Chapter 277- An opportunity

An opportunity

Patriarch Gofart heaved a long sigh and then relaxed by slumping his flabby, old figure on the oversized chair. A few steps below, the Elders and decision-makers slowly trickled out of the large hall. The heavy doors closed so as to signal the end of another daily meeting of the merchant household. The clacking footfalls on the paved stones indicated the return of the only other occupant.

"Father, I have received important news! It seems as if after all these years, the heavens delivered him to us."

"Oh, delivered who?"

The old man smacked his blackened tongue in reply but then seemed to recall a memory. As the Patriarch of House Gofart, he simply couldn't remember each and every issue from the top of his head. The excited face of his son, however, narrowed the reason as being personal. The patriarch scrunched his bushy, white eyebrows over his faded but shrewd eyes.

"Is this about that man and woman?"

"Yes, it is. Father is as insightful as always. As luck would have it, I chose the right man for the job."

"Enough bootlicking, you've already surpassed your brothers when it comes to leadership. But shouldn't we discuss this with that sworn brother of yours?"

A knock and announcement interrupted from behind the sealed doors. The younger Gofart smiled in satisfaction while replying to the guard. He then turned to his father.

"Right on time!"

"Greetings, Patriarch Gofart, Brother Biggus. This Wung Pigu apologizes for his tardiness."

"Haha, Brother Pigu is actually on time. I was just informing father of the news."

Biggus Gofart laughed while returning the greetings to his sworn brother. Looking up at his father, he cleared his throat before sharing his report. When he had found it strange that the men he sent out didn't return with any information, they resurfaced with noteworthy information. Later on, he continued to gain valuable news at the cost of a few silvers used for bribery.

"The servant I sent out truly knows the ins and outs of the city. He spent some time integrating himself among the hustlers and beggars to deliver a piece of great news. It appears that this Thomas is actually trying to pull wool over our eyes."

Biggus Gofart snorted while continuing,

"The man has us fooled in thinking he has some connections when in fact, he is even lower than a servant. By sheer providence, we encountered him in Frost City before he could make his escape."

His words caused his friend to raise an eyebrow. The news seemed too good to be true. The seated old man, however, spoke first.

"Nonsense. If their status is so low, then why could they attend the banquet of the princess? Did you forget, not even you could have gone?"

"Don't believe your eyes father. The princess invited a host of friends she met during her travels in Limerock City. The daughter is one of them who befriended the princess while they traveled from Limerock. On the request from the princess, they had no choice but to follow her to Frost City... and eventually into our hands. Otherwise he would never have set foot inside this city."

"Then what about their stay in the palace? During the banquet, that man appeared confident and not like a hounded fugitive."

"The palace stay is a brief one. Thomas has been out every day trying to find a place for him and his family to hide. He knows very well that we are aware of his old haunts. Soon, I think he will have no choice but to exit the palace."

Wung Pigu listened to the questions and answers between the father and son. He then voiced one of his own.

"This may be so, but won't they still have the backing of the princess?"

"The word is that they are merely fleeting companions of the princess. They are actually holing up in one of the servant sheds outside the palace, somewhere outside the kitchen entrance. Think about it, how close can the princess become to lowly commoners in such a short space of time? As long as we can snuff the whole family out together without any escaping, no one would shed a tear. Frost City is a large and unpredictable locale..."

"Then how come he hasn't tried to flee the city? He of all persons should know he cannot shake us off in this city. Sooner or later, we will find them."

"Haha, Brother Pigu speaks the truth since he cannot hide his family here. In fact, he has already tried numerous times to exit the city. However, he has not counted on the skills and cunning of my servant who dogged him. By shedding a few silvers, my servant has constantly thwarted his efforts. Thomas has learned by now that I am responsible for keeping him trapped like the rat he is, within the city."

Wung Pigu nodded his head in admiration. This brother of him possessed a cunning mind to keep one step ahead of his quarry. He suddenly recalled a recent rumor.

"Wait, doesn't one of the girls traveling with him have some sort of connection with the Alchemist Guild?"

"Yes, I have also heard about it. What do you know Biggus?"

The old man chimed while remembering a similar rumor.

"A mountain out of an anthill. Both of you have seen the beauty of the daughter, right? My man informs me that because of her disposition, she served as a serving girl in the Limerock Academy. The girl who has some association with the Alchemist Guild tended the herbs and so acquired some fame. I have asked around, and none of the apprentices we know have ever heard of someone like her. Think about it, have you ever seen a girl running around the Alchemist Guild?"

Biggus Gofart replied. The Alchemist Guild held status as being taboo for females like the Tower Mages. The only place where females held some status lay as Healers in the Churches. He half expected the source of this false rumor might be Thomas himself.

