There were few pedestrians on the streets. The public execution that morning had drawn many citizens; in an age with little entertainment, watching someone hang counted as a rare diversion.
Renato and Perly returned to the Silver Deer Inn. Inside their room, Lailas said with her brow furrowed:
"I kept watch over your room and didn't let the guards in."
"I'm going away for a few days, possibly a few weeks. Put the missing persons investigation on hold until I get back."
The half-elf leaned against the door, rubbing her fingers together incessantly. Renato could clearly tell that her mind was elsewhere.
"Where are you going? Are you quitting your job at the Silver Deer Inn?"
"Just to the inner city. It's complicated. Don't ask. Knowing won't do you any good."
Being cryptic again. Could this have something to do with the explosion in the inner city? Renato offered a guess, pretending to joke:
"You're not a mercenary for one of the city's nobles, are you? Could you be working for Baron Atwood? Is that the identity you've been keeping secret?"
Lailas seemed to be holding something back, but finally said with self-mockery:
"No... but for now, you could think of it that way. We took a vote and, in a sense, accepted a noble's commission. We've become mercenaries doing someone else's bidding..."
"What do you mean? Is there a commission notice? Consider bringing me along to make some money..."
"No!" Lailas suddenly grew agitated, cutting off Renato's joke. She paused, then said, "What I mean is, there's no money in this job, and no honor either. It's absolutely not something a promising young man like you should be doing."
Renato frowned slightly. *Could she really be working for a noble? If so, she ought to be some kind of