Author's Notes: Hey everyone, glad people ate enjoying the story so far. As always Games Workshop owns the Warhammer world, I am just playing around in it.
From where he crouched Karl could only hear their conversation in an inaudible murmur. That, however, was not his only option. Without moving he underwent enough of the change so that his ears were those of a wolf. Now able to hear perfectly he eavesdropped on their conversation.
"…I'm sorry." Esmeralda was saying to the man.
"It is alright." The man replied, with an accent similar to hers'. "You were right about the two who came to the house; they are on to something. This morning they were attacked; their attackers were just hired thugs by the look of them but still; those two must be closing in on them if they felt it necessary to attack them like that."
"So you intend to keep following them then?" She asked.
"I may not be able to. The younger one, he may not know much about street fighting but he's good at recognizing when someone is following him, he nearly caught me the other day. I may have to have Raymond follow them for a while."
"I would be glad to see him again." Esmeralda said hopefully. She sighed. "Well, I'd better go. I doubt anyone will notice my absence but I don't want to risk it." They embraced again and then departed.
Already knowing where she was going Karl chose instead to see if he could follow the man instead and see where he went. It was difficult; the man was alert and clearly taking precautions to foil any attempts at pursuit. These included such things as taking random turns, doubling back and suddenly turning to see if anyone was following him. If Karl had had to keep him in sight he either would have lost him or been seen. Fortunately, he did not have to. Eventually the man left the city and headed into the countryside beyond. Karl was not sure how far he would be able to follow him when he caught a familiar odor. He hung back and watched as the man continued on, straight to the camp of the Strigany.
After returning to the temple he curled in a corner and slept for several hours. It was about eight in the morning when he awoke. As Werner was still sleeping he went to the inn to reassure the innkeeper that they had not skipped out on their bill. As he walked he remained alert for any signs of pursuit but sensed none.
Upon his return he found that Werner was awake, alert and fidgeting over having to stay one more day. To help him relax Karl quickly filled him in on what he had seen and heard the previous night.
"So," Werner said when he had finished; "Our friend is of the Strigany and has some connection to Selena's maid, who it seems is also Strigany."
"Who do you think they were talking about when they were talking about whoever it was who hired those men to attack us?" Karl asked him. Werner shook his head.
"That I do not know. And I would venture from what he said they don't know either, as they are using us to find whoever it is that they seek. More than ever I would like to speak to that young man."
"How though, we have had no luck in catching him when he follows us; and I doubt we'll find him very chatty if we confront him at the camp. Not to mention there he will be surrounded by his friends. We may very well find those lethal skills of theirs turned on us."
"I concur." Werner agreed. "However, we have another option. The maid, Esmeralda, probably knows what the man knows and she we can find. Unfortunately; she is usually with her mistress and I very much doubt that her family would allow us near her, you heard how they like to keep her out of sight when strangers are around, we shall have to give that some thought."
"What do you think they were doing at Von Galt's estate?"
"I think I know but we need more information to confirm my suspicion.
"Tomorrow," he said with a sigh; "After the good sisters finally, let me out of here we shall call on the Leitdorfs, starting with Albert Leitdorf. Hopefully we shall learn some new facts from the last two murders and perhaps we shall be able to confirm my theory."
As Werner could do nothing that day and Karl did not want to spend the whole day about the temple, he decided to go out. As he still had the money that Marx had given him he decided to see the sights of the city. Telling Werner he would be back he walked out.
He had been in cities before but never during a massive cattle market. Everywhere he looked there were people trying to get their hands on the cattle drivers' money. Karl saw jugglers, fire-eaters, acrobats and more. While eating his noon meal he listened to a singer in the tavern. His mood made merry by the festive atmosphere he found himself in a game of dice, this time he had much more success.
Later in the evening he was just wandering the city taking in the sights when he felt the now familiar sensation of being watched. This time he did not try to turn around, there was still a large crowd and he would just give away that he knew he was being followed. Instead he began wandering about the streets trying to find his way towards a less crowded area, where hopefully he would either be able to either see his pursuer or catch his scent.
Wandering about he found himself frustrated in his efforts. Everywhere he went there seemed no ends to the crowds. Finally, he concluded that he would have to try something else. As he cast about trying to think of something he saw a familiar building. Smiling to himself he headed towards the Palace of Pleasure.
