William

Traveling with two women that acted like they hated each other, and possibly do, was going to be harder than I had originally anticipated.

I checked the map and nodded, "The town should have an inn. Take this, I'll meet you both there." I handed Bonita a small pouch with some gold pieces in it. "Don't use those except for emergency."

I started for the town but paused and turned back, "Does either of you know the alphabet?" Cordell nodded slowly. "Good, if there is more than one inn go to the one that is the closest to the beginning."

I hurried into the town, I figured I had probably fallen behind and doubted these were the people. I caught them and neither was a child and I passed on as if I hadn't been watching them. I found the tavern and walked inside.

I approached the barkeep and smiled slightly, "I'm looking for someone."

"Take a number," He said indifferently. "Can I get you a drink?"

I shook my head as I dropped a gold coin on the counter, "Should have been a man traveling with a small child."

"I might remember someone like that," He scratched his head. "I'm a little fuzzy."

I tossed a couple more onto the counter and asked, "Where were they headed?"

He just continued to scratch his head until I dropped a fourth coin onto the counter, "Westport."

"How long ago did they pass through here?" I dropped another on the counter. "And I do have ways other than money to get answers."

He gulped as he took the coins, "A few hours. It's rather odd that they left around noon. I don't know if they stayed in town or not."

"Thanks," I strode out of the tavern and knew many eyes were watching me. Having a large pocket in a small town like this is not a good thing, worse if people know about it. Oh well, most of them would have missed my face.

A small kid was messing with my things when I got outside the tavern, "Hey! Get out of here." I quickly checked my things and nothing was missing. I muttered to myself, "That's a relief."

I was going to have to beat them to Westport, no other way around it. Most likely they would auction it off or sell it to a pawnbroker. I need to find this person and fast. I would have reread the letter but I had committed it to memory after I had lost if the first time and destroyed it. I couldn't afford to let that information fall into enemy hands.

I quickly found the inn and tied my horses up and didn't see Bonita or Cordell. They were probably in a room or not here yet, it had been easier than I thought to get that information. I took my things inside and got a room for myself and left after locking my door.

Just as I thought. A few people had followed me. A conflict would alert Leerans, Bartholomew's most elite spies. The Jericans were also mentioned but they were a fighting force and not even on par with people at the Leerans' level. This woman I was going to find use to lead them, it hadn't said why she left, but if my father had saved that message for his dying breath to help me... She must be important.

My mind returned to the moment at hand, two were across the street, and one down the street in each direction. My short sword and dagger were with Bonita and Cordell and my greatsword was in my room. I shruged as I turned down a nearby alley and scaled the three story building in a matter of seconds. The pursuers got to the alley and saw it was empty and looked around confused.

This is part of the reason I didn't want Cordell and Bonita with me, I could easily become a shadow and Bonita probably could too. Cordell was not physically capable of doing it. I watched them from the rooftop for a few minutes and they left and decided I must have gone somewhere else and they started looking other places for me.

I grinned and came down and entered the inn, ordered some food and waited.