Snippet #2814418

Collen ran through the city streets pushing the now empty wine cart. He had been sure to let another crew member know he'd be gone for a short moment just in case the Captain decided he wanted to use him for something. The boy still tried to be quick on his errands, and the empty cart was light and easy to push.

”EY! Get out of the way!” Roared a voice behind him.

Collen's head whipped back towards the source. ”Dad? What is he doing here?” There said with a scowl on his face.

As his eyes looked for the source of the sound, who turned out to be a man he didn't know, Collen missed a crack in the cobblestones beneath his feet which caused him to stumble and push the cart which slipped from his grip and went sailing down the inclined road ahead.

Cursing like a sailor he got back up from the ground and run after the cart.

Meanwhile...

"Dammit all." He growled.

Tora had wasted a good chunk of time attempting to gather more information. Nobody else knew anything. So he'd have to do some more dirty work later in order to confirm his suspicions.

Lost in thought, he turned a corner and was greeted by the sensation of something slamming into his legs. His feet were thrown to the side causing him to fall on the object, a wooden cart, tipping it onto its side and cracking the length of one of the wooden panels. Tora rolled onto his back and then quickly onto his side and to his feet with one hand on the hilt of his sword.

Collen run after the cart but didn't able to catch it in time to stop it from hitting someone. Collen barely gave the man a glance as he didn't feel the need to apologize to the stranger for such a minor incident. Instead he grabbed the cart and pulled it closer before spotting the crack. "This can't be real." He muttered under his breath.

Turning his head towards the man. "Do you always break other people's things?" He asked sharply.

The instant Tora saw that it was a child chasing the cart, his hand lifted away from the hilt of the sword and he stood to brush himself off. At Collen's question, Tora glanced down at him.

"My apologies. I didn't see it coming."

He glanced to the cart, noting its age and the crack now along its length.

"Was it important to you?"

"At least Captain's wine bottles are on the ship," he thought, subtly shivering from the thought of breaking one and facing the Captain's wrath. He would prefer an angry Gus over an angry Captain any time.

"Someone lent it to me." He replied.

Tora appraised the young man's response and gave a subtle nod of satisfaction.

"I see. Again, I offer my apologies. Shall I come with you to give it back so I can help explain its current state?"

Collen shrugged. "Whatever. Do what you want."

He didn't wait any longer as he grabbed the cart and continued to push it towards the inn. The quicker it was done, the better. Collen kept up a good pace as he jogged towards the inn while paying more attention to his surroundings. Tora followed him closely at a brisk jog, and neither of them exchanged any more words even as they arrived and opened the door. As the boy stepped inside he gave a small wave of hand at Gus behind the counter, who waved back to him with a smile as he began walking over.

"Hey kiddo. Thanks for bringin' the cart-... Uh, what's that?" He asked, pointing to the crack.

"The fault for that would be mine, sir. In my clumsiness I fell on and damaged your cart."

"Ah. Well, it seems in tact enough to still work. A quick nail or two should do it."

"Do you require any compensation for the damages?"

"Mm? Nah. Thanks though. Hey, kiddo. You should run along. Don't need ol' nasty face giving you a hard time now, yeah?"

As Collen gave another wave and dashed out the door, Tora followed Gus to the counter as he put the cart away behind it.

"So ya fell on it, eh?"

"Indeed. My apologies."

"Heh. Yer a good lad, aren't ya."

Gus turned around and leaned on the country looking at Tora.

"Ya don't seem the type to just fall like that."

"How so, sir?"

"With a sword like that, and how you've stood with perfect balance since the moment I saw you walk in, there's no way yer that "clumsy" ta just fall on the cart."

"Hm."

"It's not a big deal. Like I said, the cart's still usable and a good nail or two will make sure it stays that way for a good while."

"I see. My apologies for the charade."

"Heh."

Gus took a swig of water.

"Ya know, the boy's a good kid. He don't have anyone really lookin' out fer him. So yer little act to try and take the blame is enough fer me ta overlook this."

"How so?"

Gus looked around the room to make sure nobody was listening before leaning in a bit closer.

"The boy's in the service of the Captain. Lohran or whatever his name is. Kid's been left alone so far. But that guy's reputation is long enough ta cover the entire floor of my tavern. It's only a matter o' time before he does something ta hurt the boy."

"Is that so?"

It was Tora's turn to lean forward on the counter and whispered to Gus.

"I'll be candid with you. I've heard much about the Captain and have come to ascertain the truth about him for myself. If he's as bad as I've heard, I have every intention of ending his life. Given what you've said, it seems I've no choice but to escalate the pace of my investigation. He's leaving soon, is he not?"

"Yeah. There's a lady in town, some crazy map lady and her daughter, who are going ta "discover a new world." And they got the Captain ta agree ta take em there. They leave in two days er so."

"I understand. Thank you. Do you know where I can find this woman and her daughter?"

"They're at another tavern just down the road, last I heard. Map girl is the talk of the town these days for the crazy crap she's always spouting. Hard not to know where she is at any given time."

Tora chuckled.

"My thanks, sir. I'll be on my way."

As Tora turned to leave, Gus stopped him.

"One thing, lad. If ya go after the Captain, watch yerself. He and his crew ain't exactly known fer playin' fair or accepting open challenges with grace and all that."

"I wasn't expecting anything such. But you have my thanks."

With that, Tora left the tavern and Gus returned to cleaning the glasses and dishes of the patrons.

"Good luck lad."