Merse was inside before she realized she was not alone in the shop. Quickly pulling her hood to hide her face, Merse pretended to peruse the wares as far from the stranger as she could get. The customer was standing at the counter, seemingly not concerned with Merse's presence at all, but Merse did not dare steal a glance for fear she might be recognized.
"This is the last of the Razek antidote I have, probably won't get another shipment for a few weeks," Pia stated, holding up a jar as she came in from the doorway behind the counter. "Ten silvers, take it or leave it." Merse knew Pia had noticed her from the second she entered the store, but ever the true professional, Pia gave no indication in front of strangers. The customer sighed with a helpless smile and raised his empty hands.
"They say money is the world's curse, but I would venture to say it is the lack thereof that surpasses it," the customer, a scruffy but laid-back young man, said easily. "I don't suppose I could interest you in a prayer in exchange? Or perhaps a blessing? I am quite good at those."
"Money or move it," Pia glowered at the customer, even less cordial than before. The customer shrugged lightheartedly, then headed for the door. When Pia was certain the man had left, she finally turned to Merse.
"Damn, you have more lives than a Felixos," Pia grinned with no small amount of admiration. "When I heard what happened to them sleazers a few days ago, I figured you'd bit it or high-tailed it; didn't think to ever see you again."
"Sleazers?" Merse asked.
"You mean you ain't heard?" Pia furrowed her brow. "Where the blazes you been? It's all over town; I reckoned with your eye on the Conglomerate you'd have known, especially since they're investigating it personally." In response to Merse's confused look, Pia continued, "Bunch of lowlifes were disposed of five days ago, near the info dealer I sent you to." Spotting a sudden glimmer of realization in Merse's eyes, Pia grunted, "I heard they were acquaintances." Merse frowned, not sure how much to tell Pia. She decided to stick to Kayl's sanitized version of events for the moment.
"So they're all dead?" Merse asked, continuing when she saw Pia nod. "It was Reton." Pia drew in a sharp breath, scowling. "They spotted me, tried to grab me, but something else popped up and started attacking them, so I legged it in all the confusion. Been lying low outside the city since." Pia nodded, seemingly buying Merse's largely abbreviated version of events.
"I didn't see it myself, but the whole town knows it was a giant spider. Webs rooftop to rooftop they said, with little bundles of joy hanging down." Pia muttered cautiously. "You were right to hole up; if the Conglomerate got wind you survived, they'd round you up in a heartbeat." Merse nodded in agreement. "Strange things going on around here, first the Conglomerate, then the spider, and even a heretic!" Pia indicated towards the door, referring to the customer who had just left. "Good time to head for greener pastures. And speaking of strange, you better take a look at your friend." Pia's mention of a heretic was driven clear out of Merse's mind by Pia's reference to Drin.
"Did something happen?" Merse queried uncertainly.
"I got him a doc, like you asked, said it was just a couple of hard knocks, some rest and poultices he'd be fine. I paid and had him treated, figured you'd be good for it. Physically, he's right as rain. But..." Pia paused. "He's been hiding in that room since you disappeared. Kept muttering about something hunting him down, that it'd got you, and it was after him next. First I thought the hits he took scrambled his brain, but the doc said weren't nothing to do with his body. I did what I can, but I can't keep him here forever, " Pia frowned. "Whaddaya plan to do?"