A Way with Women

Annan looked around the brightly lit banquet hall, where guests came and went, and remembered what Olmedo had said.

"The Ratfolk trying to bring Corruption to Breeze City won't pass up this banquet. They'll find a way inside, mingle with the guests, and turn the Nobles toward chaos."

There are Ratfolk at this banquet...

The elegantly dressed guests didn't look like Ratfolk in disguise, and the servers moving through the hall seemed perfectly normal.

Could the problem be in the kitchen?

Annan had made a mistake. He knew very little about Ratfolk. What little he did know came from a Bard's tale of a world-ending rat swarm and a few scattered remarks from Francois. He knew even less about their habits and distinguishing traits.

He couldn't just walk up to someone and foolishly ask, "Are you a strange person?" Even "Have you met anyone strange lately?" would sound odd.

"I'll ask Olmedo first."

Annan spotted Olmedo holding a wineglass, surrounded by Nobles, a warm smile on his face. After speaking to Della, Annan headed straight toward him.

The young City Lord listened to his guests and nodded. Catching sight of Annan approaching, he apologized to them. "Excuse me." Then he slipped away to meet him.

The meeting between the current City Lord and the former one drew plenty of eyes.

"I thought you'd keep pretending you didn't know me."

Instead of answering Olmedo's familiar teasing, Annan went straight to the point. "How do I find them?"

"Relax, Annan. Don't make it look like we're discussing something serious." Olmedo set down his glass and gestured toward an empty terrace. "Let's talk somewhere else."

Della watched Annan and Olmedo disappear onto the terrace. She declined a young nobleman's invitation to dance, then went to the buffet to choose something to eat.