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Chapter 1

Eurlon City. Capital of the nation and seat of power for the King. Largest settlement for over a hundred leagues in any direction.

The city had enormous inner and outer walls, and still had a sprawling array of buildings outside and covering the whole countryside for as far as the eye could see.

The buzz of countless people speaking, craftsman at their work and animals braying blanketed the city. Forrick frowned in discomfort, he didn’t enjoy the noise, and missed the quiet of his hometown.

He was a thin, gangly man. Not strong of body, but weathered and pockmarked from his years. His clothes were rugged and showed the wear of a few days of travel.

His destination was inside the first wall, but he enquired with a local to confirm he was going the right way. At the city gates he was stopped by a guard and his business asked after, but the process was not stringent and he was allowed through without issue.

Along the inside of the wall stretched a tightly packed slum district, crowded with people, smoke and the smell of street food. Forrick stepped into a narrow street. He had only a vague idea where to find what he was looking for, but thankfully his destination was quite unique, so when he stopped to ask directions he was quickly given them.

Deep into the bustling, winding corridors of exotic smells and people, Forrick stopped to speak to an elderly woman sitting out front of a shop of fantastically shaped, colourful glass ornaments. When he asked after his destination, the elder lifted her pipe and pointed it across the street.

Squashed between a run down house and a gambling den was a dark double story building with a sign on the door that read, in worn silver letters:

ARCANE INVESTIGATIONS

Inspecters of issues arcane, mystical and monstrous.

Forrick knocked, but received no answer, and so opened the door and went inside. A jingle sounded as the bell on the door was triggered. Inside the building was filled with a thin layer of smoke from some sort of incense or pipe. The smell was soft and slightly floral. Forrick couldn’t identify it. Beams of light shone through small windows situated high on the walls, highlighting patches of the smokey air.

“Hello?!” Forrick called. He saw movement near the back of the room. Shrouded in shadow, a figure was puffing on a pipe. Forrick made his way over to them. They sat with feet up behind a countertop that was crowded with jars, pots, small stuffed animals and various other strange and odd paraphernalia.

“Uhh, excuse me? Hello?” Forrick said again, more quietly, his eyes shifting furtively between the seated person and a row of what looked like discovered miniature human skulls.

The figure finished pulling on their pipe, then blew a small cloud of smoke, before answering in a steady drawl.

“Can I help you?” His voice was unfathomably deep.

“Is… is this the magical investigators’ office?”

“‘Tis what the sign says, is it not?”

“Uh… yes. Right. So… I have an issue.”

“I’m sure.”

Forrick kneaded his hands, feeling uncertain but motivated by his mission. Before he could continue though, a woman strolled out into the room through a doorway in the back. She was tall, taller than most men even. The way she carried herself and the firm muscle of her bare arms spoke of great strength. But her figure was unmistakably feminine and her face was striking beneath her high wall of tightly curled black hair.

“Gridj. Stop antagonizing the poor man.” She said.

The figure behind the counter, Gridj, grunted. He puffed on his pipe again, then put it down and raised himself out of the shadows. Forrick took an involuntary step back. The man was gigantic. As his face emerged into the light Forrick saw that he was bald, had long sallow cheeks, sunken eyes and a wispy goatee. The sour expression he wore completed the intimidating look.

Gridj leaned down and put his hands on the counter, lowering his head to look Forrick in the eye.

“What seems to be the problem, Beekeeper?”

Forrick stumbled over his words “Well, there's a… uh…H-How… how did you-“

But before he could finish, the woman answered his half formed question, “You smell like honey, and your arms have flakes of beeswax on them.”

Gridj shot the woman a grumpy look. She ignored the massive man and held out her hand to Forrick.

“I am Tefachi, and this is Gridj. Tell us, master Beekeeper, how we can assist you.”

Forrick shook her hand, wincing slightly at the force of her grip. “It’s my wife. She’s… I think she’s dead, and I think a monster killed her.”

Gridj settled back into his chair and lifted his giant boots onto the counter again.

“We aren’t exterminators. If you need assistance slaying a creature, call the town guards or a hunter.”

Forrick began to wring his hands again. “I tried, but nobody believes me. They say she just fell down the well. But I went down there by myself and there was no sign of her body.”

“And what evidence do you have that a monster is responsible?”

