Chapter 110: Silverbrook

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Silverbrook

They walked into the city, their footsteps carrying them through the gates and into the bustling streets beyond.

Silverbrook was huge, the city sprawling out before them in every direction. It was busy, the streets filled with people and carts and animals. It was alive, the air humming with energy and noise and movement.

The streets were wide, the cobblestone paths stretching out in every direction. The buildings were tall, the structures rising into the sky like monuments to commerce and wealth. The people were everywhere, their forms filling the streets and alleys and squares. Merchants shouted from their stalls, their voices competing to be heard over the din. Children ran through the crowds, their laughter echoing through the air. Carts and wagons rolled along the cobblestone roads, their wheels clattering against the stone.

The air smelled like bread and meat and spices, the scents mingling together in a heady mixture. The sounds of haggling and laughter and music filled the streets, the noise creating a symphony of urban life. The colors of a hundred different fabrics and goods flashed in the sunlight, the hues bright and varied.

Daniel looked around, his eyes moving over the crowds. Over the stalls, the wooden structures laden with goods. Over the buildings, the structures tall and imposing.

"This is a nice city," he said, his voice calm and appreciative.

Paul nodded, his expression tired but knowledgeable. "It’s a trading city. Everything comes through here. Spices. Silks. Weapons. Slaves."

Daniel’s expression darkened, his features hardening. "Slaves?"

Paul nodded, his expression grim. "It’s legal here. The slave trade is big in Silverbrook."

Daniel didn’t say anything, his silence speaking volumes. He just kept walking, his footsteps steady and deliberate.

Cheeky pulled her hood lower, her movements quick and nervous. Her cloak covered her hair, the fabric hiding the silver strands. Her ears, the pointed tips concealed. Her face, the features obscured. She was hiding, her body tense. She was scared, her eyes darting nervously.

Daniel noticed, his eyes catching the movement. He walked closer to her, his steps shortening to match hers.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice quiet and concerned.

Cheeky nodded, her head bobbing. "I’m fine. I just... I don’t want anyone to know I’m an elf."

Daniel nodded, his expression understanding. "Smart."

They walked further into the city, their footsteps carrying them deeper into the crowds. The crowds grew thicker, the people pressing in from all sides. The stalls grew louder, the merchants shouting their wares. The smells grew stronger, the scents overwhelming.

Daniel checked his pocket, his hand reaching inside. He pulled out his pouch, the leather worn and soft. He counted the coins, his fingers moving over the metal.

Forty-eight silver.

He frowned, his expression dissatisfied. "That’s not a lot."

He looked at Paul, his eyes meeting the other man’s tired gaze. "How much do you have?"

Paul shook his head, his expression sheepish. "I ain’t got no money."

Daniel stared at him, his expression incredulous. "What?"

"I don’t have any money."

"How do you not have any money?"

"I spent it all."

"On what?"

Paul shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling. "Food. Drinks. Women."

Daniel sighed, a long, frustrated sound. "You’re useless."

"I know."

Daniel looked at the others, his eyes moving from face to face. At Lyra, her expression calm. At Fluffy, her eyes bright. At Cheeky, her face hidden. At Brick Head, his expression vacant.

"Alright," he said, his voice firm and decisive. "We need supplies. Food. Water. A map. Maybe some new clothes."

He opened his pouch, the leather creaking. He started counting out coins, his fingers moving with practiced efficiency.

"Lyra," he said, his voice steady. "Take eight silver. Get food. Enough for a week."

Lyra nodded, her expression serious. She took the coins, her fingers closing around the metal.

"Cheeky," Daniel said, his eyes meeting hers. "Take eight silver. Get water. Enough for a week."

Cheeky nodded, her head bobbing. She took the coins, her movements hesitant.

"Paul," Daniel said, his voice firm. "Take eight silver. Get a map. A good one. And some information about the caravans."

Paul nodded, his expression relieved. He took the coins, his fingers closing around them.

Daniel looked at Brick Head, his eyes meeting the large man’s vacant gaze. Brick Head was picking his nose, his finger buried in his nostril. He was humming a tune, the melody off-key. He was completely oblivious, his mind elsewhere.

Daniel didn’t give him any money.

"Fluffy," Daniel said, his voice softening.

Fluffy looked up, her eyes bright. Her tail was wagging, the motion quick and excited.

"Yes, Master?"

"Take eight silver. Get food. Lots of food. Meat. Enough for a week."

Fluffy’s eyes lit up, her expression filled with joy. Her tail wagged faster, the motion almost a blur.

"Fluffy will get the best meat!"

"I know you will."

Fluffy took the coins, her small hands closing around the metal. She bounced on her heels, her body vibrating with excitement.

"And Fluffy," Daniel said, his voice firm. "Wait with me. We’ll go together."

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. "Okay, Master!"

Daniel looked at the others, his eyes moving from face to face. "We meet back here in two hours. Got it?"

They all nodded, their expressions serious.

"Good. Let’s go."

---

The others left, their footsteps carrying them in different directions.

Lyra walked toward the food stalls, her steps measured and deliberate. Her eyes were sharp, her gaze scanning the surroundings. Her hand was on her gun, her fingers resting on the grip.

Cheeky walked toward the water vendors, her steps quick and nervous. Her hood was low, her face hidden. Her steps were quick, her body tense.

