When the evening came, Baoba and his two colleagues finally got released from their duties.
Eric bowed deeply while leaving, looking as genuinely grateful as possible. The other two, on the contrary, speed walked out of there with all their might.
They still waited for the third one at a distance, though.
"So, where is this cook- I mean bar. Did you stalk her- I mean do your research ? If you want, I can call the cops- I mean a guide." Alex said, repressing a smile.
"I do know where it is, thank you for your concern. I'm sure you didn't mean anything by those three lapsus. It's not too far."
"It better not be." Eric had caught up, and switched off his forced priest mode. "I don't have all day."
"Oh yeah ? What do you have after this ?"
"So how about that assault, huh ?" That guy was an expert at changing subjects. "Apparently there's gonna be mandatory training tomorrow. You think we'll get cool artefacts ?"
This was obviously the hottest subject among church personnel. Anderson had decided to train the volunteers as much as possible before the day came, while still maintaining secrecy. There was an item in the vault that permitted to do just that.
'The more time passes, the more I want to see what's in this damn vault.'
"Careful." Alex warned. "It has to stay an absolute secret. Don't talk about it outside." Although she was not overzealous in the everyday chores, she could get serious where it truly mattered. This was the attitude of most volunteers, they practically jumped at the chance to actually help Helio and had all enrolled. Only Baoba and a dozen more guards stayed back, which was perfect for the plan.
Or at least it would be, if they were all actual preists. However, any hypothetical members of that ring organisation -Baoba had decided to call them the Rings for now- would definitely stay back as well, they would absolutely not miss this opportunity.
The plan was supposed to culminate with the robbing of Noti, permitted by a methodical beating of the inexperienced guards, followed by a quick and hopefully discrete getaway. However, if those inexperienced guards were replaced with prepared, united soldiers, that... would be a problem.
Today, he was going to probe that.
***
Alex was nodding faintly, slightly impressed, while assessing what she was seeing. "You know what... It's actually not bad."
The three were standing in front of a colorful establishment, complete with expansive windows and a huge sigh above the entrance which read "Igor's liquor". Baoba assumed the two had to be pronounced in a way that rhymed, but couldn't quite decide which way it was supposed to be. The stone was richly painted multiple shades of yellow, and even had splurges of blue here and there.
The smell of alcohol was strong enough to be distinct from the ambiance.
"Did you expect a dump ? I have pretty fancy tastes, you know."
Eric threw a look his way. "In bars ? Or women ?"
Baoba suddenly felt a mysterious urge to punch him.
And he did, but the bastard dodged.
"Whatever, we're still gonna get something. And by the way, keep bringing her up and you're paying for your portions. It's really important we look as normal as possible while we're in there."
"Yeah, yeah, just get me my drink already." Alex waved the instruction away as she entered. Baoba followed her and made eye contact with the receptionist.
This place was not any regular bar where people went to get drunk, it was a high-end establishment for rich wine amateurs, it also included dinner and seating, on two different floors each with their own specialty. There were a whole bunch of rules, in fact, the receptionist's job was basically just to explain them.
"Hello ! What can I get you ?" She asked, apparently pleased to have something to do.
"Good day, ma'm." Baoba took on the fanciest accent he could possibly muster. "I would be much obliged if you could tell me how one can get something to eat in this fine house of yours."
"I want a drink." Alex was not exactly following instructions.
The receptionist wasn't fazed, she was determined to do her job as perfectly as possible. "Certainly. There are two floors, which have roughly the same services, but are tailored to different budgets. In each, there is one counter for beer, one for white wine, one for red wine, and two others for miscellaneous liquors. If you want to eat, please approach the open kitchen and take a menu. You can place your orders by writing them on the notepad that comes with it. Restrooms will be provided. There are also...."
Before the speech even ended, Alex booked it for the first floor's beer counter. The other two waited politely and properly ended the interaction.
Coming from behind her, Baoba tapped the back of Alex's head. "Remember when I said to act normal ? I wasn't joking. This is important to me."
He wasn't going to tell them why, but it was true.
"Relax, Bob, it's fine." She already had a drink in her hand and a good amount of foam around her mouth. "These people wouldn't expect the likes of us to act rich anyway. Besides, we have to make an impression on your target, right ?"
