Chapter 20 Aldria...

There is something rather peaceful about being alone with a person you like, and I mean truly alone, which was why I was rather reluctant to see the sprawl of Uljits again, it brought back a slew of memories, exploring it with people who were no longer alive…

And there was the fact that somewhere in this city was most likely Tamerian, and if I knew the man he would be drinking away every coin…

A terrifying thought entered my mind and I froze in place, Sarena kept walking for a few more steps, not noticing that I was not at her side anymore when she did she turned to me with a curious look on her face, one that morphed to horror as she saw the look of terror in my eyes. “What is it what is wrong?” she asked, starting to scan the horizon, looking for enemies.

“She just realized Tamerian had access to the bank where the silver was kept...” I groan out, I look over at Sarena and see the realization dawn in her eyes. “She doubts the money is still there, meaning...” meaning I have nothing to repay Lady Brandmount with.

“We don't know that, it could all still be there, we will have to go check,” she stepped back, hands up to soothe me like I was some wild animal that needed taming. I looked at her face, that smooth dark mocha chocolate skin, and saw her smile weakly. She didn't believe it, she knew Tamerian just as well as I did, if not better. We had been gone for almost a week longer than he probably was, and knowing him he was likely somewhere in a pub drinking our coin away.

Drinking my freedom away…

The two of us picked up our pace, it was a hard thing for me to not start sprinting as fast as I could. The bank was a large structure, probably the only establishment as big as it was the adventurer’s guild hall. The structure itself was like most others in this city half buried in the ground. I flew down the stairs, taking them four at a time and hit the door hard. Unfortunately for me it was the wrong side of the door, as instead of opening up it felt like I had just smacked into a brick wall. Groaning I sat there pressed against the thick wood door regretting my decision to descend the stairs so quickly. Sarena quickly pulled me off of the wood and ushered me into the room.

The inside of the bank was a nicely decorated affair, it had a large rather well-lit man room and then several back areas hidden behind a counter with dark wood counters. I ran up to the first person that was unoccupied. She looked at me in surprise, one eyebrow lifted inquiry. “She wonders if she can check on the contents of her account?” I ask, working extremely hard to keep my voice level.

“Oh? And do you remember what the account number was?” she asked.

“15191,” I practically spew off the numbers, she scratches the number I tell her down on a piece of parchment and nods to herself.

“If you wait here a moment I will go check the records for you.” I nod ad she briskly walks away. What feels like an eternity later, but most likely was more likely a few minutes, went by before she came back with a large leather clad ledger, the pages open and her finger on a line I couldn't see about half the way down the page. “Okay,” she said, setting the thing down on the counter and leaning over it. “It says here, that there was a deposit for that account with an amount of 11 silver seventeen days ago is this correct?” She looks up at me and I nod in confirmation. “Then five days ago there was a withdrawal,” my stomach fell at that.

“She wonders how much was withdrawn?” I croak, and she looks up at me a more speculative look in her eyes this time.

“All of it.”

I suddenly feel wobbly on my feet, there is a strang black haze around the edges of my vision, cutting off my peripherals. I am pretty sure that if Sarena hadn't stepped forward and grabbed me I would have fallen over.

“Ma’am are you alright?” the bank clerk asked.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“All of it?” I croaked. “He stole all of it?” her eyes sharpened at those words and she leaned forward.

“I am sorry ma’am did you say stole?” her happy demeanor was replaced by a more serious one.

“Rinmua here had an account her adventurer party had set up, and one of the party members abandoned her in the field and fled back here, apparently he had also pulled out all the money she put here,” Sarena explained to the woman.

“Well, I am sorry,” the clerk gave me a sympathetic look, “If it was an account set up for the party and the account number was shared then it is his right to withdraw all of the money in the account...”

