Page 17 of A Hunter for Luna

He shrugged, pouring me a measure of amber liquid, distilled by the wild tribes to the north. "Not much. Rumors, mostly. Gossiphas it that the book was sold to a private collector, some rich bastard with a taste for the forbidden."

I took a sip of my drink, the alcohol burning a path down my throat. "Any idea who?"

"No names," the barkeep shook his head. "But I'd start with the merchants. They're the ones who deal in rare goods and have money to burn and want to climb the ladder for position. Though I’d be careful, if I were you. Some things are better left buried."

I smiled humorlessly. "That's where you're wrong, old friend. The truth needs to come out, no matter how deep it's buried. And I intend to dig until I find it."

Starting with a social climbing merchant wasn’t a bad idea. There were a lot of them, but I could start at the top. A book like that would cost a fortune.

I downed the rest of my drink in one swift gulp, the warmth spreading through my chest. I stood up from the bar, my gaze sweeping the room once more. Antonius, a journeyman for one of the richest merchants in Kalion caught my attention, and I made my way over to his table. He was engaged in a game of dice, his face flushed with the thrill of potential victory.

"Antonius," I said, my tone casual. "It's been a while."

He looked up, surprise flickering across his features before being replaced by a practiced smile. "Benedetto, what brings you to this fine establishment?"

I stared at the others. They shifted uncomfortably, then tossed the dice down and rose.

It was good to have a reputation for sudden lethal violence. People moved when you wanted them to.

Once we were alone at the table, I pulled out a chair and sat down, signaling to a passing serving girl for another drink. "Oh, you know, the usual. Drink, gamble, gather information. Speaking of which, I heard an interesting rumor about a certain tome."

Antonius's smile faltered briefly. "You know how rumors are, Bene. They're often more fiction than fact."

I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the table. "But every story has a grain of truth, doesn't it? I'm particularly interested in this one. A journal, supposedly written by Ruin herself."

He shifted in his seat, straightening his threadbare velvet sleeve with trembling fingers. "I may have heard something about that. But it's not the kind of thing one discusses openly."

I understood the unspoken request. I palmed several gold coins and dropped them behind his tankard, watching as Antonius's fingers closed around them. They vanished.

"Word is," he said, his voice lowered, "that that particular journal surfaced a few weeks ago. Caused quite a stir among certain circles. But it disappeared just as fast."

My heart raced, the thrill of the hunt coursing through my veins. "Disappeared to where?"

Antonius shrugged. "That's the thing. No one knows for sure. Some say it was bought by a collector, others claim it was stolen by a rival merchant. There are even whispers of sorcerer involvement, Soulrider or Moonshifter."

I sat back in my chair, tapping my fingers on the wooden table. Sorcerers. It always came back to them, didn't it? In specific, Moonshifter, the one who ruined my brother's life.

"And the name of this collector or merchant?" I asked, ignoring Antonius’ subtle cues that he didn’t want to answer.

Antonius hesitated, his gaze flicking down and away. "I don't have a name. But I know someone who might. A minor noble, Lord Orsini. He's known to have a fondness for rare and forbidden texts."

I smiled, the gesture sharp and predatory. "Lord Orsini. I'll have to pay him a visit, then."

I stood up, downing my drink in one swift motion. "Thank you, Antonius. You've been most helpful."

Antonius nodded, his expression a mix of relief and trepidation. "Some secrets are better left undisturbed, Bene."

I laughed, the sound harsh and humorless. "I'm afraid it's far too late for that, my man. Far too late."

I turned and made my way out of the tavern, my mind already plotting my next move. Lord Orsini. A name unfamiliar to me; he’d come onto Kalion’s social scene after I left. I’d gather information on the best way to pressure him.

The cool night breeze stroked my skin as I stepped out of the Angry Octopus, the sounds of laughter and thump of tankards fading behind me. I pulled my cloak tighter around my shoulders, heading for the rooms I rented when I was in town.

My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, the information I had gleaned from Antonius swirling together with the fragmented ramblings of my brother. Ruin. Moonshifter. Whatever theLord of Nightmares was. So many puzzle pieces, scattered and incomplete.

As I turned the corner, the atmosphere shifted. The street was unnaturally quiet, the shadows seeming to deepen and lengthen with each passing moment. Danger whispered to me sweetly.

I paused, my hand instinctively going to the hilt of my sword. A prickling sensation rose at the back of my neck as I scanned the street, searching for any sign of movement, any hint of danger. But there was nothing, only the eerie stillness and the soft whisper of the wind.

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