I Built This City Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Read chapter 35 of I Built This City by ThePudding on NovelPedia.

Anroll Greylan With winter approaching, the weather had decided to punish Anroll as if to match the tongue-lashing he’d gotten from his brother. The rain came down in heavy sheets, making tiny rivers in the cobblestone streets, soaking anyone foolish enough to be out in the early evening unprotected. Even through his heavy cloak, Anroll could feel the oppressive downpour trying to penetrate the fabric. The warm, mild autumn had suddenly given way to an unusual cold right on the cusp of changing the season, not quite enough to freeze the rain to snow but instead drenching everything in freezing water. By morning, ice and frost would be covering the streets, and Anroll doubted that the lamps would be lit throughout the city tonight. His Warmth Crest fended off the chill for himself, but he could still feel it at the edge of his senses. Even he wouldn’t be out in this weather if he hadn’t been forced to be so. He was still aching and exhausted from his journey, his left thigh throbbing despite the expensive healing he’d gotten. He wanted nothing more than to lay down in bed and sleep for a week. Instead, he was dragging himself back to the Adventurer’s Guild. It was either that or listen to Rance yell at him even more. He pushed the door open with a grunt, trudging into the entryway. He heard the clerk call out to him, warning that most of the guild’s services weren’t available at this hour. He ignored the young man and scraped his boots off, then walked forward, loosening his hood. The mildly annoyed expression on the clerk’s face vanished as Anroll revealed his weathered features and distinctive mustache. “S-sorry, sir. I didn’t know you were back already.” The youth stammered, and Anroll struggled to remember his name. After another few moments of mental grasping, it finally clicked. “Tal, wasn’t it?” Anroll smiled, seeing the startled expression on the man’s face. “Forget about it. New cloak, how could you know it was me? I’m just here to find someone.” The woman browsing the job board—the only other occupant of the Guild Hall—heard that and quickly pulled her hood up. Without a word, she walked for the door. Anroll didn’t recognize her, but he wasn’t surprised. Most people knew by now that when Anroll Greylan was ‘looking for someone’ it was best to stay out of his way. He didn’t dissuade her of the idea. This time his request might be more innocent, but a reputation was a weapon all its own. “Um… w-what can we do for you, sir?” The clerk looked about, but despite being the largest Guild Hall in the region, right in the middle of the capital city, the place was deserted. At this hour, everyone had already concluded their business and left, with the weather probably forcing them out and to shelter sooner rather than later. Anroll chuckled. “As I said, I’m looking for someone. Not for a job, don’t worry. Just a favor to an old… friend.” The poor kid nodded dumbly, but visibly relaxed. “Right. Um, I just thought you’d be up at Merriweather already.” The assumption completely threw off Anroll from his planned questions. He squinted at the boy, then scratched at his cheek and groaned. He wracked his brain for where he’d heard the name before, and finally placed it. A city near the Theocracy, only nominally under Thallis jurisdiction nowadays. “Kid, I’ve been in Kalten for five months, and I just got back this morning. I’ve had a long day dealing with some stuff you don’t even want to know about. Why would I be at all interested in Merriweather? I’m just looking for a girl I brought by last year to see the place. Thought she might have gone through here.” With an apologetic smile, the young man nodded. “W-well, I’ve only worked at this hall for a few weeks, but if it was recent I can try to remember?” Anroll groaned. “Falnus help me… no, not your fault. Just bad timing.” He rubbed his forehead. “Maybe she’s registered and has a card, that might help.” He hated to pull strings like that, especially with this poor kid, but Anroll gr