Within that initial sevenday after Toshiro had arrived in Southern Telgar Hold, he was still investigating the matter that Lord Holder Matoi had assigned him to. The Guard Captain of Telgar's 1st Squad Division had been familiarizing himself again with the streets of a Hold he had not been to visit in several turns. His return there had primarily been kept a secret in case the Rebels still had any interest in him, or became too curious about his mission. Though it wasn't likely that Toshiro was as hot a target for them as he'd been during the Rebellion, and most rebels today, wouldn't recognize who he was, it would still be best to keep his presence widely unknown. It could still seem suspicious to the enemy if a Captain of his experience were to appear suddenly. For, surely there were Chorong informants about.
Since he arrived in Southern Telgar Hold, Toshiro avoided appearing as though he had any connection with the Guard. He wore normal clothes, cladding himself as though he were just another gather-goer. Instead of carrying his Guard-issued weapons, he carried one of his own personal weapons -one which he'd used during the time he trained under Commander Kondo. Since it was well worn by the looks of it, appearing cheap and not well-cared for, Toshiro figured it would appear less threatening on his hip than would his favoured duo of short swords. Because surely, only someone inexperienced would handle a cheap blade, nor know how to care for one properly. Of course, the truth of the matter was that it had been his practice sword for several turns after graduating from the use of wooden ones.
Anyway, the Captain didn't really anticipate running into the opportunity to use it. All for the better. He needed to keep a low profile.
A little disappointed by the fact, Toshiro's mission was proving to take longer than he'd anticipated. He had hoped that after the first sevenday, he'd have found what evidence he was in search of. He'd been investigating the rising prices of raw metal ore in the region. It was a mission that the Lord Holder hoped would link the Chorong Rebels to the Trade industry, and perhaps other industries in Southern Telgar. If things worked in their favour, they might even be able to uncover a few Chorong informants.
With the Exile Kazage no longer providing weapons and other supplies through outside smuggling connections, it was suspected that the Rebels would be forced to find another source to supplement the growing needs of whatever force, and whatever plan, they were about to set into motion. But without Kazage, they'd have to look
inside Telgar's borders. And therein lies the core reason for Southern Telgar Hold's rising ore prices. It was a sure sign that
someone was in desperate need. In any case, as the Captain had discussed with Lord Matoi and other officers of the Guard, Crom was likely too inconveniently located to be a reliable source of goods. The Chorong had always been in the south, and had never been able to stake any claim to the more densely populated holds of northern Telgar.
During the weekend gather, Toshiro had spoken with a number of Traders and Smithcrafters, anyone who might have any information on the raw ore. Of course, it was all under the guise of being an investor himself. And being an investor in
need, he'd done all he could to garner any real clues from tradesmen in the northern districts of the city. But nothing substantial came of it. So, having spent the first few days at an Inn in the north of the city, Toshiro was ready to explore the goings on in the southernmost districts.
Evening was about to be upon the city of Southern Telgar Hold, and Toshiro climbed the steps up to the Inn where he'd planned on staying the night. Entering through the door, several customers were ahead of him, so he'd turned his attention to those who dined in the large, lower room set with tables while he waited.
This Inn was the same one that the Guard had headquartered out of during the Rebellion. It had been several turns ago, and somehow Toshiro expected that perhaps some of the same faces might be working here. As he scanned the room now, however, that didn't seem to be the case.
"Sir. Do you need to reserve a room for the night?"
Attention elsewhere, at first Toshiro did not hear the girl speaking up from behind him; she was so soft spoken, and there were other patrons she might have been speaking to.
"Sir." To get his attention, the girl reached to touch Toshiro's arm. Instinctively, Toshiro had grasped her hand by the wrist, but the soft skin he felt there, gave him pause. The Captain of the guard was facing her then, gently releasing her hand as he regarded the girl's surprised expression with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. Have you any rooms remaining? I will likely be needing the room a full sevenday."
After that, the girl seemed more cautious about him, taking notice of the sword at his side. "We have no need for trouble makers around here, sir, so if you have any intention of -"
"I assure you, that is not the case. You see, I have been traveling, and as you know, the roads have been none too safe as of late. I have only taken proper precautions." Indicating the weapon he carried, Toshiro didn't know how else to reassure her or use charm to whittle down her bolster, so he left it at that.
It was to his relief though, that she seemed to approve of his explanation. The girl slowly nodded and then smiled. "Well, we do have a couple of rooms remaining."
"There room up and to the left of the stairs, at the end of the hall, on the right. Is it available? I have used that room before."
