Page 59 of Ties of Frost

After the tavern, I meandered over to a bakery. The light elf woman tried to talk me into buying all kinds of baked goods, but I stood my ground and bought a single iced cinnamon bun. If they’d had any apple turnovers, I’d have purchased one for Zidra. The baker hadn’t heard of Rouven and didn’t know where to buy Nyksian mead, either.

“Heard any fascinating gossip, then?” I leaned against the counter with a conspiratorial smile.

She looked up from rearranging pastries in the display case. “All kinds, but not any I reckon would interest a rengir.” She considered. “Well, there was that brawl last week.”

“Brawl?” That wasn’t helpful, but was it something I should look into as a rengir?

“A couple sailors got into a tussle in the street, right in front of my shop. Then their friends took sides, and the city guard had to break it up. I heard they were fighting over who was going to do shopping for some rich old hermit.” She shook her head. “Fighting in the streets for a few extra gold coins from some eccentric old fool. Unseemly behavior.”

“Old hermit?” I asked eagerly. “An ice elf, by chance?”

She turned up her palms. “Not sure. The sailors would know, though.”

I thanked her and wandered back out to find some sailors. At this time of day, most restaurants had very few patrons. At last, I found a tavern where three men who looked promising were eating in the back corner. The blond human had a sun-beaten face, the green-eyed and tanned forest elf wore a loose shirt tucked into fitted trousers that were unusual for an elf, and the brown-skinned human’s muscles strained against the shoulders of his shirt.

I approached a young man wearing an apron and ordered an ale, which the lad brought out quickly. I carried my drink over to the three men and motioned to the remaining chair at their table. “Mind if I join you?”

They took in my swords and insignia before nodding slowly.

“Thank you!” I slid into the chair and sipped my drink. “Are you sailors?”

The forest elf nodded. “We work on theWraith. You’re an ice elf, right?” His gaze fixed on my earrings, his brow puckering. “I heard Kyrundar Ilifir, one of the Emperor’s Merit recipients, is an ice elf with a light elf mother.”

I lounged back in my chair with a relaxed smile. “That’s true, I am.”

All three men sat taller, glancing at each other with wide eyes. The sunburned human rested his forearm on the table near me, as if barely restraining himself from touching me. “Do you need help with anything, Rengir Ilifir?”

I took another sip. “Have any of you heard of an ice elf named Gautindar Rouven?”

They all shook their heads, looking disappointed.

“Then do you know anything about a rich old hermit who pays sailors to do his shopping?”

“Old Frostbite?” the sunburned human said.

“Who is that?”

They said together, “Nobody.” The other human snickered.

I chuckled confusedly. “Er…”

“That is,” the elf said quickly, “a mean old ice elf has been living in one of the Glacorian inlets for…close to six months?”

His friends murmured their agreement. I almost danced in my chair.

“He says his name is Nobody. I suppose he just hates people that much. All the sailors have taken to calling him Old Frostbite, both because of his temperament and because he’s surrounded his inlet with ice magic.” The elf shrugged. “At least, that’s what I heard. I haven’t been that way recently, but some elves say they can sense his magic a mile away.”

“I’ve heard Old Frostbite skates out with a sack full of gold to passing ships when he wants something,” the dark-haired human said. “And he asks them to bring him back expensive food and drinks. Sounds half mad to me.”

“Does he ask for Nyksian mead, by chance?” I pressed.

“Possibly. We’ve not been hired by him.”

“Know anyone who has?”

The elf frowned. “The crew of theIshara, for sure, but they left port a few days ago.”

As they didn’t have much more to offer, I thankedthem and left with a spring in my step. I almost headed back to the Haven, but checking in on the heartbond confirmed that Zidra was still by the docks. I could meet them there…but the Cherry Blossom Teahouse was only a street away. Their tea wasn’t as good as that at the Blooming Lotus, but I liked the place. More importantly, it was frequented by bards and troubadours who were good sources of gossip. If I could get the name of someone who had actually met Old Frostbite or the location of the magic-protected inlet, Zidra would be impressed. And I’d get tea out of the deal.

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