[IRP] The Dead One Calls

[WyvernSlayer]

Satsume exited the inn with a jump in his step - not so much because of his concern for the rest of the group, but rather to hasten his return to Cecily's side.  All of the recent happenings since their arrival in town had made the weight of his duties much heavier.  She'd lost a vassal under similar circumstances - unbeknownst to him at the time, she had entered Bern with a guardian who had been with her since her youth, and when she left, Satsume was his replacement.  Dad did say that I think of others more than myself and my family, he thought.  This is the first time I've felt he was right.

He looked around, trying to pick up a glimpse of anyone he recognized.  He caught a flash of purple disappearing into what was probably a smith's shop.  Must be Shad, Satsume decided.  He headed for the shop.  The lack of any traffic in the street was much more suspicious to him now.  A village of this size shouldn't be so quiet.  Satsume mentally verified the location and readiness of all of his weapons as he walked.

Just then, a man of considerable size approached from a side street, heading for the same destination as Satsume.  It was the first person he had seen walking about since they arrived.  Maybe he knows something about what's going on here, Satsume thought.  But as the sound of his clanking armor grew closer to the shop, the man peeked around his shoulder and locked eyes with Satsume.  Satsume didn't even have time to utter a response before the man hastily turned on his heel and began walking away from the shop.

"Huh."  Very strange, indeed...  Satsume debated pursuing the man, but there was no telling what kind of trouble he would find himself in if he strayed too far from the main street alone.  He made a note of the direction the man was headed as he opened the door to the smith's shop.


Shad was at the counter, speaking with the smithy.  His ornate blade lay on one of the tables behind the shopkeeper.  Shad looked toward Satsume as his armor signaled his presence.

"Hey," said Satsume.  He looked past Shad towards the... interesting assortment of metalworks on the smith's anvil in the back.  "Do you have a second?"  He cocked his head, to indicate that he intended the conversation to be private.  He turned his back to the counter and leaned in closer to Shad.

"Lady Cecily believes that there's more going on here than it appears.  We might have more to worry about than just the castle."  As he spoke, his eyes drifted towards the side window of the shop.  The man from earlier was still viewable; he appeared to be looking towards them, but it was too far away to be certain.  Satsume's eyes came back to Shad.

"There's someone outside.  He looked like he was about to come in here, but when he saw me he turned around and walked back towards the castle.  What do you think it means?"