Chapter 86: A Late-Night Visit

Since he was awake, Raymond decided not to go back to sleep just yet. He asked Anna to prepare hot water, then washed in his room. This time, he did not ask for a large tub he could soak in, only a large basin of hot water and a clean towel to wipe himself down.

Once he was clean, he changed into a brand-new set of linen clothes. They cost very little, and he could easily afford them now. He had bought two sets so he could alternate between them.

After washing, he lay down again.

*No one should disturb me this time, right?*

He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

This time, he slept deeply, until another bout of urgent knocking startled him awake. He sat up sharply and looked out the window. It was completely dark outside. He must have slept for quite a while.

His head ached a little, and he felt groggy, but the knocking continued. He shook his head hard, got out of bed, and opened the door again.

He had expected Anna, Henk, or perhaps Mara, so he had not taken a weapon with him. Instead, he found a slightly stout man standing outside with his hood up and his head lowered, hiding his face. A cloak covered him completely.

Raymond immediately grew wary. He stepped back, glancing toward his weapons. Just then, the hooded man spoke.

“Shh! Don't be alarmed, Raymond. It's me!”

At the familiar voice, Raymond stopped and looked at the man in confusion. His visitor had already entered the room and carefully shut the door. Only after making sure no one else was there did he lower his hood.

“Sheriff!” Raymond exclaimed under his breath.

It was Marcus. He wore neither his uniform nor his expensive finery, but had come dressed to conceal himself. Raymond was taken aback. What could have brought him here at night?

At least it explained why he had been allowed upstairs on his own. Normally, neither Anna nor Sophie would let just anyone come up to Raymond's room. They would probably only make an exception for the Sheriff himself.

Marcus sighed and sat in a chair to one side. “Sheriff?” His tone was mocking. “Not for much longer.”

“Has something happened?” Raymond asked with concern, immediately sensing that something was wrong. Marcus would not have come to see him in the middle of the night, dressed like this, unless something important had happened.

Marcus's expression turned serious. “I do have something urgent to talk to you about. The town guard has just posted two emergency jobs. You've heard about them, haven't you?”

“Yes. Deputy Sheriff Dario has already come to see me.”

“I see. We had the same idea.” Marcus sighed softly. “What do you think?”

“I wasn't planning to take another job. I wanted to rest first.” Raymond looked at Marcus as he spoke. “But if both of you have come to me, it must be important. I suppose I should give it some more thought.”

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“You and Henk are the only ones I can really rely on.” Marcus nodded. “We suffered such heavy losses during the goblin incident because of that unreliable lot. With you there this time, I think we could keep the danger under control.”

Raymond paused, then spoke. “Thank you for your confidence, Sheriff. So you want me stationed at the pass into the Blackstone Mountains? Can I ask why? What's happened? I owe it to my companions, and myself, to know what we're getting into.”

Marcus murmured in agreement.

“You're right. I should explain. Ebony ore is worth far more than either of us can imagine. Certain people in town don't want to give up resources that were so hard to obtain. They intend to keep trading with the gnolls for that precious ore. The gnolls haven't shown any signs of hostility toward us yet, but we have to be on our guard. They won't be as easy to deal with as those goblins. And there's a particularly dangerous one in the Blackstone Mountains, much like the Dragonblood Goblin. I suspect this gnoll is far stronger.”

“And far more cunning,” Raymond added. “It's not just stronger. It knows how to use other races. The gnolls enslave them too. Those kobolds were their slaves. And there are hybrid gnolls as well. They aren't as strong as gnolls, but they're smarter than ordinary ones and better at communicating.”

He drew a deep breath and continued earnestly. “I agree with you, sir. These gnolls aren't trading partners we can work with. They're potential enemies, plain and simple.”

“I'm glad you see it that way. I was right about you.” Marcus looked pleased. “Will you take the job, then? Watch the gnolls' movements from the pass into the Blackstone Mountains? You're the man for it. I don't trust anyone else.”

Raymond hesitated. The job did not sound dangerous, but it would require someone to keep watch almost twenty-four hours a day. If they missed the gnolls coming down from the mountains and failed to raise the alarm in time, the nearby villagers could suffer. They would not have to seek out a fight, but the responsibility was considerable.

“Henk and your new half-orc companion both have low-light vision. They can see the gnolls' movements in the dark. No one is better suited to this than the three of you,” Marcus said. “We'll also arrange for the villagers in Silverleaf to deliver supplies, so you won't have to worry about that. It's the closest village to the pass. You and Henk know it quite well, don't you?”

Raymond nodded.

“We do know Silverleaf Village fairly well. But how long would this job last? I don't think the gnolls are likely to turn hostile anytime soon. If we're going to guard the pass, is there a reasonable limit on how long we'd have to stay? I'm sorry, sir. Please don't take this personally. I'm only asking about the job itself.”

Marcus evidently had not considered that. The question left him speechless for a long while. But Raymond was right. Watching the pass would be a long-term assignment, not something they could finish quickly. They might endure a week or two, but maintaining a long-term watch would require enough mercenaries to work in rotation. No one could stay there indefinitely.

Seeing Marcus deep in troubled thought, Raymond suddenly had an idea.

“Sir, I have an idea. What if we took supplies to the gnolls and kept trading? Bringing the goods to the foot of the mountains would let us see how they feel about continuing the trade. But more importantly, the people who followed them last time only reached the pass. This time, perhaps we could find someone willing to go deeper into the Blackstone Mountains, follow them up, and gather more reliable information.”

“Keep trading?” Marcus said. “If we used the exchange to find out more about them, it might be worth considering. But you know the Blackstone Mountains are forbidden territory. Who would risk their life going in?”

“Money, sir.” Raymond gave a self-mocking smile. “If the pay is high enough, I think someone will be willing to venture into the mountains. Blackstone is full of people now. There will always be some willing to take risks for money. Besides...”

“Besides, plenty of them are from out of town!” Marcus slapped his thigh. “That's a good idea. A very good idea! I knew I was right to come to you, Raymond. Still, entering the Blackstone Mountains really is dangerous. Even now, with the mist thinning and the gnolls coming and going freely, there's a serious risk.”

He stood and paced back and forth. After a long time, he finally made up his mind.

“But it's worth it! This is for Blackstone's safety. For the safety of the thousands of people who live here!”