The ever-the-same light of niatra's shone onto the incoming wagons that Sunshen had been watching while sipping his tea. The people coming on the battered wagons seemed much the same, their faces showing signs of horrors they might have seen. One man held what had to be a newly acquired stump on his left hand, the very end of it purple and crudely cut. Though from what Sunshen had heard, he was still among the lucky ones. Many people lost much more than just a hand in the fog.
The rest of the incoming entourage was similarly in states of hurt and disarray, as they always were. Sunshen liked to imagine just what sort of things they must have encountered. A wheel missing might have just been a hole in the road, or it could have been one of the rumored hounds, biting down on the moving wagon. A man's rusted sword might have been the result of fighting in the fog, or it might have just dropped into it.
Steam rose from the great cannons, aimed at the entrance gate, ready to launch their projectiles into the incoming group of people. Sunshen never really understood why, since nobody could just smuggle the fog inside with them anyway, but it could not hurt to be careful and these security checks were nothing but careful.
The various boxes were opened and examined, the people were ordered to strip and show any injuries they might have. It was somewhat inhumane, if necessary.
It was almost time to go to Herner's and Sunshen had to calm his nerves. He was fresh out of tobacco and the new incomers did not seem that interesting and so he decided to leave to buy the little tobby that he might have money for.
The shop was a very cozy place, the kind with prepared seating and comfortable chairs, that make you want to taste the goods right then and there. It also had one other big plus when compared to the rest of the shops in Kuret, Bert was working there.
The man was a locally known enigma. A fog strider that decided to pass his job for the comfortable life of a shopkeeper. Sunshen liked to think that he was helping someone live a leisurely life by only buying his tobacco, even if it wasn't always up to par, but that was not the main reason he shopped there.
The smell of dried leaves and all manner of smokeables attacked Sunshen's nostrils as he entered the shop. The smell, though awfully fragrant, did feel pleasant. Various herbs were hanged from the wooden beams, many cans with scribbled names onto them were lined across the shelves behind the clerk.
Bert himself seemed to fit the shop like a glove, wearing a red scarf across his neck and a brown jacket. His long grey beard disappearing into his similarly grey hair.
"The usual?" Bert did not even wait for Sunshen to answer, immediately putting a metal box on the counter.
"Yes. Here you go." Sunshen put the money on the counter, along with the usual tip. Then he pulled out a different pouch and let it gently fall on the counter.
"I ain't telling you nothing kid."
"Surely?" Sunshen asked as he put out a different pouch.
"It ain't about the money kid. Gods know I would be out of business without your patronage. But the less you know about the outside, the better." Bert said as he turned to pour boiling water over some herbs.
"I don't plan to go there. I just want to know."
"And you think I can give you the answers that would satisfy you kid? No. I would just pique your interest. I don't want that. Men die in the fog everyday. Strong, capable men. You know how quickly you would die? With that underdeveloped arm of yours?"
"The arm is why I want to know." Sunshen looked at the mangled mess on his left side and uncovered the sleeve. His left arm looked more akin to a lengthened chicken leg, than a human arm. The muscles and bones all wrong and fit in unnatural angles, the hand and fingers twisted into the form of a small claw.
"I heard that the beasts might have healing properties, maybe if I...
"No." Bert shook his head. "Unfortunately not like that kid."
Sunshen's disappointment must have been evident, since the man seemed to crack a bit. Bert sat down next to Sunshen, pushing the two pouches back into his right hand.
"If you promise me not to venture outside, under any circumstances, I will tell you the little I know."
"I swear."
"Alright." The man drank the tea he made. "The beasts, as you called them, are mostly only hounds. Long and tall deformed hounds. They feed on anything they come across and are virtually insatiable. A single hound once hate a whole caravan, saw it myself. Their saliva does keep you alive, but it does only that. Your wounds stay open, your blood stays outside of your body. You just cannot die. Even if you're missing your organs, even if just your head remains. As long as you are touching their saliva, you will live. In great torment, but live."
"Forever?" Sunshen was in awe. Normally he would never believe something this fantastical, but the complete lack of enthusiasm on Bert's face made it obvious, that he would gain no pleasure from a lie.
"Not forever, just until the hound stops feasting on you. The saliva gets used up as it keeps you alive and it does so quickly."
"Oh, so..."
"Yes, the saliva is there only to make your suffering as long as it can be and offers very little otherwise. They are wicked creatures Sunshen. Almost as wicked as the fog itself." Sunshen felt a kind of primal fear from such an end. Being slowly eaten while malevolently kept alive, just so both the prey and the predator can savor every bite. But even with such a scene in his mind, his curiosity was stronger than fear.
"How come it doesn't kill them? The fog?"
"Nobody knows. Though they fit the place as much as they can. Ugly spawn." Bert started shivering, but shook the feeling away.
"They do." Sunshen had to agree. "Do you think they come from the fog?"
"I don't know, but probably, yes. The fog was here for much longer than them, but it might have just been busy at work. Producing the next abomination to torment us with. There is nothing worse than walking through the fog and hearing their scratching growls from somewhere far away. Hearing them as they follow you. As they feast. Hearing your comrades, shouting even when half their body had been eaten." Bert stood up, his face showing signs of old horrors he had seen. He walked over to the counter and pulled out a bottle of liquor.
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"Now if you excuse me, I want to forget about this whole conversation."
