Awaking in the afternoon, she went to the latrine, and then the mess.  She put on her gear and her weapons and headed out into a cloudy afternoon of light rain, taking smaller, less traveled streets, conditioned to ignore the way others edged away from her and the eyes that followed her. Half aware that she was alert to changes in the background voices of families, hawkers and children. To the movement of others.  Side-stepping racing young ones tumbling into the street or playing in the puddles.  She visualized the Chains she wanted, chanted the ritual sending her will along them, just a twist to call attention.

She headed south to the Fountains District, to M’he’s Tavern and tenement stronghold. Her clan’s matriarch and her tribe.  Dracna passed around to the back gate and called out. The dark furred male ghenid guard with single black spots let her pass with only a shoving greeting. The weight of his Aedoteerua chains being nothing to hers. His coat saying he was a Rhu’onwha or Nighthide clan, and bound household to one of this clan’s females, likely M’he. Maybe one of her Cra’Oang guard.

The low level smell of smoke occupied the central courtyard, along with the stink of the nightsoil and urine barrels and the garlic scent of Ghenid, all diluted in the rain. Nearly a dozen cousins of clan and tribe were sheltered under the walkways surrounding the courtyard. Some sparring or talking. Several hauling sides of some large animals into a cellar storage for salting or cool storage. Dracna paused to pour her will into the chains she had called upon earlier. Pulling them. She ascended the wooden stair, shaking the water from her head and cape. At the third level she came to the door of M’he’s throne room.  Opening the door she immediately stood nose to nose with Akhireena, one of the matriarch’s Cra’oang or warband. Her personal guard. A ring spotted ghenid like herself, standing just over seven foot tall with a rust red-brown mane, brown back and sides with darker legs and arms marked with scars, where she wasn’t covered by chain mail.  The aura of her chains felt thick and heavy, those held on others versus the ones held upon her nearly matching Dracna’s.

“Cousin” said Dracna crowding, trying to push the guard back. 

“Cousin.” Replied Akhireena without giving an inch. She made a sudden punch, which Dracna blocked, and then copied. This in turn blocked and turned to the side. Dracna spun and brought up a kick that Akhireena avoided by stepping back and blocking.

Another Ghenid voice spoke. They both froze at the sound. “Akhireena, let her enter. Northerner! Do you bring me a report?  ”

The room was paneled in a pale wood. Illuminated by high slotted windows.  Dark for a human but plenty of light for the night vision of Ghenid. A thick runner carpet extended from the door to the base of a low platform on which was M’he’s throne- an ornate high-backed wooden chair.  A small platform table stood beside the throne with a book, a stylus and ink pot. Upon the chair was M’he, another ring spotted Ghenid with a dark brown coat, dark muzzle dusted with some grey.  Her eyes were outlined with black pigment and a wig of red hair sat atop her head and trailed down ahead of her ears and back down her neck covering her mane. M’he’s choice to mimic a more smoothskin look was strange to Dracna. The matriarch wore a red long coat over a yellow dress. Her nails also painted red.  Her aura felt like an anvil, the mass of her chains held on others pointing to her. A solid core with a relatively tiny few held upon her pulling away her force. This was part of why she was Matriarch,  and an exceptional one at that.

Dracna stepped past Akhireena, lowering her head, tail down, as she approached the throne, then raising her muzzle to the ceiling, exposing her throat. “S’oang. Little to say. Small crimes. One Cheechhee found. Spreading think. Bugbears people take. Need know Fountains clubhouse.”

“Why do I care about these Bugbears?” inquired M’he in Atan, the common language of the city.

“Please Matriarch. I beg.”

“Begging does not suit you.” M’he said with a smile.”I like it. Is this Watch business? A request from a Tribune?”

“No. City oath is. Bahku Chain.”

“What does it gain for me? For our clan?”

“Nothing S’oang.”

“What does it gain you?”

Dracna tilted her head,looking at the floor, her brow knitted. What did she gain from this aside from easing of the weight and pull of it when she was doing anything to move the hunt forward? It cost her money, time, risk of punishment.  What was she going to gain?   “I not know.” she said.  “Oath pulls. Put right expected. Find facts.”

M’he had a fist to her chin and a calculating look. “Useless to me and to the clan. Still..” She paused, eyes closed and brow wrinkled.  “I will give you P’kni and her Chained. Akhireena, take the northerner to P’kni, she is coming from her hole.”  

