Rouen took a deep breath as he walked along the riverfront of Remton. The air smelled of the day's catch that was being offloaded from the docks and he shriveled what was left of his nose at the stench. The movement made the large scar across his face from forehead to cheek itched and he idly ran a finger along the jagged mark. He adjusted the eye patch that covered the space where his right eye used to be and turned south down the road.
He saw his destination ahead of him, the weathered wooden sign with a river boatman indicating the familiar Boatman's Inn. The two story building sagged slightly from years of settling and the paint on the red door was chipped, but there were places in far worse shape in this district. He pushed on the door and headed for his normal bench in the back of the room.
The Boatman's was one of the few places where Rouen didn't feel out of place, the normal patrons looking as equally worn as himself and no one looked twice here. Plus, there was always a drunk river man to talk to and he enjoyed the company. But tonight was not going to be his normal social encounter. The messages he had received from Lokenth were intriguing, but he wasn't sure how he felt about the prospect of a partner. His travels had taken him many interesting places and he was reluctant to give those up.
But on the other hand, he was in Remton for the prospect of earning a significant sum, and this meeting added the prospect of more gold. He didn't mind the wandering, but certainly wanted to spend a little less time sleeping in the forests. He ordered a mug of ale from the overweight barmaid and sat back to watch the other patrons and the door.
