Outside the inn, Hans found the Cathayan man leaning against the door frame, his head aching just thinking about dealing with this situation. The alcohol had already left his system, and his body seemed to crave the numb feeling again.
"Tell me about who sent you," Hans said as he walked and put his blades back in his trench coat, which was somewhat worn and dirty. The rain had stopped, but the mountain winds still blew through the streets. The air was thick and humid; the kind that made your nose run, and the loose windows beat against the walls.
–...I'm sorry about what happened to the couple, I was also lucky to be sent with good companions on my way here.
Hans stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the man from his homeland, somewhat surprised, not by his words but by their meaning. In his nation, they were very nationalistic; any mission in foreign lands was due to the lucrative trade of silk and ivory, but it had never been with different objectives. Now they were not only sending a man capable of combat, as Hans could see, but they had sent a complete team.
—Lord Zhang Qian, it is an honor to finally meet you. My name is Yang Gweng, captain of the Third Crow Guard. —Yang said with a military salute, scratching his shoulder even though his jade hanger was not with him.
Hans had seen men like Yang, and the nation of Cathay was full of them, loyal and upright men who followed orders without question, but the incongruity began when he mentioned his military branch. The Crow Guard was Yuan Bo's military corps; his title of spymaster wasn't just for show, so his most recognized guard was the Crow Guard, and it was said that they were in charge of the most important camouflage and infiltration missions.
The rumors only spoke of gloomy men who listened only to their lord. That was the strange thing; that description didn't fit the soldier in front of him at all. Hans stared at the priest as he started walking again. He was starting to get annoyed. He closed his eyes to think. Yuan Bo. He had met the Master of the Meteor Winds before, but had never spoken directly to him.
As he thought about it now and recalled that time, his mind shuddered like a dog before a former master who had been cruel to him. After all the years he had spent trying to forget, there was still a raw wound. And now men were sent after him.
"Interesting," Hans said, pausing. His lips pursed in satisfaction. "I don't believe the great lord of the central provinces sent men after me just for my protection." Hans smiled. "I'd like you to tell me about the great mission I've been entrusted with."
"I don't know, I wasn't lying when I said my only mission was to accompany you," Yang said in a low voice. "My team will join us as soon as they find out about my success in finding you."
—How many did they send on this mission?
—There are seven of us, only the most capable of us were sent, and the mission was categorized as one of the most urgent, with only volunteers being sent.
Hans placed his hand on his neck, feeling the pain creeping down his head. High-risk missions were usually assigned to the best warriors in Cathay, and even if they were volunteers, they wouldn't let just anyone go according to that classification.
–Why would seven people go on such a risky mission as volunteers without knowing what they have to do?
–To you, sir.
Hans frowned.
Someone had seen something in their destiny. Although Hans didn't believe in such things, he knew they weren't entirely false; certain prophecies were true. But the question is, what did they see that made it necessary to send them?
–...We'll continue talking tomorrow. I've had a busy night, let's meet in the square after the ninth bell and my name is Hans. I left my name the day I left.
–I understand, I'll be there.
Hans waved goodbye as he entered the village streets. His destination was a barn. He'd learned to appreciate places like inns, and it had been an annoying day. He hadn't gotten the satisfaction he'd hoped for.
It seemed as though there was no choice but to follow what he would have done, according to the tales there was no worse way to defy fate than to go against it and worse still he knew nothing about what would happen, so ignoring the fact and continuing with his plans was the only way he could find.
_______________________________
Rain fell all over Durben, with occasional rumbles of thunder accompanying the heavy, dark clouds hanging over the village. Hans hated the empire's climate; stories didn't do justice to how cursed the lands seemed, with unfortunate events occurring all the time. Beastmen, Chaos Cults, Orks, and Skaven are ravaging every corner of the empire.
–I must say I was hoping it wasn't you, despite the clear description.
Moments after Hans and Yang met, a dozen men arrived at the square. Most of them were soldiers in their characteristic armor, except for one, one of the Ostermark judges, apparently installed by Emperor Karl Franz himself. His figure was what one would call classy, as one of the soldiers held an umbrella in the rain to protect him.
Hans shook his head. He held his palm against his forehead in a futile attempt to keep the drops from falling into his eyes. 'Hadn't you wondered this morning what kind of evil you had done to the world that these days could be worse?' He didn't like the inevitable answer he gave himself.
"Come on, Ludwig, you can't find a single person like me," Hans replied with a smile.
"Come on, Hans, you know I like this less than everyone thinks," Ludwig said, reciting one of his catchphrases that he seemed to think would calm people down.
–That smile on your face seems to say something else
–I'm afraid I can't do anything for you this time, Hans.
–They were parasites. I did the city a favor
–Not if you do it by breaking their laws. Every word the judge spoke sounded monotonous, empty; a hint of regret barely lingered in his tone –You're not new to this, the situation has gotten out of control, and the news of a mass murder on one of his estates hasn't pleased the Count at all, according to rumors.
This wasn't their first meeting, and neither had been friendly. But Hans didn't hate Ludwig; in fact, he was an understanding and fair man. As long as he believed Hans hadn't done anything to harm the people of Ostermark, he'd let him get away with light punishments. Hans rubbed his head sadly, then his neck. He shook his head and scratched his neck, hoping the pain would go away; his migraine had gotten worse.
–Not even a day has passed, how could he have found out?
–The count is in the village, Hans. Apparently, he was on his way to a meeting of the electoral counts.
"So what are my options?" Hans asked.
–The Count wants to see you; he wants to know who the man is who dares to challenge his authority.
Hans remained silent. He had learned that the nobles of the empire were anything but idiots. There was a reason he needed to see him more than just to satisfy his pride. A noble learned everything to use people to his advantage, even criminals. Hans looked at Yang, who was standing beside him without intervening, but seemed prepared to fight if he didn't. Which only made his headache worse.
"Lead the way," Hans grunted as he dusted off his clothes.
"Don't worry, you'll be given a suitable change of clothes once we arrive at the Count's residence," Ludwig said, a trace of a smile playing on his thin lips. "But I'm afraid the invitation is only for one; your dear companion will have to stay here." He nodded in that direction. "Shall we continue?"
"We'll continue our talk once I'm done with this," Hans said to Yang, who just nodded.