Chapter 34 - She Drives Me Crazy

There she is. Finally!

Rose spotted the blue haired elf down the street. She’d been looking for the girl for hours without luck but didn’t dare go back to Warlock empty handed.

Why do I feel…like this…she shivered…every time I see this girl?

There was something that welled up inside her with every appearance of the elf. Was it her arrogance? Her utter indifference to Rose? Or was it the way Warlock seemed to blindly put his trust in this girl who couldn’t be older than Rose herself? Even Rose wasn’t sure.

What does he see in her? She isn’t even one of us. I don’t care if he has something on her. She shouldn’t even allowed to be involved!

Rose let out a gust of hot breath as she steadied herself before approaching Ariadne.

No. Keep it together Rose. Warlock has done amazing things for us. We’ve been able to pull off bigger and bigger moves ever since he showed up. And we never get caught. He must have a good reason to trust this girl. Even if I can’t stand the sight of her.

She squared her shoulders and more boldly walked towards the girl, arms above her head as she worked her pink hair into a ponytail as she moved.

“Excuse me.” She called out as she approached.

Ariadne was sitting on a chair along the side of the road. She was throwing what looked to be some kind of snack up into the air and catching it in her mouth as she tilted her head back. She turned lazily towards the sound of Rose’s voice when she heard her call.

“Oh. What do you want?”

“Excuse me?!” This time the utterance was much more harsh sounding. “What kind of greeting is that for me?”

“I’m sorry…am I supposed to know you?  I’m sure we’ve never met before.”

Rose couldn’t help but pick up on the subtle subtext of her words and realized that she didn’t in fact know Ariadne except through her rebellious activities.

Guess I should play along and pretend I’ve never met her. God this girl is a pain!

“No, we’ve never met. But I hear you know someone who can help me track down some information?”

Rose crossed her arms, failing in her quest to avoid looking standoffish in front of the young elf.

“A customer? Alright. I’ll listen. What do you want?”

“What do I want? I want to talk to this information broker. Not you!”

“You’re a grumpy new customer, aren’t you?”

Rose almost yelled back at the insolent tone then remembered her goal.

“I need to speak to the broker.” She paused. “Please.” The word came out from her gritted teeth.

“And I need to know if it’s worth wasting his time. So tell me what kind of info you’re looking for.”

Rose glanced up and down the still somewhat busy street. “I need to know…about someone in the castle.” She wasn’t sure how to phrase her request publicly but thought she could say that much.

“Oof, tall order. That place is full of only demons. Well, demons and prisoners. Hey, did you know there’s a group in town that hates those demons and keeps attacking them and stuff?”

The casual way Ariadne mentioned Rose’s group only angered her more. Rose eyes went wide.

“What are you saying?!” She spat in an odd, hushed whisper.

“Just sharing gossip. Literally my job lady.”

“Lady? I’m barely older than you!” She looked uncertain for a moment. “I think. I…don’t actually know how elves age.”

“You and me both.” Ariadne replied with a wry smile.

Rose cocked her head in confusion at the odd remark but Ariadne continued before she could interject.

“Fine, I’ll take you to Orpheus. But you better have payment!”

She stood up and dusted off her clothes. A fine mist of nuts and crumbs tumbled down off of her chest and stomach, victims of failed attempts at catching her throws earlier.

“I have enough money. Don’t worry about that.” Rose snapped back.

Instead of answering Ariadne just laughed for some reason in response then jerked her hand to the left, pointing at the direction they should head.

Rose quietly followed the girl through a staggering number of twists and turns throughout the less savoury parts of the city. Rose had lived in the city her whole life but her experience before the demons came hadn’t gotten her especially used to the layout of the roads. She quickly became lost.

Eventually they came upon a run down looking home at the end of a street. Ariadne opened the door and waived Rose inside.

Stepping in, Rose noticed a man sitting at a table. He was wearing an adventurer’s set of dark tinted leather armour but had a helmet that completely covered his face.

How do I keep meeting people who won’t show me their faces? She couldn’t help but wonder.

“Sit.”

Ariadne, standing behind her, curtly spoke to Rose.

Rose turned to glare at her but followed her instructions nonetheless.

“What do you want to know?”

The cold voice rang out from the helmet.

“I see where your elf friend got her warm customer service.”

“I doubt you came to bargain for that girl’s background.”

Rose considered the throwaway comment for a moment. She knew the man was kidding, but for the first time she genuinely did wonder if she should learn more about Ariadne. But the moment passed as soon as she remembered her goal.

“You’re right. That’s not why I’m here. I need to know about a prisoner the demons took. His name is Kaelen.”

“And what will you tell me in return?”

“Tell you? What do you mean?”

“He means he trades for info, dummy. Didn’t you know?” Ariadne’s mocking tone came from behind Rose.

“Trade? I have money. Isn’t that what you want?”

“No.”

The was no elaboration and Rose had to wonder what kind of an individual she had come across.

“What do you want to know?” Rose cautiously asked.

“Something as valuable as the information you need.”

His answer isn’t very helpful. What can I tell him?

Rose thought a moment.

Wait. Warlock told me I could tell Witt about my background if it helped get me information. I never got the chance because of everything that happened. Maybe he wouldn’t mind if I told this man instead. He did send me here…

“I…I’ll tell you about the last surviving member of the previous Viscount’s family.”

Orpheus didn’t reply for a few moments and she wondered if she had proposed enough. Eventually he nodded.

“Alright. Tell me what you know.”

“I have to go first?!”

“Payment upfront.” Again there was no further explanation.

“Fine! The old Viscount had a daughter who escaped the purge. She’s working as an adventurer under the idiot Witt.”

“Not enough. Who?” was the man’s only reply.

Rose seemed to be gathering her courage.

“The girl…is me. I’m the Viscount’s daughter. My real name is Elaine Rosa Montblanc Duran.”

She wasn’t sure what she expected but the almost anticlimactic response of a simple nod wasn’t it.

“All right. Kaelen is held in the castle.”

Rose couldn’t believe they moved on so quickly. Was her revelation that banal? Still, she needed to get more information herself.

“I assumed that. But what I need to know is how to get to him there.”

“No.”

“No? What do you mean no? I gave you my info!”

“I mean you don’t have to get to him there. They’re going to transfer him to the capital. He’ll be a much easier target to release while he’s on the move.”

“I…never said I was going to release him.”

“I already know you work with him and Warlock.”

“What? How?”

“It’s my job.”

She could tell that was all he would say on the subject.

“Alright, but then I also need to know if Kaelen betrayed us. Does he work for the demons?”

Another pause.

“I don’t know. But I do know that moving him to the capital is unusual. Why risk moving him? Unless he’s actually on his way to get a reward maybe?”

He let the question hang in the air.

Rose just stared a moment still unsure if she should doubt her comrade.

“Then tell me about this transfer.”

“We’ll get the details. Dates. Times. And send you the information.”

Rose nodded.

“But you should know that demons will likely be there. Maybe even the one who took your friend.”

“Good.” The pink haired adventurer replied. “I’d love to pull one over on her!”