The guard grunted, turning to leave the room. Dracna followed after.

They descended to the yard, out the gate and down the street. “She is called.” said Akhireena. Dracna knew this from long familiarity. This city clan were half unaware of their people’s traditions and practices. M’he spoke Ghenu like a cub and usually just used Atan. She did strange things to try to be more like the humans and fae.  The wigs.  Sometimes face powder and painting her lips. She had even shaved her face at one time. Many in the clan hardly knew how to use the few Aedoteerua, the soul chains, that they held.

As the two ghenid walked down the street a few people of various species hurried past, one human pulling children close, most glancing at the pair of Ghenid- one in Watch uniform and the other in chainmail and giving them a wide berth.  Before long a young female approached, slinking along at the edge of the buildings lining the street.  Her mane dark brown, almost black. Dark brown spots were visible on the sides of her neck and on the outside of her furred arms.  Dressed in a simple off white, dirty tunic that was damp from the rain. She had a dagger in her belt. On her shoulder was a tattered bit of cloth of diamond patterns in reds and blues. She looked expectantly at the older pair.  “What does the S’oang wish?” she asked.

Akhireena spoke “This is the S’oang’s in the Watch.  She wants to know about Bugbears. You will answer her.”

P’kni rolled her head to the side, exposing her throat in submission. Her aura felt light, and pulled away from her, still bound with and pointing to those holding chains on her  (Mother, M’he, others) that out weighed the ones she held on others. She must have had a cub or two, placing her soul chain upon them daily, binding them tightly to her forever and pushing the balance out of debt and toward her. Still someone of low status, but the chains on her cubs pushing her higher than a male would ever hope for.

“Where Bugbear Clubhouse?” Dracna asked “ What gangs?”

“The Bloody Shits have a house over by the Black Bear inn, overlooking the slope going to Old Fort. They drink there too, at the Black Bear.  I got one in my gang, The Tribe.  There is three in the with the Rats. A bunch in with the Jerks in the south part of the district, along the aqueduct.  None in with the young uns in the low gangs, the Pinkies and Scrappers, nor the Colors down by the Great Temple.  What you want with them auntie?” The young female stared at Dracna, her red eyes flecked with bright yellow around the iris and outer edge. 

“Bugbear do others working. People missing. Bugbear and boss take. I them hunt.”

P’kni grinned. “You want the Jerks. Word is they have a deal with some someone. Doing deliveries. Doing protection.”

Dracna stepped forward, pushing into the younger female, demanding. “Where?” 

“I don’t know.” the young female shrank  “Words says they have a bolt in the sewer ways. Say their boss is there.”

“More find,  5 gold I pay.”

P’kni laughed. “More like 500 auntie!”

“Twenty.”

“Yer joking auntie! Yer tight as a bunghole. But as a clanmate, I get it for four hundred.”

“Fifty, S’oang you pulled.”

“She didn’t step in, aside from Akhireena here” Glancing over at the guard leaning against a wall. “For the S’oang, just two hundred.”

“I Jerks fight, them small be. You Tribe take more. You advantage. Seventy and five.”

“Really auntie? You are bleeding me. Risky and the gang needs reward. One-fifty.”

Akhireena heaved herself off the wall to flank the young female. “Do it.”

Ears down and tail tucked, P’kni seemed to shrink even more. Eyes flicking between Dracna and Akhireena. She wrinkled her muzzle and licked her lips. “Ok, fuck! One-twenty!  Half now, half when we got yer info!”

Dracna smiled. “Good, you do. One hundred. Job done. Me pay.”

“You pay, then we deliver.”

Akhireena put a hand on the younger female’s shoulder. She stood straighter, raising herself to stand above P’kni. “The S’oang M’he summoned you for this.”

“OKAY! OKAY! OKAY!” P’kni sputtered back. Eyes wide, shifting from Akhireena to Dracna and back, with ears down and back. “I’ll do it. One hundred when we have the info.”

“We’re done.” said Akhireena, looking between the other two.

Dracna looked to the ground as did P’kni before throwing her head back and looking to the sky. Total submission.

