Chapter 76: The Town of Dunwich

In a tavern at the Town of Dunwich, there are a lot of adventurers sitting and drinking. Their tables were filled with meat, cheese, grapes, and mugs filled with wine. A tavern barmaid is holding a flagon serving the people in their seats. It smelled like wine, sweat and of food. The hearth near the bar was stirring up an aroma that whisks the stomach of people. The walls of the tavern were rather well-cleaned. The tables are messy. The oil lamps hanging on the walls lit the tavern well. The hubbub of whispers and grumbles made it noisy.

Bruno sat quietly sipping his wine. He came here in this tavern to gather some news. The Warband of the Lady of Saclea has dispersed here. The town of Dunwich, which is near the Capital. They would have gone straight to the Capital if it wasn’t for the recent chaos going around on the roads. In their travel here they encountered Orc war bands. The forces weren’t small and mostly they number greatly.

Even his master wasn’t able to take them on without being injured. The warband was also fatigued and now they are resting in this town to take a breather. He was allowed to roam around while the lady visits other places personally. Bruno newly learned that the lady has fancied visiting orphanages and helping out the churches. He never saw the lady enjoy something other than practice. So that was new for him.

During the journey so far, Bruno found himself starting to drink a lot. He’s been wary of drinking but now he could understand why his brothers and fathers fancied a drink. The road is dangerous, and there were many times he almost fell to sword or spells. Their warband was rather active and so they have seen a lot of danger. The warband was rather distraught, they encountered an Orc Party and it took him all of his courage to stand up against them. Even Lady Sena, who he admired as strong was tired and injured in fighting the Orc Party. Luckily most of the people were saved due to the healer of the band. Susan Cher, who has shown prowess and certainly she was also a strong fighter that he was rather embarrassed when he gets saved.

Bruno liked Susan. He has come to see her as fierce and a beautiful maiden. Many in the warband think that and he shares their opinion. In the warband, Lady Sena was the most beautiful. But to most of them, she was a like a flower on top of a mountain. So mostly their adoration is pointed to Susan, and so far no one has won her heart. Bruno fell for her hard. She has saved him for many times during the road and her strong back was something he has come to adore.

He could not help it. That’s why he’s been trying but so far he has failed. She has a really tough guard and ever since hearing the possible death of her foster brother, she’s been less cheerful. It has been months since she received the news of the warband of the Lady of Asmara perishing against an Orc Pyromancer. He learned that Susan’s foster Brother, the Foolish Magus was possibly killed in that encounter. He doesn’t know if he’s alive or dead. There was no news of him and this made Susan depress. That’s why he has come to this tavern. He’s trying to know and learn about anything. Any rumors, any news would do. It will also help the party of the Lady he serves, and he can drink some beer or wine while at it.

But in the tavern, there was nothing but chatter. There is some news about the southern road. There is also news of a new Paladin. And recently there is news about a narrow-minded Orc Slayer. This Orc Slayer has been killing Orcs from left to right without any stop. The one thing about the Orc Slayer is that she is an ascended knight. At first, Bruno refused to believe it but with how the news of her slaughtering endless Orc parties and war bands with a barbed lance. He has come to believe that the lady of Asmara has turned into an Orc Slayer.

It was the hottest news. That a lady of the Asmara family, known as the Royal Guards of the Kingdom, becoming a hateful Orc Slayer that does nothing but slay them. He heard the details. The lady of Asmara, Valera has gone to the front-lines and does nothing but slay them. There was an Orc horde that came about and pierced the front-lines in the winter they left the city of Mesh. But now that Orc horde has been quelled by her alone.

Most people have lauded her for slaying the Orc. Tales of her first kill and the tales of her barbed lance and dreary blackened armor have spread. There were also tales about her full helmet usually bathed in Orc blood. Some say she wears it to hide her brunt face while some say that she doesn’t remove it out of eagerness to kill more Orcs.

His impression of the lady of Asmara was not like that. He thought of her as a prideful arrogant one that would not act like such a dreary slayer. But it seems the roads have changed that lady. He wondered what happen to her that made her become like that. All he hears is rumors and no truth. He doesn’t know why. He doesn’t what made the lady change. But one thing for sure is that the lady of Asmara was a now well-known person of the continent.

She was an Asmara. She is also a killer of Orcs. So he understood that it obvious that her name would easily spread. Honestly, he would rather have his master’s fame spread too. But somehow, his master, Lady Sena of Saclea was satisfied roaming around the field and roads. At first, her journey would take her straight to the front-lines. But it seems that was no longer the case.

