"What, silver? From the rocks, of course. Lead and silver are the two most common metals, after all." "Are we there yet??" Aliberti asked right after, just as Hanwas stopped.
"Actually, yes." A group of young men flooded out of the nearby building. Hanwas directed them to the boxes and, without asking or bothering to ask, they seized all the crates from Aliberti and his group.
"Master Sinuk will see you?" The shortest, and fattest of the youths spoke, but Hanwas waved at him.
"I trust Nanan Sinuk to handle the boxes while I have a business to attend to. Tell him I will be with him shortly." The fat kid bowed and left after his colleagues.
"Does that mean we're going to the temple of, what was it, Mortis?" "Indeed! Follow me, it's just down the street."And it was, indeed, down the street. A large compound with tall, black wall surrounding it, the only entrance being through an imposing, circular building made of blackstone, with the tops and bases of the columns decorated with stone-carved skulls.
Upon closer inspection, the columns themselves, arches and all other joints of the building were meticulously shaped to resemble actual bones.
A giant skull - a real one, this time - was hanging above the entrance gate, staring down at approaching people with two, dark, empty eyesockets.
Hanwas stopped before the gate, a pair of halberd-wielding, caped guards raising their hands.
"What is your business here?" Asked one of them. Hanwas blinked in surprise.
"I, err, well, I'm here to speak with... Sister Dusk... of Norgala." The guards considered his words, looked behind him to glance at Aliberti and others, and then stepped aside.
"Alright. Do not disturb our officers nor the progress of the investigation, or you shall be fined." Hanwas hurriedly nodded and brought the group through now-opened gate.
The inside of the Temple of Mortis was even more creepy and morbid.
Polished black tiles under the feet, and arches, assembled from bones and skulls, above the head. Marble pillars with small skulls on top, the skulls opened and lit candles placed inside to profile lightning.
For such a morbid place, the Temple was bustling with activity.
Soldiers and robed men discussing things between each other, some helping tend wounds of silent, pale girls in blood-red robes. Important-looking men in fancy hats pointing at doors and walls, scribes writing down their words. Something definitely happened here, but merchant Hanwas had no interest in asking questions.
Possibly because of the threat of fines.
He approached a small door at the end of the long, pillaged entrance hall, and knocked thrice on it.
There was no answer.
"Hum hm..." "Knock again?" "Knock louder!" Hanwas shot the siblings a glare. Perhaps knocking again is considered impolite?...