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Edited by Merribor: 2/26/2022 10:07:23 PM
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Solitha Chapter 6: Ahsante and the Imperial City

The Imperial City was magnificent by Nona’s standards. The roads were broad, completely paved, and clean, and each building was made of the same pristine white marble as the wall. Blue balls of light floated in divots set inside the Wall and each building, so that oval pools of light shined on the roads. Near the wall, the buildings were low, kept at a three-story minimum, enough to where Nona could see the silhouettes of massive spires and towers in the center of the City, even in the dark. After wandering around the Outskirts for a night, walking the streets of the Imperial City felt like walking around a picturesque statue garden. There were no shady alleyways or shoddy ladders to climb; each turn was clear-cut, and the roads curved so gently the two travelers did not even know they were changing directions. There was signage everywhere, on every building was a plaque containing the owner’s name and the purpose of the building, whether it be a house, shop, or anything else. Even though the entire City was carved of the same stone, residents were allowed to decorate their places: some had small balconies with ivory handrails, some had banners or flags, and others still had small, decorative awnings. Nothing they saw protruded out onto the road, and nothing was gaudy enough to stand out. Luckily, Reke was paying attention to the guard when he was giving them directions to the Praying Mantis, unlike Nona, who was too busy staring at the pretty Elven architecture. The lizlai had misgivings about following an assassin’s orders, but the elf’s inn must still be open if Jerome sent them there, which might not be the same for any other in the City. Reke did not have it in him to go Inn-hunting again tonight, even in the Imperial City, so he followed the guard’s directions faithfully, preventing Nona from taking no less than five wrong turns. In no time, they found it, a small, nondescript location with a wooden placard tipped with a limp flag swinging over the doorway. Nona entered, and there was still a small crowd this late at night. The bar was directly in the center, and extended to the back of the building, while a combination of round and wooden tables dotted the rest of the common. Booths lined both walls, except for in the back: the back-right corner had a low-burning hearth, while the back-left corner of the inn held a wooden staircase that led upstairs. Next to it, a Thespian in an obnoxiously bright coat strummed a lute and gently sung a ballad of old. A table across from him, two lizardfolk sat next to another fellow playing a peculiar card game splayed across the table involving dice. The third fellow was round, and he seemed to have no neck, rather his frog head attached to a scaly, torso directly. Because of he was only four feet tall, he sat on a keg instead of the customary chair to match his adversary, and his webbed feet swung against the barrel. A golem sat straight up at the bar, completely motionless, he could’ve been sleeping, except that there was a drink in his hand and dark stains on his rocky face. Waiters and barmaids made their way around the crowd, serving steaming bowls of stew and drinks to the strange folk of the inn. After a brief search, they found the elf, a lonely figure watching crowd with aloof interest. He wore a white stole above a white, long-sleeved tunic that covered his hands, and there was an untouched bowl of stew sitting next to him, but no drink. Everything about him was perfectly straight, his posture was ramrod, his hair fell down his back in precise, combed lines, and it was pinned behind his elvish ears, which were like two straight valleys that both ended in a sharp, centered point almost at the back of his skull. There was no other elf in the room, and they were definitely at the Praying Mantis, so walked over sat down at the booth across from him. He regarded them with a small, dimpled smile without saying anything. “Hello,” Nona said. “Are you Ahsante?” Reke challenged simultaneously. Nona gave him a look, and the lizlai mouthed [i]“What?”[/i] aggressively back. Ahsante watched the two with an unwavering, peaceful gaze, then opened his mouth. “Would you like something to eat?” he said, gently pushing the bowl of stew towards them. Nona raised a brow, but accepted anyway, taking the bowl and spoon, feeding himself two bites and Reke one over his shoulder. It was a bit of a challenge trying to balance the spoon without spilling any, but, by Reke’s first three bites Nona was starting to get the hang of it. Ahsante continued watching them with that unnerving, which was a little strange, and disturbed Nona’s appetite a little. It didn’t look like he was going to say anything else, so Reke told him: “Jerome sent us.” “How kind of him,” the elf responded, without elaborating. “We were wondering why he sent us to you,” Nona clarified. “I do not know why he sent you to me, for I have not Read his thoughts.” Nona and Reke glanced at each other. This guy was weird. “We’re looking for somebody, an elvish Healer named Lusahn that would’ve been here about three months ago. Do you know anything about it?” Reke asked directly. Whatever it was the assassin had in store for them, Reke didn’t care. “My old apprentice is not back with you?” Ahsante said, his gentle smile wavering. “No, he left three months ago, and hasn’t come back.” Ahsante’s smile faded from his face, and a thoughtful look glazed over his eyes as his brows knotted in concentration. Reke stayed his tongue, and let the old elf think. Nona dug into his meal wholeheartedly, completely forgetting about the conversation. He managed to save a few bites for Reke by pushing the bowl to the side but ordered another from a passing server while Reke was discussing missing persons with the elf. Finally, Ahsante said, “I think this is a discussion better left to another day. The room next to mine in this inn shall be prepared for you. I fear your search will last many nights in the City, little lizlai, so you may both lodge in my manor for the foreseeable future. I must reflect on this new information.” With that, the elf swept away form the table and ascended the staircase, and Reke huffed in annoyance. No matter, he’d get his answers soon enough. A moment later, a lycan waiter with another bowl of stew found them. Before he left, he dropped off a key, telling them that the third room had been paid for, and so had the second helping. Nona quietly cheered, but Reke didn’t like it one bit. All this kindness came with a price, and Grak’s advice about the Empire floated back into his mind. Still, it was the only lead they had, so he was forced to follow it.

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