This time his knock was answered almost immediately by a servant. His face registered concern when he saw who it was, clearly there had been talk about their earlier visit. Sensing what he was thinking Karl hastily assured him that he wasn't there in an official capacity and showed his money. The man's expression immediately became friendly and he showed him into a sitting room where several men sat about.
Presently Henry himself came and gave a polite bow, slightly exaggerated. "Now my good sir," Henry said in an oily voice; "Might I get you a drink and recommend a girl for you?"
This question caused Karl's mouth to go dry. He hadn't thought about this. He had thought that the Palace of Pleasure might have a bar where he could get a drink or two while he waited for the crowd to die down.
To give himself time to think he ordered a beer. While he waited he tried to think of what to do. As he went over his options, including running for it after he paid for his beer, he heard two other men talking and the name Olga came up.
"Aye," one said; "She is a tough heifer, she should be big as she is. Hardly flinched when I used the whip last time; but I got a few new ideas. I have her screaming in five minutes flat."
As the two men laughed cruelly Karl suppressed the urge to go over and see if he could get them to scream in five seconds or less when Henry returned. Henry gave him his beer and was just turning to the two men when Karl came to a decision. Before he could stop himself he reached out and caught Henry's sleeve. "I want Olga, and I want her for the whole night."
Henry's eyes revealed his surprise. "An unusual choice, but to each his own I always say. Will sir be needing the special room?" Not having a clue what the special room was Karl just nodded. "Very good sir; that will be one Karl in advance please."
Karl nearly chocked but it was too late to back out so he got out his coin poach and dug out the coin and handed it to Henry. The man bit into the coin and inspected it. Obviously pleased with the results he smiled so broadly Karl wondered that his face didn't split. "Right this way sir." He led Karl upstairs to a room on the second floor.
It was a small room, dominated by a large bed and, strangely, a post in the center of the room. Along the wall were a number of items that he paid no attention to. Of more interest was a window opposite the door. It looked out onto an alley at the back of the building. Perfect; he'd just wait till it was dark and then he'd slip out through the window and then sneak around to the front. There was only one door and his stalker, if he was still there, would be watching the door. Karl would get the drop on him and then they would have a little chat.
"Oh, it's you; I didn't take you to be into this sort of thing." Olga said a dull voice behind him. Turning Karl saw Olga come into the room. She was barefoot and clad only in a simple night shift that was stained and dirty her face held a look of weary resignation.
"What sort of thing?" Karl asked, confused by her statement.
She responded with a derisive snort. "It's just us here. You don't have to pretend here. Shall we get started?"
So saying she slipped her shift off and walked over to him and handed him a key. She then walked over to the post, which Karl now saw was capped with a pair of manacles. She snapped theses around her wrists, securing herself to the post. As she did so she took several deep breaths, as if preparing for some great exertion. Stunned, Karl stared at her broad back and the scares and bruises that covered her back. His attention then turned to the wall. He now saw that it held a number of hooks from which hung a number of whips, rods of various thickness and clubs.
"Wait!" He cried frantically.
She turned looked over her shoulder at him. "Why so squeamish? You asked for the special room, didn't you, what do you think it was for?"
"I didn't know." He said hotly, his face flaming; hurriedly he rushed over and used the key she had given him to unlock her.
"Then why did you do it?" She asked, staring at him incomprehensively.
"I heard two men talking downstairs, one of them was talking about you. He was planning to hurt you, badly, I didn't want that. I wasn't even planning to get a girl."
"So you came to a brothel and you weren't planning to get a girl?" She walked back to the bed and sat down. She stared at him as if he were some new form of idiot. Karl found he could only laugh ruefully at how ridiculous it sounded.
"Well, it does sound rather dumb when you say it out loud it was rather a spur of the moment decision."
She just stared at him, as if inviting him to continue. Karl walked about the room, unable to sit next to a naked woman on a bed. "Well," he began; "It seems that our investigation has drawn some unwanted attention. We been stalked for the last few days and were attacked not too long ago.
"Tonight I was walking about when I realized I was being followed again. I saw this place and I thought I'd slip in here and nurse a drink or two till the crowds die down. But, as you can see, things turned out a little differently."
"So you decided to hide out in a brothel." She said in an amused tone. "Well," she said lying back on the bed; "You wouldn't be the first. While you hide out care to get what you paid for?" She said it in a voice that was supposed to be sultry with a look that was somewhat seductive; but Karl could tell both were false.