For someone to request a particular room was not necessarily common, so the girl's eyes seemed to light, even more curious now about him. "I will double check. Please wait here."
"Before you go, could you tell me the name of the Mistress of this Inn?"
Giving pause, the young lady's large brown eyes looked up at him, still curious, but not unwilling to answer. "It is Lady Leena. Before her it was Lady Gemaia."
Lady Gemaia. That was the woman who'd been overseeing this place during the rebellion. "Do you know what happened to Lady Gemaia?"
Quizzical expression returned, the girl spoke up again, "I only know that Lady Gemaia left here with her husband to Crom, where they have family."
"And she has not returned since..." Toshiro's words trailed off, hoping not to finish the thought.
"No, sir."
Nodding, Toshiro thanked her, letting the girl run off to check on his request.
Pleased to find out that his old room was available, the Captain lay down the deposit in marks for his stay. Venturing up the stairs then, light travel pack in hand, Toshiro closed the door to his room behind him, placing his things there on the floor.
For a long moment, Toshiro did not move from the spot; he looked straight ahead, through the window, and then let his gaze fall to the corner where he used to sleep in, sitting up with his weapon.
Eventually, Toshiro settled himself in for the night, drawing out plans for his continued investigation. He had been sent here on a mission, and the sooner he found what he was looking for, the sooner he could go home to his fiance, Ariadne.
Closing the doors and shading the windows, the candles were put out and Toshiro propped himself up in that same sleeping corner, weapon set against his shoulder. With the lights out though, Toshiro found himself rather uncomfortable there; not just because of the uncomfortable memories this place had the ability to draw out of him, but because he was now much more used to sleeping next to Ariadne. The absence of her warmth was poignant. For a long time, Toshiro sat there, staring into the vacant darkness, missing her, wishing she were there.
When morning came, Toshiro had already eaten breakfast by the time the sun was up. His thoughts had been on Ariadne again, happily making her his entire motivation for completing his mission as quickly as possible so that he could return to Telgar River Hold.
Since it was not yet the sevendays end and the tradesmen would not be gathered together, Toshiro decided today to go door to door, visiting each smith crafter in the southern districts that he could. Then, if he were lucky enough to find any clues, he'd have to follow them.
It was pure luck of the draw that within the first three or four candlemarks of the day, that Toshiro happened across a smith crafter willing to part with some worth while information.
"I don't know any names." Probably wouldn't have spoken them if he did, "All I know is that some Trade master with a fair amount of weight to push around, has been buying out all the raw iron and iron sand he can get his hands on. Whoever it is has been giving a hefty bartering price for it; no one else around these parts can hardly afford it anymore. The buyer's been keeping local mines busy to supply him -which is good for them I guess. But it's bad for everyone else. Hope it passes quick. Otherwise, it'll be affectin' the gather market on a broader scale."
The burly smith craftsman went back to his work, stoking a fire that needed to be kept at a scorching temperature in order to purify the ore he had melting within his pot.
Toshiro nodded, "Do you know how I might be able to make contact with him?" A smug grin formed upon his lips. "If he's going to make it difficult for outsiders like me to source what I need, then maybe it's a better idea to form some sort of partnership."
That comment had the smith chuckling heartily while he added more wood to the fire. "If it pleases you. From what I've heard, that man is no one to be trifled with. At least take proper caution. And if you want to know how to get in touch with him, I think there is someone who can help you..." The man paused to motion off in the distance, down one of the neighboring streets. "There's a candle & glow maker down the way. Talk to him."
Expressing his thanks, Toshiro soon left the man so that he could return to his work, keeping note in his mind of all that he had learned. Of course, he had yet to learn everything he needed to know, but this at least, was a very nice start.
When the sun was well past its zenith, on its downward slop toward the distant horizon, the Captain of the Guard had already eaten a bite and was on his way back toward the Inn where he'd a room paid for, but something stopped him. A few paces away, where voices and light poured from the threshold, he realized that here stood the fight club which he'd heard had been under investigation by the Blood Moon Squad's own, just a few weeks prior. Toshiro tried to remember the details he'd been told of it, but wasn't certain it was pertinent to his own investigation. Then again... one never knew. And the case of the fight club had never been closed. Suspicions still surrounded it, even though no real evidence had been found to incriminate anyone connected with it.
Those things in mind, the Captain turned his steps toward the club, met at the door moments later, by a bouncer.
The large man, seeming at least a third taller than he, barred the way, "Do you have a ticket?"
