Night had fallen on Saha’dryr, a serene glow reflected from the city’s waters as the last bits of light was leaving the sky. Chester had the honor of ensuring Princess Eril was settled into the most luxurious inn this city could offer at the recommendation of Governor Gustav himself, the Nightwaterer. With all expenses covered by the Governor himself, the Princess and her Illisean escort would enjoy a good night’s rest before their journey onward to Domon Valley to a little mining town called Parcielle would begin tomorrow. The guards of the Princess’ entourage occupied the smaller rooms of the establishment while her Highness received the best room not to mention the largest near the center of the building. Despite how rough negotiations began, with this treatment by the Low Lands, Princess Eril thought her studies and strenuous education by various professors during her childhood paid off, there would be new trade deals between Illisea and Saha’dryr, peace would continue for at least another seven years and more

  During this time, Chester found himself and one of his fellow knights, an older fellow named Tohmath, drawn to the local tavern down the dock from the inn. The sign by the door read: The Capsized Fish.

  “Chester, wouldn’t you like to remove your helmet before entering this place, there’s no sign of danger here boy,” Tohmath said notating his companion was still in all his Illisean Armor.

  “Boy?” Chester scoffed, “I’m twenty-seven now Tohmath. You may have known me since I was a boy but that doesn’t mean you get to call me that my whole life,” Chester proclaimed before adding, “Perhaps you’re right Tohmath, I’m simply so used to wearing it at all times, I forget to remove it unless I’m bathing,” Chester said as he unlatched it from his chest plate and lifted it to reveal his clean shaven face, pale face dotted with freckles across his right cheek and the bridge of his nose, his short red hair almost made him appear to be a local here since redheads and blondes were common hair colors for humans in the Low Lands.

  Entering the tavern, the room had a light haziness to it as many patrons smoked their pipes, and the clinking of tankards were heard as well as the occasional chatter that rose from stories and rumors. At the counter ahead was a muscular, blue scaled fish-like man who was expertly serving any and all who sat at his counter. Filling tankards with ale, and pouring shots of hard liquor, the scar-faced fishman was handling all orders with ease. His exterior fins had earring piercing them and his tan coat and white shirt was all that was revealed on him.

  “What kind of man is that?” Tohmath inquired to Chester.

  “I’ve heard of them I think, either an amphobos or a gilken. I get their details mixed up, but he looks to be an expert bartender,” Chester replied as he watched the fish man serve another three patrons, two humans and one bird-like woman.

  The blue fleshed fishman’s green eyes locked onto the two humans in their armors. “Are you two here to stare or are you going to order something? We have enough gossipers here and they buy a few drinks before running their mouths.”

  Tohmath curled his lip in frustration, his gray mustache with it but Chester gave a simple bow before approaching a seat at the bar, “Apologies sir for the offense, we are just new here and would like to order a meal.”

  “Do not call me sir. I am Lunk, the owner of the Capsized Fish and I am aware you’re strangers here in Saha’dryr,” the fishman introduced himself.

  “Some hospitality,” Tohmath whispered.

  Lunk glared at both of the men, “Anyway if you’re here for food and drink, I can get you most anything. Riverside Ale may be up your alley.”

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  “We can give it a go,” Chester said openly.

  Lunk filled two tankards and slid one to each man. The golden liquid with a one inch foam was delectable looking. “Two Zoa per drink,” Lunk said.

  Chester paid for them and after a few gulps even Tohmath admitted, “I was wrong about you Sir Lunk. You know your stuff well!”

  Lunk wasn’t amused, “Drop the ‘Sir,’ if I say it again, you both will leave.” The two men were quiet, but their ale was strong, foamy and sweet all in one.

  Chester could tell even his old companion was impressed. Tohmath remarked, “This beats out some of the taverns in Listagan for sure!”

  Lunk went to serve other patrons while Chester and Tohmath enjoyed their drinks. “I think I’ll order some food next,” said Chester who was eyeing the menu listed on the wall. “A skewer of seared trout sounds like it’ll go well with this.”

  After a few moments, Lunk returned, and the two men happily put in their orders of food and another round of ale. “So, you like it do you?”

  “Indeed,” replied Tohmath. “You have a great tavern here my friend. How long have you been in business?”

  Lunk gave a shrug, “Eight years or so I think. Used to be a guard of Saha’dryr myself before that but rarely do my customers ask about their bartender, how about you both? Here from the High Lands?”

  “Indeed,” Chester replied. “Our business though is official and not at liberty to go much into details. You understand, surely.”

  Lunk’s green eyes blinked as he nodded, “Quite right, but be cautious in the city at night. Like every city, there is a darker side to things. Some may be interested in what High Land folk are doing down here in our territory. Had a fellow in here earlier with a wide hat and tan coat asking about one of my regulars and then about your caravan.”

  Chester and Tohmath looked at one another curiously.

  “I asked the fellow politely to leave, gave me chills, that he did. Never could tell what kind of man he was but that’s the sort that find themselves in here sometimes.”

  Tohmath balked a laugh, “A low brigand like that would be a fool to get near our entourage!” Mentally recounting the trained elite princess guards that journeyed here without incident from Illisea’s borders.

  Back at the Nightwaterer Inn, Eril finished washing her face, was dressed for bed in her night blouse and skirt. She sat in front of a mirror combing her short midnight black hair a cushioned stool with a jeweled comb she brought along in her luggage from the castle she grew up in.

  A figure in the reflection caught her eye. Slender and dressed in a long coat with a wide brimmed hat stood in the right corner with hands in his pockets. She spun around to see the man there.

  “Good evening,” he said without raising his hat to look at her.

  “Gua─!” Eril cried out as the man seemed to move in the blink of an eye and covered her mouth with a gloved hand.

  “At least ask who I am before you try to summon your fool armored idiots. You may call me Phantasm my dear and away from this place we shall go.” He landed a powerful punch to her ribs and her consciousness went dark on her.

  Returning from the Capsized Fish, Chester kept some sense to himself while Tohmath had nearly too much. “I gotta admit, boy, while you look like your father. You are going to be a greater man one day.”

  “How many times must I request Tohmath, I am not a boy anymore. You are like an uncle to me though, however you should get some rest. We have a long journey ahead tomorrow to Domon Valley,” Chester insisted.

  “True that. Just know your father would be proud of the man you are becoming,” Tohmath said while he swayed on his feet. “Goodnight,” the man stumbled through the door in where the other knights slept while Chester went onward to check on Her Highness.

  He gave a rap at her door, “Princess Eril, are you still awake?”

  No response.

  He knocked again, twice more now. “Princess? It is I, Chester Atellis.” She was normally a light sleeper but no response whatsoever.

  He waited a moment, when no response came his thoughts wrestled. I normally wouldn’t barge in like this, but something doesn’t feel right. The door was unlocked and when he slowly opened it he saw the bedchamber was empty and the stool before the mirror was knocked over and her jewel comb was laying on the wood plank floor and the window across the from the door was wide open. Chester felt his gut knot and he nearly choked on his own words as he rushed to the window, “Men to arms! Men to arms!” there was no sign of the missing Jewel of Illisea.