Trapped in the city, the man might have spread this to cast doubts and so prevent them from acting. As for wasting the time of Master Alchemists to question about such a rumor, Biggus Gofart wouldn't dare. Master Alchemists never fawned over noble families and House Gofart didn't birth or gain favors from any of these indomitable individuals.

"Brother, your report has placed this long-awaited foe into our hands like a helpless pup. It's not that I doubt your words but how certain are you of this information?"

Biggus Gofart smiled at the question from his sworn brother and also up at his father.

"The words come straight from the man himself. Didn't I say I found the ideal man for this task? Faced with the despair of having to soon leave the palace and all exits watched by me, Thomas naturally turned to drink. During the few rounds, he made thinking nobody watched him, he frequented the taverns. My man overheard him drunk and spewing out his troubles. Unfortunately, when he notified my guards, they arrived too late to capture him."

"What a stroke of bad luck! We could have used him as bait to draw out both Beth and her daughter."

"I know. I awarded my servant a few silvers as a bonus for his effort and punished the slow-witted guards. If it had succeeded, today I would have gifted you that wonderful prize."

"All in due time my brother. Soon I will have my revenge on this man for his role in denying me both a chance to become a Sersen and a promotion in the Military. As for his wife, she should have been mine. Back then, and even now, she yet surpasses all the women of Frost City in beauty. Don't worry, I have seen the daughter, and Patriarch Gofart will testify that you will certainly not lose out, Brother. Later, I will send over a pouch of coins for that servant of yours for this great information."

Wung Pigu clapped his sworn brother on the shoulder while casting a grateful look. During his confrontation with Thomas, he gained the impression the man possessed a powerful backer. Only now did he find out the man had bluffed so as to prevent him from acting. Once, Thomas exited from the protection of the palace, he would face his doom.

Wung Pigu chatted for a few minutes more before departing. Only the father and son remained in the vast hall.

"Well done, Biggus. You have truly investigated and acted as a true successor of House Gofart. I suspect that when you have succeeded in this endeavor, Wung Pigu will owe you a great debt. Although he is from the Wung Clan, his connection with the mighty Wu clan cannot be understated. With this nearly over, have you received word about our caravan?"

The old man praised. He firmly believed in using a mountain to squash an ant. With this long grudge soon to be buried, he turned to more important matters befitting their merchant family.

"I received word from our stables outside the east gate. The caravan should leave Haven and head northwards. They will travel up to the town called Karst and then journey east to Limerock and then to Frost City. That young son of mine is with the Military reclaiming the lands. I have instructed him to provide extra guards when it reached Limerock City."

"Good, good. This caravan will open the doors to us becoming a mighty merchant clan that rivals the Yang Clan. The exotic spices in this caravan can only be bought deep within the southern desert kingdom. This venture has cost us nearly our entire fortune but the gains will fill our coffers to overflowing. Soon my worries will end for this two-year undertaking."

***

"He is in there. Since two weeks ago, he keeps locking himself in there at night. The cackling and snickering have begun to sound creepy. Aunt Stavia says you need to put an end to it because he has been moving around the butcher shed and herb gardens with shifty eyes. She says it doesn't bode well since it's him we're talking about."

Yin said while pointing to the door of the old stable. Long ago, they had repaired the remnants of the old farmhouse next to the barn as the stable. With the larger stable built outside the wooden walls, this one had become unused. Until now...

Chu pushed open the creaking door in time to hear a burst of cackling and sniggering. The sounds seemed to have drowned his entry as the owner appeared focused on his task. Chu scanned the wide table littered with crushed strange herbs, brightly colored mushrooms, and pieces of bile and animal parts.

The large, thick dripping candle hovered near a coated pestle with the mortar filled with a greenish, smelly paste. Nearby, in a corner, a host of wooden and stained clay jars seemed to hold contents, daring one to open.

The back of a teen with wild, black hair draping down his neck hovered over a small fire as he dabbled in scooping out the contents from a tiny iron pot. The source of the giggles originated from here. Chu glanced at the pensive face of the little girl staring beside him before sighing.

"Please don't tell me you're doing what I think you're doing."

"Ahhh! Chu, when did you get here? Wait, how did you know I was here?"

Ming jumped while spinning to face the uninvited occupants in the room. His face switched from surprise to one of fright. Chu disregarded the little girl blinking speechless while soaking in the contents of this lair as he ambled up and delivered a few taps to the head.

"How many times have I told you not to concoct those stupid pellets?!"

A few days later, Dyna brought across a letter from the Trading Post along with a herd of cows and sheep. Part of her recompense had been paid by the captain in the village.

Chu tore open the letter to decipher the contents. Frowning, he remained in thought for the rest of the day. After dinner, he finally summoned Ming and the others to his desk.

"Want to go on a little adventure?"

****