Nauline Silvashore - “What did you say the bounty was for that one? You have to be kidding. What did he do?” I couldn't help but let my surprise color my words. A thousand gold was a big bounty and it was marked as a two star mission. My three star rating meant that I was eligible. I had never seen that large of a bounty for a two star mission.
“Miss Nauline, I will need your signature here.” The clerk said as he proffered the document.
“How many others have signed up for this mission?” I asked, knowing it was against policy to share such information.
“Its not as popular as you might think.” Was all he said.
With my bounty papers confirmed I set out with the limited information on the card. The lead card told me I was looking for a loner with a gravelly voice and a hat, a hat that he always wore. Its not the worst information I have used to start a search. I stopped by the usual watering holes to get a feel for how many false positives I might have to root out. Hats were common, but most people removed them once inside. This would be my starting point. In each of the establishments there were only a handful of men who didn’t remove their hats. By late afternoon I was feeling a little better about my chances.
I pushed through the door at Carter’s. The hangout was a favorite of mercenaries and freight company employees. The air was thick with smoke and a melee of sounds that said it was busy in here. The owner was making her way from table to table checking on her patrons with her usual charm. She shot me a fiery glance which I took to mean that I was not welcome. In the past I had scouted bounties here before. I'm sure its the fact that my own coin seldom hits the counter here that earned me the unwelcome gaze. I made my rounds despite her. Satisfied that my bounty was not at one of the tables, I stepped out into the afternoon dustbowl. Wagons were churning up dirt from the heavily trafficked market. I wandered across the busy street keeping to the shoulder and skirting the market. I was moving counter to the flow of traffic and earning a few unwelcome glares as well as a few stabbing shoulders. Some familiar faces littered the shambling mass circling the market. I wasn’t going to find my quarry in this way, but I wasn’t ruling it out.
The sun had traced an arc across the market during my search. My head was cooked and my feet were growing weary. I traded a coin for a cup of water when I saw another familiar face. The boy from the ranch was making his way my direction. It had been a week since we spent an evening at the onsen. He had indulged my company without making me feel self-conscious. It had been a while since I had spent time with a man, even casually, that didn’t have to do with a bounty.
He was going to pass right by me and I saw no reason to avoid the encounter.
“Kai!” I said, forgetting my weariness.
“Nauline?” He replied, fishing for the right name.
At least I had left an impression. Within moments I found myself divulging every detail of my day. I could see his patience was waning and ceded control of the conversation to him. He inquired further into my day and I was happy to share.
Sensing I was competing for his attention with whatever he was doing before our encounter, I invented an urgent matter relating to my investigation that required my attention. We exchanged goodbyes, but not before discovering that he was stay
ing with associates at the Golden Turtle. If this bounty turns out to be something more than I can handle, I might need his help. He is a
student of master Goshu after all. That would make him a useful ally in a fight.
Well, tomorrow will tell.