"No we don't. In fact, we have to avoid doing so." He sat with her but signaled to the bartender he didn't want anything. "Think of it as a recon mission, alright ? She can't see us here, I only get one first impression."
'Of course, the ideal number of first impressions in this case is zero.'
"Whatever. I'm here already, so I'll just do the normal thing and finish this beer."
"And you wonder why you're single..." Eric said, waiting for his own glass.
"What's that ? Sorry, couldn't hear you over my good mood." She took a sip. "Also, are you even of age, big guy ?"
Baoba quickly interrupted the two. "Okay, stop that, remember, stealth first. How about we go check out the menu first, huh ? I'm starving."
"Sounds good." Eric said, tapping in some of his self control.
"Excuse me, the men I first is none of your business." Alex joked, hopping off her stool.
While they made their way to the kitchen, Eric seemed to notice something. "Lucky the kitchen is open. Usually, you wouldn't get to see the cooks."
This had, of course, nothing to do with luck. After Pando had tracked every Ring from the reunion, she had selected those who could be more easily seen. The next part of the plan required some indirect interaction.
After taking a menu, he purposely stayed right there without saying anything. His two companions seemed to get the hint and started chatting about little things, looking mostly normal.
Until at some point, Baoba spotted an excessively small feminine figure carrying a few trays close to where they were.
'Ok, here we go. This is it.'
"Oh hey, by the way, have any of you guys lost a ring recently ?" He asked, as calmly as possible.
Outside his field of view, the small woman froze for a fraction of a second, her movements became just a little bit slower.
"A ring ?"
"Yeah, a little brass ring without jewels. With like, an eye and a book on it ? I found it while sweeping the floors a few days back, just wondered who lost it. I put it in the lost and found, but no one came to claim it."
Eric was perplexed. "We have a lost and found ?"
They did not.
"Sure we do ! In the small room in the corridor to the right wing. It would wake sense you don't know, though, no one ever goes there. It's probably still in the exact same spot I left it. You'd think with all the visitors, someone would explore the entire building ! But that church is just too big for its own good."
"No no, it's too big for OUR own good ! We are the ones that have to clean the whole thing !"Alex was apparently triggered. "Don't even get me started on all the stands, why the hell..."
And then she got herself started. Behind the wall, the short Ring got back to her job, as if she didn't hear anything.
Only then did Baoba relax. 'And now we wait.'
Such a secretive organisation would surely not pass on the opportunity to retrieve one of their magical rings. No matter how rich, nobody could just let go of mystical items like that. They were all very rare and mostly useful for something. Just the monetary value alone would make the trip worth to anyone.
Which was why Baoba was expecting her to communicate in some way to another Ring, probably the one inside the church if they existed, to go and get it.
Pando was truly a game changing advantage. In the secrecy of the old room, they would feel free to act as suspiciously as they liked.
It was a good plan. No matter how he turned it, Baoba couldn't see how this one could go wrong. There was basically no risk.
'It's been a while since I felt like things were going right. Kinda forgot how nice it is.'
He ordered a delicious plate of meat and vegetables and finished the day in very high spirits.
Or at least he thought he would.
"By the way, have you heard the rumor ?" Eric was serious. He had his priest attitude, so this matter had to do with religion. "Our town is no longer safe. Despite our Lord's protection, demons have entered our sanctuary."
Baoba felt a cold shiver scuttle up his spine. 'Wait, no.. don't tell me...'
Oblivious to his friend's reaction, Eric mercilessly continued his story. "My brother's coworker has a friend who saw it distinctly. One night, he was casually strolling around, when he heard some wicked laughter.. he came to investigate it, and unbelievable as it is, he saw it clear as day : a strange person with scarlet hair and a horribly scarred face, playing with birds made from fire !"
He fought the urge to bury his face in his hands. 'Please no... I have to be dreaming, right ?'
"Even worse.. this was not some common witch. My brother's coworker's friend saw it clearly : she had pointed ears."
The mighty captain almost felt like crying.
'It's just a hood.. why couldn't she just wear the damn hood ?!'
Eric sighed, and shook his head as he uttered the cruel, unavoidable conclusion : "I wish it weren't so, but unfortunately, it can't be denied... There are elves in this city."
'Goddamnit !'