Welcome back everyone! We are wrapping up the adventures of our knights in Gateway City and we will soon be returning to our voyage. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Once again I do not own DC or it's characters.
As I made my way toward the tavern I couldn't help but share my compatriots outrage. Why was I always commanded to go? I realized I was probably the only knight in existence who dreaded having to sit before the barkeep with an ale in hand listening to the tall tales of those around him, but honestly it wasn't as thrilling when you were physically unable to become drunk. Sure, my companions had become inebriated enough during our voyages together that I could put on a decent act, but it almost robbed me of the bonding that seemed to happen in those moments. These were the days I wondered if our king knew more about me than he let on.
The tavern itself was of typical variety. It consisted of two clapboard stories with the dining on the first floor and rooms up above with a hanging sign dubbed it The Spectre. It was still mostly quiet as it was still a little early in the day for ale, but I entered nonetheless. After the beaming brilliancy of the sunlight it took my eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dark interior and for a moment I let myself take in the atmosphere.
The furniture was well worn and battered, the candles were nothing but wicks, and the curtains were shabby but it was clean. There were a few regulars already inhabiting chairs with spirits in hand and the barkeep stood behind the counter making small talk with a woman who seemed to work upstairs. Her pale face was heavy with rouge and her blue eyes were framed with thick brushes of kohl. She kept her dark hair upturned in a modern fashion with a few strands framing her face.
As I looked closer I noticed they actually appeared to be arguing. "I beg of you, Jim! Let me linger around and ask questions! I promise that I will not get into any fights this time!" That caused me to raise an eyebrow. The woman was of average height and build but the way she comported herself led me to believe she would challenge a legion to obtain what she wished. "Someone must know something about these disappearances. The witch couldn't have fooled everyone!" The barkeep, Jim, responded in a gruff tone.
"I still have yet to repay my debts since the last time you questioned the customers, Lois. I am sorry but you are going to have to either order an ale or leave." I tried to listen inconspicuously as I slid into the furthest stool. The woman's eyes fluttered to me and leaned in toward Jim. "Men keep vanishing! How are you planning on keeping the doors open if you have no customers, Carrigan? Perhaps misfortune will befall you next. Are you willing to tempt fate? The witch said-"
"No one cares what she said! Now order a spirit or leave!" I signaled for the barkeep to slide me a drink and, as Lois seemed to be choosing to leave, turned my attention toward the others. I knew I should probably follow her, as she seemed to have possibly valuable information, but every fiber of my being screamed at me that she was nothing but trouble.
"You do not hail from here. I am Lois, daughter of Lane." I spluttered and almost choked on my ale as she leaned in closely and threaded her arm through mine. Lois patiently waited for me to compose myself before speaking again. "You are here about the disappearances." Her blue eyes were intense and she stared me down with the ferocity of a lion. "No! I mean, I..." I cleared my throat and tried to reclaim my arm gently, but her grasp was stronger than any woman her size should have had the ability to possess. "W-what disappearances?"
I flashed her my most charming grin but it seemed to effect her none. "Don't be coy with me! I can tell by your expression. You are here about the witch! This has gone on too long! Share your information with me. The village needs to know how to stop this before more men vanish." She leaned in closer. "Please." Though she tried to act with bravery I could see the fear in her eyes. She truly cared about the people around her. "Please, Sir, I just want the truth. That's what we all deserve."
Such a simple phrase but from her lips it spoke louder than a tempest. "My ki-" I caught myself before I could blunder. "My captain is leading a team of knights on a quest to stop the witch. A woman from here made her way to our Northern kingdom of Gotham and told us of what was happening. She begged our king to send us on a quest and we are ported here to gather anything that may be useful before we start our journey through the gates to the Abandoned Sea."
Lois placed one of her polished nails to her lips and leaned forward. "Not here. Jim Corrigan, the barkeep, will be furious with me." She eased her grip slightly and looked around furtively before speaking again. "Pay for your ale and I will meet you at the brown house at the end of the street on the right." And just like that she drifted from the tavern. What had I done?
