Ten minutes to noon. Kara was the first one back to the rendezvous point in the city center.
“Any luck?” A voice spoke to her from behind the fountain where she was sitting.
“A little bit of everything, and a whole lot of nothing, Raden.”
Raden sat down next to her, drew his flask of water, and opened it. He offered it to Kara first. She took it from him and drank down a refreshing swig. The weather was sweltering, and the cold water cooled her throat immediately. “Thanks,” she said.
It wasn’t like Kara to thank people, especially other soldiers. She was raised the daughter of General Yagar, a living legend, a hero of the Great Second War. His only child, she was determined from an early age to not disappoint her father. He never stated that he had hoped for a son, but she could tell he did. Rather than use it as fuel for self-pity, Kara determined she was going to outdo any other soldier in her class. She wanted to join General Sako as only the second female general ever in the empire. She received top marks in all her classes at the academy. After entrance into the military, she rose quickly through the ranks of the Lion Tribe’s intelligence division, outperforming many of her male counterparts. Becoming general was something she was well on the path to accomplishing. Perhaps someday, she would continue her father’s legacy as a great leader for the Renzai people.
Raden was only a couple years older than her. He had befriended her while in elementary school, offering her kindness while the other students spurned her for her unique appearance. She gravitated towards him instantly, subconsciously feeling a connection with another shunned soul. As their friendship grew through the years, her feelings for him grew as well. Physically they had both matured into attractive individuals, but it wasn’t pure looks alone. She saw something deeper in Raden. His devotion to the empire was admirable, similar to hers. More so, though, it was the way Raden cared for his little sister Kimi, reminding her so much of how her father, General Yagar had always taken care of her. Raden was different than other guys, and for that reason he held a special place in her heart.
“So what did you find out in the religious district?” asked Raden.
“Aside from trying to be convinced of the veracity of each religious sect, I heard there were groups of Gokstads, Pilgrims of Fate, and other Vicedonian colonist armies making their way through the town; none of them staying for long though, a couple nights here and there before they continued eastwards.”
“No rumors about a Candidate?” asked Raden.
“Every time I brought up the word Candidate, all I got was a history lesson about how he’d come to save the world, and that I needed to pray right away.”
Raden smirked. “Well I didn’t get much either. Restaurant Alley is filled with nothing but degenerates and thieves. I lost count of how many times drunkards tried to steal my gold. Drunken ramblings ranged from the end of the world to who dropped the longer turd.”
Kara raised her eyebrow. “Longer turd?”
“I can’t even make this stuff up.” They both chuckled at the notion. “Maybe this town is a dead end,” mused Raden.
“I wouldn’t say that.”
They both turned around to see Gama walking towards them with two giant bags of what appeared to be blackened bananas.
“Why the hell do you have rotten bananas, Gama?” asked Kara indignantly. “You were supposed to find information, not go on a grocery run.”
“It’s a long story, but anyways, I got a lead.” Kara and Raden’s ears perked up.
“What did you find out, Gama?” asked Raden.
“There’s a guy, here in town, who supposedly was touched by God. At least that’s what a lot of people are saying.”
“You mean he is marked by the One?” asked Kara
“Yea, yea… you don’t have to rub it in,” retorted Gama.
“Rub what in, I didn’t say anything rude?” asked Kara defensively.
“Oh nothing, never mind.”
“So where do we find this guy, Gama?” asked Raden.
“He moves around from district to district, covered in rags, avoiding people and scavenging for food. He was last seen in Restaurant Alley, sleeping behind a bar called the Crazy Hookfish.”
Raden rose to his feet. “Let’s go then.”
“I just got here, Rad, carrying these two big bags of bananas, too.”
“They’re rotten bananas, why did you carry them in the first place?” asked Kara.
Gama stood there, staring at his bushels of blackened fruit. Why did I carry them all the way back?
“Good point.” He tossed them at some stray dogs sitting beneath the shade of the fountain, where they, too, refused his kind gesture.
It was late afternoon when they found the Crazy Hookfish. A seedy establishment hidden off the main road in Restaurant Alley, its clientele consisted of cheap drunkards who routinely passed out in their seats. It was cramped inside. Only four wooden tables could fit, and a makeshift bar made of logs was attached to the wall. The floors and walls were filthy, blackened dirt smeared everywhere, appearing as if it hadn’t been cleaned in decades.
The group made their way towards the bar. The bartender had her back towards them, cleaning out cups with the dirtiest towel they’d ever seen.
Raden began. “Excuse me, but I’m looking for someone. A man. I was wondering if you’d seen him.”
“Lots of men come in here,” responded the bartender without turning around. Her voice was deep and gruff, throwing Raden a bit off. Lots of men come in here? I highly doubt that, thought Raden.
“What’s he look like?” asked the bartender.
“Well, he wears dirty rags, and supposedly… has been touched… by God.”
The bartender stopped cleaning her cups, putting them down upon the dust-covered bar. “Perhaps I have… perhaps I haven’t. I may know something about him, for the right price.”
“Is everyone in this town a crook?” Gama shouted.
“Easy, Gama.” Raden patted Gama on the shoulder, trying to calm him down.
“What’s the price?” he asked.
“How much gold pieces you got on ya?” The bartender finally turned around. She was the ugliest woman Gama had ever seen; he couldn’t even feign his reaction. Her eyes were too wide apart, nose too big with warts growing abound and hair prickling out. She only had three teeth remaining, yellow and stained, somehow managing to stay fixed in her mouth.
“Well, how much ya’ll got?” she continued.
“About twenty gold pieces.” Raden answered.
“Don’t know anyone like that, then.” The bartender turned around and went back to cleaning her cups.
Kara jumped over the bar, butterfly knife already out, and in a moments notice, she had the bartender by the neck. “We asked nicely and you answer us with disrespect!” Kara pushed the knife closer to the woman’s neck, pricking her slightly and causing the woman to shake nervously.
“I’ll ask again, where is he?”
“He’s in the fish market! I saw him there this morning, sleeping by the river! Please don’t hurt me!” cried the bartender.
Kara released her hold, twirling the butterfly knife closed in her fingers. “Thanks for the info. You guys ready to go?”
Gama and Raden stood there speechless. Not knowing what to say about what had just happened, the only thing to do was leave.
Raden tried. “Kara, maybe that wasn’t the most civil way to get an answer. Maybe we should’ve—”
“But it worked, and we don’t have any more time to lose.” She continued, “more importantly, are you guys ready to see a man touched by God, because he’s sleeping down by the river.”
Chapter 16