Annan pointed to a dust-covered Ratfolk tower tree at the far end. "What about that one?"
"Ten copper coins. We can deliver it to Montreal Mountain for free, too."
"Wow, that far? You might as well give it away."
"It's just something our apprentices made for practice. Nobody wants it."
Annan was interested, though. Ten copper coins for a craft piece that big? It was worth it for the size alone!
"Are those real Ratfolk heads? I heard some people pass off clay ones as the real thing..."
The apprentice looked at Annan as if he had said something incredibly stupid. "You think an artisan would carve Ratfolk skulls so lifelike, one by one, just to sell the whole thing for ten copper coins?"
"Good point. I'll take it."
For ten copper coins, it might as well be free.
He could bring it back for Maria. Who knew if she would like it?
Annan paid, put the dusty tower tree into his ring, and returned to the Grayfur Rat Priest, whose expression had turned grim.
"They're all Brownfur Rat heads. Greyfur Rat heads would cost more," Annan explained on the locals' behalf.
"You want Greyfur Rat heads too?" the Grayfur Rat Priest asked coldly.
"Do you have any?" Annan asked, pretending not to understand.
The Grayfur Rat Priest had no desire to speak to him anymore. What he needed was the Succubus Thing's body, not his filthy, fallen soul.
Annan followed the Grayfur Rat Priest across Tower Town to a cluster of workshops in the north.
The Chaos Cult's stronghold was here.
They passed hidden sentries and went deep into the workshops, arriving at a hall.
Annan saw Albeck and the others there. Beside them stood a man in an Empire official's uniform, along with a figure who was talking