The Adventurer's Guild in Luminaris was loud.
It smelled of stale ale, roasted meat, and unwashed bodies.
It was a stark contrast to the perfumed air of Catarina's townhouse.
Marcus Aldridge stepped through the heavy wooden doors.
The noise hit him like a physical wave.
Laughter roared from a corner table.
Someone smashed a tankard against the wall.
A bard was trying to sing over the chaos. He was failing.
Marcus adjusted his cloak. He felt overdressed in his noble attire.
He scanned the room.
It didn't take long to find her.
Vivienne Blackthorn sat at a table in the back.
She wasn't wearing her noble gowns.
She wore fitted leather armor. A dagger lay on the table next to her drink.
She looked entirely different here.
She looked comfortable.
She looked dangerous.
Marcus navigated through the crowd.
A burly orc bumped into him. Marcus muttered an apology.
The orc grunted and moved on.
Marcus reached the table.