I grimaced at the house and debated turning back to the ship. I sensed that Miss Lane truly wished to aid in the investigation, but would it be worth the trouble that Corrigan insinuated would follow her? Steeling myself, I pressed onward and knocked on the home's small door. The woman who answered, however, was not Miss Lane but did bear a striking resemblance. She was younger than Lois, possibly a younger sister, and while she bore the same beauty she lacked the poise and confidence.
"Hello, I am Sir Clark of Kent and I spoke with Miss Lane about meeting her here." The girl barely paid me any attention as she stepped aside. "My sister said you'd be coming. She'll be out in a minute." I ducked my head to clear the door and frowned when I had to keep my head at an angle to clear the low ceilings. The small house appeared to be only two rooms with the kitchen sharing the open main room and a bedroom off to the left.
The girl watched me carefully and I suddenly felt clumsy as an ox in the minuscule surroundings. "You are quite tall." She had to gaze straight up to look me face to face. "My name is Lucy. Are you a knight?" I nodded and was about to speak again when Lois breezed out of the bedroom and hastily shooed her sister out of the entire home.
When she turned to me it took me a moment to recognize her. She was no longer buried in makeup and wore a lavender dress more appropriate than the lady of the night attire she had modeled in the tavern. When she caught a glimpse of my confusion she began to laugh. "I was in disguise. Men often speak more freely if they deduce a woman is part of a particular profession." My face burned as I realized that I had assumed the same. "If I may be so bold as to inquire, how do you spend your time?" Lois grabbed a thick piece of parchment from a shelf and a piece of charcoal and gestured for me to take a seat at one of the two chairs at the table.
"Well I suppose I fancy myself as a reporter." A reporter? The word felt foreign as it slipped from her tongue. "Consider me new to the term. What exactly does a reporter do?" Lois joined me at the table and lit a kerosene lamp before she began to speak with passion. "I believe that everyone should know what is happening in the world around them. When I hear something that I think people should know I write it down and make prints of it to pass from door to door. I only have a few readers right now, barely enough to cover my costs, but I'm positive it will change the world. Now tell me the story of the quest so I can record it. Make sure you do not forget a single thing!" She's like a town crier. Hmmm. I did not know if her idea would be catching, but if anyone could make it work I was suddenly positive it would be her.
I slowly recalled everything that had happened until that morn and she wrote it down with an urgency of a dying man. She was quite becoming as she painted a picture of words, her lip tucked between her teeth. When I finally finished she was practically glowing with excitement. "I knew there was more to this. That day was just so strange!" My pulse raced. "You were there?" Lois rolled her eyes. "Of course I was there. I am a reporter. A witch does not just stroll into town and convince over half the male population that sailing into the Abandoned Sea to search for a magical place called Themyscira without me being there. She was about my height, black hair and blue eyes and her voice was like an angel. If you speak to anyone out there that is all that they will tell you."
"Really?" Lois riddled with the charcoal, blackening her fingers pensively. "Yes, it is like some sort of enchantment. Everyone who was present, except for me...and I cannot deduce why. I am left with so many questions. Who is this witch? Where is she actually from? Why is she luring us away? Is she coming back? Will the others ever return? We deserve these answers and more and I will do everything in my power to make sure that we get them. And that's why I'm accompanying you." I stood so quickly my chair crashed to the floor "Pardon me?!" Lois stood and straightened her dress. "Well, naturally! The only way to achieve my goal is to see your quest through. So I am going to join your crew."
"Now see here, Miss Lane." But Lois had already started toward the bedroom, still talking as if I had yet to speak. "-believe I still have those breeches. Just give me a minute to change." What was the king going to say? Or the men? I was never going to hear the end of this.
Well everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as next we are going to start the journey into the Abandoned Sea as well as see everyone'sreaction to Lois inviting herself along. Questions, comments and reviews are welcome as they serve as literary courage.