Dracna walked to the front of the building and entered the tavern, The Ball and Chain tavern that occupied one part of M’he’s four story tenement apartment building. The entry was a rail enclosed area with a bouncer, before the three steps down to the floor of the room. Though the window shutters were open, it still required lanterns to be fully lit. Walls of red stone with wood bracings and beams gave the room a darker feel even with the light. Left of the door, the far wall was occupied by a raised platform roughly ten foot to a side.  Opposite the door was a long bar occupid by a human in orange tunic and a metal collar around the neck. Slave. There was a doorway behind the bar flanked by casks and a shelf of bottles and mugs. To the right and back was a passage going into darkness.  She faced the bouncer, another Ghenid: crowded her, pushing up against while the other did the same.  A light test of strength and dominance where Dracna yielded nothing and her aura outweighed the other. They both shared the ringed pattern to their spots. “Cousin” Dracna said as the other bobbed her head low and gave way, Dracna passing down the steps, into the nearly empty bar, and spotting the old human sitting with a on- eyed Bahku female at one of the dozen tables. The socket was sunken and eyelid stitched closed.  The old man smiled, hiding teeth, rising as she approached.  The Bahku coldly tracked Dracna’s approach with her yellow golden eye and remained seated, her long tufted tail flicking side to side behind her.  The man stepped to Dracna, sideways, rubbing against her and sniffing, as she did the same to him, pushing him back a step. His aura slid to her, who held many years of nearly daily aedoteerua soul chains upon him. Hers. His hair once tawny was now silvered. A fringe of hairs trimmed short on head and face was a mix of pale gold and silver.

“May I, Dracna-hnegn?” he spoke in the Ghenid language. 

“Yes” 

She forced herself to relax, her tail raised as he wrapped arms around her belly, putting one of hers around him. He stood at midchest, two feet shorter than her nearly seven foot.  “It is good to see you.” he said. “You called us both, and you are in full armor, not just pleasure, no?”

“True.  I need my allies.” Nodding to the Bahku she added in Atan “Allies needed, please Olrhee.”

“I don’t appreciate the Chain Dracna.” Replied the Bahku. “Stayed because of the old man.”

Dracna took a seat, as did the human beside her. Opposite Olrhee.  “Help need. These...” Dracna said pointing a finger up and around the room “ … clan. Little help. Need you.”

“Of course my S’oang. Anything I can surrender to you.” Said the human head back, looking at the ceiling, still speaking Ghenu.

“My Ikheerha.” Dracna replied warmly, leaning over to give the human a lick along the neck and brief settling of fangs against his skin.

“Enough of that.” said the Bahku. “ I’ll send you to a room.”

Dracna held up a hand, then gently took one of the Bahku’s and gave it a lick, eyes looking to the Bahku, but avoiding her eye and threat, settling at the open throat, above the dual swellings of breasts covered in an open collared yellow shirt that blended with her tawny coat, but contrasted the brown of her mane.

“Ok, Dracna.” Olrhee huffed, scowling. “What’s the deal?”

“Watch, dead Bugbears find.”

“That’s a good start.” snapped Olrhee.

“Blood dagger find. Dropped.  Boarders missing. Need more knowing. Taken, why? Where?”

“Why us, huh? Watch business,yeah?”

“No. Tribune no say. No filing.”

“You, looking for missing nobodies? Why?”  asked Olrhee, leaning forward. The human looked between the two females.

“Honor, Bahku Chain. City oath.”

Olrhee burst out laughing.  “You? Honor? You barbarian bitch. And Bugbears? By the Hells, no!”

Dracna felt her ears drop. “Please.”

Olrhee looked at Dracna seriously. “You are actually asking me? Begging? That oath binding must be a strong one.  I should make you crawl for it.”

Dracna nodded. “Please.” she whined.

The human, Ikheerha, reached out a hand to grasp Olrhee’s.  “Hnegn asks.” he said in Atan “This is very hard for Ghenuo. Please.”

“Rats ass!” Snarled Olrhee, her ears back. “Damned Bugbears.  I hate Bugbears. Dracna, “  The Ghenid’s ears perked as she looked at Olrhee. “ You owe me another.”

“I you forever Ghost give. You me owe.”

“You tricked me. And then tried to kill me “ Olrhee’s ears back and a curl to her lip.

“S’oang M’he me stop.  You she claim.  You me more aedoteera ask make.” 

“Yeah, yeah.  The matriarch is my boss now, so of course I got a few of hers.. And I let you do some to counter the ones that scum Gazakral placed.”

“You family.”