"Thank you but no thank you." He said, going to stand by the window. "As I said, that is not why I am here. I came here to get the drop on my pursuer and I rented the room to keep you away from those men. Besides," he said trying to sound kind as he feared he may have sounded too harsh; "I can tell you don't want me, and I have never taken a woman who didn't want me." Actually he had never taken a woman, willing or otherwise, but he felt no need to tell Olga that.
She looked at him for a moment then shrugged and slid under the covers. "Well, I won't complain about a night without beatings." So saying she curled up and soon went to sleep.
It was still too early to go so Karl sat down in the chair to wait. As he sat she stared at Olga's sleeping form. As he looked at her he found himself disturbed. He was a monster, a strong monster; he had fought Orcs, Beastmen even vampires! He had beaten them all. Yet he could not prevent one woman from being abused and molested by ordinary humans.
At last darkness fell. He went to the window and pulled it open. He was just about to crawl out of the window when Olga called to him. She was sitting up in the bed, holding the sheet to her chest. For a moment she said nothing but the look she gave him was one of gratitude. Finally she said simply; "Thank you." He nodded and then dropped out the window.
Once he hit the ground he hurried around the corner. The streets were mostly deserted and the streets were unlit here save for a lantern at the entrance to the Palace of Pleasure. Fortunately, Karl did not need light to smell his target.
Across the street, hidden in the shadows, was someone. Karl could not see him well, all he could tell was that he was a short man and smelled heavily of onions. The man was crouched beside a barrel in an alleyway across from the brothel. From there he could spy on the entrance and be unseen from anyone coming out, as they would be blinded by the lantern.
Karl slipped back into the alley behind the brothel and ran along it down the street. Once he was certain that he was far enough away he crossed the street and scrambled up a building. Going from roof to roof he approached where the man was hiding. When he got to the building next to the man he peeked over the edge, the man was still there. Karl was surprised at how small the man was and at first thought he might be a Dwarf or a child; but then he saw it was one of Halflings he had heard about. He gathered himself and jumped.
The Halfling was clearly a veteran of the streets and had sharp ears. Even as Karl dropped down his head shot to look at him and he dove to the side as Karl landed, a dagger appearing in both hands. He rolled to the side, evading Karl's grasp and dealing him a couple of nasty cuts.
Cursing, more in anger than pain, Karl lunged at him. The Halfling dodged to the side again. He was fast; if Karl had been a human he would have missed him again. But Karl was not human, he was faster and stronger. He grabbed the Halfling by the collar and swung him, lifting him off the ground entirely, to slam into a wall.
The Halfling grunted and his knives flew from his hands. Karl put his face right next to the Halflings. "Why are you following me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about! I was just minding my own business, when you, sir, attacked me without provocation!"
"You're lying." Karl said. Looking around he saw that the barrel that the Halfling had been hiding behind was full of rain water. Going over to it he thrust his prisoner into it head first. The captive squirmed and thrashed, splashing water over Karl but could not get out. After counting to twenty Karl pulled the Halfling's head out of the water. "Why are you following me?" The only reply he got was to be spat on and cursed. Shrugging he thrust his head back under the water.
This time he held him under for nearly a minute before pulling him out. Before he could ask the question the Halfling chocked out an answer. "Marco, Marco sent me!"
"And who is Marco?"
"What, everyone knows who Marco is, you bumpkin!"
"As you just said, I am not from here. Who is Marco?"
"Marco owns this street and this whole part of the city, no matter who owns the deeds."
"And why is Marco interested in me and my friend?"
"I don't know! The boss says to follow you I follow, I don't ask questions."
"Is the other man following us another of Marco's?"
"No, I saw him but I don't know who he is."
"Did Marco send the toughs who attacked us?"
"I don't know. Look, if I was high up enough to know about that stuff do you think I'd be hang around outside a brothel?"
Karl had to admit that that was true. He could not think of anything else to ask, the fellow was clearly just a foot soldier, and did not know anything. Dropping the Halfling to the ground he turned and began the walk back to the temple.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone sorry it took so long to write this. If you don't know Halflings are the same as Hobbits from Lord of the Rings but, obviously have more to do with humans. Please keep praying for Shawn, persecuted Christians, Saeed Abedini and everyone else who needs it, including Amir Hekmati, an American in poor health being held in Iran. Bye for now and may Jesus bless you all.