Chapter 5

‘Don't breathe in too deeply.’ Seroin shouted these words into Tomga's ears, otherwise he wouldn't have heard them. They stood at the wide bar, sticky with schnapps, and waited for Liku, but that didn't help them escape the ecstasy of the Aderlass.

Loud music was playing in the vaulted cellar, wild sounds of the most diverse kinds flitting from corner to corner. Small glass tubes were hanging from the walls, painted in the most varied colours. The sunlight streaming out of them clothed the room in a colourful magic. The colours leaped around so wildly that you couldn't see the basic tone of the cellar walls anymore.

Behind them, people were dancing. Most of them were barely clothed, their eyes widened in artificial joy and their breathing rapid or paralysed. All of them had long cuts on their arms and chests, small threads of blood decorating sweaty flesh of all colours. But these wounds hardly seemed to cause them any pain; on the contrary, each of them appeared cheerful, empty or dazed.

Seroin took hold of Tomga's neck again and pulled his ear to her lips. ‘And don't cut yourself, no open wounds.’ She pointed around the vaulted cellar. People were standing at the walls and corners, throwing handfuls of powder into the room with wide swings. The fine dust glistened in the air, and most of them held out their wounds in the freshly thrown powder cloud.

‘Numbing powder. All kinds of effects. In the blood, it immediately takes effect. In this room, I think it makes you alert. A resting place from the other chambers. Or do you still feel tired?’

The elf shook his head and his features beamed with enthusiasm.

‘Don't breathe too deeply or too much, otherwise you'll quickly become flat. Or you won't be able to live without it.’

Now he took her shoulder. His rough hands were capable of a gentle touch after all, and he had a strangely pleasant smell for a travelling man. ‘What madness. I have rarely seen a celebration so wild and exotic.’

‘That's just vigilance powder.’ Seroin pointed to a corridor dressed in various shades of red. From it came the moans of countless voices as well as the sounds of the movements of lustful flesh. ‘Guess what kind of powder is thrown there. And why some people need a break.’

It took Tomga a while, then he blushed. He stammered for words. ’And you? Do you take this dust? It seems more than practical.’

Seroin shook his head. ‘Not this kind here. I have my own particular taste. At some point, the body gets used to it and no longer lets the magic lead it around by the nose. Then it needs more. Few manage to wean themselves off, some resort to A.M.I.s. It never ends…’

Then Seroin spotted the orc Bescha emerging from a door in the cellar vault. ‘Liku seems to be here. Now. Remember your sister very clearly, exactly.’

Tomga was visibly surprised by the question, but Seroin had already turned away from him and spread his arms in greeting.

‘Seroin. We see you here so rarely, not like before, no, so rarely.’ The elf next to Bescha was sickly slender, his pale skin glistened wet and the small, almost pitch-black eyes trembled constantly. A damp shirt hung from his body so low that it fell to his knees. Whether he wore trousers underneath was anyone's guess. But despite his frail appearance, he held Seroin close to him.

‘Liku. Yes, it's been a long time. But still. It's good to see you again.’ Seroin's voice actually carried a hint of nostalgia. ’Unfortunately, it's business, not pleasure that brings me here. Your, our boss, has a request. And you could do more than just help.’

The elf nodded at her, then his black, beady eyes shot over to Tomga. Seeing both elves together again highlighted how tall and broad Tomga was built and how small and delicate Liku was. ‘Liku. From the Aderlass. With Shiverlips gang.’ The elf held out his hand to Tomga, his fingernails long and sharp.

Tomga hesitated only slightly, then grasped it firmly, but his expression immediately changed. Seroin knew why, but not warning the elf was a small pleasure for her. After a long handshake, Liku let go and strolled casually behind the bar.

‘You have incredible strength in your arms, Mr Liku. Incredible.’ Tomga stared at his hand, which slowly began to fill with blood again. ’I wouldn't wish your sword stroke on anyone. Tomga Balf is my name.’

Liku grabbed a bottle from the shelf behind the bar and poured himself a glass of transparent schnapps. ‘A pleasure. I don't know your linage name. You're from where?’

‘Cold Belly, sir. I'm a Hoda Ir, a hill elf. And you, Mr Liku? What noble species do you come from?’

Liku hesitated briefly, he seemed to hear the question less. ‘If you had asked my mother, we are “I-don't-give-a-damn-elves”, or “don't-give-a-damn-Ir”. But I always like to say that an ir, an elf, adapts to his element. And that's why I like to call myself Bada-Ir, elf from Badazan.’

Tomga looked confused several times, so Seroin intervened and grabbed the glass before Liku, emptied it in one gulp. ‘Poetic as ever, discovered any new numbing powder for it?’

The elf laughed and clapped his hands together. ’We have sooooo many new varieties since you were last here, so many. Joy, sweet nostalgia, carnal desire for one's own or the opposite sex, calmness, forgiveness, yearning for strangers. Our customers are always very satisfied. We also have new green algae, fresh and juicy. Their potion closes wounds on arms and body quickly and cleanly, which also takes away the last concern of our shop here.’

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Seroin patted the bar. ‘Mr. Shiverlip knows how to run a business. And no one wants to steal from your success?’

Now the elf's black eyes darkened. ’The Ibis gang recently took over a bar near here. They're still quiet, but we don't like outsiders. And the Young Harvest...’ He waved one hand in the air as if to brush away a stubborn fly. ‘It remains a nuisance. The leader of the gang, the gardener, is ruthless, unusual for the young growth, and not in tune with our beautiful city. But what brings you here?’

‘We are looking for his sister. Show me a few pictures of her, preferably the last ones in his memories, nothing more.’ Seroin nodded at Tomga, but she didn't understand. ’And no firm grasp, you know!’

