Ranger24: Hey sorry I haven't updated in a while but I had writers block. To make up for lost time I am skipping most of the road to Teirm and going straight to the damn city. Enjoy.
Chapter 22: A taste of Teirm
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
One week after we last left our heroes…
Naruto finally breathe clean non mist filled air. For the past week they had trekked through the mountains with only stops during the night. They were now roughly a mile from the gate of Teirm. Naruto had started to grow a few whiskers since they had found the seithr oil.
The city of teirm was massive and surrounded by a massive forty foot tall by twenty feet thick wall. Its gate was bustling with comers and goers going to and from the city. Outside the wall was a massive port filled with tall ships and warehouses. Ranger dismounted Demonwing. Naruto clambered off Al.
Ranger: Okay remember the plan. Cortana hides outside the city while we go in preferably a few miles distance.
Naruto nodded and opened his mental link with his dragon companion.
Naruto: Cortana we're going in.
Cortana: If anything happens to you I'll strap you down my back and never let you go.
Naruto: I love you to.
Cortana: Then you'll really know what it means to be saddle sore.
They approached the gate which was guarded by four very bored looking soldiers. They wore plate mail armor with iron helms and leather boots. They held their spears at rest with Xemnas's pearly white symbol on their shields. Ranger put on a look of happy idocy.
Soldier one: Whats your name?
Ranger dropped into a think accent. (Think hill Billy.)
Ranger: Well, I'm a called Riccard.
Soldier one: And who's he?
Ranger: Well I was getting to that now. That'd be my nephew, Barney, he's my sisters boy, not a…
Soldier one: Yeah… Yeah… And your business here?
Naruto dropped in a similar accent.
Naruto: He's a visiting an old friend. I'm along to make sure as he used to be. He not quite right in the head, bit too much sun when he was a kid, touch of brain fever you know.
Ranger bobbed his head up and down trying to whistle.
Soldier one: Alright just make sure he doesn't cause trouble.
Naruto: Oh he won't.
The soldiers parted and they hurried into the city Ranger growled under his breath.
Ranger: Touch of brain fever?
Naruto: Couldn't let you have all the fun.
Ranger: Drop that damn accent. Use it only when you have to… Barney.
Naruto: Very funny Riccard.
Ranger: Better than your suggestion of Todd.
Naruto Hey!
As they made their way through the streets they noticed that there were very subtle signs of hard times. House that were all made of stone had weeds growing on them, no children played in the streets, and people were carrying around weapons and it wasn't just guards on patrol.
Naruto also noticed that there was some very weird architecture. The houses closest to the walls were short no more than one story but as they went farther in the houses became larger and larger until they arrived at a massive citadel.
Naruto: What's with this place?
Ranger: Teirm has a history of being the target of many attacks by sea and land due to the amount of wealth that gathers here. The cities warriors are among the best in the empire. Especially they're archers. The city was built like this to maximize the effectiveness of the archers. If the wall was breach Sniper's could be posted on the rooftops and the ones behind them would have little fear of hitting their comrades. The citadel also has an unobstructed view of the city.
Naruto: So it's impregnable?
Ranger: Nothing is impregnable. And this was only done after the city was nearly burned down by a pirate raid.
Naruto: Oh. So how do we find this friend of yours?
Ranger: First we gather the information. I'm sure he'll shelter us but we need to find him first.
Naruto: So where to?
Ranger: Where do you think information gathers?
Naruto: A library?
Ranger: No.
Naruto: A school?
Ranger: Wrong again.
Naruto: The citadel?
Ranger: Wrong again.
Naruto: Churches?
Ranger: Occasionally but not what I'm looking for.
Naruto: The main square?
Ranger: What go back and see the guards?
Naruto: Okay then where will we find information on your friend?
Ranger grinned.
Ranger: Bars, slums, brothels, and crowded markets.
Naruto: Huh?
Ranger smiled.
Ranger: In the most unlikely places or in the most disgusting of places is knowledge passed, especially if it's private.
Naruto: How do you figure that?
Ranger: People in those places will give you anything for a little coin. How much you got?
Naruto: What!
Ranger: I need cash for bribes. I only have fifty on me.
Naruto: You're kidding.
Ranger: Nope.
Naruto: I've only got ten.
Ranger sighed.
Ranger: It'll have to do. Be aware thugs may try to shake us down. No magic.
Naruto: Got it.
They made their way into the slums, a rough district with poor people, drunks, whores, thugs, beggars, and only a few guards. As they made their way towards a bar labeled the Broken Chair a group of knife wielding thugs accosted them.
