33rd Ashan 717 AV
Although it was not the worst the Aukari had experienced, Etzos was in a bad way. The flayings brought out the worst in the Etzori in a way that only the monster responsible for those deaths could inspire. The recent break ins to those opportunistic alchemists stores were the least of anyone's worries as there would only one important concern in their minds. It was the 33rd trial of the season. The ninth trial after the 24th trial- since the last flaying victim was found.
The trial another body was due to surface because of the flayings...
It was no surprise there were not many stores open in Etzos on the 33rd even if there were those which needed them for their necessities. Fortunately for a lot of their customers who lived outside the walls, the Kettle Black was not one of these places. Slim as it was, whether or not there was a risk to them or their customers, the Blacks did not believe the Kettle should be closed. Unlike other similar establishments, the closure of the Kettle is not an inconvenience to those who have come to rely on it. There was no telling where they might go- what they might do, if they were unable to get their food.
Even so the Kettle was not as busy as it usually was for the obvious reasons. Had the Blacks been more like their peers, the ones who left their stores open with their employees forced to chance the flayings while they sat comfortably at home, he would have just called it a day. The Aukari had abandoned much more important posts for his own well-being; the possibility of losing his job to make sure of his hopefully long lived life was something he did not need to have second thoughts about.
However as the Blacks remained in the Kettle, he had no such chance. It was business as usual, as Maylan had her 'soup on' for any visitor was not as superstitious of the nine trial lottery as the rest of Etzos. While the soup kitchen had more regulars on a normal day, the activity in the Kettle scant as it was was enough for the Aukari to at least feel safe. It was not like any of its regulars would be missed anyway if they did become a victim to the flayings and, F'mos felt there could be more people although he was aware it was just wishful thinking.
Imagine his surprise when a fresh face showed up unfamiliar to any at the Kettle...
Except him of course. It took him a while but he recognized the woman as the Crow's new friend at the pirate meet. He had no doubts that she was not responsible for the flayings, or she would not have needed the Avriel's assistance with the pirates. As he had kept himself hidden, it was unlikely she knew who he was and the Aukari intended to keep it that way. No one else in the Kettle needed to know the job he had on the side. It would likely betray what trust he had built in the community.
He waited until the woman finally reached him before he perked up and asked the usual question. "Would you like some soup? Or something else? Maybe something to go into pot?" He gestured to the pot he was tasked to keep fresh and hot, and added "if you put in pot, you get more." Nothing more was said as F'mos did not think there was anything more to be said, at least until the woman became one of the Kettle's customers although he was curious about what happened to her with the pirates after he left the scene.