“Well, two other folks have gone missing in the last month, and there’s been all kinds of odd happenings. Lita swears she keeps seeing faces in the river, and just last week Roufad got woken by a terrible clamor in his barn. He found the doors open and one of his dogs slain with great big gashes down its side.”

“Hardly strong evidence. Seems likely we would discover no more than fish and wolves if we came to your town to investigate.”

Forrick pulled out a pouch of coins and placed it on the counter.

“Please, this is everything I have, take it and help, I beg you.”

Tefachi spoke now. “You believe your wife is dead. If you wanted us to find her and save her, I could understand why you're so desperate. But why is this so important that you would travel for days and offer your whole coin purse as payment? Is it vengeance?”

“No… Well… perhaps. But I have a son, and every night I cannot sleep for fear he will be next. Too many have disappeared and it seems nobody cares that there might be evil in our little town.”

There was a pause, and Gridj pulled at his pipe again.

“Alright. We’ll come.” Said Tefachi.

Gridj raised an eyebrow. “Tef?” He questioned.

“I need a change of scenery. This city is making me crazy.”

Gridj frowned. “You want to abandon our only lead?”

“It’s not going anywhere. Besides, at this point we’re decades behind. We’re as likely to run into him in this little backwater town as we are to finally chase him down following near-dead leads.”

Gridj seemed like he had more to say on the subject, but Tefachi held up a hand to silence him, and he reluctantly closed his mouth.

“We’ve had this discussion a dozen times already. A reason to get out of town for a while has presented itself, and I’m taking it. Stay behind if you like.”

After a very pregnant silence Gridj sighed in resignation. He turned to Forrick, fixing the man with his dark eyes.

“It seems we shall be joining you for your return trip, master Beekeeper. Give us a few minutes to prepare for travel. We shall leave shortly.”

Forrick stammered a thank you but received no response as Gridj got up and followed Tefachi into a room in the back. There came small noises as they presumably packed for travel, and then, as promised, they emerged a few minutes later, ready to leave. Each had fastened a cloak and shouldered a small pack, but seemingly made no other preparations for the trip. Forrick found it interesting, but chose to muzzle his curiosity. Instead he offered his coin pouch once more.

“Here, your payment.”

Tefachi pushed the pouch back to him. “Keep it, we have no need for it.”

They left without hesitation, and Forrick immediately struggled to keep up. The two, despite their size, wove through the crowds with rapid ease. He hadn’t considered the possibility he would be on the road again so soon, and he felt weariness creep across his body. He had suppressed the fatigue with excitement, but now it flooded his system. Gridj noticed him lagging and pulled Tefachi’s arm. They slowed to allow the man to catch up.

“We shall travel by cart, master Beekeeper, so you may rest your tired legs. Come, our transport will be acquired in the outer ring, only a short walk away.” Gridj said.

For the first time Forrick was able to get a good look at the two of them in the light of day. Both wore plain travel clothes that looked to be of good quality, and both stood at least a head taller than everyone around them.

Gridj in particular was immense and menacing by default. Even though his expression was neutral, the daylight did nothing to soften his looks. He looked like he would just as readily cut a man’s throat as shake his hand.

Tefachi was much easier to look upon, with fine but strong features framing her sharp eyes.

But what stood out most about the two aside from their size, which Forrick had not been able to see in the hazy room, was their extensive and intricate tattoos.

Apart from their faces, every piece of exposed skin was covered in beautiful swirling and runic tattoos. They were more noticeable on Gridj due to the lighter complexion of his skin, but Tefachi’s body art was equally impressive, covering her forearms, neck and what little could be seen of her skin between the layers of clothing. Forrick had little opportunity to get a good look as they walked, however.

Upon passing through the gates again, the guards made no effort to stop the three of them, instead the sergeant on duty merely nodded to Gridj and Tefachi and waved them past.

“Do you know those soldiers?” Forrick asked.

“Not personally, but they know us.” Tefachi replied.

Once outside the walls they found a stablemaster who gave Gridj and Tefachi a wagon and horse to pull it. He refused payment, only requesting that they take good care of the mount, a hearty draft horse called Mond-Burik. Forrick was fairly astonished to see the two investigators walk out with the horse and cart merely for asking.

