Chapter 12: Leads681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AMt347CtO
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The sun rose the next day and the pair left early, making their way to a fairly large tavern with rooms upstairs as they had an eatery, bar, and entertainment downstairs. They went inside the quiet establishment and Alura admired the hardwood floors, wood paneling on the walls as well as the beamed ceiling with its hanging light fixtures. A few people were inside having an early breakfast but aside from that, it was fairly empty as the pair approached the Tavern Keeper that had a curved desk standing off from the long bar counter. “Excuse me,” Alura began, “we’d like a room if you have one available.” 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ywOKvusMi
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The broad man behind the desk looked up from his log books, closing them as he addresses the duo. “Good morning! What can I do for you?”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyOwthSvMU
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“We’d like a room for two if you please, good sir.” Marenzo explained while Alura took in the man’s thinning hair and slight signs of a slight mustache.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUC22bZHEz
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“With two beds!” she quickly chimed in, blushing when the man gave her a strange look. “I mean, we are just newly engaged after all and are saving ourselves for when we wed to finalize our union.” She explained while ending with a light giggle. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5atW3Esa3g
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The man shrugged it off and looked at another book with the room listings. “It looks like we do have a room open.” He looked up from the book. “How many nights?” he inquired.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezEAqGBAqp
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“Just one night,” he answered before looking to Alura, “right?” she nodded and he gave a confirmation nod to the man. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoHF7xxvTU
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The man wrote down under one of the rooms before looking to them again. “Name the room is under?”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZkmdKsTE3
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“Marenzo, if you please.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwizDmxjtin
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The man nodded, writing this down and handed over the key. “Here you are. I hope you enjoy your room and stay with us. Your bill of seven-hundred Relu will be due at checkout.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj4J7VvyqJ
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The wizard nodded and led the way upstairs with Alura close behind on his heels. When they got up to the room, he unlocked and opened the door with a welcoming fresh smell of things being kept clean and ready to rent. They dropped off their things and left, heading back downstairs as the keeper behind the desk disappeared behind a door that lead to the back of the building. “Who should we talk to first?” Alura questioned with Marenzo shrugging while casually walking past the desk and scanning the eatery section.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4gfSsMvv5
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“Maybe we could ask the bar keep? You know, if he’s been here for a while, he could know something.” She nodded and they approached before sitting down at the bar on the stainless steel, cushioned barstools. After a few moments of silence between them and the tall man of average to moderate build, Marenzo spoke up. “Hello there. How are you this morning?” 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzNvzKiu51
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“What can I get’cha both?” he asked in a gruff tone while inspecting a tall glass a server had recently put back on the shelves under the counter.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg1JZtS0rH
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“No thank you, sir.” Marenzo stated while shaking his head with a single hand up and palm open before lowering it to the counter. “We simply wish to ask you a question.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gNglSNbFG
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The bar keeper rolled his eyes under his bushy eyebrows. “Joy,” he groaned sarcastically, “strangers always have questions to ask but never a’order.” He expressed with a heavy sigh. “A’right,” he set down a glass he had been inspecting, “what’s your question?” he leaned on the bar with one of his strong looking arms.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr7hOPDrio
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“Have you ever heard of a man named Synto Nightrayne?” Alura questioned as she leaned forwards on the countertop. The barkeeper began to ponder while turning his sapphire-ruby colored eyes down and putting his hand to his chin, wrapping his fingers around it as he thought deeply over the name. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12vHe5MhMg
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Finally, a couple minutes later, he solemnly shook his head. “Sorry lady, but I ain’t heard of him none.” He turned his eyes up with his head lifting to look at her disappointed face. “Sorry I can’t be of help to you both.” He went quiet as he began to lean back and turn away only to hesitate before looking to them again, this time over his shoulder. “Why you looking for him anyhow?” he turned to face them fully again with another glass in hand, “if you don’t mind me asking.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwP3eiYslV
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“He’s an old friend of the family and wanted him to know we were getting married.” She explained smoothly with a cute smile. He nodded and went down to another section to put the glass where it belonged. They stood and took their leave, stepping outside the Tavern where Alura released a breath with a groan, her head tilting forwards so her chin almost rested on her chest. “Well that was a bust.” Her eyes that had closed reopened as she lifted her head and straightened up her slouch. “Next?”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7EHeAUnWr
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Marenzo thought while stretching his arms up over his head. “Well…” he began then continued with an exhaled breath. “How about we check around the town? Maybe in the shops and stands?” he suggested and led the way with her at his side after she shrugged her response. During their walk, Marenzo glanced to Alura and gently tapped her hand with his before starting to lace his fingers with hers.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmD70MFJPi
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“Huh?” she questioned while looking down at their hands.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvihCHx1m0
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“It’ll make it look more believable that we’re a couple.” 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDPgy38Bup
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She noticed his blushing face and thought about questioning it but decided against it. “Okay,” she answered and they continued on their decided task. This also was to keep her mind off the fact she felt her heart race some when he took her hand in his. He glanced to her again before focusing as they entered one of the clothing stores to ask while looking around.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPIxKOaOAy
