Osric and Garrick were back in Franklin's office with him.
'Right. He wanted to talk to me about something.' Osric remembered.
Franklin glanced at Garrick. "I think it's best for only you to hear this, Osric."
Garrick understood and was about to turn, when Osric grabbed his shoulder firmly.
"No need. You can trust Garrick. He can hear anything as long as you agree to it as well."
"Alright."
He cleared his throat. "It's about the girl you asked me to find, Natasa."
Osric was surprised to hear that name after a while. He had completely forgotten about it.
"Who's Natasa?" Garrick asked.
"She's a young waitress who worked at her parent's inn that I formerly stayed at. Natasa was kidnapped not long ago and I asked Franklin to look into it, since she treated me well."
Garrick wasn't surprised about someone getting kidnapped. He was however, surprised that Osric would care enough to do something.
"I see. That's unfortunate."
Franklin cleared his throat again. His usually stoic face couldn't hide the fact that he was uncomfortable right now.
"I found out what happened to her and where she is."
Osric could tell that this wasn't all to it.
"And?"
"Well. She was kidnapped by one of the few mercenary groups here that's actually a company and not just a band, though they are the least reputable and relatively small for a company."
"They basically just do the dirty work for House Greydell. And from our investigation, they are the main force behind their goblin cave experiments. That's also where Natasa was taken."
"I see." Osric could imagine what it was for, and it made him feel disgusted.
"I guess there's nothing that can be done, right?"
"I'm afraid so. It's too soon to get involved with House Greydell. Interfering with something so major would only put our whole operation at risk. I'm sorry for not being any more help."
Osric clenched his fist, as he remembered the warm smile of Natasa.
"That's alright. I wasn't close to her anyway. It's just frustrating to be so powerless."
Franklin and Garrick both looked upset too.
"Yeah. But at least this means I don't have to worry about you doing something reckless alone. Right?"
"Of course. Like I said, I barely knew her. And I'm not an idiot. I'm not going on a suicide mission for something like that. I have other priorities."
Garrick smiled. 'That sounds more like him. It's good that he isn't a sentimental fool, as long as he doesn't turn out to become trash like that guy.'
Franklin's expression didn't change. 'Osric is impressive in the way he can keep a cool head at his age. But I can sense it. He is hurting about not being able to do anything.'
"Anyway, thanks for relaying the information to me. We'll take our leave now." Osric said.
They said their goodbyes and left the guild.
—
At the inn, later in the evening.
Osric and Garrick ate together.
"Since we didn't get to see the others today, we'll go see them early tomorrow to discuss our party's plans." Osric told Garrick while eating his beef stew.
"Sure. By the way, are you not gonna tell me about your deal with Franklin and that goblin cave he mentioned?"
Osric's expression turned more serious. "Alright. Since you'll be part of my future plans, it's good for you to know everything too. Just don't make me regret trusting you."
Garrick didn't make a snarky comment this time. He could tell this was important to Osric.
"Franklin leads a faction in Ashbrook that plans to stand up to House Greydell's corruption. I have been recruited not long ago and decided to join him on my own terms."
"The plan has apparently been in motion for a few years already and the operation is only a couple of years away."
"It was moved up because of what they found in the monster forest. A large goblin cave is being used by House Greydell and they are doing experiments on humans and goblins alike in there."
Osric told Garrick about everything he knew concerning the multiple factions in Ashbrook and kept going into detail.
He also told him about some of his future plans for their party and growth. Garrick was very shocked to hear all of this.
Their talk went on for hours.
"Wow. I knew things were bad here, but to think so much was happening beneath my nose. But it honestly doesn't surprise me about what they're doing. I've met many corrupt nobles over the years and some did even worse."
"Yeah. It doesn't surprise me either. Those in power make the rules and many take advantage of that to fulfil their disgusting desires."
"That's definitely true. But although most nobles in Aldreth are trash, not all of them are like that. I've met some decent ones who treated commoners fairly."
"Not me. I've always lived in Ashbrook under the same House Greydell. I despise them. The only way to stand up to them—
Is to gain power yourself."
Garrick felt pity for Osric.
'So young, yet such a dark view of the world. I don't blame him though. Our Kingdom of Aldreth is a dark place and some places are especially bad, such as Ashbrook.'
'It can't have been easy for a poor orphan like him.'
"I wonder how it is for other kingdoms in the continent of Kharvain…"
—
The next morning, they left the inn together early and headed to the guild.
The other members should also appear there like they agreed on to do every morning. Osric and Garrick couldn't make it in time yesterday because they were in the infirmary. So they had to explain that to them today.
When they arrived, William, Paul and Jayson were already waiting with worried expressions.
"Osric! What happened yesterday?" William shouted once he saw him entering through the front door with Garrick.
"We heard you beat one of the arena champions, but you had us worried when you didn't show up yesterday." Paul added.
"Yeah. Sorry guys, I was at the infirmary. Garrick had to carry me there the night before because I passed out after my fight."
"I'm glad to see you alive sir." Jayson said.
"Same here. And we assumed that's what happened yesterday. That's why we decided to wait until today before coming to look for you." Paul agreed.
"But you look really beaten up. Tell us everything that happened." William interrupted.
Osric and Garrick sat down with them and proceeded to tell the others everything that happened the last couple of days.
They spent a while talking about all kinds of other things as well, before coming to the current topic.
"So what's the next plan?" William asked.