Apparently by the look on his face, there was no ticket. The bouncer answered immediately, not waiting for Toshiro to reply verbally. "If you want to watch, you'll have to buy a ticket."
Just as Toshiro was nodding, reaching for his fraction marks though, the man chortled offered a bit of disappointment, finding it rather amusing, himself. "You'll have to buy a ticket for the fight
tomorrow. This one's sold out." The man went on laughing for a bit, but Toshiro simply nodded his head and decided he'd have to come back. He didn't need to make a scene to watch a fight if he could get in tomorrow. That would give him a chance to compile a report of all his findings today, while it was fresh on his mind.
So, Toshiro left the fight club knowing no more than what time the event started tomorrow. He'd also found out that there were always openings for new contenders, too. So, if he decided to participate...
If he remembered right, the club was under suspicion because several competitors had disappeared for a good while after winning several matches in a row. While he was here then, it wouldn't hurt to conduct a little of his own investigation and maybe win a few matches of his own and see what that was all about.
In the mean time, Toshiro returned to his room at the familiar Inn, and after closing all the windows and doors, sat down under candle light to write down those things he'd learned that day. In the morning, he could send the report with a runner through appropriate channels and points of contact.
When he was done putting those things into ink, Toshiro tidied up his space and then blew the candle out, drawing a blanket up over himself to keep warm. Of course, at a time like that, Ariadne visited him again in his dreams. With her, dreams were much more pleasant. And he wasn't too afraid to sleep.
Toshiro made sure to arrive a little early for the fight the next evening. Ticket in hand, he'd paid his due and entered to spectate. He even dressed down a bit, thinking that at some point in the evening, he'd make a move to sign up as a competitor. He still brought his sword though. That was something he did not like parting with, and it was something legal to the rules of the fight. From what he'd been told actually, there were few rules for combatants to follow.
The rules were, just about anything goes. Just as long as someone didn't end up dead.
With that kind of ground rules though, it was no wonder so many people came to participate or to watch. No doubt there were some exhilarating matches to be seen. Hopefully tonight though, Toshiro would be providing the entertainment. If he could make himself noticeable enough to whoever was in charge, then he'd be much more likely in this circumstance, to find out what was going on behind the scenes.
When the first match of the evening had been determined, Toshiro went to write his name on the roster as a competitor. He wasn't to be thrown in at dead last, he made sure of that, so he'd have a chance to win at least five or six matches before events were adjourned until the following evening.
For now, the Captain held his sword scabbard in hand, where it was kept out of the way and out of plain view -though there were enough patrons huddled into the tight room to make it difficult to see anything beyond the sea of bobbing heads and pumping, cheering fists. Toshiro cheered periodically, too, so that he wasn't suspicious, and even got fairly involved in one of the fights. But as the rest of them took place, he simply analyzed each competitor's tactics and combat style, figuring he might be pitted against of them eventually.
Before too long however, a seemingly familiar face turned up on the arena floor. Toshiro knew he'd seen that face before. It had to be someone he knew from the Guard or...
Toshiro's jaw nearly hit the floor as he matched a name to the face. Ermon? No. It couldn't be. Could the latest competitor be the youngest son of Telgar's Lord Holder? Toshiro nearly shook his head, wanting to deny it.
But why would Ermon be here? By the sound of the cheers, the reaction from the crowd, it seemed as though the crowd knew of him. Had he been here before to compete? Toshiro watched the crowd carefully, gauging the signs. And whether he wanted to believe it or not, it seemed as though that assumption could very well be right. If it was, apparently Ermon hadn't won at least three consecutive fights just yet -otherwise he wouldn't be here still, if rumours were true.
Frantically in his own mind, Toshiro counted ahead to see how many matches were left until he entered the arena. More than three matches would have passed by the time it was his own turn to compete. Toshiro wouldn't have a chance to stop Ermon from winning all three rounds and being taken, if that was the case. He would have to wait and see what happened, and then make sure he won all the rounds after he entered the arena so that he would surely draw attention to himself and be called out to them -whoever 'them' was.
Toshiro had gone to the event coordinator and tried to talk the man into allowing him to fight Ermon, but the man wouldn't have it. Soon after, it was to his grave disappointment that Ermon had won three matches in a row. The dolt didn't know what he was getting himself into. Toshiro honestly didn't think that the young man knew of the rumours surrounding the fight club, he was just in it for fun, but now.. what would happen?
Toshiro didn't like the looks of it.
With greater motivation to win at that point, Toshiro was called to the arena. Sword scabbard tied to his belt now, he ascended those stairs to the battle platform and faced his first opponent.
