What Lurks Beneath

Two

Cantos was a small trading town surrounded by stubborn brown fields where an attempt had been made to conquer the land and get a farming community started. This far out in the East Area, though, farming was tough, especially with the dry weather and the quasi-secluded locations. Mostly, the people who started up a village out here were running away from city responsibilities, or simply just running away. And with all the conflict lately, sometimes the secluded locations kept the war-weary from witnessing any more atrocities.

Ed dropped his trunk on the platform and stretched, working out the kinks in his back and neck. Even being part robotic as he was, he still got sore joints from sleeping in awkward positions. Alphonse, though, had no such trouble, stepping onto the platform and drawing stares from everyone who could see him. Which included just about everyone on Cantos’ platform.

“Well, let’s go.” Ed said, picking up his trunk and flinging it over his shoulder. “Might as well find a place to stay, huh?”

“Yeah.” Alphonse answered softly, still uncomfortable with people staring at him even after all this time. He moved after his brother off the platform and through the pitiful station that was little more than a two-room brick building. Cantos was a lively place once off the platform, buildings no more than two-stories and made out of clay or wood. People shouted at one another, vendors calling out their wares to sell, even in the open produce market.

The boys had seen their fair share of markets in their travels, but they’d never seen anything quite like Cantos’ market, with its bright colors and bright offerings. Ed and Al took their time, seeing everything they could as they made their way to the town’s inn.

The inn was just as boisterous as the market outside, as most of the patrons were working men, fresh off work or just getting started. Not one paid any heed to Ed and Al as the boys worked the way through the crowd toward an empty table.

They’d just sat down when the waitress came over to them, grinning widely. “Hello there! What brings you all the way to Cantos? Can I get you anything?”

Ed fumbled for an answer. “Uh, we came looking for work. Earn a bit of cash so we can continue our journey.”

“I see. Aren’t you a bit young to be working, though?”

“Ah, nobody’s too young to do work, Lani!” one man shouted. A chorus of laughter erupted around them. “The one in th’ armor we could use in the mine! Dunno ‘bout the small one though.”

Alphonse prepared to catch his brother before the elder blonde could fly into a rage. He blinked in surprise as Ed started to laugh. “Well, I might not be much help in a min, but I can do other things.” Edward said with a grin.

“Oh yeah?” the man who’d spoken before asked. “Like what?”

Ed blinked. “Oh, uh, well. I fix stuff.”

“Fix stuff how?”

“Uh, alchemy.”

There was silence for a moment. Lani clapped her hands happily. “Oh, that’s perfect! Mato, he could fix the winches and supports to the entrance!”

The man who’d engaged the Elric boys in conversation blinked. Mato, Ed assumed, soon split his lips in a wide, teeth-baring grin. “Well, we could always use another alchemist!”

Ed and Al blinked. “Another alchemist?” They asked together.

“Oh, you’ll have to meet him.” Lani said with a smile. “Ray’s been out helping shore up the mine for Mato and his boys.”

“Ray?” Ed asked, hoping to wean more information out of Lani. The waitress smiled.

“He’s a little odd,” she began, “always thinking someone’s after him. But he’s a real sweet guy once you get to know him.”

“The only problem is those gangs he traffics with.” Mato interrupted. “Ray’s a good man, just not too bright when it comes to friends, if you get my meaning.”

“I see.” Ed fell silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to Al. The younger Elric nodded slightly. Well, they knew Raymond was here in town then. The tough part would be cornering the paranoid rat and somehow transporting him from Cantos to Eastern HQ without trouble. “When can we meet him?”

Lani tapped her lips. “Well, he’s probably gone home. It’s too dangerous to work in the mine at night. So, Mato could take you boys in the morning, I suppose.”

Mato waved his hand and grinned. “Two more to work, and we’ll have that mine cleared out in no time!”

Ed grinned and looked up at Alphonse. Perhaps their luck was finally turning for the better.