The afternoon was falling slowly over Uraside. Krau walked with Liria through the narrow streets of the central district. They had bought spare parts, horse shoes, oil, and nails, but also something more... or, better said, something completely unnecessary.
—"How much did that pastry cost?" —Krau raised an eyebrow while Liria happily held a well-decorated box—. Twenty silver coins. Do you know you just ate up the budget for the entire week?"
—"I haven't eaten it yet!" And defended Liria, hugging the box—. Just once, Krau. You never let me have sweet things.
—"Because sugar doesn't heal wounds" —he growled—. But it heals the soul.
—"But it heals the soul" —she smiled back—.
Krau didn't argue further. The deed was done. As they returned towards the main square, Krau noticed a large, colorful poster hanging over the entrance of a more crowded tavern than the rest. It read in large letters:
FORCE CONTEST. 3 days of free dinner and 1,000 gold coins to the winner.
Krau stopped. He observed the crowd that was gathering at the entrance. Strong, rough, and sweaty men were pushing to sign up.
—"Are you thinking of participating?" —asked Liria.
—"If you can afford a pastry, I can break the arm of some idiots for money" —he replied, with a barely visible smile—.
He signed up in silence. While he did, his mind went over something more than muscles. Depending on the opponent, he would use magic to reinforce his own. Nothing scandalous, just a minor improvement. Using his mana was risky, but he couldn't afford to lose. Not now.
—"Will you use magic?" —asked Liria with a furrowed brow while she watched him.
—"It depends on how much the opponent requires" —he answered without hesitation.
—"That's immoral" —she replied.
—"Not more immoral than paying twenty coins for flour and sugar" —he sputtered with calm—. And not more stupid than losing out of pride. I can't afford to lose. Not with what we have.
—"... You're not fair."
—"And now you're my conscience" —said Krau, laughing.
—Meanwhile, on the other side of the city—
Valka had wandered through the red district and the half market without luck. She carried with her a charcoal sketch made by one of her informants: it showed a severe-faced subject with white hair, with an opaque armor at his side. A young, red-haired girl was next to him. An unusual pair, especially in Uraside.
—"They don't seem to be from here" —commented Lyvar, one of her subordinates, as they walked down a poorly lit street.
—"They're not. And it bothers me that they're in my city and killing my subordinates as if nothing" —answered Valka.
Another of her men, Theron, slimmer and quieter, walked just behind. Both were the most loyal to Valka, her personal strike force. She had trained them since they were almost children.
She had questioned half a city, bribed tavern keepers, and even scared beggars. Nothing. The pair simply disappeared until now.
As the night fell, tired of walking, Valka decided to rest. She entered the most crowded tavern in the western district. She only wanted to drink something strong and sit down. She didn't expect to see them there.
The air was thick with smoke and beer. The crowd cheered as a man with trunk-like muscles lost to a simple-looking subject, although his gaze was as cold as steel. It was Krau. A thread of fire and nostalgia snaked through Valka's stomach as she saw him.
And then, she saw them. At the main table, sitting, with a beer in front of him and a fruit drink in front of her.
—"Ah... by all the gods!" —she murmured, stopping abruptly.
Theron and Lyvar looked where her gaze pointed.
—"Problems?" —asked Theron.
—"Yes" —she answered, without taking her eyes off them—. The subject in the sketch... is Krau.
The tension in her chest was immediate. Not because she feared him... but because she didn't expect to see him again. And much less here. In her city. Acting like nothing.
The smile that formed on her lips was thin. Ironical.
—"The subject in the sketch doesn't look much like that" —said Lyvar.
—"Yes he does, Lyvar. Look closely" —she answered, with a voice tinged with growing frustration.
—"The subject in the sketch has white hair, and that one competing has black hair. The girl in the sketch has red hair, and this one is blonde. But yes, the girl's eyes match.
—"Shut up, Lyvar! I know what I see!" —she sputtered, exasperated. She had questioned half a kingdom, all day. Nothing. The pair simply disappeared until now.
—"Well, it seems we found our pair" —whispered Valka, and took a step forward.
While the crowd cheered for Krau, a dangerous figure approached, not for him, but for the townspeople.
—"Of all the crazy people in this world to come to my kingdom, kill one of my subordinates and break the arm of another... I should have known it was you" —The crowd and drunks in the tavern fell silent abruptly at Valka's words. Liria didn't understand anything about who this woman was and why everyone seemed terrified.
—"Krau" —he responded, turning with a look of annoyance, recognizing that voice.
—"Hello, Krau. It's been a while. I wonder if you missed me during these years" —This question disoriented everyone, even her subordinates, who didn't understand anything.
—"A little" —Krau only answered with sarcasm to Valka.
Liria, observing the situation and misunderstanding it, approached Krau and asked if she knew him, insinuating if he was an old, spurned lover. Valka, hearing the young woman, took it with humor.
—"What did you just say, brat, about Valka?" —he responded Lyvar. Valka raised her hand to calm her subordinate.
—"It's fine, I don't mind. The young ones of today are very outspoken.
—Bien, it seems we found our pair" —whispered Valka, and took a step forward.