Page 58 of Badmouths & Bards

Sometimes, Tala wondered what it was like for everyone else. Cercel rarely got angry—or if he did, he was way better at hiding it than Tala was. Avie would get mad whenever she would see something unfair occur, but she looked more like a cranky bunny than an asshole. All puffed up cheeks and furrowed brows forming into one of the most pathetic glares Tala had ever witnessed. Yet, both of them handled their anger like normal people. No urgency to get into someones face, no clenched fists ready to knock some random guy’s lights out.

Normal people don’t yell at their childhood tutor because they tell them to do their homework. Normal people don’t defy their parents just because they asked their child to brush their hair. Normal people don’t cuss out their best friend because they traveled to GloomsDale for a hookup. Normal people can express their emotions without having to destroy things!

Tala rubbed at her eyes, trying to refocus at the task at hand. She had to push Casimine, Ameriden, and Avie out of her mind. Personal relationships were bullshit and Tala could deal with the harsh fall out later.

Within a pocket of her traveling pack, Tala pulled out the ring and swapped it for the metal piece. The origin of the mystery ring was cold at that point, but the metal piece was a puzzle Tala could solve. While she wasn’t familiar with all of the different factions with the thieves guild, Tala recognized a criminal organization symbol when she saw one. The Red Vultures motif was painted all around the dark alleys of the lower districts. The Valiant Circle knew they were distributing illegal contraband, but with the protection of the thieves guild and bullshit laws, they had never really been brought to justice.

“This hiss mouth is new,” Tala frowned at the metal.

A new faction usually only came about because someone in the old faction was vying for a power grab. Yet, Tala couldn’t recall hearing anything about it back home. The Valiant Circle was less concerned about the thieves guild and more about the growing tension between King Oryin’vel Vyrthsalis and the neighboring nations—especially where IronGarde was concerned. Vyrthsalis greatest export was the abundance of rich iron found in the desert just outside of IronGarde.

But the continent was relatively small in comparison to others. Some people even called it the bed of a new nation because of how much it developed over the past few hundred years due to the iron reserves.

Amazing how progress works when you get rid of all the giant ass monsters, Tala thought. But that still doesn’t explain who the fuck that guy was.

Maybe petty crime was too obvious—

“Shit,” Tala swore.

Fuck, she was so dense. That fucker had found her in the middle of the market after she had left the jeweler. While she couldn’t confidently link the ring to that guy, there was no way it was coincidence that he just happened to be there. No, he knew she was going to be there. That meant he had likely been tailing her for a while. It could have been days, maybe even weeks depending.

“Why’d I have to kill that creepy guy?” Tala grumbled.

If she had just managed to bind his hands and haul him back to the hotel. It wasn’t like anyone would have stopped her. Whether people knew it or not, she was still a part of the Valiant Circle and they had authority in the city. A simple flash of her iridescent sash, and the guards in the city would have left her to her business.

Dropping her head into her hands, Tala let out a angry groan of frustration.

She’d fucked up.

Again.

All because she lost her gods damn temper. All because Tala couldn’t keep Cercel’s words in her head. Because she couldn’t hold back from beating up her problems, because she had to prove to the world that she wasn’t a coward. That even though she was angry and defiant, she still fucking mattered, and violence was the only way Tala could show it.

“Come on, Valay,” Tala took a deep breath. “Wallowing in self pity is pathetic, even for you. Think. That guy wanted to hurt me… why?”

The thieves guild only ever hurt people who got in their way of making coin. Poison was slow, agonizing. It was also considered contraband unless you were a doctor, healer, or—

“Shit,” Tala cursed, snatching the ring and metal from the table.

She fled the Golden Manor in minutes and dashed across the city. Tala dodged carts and carriages, traveling merchants and city folk with one destination in mind. By the time she reached the base of the city, Tala felt her muscles protest with how fast she ran. Her eyes scanned the crowd past the statue of the Sun Bringer and toward the entrance. Standing at the gate in their shiny armor were the king’s guards. There were always four—two at the edge of the entrance tasked with keeping a watchful eye while the other two reviewed parchments.

“Hey,” Tala said as she approached the guard standing to the left.

He spared her an acknowledging glance, but didn’t say anything.

Tala rolled her eyes. “I’m Tala of the Valiant Circle. Here on official business on behalf of High Conservator Aelidon.”

It was a bold face lie, but one that finally pulled the guard’s full attention.

“How can I be of assistance?”

“We’re investigating any individuals that may be carrying poisons into the city. Specifically individuals who may be carrying this on them.” Tala flashed the metal piece.

“We can’t say we’ve seen many folks pass by with poisons. It’s mostly been good noble folks.” The guard’s eyes squinted at the metal piece. “But that piece, I recognize that. Seen it on a few folks passing through the gate not too long ago.”

“Do you remember when that was?” Tala asked.

“Ah…” the man frowned as he searched his memory. “Must have been a week or two ago. Though I could have sworn I’ve seen that before then.”