Pale light peeked through the old curtain in Rockmill tavern. Raieya groaned, slowly opening her eyes. It was far too early for her to be awake after playing a full set the night before. She yawned and stretched, rolling over to see if Gwaine had snuck back in sometime during the night. She was alone still. He must've gone to the other tavern after getting thrown out of theirs. Raieya shook her head, deciding she might as well get up and go find him. She pulled her dress from the night before on over her shift and twisted her hair back loosely with her clip. Sticking her dagger in her boot, just in case, she headed out the door.
Raieya checked the stables first, knowing that was one of the places he sometimes stayed for the night. The barn was empty though, save the horses.
Next she decided to check the other tavern. Raieya returned to her room to grab her cloak, then walked up the road to the other tavern. Since it was early she knocked on the door. She waited briefly then knocked again when there was no answer. Surely someone must be there to see overnight guests off. Just as she was about to walk away, a tired looking older man opened the door.
"Hello," said Raieya. "I'm looking for my partner. I wondered if you could tell me whether or not he's staying here."
"If he's your partner how come you don't know where he's staying?"
"He was staying with me, down the road, but he got into a bit of a fight and was kicked out."
"Well he's not here," said the man. "We have no place for overnight guests here."
"You're sure he's not there somewhere?" asked Raieya.
"Aye," nodded the man. "You might check tonight if anyone's seen him."
"Thanks," said Raieya, turning to go.
That was odd, she thought. If Gwaine wasn't at the other tavern nor in the stables, then where was he? Surely he hasn't found someone to bed when he was as drunk as he was last night. Maybe he had already returned to the tavern and she had just missed him.
Raieya hurried back down the road to her room to see if Gwaine was there. She flung the door open only to find the room still empty. Where was Gwaine? Going over to the corner of the room, she saw his bag was still there. He wouldn't leave without his bag. Raieya sighed, irritated. She decided to go ahead and have breakfast without him and hope he'd turn up soon.
When Gwaine still hadn't returned that evening, Raieya was worried. He'd never been gone this long. And he wouldn't just leave her. They had a deal. Besides, she still had all of his things and his horse was still in the stables. She decided to head back to the tavern up the road and see if anyone had seen him.
This time the tavern door was unlocked and Raieya entered the main room of the tavern. She walked over to the bar where a different man was working. She ordered some mead and paid the man.
"Were you by chance working here last night?" she asked, taking the mug.
The man nodded. "Why'd you ask?"
"My partner came here last night I believe," she answered. "Average height, thin, brown hair, beard, probably pretty drunk. Did you see him?"
"No," said the man firmly. "I don't believe so."
"Are you sure?" asked Raieya. "He would've been wearing brown breeches, pale blue shirt. Would've come in late."
"Not here," said the man again.
"I was sure he came here," Raieya persisted.
"He didn't," said the man firmly. "Was your partner, you say? You sure he didn't just leave you?"
"He wouldn't," Raieya answered quickly. "I know he wouldn't."
"Mhmm," said the man, clearly uninterested. "Sorry, miss. You're wasting your time. He wasn't here."
Aggravated, Raieya left her mug and strode toward the door. Halfway to the door a man grabbed her arm. Raieya wrenched away from his touch, turning around to see who it was. An unfamiliar face greeted her.
"Have a drink with me," he said.
"I really don't-"
The man leaned in closer to her.
"I heard you were looking for someone," he said, quietly.
Raieya nodded, following him to a table.
"What'cha drink?"
"Mead," she answered.
The man went up to the bar and returned with two drinks, placing one in front of her. Raieya took a small sip, trying to determine if it was safe.
"You're lookin for a man, correct?"
Raieya nodded. "My partner. Did you see him?"
"Yes. He was here last night."
"Then why'd the bar keep tell me he wasn't?" asked Raieya in disbelief.
"Because," the man replied. "He has a deal with a slave trader. Man named Jarl. He serves drugged drinks to those comin in late and already drunk. Jarl pays him a bit extra and gets a new slave. Your friend came in late last night. He got one of those drinks. Passed out. Two guys carried him out. Said they were takin him home. I suspected otherwise."
"Where did they go?" Raieya demanded.
"I'm afraid I can't help you with that," the man replied. "Rumor has it Jarl's got a place in Cenred's lands. Just over the border."
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Raieya. "How do I know you're not lying?"
The man shrugged. "Born and raised here. Get tired of seein men disappear."
"Well, thank you," said Raieya, reaching into her coin pouch.
"No need," the man replied.
Raieya nodded to him and rose, heading out the door.
She quickly returned to her room, gathering her things and deciding to get on the road immediately. She could cross the border tonight and make camp, then hopefully track the men in the morning. If she caught up with them before they reached their stronghold she would have a chance to free Gwaine. They wouldn't expect anyone to be pursuing him.
Once Raieya packed her bags she hurried out to the stable to load the horses. She didn't want to risk leaving Gwaine's horse and if she rescued Gwaine he would need his horse anyway. In the meantime she could use him to carry the bags.
Once the horses were ready she hurried off into the fading light away from Rockmill and toward Cenred's lands.
Raieya kept the horses going at a quick pace until it was too dark to see. She pulled off the road, satisfied that she had at least made it across the border. Now that she was in Cenred's kingdom she would have to be extra cautious as it was notorious for border bandits. Making sure she and the horses were well hidden, she settled in for the night.