They were entering the main gates of the capitol by the time late afternoon was coming to a close and early evening was setting in. Jones's companion was silent as the guards searched the cart and were about to kill the wolf. The sheriff finally had to speak up. "That's his pet, she's about as tame as they come." In fact, Yui growled at the guards until Zelgadis laid his gloved hand on her head. She went silent, simply standing, leaning against the strange demon-man's leg.
"Well, you're going to have to keep that thing on a leash," the guard said. His armor was rusty and there were holes in the chain mail, as if he wasn't paid enough to bother fixing it. His helmet was dented and his spear had certainly seen better days.
Zelgadis noticed that the rest of the town was in about as much disrepair as the guard was. The streets stank of urine and there were open gutters on either side of the cobblestone street. Garbage had collected in those gutters and causing them to overflow into the street in places.
Looking down at Yui, he shook his head, "Go back out and don't get close to anyone you find, stick around though. This shouldn't take long." The she-wolf turned, dashing back out the gates, causing a horse to neigh in fear before getting settled again. The rain was a drizzle now, and it gave Zelgadis a reason to keep his hood pulled low.
Turning, the Chimera headed down the street, Jones hurrying to catch up with him, "Boy, don't you ever hear me when I call?"
"I was trying not to," Zelgadis replied calmly, infuriating the sheriff. "Perhaps you should go back to your town and stay out of this." It wasn't a suggestion. Jones shook his head firmly and stepped over a puddle with something nondescript floating in it.
Once again, Zelgadis tuned out the man's voice, his eyes looking over the crowded buildings who's second stories overhung the street. Here and there was a hardwood door with cast iron holding the planks together. Windows peered blankly out at the street, their glass reflecting only the closing dark outside. The houses were built against each other as if sharing a wall would conserve heat, or perhaps it was more like safety in numbers. Zelgadis adjusted his mask on his face.
"What's the matter with you?! Those big ears of yours deaf?!" Jones was asking.
"No. Simply selective hearing," he replied calmly.
"You're very annoying, you know that?" Jones lifted a finger and pointed it at the Chimera.
Zelgadis smirked under his mask and hood, "Not as annoying as some people. I could be answering every question with one phrase."
"What phrase would that be? 'Go eat shit'?"
Zelgadis snorted, "That would be somewhat of an answer. No, I could answer everything with 'That- is a secret'. Damn Xelloss. At least I tell the truth sometimes, he's ALWAYS got some story going." He almost expected Xelloss to appear in front of him and say 'I'm sorry you feel that way, Zelly-kun! You've hurt my feelings!' The Chimera refrained from speaking more, for his thought of Xelloss only made him want to speak curses, which even Jones was too young to hear.
"Hey, there's a tavern, though I hope you won't cause as much trouble in there as you did back in town," Jones said, giving Zelgadis a glare.
"I only do that when people push me too far, and that man did more then that. NO one touches my sword but me," Zelgadis said firmly, one hand resting on the hilt of said sword. Jones muttered something that Zelgadis pretended not to hear and they stepped up to the door of the tavern, pushing it open.
Noise, light, and smoke spilled out into the street as the two walked in. It was obvious that this was where the men spent their time after hours. The street had been silent and empty, but the tavern was packed. The smell of body odor was strong above the scent of tobacco smoke and spilled alcohol. Jones shoved his way through the press, Zelgadis simply glided forward, nothing could knock him off his feet. Those who came into contact with him cast odd looks around, but said nothing, figuring it to have been imagination or tipsiness.
Zelgadis came to the back of the tavern where the shadows hung the heaviest. A group of men who looked normal in every way were playing poker. "Need another?" he asked softly, but his voice cut though the smoke and noise like a sword.
They cast long looks at him before one man with a cigar clenched between his teeth nodded. His hair was greasy and hung around his head in short spikes, parted down the middle. "What's your name stranger?"
It wasn't wise to give your name to men like these, "Stone," he replied without skipping a beat, sweeping up the cards he was dealt, arranging them quickly.
"Really, seemed more like an 'Ice' to me," replied the man softly, "I'm Slit," Zelgadis nodded, in a place like this was where he'd met Zolf and Rodimus, he doubted he'd find such men as they'd been here though. "Anything you're particularly interested in?" he asked, taking a puff on his cigar as he played his turn.