Thug 1: Give us your money and we won't hurt the kid!
Ranger: Oh you'll wish you hadn't done that.
Thug 1: One gezzer against all of us! Hah! Don't make me laugh!
Ranger: Your funeral.
The first thug threw a punch at him but Ranger grabbed his arm, pulled it out, and smashed his left fist down on the arm! The man cried out as the small blade cut his skin and his arm broke! Naruto kicked one thug in the groin then broke his nose! Ranger did a strange circular punch series and sent another thug to the ground chest cover in bruises! The final thug ran for it screaming!
Ranger: I warned ya'.
They walked into the bar. It was dank with rather shady figures. The bar tender was wiping a glass that had already broken with a dirty rag. A man with a very long nose and large head sat in a corner with one of his fingers missing. His left middle. Ranger made his way up to the bar slipping into his false accent.
Ranger: Howdy! I'm a looking for a feller named David.
The bartender shouted louder than was needed.
Bartender: NOW WHY WOULD I KNOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT? DO YOU THINK ITS MY JOB TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE LAZY LOUTS IN THIS GOD FORSAKEN PLACE?
Ranger slipped a few coins on the counter.
Ranger: Could you be enticed to remember?
The Bartender glanced at the coins.
Bartender: Maybe. But my memory takes quite a bit of refreshing.
Ranger scowled and slid a few more coins on to the counter the bartender thought it over for a minute then sighed.
Bartender: All right.
He reached for the coins but…
???: Jackson what in the blazes are you doing? Anyone on the street could tell them where David lives!
The speaker was the man in the corner with the missing finger and big nose. Ranger snatched up the coins and the bartender scowled before going back to scrubbing. Ranger and Naruto went over to the man who pulled up a pair of chairs.
Ranger: You just save me a couple's buck's stranger.
???: Glen Quagmire. Can't really blame Jackson though business hasn't been that great the economies at an all time low.
Ranger and Naruto sat down, Naruto setting his chair against the wall and facing the door.
Ranger: What do you mean?
Quagmire: Well as you may know most of our money comes from sea trade. Well about a month ago someone started attacking our ships. It's not like the usual piracy because only the goods of certain merchants are attacked. David's one of them. Some of them own some of the largest shipping companies in the empire! Some have been forced to send caravans by land and its driven costs painfully high!
Ranger: Is it the Sangheli?
Quagmire: Nah they've left the area and good riddance. There hasn't been a single sighting in over a month. Same as when the ships started vanishing.
Ranger: So who's doing it?
Quagmire: No ones sure. Ships go out and vanish. No wreckage is found, no signs of struggle, no ghost ships. Some of the sailors say it's magic.
Naruto: Are you a sailor?
Quagmire: Na'. I'm a mercenary. Captains higher me to protect their ships from pirates but even they've seemed to have vanished.
Ranger looked very troubled.
Ranger: So where is David.
Quagmire: He lives in the rich district right next to ChibiSkitty Dona's herb shop. You really can't miss it.
Ranger: Thanks.
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As soon as they were out of the poor district Ranger stroked his chin.
Ranger: The Empire is in a worse state than I thought. We have to find David.
The rich district wasn't at all like the poor slums of before. People walked with dignity wore fancy clothes and wore fine jewelry. Several frowned at the two of them and made Naruto feel even less welcome in this city but then he remembered Daret and smiled.
Soon they arrived at a tall building with a young woman with brown hair wearing a white robe with red triangles on it sat holding a Polytoad.
Ranger: Excuse me…
Naruto: What are you doing?
The woman glanced up.
???: I'm trying to prove that polytoads should be called polyfrogs. Also proving there is no such thing as toads and thus witches won't be able to do anything evil.
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Ranger: As I was saying. Can you tell me which house David lives at?
She smiled.
???: ChibiSkitty Dona.
She held out her hand and Ranger shook it.
Ranger: A pleasure but it doesn't quite answer my question.
Chibi: I know I was getting to that. He's on the right. Now if you don't mind.
Ranger: Thank you.
As soon as they were out of earshot Naruto spoke.
Naruto: She's nucking futs.
Ranger elbowed him.
Naruto: What its true!
Ranger: She might actually be right. Polytoads do look more like frogs than toads.
Naruto shook his head.
Ranger24: And that's a chapter! Sorry for the long wait but I was caught up in all other my stories. This one will be going slow but I hope to have it break 100 reviews before the end! Until next time read and review!