Where Rumors Lead

Sam found herself wandering around town, her feet tracing the pathways she’d ventured on as a child, only to feel disconnected and more like a stranger who didn’t know her way around. She glanced at the store keepers at shops, pulling the black hood down her face till she could only see the cobblestone path at her feet.

She heard Gavin’s distinct steps behind her, then reached her side. “Did you want to come with me to the guild?”

“No,” a straight, flat answer. “I’ll meet you back at the Inn.”

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere.”

Sam knew that Gavin knew better than to elaborate. As she was about to break off there was a group of about five women, standing in the shape of a circle as their voices carried through the air as Gavin and Sam passed by.

“Did you hear, apparently the eldest son of the Laroche family has gotten engaged to a young lady from the Ophelia House!”

“Oh my! The Ophelia House? That is big news!”

“Goodness, maybe we can finally receive proper aid from the attacks we’ve had recently.”

The conversation alone was enough to bring Sam to a halt. Something didn’t add up as Sam looked over her shoulder at the older women. The Ophelia House she knew had no daughters, only sons.

The only people that fit the bill of who these women were talking about were Azalea and the over dressed young man in the carriage, though Sam didn't know his connection to nobility, she assumed as much when she saw how bedazzled he was with his shiny trinkets like some sort of ornament.

She pressed her lips into a thin line, not knowing that she’d been standing still for quite a bit of time. She also didn’t notice that Gavin was standing in front of her, peering under her hood. She caught a smirk on his face, a wave of irritation washing over her.

“What?” She said sharply, her eyes glaring.

“Someone seems a little interested.”

Sam let out a groan. When Gavin found something to bother Sam with, he couldn’t let it go. Sometimes she wondered if he really was an adult.

“Buzz off. Old man,” she knew those words were fatal and decided to play it to get him off her back. To her surprise, it didn’t work.

“I’m sure she has her reasons. Though I think you’re right about Azalea not being one to suddenly get married like that.” He walked ahead of her then waved a hand, “I’ll hang around the guild for a bit and see if there’s anything intriguing. If anything comes up, you know where to find me.”

He headed in the opposite direction, his hood fluttering in the wind as it passed.

 As Sam watched him from behind, she couldn’t help but hope no one would recognize him. Debating if she should go with him just in case he got into any trouble but…she decided against it and continued to wander around the town, though her thoughts were all over the place, especially when she recalled the events from earlier.

~~~

By the time Sam returned back to the Inn after her stroll it was already evening, Gavin had been waiting inside for her arrival a jug of ale in. The man wasted no time in getting right down to business, but not without chugging down a few more ale’s in between the conversation.

He’d quickly gone over what he did at the guild, though there was hardly any relevant information, at least to Sam. According to him the guild was as busy because of the recent spread in miasma in Hearth Forest, there were more jobs in trying to get rid of miasma beasts in the area, but because of the density, no one was able to enter without getting sick from the miasma. 

Gavin also mentioned that they didn’t recognize any of the purple ores he brought back from Hearth forest. And that said a lot, since the guild’s network was rather vast.

“That Raoul kid! I wonder where he got the idea that Azalea was a daughter of the Ophelia House!” He suddenly switched topics. Sam stared at his face slowly turning red from all the booze he’d been drinking. His voice was too loud and began to slur his words, some of the other guests began to look over.

“Keep it down will you! That kid is the eldest of the Lord overseeing this town. Who knows what’ll happen if you speak badly of him.” She gave him a warning, then took one of his wooden jugs.

He put his elbow on the table then pointed at her, “Oh c’mon, Sam! You know it too,” he leaned in and whispered, “Azalea isn’t nobility. Unless Lord Ophelia gave some special permission, if the Laroche family finds out, Azalea might be—”

Sam took the jug from his hands, “I think you’re done drinking for the night,” then ended up drinking the rest of it, putting it down. A bit of the ale’s bubbles still on her lip, licking that area clean. It was bitter. She wasn’t one to enjoy ale like her mentor, so she rarely indulged in it. 

She was going to bring the man to his room, slowly propping him onto his shoulder until one of the barmaids approached them, “You two haven’t been around these parts recently, have you?”

Sam shook her head, the hood shifting slightly, Gavin’s was hanging loose on his neck.

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. I would certainly be careful of how you speak of the eldest son.”

Sam eyed the young woman and listened.

“Ever since Lord Laroche appointed his younger son as the heir, the eldest son, Raoul has gotten desperate.”

Gavin’s body came back to life, “I’m telling you–something’s up with that kid! I heard the bandit–” Sam quickly moved a hand over his mouth, muffling the rest of his sentence.

“S-Sorry. He’s a little drunk.”

The barmaid chuckled, “That’s alright. I’ve seen worse,” she looked at Sam and moved closer, “there’s been sightings of Raoul up to something in the dead of night.”

“Colette! Quick bothering those customers and get back to work!” Called the bald man from behind the bar, a long scar running from his cheek to his neck.

The girl grinned, “Okaaay~” her playful tone echoing throughout the building.

It was at the same moment that Sam reached into her pocket and brought out three silver objects, “Miss!” She flicked them with her thumb, safely landing into the barmaid's palms.

Sam nodded back at her, “For your time.”

The young lady gave her a wink and continued her duties, serving the guests.

Sam on the other hand lent a shoulder for her mentor to lean on, as his legs barely worked, forcing Sam to bear most of the weight. She let out a grunt, finally getting him into a solid position for her to be able to move adequately up the stairs.

When she finally got to his room, she dropped him on the bed. She fixed his body to fit everything onto the soft cushion, then left his room to hear the snoring from outside the door.

 Her room was next to his. 

She stuck her hand out for the door knob but the words the barmaid mentioned earlier were sticking out in her mind.

Up to something in the dead of night. She shook her head trying to get rid of the thought. It was something she didn’t have to concern herself with, not after all of these years of being away. 

Her hand found the grip on the door and she stood without opening it.

If it had been anyone else, Sam knew she would've entered the room and forgotten the whole thing by morning.

But it wasn't just anyone.

It was Azalea.

Sam let out a quiet sigh, almost annoyed with herself.

A moment later, she was descending the stairs of the inn, her feet carrying her toward the exit before she could convince herself to turn back.