The tavern was dim. The smell of beer and fresh bread got stronger as my eyes searched for the roasted meat. I knew Steve couldn''t afford it. But who am I to judge? I don''t have any money.


    The beams stained black, covered in lantern soot. The floor was creaky. A long counter covered the rear of the tavern. A broad shouldered keeper stood there, cleaning the mugs. The rag looked dirtier than any mug.


    The patrons filled the room. Some looked like farmers, dust and hay straws on their cloths. Some seemed to be travellers, their cloaks dirty. Some were playing dice, a few more happier than the others.


    A bard was playing flute, barely audible from all the noise.


    Steve turned towards a table of three. Their boots had dried mud and one had a sword beside him. "Caravan guards. They''ll know what''s up."


    He didn''t wait for my response before strolling toward them. Pulling a chair beside them, he took a seat. His arms leaned against the back seat. I watched for a while, then stood right behind Steve.


    The men were eyeing us, wary of our intentions. The man with the sword asked us, "What do you want, friend?"


    "Just to talk", Steve was not bothered. "I think you know where someone might be."


    That man scoffed, "We don''t snitch. We are guards."


    "I never said you were", Steve pulled out a coin from his pockets and put it on the table. Pinching the piece of silver between his fingers, he continued, "Just travellers asking about other travellers. Hope you don''t mind."


    The men looked at each other. Their eyes seemed to be talking a language of mutual understanding. The guy in the middle broke the silence. "Well, speak. But we can''t be sure that we have seen whom you are searching for."


    Steve slid the coin around his fingers in the table. "Lissandra. Found in this town, maybe yesterday. Evil woman. Troublemaker." Steve''s eyes were locked in mine. "Alfred and I must find her."


    The man in the middle talked again. "This town sees a lot of troublemakers. But if you are searching for a woman... If she was here yesterday..."


    The guy with the sword picked up the coin and put it on his pocket. The other guy who was silent all along spoke. "A merchant heading to Neopur got looted yesterday. Just outside the farmlands, near to the village north. Should''ve taken security from us. But... the guards did see a woman alone heading to the woods nearby. Didn''t look like she was the looter but it''s strange seeing a woman, alone, walking to the woods other than to collect wood."


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    Steve raised his eyebrows. "Was she Lissandra?" He showed them the poster, carefully hiding the bounty amount.


    The man shook his head. "We weren''t there. The guards are from other guild. We only know what we hear."


    Steve glanced at me, then back to the man. I was already sitting in a chair, not quite far from the table. Steve''s legs were stomping ground heavily. "Was there anything the guards, or the merchants, saw? Anything?"


    The guy with the sword seemed to be frustrated. "For one silver, I think that''s enough." The other guy waved his hand at Steve to move him away. "Nothing other than a few crows'' feathers in her footsteps."


    Steve stood up and stood beside me. "You know what that means?"


    I shook my head. "No"


    "The Crow''s Covenants leave messages behind." Steve crouched beside me, his hand patting my back. "If someone in the faction wants to find allies or rivals, they leave crows'' feathers behind."


    So, was Lissandra finding her allies or challenging her enemies?


    I ginned, "Only one way to find out."


    We quickly snacked on some bread and some beer. We had just enough drinks to not get drunk. On our way out, the Sun was higher in the sky, making the cobblestone road hot.


    The crowd at the market area was rather calm than the morning. Merchants were sitting in their shops and not too many people were roaming on the streets.


    As we crossed the town, Steve turned to me. "Ever killed anyone?"


    I remembered the dead body at the Harish House. "Yep. Hell of a thing."


    Steve looked at me with enthusiasm. "Don''t worry. I have had enough kills for the both of us."


    The landscape stretched to small, rolling hills. Fields covered the hills, crops of all sorts. Farmers were working in the distance, most of them caring to the animals. Few working on the fields. Cows and buffaloes were all over the area, their cries echoing throughout.


    As Steve and I headed north, the area got quieter. There were no farmers around us any more. The forest started getting thicker. The overgrown grass made the trail almost disappear.


    "You work alone? All missions?" I asked, breaking the long silence.


    "Mostly", Steve admitted. "Keeps me alive longer."


    "Then, why ask for my help?"


    He shrugged. "Something about you. It tells me you’re not ordinary. Besides, four hands better than two."


    I glanced at my waist—no sword. No weapons at all.


    Steve laughed at me, pointing his finger towards my empty waist. "Let''s say, you give you that blade I showed you earlier. Let''s say we catch her, dead or alive. Let''s say we get the bounty and divide it equally. Let''s say..."


    "Get to the point", I was getting impatient.


    "What if we get bounties on our heads. The Crows will hunt us, surely. You ready for that?"


    "Yeah. There is no reward without risk. Besides, this money will get me to Neopur. You should come with me."


    "I think I''ll pass. I''ll head to Razki. I''ve my unfinished business there", his voice suddenly turned serious near the end of his sentence.


    The village was finally visible as we neared the end of the forest.