Zelgadis's eyes wandered over the group of five men, spying a woman lounging against the wall behind Slit. The men were dressed in rather regular city clothes, nothing about them suggested of their true profession. "Just information," the Chimera replied calmly.
"It'll cost."
Zelgadis nodded, "As expected, of course, if you run the price too high I'll find out what I want another way," his turn came and he casually set a few coins on the table, adding to the pile in the middle.
Slit's eyes narrowed as he watched Zelgadis's hand. "Fair deal, but it depends on what you want."
"Just a few maps drawn up and some word on the head honcho around here," Zelgadis replied casually. "It'll be worth your time, I assure you."
"Planning a break in?" the woman behind Slit stepped forward slowly, her silver eyes shining in the half-light of the tavern. Her hair was black as coal with a silver lock just over her left eye.
"Perhaps," Zelgadis replied, looking at her.
"You'll need help," she said casually, coming around the table to lean on the back of his chair, peeking at his cards over his shoulder. "I could help you."
"And what are you getting out of it, lady?" Zelgadis asked.
She laughed, "Please, you flatter me, call me Moonlight." She smiled sensually, though he couldn't see it due to his hood.
"What are you getting out of it?" Zelgadis asked again, "And how do you intend to help me?"
"I'll be your protection. I enjoy a little adventure from time to time. I think helping you would be an adventure," Moonlight continued on past his chair, her black gloved hand sliding along the back. He could see that she was wearing a black skirt that had splits on both sides up to her hips where silver clasps were. Her shirt consisted of a piece of cloth wrapped around her torso, clasped on one shoulder with another silver disk. She was rather well endowed and her wide hips swayed as her long well muscled legs moved. Those legs were clad in knee high heeled black leather boots. Her face reminded Zelgadis vaguely of Eris, except it wasn't as wide and her eyes didn't hold a hint of madness. Her black hair was pulled into a bun on top of her head, the lock of white above her left brow fell down beside her face, another lock of black on the other side. In between those locks were a pair of silver eyes which sized him up carefully.
Zelgadis sighed inwardly, there wasn't a way he was going to get rid of her so he simply flicked another coin onto the pile and played his turn when it came to him. "If you insist, but if you get killed, it's not my problem, just remember that."
"How long will you be in the city?" Slit asked.
"Until I leave," Zelgadis replied.
Slit thought about that a moment, puffing his cigar. "Alright, twenty gold now for the information, pay the three hundred when I get the maps."
Laying his cards face down, Zelgadis reached into his cape, thinking though the things he'd picked up from the bandit encampment and finally pulled a bag of gold into his lap sifting out a handful of gold and plenty of silvers. He dumped them on the table then put the bag back into his hammerspace where none but himself could reclaim it.
Slit nodded. "The man fancies himself a king, he's about as royal as I am." The other men at the table snickered at the comment as Zelgadis picked up his cards once again. "He married the princess brandishing a phony title, said he came from the area that had been blocked off until recently."
"His name?"
Slit continued after the interruption, "Said his name was Prince Phillionel or something like that. Absolute pretty boy. He's put out a reward for anyone who gets this thing called a Heart Stone in the mountains to the east. Practically every gold digger's been out there trying to find it." Slit shook his head, greasy hair flipping around loosely on his forehead.
"Are there any strange people hanging around this prince?" Zelgadis asked.
"There's the guy's advisor, who's this strange man who's always smiling with his eyes closed-"
"Does he have purple hair?" Zelgadis's gaze sent shivers down Slit's spine, thought the man hid it well.
"Yes-" Slit started to say.
"Damn. Damn that Xelloss," Zelgadis muttered. "What have you noticed about this supposed priest advisor?"
"Well, Prince Phillionel doesn't seem to trust him. Seems more afraid of the guy then anything. That's all I know about him." Zelgadis gave Slit a long look, deciding to leave it at that. "If you tell me some about this guy, I'll let you take some of your money back."
Zelgadis thought a moment, watching the men play their turns, finally laying down his cards, face up, "No. What I know... is a secret." He stood, pushing his chair back and pausing a moment, "I'll meet you here tomorrow." Turning, he moved back into the crowd, tugging his hood lower.
Finding Jones at the bar, he whispered into the man's ear, "If you breath a word about me being here to anyone, not even your wife will live to regret it." The man's eyes widened and he watched as the Chimera moved out of the tavern and back into the rain, the door banging closed behind him. Once again it had started pouring rain.