"Yes, sure." Sunshen replied and let himself out the door.
While his mind certainly raced with the rather uncomfortable things he had been told this morning, he had to keep himself calm. He was coming to a special gathering today and he had to look the par.
Maggie had helped him dress and style his clothing, as she always did.
A cylinder, to appear intellectual, a dark to light grey jacket, a white shirt, black trousers and leather boots polished to reflect nigh everything.
He was a dapper gentleman to say the least. Maggie also strapped a wooden hand over Sunshen's real one. It wasn't a prosthetic, unfortunately his hand was too mangled and small to offer the points necessary. But he felt more confident, when his sleeve did not sway with the slightest wind.
He even borrowed one of his father's golden pocket clocks, just so he would feel that little better.
"Are you sure you want to go? You are trembling like a naked chicken." Maggie asked as she straightened his trousers.
"It's just....I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this." Sunshen said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"So why aren't you happy? This is a good thing, no?"
"I just cannot relax. I have to make a good impression." Sunshen replied as he adjusted his collar for what had to be the twentieth time.
"Believe me Sunshen, you really should not worry about that."
"What do you mean?" Sunshen asked, surprised.
"It's not like they won't know you." Maggie said. When she saw how confused Sunshen must have seemed, she sighted and put her head in her hand. "You are an inheritor to the Gureth family, remember? You think that they don't know who you are? You won't be the only one trying to get something out of this."
"I am not trying to get anything." Sunshen replied his face a little red. It did calm him a bit though, sometimes he really forgot all about who he was, or rather where he was from.
"Yes you are. Do not even play with me. You want to join their little gathering. You want to be upper class and that is okay. Everyone is free to yearn for anything they want."
"Since you understand me so well, you might as well tell me what you want." Sunshen replied, a hint of irritation escaped into his voice.
"I don't think I will, but thank you for the opportunity." Maggie circled around him, appraising him from the different sides and pulling on his clothes here and there.
"That should do it." she said proudly.
Sunshen watched himself in his mirror. She really was good at this. He tried to style himself a few times, but he never looked quite as dashing as when Maggie took care of him.
"Thanks a lot Mag. I am a little calmer now that I see just how great I can look."
"Oh please. I could clothe any mug into a gentleman if I wanted to."
"I actually believe you."
"Now Sun-" Maggie placed her hands on the sides of his head. "Don't be desperate, don't try to impress them too much, don't be overeager like you usually are and you'll be fine."
"Yeah...thanks."
"And don't forget, you are of Gureth. They are the lucky ones for you to come there."
Sunshen nodded, he steeled his resolve, grabbed his cane and walked out of the door in stride. He would rule this evening, he decided.
Unfortunately, his confidence left as soon as he looked onto the hall again. The first time he was here, he half-expected to get turned down and sent home. But now, now he was here on purpose, with invitation.
The building seemed to tower over him, as if trying to scare him off from coming inside. His heart was pounding and his legs were shaking. He had a bad feeling that he just could not ignore and his left arm ached under the added weight of the wooden dummy arm. His whole body screamed at him to turn back. He thought about going back home. Excusing himself. Surely they would understand, surely there would be another opportunity.
No. Sunshen thought. He had to face them here or now. He was so close to getting exactly what he wished for and he was getting cold feet. He knocked on the looming wooden doors with fervor, ready to face whatever it might be that this evening will give him. A giant man opened the door. His muscles threatening to break through the fabric of his suit, his bald head reflecting the light from the chandeliers inside.
"What is your business here?" he asked in a deep grumbly voice.
"I was told to come here today by Mister Herner."
"Have you any invitation?"
"Let him in, he is a guest." said someone from inside.
"I am sorry lord Nataniel-" the grunt turned around. "But I can only allow people in when mister Herner says so."
"If he would cause any problems, mister Herner would take it up with me. Do not worry Thomas."
"If you say so."
Thomas moved out of the way and revealed the person that was standing behind him. A man somewhere in his thirties, with long golden hair, reaching his belly. His face was sharp, but kind, his clothes a long obviously expensive robe. From the first look, he seemed like a man that arrived here from afar.
"I believe we haven't met yet. I am Nataniel Senno, but you can call me Nataniel." the man extended his hand.
"Sunshen Gureth," Sunshen accepted the handshake. "And please do call me only Sunshen.
"Will do." Nataniel smiled. "What brings you here? If I may ask?"
"I uh...I was invited by mister Herner. For a gathering."
"Splendid. I do believe we are here for the same reason then. Unfortunately, mister Herner is a little preoccupied at the moment, so we will have to wait for his arrival."
"No problem. Thank you for vouching for me."
"Do not mention it and please, do not think badly of Thomas. He is a good guard and simply was not informed."
Nataniel's blue eyes shifted to the wooden hand. "An injury?"
"A birth defect."
"That is unfortunate." Nataniel nodded. "I apologize if it is a sore topic."
"No it's alright. I had lived enough years to accept the situation." Sushen admitted.
"That is sad. You see, I am a doctor. Well, it might be more accurate to say that I used to be one. I funded all of my research for modification of the human condition, but I was unfortunately unsuccessful in that regard. It irks me to know that such a fine young man as yourself has to have his wings clipped."
"It is not ideal, but a person learns to live with it."
"A commendable stance to take Sunshen." Nataniel replied, but before their conversation could continue, the giant doors opened and this time, they opened for the master of the house.