The Hunt Begins

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 2nd January 2020
Series: The Assassin's Story

Characters: Urlene, Varlin
Description: A man comes to the Weyr seeking information.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 27 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Lorican

Urlene

The dark-haired man waited until the afternoon to approach the Weyr,
when the sun was high and hot and the guards likely to be at their most
drowsy. Even if they'd been alert, there was nothing disreputable about
him, just the dusty garb of a traveling peddler, looking for shelter
and a chance to sell his wares. The bored guardsman took his name and
checked for weapons, then let him in and told him to see one of the
Headwoman's staff for a room.

Once he was inside the Weyr, it didn't take him too long to find people
who'd heard of the smith he was seeking. The man had clearly not had the
sense to keep a low profile. Sharing an afternoon mug of klah with a few
of the crafters, he only had to mention Lorican's name to bring a few
knowing smiles - and even more envious ones - to the faces of his
companions.

Less welcome news was the fact that the man he sought seemed to have
left the Weyr. Varlin wondered if he'd returned to his crafthall. Would
he be back? He grinned. From what he'd learned from the gossips, there
was one person who'd know best. After saying his farewells to the
crafters, he headed for the Infirmary.

He was met by the young apprentice Gashon, clearly there to greet
patients and get their information. It was a slow day, and the boy was
clearly bored, idly sweeping the floor. At the entrance of Varlin,
Gashon immediately perked up, then visibly deflated at the obvious lack
of injury. Serious injuries were exciting to him, though they could be
completely disgusting sometimes. "Good afternoon. How can I help? Are
you hurt? Sick?"

"Yes, I'm hoping someone could help me with my knee." Varlin made a
slight limp as he entered the infirmary, and looked at the apprentice
with an expression that was half smile, half wince. He'd considered
carefully what injury to present himself with. An upset stomach might
lead to an unpleasant dose of medicine, while complaining of back pain
might lead to having to reveal some interesting scars, but a knee ought
to be safe. "It's been aching these last few days. I'm a traveler and I
go about on foot, so I'm worried I've strained it."

"Oh." The boy picked up a board with a hide and made a note. "Can I
get your name? I think we've got a journeyman free who can take a look
at your knee." He waved the man to follow him into the infirmary,
checking the log to see which exam room was available. "It shouldn't
take to long."

"Well, actually, I was hoping I could see the Weyrhealer," the man
replied. "She treated a friend of mine, a while back, and he said she
was very good. I don't mind waiting till she's available." He made sure
to favor his leg as he followed the apprentice. "Only if it's no
trouble, though. The name's Ilvar."

The apprentice showed him to an open exam room, and paused. "Oh.
Uhm...I can see if she's not busy. She doesn't see just anyone,
but...I can ask. Just a minute." The apprentice hurried out, leaving
the man in the examination area. After about a quarter of a
candlemark, there was a tap on the door and Urlene stepped in, a fresh
faced glow about her cheeks, but with a cool expression that moderated
it. "You'd be Ilvar? I understand that you asked for me and are having
a problem with your knee."

"Yes. Thank you for seeing me, Weyrhealer." Varlin stood, and just about
remembered to keep the weight off his leg in his surprise. She was the
loveliest woman he'd seen in a long time, her neatly braided hair only
emphasizing the delicate beauty of her face and her bright eyes. For a
moment he wondered if the gossips had been mistaken, since he'd not
heard that the smith was anyone special, but he kept his expression
respectful and polite.

"I hope I'm not troubling you. I only asked because a man I know said
you'd healed him, after he was attacked on the road," he explained. "He
was filled with praise for your skill."

"It's no trouble." Urlene waved her hand and gestured to the bed for
him to sit once again. "You must mean Lorican. I did indeed treat
him." There was a sudden warmth to her gaze and her fingers
unconsciously brushed over her abdomen at the memory. "He's a very
kind man, of course, but he spoke the truth about my skill. Have a
seat please and I'll look at your knee. How do you know him?"

His eyes followed her gesture with a flicker of interest. "We
traveled together a few times. I trade around the holds, and he was
journeying for his craft. Nice man, and a good smith, too. I bought some
small items off him to sell on, buckles and pins and suchlike. They were
fine quality." He shook his head. "It's a shame, what happened to him at
the sea hold. There are some dangerous folk around."

"Lorican is indeed talented," Urlene readily agreed. "In my opinion,
he's a true artisan." She gestured again away the exam table. "Sit,
please. There are of course always bandits and there's much to be wary
of when traveling." She'd been lucky enough as a young woman to have
traveled in a caravan when she'd come to the Weyr, but words always
spread quickly about bandit raids." But he's not in danger now,
thankfully. I'll be sure to tell him that you stopped by when I next
write to him. I'm sure he'll be glad to hear of you."

