City Pogente

PoV Vincent

- Sir Vincent -The servant turned to me. - Your father ask if you have any business after training?

Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I said

- No, after training, I'll just walk around the city. Maybe I'll go to the Noble Alan.

-Alright, I'll give it to your father. -The servant bowed and left the training hall. After practicing for a while, I decided to refresh myself.

Dressed in noble robes, I went outside. The autumn wind cooled my hot body. The townspeople went about their business. Here and there I saw people in noble robes talking to each other. Our city is big, there are a lot of nobles. Especially a lot of knights like me. It is very important for me to strengthen relationships with different people so that later there will be someone to rely on.

Perhaps I will go to the Noble Alan today as usual. When I arrived at my friend's estate, the guards at the entrance recognized me and took me to Alan.

He was sitting in the garden and just drinking tea. Unlike me, he is a man with extra weight and a kind face. Noticing me, he stood up and said

- Who do I see! Sir Vincent, why didn't you say you wanted to visit me? I would have prepared for your arrival.

I smiled at my friend and patted him on the shoulder and said

- You don't have to say that, my friend. I just decided to go to you after training.

-Unlike me, you have to work hard. It's not easy to be a noble of the sword. I'm lucky compared to you, I already have the title of baron on my hands

Alan clicked his finger and the servant quietly came over and poured me tea. After taking a sip, I replied

-You're right. Very soon I will have to get a noble title by spilling blood, just like my father. Though I'm not even a warrior yet. I can't imagine what I'll do if the nomads attack. Although what should they rob, this year the harvest is abnormally small.

- Don't worry about it, as long as the nomads are separated, they won't launch a full-scale attack on submission. And the harvest, it happens sometimes. My dad said the harvest is not so terrible so we have to reduce taxes.

-That's right. - I looked at the sky. Thick clouds covered the sky, winter is coming -Is there any interesting news?

- There is one very interesting one. Baron Ludwin has concluded the engagement of his son and the daughter of Count Gilbert.

- You mean Gabriel? Our Gabriel?

- Yes. They say he somehow pleased both the family of the Count and the daughter of the count. And Baron Ludwin offered something to the Count, and he agreed to it.

- What a lucky guy!

-Don't even tell.

- Were there news like this?

- Well, nothing interesting enough. The Marquis Bondu trading company doubled the reward for the head of some merchant. The one who, according to rumors, burned the cart and ran away in an unknown direction, with the goods. Increased from 5 dharmas(120 dinars) to 10 dharmas(240 dinars) Also in…

Alan talks to a lot of people, all the latest news is already in his head. Listening to various news and rumors, my eyes slowly began to close together…

- Vincent? Are you sleeping? - Alan's voice woke me up from a dream

- Uh? No, no, I was just thinking a bit.

-Okay. They also say the Marquis Bondu tripled the amount for information about the location of the ghost merchant. They've been hunting for him for a month now, but they haven't found him.

-Wasn't he just a charlatan?

- I thought so too, but my friend bought a bird from him and was very pleased, I think you can guess who I'm talking about. And the fact that such money is not given for the location of a charlatan.

-So that's the thing. And I was thinking about what all these ladies are talking about.

- He's acting covertly. His people are looking for buyers themselves. I don't know by what criteria, but they ask customers to buy a special pass. After that, they may know where the store is, but they keep the method a secret. Details are unknown. The interrogated witnesses speak very vaguely. I don't know the details

- Mmm. Maybe we should try to get there?

- I knew you'd say something like that. I have an idea where they might be.

-Where did you get it?

- Well... I told you that my friend bought something there, so he got a key from them. He refused to give details but mentioned that although everything sounds dangerous, they are people of their word. I don't know what that could mean. - Alan looked at the servant and said. -Tell Noble Gabriel it's time.

...

The noble Gabriel was a well-groomed young man. He exuded cheerfulness

-Heya, Vincent.

- I didn't expect to hear that you have such luck! Well, congratulations!

