I'll just leave this here...

Wednesday, October 22nd, 247

Writ at night.

When I left for Corus I thought I was going after colemongers. Somehow it doesn't seem like it was quite that simple. Ahuda would flay me for it, but I havna been keeping my journal as I should be. It has been three days without an entry and so much has happened that I have yet to wrap my poor knob around it.

Sunday afternoon, when the boat reached harbor, I couldna wait to get back on solid ground. It was my first time traveling over water and the last if I could help it. It felt like the world was rocking back and forth and was trying to knock me along with it. When we reached Port Caynn, the noon sun was high in the sky and there was a cool salt breeze in the air. Grabbing my handful of possessions, I took inventory of what my lord had sent with me. I had my own things acourse, alongside a small stipend, papers, a couple of fake nobles and an address.

I was told my partners were to join me at the boat, but dog business had kept them away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Remembering the night I left, I hit my skull, I couldn't afford to think of that rat while I was on assignment. Unsure on where to start, one of the sailors pointed me towards an inn called Ladyshearth Lodgings which had a room open for me. Apparently, I was expected.

My sack on my my shoulder, I walked along the foreign cobble steps. It as strange how this unfamiliar city was still so like her own. There were the same narrow paths, dirty faces and stench of unwashed bodies. Following the directions to my best knowledge, I realized how comforting Lower City could be. I could always find me way around the old quarter in Corus but here I felt like a puppy again.

From what I could tell I was in the Deep Harbor District, which was misleading since so much of the port was touching the water's edge. Soon enough however, I stumbled across Coates Lane where I found my query. Ladyshearth Lodgings was a quaint and sturdy building. The bottom floor was made of stone, while the upper floors were shingled. Some of the stones had runes on them, protection spells from the looks of it. That would cost a pretty penny. Surrounding the house was a short fence that enclosed an herb garden. As I neared and saw the greens growing there, I recognized many of them as leaves from my ma's old supply box. There must be a mage in residence.

Unlike the crammed homes on the rest of the street, this was was separated from the rest on three sides. Behind the building I could make out a brisk stream with a bridge over it. A clothes line held an array of clothes including a handful of dog's uniforms. I nodded to myself, this was the right place.

Opening the door I found myself in a dining hall with a bar set in the corner. There were long tables and benches set neatly in the space and a few women appeared to be pacing through as they worked. I stood uncertainly on the edge, unsure what I should say when a mot looked up and smiled at me. She was short and plump, her dark hair was streaked with gray.

"Now don' just stand there, come in young lady." She gestured. I obeyed, walking towards her. "You must be Cooper. I was told you would be coming. The Lord Provost had it all cleared, I have a room for you and Guardswoman Clary all set up. Your other partner will have to find a place elsewhere. I don't keep coves under my roof."

She was very straightforward and for a moment I was at a loss of how to handle it. She seemed to have more information than I did. All I had was the address from before, which apparently hadn't been for this inn.

"Yes m'am. They aren't quite here yet. Business kept them a bit longer and the ship was leaving. I have coin for my bed but I'm not sure how long I could pay you mistress." I said respectfully. Lord Gershom had given me more than enough, but this house seemed too tidy and spacious to be within my budget.

"None of that young lady. I have an understanding with the dogs. I used to be Priestess of the mother, I won't let you gixies run loose in the streets when I have a perfectly good place for you to stay. As I said, it's been taken care of. Maia will show you were to put your things, and then you can come down for a spot to eat." She inspected me carefully like a mother would a small child. "You are a bit green around the edges, it seems you didn't fare well on the seas. I'll mix you something for that too." With that, I was dismissed as the older woman ushered over a maid. On close inspection I guessed she must be the mage. I could smell herbs about her.

Soon a young gixie around my years led me up the steps and to a room that was of wonderful quality, well above my pay. Another thing I owed to my lord. The bed had clean linens and there were a handful of candles sitting on a desk by a window. Besides my door, there was another on the side which looked like it led to another chamber. I tried the lock but it was shut tight. I asked the girl about it quietly and she told me it awas waiting for Goodwin when she arrived. A few more questions told me that the Mistress' name was Serenity and several female dogs resided here full-time.

Thanking her, I was glad to have time to unpack in silence. I had no idea how long I would be here but it was good to remain organized as I found places to store my clothes. Putting my soap next to the water basin, I turned only to shriek at what lay on the bedspread. It was not like m to make noises or seem squeamish and the moment quickly passed. There, laying on the pillow with ease was my cat Pounce. How had he made it here? I hadna seen him since I left Corus and he hadn't been there to send me off the night I boarded ship.

I wouldn've known if he was traveling with me too. No, this had something to do with him being a constellation. I was sure of it. I shook out my shoulders before facing him again.

"Well Sir Pounce, how can I help you?" I asked, hands on my hips. " I don't suppose you'll explain how you got here?"

