Morning came and I looked at the pile of bloodied bandages beside me. I really should have taken better care of my hand, but no matter, I got up.

The screaming had either yet to start, or had already ended as I couldn’t hear it. deciding to take the risk I got ready to head out. It was kind of cold, but that was probably because I was stuck underground.

I headed out of the shed making sure not to put too much pressure on my hand.

When I stepped out, I saw the light of dawn just barely poking over the treetops. The servants should have started by now.

I began running, but I didn’t run around. I ran across the manor looking for the evidence I left last night. I searched, but I didn’t find and with a sigh I set off for town.

When I finally arrived, I looked around for a place to rest. Mark and Mr cedar didn’t rise this early, so I decided to do nothing.

Just a little bit of nothing where I couldn’t ruin anything.

I did this by heading over to a tavern. They were normally warm, and I could generally get something other than alcohol. I didn’t much care for the way the liquid burnt my throat.

The tavern I entered was not one I had been to often. The old man behind the counter even gave a warm welcome.

“Back so soon ay, ma… sorry I thought it might be someone else.”

It wasn’t for me, but I found his blunder amusing.

“So, what can I get ya?”

I just shrugged my shoulders at him, I was sure I had been here before, but he seemed to be new.

“Oh, you are that Silent fella that’s been around town ay. In that case I assume you don’t want anything strong; we can’t do much for you I’m afraid.”

He was right and I didn’t spend much, but I did buy something to allow me to sit in the warmth.

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When the sun was at a height, I thought suitable for the old fogies I headed out.

I knocked on the door, but Mr Cedar was not there, instead Mark answered the door.

I went past him and headed into the house before I spoke. I ignored how his eyes were stuck to the still present bandages on my hand, and I opened my mouth.

“Perfect, I was looking to tell you something.”

“Does it have to do with why your hand still ain’t healed.”

“No… maybe, but that’s beside the point.”

“No, it ain’t, take care of yourself kiddo.”

I felt nagging to be imminent, so I decided to speed up the conversation.

“I read those books you wanted me to, couldn’t grab them, but I read them.”

“Oh, you actually did that?”

My heart sunk a little at those words.

“Explain?!”

“I figured out what the Relic said about halfway through the trip, well the second half of what he said anyway. I kept poking you about it as a joke.”

I had a second place to break into added to the list. I was going to steal every single shoelace from his shoes and hide them on the roof. I was going to shift about 1/3rd of the items in his room ever so slightly. I was going to find every way possible to annoy him without ending up dead.

“So, what did you find out?”

My face was hidden by the mask, but even so I strained my cheek muscles and put on a smile.

“Kiddo, you okay?”

“So, what did you find out?”

“The white fleet is a very well documented entity. They aren’t exactly remnants of an ancient empire, but more so like their descendants. What the do in the Caltari is no one’s business and they make that very clear.”

So far it was pretty much the same as what I had found by breaking in, I really shouldn’t have.

“What lies under the Caltari Ocean, is however an awful lot of people’s business. Some people call it a chunk of heaven, but the empire believes it to be a weapon. this weapon is so many people’s business because it still functions. Occasionally the entire continent will rumble, and at that time it might just be because of that weapon.”

“Then would that weapon be the cause of the weird terrain behind the manor?”

“of course not. If it were then they might have actually gotten it running. If the ground back, there looks funny to you it’s probably the doing of an earth mage.”

“That reminds me, I have been meaning to ask. What is magic?”

“Something that I do not have the knowledge to explain. Just know that a swordsman can cleave a mountain in two, but a mage can make a mountain sized hole in both the ground and the treasury.”

“Would a swordsman of that level not also cost a fortune?”

“Not often, most are strapped down as strategic resources and given titles.”

No matter how much new information was added to my sorting pile I was still going to steal his shoelaces.

“where’s Mr Cedar?”

“Oh, he’s taking a nap.”

“a nap?”

“eh, you know what I meant.”

Maybe I should tie them together or cut them up instead? I should destroy every shoelace in the region so he can never do his boots up.