Chapter 14: The Observer
The common room of the Mudmilk Inn was not large.
Julius noted this on the way down the stairs. There were three tables, a bar, two windows facing the street, one door that led in and out. He had not paid attention to the layout when they arrived.
He was paying attention now.
The woman standing near the reception desk hadn’t sat down.
She was exactly as he remembered. Horns, black hair, red skin. A cloak over everything.
Zara was here and he didn’t know what to make of it. Her eyes moved between him and Yumiko for a moment. If she had any concerns, she did not voice them.
"Zara Aestir." Her attention returned to Julius. "I was present at your summoning."
"I remember," Julius replied.
"I have been tasked with observing your activities on behalf of my house." There was that expression of reluctance again.
"Your house told you to spy on me?"
"Not particularly," she answered.
From behind the bar, Mudgob had stopped wiping the counter. His glasses caught the morning light. He tried to focus on his task but that proved difficult for the curious goblin.
He had never had a demon walk into his inn before and he was afraid of what Zara was capable of.
Julius pulled out a chair and sat down. He gestured at the chair across from him. Zara looked at it briefly before doing the same.
Yumiko found a spot at another table. Close enough to hear, far enough to watch.
Zara looked at Yumiko again. This time prepared to offer her thoughts.
"How long has she been with you?" She asked.
"Basically since I got here." He answered.
"You gained a companion within one day of arrival. With no resources and no knowledge of the world." Zara asked.
"Yes, that’s the gist."
Zara looked at Yumiko who returned her gaze.
Neither of them said anything.
She turned her attention back to Julius.
"Have you considered she is a threat?" she asked, unbothered if Yumiko could hear.
Julius had considered that. It was safer to assume everyone was out to get him but he also remembered she watched him during the night of the bear attack. Besides she was stealthy enough to kill him any moment.
"I don’t know," he replied
Zara took a moment to process the answer before answering. "Very well then."
Julius nodded. "There is another problem."
Zara waited.
"I told someone I was half human. Three days ago out of caution." There was no need hiding it from her since she was present during the summoning.
"Who?" Zara inquired.
"An adventurer. Daren Athaerius."
Zara sat back a bit. "The half elf."
"You know him?"
"Not personally. He has been working contracts for the guild. He may already suspect what you are." She pondered for a moment before adding. "A different label would be better."
"What label?" Julius asked.
"Veshari."
"Who are the veshari?" Julius asked.
"Mutated people."
Julius nodded. He would have to find out what or who the veshari were.
Yumiko was looking at Zara while the conversation continued. Zara was aware but didn’t care to return the gaze.
"How close are you planning to follow? The bathroom should be personal." Julius smiled as he added the last part.
Zara looked at him in what could be described as annoyance.
"Close enough to observe. Far enough not to draw attention to you." Her eyes moved briefly to the window. "A High Demon in the outer ring draws attention regardless of distance. I will manage it."
"You’re not going to change how you present yourself." Julius looked at the armour she was wearing.
"No."
Julius looked at her. She looked back with the expression of someone who had already considered every counter argument and found none of them worth addressing.
"Alright," he said.
He pushed back his chair and stood. "We have things to do this morning."
Zara stood. "I will follow at the appropriate distance."
Julius turned toward the door. Yumiko fell into step beside him without looking away from Zara until the last moment.
He opened the door and walked outside.
