89. Sense Able: Wiremu

I decided not to follow the watchers, but I figured one of them would report to the Watch and the other, at a guess, to Störst. Tabitha was smart to take Sione to the warehouse as it would stop any over-enthusiastic people. I am not sure what she plans for this Abigail girl, but I guess we will discuss it before tomorrow's meeting if she turns up.

I let Veneer go completely in the alley behind the tavern and put on a plain work shirt. I set out at a jog for the warehouse. I swung around the back, avoided the watchers and went over the fence. My trap was unsprung, so no one had tried to escape this way.

I saw Drugič first. “Everyone OK?” I asked.

“Three were wounded that will take more than a day to heal. They have had potions, except for Ruku, who claimed he didn’t need them for his broken arm. His Refreshing Mist is fantastic. Keep him around.”

I took that as a good sign. “Military and probably the Watch are on their way,” I said. She nodded.

I walked into reception, and Ruku, Mayakku and Tāttā were there. Tāttā and Mayakku were wet sweeping and mopping up. There were windows missing and glass all over the floor.

“I hear everything went OK?” I greeted them.

“Yes, you have some good warriors here. The only one who didn’t follow instructions was that snake of yours.” Ruku replied.

“Sorry, I should have been here,” I said.

“It is no problem. He more than pulled his weight. I am just used to people obeying orders.” Ruku replied.

“Unfortunately, he is like me,” I replied.

“I can believe that.” Ruku said.

I heard Tabitha greet the gate guard and enter. She told him to relock it and, when someone comes, come and get her, not open it. Ruku and I went out to meet them.

“Everything went well?” Tabitha asked.

“Well enough.” Ruku replied, then he turned to Sione, “Major.” He greeted him.

“I heard you had a fight on your hands, Ruku,” Sione said.

“A small skirmish.” Ruku replied.

“Anyone left we can talk to?” Tabitha asked.

“Five. Najprej and Appā are watching them. Come this way.” Ruku said. Then he turned to Abigail and said, “Hi, I’m Ruku.”

“Oh yes, sorry, everyone, this is Abigail.” Tabitha said and introduced us, “This is Ruku and Sten.”

As we walked to the prisoners, Tabitha sidled up to me and whispered, “Your status is still showing Merchant and Fine Goods, not that you would know a fine good if I smacked you in the face with it. I was very tempted to smack you in the face to cover that ridiculous goatee.”

Score one for me. “I am sure Abigail would have liked it,” I replied while I fixed my Status. She just scoffed.

We decided to hold the interview in front of the Major, and with a bit of persuasion and flexing of the Truth Sensing Skill everything was confirmed, and we got a contact name in the Watch and the name of a contact in the Enchanters Supreme organisation. Abigail was unhappy with our persuasion methods, but that is her problem. I considered them mild, especially as these people came to kill us.

Then we heard banging on the gate and a demand to “Open up for the City watch!” I heard the gate guard talking quietly.

I turned to Tabitha, “What do you want to do?” I asked in front of everyone. “Do you want to involve the watch or handle it ourselves?” I think Ruku, Sione and Abigail all assumed we would hand things over to the watch.

“I am not sure,” she replied. “It would be much easier to handle it ourselves. Let’s see who is at the gate and then decide. Modrica, you had better come and show your face, after all, you're the one who is supposed to be here. The rest of you can come or not.”

They all decided to come.

“Hello, the Watch,” Tabitha greeted them. “How can we help you today?”

“Open up! We have reports of fighting.” The Sergeant demanded.

“Fighting! Do you mean somebody got past your watchful patrollers? Nobody would get in here without it being recorded on that paper that your people kept making notes on. Can I see it?” Tabitha asked.

“No, because we need to investigate the fighting,” he said.

“What you mean is, no, because your patrollers were paid to abandon their watch so we could be attacked.” Tabitha accused.

“Nonsense. You will not make such accusations without proof.” he challenged.

“I saw it, sergeant. It was that patroller and him,” I pointed them out of the crowd of the Watch. “They were given a bag of coins with the symbol of the Kirghiz treasury. I am sure many here will have a Truth or crime-sensing Skill. Why don’t you question them? If you refuse, I will have to assume you are in on it.” I was not leaving them any choice if I could. I was counting on there being reliable patrollers in the group.

“That is an excellent idea, Sergeant.” A voice came from the back, and Investigator Whitby strode forward. “You there, did you take a bribe to leave your post?” he questioned one of the people I pointed out.

“No, Sir,” was the reply.