Toshiro's first fight had been a hand-to-hand match. He'd let his opponent get away with a few good hits, but each time, he'd lessened the impact of the blow by flowing through with it instead of trying to create an opposing force of counter action and then trying to recover. So, it was to everyone's surprise that Toshiro had been proclaimed the victor; not to mention the man had been largely muscled and unbeaten in previous matches. But Toshiro'd caused his opponent to black out in the end, having fractured his jaw with that last punch.
Now, however, Toshiro stood against another swordsman -a man who stood barely taller than he. When the call to begin the match had come, the other man leaped into action, rushing forward as he drew his sword.
To please the crowd, Toshiro decided to play tricks, taking the most unexpected course of action. Instead of drawing his own blade, the guard Captain postured himself just outside the swing of attack, catching his opponent by the wrist of his sword arm. Twisting that arm into a joint lock so that it was immobile, and then used it as a fulcrum to forced the man's posture into a pose that was doubled over forward. And since his opponent was doubled over at the moment, Toshiro's feet left the ground, using the other man's back as a platform to tumble into a more advantageous position. Having never released his grip on the swordsman's hand, Toshiro came out of the roll behind the man, and as he stood back upright, released the weapon from its master’s hand, taking it for his own.
Of course, Toshiro didn't forget to turn around and, before his opponent could recover, gave the man firm kick in the behind, face-planting him into the arena floor. The man sprawled forward while Toshiro spun the blade in hand. Taking its pointy tip and angling it toward the prostrate man's form on the floor, his opponent had begun to roll over so that he could stand back up, but found the end of his own sword at his throat.
Thus, the second match was declared, for Toshiro, another victory. The spectators were alive with laughter because of his swordplay antics and they cheered. Now, maybe bets would start to swing in the other direction?
The next match also, was declared a victory for Toshiro's part; but instead of allowing him to continue to compete, the ringman escorted Toshiro away, to where a waiting room had been set up with refreshments for all the grand champions -those who'd won thrice in a row. They were told to wait there, and that someone would be coming by to congratulate them after the final match was over. For the moment being though, it was just himself and Ermon.
The Captain acknowledged his understanding to the ringman before the fellow departed, closing doors behind him. But Toshiro didn't move from that spot just yet. He stopped to stare at the Lord Holder's son.
The young man was also staring back up at him, from where he sat and enjoyed some food and drink, seeming rather merry. "You'll have to pardon me for having already gotten started. I didn't know they offered such fine food and drink to the winners or I'd have started competing long ago." He laughed and motioned for Toshiro to join him.
Apparently the boy didn't recognize Toshiro out of uniform -which was for the best. The had certainly met a number of times, perhaps three or four, but those occurrences were few and far between.
With a cordial sort of grin, Toshiro went to sit across from him. The Captain did not make any suggestion that the two of them actually knew one another because, if they were indeed being penned in here, being wined and dined for a reason, they would soon meet some interesting hosts whom Toshiro did not want his identity nor purpose revealed to. He would side with even more caution now. When their hosts arrived, if they discovered his identity, it was likely that his life would be put at stake.
Either way, just having Ermon here, in this room, made him feel incredibly wary.
Arm folded, Swift stood with his shoulder leaded against a wooden pillar, ankles crossed in repose. With his drab attire and a deep evergreen poncho gathered to wrap thick about his neck and shoulders, the little hooligan fit right in with the rest of the crowd. Of course, he wasn't worried about fitting in or not fitting in; Swift carved out his own existence as he saw fit. But here, he did feel comfortable.
The fight club was one of the few places he didn't feel like he had to worry about who he was or why he was there, his birth rank or anything else insubstantial. He could simply
be, and enjoy himself. That's what he preferred.
There was a minor amount of work involved for him here, though. He'd been assisting the Chorong in their selection of a few 'champions' who could be elected to join their ranks and serve them well. Even now, Swift watched as another competitor was taken behind the scenes, where he or Sorcha would be making invitations to them later.
As the fights drew to a close though, the last round coming on, it was apparent that this night, there would be no more than the two 'grande champions'. It wasn't as though top competitors appeared frequently. Often times, it took a bloke several visits as a competitor to make that kind of progress. So, tonight was actually fairly successful -if they both decided to join their little army.
Most competitors they'd taken into their fold, joined the cause unknowingly. Lies had been spread to them and through their ranks of just what kind of militia they were forming. Most of them had no idea about the real identity of the Chorong Rebels. That secrecy was a measure of protection.