The Bahku growled. “That’s low, even for you. You know how bad it was after mother died. In the orphanage.”

Ikheerha chuckled.

Olrhee shot him a venomous look. 

He reached up to gently stroke the side of her face and chin. “You know she means it.  We are our own little family. And I know you value that too.”

Olrhee opened her eye and looked between the other two. “Damned Bugbears. Damn you too Ghenid.” she sighed. “What are the details? What do you know?”

Dracna told them about the bodies, the dagger. The map and boarding house. Her investigation. What the ghosts had reported. The Jerks and Fountains district Bugbears.

Olrhee listened. “First, remember the language lessons? You learn to talk proper or I’ll slap ya.  You still talk all messed up. “ Dracna’s ears drooped.  “Second, the Zoharin family that M’he had you investigate? They had some involvement with kidnappings. That was in documents I found before I was arrested. Couple of street gangs.”

“Ghosts them say own ghosts have.” added Dracna.

“The ghosts say they have their own ghosts. Say it again like that.” She waited, staring at Dracna until she repeated it word by word. “Yeah, ok. You and the S’Oang had more ghosts in the clan and the Zoharin’s had to pay to buy stronger magical protections because of your ghosts. That will stop us from looking there.  But I still have connections in some of the gangs. Cutter can’t touch me with the matriarch’s protection and threats, but I know a few of his punks I could ask.”

Dracna turned to the human. “Ikheerha, you Verboen ask. Gazakral talk. Ask.” Dracna dropped a pouch of coins on the table and pushed it to him. 

“That will be difficult. You could ask as part of the Watch.” he said.

Olrhee’s ears went back. “Oh, you pay him but not me?”

Dracna dropped another pouch of coins on the table. To Ikheerha she said in Ghenu  “He might not talk to me. He has more chains on me than I have on him. Up close he may use them.  You, or Verboen, he may talk to. With some coin to help him think. All I can give you.”

The man nodded.

The Bahku scooped up the pouch in front of her with a smile. “This will help.” The smile faded as she opened the pouch and looked inside. “Silver?  You stupid barbarian! You don’t understand money, do you?”

“Money know. Lot no have.” replied Dracna in Atan, eyes to the table.

“M’he still taking half your pay?”

Dracna nodded, ears down. “Yes. Also Ikheerha give.”

Olrhee shook her head with a roll of her eye.  “I’ll give you one, you can’t afford Niarra, so after her,  if anyone knows most of what is going on in Monster Town, and probably your Uni East and Arena districts it is Jaudd. Centaur, who runs a buy, sell and pawn shop. He also is a fence..”  

Dracna tipped her head to the side, ears forward with wrinkled brows.

Olrhee sighed. “He buys stolen goods and changes them so he can sell them again. It’s called fence.  Not like a wall.” Dracna’s brow smoothed out. “Anyway, Jaudd will have a good finger on the pulse of the gangs and crime. Don’t go in as Watch. He won’t like Watch.”

“How get talk?”

“That is your problem.” Olrhee stood, holding the bag of coins.  “And I have work to do for our queen and for you, so I’ll be off.”  She stepped around the table to lay a clawed hand on the human’s shoulder. “I’ll see you later my sweet.”  She bent to give Ikheerha a kiss to the cheek, her eye on Dracna the whole time.

Ikheerha patted her hand on his shoulder. “ Yeah, this evening?”

“Yeah.” Olrhee turned and left via the dark hallway that passed another bouncer/ guard and led to a stair up to the first residential level and M’he’s offices, or a door to the inner courtyard. 

To Dracna, Ikheerha asked “ Staying or must you go?”

“Go.”

“You talked to our girl? The boy? Sent them on this hunt?”

Drcana nodded.

“How is she?”

“Ghost little has. T’Hae holds.”

“She holds some aedoteerua on me.So does he. I miss them. I can’t call them.  Some night, will you bring her at least, or both, so we can visit?”

“Me do.”

“Thank you my matriarch, my S’oang.” he said holding his head back, throat exposed in submission.

Dracna smiled and leaned in close, speaking in Ghenu. “I hold you forever, my Ikheerha. You are valuable to me as mine and as ally.”

“Ally, my matriarch?” He dropped his head back, concern in his eyes.  “You hold the chains. I hold none. My power is nothing to yours.”

