It was an unusually calm and dark night, missing the salty sea breeze that usually helped cleanse the stench of the slums. Baal took great care as he navigated the labyrinthine streets and alleyways, blending with the long shadows cast between the few and far between working streetlamps.

As the branch manager, it would not do for people to notice him personally travelling through the slums.

Nothing kills one’s reputation like a rumor, especially one that could make seemingly limitless accusations, no matter the actual truth of the matter.

Granted, if anyone knew the actual truth of most things he dealt with, he would wish they were spreading baseless or wild rumors instead. While controlling the general flow of information is not too hard, there comes a certain point where it would be impossible as well. Especially if the source is somewhere completely unexpected, which is precisely why he took extra care when travelling anywhere one wouldn’t expect an individual of repute or importance to go.

However, he didn’t have much choice in the matter. When the Lord calls for you, you come.

Baal’s shadow flitted seamlessly through the shadows and past the assorted denizens milling through the streets. It was still early enough in the night that the street walkers were just starting to come out, while many of the day laborers were hustling in to the nearest taverns or back to their shacks.

Before long, he finally reached the Skeever and the Bear, the lantern hanging off its large sign illuminated the quieter street with a brightness uncharacteristic of the rest of the slums, while beams of warm light shone out from its barred windows and a raucous laughter echoed into the street.

He hesitated by the street corner, just outside the reach of the light from the Inn and tavern, his hands trembling slightly before he clenched his fists.

This… is where he lives? But why would he want me to come to an inn full of people? Why would he live in an inn? Even the upper floor seems occupied… this place… it feels too normal?

His thoughts were quickly cut off with a loud bang, as the door to the Skeever and the Bear flung open and a large, burly, red-faced man came flying out of it and tumbled clumsily into the street!

“YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST COME TO OUR INN, RIP MY SLEEVE, AND NOT PAY ME BACK? I JUST GOT THIS DRESS TODAY! TO-DAY! I CAN’T EVEN REPLACE IT AGAIN UNTIL NEXT WEEK!”

Baal immediately recognized the little girl in her signature purple dress as she stormed out of the door with a fork in hand, almost charging towards the man. With a yelp, he staggered to his feet and attempted to dash away down the road, crashing into some crates as he put some distance between himself and Diane. She seemed content enough to stop and glare.

Once he thought he reached a safe distance, he turned around and screamed back: “Fukin’ ‘Ell, I don’t need ta waste my coin in a shit hole served by monsters pretendin’ ta be girls!”

A fresh howl of laughter burst from the inn, as a dozen faces from various races popped up in the windows. From amidst the crowd, someone loudly shouted “AHHH SHIT, HE’S DONE IT NOW!”

With a screech, Diane loosed the fork from her hand, which blew right past the drunks face before catching the hanging sign of an abandoned building and pinning it to the wall further down the street.

The drunk man blinked slowly for a minute, as his brain struggled to catch up.

“Damn bitch! Yer gonna regret that one-a dees ‘ere days!” The drunkard bellowed his slurred speech as best he could, while running off again, trying to desperately cover up his freshly moistened pants.

Diane stormed back through the door, slamming it shut behind her, as the crowd disappeared from the windows, drunk and laughing up a storm.

That is definitely her. Where she goes, the Lord is definitely not far. He has to be here… I… can’t keep him waiting. Perhaps, once I am seen here… I could just excuse it as visiting one of our promising guild members? Even one as astute as Ivar wouldn’t be able to pry too far, although he would already recognize them from the goblin subjugation mission.

Baal took a deep breath before he approached the door.

Somewhere like this… being too careful itself would itself come off as too suspicious. I may as well play along as a normal patron anyways, the risk of anyone else here recognizing me should be low enough.

One more deep breath in, one more deep breath out. Baal steeled his gaze forward, and boldly opened the door and strode in to the Skeever and the Bear, and immediately froze. His vision momentarily felt like it had split, and his brain felt a very strange sensation running along it. He could barely hear the door shut behind him, and after a quick blink, he realized the inn was silent and empty except for a single boy, quietly cleaning a large pewter mug with an incredibly unnerving grin on his face.

With the next blink, he felt an extremely disconcerting feeling, as he both saw the inn full of people, and simultaneously completely empty.

“It will be much easier for you if you either pick a side to see, or let each eye see a different side. Your mind should be able to handle that much. Regardless, I have been waiting for you, Baal. I do hope your little contract is alright?”

Thistleman’s overtly pleasant tone was utterly at odds with the sheer venom bursting from his face. Baal’s vision began to split between each of his eyes, on one hand he could see Lord Dagon laughing and passing Diane a large tray laden with food. In the other, all the lights in the inn flickered and receded behind an oppressive darkness emanating from someone who could hardly be conceived to be the same person.

Fuck today! Just… fuck! I knew Eric seemed too quiet after I got back! I should have pressed him about it, instead of rushing off after he told me Thistleman wanted to speak with me!

Baal closed his eyes as he dropped onto one knee and deeply bowed his head. At the very least, he was fairly certain nobody would see him here. On top of whatever the Lord wanted to discuss with him, he would clearly first need to address whatever offense Eric had done…