Bystanders gave the hulking man a wide berth. They split into groups when he approached them, and anyone who didn’t get out of his way merely met his shoulder and found themselves on the ground. No one dared approach nor confront him. He was simply too big. Too unnatural.
He entered the first of many businesses he would need to visit that day. Upon his entrance he cast off the majority of the mass he had accumulated, instead appearing to the innkeeper as any average man of this town. He lowered his hood and bowed, exchanging pleasantries before paying for a single night.
Raker sneered the moment he was upstairs. He ran budding talons against each door as he passed them. An effeminate gasp behind one of the doors caused him pause, though Raker had no interest in them yet. He was after larger prey.
The room at the end of the hall was empty, but rank with the stench of that wretched Spiritcaller root.
“Remind me again,” said Raker with a guttural voice, “what name is he going by now?”
Caed.
This time, the man snorted. It was a name he found disagreeable. Hardly fit for a sorcerer of his caliber. He glanced around the room. It had been empty for a while.
“He was here. Cleaned house. You told him I was coming, did you not?”
That is correct.
Raker scraped one of his nails across the only table in the room. He looked at the residue he picked up, however unsurprised to find it was just the forgotten remnants of Caed’s cigarettes. The plant he used was instantly recognizable by the smell alone.
“This would be much faster if you could just take me directly to him. He still bears your mark, yes?” He glanced towards the deepest shadows in the room. That was where Valcoth resided.
Yes, but…
“But…?”
The winds have changed. Something is wrong.
There was nothing worth investigating in this room. Flicking the residue out from the underside of his nail, he peered at the roiling form of Valcoth in the shadows.
“Elaborate. He hasn’t been here recently, so I’m scratching off the rest of our stops in this town. He isn’t the type to hop between beds.”
I was able to sense him in this town, in Oakridge, too, and I sensed him elsewhere as well. He approached the border between the empire and Ashvale, and then he disappeared for a time.
Raker listened quietly, intently. One of his nails scraped against his scarred bottom lip.
He reappeared in another small town, back in the empire. He was buying food. More than he would need for himself.
“I assume you followed him?” Raker pressed, his palm out beside him. “He rarely eats, and not once have I seen him with a partner. What would he need more necessities for? Maybe he finally picked himself a woman.”
Perhaps, said Valcoth. A woman capable of removing all routes for me.
Raker hummed at that. He started clicking his nails against the table. He was growing impatient.
“Really, you are a frustrating creature. Picking up these cryptic, worthless words…I need facts.” This time, he spoke with a growl underlying his words. He could see the outline of the creature retreat somewhat into the wider space.
I do not understand myself. There was something beyond the trees; a greater, more fearsome being.
Now, that was something Raker found intriguing. Had their target managed to find shelter amongst older beings? Not many were left these days.
“Fine, if you don’t know more then there’s no point in asking. Bring me to his last known location. I will track him myself.” Raker brought a hand to his neck and cracked it. Now that they had agreed on something, he was reminded of the voice he heard in one of the rooms he passed. He had lost a lot of mass trying not to cause undue chaos, but if Valcoth was right, then Raker wanted to bulk before he went out again.
He had been particularly polite, after all. As usual, he gave Lady Alk’Hath whatever she desired. She asked him to behave. He behaved. But, she had also told him to let loose when necessary.
It was necessary. Raker was itching for all the sensations mortals could offer him.
And he had so much to show them in turn.