“Playing B’ata the idiot?” She clapped a hand  on the back of his neck, pulling him close. “You surrendered to me the way to read and speak Atan. You were the scout on my travel and stayed as guard when the city took me. You are familiar and family in this place of difference and changes. I have learned your value beyond what we knew in the tribes. You quieted Olrhee and made me surrender to her. This and more made my eyes open to the Ghenuo people becoming more here and accepting the passing ghostless for themselves, not just what can be taken, held and bound to the underworld when we give you eternity.  We can command obedience with the Chains, but we can not command allies who do more than a slave will. There is much value in that. Value the people do not smell. Not yet.” She released him and sat back.  “I desire to stay and spend time with you and Olrhee, but I must finish this hunt first.”

Ikheerha stood and grabbed Dracna’s face. Kissing her on the lips. “I desire you to stay as well, but I will go and do as you have asked.  Good hunting S’oang!”  He then turned  and left the room, going into the dark walkway.  She wanted to stay, but she was a warrior and hunter first. Dracna stood and walked up the stairs, past the guard and out on to the street.

Dracna made her way back, passing through the Northern part of the Fountain District, looking for the Bugbear clubhouse and the Black Bear inn, then to the Arena, cutting west to pass a narrow section of Monster Town to University East.  She stopped to spend her last coins on grilled meat sticks, now carried wrapped in broad leaves. Arriving at the Watch station she made her greetings and gathered materials. As darkness fell, she counted it her Goddess’ favor that the rain had stopped. She made a small fire again, this time in a dry corner of the training yard. She called her ghosts. Making offerings of the meat passed to the fire and fed to them before sending them out looking for the Jerks underground base and Bugbears in University, University west, Griffon Corner, Central and Dragon Wards.  Tomorrow she would send them To the Fae district, The temple of Light district, The Tree ward, Octnon and Iron. Then The Three Virtues, The Gods Street ward, Guilders, Embasy and Southern. And then the sewers through the entire city.  Feeling weak, drained of energy and nearly staggering, she ate a quick meal in the mess with a dozen others from different watch patrol shifts, and went to her patrol.  The human Elka waved at her as she passed. 

As they turned out to patrol Dracna asked ”Jaudd. Shop know?” 

The dwarf, Wage answered   “Aye, It’s a bit north of the Arena in the west of Arena district, east of the Arena plaza.  Has some good stuff and low prices sometimes.  What ya looking for Stinky?”  

“Gear. Spare me dagger sell.” 

In the third hour of their patrol they found a collapsed street section and battled a giant spider that emerged when they investigated.  They made their rounds and usual duties.  The ghosts returned telling Dracna they could not reach Griffin Corner and The Dragon Ward. Only Krarue could go further than a mile from her. She had not known that before.  She silently told them to search the sewers. The patrol returned to the Watch station in the early morning having broken up a fight, collected some payments, a few bribes to release a brawler and an unlicensed weapon. Dracna appreciated the money after spending almost everything she had.  In the mess Dracna was met by Elka who swept in with her own food, taking a seat opposite. Eight others were scattered across the 12 tables and benches of the mess.

“Hey Dracna! How was patrol?” Beamed the human.

Dracna’s ears drooped and she let loose a nervous bark like laughter.

“Oh, that good eh?”

“No. Normal.” replied Dracna.  “What you want?”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to upset you.” replied Elka, eyes wide and leaning back.

“What you want?” repeated Dracna, sitting up straighter instead of hunched over her food as she tended to do when alone. She slowed her eating to be careful of civilized eating habits as M’he had instructed her. Use spoon.  The knife to cut things, or sweep them to the spoon. Don’t stick your muzzle in the food and use paws to scoop it up. No claws to tear things apart or holding it while biting. Not just dumping it in her mouth in several big gulps. Though that would get her away faster.

“I heard you guys are off tonight. Thought maybe we could go get a drink and talk.”

“You now  talk.”

“I meant like over an ale and away from the rest of the Watch.  They talk.”

“You talk, Them talk. Much talk.  Me busy. Do things.” Dracna glanced at Elka, then just looked forward or glanced down at her stew bowl. She gripped the spoon in her fist and carefully scooped up some stew, slowly and near tremblingly carrying the food to her mouth.

“Would you mind if I just tagged along?”

“What?” Dracna blinked looking at the woman again. Spoon forgotten and left hanging.

“I’ll tag along.”

“What mean?”

“I go with you. We get to know each other a bit as you do your shopping or whatever.”

