The promise of gold and ale worked upon these men. The charms that he himself lacked with sailors was remedied with the two potent promises to sway the mind of man. The third stood behind and she was not up for debate in this regard, rather be bleeding out on the ground than to see that fate. But that would not happen he promised himself as a content smile crossed his lips and people came to the bar for their promised ale. Markus' funds would not take any significant hit from this endeavour, he was as he had found out, a filthy rich veteran of war. A man who had next to nothing to spend his gold on, so why not liven up the night a little while getting the good will and the incentive to give him information about his brother's disappearance. The woman he was hell-bent on protecting got up on her toes and whispered into his ear. It brought a smile from him and he enjoyed how much she wanted to help him and protect him. He gave her a nod in response, a small nod as he tried to reassure her that he had considered that possibility. But he didn't have the patience to endure several days of waiting around for information. It had already been a godsend that Pulren was present and capable of offering an air of authority to the situation.
Markus train of thoughts broke as a man approached him rather than the bar. The first liar who wanted a stab at his pouch or an honest informant. The man looked dishonest enough to be the first, but Markus felt Priskil pull at him then and allow him hope that the non-descript man possessed something of interest. Markus listened as he spoke and he did notice the look sent in the direction of Pulren. Plus the slightly slurred speech along with a little wavy vision. He was drunk and concerned that Pulren was a wave guard? Imagine if he knew he was speaking to a sergeant knight. The thought brought a pursed smile to him, that quickly was wiped away and replaced with a firm neutral line as he spoke. There was hints of hope in his eyes, the man even provided his own name. Last name, at least. Markus nodded to the man and turned to face Pulren and had to suppress the need to send a wink in his direction.
"Can you open the door and promise us safe conduit, mr Marsh? Simonsen and I have some things to discuss." Markus spoke as if it was a request, keep up the appearance that Pulren had command over a large host of guards outside. Although anyone clever would wonder about the door bar and the guards outside - as the two did not mesh well. Markus turned to the bar and conversed with the bartender. Asked for a price for all the ale he had provided the patrons of the establishment. He turned over the coin needed to
pay forI will let the ST/Grader determine the pay hereit and nodded to the wide smile of the man - happy he had made such a nice sale.
"Right, come with me and you'll get the gold promised once you tell me what I want to know." Markus spoke much more privately before. A lower voice and his eyes did betray the calm he was trying to show, as they were optismistic and hopeful. Something a shrewd informant might use for his advantage. Markus waited for Pulren's response before approaching the door. Did well to hide his smirk when it was revealed there were no legion of guards outside. The rain had picked up and Markus frowned. At least that would dissuade people from following them, as would the promise of free kelp inside.
"Right Simonsen, let's get out of this rain. I got a place in the grotto we can use for privacy." Markus looked to Pulren and pondered if the man would remain with them. Markus had mixed opinions about that. The man would be a godsend to verify things, but the man seemed jumpy around him. Markus pulled his cloak tighter around himself.
"Too far. Follow me instead." Every alarm in Markus' head rang out at that, but he still followed the man. He needed this information and if he had to take a risk to get it, he would.
'Your family didn't fall overboard as some may have said.' His voice a little louder than a whisper. Barely audible to Markus who was closest. The rain muffled the sound a little but the meaning reached Markus loud and clear. Markus visage turned hateful. Someone had killed his family.
"They're dead?" The short man stopped walking and looked at Markus and then at Pulren before continued to walk away. Picking a slightly faster pace. Markus hated this waste of time by walking around in the rain waiting for a drunk man to gather his courage.
"No. No not when I was on the ship at least. I found them the ship. Told him he was an honourable man and he could trust them. At first chance he got he gagged and bound them. He even threatened to kill me if I spoke about it. Held me over the railing, I could see it in his eyes, he really wanted to see me tumble to my death." Markus shuddered.
"Who?" A guarded glance in his direction was all Markus got in response as the man tried to speed up. There was. The unforgiving steel by Markus' side felt quite tempting now. Force an answer from the man. Markus stepped up behind him and showed him into an alley. The man yelped in surprise as the sudden shove and the strong alcohol in his belly ensured he fell to the ground. But not for long before Markus grabbed him by the clothes and pulled him back up again and put him against a wall.
"Who!" The man's eyes flickered as Markus' hands held him by the collar. Kicks flailed uselessly under him.
"Alan! Alan Simosen is his name." Then it dawned on Markus why the man had been hesitant to provide the answer. Simonsen. Family name. Markus sighed heavily.
"Where is he keeping them hostage?" - Confusion briefly entered the man's vision.
"He doesn't hold them. He sells them. The bastard is a slaving piece of shit." Sobs could be heard as Markus realized he had not known that about his brother. Markus let him fall to the ground.
"Sunberth or Kenash?""Sunberth, he always goes to sunberth." Markus felt like kicking the piece of shyke on the ground for his part in enslaving his family. But the man was already broken up about it. Slavery was a step too far for him. Still, that he had covered for his brother all this time that his family had been gone. Despicable.