- Hehe, thanks. Everything turned out very favorably for me. My father had been in contact with the count's family for a long time, but couldn't persuade a Count to engagement, because he thought we are still strangers to each other. At the same time, I start to contact Felicia. About a month ago I gave her a bird, now she fall in love with it. My father finally convinced the Count to my engagement with her.

-Heh. Well, newlywed, take us to your lucky store.

-Let's go.

Following Gabriel, we walked circles around the market. He wasn't looking for a specific place, he was just walking around the store. At one point he stopped and said

- I feel it. It's there-He pointed to the corner. We silently went there, inside there was an inconspicuous sign with the inscription * Pet Store*. We exchanged glances and knocked on the door. A small slit for the eyes opened, the man there looked at us for a couple of seconds, then there was a click sound.

- Come in.

Once inside, I couldn't help but be surprised. I turned to Gabriel in an uncertain voice

-Is this, really the ghost merchant's shop?

-I guess so. The last time I visited they had a good store. But as I remember it was destroyed due to a fire a month ago.

I shivered. Suddenly I had a feeling that being here is life-threatening. The highest nobles definitely had their hands on it.

No, I need to calm down. Exhaling deeply, I surveyed the surroundings

It was modest inside, the lighting was scant sunlight from the windows. The birds were sitting quietly in cages, it was a little confusing. The one who seemed to be the owner of the store (judging by the luxurious clothes) looked at us and said with a smile

-Greetings, I am glad to welcome you to my little shop. Would you like to buy something?

- Uh, I would like to see if there is any bird for hunting

-We have an eagle, but it's not cheap.

- How much?

-1 kroon.

From such a price, I involuntarily swallowed.

- Is there a cheaper option?

- It is very difficult to raise good hunting birds. You must understand. If you wish, I can give you a simple bird for 4 dharmas. They may not be designed for hunting, but the ladies are crazy about them.

I looked at Gabriel. He was examining the birds in cages and talking to Alan trying to decide which one to buy. It might give me a chance, so, reluctantly, I buy this damn bird.

I hope Father will find a good use for this.

- Thanks for the purchase. - The owner gave me a cage with a bird. The cage was a simple wooden one.

After about 10 minutes, my friends also bought one for themselves, saying goodbye, I asked

- And how can I find you later?

- I can give you this service for 1 dharma. After that, you can easily find the store.

- How does it work?

- It's our secret. Do you want to buy this service?

- Hmm, I guess so.

- It will take about 20 minutes. You can leave your product here for now. Are you also willing to buy a service? -He turned to Alan.

Alan refused this offer.

- Okay, come with me.

They took me to a small room, gave me something soft in my hand, and asked me to absorb it. It tastes like meat, although the taste of herbal medicine is also felt. Apparently, to hide the smell of herbs, the taste of the meat was added.

-Then what?

- Wait until it works. I recommend you to lie down.

- And why do I... need it…

Suddenly my whole body lost control of itself. Consciousness blurred and I almost fell to the ground, fortunately, a guard grabbed me and gently put me on the ground

...

PoV Murad

John looking at the sleeping noble asked

- I suppose that's all for today?

-Yes. They can start an attack by evening today. You'd better go. I'll take care of the rest myself.

-We can't hide like this forever, especially since the higher nobles are getting closer and closer. I suppose we can't run with the money on hand.

- It's nothing, it's more important for you to save your life. I have already achieved my goal. Get ready to leave town in a few days.

- OK. I'll go then.

John hurried out of the room.

In a short month, I was able to get in touch with many nobles. They will bring me the latest information. Birds can deliver information, but information from them is not the main thing. More importantly, now I have worms of connection in the heads of nobles or, at least their servants.

Thanks to this information, we managed to avoid capture. For example, one of the persecutors is a servant of the Marquis Bondu, due to the fact that the Marquis trusts him, I can get a lot of useful information in time. However, each time they act faster and faster.

If John doesn't leave town soon, I'm afraid he won't be able to leave alive.