“I see why you have no need for payment for your services. It seems all the city knows of you both and owes you favors.” He stated aloud.

Tefachi answered as Gridj prepped the cart. “We have stayed in Eurlon for a while now. Many years in fact. We are problem solvers, and have helped a good many people here.”

The journey from Eurlon to Sherridge was two days by horse and cart, but had taken Forrick five and a half on foot. Gridj took the reins and Tefachi and Forrick sat in the back. Tefachi likely would’ve sat beside her colleague, but the two of them were so physically large, Gridj especially so, that there wasn’t enough room on the seat.

As they left, they passed by many other travelers, everything from guards on patrol to farmers and merchants transporting their wares. The road became progressively more sparse as they pulled farther away from the city.

Forrick was able to enjoy the journey somewhat now, though the problem in his hometown still hung over his mind like a storm cloud. The countryside around Eurlon was long rolling hills broken by small pockets of woodland. Perfect for farmland. Perfect for bees too.

He had to stop his mind there, because following that line of thought would bring him to Shiola. Forrick still had not been able to mourn her properly, her passing was so fresh and he’d been packing his days with activity to avoid facing the loss.

The light faded and they traveled onward, but only for a short time. There was a roadside inn situated about a day’s walk out of Eurlon, appropriately called the Last Stop. They pulled the cart in and Tefachi took to settling the horse in the stable while Gridj and Forrick entered the inn.

The place was busy, but there were still empty tables. A bard played a lively tune on his string instrument, and many patrons were already deep in their tankards. Gridj drew eyes as he passed, but seemed not to notice or care. He reached the counter and popped a couple of coins onto it. When the innkeeper turned about he accepted the coins and provided Gridj two keys.

“Come see Medali for supper whenever you want it. Should be hot for another hour or two yet.” He pointed a thumb over his shoulder to a plump woman stirring a large pot of stew over the fireplace.

Gridj nodded and took one key, then motioned for Forrick to take the other. They went to their rooms and placed their packs before fetching bowls of stew and some bread. Tefachi joined them shortly after. They ate in silence, though Gridj tapped his fingers to the tune of the bard’s song.

Forrick finished his food and sat gently sipping from his tankard. Shiola would’ve enjoyed the music, though she was always uncomfortable in large groups. He put his drink down and closed his eyes.

Something in the music started to sound incongruent, like the bard was striking his instrument at the wrong timing. But the discordant noise then detached itself from the music, becoming recognisable as strange yelping cries. They sounded like whimpering dogs, but amplified and broken by odd hiccup-like noises.

People began looking up from their conversations and frowning, trying to discern what was happening as the cries grew louder and louder. The bard ceased his performance and another sound joined the yelping, this one an unmistakably human howl of anguish.

A couple of men stood and reached for weapons, drawing blades from sheaths. Tefachi and Gridj both got up and began moving toward the door, but before they reached it, it burst open and a man fell through.

Gridj quickly picked him up and hauled him inside while Tefachi slammed the door shut. Almost as soon as she did so, something heavy pummeled against it from the other side, but she held it firm.

Gridj knelt over the man, whose clothing was covered in gaping holes and soaked with his blood. He was flailing weakly and seemed to be trying to speak. Gridj ignored this and began tearing off lengths of cloth to help staunch the bleeding.

“Tef, Braegers!” He shouted over the clamor still ongoing outside.

“Obviously!” She shouted back.

Gridj yanked a nearby man by the wrist and instructed him to hold the cloth strips he had torn against the wounds, then stood and marched over to the door.

“The horse!” He shouted at her. Tefachi’s eyes widened, she swore, and then in one swift movement she pulled the door open and slipped outside. Gridj slammed the door, but something leaped in just in time to block it.

It was a filthy looking furry creature, about the size of a large dog. Covered in brown fur matted with mud, it opened its mouth to reveal two rows of spiny teeth, and then emitted the unique yelping cry they had been hearing all this time.

Gridj kicked at the beast, attempting to push it out of the door, and his boot made contact, but did not seem to deliver any force. There was a ripple across the creature’s body, accompanied by a slick crunching sound that raised the hair on the back of Forrick’s neck. The creature’s head moved across its body, and legs seemed to appear suddenly on the part of it that was inside of the door.