Liku started immediately. ‘Ah, Seroin, still afraid of strangers touching her, constantly tense, constantly disgusted. Because Shiverlip wants this, without payment, I think. I see. Very well.’ He dug out a small metal tube from under the counter and opened a hatch on its side.

He put an A.M.I. into the tube, closed it and pushed the end into his own flesh. There were several ring-shaped scars on his forearm. ‘For a picture, a 1/20 of an A.M.I. dose is enough. You don't want to inject too much and become a flutterer.’ He squeezed and immediately an incredible static filled his body.

Liku's hands shot forward and he grabbed both Seroin's and Tomga's wrists, instantly driving a long fingernail into the skin of each of them.

Seroin just heard Tomga's protest, then her senses blurred.

Meadows grew wide and green, strong grey rock towered out of them, wanting to look as imposing as the broad and mighty mountains behind it. Few tall trees adorned the landscape and a regal wind swept through the land, calling every spot its own.

Right in front of her was a fence, separating a field from a simple hiking trail. Seroin sensed that she would have to repair the fence at some point, but she simply couldn't. Her leg, it wouldn't work because of her leg. It hurt, even when she was just standing. But something next to it gave her joy.

Two children were sitting next to her feet, playing around with the freshly harvested apples. She felt affection, love, protection, gratitude that these children were growing up without... war. War. Her thoughts briefly turned to something too dark, too corrupt, and she felt sick. Seroin wanted to pray, she knew she would be heard, had to be heard.

Then a whistle, a kind of call. A woman was running along the path. Small but clean face, curly hair. Seroin felt love and security. The woman ran past them, nodded in greeting. Seroin felt... shame?

Then she grasped the neck. There, open and recognisable, lay an amulet. The steel was black and red, the corners angular and rusty. The appearance was so simple and yet Seroin sensed significance. Didn't know why. She was just trying to memorise the sight better...

The noise of the Aderlass shot through her ears again and her breath seemed like the first one she had ever drawn. The same happened to Tomga, who almost fell out of his stool.

Liku, on the other hand, calmly grabbed a cloth and wiped his fingernails clean. ‘And? Did it work? For another attempt, though, you have to…’

‘No, it did. I saw enough. Thank you.’ Seroin was about to support Tomga when the latter rose to his feet.

He stood there for a moment as if his leg were still limping, then he pulled himself together.‘What... I... saw her... I...’ Tomga shot to Seroin. ’What did you feel, what did you see?’

‘Exactly the same as you. Only I felt nothing. Just saw a brief image. I now recognise your sister's face. That helps us more than it hinders us. I...’

‘You felt nothing? Nothing at all?’ Tomga stood in front of her and you could almost see anger in his blue eyes. Then he raised his hand in apology. “That was too much. I need air. I'll wait outside.” He quickly disappeared.

Liku grinned lazily at her. ‘Why the lie? You know my gift. I have mastered it like no other. You felt nothing?’

Seroin seized the bottle and poured himself a new drink. ’Not necessary. It doesn't matter. I didn't want to confuse him.’

Now the elf snatched the glass from her. ‘Why are you interested in the man and his memories?’

‘Why don't you ask Shiverlip directly? Or are you afraid he'll have to admonish you for disclosing the secrets of his business?’

Liku raised her hands and tipped the glass into his throat. ‘No, no. I know my limits and how far I can test them. But that's exactly why. Fancy a little extra income, like in the old days, I have interesting customers.’

‘Hit me.’ Seroin leaned against the bar and stared blankly at the stunned crowd.

‘The next customer is a member of the Zweimeer family, of low rank, but still. She only wants to relive the same memory over and over again, when her oh-so-dear father himself made the little Zweimeer girl into a Zweimeer woman. Back then she resisted like an orc, but now she wants to see it again and again.’

Seroin shook his head. ‘Broken things like that aren't interesting. How are we supposed to get A.M.I.s out of them? Put it in your book and I know that it can be useful for other things later. Blackmailing Zweimeer never ends well. Anything else today?’

‘Just a Uk'haral, a water dwarf. The city's latest addition. Lost his wife in an accident with one of her contraptions, water pressure and all that nonsense. Just wants to see her face over and over again. Before you ask, he can't remember it himself. That's why I always show him a picture of a water dwarf whore from the Lieb-quarter. He doesn't seem to notice the difference. Maybe...’

‘Doesn't fit either, too risky. And I see less profit in it. Don't you have anything big? Something promising?’

‘The planned party of the Sandevi family. They say Bema is showing her new masterpiece, a Platti as big as a town square. Infinite sins in the air of Badazan, some whisper. Others say that good Bema is just distracting attention from something, planning something in the wings. You know the rumours of the city. But the rich of the rich are taking part. You can gain something from it. And the whole thing is taking place soon.’

Seroin nodded curiously. ‘I've also heard about this party on a new Platti, the elite of the elite are supposed to be there. I'll keep that in mind. When I'm done with the elf, we can plan something, I kind of like the idea. And what the Sandevis are planning in the shadows is none of my business, that only costs you your head, you know that, everyone here knows that.’ She snorted in annoyance. ’Now I have to take care of the elf out here first. After that, we can talk and plan for longer. Liku. A pleasure as always.’

Liku bowed theatrically, then greeted a human woman dressed in fine clothing and disappeared with her deeper into the cellar.

Seroin took another gulp from the bottle, then went to find Bescha. ‘The elf with me, is he still upstairs?’

The orc grinned broadly and shook his head. ‘Two of the Ibis gang invited him to have a drink with them. War heroes from Daumaje do it for free there. That's how quickly things can change in Badazan. He might be getting boxed in this very moment.’