The following evening they are heading north. They make a quick stop at an inn to stock up on drinks.

  I'll have a glass of mead please, Achran orders.

  Amaru asks for a glass of water, and Hiero does the same.

  We should ask around. Perhaps they've seen him.

  Bartender, have you by any chance seen a child of this size here recently, Hiero says as he gestures with his hands.

  I have, just a couple of days ago. He tried to order mead from me, but I refused him. Upset he settled for juice.

  Good, we're on the right track, Amaru says.

  Indeed. Now let's just hope we make it there in time before something bad has happened to him, Amaru says.

  We're probably too late. It's been a week already. Nobody has heard from him, Realistically it's over. We're not getting that reward, Achran says, as he looks down at the ground.

  Hiero reminds them, it is our responsibility to help those in need, even if the child has ceased living, the family should know so they can at least have closure.

  You know I did a similar case to this once. It was a kidnapping. Noble family, their child was captured by bandits but after paying part of the ransom they wanted even more than they initially asked. So they hired me to rescue the child. His name was Zula. I did all I could but by the time I got there it was too late, they had already passed. The bandits never had any intention of making a peaceful solution.

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  Achran takes a large swig of mead.

  I'm sorry to hear that, Hiero says. That's why we should hurry this time. As they prepare to leave a fight breaks out in the inn.

  Yeah well your kind isn't welcome here anymore!

  A large man, built like he has been moving boulders all his life, swings at a hooded Saurian figure.

  The Saurian falls onto a table behind him where a group of three was just playing cards.

  He gets up.

  Alright this is enough! He unveils a dagger and lunges for the man, striking his arm.

  Aah! That hurts! The man cries out in pain. He rapidly punches the saurian back again.

  Hiero rushes over and slashes his spear between the two.

  Stop fighting! In the name of Tempestus.

  A Valkyrie? What are you doing here? This is none of your business! That saurian is a cheater, like all of them, dirty no-good cheaters.

  I didn't cheat! You just don't want to pay out. The saurian replies.

  We were playing a game of wacky nines. He lost fair and square, and now he doesn't want to pay up!

  Because you're a dirty cheater! There's no way you could win so many times legitimately.

  I'm a good player, your lack of skill isn't my problem! The saurian shouts back.

  Maybe he really cheated, Amaru says. Wacky nines is very random, statistically no one player should be winning much over the other.

  He just has luck on his side, that's all, Achran says.

  How about you pay half of your winnings and you both agree to stop fighting? Hiero says.

  Surely that is a better outcome than a fight where both of you could get seriously hurt, Hiero continues.

  The men reluctantly agree.