Paul walked toward the information brokers, his steps slow and reluctant. His expression was tired, his posture slouched.

Brick Head walked toward... somewhere, his destination unclear. He was still picking his nose, his finger buried in his nostril. He was still humming, the melody off-key. He was still oblivious, his mind elsewhere.

Daniel watched them go, his eyes following their forms. Then he looked at Fluffy, his expression softening.

"Alright," he said, his voice calm. "Let’s go get some meat."

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. She was bouncing, her body vibrating with excitement.

"Fluffy loves meat," she said, her voice filled with joy.

"I know."

"Fluffy will get the best meat."

"I know."

"Fluffy will eat all the meat."

"You can’t eat all the meat. We need it for the journey."

Fluffy’s face fell, her expression disappointed. "Fluffy can’t eat all the meat?"

"No. We need it for later."

Fluffy nodded slowly, her head bobbing. She understood, her mind processing. She didn’t like it, her expression unhappy. But she understood, her acceptance reluctant.

They started walking, their footsteps carrying them toward the food stalls. Toward the meat vendors, the destination clear.

Daniel looked around, his eyes moving over the crowds. At the stalls, the wooden structures laden with goods. At the buildings, the structures tall and imposing.

It was a nice city, the streets clean and orderly. A busy city, the people moving with purpose. A prosperous city, the buildings well-maintained.

But something felt wrong.

He couldn’t place it, his mind unable to identify the source. He couldn’t name it, his thoughts unable to articulate the feeling. But something felt wrong, his instincts screaming a warning.

He shook his head, his expression dismissive. He ignored it, his mind pushing the feeling aside. He kept walking, his footsteps steady.

They reached the meat vendors, the stalls lining the street. There were dozens of them, each one offering different meats. Beef, the cuts thick and red. Pork, the meat pale and marbled. Chicken, the birds plucked and ready. Lamb, the cuts tender and fresh. Fish, the creatures silver and gleaming.

Fluffy’s eyes widened, her pupils dilating. Her mouth watered, the saliva pooling. Her tail wagged furiously, the motion almost a blur.

"Master," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "So much meat."

Daniel smiled, his expression warm. "I know."

"Fluffy wants all of it."

"We can’t get all of it."

"Fluffy wants most of it."

"We can get most of it."

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. She was satisfied, her expression content.

Daniel walked toward a vendor, his steps measured. An old man with a kind face and a big smile, his expression welcoming.

"Hello," Daniel said, his voice calm. "I need meat. Enough for a week."

The old man nodded, his head bobbing. "How many people?"

"Six."

The old man thought about it, his expression contemplative. "That’ll be four silver."

Daniel nodded, his expression accepting. He pulled out four silver coins, the metal glinting. He handed them over, his gesture casual.

The old man took them, his fingers closing around the coins. He started packing the meat, his hands moving with practiced efficiency.

Daniel looked at Fluffy, his eyes meeting hers. She was staring at the meat, her eyes wide. Her mouth was open, the saliva dripping. She was drooling, her expression entranced.

"Fluffy," Daniel said, his voice firm.

Fluffy didn’t respond, her attention fixed on the meat.

"Fluffy."

Still no response, her mind elsewhere.

Daniel sighed, a long, patient sound. He tapped her shoulder, his finger gentle.

Fluffy blinked, her eyes refocusing. She looked at him, her expression confused.

"Yes, Master?"

"Stay here. I need to check something."

Fluffy nodded, her head bobbing. "Fluffy will stay here."

"Good."

Daniel walked toward a nearby stall, his steps measured. It was a weapon stall, the wooden structure laden with goods. Swords, the blades sharp and gleaming. Daggers, the edges keen and deadly. Axes, the heads heavy and brutal. He wanted to check the prices, his mind calculating. He wanted to see if there was anything useful, his eyes scanning the wares.

He looked at the weapons, his eyes moving over the blades. He examined the blades, his fingers testing the edges. He checked the hilts, his hands gripping the leather.

They were decent, the quality acceptable. Not great, the craftsmanship average. But decent, the weapons functional.

He turned back, his eyes seeking Fluffy. He looked at the meat vendor, his gaze searching.

Fluffy was gone.

Daniel’s heart stopped, his chest tightening.

He looked around, his eyes darting. At the crowds, the people moving through the streets. At the stalls, the vendors shouting their wares. At the people, the faces passing by.

Fluffy was nowhere.

He looked at the meat vendor, his eyes meeting the old man’s gaze. The old man was still there, his form unchanged. He was still packing the meat, his hands moving with practiced efficiency.

"Where’s the rabbit girl?" Daniel asked, his voice sharp.

The old man looked up, his expression confused. "What?"

"The rabbit girl. The one who was with me. Where is she?"

The old man shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling. "She ran off. Said something about more meat."

Daniel’s eye twitched, his expression darkening.

He looked around, his eyes scanning the crowds. At the crowds, the people moving through the streets. At the streets, the paths stretching out in every direction. At the buildings, the structures tall and imposing.

Fluffy was gone.

He sighed, a long, frustrated sound. He ran a hand through his hair, his fingers brushing against the strands. He looked at the sky, his eyes fixed on the clouds.

"Shit," he muttered, his voice low and frustrated. "Shouldn’t have told her we were getting food. Now she’s run off to God knows where."