The fur on the beast shivered and rolled about, moving like uncrested waves. A moment before it had been trapped tightly between the door and the doorframe, but now only a fold of skin was stuck, and with a wriggle and strong yank, the creature freed itself.

But it didn’t get far. Gridj slammed the door shut again and simultaneously snatched the creature by the snout. It snapped its sharp teeth onto his hand, but failed to break the skin on his fingers or even elicit any reaction from him. Forrick couldn't be sure from his vantage point, but the tattoos on Gridj’s hand where the beast was attempting to hurt him seemed to be glowing a faint cyan colour.

Gridj put his body against the door and pointed to the short sword of a man standing near him.

“May I borrow your blade?”

The man handed it over, careful not to get within range of the now wildly flailing beast. Gridj took the weapon and carefully pushed it past his fingers down the creature’s gullet. There was another half-yelp cry that turned into a gurgle and then the creature fell limp. Gridj let it slide off the sword and fall from his grip.

From outside the yelping was mixed with high pitch screeches and what sounded like howls of pain. Slowly the yelping began to die down, seemingly as the voices of the creatures were silenced one by one. Gridj steadfastly held the door. The crowd of onlookers waited in tense silence.

Eventually there came a knock at the door, and Gridj stepped back and opened it. Tefachi stepped in, splattered with droplets of deep crimson blood. She seemed unharmed, even quite animated, and Forrick squinted trying make out a faint glow on her tattoos, of a purplish hue.

As soon as Tefachi walked through the threshold she jumped up onto Gridj, who caught her easily, and engaged him in a fierce kiss. He extricated from her embrace and let her fall to her feet, then motioned with his head to the crowd of onlookers.

Tefachi looked around at the wide eyed onlookers. She then muttered “prudes”, just loud enough to be heard, and walked with a confident strut through the throng toward her and Gridj’s room. Most every eye in the inn followed her.

Gridj handed the sword back to its owner.

“Braegermangers,” he said, “Nasty things. They travel in packs but won't attack on their own. Tefachi took care of them. Nothing to worry about, though it may be wise to relocate the bodies in the morning.”

“Shouldn't… shouldn't we check that she got them all?” One of the onlookers asked, the hesitation in his voice making it clear he was asking Gridj to do the checking.

Gridj just shrugged. “You can if you like, but she-” he pointed with his jaw in the direction Tefachi had disappeared to “-doesn’t leave a job half done.”

He knelt by the wounded man, who was moaning in pain, somewhat delirious. A portly woman had taken over caring for him. She had successfully slowed the bleeding and was working to clean the wounds.

“Master Innkeeper, have you Palu Weed in your pantry?” Called Gridj.

The innkeeper scratched his head and frowned.

“I don’t know that plant. What does it look like?”

“Hmm… You might know it as Yirma’s Fingers. Or Spine Grass?”

The innkeeper’s eyes lit up at the mention of Spine Grass.

“Yes I know it, we have some. Medali! Fetch the Spine Grass!”

Gridj showed the caregiver how to make a paste with the Spine Grass, and how to apply it to the wounds. The inn’s customers began to settle again, taking seats and ordering new rounds of drinks. Many would surely be up late into the night discussing the events of the evening. Monster attacks weren't unheard of, but so close to a major city was rare.

Gridj retired to his room, after first checking Forrick was well. A couple of armed men went outside to check the area despite Gridj’s reassurance of safety.

Forrick, for his part, took a moment to examine the dead Braegermanger Gridj had left by the door. It was an ugly beast, having a rodent-like face and a filthy fur coat covered in dried mud, feces and blood. Forrick had seen them on occasion, but always from a distance, they were dangerous creatures that thankfully preferred to attack cattle and chickens. Usually they were handled with poison traps laid outside their burrows while they slept, or by feeding the poison to a lone cow left out as bait.

He had heard of Gridj & Tefachi and their expertise as monster hunters, though seemingly they preferred the term “investigator”. It made little difference to Forrick, he felt confident, especially after the night’s impressive display, that they could take care of the problem facing Sherridge. Perhaps they might even find Shiola…

Forrick had to bury that thought. False hope would be setting himself up for more pain later. He had a son to think of, and a town whose safety was at risk.

He sought his own bed, and held a pillow over his ears to fall asleep despite the loud noises coming from next door.