After just a few days on the ship, Mina was glad to see land. She was ready to be off the boat and looking for the swordsman. The crew had been wonderful, but the close quarters with men who were obviously unbathed, and being unbathed herself was getting to her. Sharing not just a room, but a bed with Evander got harder every day. It wasn't even just because of him, she was feeling self-conscious. She needed a nice, deep tub immediately.
They arrived at the port in the morning. It took the captain a few moments to sort things out with the port manager before they were free to explore the city. Casper wasn't familiar with Egon but did know his way around the underbelly of Chrysanthos, so he insisted on coming along. She was somehow unsurprised that the captain knew where all the good brothels were.
The city was much larger and far more cramped than Pontus. Instead of wood and gray stone, everything was made with a stone that matched the sand that surrounded the city. In the center of the city were the towers of a grand palace that would be occupied by the ruling family in this land. The palace was colorful and had spots that glistened as though they were faceted with gold. She's read a lot about Chrysanthos, the golden flower of the east, but never imagined it could be so beautiful.
They began asking around about Egon immediately. Aurelius was right. The swordsman was rather infamous for his behavior. It didn't take long to trace him to the most recent brothel that he was patronizing.
"Perhaps you should wait outside?" Casper suggested to her as they approached the establishment.
"I'm not staying out here alone." She insisted.
"I was talking to him, too." He smiled and Evander elbowed him. She considered the offer, but curiosity got the better of her.
"I'm coming. He can stay if he wants to." She joked, eliciting an amused look from both of her companions.
They were immediately hit with a wall of fragrance, which only drew Mina's attention back to her own state of being unwashed. The entry was draped in decadent cloth and ornately knotted strings of beads. The man just inside the door nodded at them, seemingly allowing them entry. The main room was similarly draped in fabric and full of sitting areas with low tables that had incense burning, surrounded by the drinks of the patrons who were seated around it. Among the patrons were working ladies who were barely dressed, wearing shifts and low-cut dresses of various styles.
"We'll sit here for now," Casper said upon finding a free table. Instead of chairs, it was surrounded by large, somewhat firm tufted pillows.
"Is this what brothels look like in Pontus?" She leaned over to ask Casper.
"Not nearly. They are more like pubs, or if you're fancy, there are a few houses, but nothing this ornate."
"Hello, Lady and gentleman." A woman with a heavy accent greeted them as she approached their table. Her skin was a beautiful tan, and her eyes were the most piercing green Mina had ever seen. Her hair was tied in ornate sections down her back and decorated with golden cuffs. She was wearing a shift that was made from the finest silk in the brightest purple she'd ever seen. "Can I interest you in some of our finest wine?"
"Yes, please," Casper agreed readily. Mina was going to have to watch him and make sure he didn't get too intoxicated. The woman nodded and retreated, only to quickly return with the requested bottle of wine and some goblets.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?" Her voice was seductive and beautiful. She certainly had the captain's attention.
"Not currently, my dear… that is, unless you know an Egon Schwert?" He offered gently, like he was walking on eggshells.
"Confidentiality is of utmost importance in our establishment. Unfortunately, I can't help you." She responded politely but firmly. "Now, if you'd like a girl or a boy brought to your table, that's something we can accommodate." She smiled at Casper, no doubt sensing that he was the weakest link.
"We're all set for now," Mina decided to cut in before the captain could. The distraction wouldn't do.
"Very well." The woman said, dipping her head to Mina and wandering off to help other patrons.
"So how are we going to find him then?" Mina asked the captain as he took a good swig of his wine.
"He'll come to us if he's here. There's no way she isn't going to tell him we're looking for him." Casper declared confidently.
"Well, you're not getting drunk in the meantime. We're already going to have to deal with a drunk sword master." She said, taking the bottle away from him, leaving him with only his cup that he'd already overfilled.
"I wasn't planning to." He said, but took another healthy swig of his wine.
Mina shook her head at him and poured out a reasonable amount of wine for herself and Evander before turning her attention to the room. There were a few sandy-haired men in the room, and none of them stood out as being particularly special. She wondered if he was in one of the back rooms that were partitioned off from the main room by only a bead curtain. Men and women would occasionally disappear or emerge from the dark hall, hand in hand or with arms around each other. Every time the beads clicked together, she was at attention, watching who was coming and going. Meanwhile, Casper and Evander just sat waiting, trusting that the man would come to them. After about an hour, she began to wonder if the man was even there. She took another sip of wine and looked at her companions, who were both very engaged in watching the women who were flitting through the room in various states of undress.
"I'd like to remind you that you are married," She said, half-teasing, nudging her newlywed husband's shoulder. He panicked for a moment until he saw her mischievous face.
"I suppose I am." He smiled at her.
"Uh, I think you two love birds should check out the guy that just came in," Casper said suddenly.
"Why?" She asked, already turning around.
"Because he's talking to that woman and looking at us."
And sure enough, he was. Towering over everyone around him, wearing expensive robes that made him look even bigger than he was, with sandy hair and what she assumed were brown eyes. He looked like a force to be reckoned with, and his attention was all on them. Face full of suspicion as he conversed with the woman. He finished his conversation with her and gave her a few coins, which she slipped into a pouch tied around her hips. Then he strode over, every step with purpose, and sat on one of the pillows at their table. Then he took Casper's goblet from the table and drained it of the remaining liquid, and began to pour himself another from their bottle.
"I heard that you're looking for me."