Chapter CCLIX: Master of Her Trade ~Bulaklak

All eyes avoided her in the tavern. At least, so it seemed. They had been looking at Bulaklak out of the corner of their eyes since she entered. They were probably wondering who this unsettling stranger was. Let them stare.

The meal she ordered was scant. She could have afforded a better meal, but knew not to. Only stupid people threw money around in public, unfamiliar places. And stupid people didn't last long.

Some people were actually turning to stare now. She kept her head low, only lifting her mask just enough to shove some food in her mouth, then instantly slamming it back down. After she finished her meal, she walked to the counter and paid the bartender. Had she bought an expensive meal, he would have followed her, waiting for her to fall asleep, and then slit her throat.

As she walked out of the tavern, she swiftly jerked her head up. Her sense of smell was somehow never muffled by her mask. And she had caught a scent. She followed it to an alleyway until it seemed she had found the source. Even at its strongest, it was faint, but it was there. Burnt flesh. And ashes. And blood. It was discreet, as if someone, an expert, had done their best to clear it, but it was there. She quickly shook her head, as if trying to clear it, and darted out of the alley.

As night fell, she quickened her pace. Few people were outside. The perfect time to get some of the real goods bound to be in this town. And she knew just where to find them. She could never understand why people buried their dead with treasure and other such things. Dead people were dead. They could never have a use for them. But, pointless or not, it provided an excellent hunt for her.

No one was in the graveyard when she entered. More superstitious behavior. The only things in a graveyard were dead bodies, dirt, and some of the best little trinkets you could find. The stone door took little effort to move, and she closed it securely behind her. In pitch darkness, she took out a small lantern out of a small bag, as well as a few probes and lockpicks.

She then strode boldly into the darkness, her only fear being getting a spider web on her recently-polished mask.