(2,248 words)

Part two for all you lovely people :)

Hope you enjoy Enkets further exploration of the Halflings and their city, Gipfel if curious, and his quest to return the scrying mirror. Will be succeed? Will he be chased off? Captured? Eaten? We'll see! I know this ends in a bit of a weh spot but I think it will flow well into part three. If you have suggestions for future places the Scout can end up Id be happy to hear. He deals with Humans the most but other races will at least have one he can have a distant conversation with at least I think. Except maybe the Lizardmen. But you never know maybe I could think of something plausible!

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"The Half-thing place...Maulland? Rootland? Some-such name-name like that," Enket waving his hand dismissively to the Gilm Slave who nodded and quickly skittered off to shift through some records that the clan had for his assignment. Sure Enket was fairly confident that it was a Halfling that now had possession of Lord Deeptakers special mirror but the world was large. Anything he could do to narrow it down would pay off with him able to actually get this finished in the week. Normally time limits like they were flexible as the Seers and Chiefs who tended to shunt him assignments like this were distracted by the new shiny thing or something else to notice that he was late...but Kritch he didn't think so. Deeptaker was a feared Seer for his insatiable appetite, like Throt in a way, and the Seer surely had a few sneaky eyes watching Enket now. Making sure he was doing his assigned task and not just running away. Gnawing his lip anxiously as he lightly traced a paw-finger over the map in the dull yellow and green light in the Gilm archives. Hopefully Gilm had made a copy of the info Skavendom had about the Halflings before someone else stole, sold, or lost the info. Skaven really did ruin most things most of the damn time.

It would be a couple days along the Underway to get to where the Halflings as a whole were based. Assuming no Goblin, Dwarf, or Skaven interruptions slowing him down. And even if the well worn map had once listed the name of that place it had long since worn away. Or been covered by notes by one of Gilms Scribe Slaves that at least had Half-thing on the map. So he had a general area to check out but with at least two and a half days at bare minimum to get to there through the mountains that was one full day to try and find the mirror before making it back. Kritch wouldn't count this day of prep and study as a freebie. This was cutting into his time right now as he sat here. "Scribe-Slave!" The scout called over the table. "Hurry-quick! I won't be eaten-killed because of your slow-stupid ways!" The Slave lowering his ears and muttering that he was going quick-fast. There was the smallest pang of concern for the Slave from Enket - he likely was doing what he could. Information was coming in and out all the time and keeping track of it must have been a nightmare. Enket was responsible for a hefty chunk of it himself with all the reports he had to write to keep the Grand Word Chief happy. So it was his problem the Slave was trying to fix for him. But a shifting of the map and a growl squashed that from Enkets mind. He could think such thoughts outside of Blight. But not here. Glancing up to skim over the Slave as he tried to fill his arms with rolls of scrolls Enket blinked to snapshot the Slave in his mind. Two brass ear tags on the left, one manacle on right wrist, full tail, left front fang missing. In the report he would recommend them extra food-slop. Before the mass of papers were dropped on the desk and the Slave quickly skittered backwards bowing his head. Wise as he avoided the swipe from Enket before he focused on the documents.

Pulling out an inkwell Enket would start to unroll the scrolls before skimming the Queekish for important information. Setting his own parchment next to it as he held the Glim scroll down with one paw while sticking his opposite hands claws into his mouth. Quickly gnawing away on his claws to a point before starting to copy the information he suspected would be helpful from Gilms onto his own. At least they didn't have the heft around stone tablets anymore. That stuff would take years out of your back. Moatland! That was it. Though it also looked like the only name he was going to get. At least the main settlements were described with what was surrounding them and what was stolen most often. It would have to do.

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While quaint wasnt a word Enket knew, being a Skaven and all, the town was very nice-good. Enough space to walk. Nice clear road and little paths between the homes. Warm looking buildings. And near lots of farmland food. It also didn't seem too massively populated. Even better. Less chance for someone to gift you a rusty blade in the stomach to help you get over your hunger and aspirations. And less chance for your good scheme-plans to be ruined too. Nice-good. But the scout didn't have much time to pine for this nice place to live as his neck started to get hot. And bright. Quickly unclipping Kritchs' token from around his neck Enket stared at it with a mix of contempt and shock. Not only was it actually working and getting warm to let him know he was close - which was excellent as his research and blind guess at a location based on weed-smoke and cluck-food flag turned out to be correct. He may actually be able to finish this assignment on time. But Kritch had enchanted it to glow brightly as well? Surely this wasn't some elaborate scheme to get Enket killed. Deeptakers Stormvermin could do that while the Seer watched. And from how much the Seer had loved to eat the still alive Eshin he clearly wanted to eat Enket while he was still alive. So him dying out here wouldn't get them what they wanted. So they thought this would be helpful in some way?

After a few seconds of gazing at the shiny, thankfully not too hot to burn his paw-hand, Enket wisely tried to hide it under his cloak. Trying to be sneaky while holding a bright light would complicate his job more than a totally foreign location already would. Keeping it in his hand while wrapped in his cloak Enket did his best to continue onward. At least the heat would let him know he was getting closer. Big ears twitching and gently turning as he stopped at a corner to peak around. Two of the Half-things were having a conversation. And not looking at him. Crouching low the Skaven would attempt to skirt across the street as their voices and petting at the dog between them kept the three things distracted. That and the smoke the two were passing back and fourth.

