ned said over the muffled voices of the crowd. He turned, there, to his left was the Third Hunter's board. Questing post clipped, some hung. Hunters walked along with the board, scanning for quests. One hunter pulled a Grade D quests then ran toward his team of four people, a puddle of water splash along with its boots. Behind the boards were iron railing that divides the fountain away from the road. Bricks, wooden, and the cemented building came into view as towering around the fountain. Not far from Ned, to his right, was the Hunter's Guild Association building of Sudden Plate, still adorned with bushes and palm trees that swayed against the breeze.

No Sasani stood the third Hunter's board, not a cast of her shadow. Of course, Ned thought, looking behind the board. The board was rectangular, with a gap at the bottom, that stood with the help of a strong wooden pole. There, at the gap, Ned saw the boots close to familiarity. Ned walked, passing the crowd, earning a glance as he doesn't wear any necklace. And he looked too imposing as a Companion with him clad in black to black clothing. The boots weren't spared with the black outfit. Ned doesn't care, he strode along with the drizzle of rain, splash on the ground as hunters walked passing him. As far as Ned could stretch his memory, no one knew him here. In the city bustling of people, of hunters, with fewer criminals or pirates or outlaws and—

"You!" The voice so loud it disregarded the rain pouring over his shoulder. Ned spun around before he could reach the third Hunter's board, boots loomed behind the board. But the voice halted Ned.

"You," Ned said in response to the voice. Ned recognized the man. Liv he was, hair seemed different, dark hair with a streak of brown, bow slung behind him like a leather bag, and the eyes. Ned could forget the nose, the hair, but the eyes of a man desperate enough to win—that, Ned couldn't forget. He could change his appearance, but not the eyes. His right shoulder exposed, leather straps hang his waist and a dagger behind. A Rouge he is. Ned frowned. This is hardly a guise at all, Ned thought, looking at Liv with furious eyes—black pupils boring Ned.

"Yes, you!" Liv said, gritting teeth. He hissed within his words. "I won't forget what you did!"

"It's a game," Ned said, no response of hate or grudge could be seen on his face. "I believe it is Liv, right, Liv?"

"That's Livitiran Arnsol Sol of House Sol for you," Liv said, pointing a finger across Ned's chest. Wooden necklace turning dark as the water sipped in through. "And I am proud to say we are the closest ally to Soa—"

Ned spun around and left the mumbling Liv. He proceeds behind the hunter's board. There, he saw Sasani—no. Sasani in Swift disguise, behind another mask.

"Ned," Sasani in Swift said, voice muffled, forcing herself to sound like a man in his thirties. It won't work on Ned though. Somehow, Ned smiled perceiving Sasani behind the mask, blushing.

"W-what?" Swift said, almost forgetting to round her voice.

"Nothing," Ned said, looking at the cloak she held between her arms.

"You!" Liv said from behind Ned. He sure was pointing to Swift, back to Ned. "Why in the Maker's tongue are you two together?"