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As they moved from the shopping area into the market space, Marenzo was relieved to not see any trace of Rose so far. The last thing he wanted was for them to get into a public altercation. Alura stayed at his side while gazing about the area slowly to figure out any particular order they should hit the  merchants in. That was until her eyes stopped on a figure covered up by a rich dark blue hooded cloak. Marenzo began to walk to another stand only to stop and gently tug on Alura’s arm. “Hey, everything okay?”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkokgdE6SeR
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“Huh?” she responded while tearing her eyes off the figure to look at the wizard. “Yea, I’m fine. I was just admiring the silk look of that person’s cloak.” Marenzo looked but shrugged it off as more people were walking around as the day was continuing on. He began to pull her along towards a stand selling handcrafted figures. She began to follow but kept her eyes on the figure as something felt odd about them. As she was thinking to look away, the figure finished buying and turned its head so Alura could see the male face. Her eyes widened as she inhaled, causing a sharp gasp. “Amoxious!” she exclaimed under her breath as she pulled swiftly away from Marenzo, following after him as he turned away from her while walking off.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YsGy8ZVnl
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“Whoa!” he stumbled over as he looked to see her gone. “Alura?” he ran after her once his eyes spotted her racing form. “Wait!” he shouted as he wove around people. “Sorry, excuse me, pardon me,” he apologized while getting through and managing to slip past, an out walking while browsing, Rose Leena. When he caught up to her she was standing in front of a stand where a merchant was selling uniquely colored gemstones with cuts to best show off their beauty.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvlC2rE2bg
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Alura leaned towards the thin man with short hair. “Where did the man go that was in the blue cloak?” she demanded strongly.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7TIaHo8v5
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“Huh?” the middle-aged man expressed confused by her getting close to his face, causing him to lean back. “What is it you mean? No man in any blue cloak was here.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7UIdmYzi9
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“I don’t believe you. Now, tell me where he went.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEqtLhiD2k
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“Miss,” another man with a body fitting of a moderate build spoke up while coming out from behind a curtain with some jewelry pieces. “We know not who wears blue cloaks this season.” He began to set up the pieces, brushing Alura off the stand. “I know we not see none come by today in outdated fashion.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTVWEUvm02
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Marenzo walked up closer and got behind Alura as she growled at the pair. “Tell me where he went!” she snapped moving to get in his face only to be held back by Marenzo. She clinched her fists tightly as she narrowed her brown-blue eyes on the two men.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oGAeZj02I
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“I’m so terribly sorry for my fiancées actions. She’s a bit tired and hasn’t taken any breaks from us searching for a lost family member.” He explained with an apologetic tone. “The family has had some issues later on in life with illness and for some it began when they were young with hallucinations.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjsZB9PWpB
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Both merchants looked to the other then nodded to Marenzo with understanding expressions. “Ah, the ways of the head and body are quite hard to shake.” The first man expressed kindly. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys5zCa6KXT
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“Wishing both you luck in conquering the illness that plagues her.” The second said while bowing his head as if in prayer for Alura’s health.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblUR5VRAgL
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“Why you…” she growled through gritted teeth as the wizard began pulling her away. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ryDgHYWAQ
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“Now come on, dear. Let’s go home.” He said gently as if speaking to someone who was ill. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UWlEoPQGS
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Alura shot the wizard a glare as she tightened her jaw while he pulled her away and towards another street. “I’ll turn you into ashes if you don’t let go of me right now.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ135mPymADY
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He ignored her threat as he pulled then pushed her in front of him, stepping back the way they had come, turned down a side street then down an alleyway. Once in the alleyway he moved and pushed her back against the wall of a building, putting his hands on either side of her head to keep her put. What the hell was that about?!” he snapped as he was reasonably mad.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd5Ui7w1Sy
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She frowned with eyes narrowed on his as she leaned towards him so their noses were almost touching. “I saw Amoxious and I was going to go and kill him once and for all!” she snapped heatedly in a low voice. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat2cIt1WO4
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Marenzo looked none convinced. “I was there with you and saw no signs of Amoxious nor did those two merchants you were questioning so strongly.” He explained as he tried to calm himself down.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutKKd2h6P7
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“But those men were lying about not seeing him. I saw him buy a blue gem!” he didn’t answer, only watched her which caused her to start to feel uneasy under his worried blue eyes. “I won’t let some peasant tell me that I didn’t see what I know I saw.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANCEVKbdpu
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Marenzo bit the inside of his lower lip, thinking over his next words carefully. “Alura…you sure you’re feeling alright? You seem….different.”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SDPEnqG7m
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“Different how?” she inquired in a dangerous tone. He sighed and stood straight with his arms no longer blocking her in. He felt this was the right time to check her thoughts, even her recent memories to see if he had missed something. Reaching into his pocket he sorted and switched rings, slipping the new one on as the other was put into his pocket. “Hmm?” she blinked, “why are you changing jewelry?”681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBtQPrO1bR
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“No reason.” He responded a bit flat with a serious tone. He didn’t like over using them but wanted to know for sure if she honestly saw that demon. He stepped close so his chest was lightly touching hers and pressed his forehead against hers while holding both sides of her head in his hands. “Now, just relax and close your eyes. Don’t think of anything until I’ve let go.” She tried to nod without success so just closed her eyes while releasing a calming breath. His own eyes closed and he focused, the ring getting a soft glow as he began to search her mind for the answers. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rdZRanTrW
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