Bathtime

Eira and Alaron had surprisingly no trouble getting the money. The people in the street who had experienced the earth shaking were all gossiping to those who hadn't about the night's excitement. It seemed the range of the shaking was limited to a three or four block radius from the epicenter of the inn.

The theories about what caused the strange event ranged from mundane to far-fetched. One tale even involved a hippopotamus falling from the sky. A man wearing an oddly shaped metallic hat swore that he had seen the event with his own eyes.

"People have wonderful imaginations," the Guardian whispered to Eira with amusement.

The woman grunted in response, thinking to herself how closely 'imaginative' and 'crazy town' really were.

The two returned to the inn to find the door barred. Knocking briefly, they waited as a muted groan accompanied the bar sliding free. Mairwen's hair, mussed and disheveled, greeted them as it partially covered her eyes.

"Did we interrupt something?" Even with his hood pulled up, the princess knew her brother wore a lopsided grin.

Mairwen rolled her eyes at her brother's antics. "Unless you are talking about my sleep, the answer is no…" Backing up from the door, she allowed the two to enter.

"Did you have any trouble?" Renat asked groggily. He sat up painfully from the hard cot-like bed and braced his ribs with his crossed arms.

"The money changer was more than happy to fork over his money in exchange for the writ. He announced very loudly that if the palace had that much faith in his abilities, everyone else should too. There were quite a few concerned citizens milling about after last night's adventure, but his display of confidence was quite effective." Eira reported in her most neutral tone.

"I have good news on that front," Alaron threw back his hood. "It turns out we did not cause the earthquake," he announced triumphantly.

The scientist and princess looked at him with hope. "Oh really?" Renat asked. "How can you be sure?"

"Because I met a lovely gentleman who said he saw a large semiaquatic mammal fall from the sky and cause the ground to tremble." Alaron looked at them far too innocently.

"A large semi...you mean a hippo?" the lanky man shook his head. For a moment he had been fooled.

"Yes, would you like me to go get the eye witness?" the Guardian offered, spreading his hands wide.

"Sure, he would be less of a fool than you." Mairwen draped her cloak across her shoulders and prepared to leave. "We cannot waste time on that nonsense; we've frittered away more than half the day. No more stalling."

Knowing they would likely be there at least one more night, the group paid for their rooms before going in search of their target. Renat's explanation to the innkeeper about the shaking earth was full of random technical words.

It was the owner who cut short their chat this time, much to the scientist's relief. Hopefully the man would not come to him with any more questions. At least, that was the goal.

When the group entered the Sitting Duck, the same barkeep was on duty. He immediately recognized the group of misfits and called out a greeting. "Welcome, Renat and friends. Back again so soon for more of our lovely meatloaf?"

"You served us stew..." Renat furrowed his brow.

"No I didn't. It was meatloaf with gravy..." the barkeep seemed slightly offended.

"I see. No, we would not like more, thank you. We have come searching for the man who bothered us yesterday." Renat kept his voice low as he scanned the tavern. Because it was later in the day, the place was much more full, but none of the faces looked like Pete.

"You mean the short fellow who begged some money off of you? Yeah, I remember him. I kicked him out last night when he started singing like an alley cat being squeezed through the wringer. He was disturbing the other patrons with his drunken serenade." The man wrinkled his nose as he recalled the events.

"Do you have any idea where he went?" the scientist persisted. He was confused when the man behind the counter started to rub his fingers together. Alaron pressed a coin into the barkeep's hand.

"Ah, yes, when I threw him out, he stumbled a few doors down to my competition. Good riddance, I say." The barkeep spat in a cup and then used a cloth to clean out the inside.

"Thank you. We'll let you get back to tidying up." Mairwen backed away, trying to hide her disgust. Had he cleaned their bowls yesterday in the same manner?

The man behind the counter raised the cloth to his face in a salute. "Anything for Renat and friends. Come back soon," he admonished them.

"I am shocked that Junayd would recommend a place like that," Mairwen whispered as they exited.

"I know," Alaron agreed. "The help was friendly enough, but the meatloaf left something to be desired..."

The next bar had a similar story to the first. It seemed that no one cared for the young man's melodic nature. It was in the third establishment that their target was finally spotted.

The only reason Petyr had not been ejected from the place was that he owed a lot of money, and he was fast asleep in the corner.

The soldier reluctantly paid off the man's tab and hoisted him over her shoulders. "He smells like he slept in a dung heap," she complained.

"Why do you think none of the rest of us volunteered?" the Guardian half-joked. Really Eira had done the action without being asked.

"He will get a bath soon enough," Mairwen added, plugging her nose. "We just need to get him outside."

The building they exited was directly in one of the many city plazas. There was a well, a small stage for performers, a pair of seldom-used stocks and a large sprawling fountain with a recognizable statue standing proudly in its center.

Mairwen smiled at the bronze human figurine. The smile on the advisor's face was almost lifelike. "So that's where that ended up. No wonder Junayd favors this part of town. Everyone knows his face."

Eria ducked her head and hurled the man that was across her shoulders into the shallow fountain. "In you go. It's bath time, you filthy barfly."

Petyr, who had still been sound asleep even while being carried like a sack of flour, woke mid air and squealed like a stuck pig. As he hit the water, the cry turned to a gurgle.

"That was oddly satisfying," the soldier said, brushing off her hands.

"Now you know how I felt yesterday when I hit him," the Guardian answered. "Maybe this will finally knock some sense into him."

"I would prefer you both not brag about the pain you have caused the man we want to help us. He might hear you." Mairwen shook her head and glanced at the people around them. Most were confused or amused, but none felt any need to intervene.

Petyr broke the surface of the water with a gasp. "I can't swim! Help! I'll drown!"

"No you won't," Renat sighed. Realizing the panicked man would not listen, the scientist kicked off his shoes and waded into the water of the fountain. He hauled Pete up by the collar. "It's barely knee deep."

"I knew that." Petyr jerked his shoulder away from the taller man. "I... I was just testing you. How did I get here?" He shook his dripping hands and arms, sending a spray of water in all directions.

Renat shielded his face. "Eira threw you in. You were drunker than your uncle who literally fell off the liquor wagon."

Tottering unsteadily, the short salesman made his way to the edge of the man-made pool. "You found me? You know, Renat, for someone who claims not to drink, you sure frequent a lot of taverns."

Alaron smirked beneath his hood, but Renat was anything but amused. "I was looking for you, you fool. You were supposed to leave town! But since you haven't, I need your help."

"Did you pay my tab?" Petyr's memory of why he had fallen asleep in the corner on the floor came back to him. He had run up quite a bill with no way to pay.

"What? Yes, no one is coming after you for that." The scientist stepped out of the fountain and back into his shoes. They squished as his wet feet entered, and he wished that he had dried them first.

With the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders, the recovering drunk straddled the edge of the fountain and sat down. "Whew, that's a relief! I am all yours then. What do you need?"

Alaron threw a fresh tunic at the man's face. "First we need you to change, and then we need to you to find a map for us."

"I am a merchant, so I can help you find almost anything. But what kind of map are you wanting? A treasure map?" Petyr asked, his eyes glittering.

Mairwen tilted her head to one side, "Sort of. We are hoping it will help us find a key."