“No.”

“I won’t get in the way. I can wait outside if your monster friends would be bothered.”

“No friends. Business.”

“Then I could help some.  Show you some places.”

“Jaudd shop know?

“No, but I bet I could find out pretty quick.”

It would have been helpful if she knew exactly where. Not that it would solve other problems. Dracna considered.  Jaudd was involved with business against the rules of the city.  Wouldn’t much like Watch sniffing about.  She had been warned. One bad, but two? What could she offer to trade when she was so short on gold? What could she say to get him to answer questions? What about a Chain? He wouldn’t accept one would he?  With it she could force answers. She could offer a Ghost..but might have to prove she had one to offer. But that was a blade that could be turned against him. Something that reported back to her. She could bring a ghost if he was open at night, and it could watch and listen.  Assuming no magic defenses.  It might be good if she had someone on lookout in case of trouble. Or it would add someone she had to look out for in case of trouble. She had been told to leave it alone and involving other members of the Watch would leave a path for Osmwoe to hear or smell her ignoring him. Unless she put a Chain on this Elka and commanded obedience.  But Elka or Jaudd had to chose to accept the Chain, or it was illegal Wicthcraft in the eyes of city officials. Almost as bad as in the tribes where grandmothers had chains on mothers and others, and mothers had chains on their offspring and their warband, and slaves, and other allies. And between them they had eyes that could be compelled to tell anything they had seen or heard. Placing a Chain in secret? Or tricking the human? They would need to be away from the Watch station and sneaking ears and watchers. Still risky. Putting a Chain was a poor choice. Better to bore or frighten the human away.  She could follow the Goblin’s advice of the Screaming Skull.  That should scare the human and Dracna could speak in Ghenu there so the human would have no clue. She would have to go find Jaudd in the afternoon.

Dracna turned to Elka, leaning in close. “No. Tonight.  Me go Ghenuo place. I, you take.’

Elka smiled. “Really?  Thank you Dracna. That would be so exciting! Is it wild? “

Dracna had no idea. “Me guard.”

“Thank you Dracna, this will be so great!”

Dracna grunted and set to finishing her meal as quickly as she could with the spoon and knife. “After sun down south corner Mercenary Warrior keep meet.” she added between bites.

“Ok, yes”  said Elak nodding before she finished her bowl and stood.  “Bye, see ya later!”

Dracna glanced over.

“You are supposed to say “bye” too.”

“Me monster, not know.” said Dracna. “Bye, Me sleep.” She waved off the human, who gave her a funny look before walking away.  Humans and the other smoothskins were confusing. Frequently indirect and only hinting at things instead of just saying it. Much of the time talk was downwind with hidden scents, unless it was orders or insults. Dracna finished her meal, hunched over and rapidly shoveling spoon scoops, and then went to her bunk to clean her equipment and get a few hours of sleep.

Dracna found the sturdy stone building that was Jaudd’s shop.  And home. Two floors above ground. Barred windows. Iron reinforced doors front and back.  She strode to the door below an iron rod with a sign reading “Jaudd’s Buy/ Sell”.  The door opened to a small room with many items- clothes, furniture, cabinets of dishes and small items. A rack of weapons. A case with jewelry.  A short Goblin - standing maybe to Dracna’s stomach level was at the counter. Yellow eyed and yellow tusked with pale green skin and dark spiked hair. Simple brown tunic. Behind the goblin, a wide door.  

“Hello constable.” said the Goblin. “What can I help you with?  Dishes? Maybe a bit of jewelry?” 

“Jaudd. Business.”

“Master Jaudd is not available. Perhaps I can help you?  The door is right behind you.”

“Me offer make.”

“Don’t care what you make constable. Proper business here.”

“Trade. Information.”

“What would you have to trade constable?”

Dracna drew two daggers from her belt and laid them on the counter.  The Goblin looked at them. “Standard blades, a bit worn, 2 gold each.”

“Keep. Information trade.”

“There is no information unless you want to ask about something specific.  You looking for something?”

“Bugbears.  I trade Watch information.”

“Don’t know nothing about that.”

“Get Boss.  Ask.”

“I told ya…”

Dracna lunged across the counter in a blink and dragged the Goblin across it, throwing him to the floor. She set a sandaled foot on him and delivered a punch.  Crouching low with hands on his lower arms, teeth inches from his face.  “Said get Boss!” she snarled, stepping off and hauling the Goblin up as she heard a door open.

