Ugliness of the Mind

The girl who had spoken to me led me inside and took me to an older woman who was sitting in an armchair in the entryway.

“Ha, what a catch! And so well-dressed, too. We don't have a single girl who's good enough for someone like you, handsome! But you could have two or three of these little harlots. They are eager and know how take good care of a good man.”

“That one will do for me!” I said, and gave the unsightly whore a pat on the butt.

Both the bawd and she were surprised.

“If that's what you want. One silver coin a tumble, or three coins for the whole night.”

Moans from the adjoining rooms added to the atmosphere.

I put down five coins, took the girl by the hand, and looked at her questioningly.

“A room where we can have a little more privacy!”

The old hag giggled a little and nodded to the girl, who led me—somewhat sheepishly—into one of the side rooms, from which a staircase led up to the first floor, where it was much quieter, and we retired to a homely bedroom.

We sat down next to each other on the bed.

“Tell me, girl, do you want to turn five coins into fifty?”

“Oh no, I knew it! No, no, no! Why do I always have to deal with this? And yet you had a face like Asden and Silen! What do you want?! Playing dead? Treating you like I’m your mother? Just because I'm not as pretty as the others doesn't mean I'll go along with everything!”

“First tell me if the guards are watching us. Listening maybe? My desires have to stay a secret.”

“Nah, they don't care about that kind of thing. But know that they can easily tell the difference between screams of pleasure and those for help!”

“It's nothing too weird. Do you have anything to help us relax a little? This is my first time, paying for it, you know.”

“Sure, I can get some wine or mead. You paid enough to…”

“I mean something stronger, like that blue malt everyone's been talking about. Is that also a drink?”

“You mean salt… Hold on, wait! Who recommended this place to you?”

“Huh? Don’t know his name. He repeatedly mentioned something about gold or something golden. Who cares?”

“Golden Dozen?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Okay. I might be able to get something for you, but first tell me exactly what you want me to do.”

“All you have to do is spend the night with me and lie in my arms.”

“What?”

“I can’t sleep alone.”

“Are you joking?”

“No.”

The laughter that followed was the girl's first genuine expression, and it made her ugliness fade away.

“Sorry! I’m just relieved.”

“It’s okay.”

“Should I go get some right away?”

“Do you have a stash or what?” I asked jokingly.

“Oh no, I don't like that stuff. The girls act weird when they take it. But the Golden actually make it right next door. Don't tell anyone, though.”

“The Golden?”

“They guy you meet must be part of them. They own this house. Just forget about it.”

“Now I'm kind of unsure. How do the other girls act when they take it?”

“Don’t know... They just giggle like idiots, and let the men do whatever they want with them. I guess it just makes all of this easier. And they never really are…”

“Sounds weird. Are they coming up with anything different next door?”

“Hmm… I saw something once—it was red—but I don't think it's for sale yet. I stay away from stuff like that. Don't you just want to sleep?”

“Oh, I just want to try something new. Could you get me some of that red stuff?”

“No! Why are you asking so many questions? This is weird!”

My hand covered her mouth, and the tip of my dagger pressed gently against her throat, just short of drawing blood.

“This situation can end one of two ways: Either you answer my questions and don't make any other peep, or you'll bleed out in a heartbeat. Blink at me three times if you understand.” I whispered.

Fear had etched itself into her features, bringing back the ugliness. She blinked three times.

“Listen well. I want to know who's in charge here.”

I took my hand away from her mouth.

“N-Nimurd.”

“Is he here right now?”

“Yes.”

“How many Golden?”

“Seven.”

“Including Nimurd?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Have you heard of any shipments lately? Steel—I mean blades, arms.”

“No.”

“Are Nimurd and the others in this building or next door?”

“Five next door. Nimurd among them.”

“Which house?”

“Huh?”

“Building to the left or to the right of this one? Point the way.”

She pointed her finger behind her.

“Ground floor or first floor? Where is the salt made?”

“First floor I think.”

“Can I get there without anyone noticing?”

“Maybe through the window.”

“All right, I'm going to tie you up and gag you now. If you stay calm, nothing will happen to you. For five coins and your life, that should be no problem, right?”

She nodded. I quickly did as I had told her and looked out the window. This wasn’t the time to feel sorry.

It was a gamble, but I'd give it a try. She'd been far too scared to have lied.

Twilight had already almost given way to darkness. The street below was nearly empty. Only the other whore who had greeted me was leaning against the wall of the brothel.

I managed to climb onto the roof and sneak quietly over to my destination, shouting and laughter coming from downstairs. I peeked through a window from above. No one was there. Everything was dark.

The old, rotten wooden frame gave way quickly, and the window opened.

Inside my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and I could make out a large number of tied-up linen bags.

I closed the window, slit one bag open, and grains like coarse sand—not like salt crystals—trilled out, glowing blue. One more was opened by my blade, and then another. It went on like that. Only blue, no red.

There were two doors; one must have led to the stairwell, and the other probably to the workshop.

Based on the layout of the other house, I chose the door on my left, which turned out to be the right choice. But there wasn't a trace of red there either.

The other door creaked open.

“Who left the door open? I should really start my own band,” a man muttered.

I waited in the workshop next to the open door. Candlelight shone across from the other room.

Footsteps drew nearer, and by the time the man entered, it was already too late. My blade was pressed against the next neck.

“Fu…”

“One wrong word and it’s over for you.”

The man swallowed.

“Nimurd?”

“No.”

“Just a guard?”

“Nimurd's steadholder.”

“He is the headman?”

“Yes.”

“Where is the red?”

“What?”

“The red stuff. Only the blue is left.”

“Already handed it over.”

“To whom?”

“We don’t know.”

“Does Nimurd?”

“No one does.”

“How?”

The man had remained composed until then, but now fear took hold of him.

“They have a troll that does their bidding.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I saw it,” the man whispered reverently.

“What does the red do?”

“No pain, no fear. Makes you like a warrior of Zurnen.”

“And the steel?”

“What steel?”

“From the Blacks.”

“Why would we need more steel?”

“Not a lot of new members even though business is going so well?”

“The headmen are picky. They'd rather take over more whorehouses and expand the trade in blue.”

“How many houses?”

“I think there are seven now.”

“How many men?”

“A dozen per house. And then there are the guys from Derwin and Bermur. Maybe another twenty?”

“Derwin and Bermur?”

“The remaining...”

Suddenly, the man was gone. His clothes, his steel, his lantern, they fell to the floor. But there was no ground beneath; his belongings just kept falling deeper and deeper.

Elfin light flooded everything.

There he was, in the middle of the room. Pointing his left finger at me, right eye wide open, the other one shut. A fountain of blood entered the man's bare chest, looking like it had burst from his heart but time had suddenly decided to move backward, and then he was gone again.

“The thing broke the silence!” a voice rang out, sounding like bones grinding against each other.

The ceilings in the room seemed much too high, the walls much too close, and the door so tiny.

“They had to swear to keep the silence! It broke it!”

A figure appeared out of nowhere—a skeleton—its arms stretched way too long and ending not in hands but claws. It towered over me. Why did it wear a jester's hat? What was it juggling? More bones?

I had to tear myself away from its bright bleak light, from the chimes that emanated from this creature—the troll.