(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

"You really love taking me past my comfort zone, doncha, chief?"
The rat-meat was aromatic and quite spicy, apparently marinated in some
sort of herbal mixture before being cooked. It was a bit greasy and rather
rich, tasting of some... other... meat I was sure I had before. The man looked
at me expectantly. "Did ye like? Wouldst ye like another?"
I picked a few scraps of meat from the rib cage, "Er. No thanks, we should be
going."
~~~~~
Iron Nalls was right where I left her. Gripping a nail with a callused thumb
and bracing against the board with her foot, she yanked the thing out with
one pull. By the look of her burly shoulders, she could've knocked out a few
teeth on the backswing if I stood behind her.
"Hello, Nalls."
Iron Nalls straightened up and put her hands on her hips. "Back again, eh?
What need ye this time?"
"I was told to ask for you about the trash-filled archway in Ragpicker's
Square. Can you help me?"
Nalls nodded slowly. "It's a portal, ye know. Stumbled on it quite by chance,
I did... alls ye need ta do is have a handful o' junk on ye when ye walks up ta
it, an' ye'll be able ta pass right through. There's a small open space past the
portal, an' a gate leadin' underground, but I figured no sense in askin' fer
trouble so's I just turned around an' went right back. Here..." She handed
me a handful of junk. "Use this, if ye likes. I was gonna toss it away,
anyhow."
It was a few hours after peak when we returned, and the heat of the day
made the garbage molder, belching up a vile stench. I covered my nose and
tried to filter the air through my teeth, but it left a greasy feeling in my
mouth. Now and again I spat, and a few times the wad would sizzle as it hit
metal cooked by the afternoon heat. With the decay quickening about me I
glanced back and forth. Not even Reekwind would've buried himself and
hidden in this rot (though it might’ve improved his own stench). No, I was
listening for the groans and creaks of a pile that might collapse and bury me
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