“That’s enough Constable.” said a gruff new voice.

Looking past the Goblin, she saw a pale blonde haired, pale coated & bearded Centaur, a scar across his face and a patch over his right eye. He wore a plain linen shirt belted to his lower torso while the horse body was bare.  Behind and to his sides were a pair of humans in chainmail with loaded crossbows pointed at her.  “I don’t appreciate you roughing up my people.  Suppose you tell me, what is so very important that you’re doing that.”

Dracna threw the Goblin to the side and raised her hands.  “Make deal.  Information.”

“How about I throw you out and file a complaint with the Tribunes?”

“You not do.”

The Goblin stood and slipped past a low gate to get behind the counter again.

“True, I could just make you vanish.”

“You not do. If miss, Watch look.”

“They might or might not.  Waste time with a missing Ghenid? Might not.”

She paused.  They might just shrug and say “Just a monster.” Or might not. Osmwoe would be mad about her going missing probably.  “Captain Osmwoe  maybe look”

The Centaur frowned.  “You are out of your district Ghenid. What information?”

“Bugbears captives take, ransoms, sacrifices, something else. Want know.”

“I don’t know anything, why come here and rough up my clerk?”

‘You many know. Connections, no? I trade. Be you eyes, ears in Watch.”

“Told ya, don’t know anything and why would I want a sneak in the Watch in the University East district?”

He knew who and where her Captain was. What her District was. She hadn’t known who the Watch captain was in her home Fountains district until she had joined the Watch.  “Make deal. What you want?”

“You ain’t my district. You come in here all alone.  Is this Watch business Ghenid?”

He had to know it wasn’t.  There would have been a full hand and an officer asking if it was.  They probably would have been just sweeping up any Bugbears. “Me only.” she said.

The Centaur smiled at that.  “Take some friend? Someone you value? But you don’t know which gang?”

She didn’t need to tell him. So she just nodded.

“They tell you where to deliver a ransom?” 

She shook her head negative. 

“Your friend have some debts due? Other problems?”

“Not know.”

“How bad you want it?” He said, glancing over his shoulder and waving one crossbowman down. 

“Name price.” she replied, staring unwaveringly at the Centaur.

“You get me one of this year’s weapon tax stamps and a length of the stamp lead, and maybe I help you.”

Dracna thought about it.  The officers kept the stamp pliers and lead rolls. Osmwoe had some extra in his office.  Take it from one of the sergents? The lieutenants? From Osmwoe’s office? Tricky but not impossible.  “I get stamp. Why lead want?”

The Centaur smiled again. “ You don’t know?  It’s enchanted. Prevents the stamp from being copied.”

She hadn’t known.  “Same Dueling permits?”

“You catch on quick.  Get me what I ask and I help you with your friend.”

She nodded. “I get. Bring you.”

“No “ he said shaking his head.  “You take your package to the Black Bear Inn over in the Fountain’s by the edge of the Arena district, and give it to the demon bouncer. You tell it that the item is for “Stone”.  I know where you are at. I’ll send a messenger when I have your infomation, if the package is good.  You do the job and I might make you some other deals.  You talk or cause me trouble, you will regret it. Understand?”

Dracna nodded.  Second time the Black Bear had come up.,  “Honor swear?’ she asked.

Jaudd laughed. “Yeah, sure. I pledge on my Honor to abide by the agreement.  That work for you Ghenid?” The humans stayed alert but shared Jaudd’s chuckle.  Were they nervous? Or was it funny somehow?

She nodded. Not as good a Chain, but good enough from her instruction on Centaur Honor.

“Good, now get outta my shop.” Jaudd said.

Dracna considered her next move. Osmwoe’s lead and stamp or one of the other officers?  Krarue should be able to take them with his ghost power to move small things without materializing. He would need to do it that way. None could see him materialized and miss the connection to her. She had a few hours yet to nightfall. She didn’t have much spare money and she’d need that later. She needed to make offerings to the ghosts. Offerings that wouldn’t leave her with fresh wounds and the scent of her blood. Maybe tomorrow she would investigate the Bloody Shit Bugbears.  She found a stall at the market selling live fowl and bought one and also some material to start a small fire. Then she wandered looking for a secluded alley where she could light a fire and not risk burning down the neighborhood.