He ignored the second part of my query entirely. "Can't I say hello to my favourite human?" He asked. I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"What is it that you really need." My arms were crossed, I had never actually seen him move with magic before and I doubted he would do so at random. My silly cat straightened himself and stood, pawing his way towards me.

"There is trouble brewing that you cannot see. I am being called away and I won't be here to help you young one. Keep a watch out carefully. There is more to this than you know." I scrunched my eyebrows at what he said. My cat scolded me often, but his words were haunting. He inches closer and nuzzled my hand. Then, with a twist he was gone. It was almost as if it were my imagination.

I stood there for a while, trying to understand what happened before heading back to the main room. The workings of the gods were not for a mot like me. I went down the steps and took a seat in the corner by myself. Soon I saw Mistress Serenity come towards me with a cup in hand.

"Here love, drink this up and you'll feel back up to speed. Did you find everything alright?"

I nodded yes, sipping carefully. It was quite tasty, leaving a cooling effect down my throat. I suspected it had mint flavorings.

"Good. Maia, get the girl a bowl of stew and a crust of bread. Quickly now child." She was pointed to the maid who had helped me before. Then she turned back. "Now, as you are on dog business I know you're hours may be a wee strange but I do have rules in this house. Breakfast is at 7 and lunch near noon. You can get dinner around 6. If you work late, my girls will have loaves of bread you can grab late as well if you warn us. Other than that you're on your own for meals." She paused, making sure I understood. I bent my head in affirmation.

" I won't have any pets in the building unless you've got a hound from the kennels. Do you?"

I thought for a moment before conceding, "My partners may be bringing a bloodhound named Achoo along."

"Right, well if he's clean we won't have a problem otherwise you'll have to leash him at the provost's station." I doubted Achoo would be a bother so I agreed. "Last, I'll not have any coves staying in my rooms. They leave at the 9 o'clock curfew."

After I had given my word to all of her conditions she let me be with the most delicious stew I' had. It had thick chunks of beef, hearty potatoes and fresh carrots bobbing in a thick stock. I sponged it up happily until my belly was full. As promised, her tea settled my stomach some and I wasna sick no more.

My belly full, I decided it was time to take inventory of the area. It would be in my best interests to get a head start before Goodwin and Tunstall arrived. I wasn't here on vacation after all. Walking down the roads, I realized Port Caynn was large, but it paled in comparison with the capital. It was fast moving, but everything was a bit grimier, mayhaps sue to the humidity and fogs that rolled in from the harbor. Pulling out parchment from my pocket, I looked again at the address I was given. Thinking it was my best lead, and a good way to search the city I asked a passerby to point me in the right directions. I'm afeared I got a bit lost but I soon found myself five blocks north at another lodging house. It was still bright and the neighborhood seemed decent.

Looking around I doubted anything terrible could happen if she went in, especially since the source of the information come from the Lord Provost himself.

I took a lap around the street to make I wasn't stepping into anything I couldn't handle. The two-story building was made of wood and was brightly painted like its neighbors. It had many symbols drawn to protect it from rot and thieves, but also some that she vaguely recognized as the symbols for Oinomi Wavewalker, the patron goddess of Port Caynn. I had seen it afore on Yamani ships that came into Corus.

Bracing myself and checking to see my spike strip was braided in my hair tightly, I went up to the door and knocked twice.

I waited for a moment as I heard shuffling from within. As the wood creaked open a tall figure come into view, leaning against the frame. The woman had dark eyes and brown skin. Her hair came down to her shoulders and she smiled easily. Dressed beautifully, she was had on many a trinket and her thin lips were painted with rouge.

"Hello darling, what can I for you?" Her voice was light and musical but deeper than I would have thought. I opened my mouth to answer but realized I hadn't come up with a proper excuse. Pox-rot, I could be such a looby. Just then a man appeared behind her and I met his eyes with surprise. Now this was a face I recognized. His blue-grey eyes gleamed as he took me in and grinned. Moving past the tall woman he offered me a hand.

"Well well, I hadn't expected a visit from the Terrier!" He laughed. "Okha allow me to introduce Guardswoman Cooper."

Hello everyone! I am so sorry for the lack of update. It has been a very very long time. Honestly, even with this I can't promise when I'll update next, only that I want to. To be honest, I haven't read the books in so long that it was hard to get back into it with the right voice and right information. my style has changed and there were holes in my original parts that I had forgotten so I had to redo it.

This story will include a lot of what you remember from Bloodhound with some obvious changes as we go on. I do hope you still like it and will push me on things that seem off or you would like to see. Still it is so encouraging and humbling to see you all comment and tell me how much you loved my story. I will try to honor that and complete this, hopefully within the year. I hope you will be there with me to see it through.

Always,

Vine