Bruno sauntered along a road that leads to the brokers. In the town of Dunwich, there are information brokers and guilds. The guilds are made of mercenary companies. These companies and information brokers are rather shady but their words are as valuable as a coin. They only existed for a few years but the reputation they had has spread to the point their names are evenly associated with the Bank of Brewrael.

He arrived on the buildings where the brokers are. The buildings were well-made and the carvings on the walls and the sign that seems to attract people made it less shady. He could see various people inside the guild. He didn’t want anything to do with the guild and even if he did, he already tried to. He’s waiting for someone and before long this someone appeared. She had brunette hair, braided, and it reaches her waist. She wore a robe that seems to fit her nicely. It was gray, and the dings and clanging noises she made it obvious she was wearing mail underneath her robe. She carried a staff with the other end having a blade. This person was Susan.

“Oh.”

“Hey,”

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

“There was no need,” she said, carrying her staff with her. “I can take of myself.”

“Indeed, still I was close so I thought I might see you.”

“Did you go drinking?” she smelled the wine on him. “You become quite a drinker...Haven’t you?”

“Yes. The road made me like drinking. And you have become a smoker.”

“Yeah.” she lit the pipe she took out. “I thought this pipe of mine would go unused but it seems that it wouldn’t be. It helps really well.”

“Indeed, well, I prefer wine.”

“Different tastes.” she breathes out the smoke she inhaled from her pipe. “It really calms me, and wine is something that I really am not that fond off.”

“I see.”

He said. In the roads, there are people who amused themselves with either smoke or wine. Bruno became fond of wine while Susan becomes fond with smoking. The only exception was the lady. She amuses herself with either practice or visiting the abandoned children in orphanages. It was quite weird to him.

Above them, the stars glistened. It was night and the lampposts were the only thing that was making illumination. There was no moon today for it was covered by the clouds. Bruno could feel the cold wall pressed on his back. Susan also leaned on the walls. Her arms crossed, while her hand holding the smoking pipe.

“Going to smoke here for a while?”

“I am. I’ll go when I am done”

“I see. I’ll accompany you”

He said. He then crossed his arms.

“Found anything?”

“Nothing, can’t find any trace of my brother.”

“Is he dead?”

“I refuse to think so. I hope he’s alive.”

“It has been months.”

“Indeed. But I won’t stop hoping.”

“He’s your foster brother right?”

‘He is.”

He rubs his forearm and asked.

“Do you love him?”

“I do. But only as a sibling, we grew up together after all and he’s like family to me.”

“I see. Family is family after all. You cannot help but worry about them.

Family, he thought of his own too. His family serves the Saclea and he knew that most of his brothers and relatives are either in their homes or at the front-lines, battling against hordes of nonhumans hoping to bring the defenses down and cross the threshold that separates the north and the south.

He feared for his brothers and relatives. In the end no matter how distant they are. He cannot help but worry about family. His father and ancestors have always believed in the motto that the Saclea had. ‘Family is Family’. No matter how tough the world is, no matter how many enemies are there. Family won’t leave them behind. He adored his family. He liked them enough to pray for them.

The wind caressed his face. He felt the smoke on his nostrils. He turned his eyes to Susan. She wore a sad expression. Her face was serene yet lonely.

“I...” she mumbled. “Worry about him. He’s strong, he fights better than me. But you see his heart is so fragile and glassy. It would break, shatter, and the worst part is that he will keep on living with a broken heart and a broken will. He’s easily influential and his dreams are...twisted.”

He could not comment about that. He just looked at the roads. It was quiet and there was few weapon carrying people walking around. There are also guards. They carry weapons and shields. They move in rows and they seem to be wary all the time. The town of Dunwich is near the capital, and likely there are Orc scouts, and such scouts could even sneak into the town.

“I fear for him.” said Susan, “And the fact that he might be dead or worst, still wandering aimlessly scares me the most. He’s a man outside but on the inside, he’s a broken child.”

“A child...” he said. “Did something happen to him?”

She nodded.

“His father was quite odd, and he inherited most of his quirks. And sadly, he inherited his twisted sense of justice too.”

“Twisted sense of justice?” said Bruno questioningly. “Is his sense of justice... that odd?”

“It is, no, it is more like he doesn’t know what’s good or evil. He merely acts based on what he sees or thinks. No matter how evil, no matter how good, to him, a help is a help.”

“Your brother seems troublesome.”

“He is. That is why I really worry. If he’s alive at least he should send a raven or a message.”

“That would be difficult...considering our dubious location.”

“Yes.”

She said. Her hands stopped, she taps the tobacco out of her pipe and put it away. She then cracked her fingers, and move her back away from the wall.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Bruno said. He then followed behind her back wordlessly.