"Good harvest this year eh? Strong and stout. Like us!"

"Aye aye - Fammers did great work this year. And the smooth weather likely helped."

"Aye." Enket glancing over to see the current smoke holding one make a very exaggerated chopping and biting motion before he spoke ago. "Ta Straits been keeping everything nice and secure. No sneaky bitin' bastards to be had!" Well at least they were somewhat concerned of the vampires. If that's what they meant. It was like trying to parse a single conversation during the mad rush for food. The Skaven moving the icon from one hand-paw to the other behind his back as he tried to feel which side was hotter to lead him off. "And so many fundies for us with all those Dafties bidding for so long. Such Dafties."

Enket could only fathom at what that all meant as he felt he had a good idea on direction as he headed off again. Leaving those three puffing, waggin, and chin waggin on the street. The Icon was starting to get rather hot. Almost too much to hold. So he was closing in. And those red pricks of light in the darkness would soon settle on the biggest building he had seen so far. Surely it wouldn't be that obvious would it? And after looking both ways across the street for any Half-things he would nod and scamper across it. His large ears soon slowly rising over the window sil before his eyes followed. Roving around the rather well lit room from a hearth fire as he looked for the mirror. Surely something that fancy would be on display wouldn't it? Everyone liked to show off the shiny. But he couldn't pick out anything close to the size he had been told to look out for. Though he could spot some sparkle on the mantlepiece...was that Warpstone tokens just sat in the open? Weird Half-things. The red eyes narrowing as he humm-pondered as he held up the cloak covered icon. Still the same heat? Taking a few steps back after removing his feet from the flower bed he had been standing in to reach the window Enket held it up to the smaller house beside the big city hall. And it was suddenly far too hot to hold. Making the ratman make a mix between a squeal and gasp in pain and drop the heat. Right onto his own foot.

Thankfully Enket had the presence of mind to fall down on top of the hot brightly glowing coal as he clamped his teeth down on the shoulder park of his cloak to keep himself from making much more noise and to try to cover up the beacon to his position. On his elbows and knees so his cloak covered the bright heatstone while he wasnt directly touching it. His teeth putting a few clean holes through the thick fabric as he tried to stay still. Eyes screwed shut from the stinging pain in his paw and foot. Typical Grey Seer to have their 'help' harm and almost doom you. But, as his ears slowly turned one way than the other, he didn't hear anything new showing up. Maybe he had gotten away with it. Flicking out the pained limbs a bit the scout worked on slipping his pack off his back so he could remove the cloak. Thankfully it was still slightly damp so he could drop it over the almost blinding brightness of the token and wrap it up. Flicking his tail at the sudden chill without his cloak Enket took another look and listen. Still nothing. Slipping his pack back over his back he picked up the warm bundle and once again stepped up on a flower bed to look inside. Ears then eyes, but this time they were wide with joy. There it was! Right over a rather large roaring fire in front of a table with something steaming on it. Perfect-excellent! Bright eyes flicking back and fourth as he looked for a way in. The window he was in front of looked like it didn't open. And the front door was right there. His snoot wriggling a bit back and fourth as he looked up at the sky. The first fingers of dawn were just starting to appear. He was running out of time to sneak. It was time to speed up.

Skulking around to the front Enket patted one handed over his belt before pulling out a simple lock pick set. A human made set for human made locks he had from a few missions back. He just hoped that these Half-things had the same kind of locks. Setting the cloak bundle down on the floor the scout took a last look around before crouching next to the door and sliding the tension bar into the lock. It fit. So far so good. Before out came the rake. Sure Eshin would do this with their claws and way faster but when you have a sandwich maker you want to use it. Same with these. Turning his head down so he could get his eye closer to the lock Enket carefully slid the rake into the lock before starting to gently run it back and fourth over the top. Starting to put tension on the wrench to slide the pins up. Before the lock just clicked open. The skaven blinking foolishly at that as the door itself gently opened inward. They didn't even use the locks they had? "Weird-stupid," he'd mutter to himself before returning the tools and scooping up the cloak blanket. Opening the door the rest of the way before he was smacked in the face full force.

By the smell of excellent food and the tugging of warpstone at his mind. Enket himself looking ahead as his mostly rational mind was shoved aside. The Horned Rat and his baser instincts taking over in a Horned Impulse. The Skaven not even seeing the three Halflings watching him from just inside the door as he moved inside. Dropping the cloak wrapped token as his hands reached out. Toward the Mirror? His ultimate goal? Or was it the massive pie that was steaming away on the table? Hard to tell. But they were darting to his dagger as the door behind him was slammed shut. Three more halflings on the inner side of the door. All six now grinning at him with their own knives out as the largest one chuckled. "Hoodoodee Rat. So nice of you to join us for second dinner!" The other five nodding in agreement as they advanced on the lone Skaven. Smiles wide and knives poised as Enkets mind snapped out of the Impulse driven stupor for him to blink and squeak. Trying to back and turn as he dropped his own blade. But all he did was trip over one of the chairs before the six Halflings leapt upon him.