This time I did sink to my knees, I sat there, not really caring that I was drawing so much attention in the middle of the bank. “Come on,” Sarena said softly pulling me to my feet, “up you go little kitten.” she hooked her arms under my armpits and lifted me up with no issue. “I think our business is concluded, thank you for the help.”

“You are welcome, I am sorry I couldn't be more help,” she smiled weakly as Sarena practically dragged me out of the establishment. Once we got outside the cold wind ruffling my fur helped me think. I stood there, eyes closed as possibilities flashed through my mind.

I could hunt for Tamerian and get the coin back.

If he hadn't drink it all away...

I could hunt Juji and sell the pelts.

That would be poaching from the Jarl in these woods and I would be hung…

Which left me with two options, three really, but running back to my tribe was not one I would consider yet. Not yet, there was still way too much of the world to see before I could go back there. Which left me with getting as many jobs at the adventurer’s guild as possible and scraping up the funds or to get a loan from the bank.

When we had set up an account the man who had done it for us had droned on and on about how the bank offered loans, and how for the first month it was free, and after that there were required payments of five percent per day with two percent going towards interest that had accumulated over the loan’s lifespan.

Turning on my paw pads I marched back down the stairs and back into the bank’s area. The woman who had just helped me smiled and without looking up she started speaking. “How may I hel-” she saw me and her saleswoman smile turned different. “Welcome back, how may I help you?” she asked.

“Rinmua would like to take out a loan,” I say.

“I see, well this bank is a branch of the Gorioan national bank and as we have multiple branches in most cities that have a decent trade economy-” she started her sales spiel and then looked at my face and grimaced. “Right sorry, bad day for you so I'll just cut to the chase, we can and will get you a loan, but you will be required to pay it back you can do so at ay bank branch and should you choose to not pay it back for whatever reason the bank has the right to seize your property and assets to compensate us for the loss… also if you think you can disappear then I will inform you that you can’t, we will hire people to track you down, and for the most egregious people we have our own team that we keep well paid and trained to handle that situation, am I clear?”

“Rin understands, she will honestly pay the loan back.” I nod, and the bank clerk looks at me before nodding as well.

“Now, before you ask I cannot get you a loan for the full 11 silver approved, I can, however, get five or six, seeing as that is near half the largest amount you deposited, will this be enough.” I took a deep breath and nodded.

“It gets her closer to the amount she needs,” I sigh.

“I don't mean to pry, but what happened?” she asked leaning forward looking left and right to make sure no one could hear. Sarena was there, but then again Sarena was with me so it was no issue.

“Her team got a job, and was given a sum of money to get armed, we put the money in this bank and went to do the job, but once there two members of her team died and one fled, leaving Rinmua behind for the goblins to take and-” I took a deep breath, and the face of the woman in front of me hardened with anger. “She got back as quickly as possible, but the money is gone and she needs to pay back the money given as she was unable to finish the quest...”

“I see...” she said coldly, but I got the feeling that it was not directed at me.”Please take a seat over there, I will go talk to the manager.” we did and as I sat there Sarena’s fingers interlaced with my own. It took almost half an hour for her to reappear, her face was rather flushed and she smiled as she saw me, we stood as she walked over. “Okay, I was not able to get you the full 11 silver, but I was able to get 8 of it,” she smiled. I couldn't help it, I lept up and hugged her tears streaking down my face as I made small little mewling noises.

“I think Rin is trying to say thank you,” Sarena smiled as I pressed my face into the clerk’s neck.

“It's not a problem, I just wish I could help more...” I pulled away and looked at her.

“Rin wondered what your name is?” I ask, sniffling every now and again.

“Aldria,” she smiles at me. I lean forward and pull her into another deep hug.

“She does not know how to thank you Aldria,” I sniffled, “she will find a way...” her hand came up and pet me between the ears.

“Remember, make sure you pay the loan off, I don't want to hear about a certain fluffy Khatan that defaulted and was grabbed by bounty hunters ok?”

“Ok,” I sniffled, still pressed against her shoulder...