"Well, do give him my regards." Varlin sat, careful to keep the weight
from his knee. It was unfortunate about the letter, which would warn the
man that someone was asking questions, but it couldn't be helped.
Keeping his hunt a secret would be of little use if he'd no idea where
to find his target. "Actually, I was half expecting to find him here,
since I'd heard he left that sea hold for good. Has he been given a new
posting?"

"He hasn't been here for some time. " She kept her voice neutral as she
bent to carefully feel his knee, checking for any swelling. Finding
none, she began carefully roll up his trouser leg to closer examine his
knee. "Slowly lift your foot. Lorican was stationed at the new Weyrhold."

"The one they're opening up, over near Garnet Valley?" Varlin raised his
foot as she'd asked, and he didn't have to feign the wince - though not
due to any pain in his knee. That was a long and weary journey, halfway
across the continent, and he wondered briefly whether the effort was
worth the reward.

He did have a reputation to uphold, though. After Lusilk's failure, he
couldn't afford to disappoint his employers again. "Good for him. That
must be a rare opportunity for a craftsman. So he's not likely to return
here, any time soon?"

She nodded, her focus more on his knee than his words. "Yes, it is.
I'm sure he'll do very well there. I've heard that he's being kept
very busy right now." She extended his knee again, carefully checking
the range of motion and the muscles. "I don't know if or when he'll be
able to come back." Or even if he ever would. "It's probably just a
pulled muscle or mild strained tendon. There doesn't seem to be any
swelling or tears apparent." She straightened. "I can give you a
warming salve for it and a mild analgesic for any aches you might
feel."

"That's good news. Traveling is my livelihood, and I was worried it
couldn't be healed." He studied her face, thinking hard. There was
nothing in her words to indicate any feelings for Lorican beyond respect
for his craft skill, but there'd been something in her eyes and the
slightest hint in her voice which suggested otherwise. Besides, even if
he was mistaken, he'd be surprised if the man didn't have fond memories
of her. Could he use that?

He shook his head, rejecting that idea. Even if his target had a
weakness for her, dragging a hostage all the way from here to Garnet
Valley territory, likely with half the dragonriders of Dolphin Cove in
hot pursuit, sounded rather...impractical. It shouldn't be that hard to
deal with the smith quietly once he'd found him.

"Thank you, Weyrhealer." Wondering, all the same, whether he'd been
right about what he'd seen so briefly in her eyes, he smiled. "You know,
I think we might see our friend back at Dolphin Cove Weyr, one of these
days. It wouldn't surprise me at all."

"You're welcome." Urlene began to make a quick note for him to request
an analgesic, but at his comment, paused. Her shoulders seemed to
slump, if only for a moment, and her profile revealed a brief
expression of hope mingled with sadness. "That is the hope. His plan
is to return when he becomes a Master Smith." She cleared her throat
and finished her note. "Perhaps when he returns, you can visit him."
She handed him the small piece of hide. "I can't say when that will
be, unfortunately, but I'm sure he'd welcome a letter from an old
friend. If you like, I can tell him that you've asked about him."

"No need to trouble yourself." Varlin stood, taking care to tread
lightly on the bad leg, and glanced at the hide before slipping it into
his pocket. "I'll send him a message myself. Let him know I appreciated
his recommendation about the healing." He felt oddly regretful, knowing
that she'd never see the smith again. It wasn't a sensation that usually
troubled him. Perhaps it was her beauty, the brief glimpse of tenderness
in her eyes that made him feel he was destroying something lovely and
fragile before it had the chance to grow.

**Don't get sentimental,** he told himself. He had a job to do, and with
her looks, she'd have no trouble finding another man. He raised a hand
in farewell. "Good day to you, Weyrhealer."

While he waited, back in the main room, for the apprentice to fetch the
medicines, he considered his next move. The fastest way to the Weyrhold
would be by sea, booking a passage along the coast and then taking a
riverboat south. Not cheap, he thought with mild annoyance, but if he
went overland it would take months and by the time he got there he might
find his quarry had left to return to Dolphin Cove.

Varlin closed his eyes, thinking. The nearest big port would be Sunstone
Seahold, which might prove convenient, after all. There was another
person he wanted to find, and it seemed as good a place as any to start
his search for Lusilk.

Last updated on the January 4th 2020

[Prev: No More Mistakes] Series: The Assassin's Story [Next: Marks For a Man, Woman, and Child]

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Hunt Begins