Morning light filtered through the cracks in the curtains. It was gray and weak, barely enough to illuminate the dust motes dancing in the air.
Yoren woke up without an alarm. His body felt stiff. The gash on his ribs had clotted overnight, but the skin around it was bruised purple. He touched it gently. It hurt, but the bone was knit.
He stood up and stretched. The three shadows were still in the corners of the room. They had not moved all night. They did not sleep. They did not eat. They just existed.
Yoren said, Stay.
The shadows did not nod. They simply faded, becoming one with the darkness of the walls. They were still there, but invisible.
He packed the materials from the Thornmaw into a heavy leather bag. The acid glands were the most valuable part. The teeth were useful for weapons. The core was useless to him, but valuable to others.
He left the apartment. The hallway was quiet. Most neighbors were still asleep or working night shifts.
Yoren stepped out into the streets of Verrath. The lower district was already awake. Vendors were setting up stalls. Steam rose from food carts. The smell of fried oil mixed with the scent of rust.
He walked with his hands in his pockets. People moved around him like water around a stone.
Above the streets, large banners hung from the buildings. They were white with a symbol of a black shield. Iron Veil.
The soldiers stood on the corners. They watched the crowds. Their armor was clean, their weapons ready. They were looking for something.
A woman whispered to her child, Don't stare.
The child looked down. The mother pulled him closer.
Fear was a constant companion in Verrath. It lived in the walls. It lived in the eyes of the people.
Yoren ignored the banners. He kept walking toward the black market. It was located in the basement of an old textile factory. The entrance was unmarked.
He knocked on the metal door three times. A slot opened. Eyes scanned him.
A voice said, Open.
The door clicked. Yoren stepped inside.
The air was thick with smoke. Men and women sat at tables, trading goods in hushed tones. Weapons, cores, maps, and secrets changed hands.
Yoren moved to the back. A man sat behind a reinforced counter. He was bald, with a scar running down his left cheek. His name was Golt.
Golt said, You look like hell, Yoren.
Yoren said, I have goods.
Golt leaned forward. He rested his elbows on the counter.
Golt said, Always goods. Never rest. You'll burn out before you're thirty.
Yoren placed the leather bag on the counter. He opened it. The acid glands glowed faintly in the dim light.
Golt's eyes widened. He whistled low.
Golt said, Thornmaw. A rank. You didn't tell me you were hunting that high.
Yoren said, I didn't know.
Golt laughed. It was a rough sound.
Golt said, Liar. But I won't argue with success. I'll give you the standard rate. Plus ten percent for the condition.
Yoren said, Make it twenty.
Golt frowned. He tapped the counter with a thick finger.
Golt said, You know I can't do twenty. The Veil is taxing us harder this week.
Yoren said, Then find another buyer.
He reached for the bag. Golt slapped his hand down.
Golt said, Fine. Twenty. But you owe me a drink.
Yoren said, No.
Golt shook his head. He counted out the credits and slid them across the table. Yoren took them without counting. He trusted Golt. Mostly.
Yoren turned away from the counter. He needed to leave. The air inside was getting too heavy.
A voice called out from the shadows near the exit.
Raith said, There you are! I've been waiting for an hour.
Raith stepped into the light. He was wearing a patched jacket and carrying a clipboard. His hair was messy, and he had dark circles under his eyes.
Yoren said, You're early.
Raith said, I'm punctual. You're late. There's a difference.
Raith walked up to Yoren. He started talking fast, as he always did.
Raith said, I got the list you asked for. Well, you didn't ask for it, but I made it anyway. We need stabilizers for the potions. And vials. Glass, not plastic. And I found a lead on those rare herbs you like.
Yoren said, Raith.
Raith said, Also, the Iron Veil is checking IDs at the north gate. You should avoid that area. Oh, and I heard about the Thornmaw. People are talking.
Yoren said, Let them talk.
Raith lowered his voice. He looked around to make sure no one was listening.
Raith said, They say it was killed cleanly. One shot. No team. That's not normal, Yoren.
Yoren said, Nothing here is normal.
Raith sighed. He clipped the clipboard to his belt. He looked tired.
Raith said, I'm just worried. You take too many risks. One day you won't come back.
Yoren said, I always come back.
Raith said, Yeah. But what if one day you don't?
Yoren did not answer. He started walking toward the exit. Raith followed him.
They stepped out into the street. The sun was higher now. The shadows were shorter.
Raith pulled a small notebook from his pocket.
Raith said, I calculated the costs for the next batch. If we sell three potions, we can afford the rent for another month. Maybe two if we skip food.
Yoren said, We won't skip food.
Raith said, Says the man who eats once a day. Look, I'm serious. We need to expand. Maybe take a contract from the Veil.
Yoren stopped. He turned to look at Raith.
Yoren said, No contracts.
Raith said, Why? They pay well. And they have protection.
Yoren said, They have rules.
Raith shrugged. He kicked a stone on the ground.
Raith said, Rules keep you alive. Freedom gets you killed.
Yoren said, Maybe.
They walked in silence for a block. The noise of the city surrounded them. Engines roared. People shouted. Somewhere, a siren wailed.
Raith glanced at Yoren's side. The blood stain was still visible on his shirt.
Raith said, You should get that checked. Infection kills faster than claws.
Yoren said, It's fine.
Raith said, You say that about everything. Your health, your money, your life.
Yoren said, Because it is fine.
Raith stopped walking. He looked at Yoren. His expression was serious, which was rare for him.
Raith said, Why do you do it, Yoren?
Yoren said, Do what?
Raith said, The hunting. The killing. You sell everything. You keep nothing. No trophies. No memories. Just credits.
Yoren did not answer. He looked past Raith, toward the Iron Veil banner swaying in the wind.
Raith said, Don't you want something for yourself? Something that lasts?
Yoren's hand moved to his right hand. His fingers brushed against the silver ring. It was cold.
Yoren said, We need to brew.
Raith waited for more. There was no more.
Raith said, Right. Brewing. Let's go.
They turned the corner. The shadows behind Yoren remained hidden. But the weight of the question hung in the air.
Yoren kept walking. He did not look back.
A/N Thanks for reading Chapter 2! Raith is here to bring some light to Yoren's dark world, but secrets are hard to keep. If you're enjoying the story, please vote and add it to your library. See you in Chapter 3!