The waitress had wanted to refill Erik’s mug, but now that he was alone at the table, he no longer felt like drinking. He covered his mug with his hand, and the waitress passed him by.

The young woman he’d dined with–Lia, as she’d named herself–had finished every speck of food on her plate, revealing how hungry she’d been, and promptly thanked him and bid him a pleasant evening. He’d watched as she approached the innkeeper, paid for a room, and received change for one of his coins. Key in hand, she’d disappeared from sight up the staircase and around the landing.

Erik jostled the jewelry bag in his pocket as he watched several men out of the corner of his eye. They’d come into the common room towards the end of his conversation with Lia, and immediately, he knew they were there looking for someone and were not there to just eat and drink. He wasn’t sure if Lia had seen the men or not, but it was a possibility since she left to find a room soon after they showed up.

Three of the men had on well-worn clothing and looked no different from the locals. Several of the townsfolk gave them familiar looks, though none were friendly. However, the fourth man wore simple clothes, but they were not worn, as if he’d just purchased them, and the straight posture and raise of his chin set him apart instantly from the other three.

Now there’s trouble if I’ve ever seen it.

He was certain the fourth man was either a knight or some lordling parading around as a commoner. The man’s eyes had searched the room slowly enough that Erik thought if he hadn’t been already on alert that he wouldn’t have noticed. His gaze had stopped on a young woman in the corner of the room for a while before landing on Lia whose cloak hood was still raised. The group had taken a seat at a far table, but Erik noticed that the fourth man’s gaze still strayed to Lia’s back every so often. Once Lia had made her exit, Erik watched the man’s gaze follow Lia’s path to the second floor rooms.

If Erik wasn’t already certain that the men were targeting Lia for some reason, he would have lost all doubt as soon as the men got up and walked over to him. The possible knight or lordling led the way, stopping at Erik’s table to stand and stare at him.

“Can I do something for you?” Erik asked with a business-like grin on his face as he took note of the sword on the man’s belt.

“The woman you were talking with, who was she?” Even the man’s tone suggested he gave orders and asked questions all the time and expected them to be answered and followed without pause.

“That’s quite an odd question. If you don’t know her, why does it matter?” Erik put on his most unassuming expression.

The man’s already cold expression turned frigid, his eyes narrowing. “It matters because I asked. Who was she?”

Erik ignored the glare and shrugged. “You’ll have to excuse me. I just didn’t think you lot would have any reason to be asking about the daughter of the merchant I escorted from Rithan. I can assure you she’s in town with all the legal permissions that are required. So, if it’s taxes you’re worried about, your town already has them. Check the town hall under the name Framer, her father’s name, if you’re concerned.”

Erik suppressed a grin as the man’s eye twitched at being thought of as a mere tax collector or town militia member.

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“I see,” the man said tersely. He glanced up the stairs once more. “We’ll be on our way then.” He rounded up the other three men, who seemed disappointed to be leaving the inn and the possibility of drinks, and walked out of the common room.

Erik waited a bit to move from his seat, but he’d already made up his mind. He found the innkeeper and asked for a room as well. He made sure to mention Lia, though not by name, and ask for a room adjacent to hers, giving the same story about her being a merchant’s daughter he’s looking out for. The innkeeper bought the story, took his payment, and gave him the key to the room next to hers.

Seems a paying customer is more his style than asking after trouble.

Once in his room, he moved to the window and opened it. He propped it up with a letter opener he pulled from his pocket. Lighting the oil lamp, he sat it on the table where it could be seen out of the window. To others it would look like he’d used any old thing to prop the window open and wanted light by the bedside, but for the right people, it would be a clear invitation. He waited by sitting in the chair in the corner just out of sight of the window.

They clearly were looking for a woman, and a young one who was possibly a stranger to this town specifically. He rubbed his chin as he mused. The men hadn’t spared a glance for the older women working around the common room or the ones that were seated with other townsfolk. They didn’t seem interested in the story of her being a merchant’s daughter, so perhaps they are something separate to what I’m investigating? He pondered the details, wondering if these men could be connected to those who were attacking Rithan merchants. It was possible they were connected, but he didn’t have much to go on so far. He needed to see where else those men went and what else they did before he could make a firm judgment.

A knock came at his door then, and he opened it. A young man was there, dressed like many of the townsfolk and wearing an apron that was stained from use. “I saw your lamp was lit. Can I refill the oil for you?”

Erik let the young man in and closed the door. As soon as it clicked shut, the young man knelt and put his right hand up to his left shoulder.

“I await your order, sir.”

Erik waved at him to stand and the young man stood, his demeanor completely different from that of a servant just moments before.

“There are four men who just left this inn. One holds himself with the bearing of a knight or a lord. I want them followed discretely and reports made to me every bell on who they speak with, where they go, and what they say if it can be overheard. And have at least two watch this inn at ground level. If anyone tries to gain access to the room to the left of this one who isn’t part of the inn staff, they are to be stopped and captured. Understood?”

“Understood.” Once the orders were accepted, the young man’s easygoing expression returned, and he exited the room.

Erik sighed and tugged at his dust covered clothes, wishing he could have wash water brought up and be able to take off his travel clothes to lay on the bed, but he needed to be ready in case he had to head out.

It wasn’t long until the town hall bell chimed eight times across the dimly lit buildings and the purpled evening sky. A folded piece of paper slid beneath his door just as the last chime faded. Picking it up, he touched it with mana and revealed the true message.

Oho! What have we here? It appeared there was a connection, both to Lia and to the attacks on merchants, and it hadn’t taken long for his people to learn several interesting details once they knew where to look. Normally, he’d have gone to take care of the caravan raiders at once, but he worried about the other details the message revealed.

It seemed the surly man he’d spoken with had asked around the square for a young woman with dark silver hair. Apparently, the merchant who couldn’t afford to buy Lia’s jewels had spilled the beans. But though they knew their target was in town, they hadn’t moved like they were sure where she was just yet. But given that there was no movement to attack any merchants either, as any new ones from Rithan wouldn’t arrive until the morning at the earliest, he could afford to stay put for now.

Who is chasing you, and why? He stared at the wall that separated their rooms, wishing he had an answer to that question. The authoritative man’s face popped up in his memory. Well, he's definitely no concerned knight wanting to bring a lady back home, that’s for sure.

Erik ran a frustrated hand through his hair and chuckled darkly at where his thoughts took him. Tylin will probably get mad…no, definitely.