“That is a lie. You are detained for bribery. Hold him.” Whitby turned his attention to the other one. “Detain him as well, and I will question him later.” Patrollers near the men bound them. “I will be questioning you as well, sergeant, along with the others on watch here. I have had considerable resistance to my investigation here, and key people have been put at risk.” The corruption in the Watch runs deep with powerful backers if the people whose job it is to sense crime turn a blind eye to crime in their own midst.

He turned to Tabitha, “Were you attacked?”

“Indeed we were, Investigator.” Tabitha replied. “They were instructed to capture Mayakku and kill everybody else. There are some still alive who will answer your questions.”

“Well, open up and let's see them.” Whitby led the way in. We showed them the bodies and those still alive. They were led and/or carted off, and Whitby questioned Mayakku again, as none of us could understand why she was targeted. Sione’s answer was obviously incomplete, and he had left shortly after the Watch arrived along with Abigail. There was more going on here than just some stolen plans.

The Watch and everyone now knew we had a new place outside the city. We will have to up our protection on it. It was still easy enough to smuggle Modrica out to the quarry. The Watch here in Obalno is pathetic. I know the Kingdom does not have strict entry requirements into their cities, but it is still pathetic.

My Spy class levelled. My classes are all over the place. Hunter, Quarryworker and Monster Hunter are all primarily Physical Classes. Spy, Prospecting and Scout are Mental and partly Spiritual. My affinity required Spiritual attributes. I gather from Ruku that he was Physically based with Spiritual Attributes for his affinity. His Mental attributes were boosted later by the Leadership Class. Tabitha is focussing on Mental and Spiritual. At the end of the day, my Granite has become the core of my abilities along with the Skills I have learned from Tāoke. So that is where I should focus.

I have been puzzled why more people don’t form bonds with animals. I know there are compatibility issues from what I have seen with Skavt, but the benefits are huge, and it is not rare like affinities. I would encourage everyone to try to form a bond. I have taught Ilaiya the mental techniques, and he is practising. I know the Hunter and Forrester-type classes make bonding easier, but Tabitha and Skavt show that anyone could do it. I wonder what Skills Skavt has from Oske? Maybe she now has the ability to eat all the time or become a vegetarian. Eating, possibly. Vegetarian, definitely not yet.

I have enough mental attributes to get a second bond, in theory. In practice, it is much more difficult. There are compatibility issues with your existing bond. I have discussed things with Tāoke, and he is not against it but not necessarily keen either. Another bond actually becomes a three-way bond which hugely complicates things, and Tāoke would have to be a big part of it. The new bond will need to be compatible with both me and Tāoke.

I can get another Physical Sense. I have Hearing Aid, Farsight and Darksight. With the Bond Senses I don’t need any smell ability. I am not interested in tasting my cooking, and Sensitive Skin is just strange. I doubt I will be able to get Spatial Awareness or Sonar, although I might try. I understand Ruku got Sonar through his bond and that it is a natural ability of the Mer. I am going to explore different options as I am looking for an advanced skill if I can. I have a lot of different sensing Skills, so I will start with those.

Sensing this sand from the Sand Elemental is frustrating me. In some ways, it is similar to when the Granite Sense resonated with the gem dust in the knives. In other ways, it is different. All my Granite Skills are easier to use through it. Granite manipulation still struggles, but I think that is because it is still at the Novice level. Creating a Spike, Wall, Quake and Shield are all much easier on the sand. Granite Sense also seems empowered. I am thinking if I was to have armour, or even gloves and boots made incorporating the sand, it would boost the efficiency of my skills. I think that is good, but there should be more.

When I had the Troll hide armour, it took on some properties of the Troll, which was stronger with the higher-level craftsman. What are the properties of the Sand Elemental? All I am aware of is that it sat there and dug itself into a deeper hole. Although it also maintained a link to the ocean. What is that about?

The other question is finding a craftsman who will work with the sand. The two Blacksmiths I tried turned me away and suggested a Glass Blower. I don’t want glass armour and making it into a bottle seems pointless. Maybe I am missing the point of a Rock Affinity. Rock is hard and heavy, and Granite is one of the harder rocks. Permanent structures are what Granite is used for. It might be worth talking to the local Stone Mason and seeing what the options are. However, it is very clear that I won’t be changing my transitory lifestyle anytime soon.

I need time. The time I am not getting it because Tabitha dragged us into the middle of a bed of corruption in this city. She did that by burglarising a place. Somewhat ironic, I thought.