The Wandering Inn_Volume 1

by Pirateaba

  “Stupid humans.”

  “I know!”

  Relc nodded in agreement with the other guard.

  “They’re interesting and entertaining, but they don’t have much inside their fleshy heads. I’d never trust a human to make the smart decision. Am I right?”

  Relc looked around for confirmation as the other Drakes laughed with him. He laughed boisterously until he saw the human female staring at him across the mess hall. His laugher cut off instantly.

  “Oh.”

  The other Drakes looked over in curiosity at the human female. She wasn’t that special to them; one human looked much like the other. She was staring at Relc, who looked extremely uncomfortable.

  He cleared his throat.

  “Um. I—”

  The door closed behind Erin as she walked out.

  A nasty silence fell over the mess hall. Relc looked at the others.

  “How long was she here?”

  The blue Drake shrugged.

  “Dunno. She must’ve walked in while you were talking.”

  “Oh bite me.”

  Relc leapt up from his chair.

  “Hey Miss Human! Wait! I didn’t meant it!”

  The other Drakes watched as he dashed out of the room. Then they turned backed to their conversation.

  “So. When did you spot her?”

  “Right at the start. Did you see her expression? Relc’s not gonna have an easy time explaining that.”

  “Serves him right. But did you smell her?”

  “Yeah. Humans. They don’t wash.”

  “I hear they roll around in their own filth.”

  “Disgusting. Why’s Relc interested in one anyways?”

  “Why do you think?”

  “I still don’t get it. There’s no scales, nothing firm to grab. What’s the point?”

  “Search me. Maybe it’s just Relc. He’s weird.”

  “True.”

  “Anyways, humans. Haven’t seen one in a long time. Did you see it? So fleshy.”

  “Disgusting. Let’s go eat some meat.”

  “Agreed.”

  —-

  Erin walked out of the city gates and through the grass. She walked as fast as she could, which wasn’t very. The cloth bag she was carrying was more like a satchel, and it was loaded down with a lot of stuff. She was impressed that it could fit the bag of flour and other ingredients she’d bought without the fabric breaking, but it also meant she had to carry all of that on her shoulders.

  A bag of flour is quite heavy. But Erin carried it anyways, ignoring the pain in her right shoulder. Her left one was already sore. She’d switch shoulders when the pain became unbearable.

  “Hey! Miss Erin! Wait!”

  Erin kept walking.

  “Oh come on. Please?”

  Relc appeared next to her in a blur. He was quick for such a huge guy. Erin turned her head so she didn’t have to look at him directly.

  “So, how’s my favorite human doing? Good? Bad? Um. I uh, don’t suppose you heard what I was saying. It was just a joke, really. I didn’t mean…”

  Keep walking. Erin’s feet were already sore, but she put one foot in front of the other. She had a long way to go to get back to the inn, and the bag she was carrying was heavy.

  “Look, I know I was sort of—okay, I was rude, but let’s talk. Hello? Are you listening?”

  Erin didn’t look at him or speak. She just kept walking. Put one foot in front of the other. She was so tired and sore she barely felt hungry.

  —-

  Eventually he went away. Erin kept walking though. She was trying to make it back to the inn before the sun set. It was going to be a close race.

  She was about halfway to her destination when the first stone flew over her head. Erin instinctively ducked and so the next two stones missed her and landed in the grass. She looked around.

  At first she couldn’t spot where the stones were coming from. Two missed her, but the third struck her on the shoulder.

  “Ow. Ow!”

  Erin spotted the origin of the stone. It was a Goblin. The small creature was hard to spot in the fading twilight. It was standing on a hill and hurling rocks down at Erin. And it wasn’t alone.

  Two more Goblins screeched and threw stones at her from their hilltop, making her flinch away and pull the bag up to shield her head. But then they just pelted her legs.

  “Ah. Ow.”

  She covered her face with her arms. The stones kept flying. And they hurt. Even at this distance the rocks cut her arms and bruised her flesh. Already she felt blood trickling down one arm.

  Erin knelt on the ground and shielded her head with her bag. That made her less of a target, but the barrage of stones continued. It wasn’t as if the Goblins could hurt her, not so long as they kept hitting her back, but they just didn’t stop. And if she got up they’d aim for her head.

  What could she do? Erin felt the stinging hail cut into her back. She had to run. At them? Away? They’d steal all her food if she did. But could she attack them? Fight? If she got any closer the stones could gouge out her eyes, injure her badly. What could she do? What could she—

  Something moved past Erin in a blast of air. She flinched and looked around but it was already gone. Then her eyes travelled to the hill. Someone was rushing at the Goblins, ducking under the stones and deflecting the ones that came close to his head with a fast-moving…spear…?

  “Hey! Slither off you little bastards!”

  The stones stopped flying abruptly. Erin heard a high-pitched scream and several heavy thwacks. Cautiously, she got up and looked around.

  The Goblins were running away in full retreat. Relc stood on the hilltop, spear in hand. He waved at her and leapt down the hill in a few long strides.

  “Hello there, Miss Erin. Fancy meeting you here.”

  Erin stared up at him. He offered her a toothy grin and a hand up. She stood up by herself and picked up her bag.

  Relc cleared his throat expectantly.

  “It’s not often I get to rescue a damsel in distress. That’s what they call human females, right? Damsels? Anyways, I saw you were in trouble so I immediately rushed to help.”

  “Thanks.”

  Erin began walking again. She heard Relc follow after a second’s hesitation.

  “Okay, okay. So they weren’t that dangerous. And I was just doing my job; true. But I am sorry. Really. I said too much back there.”

  She said nothing. Her vision was blurring over from the cutting pain of the bag’s strap as it carved a groove into her shoulder.

  “That looks heavy. Here, let me carry it for you.”

  Relc reached for the bag. Erin pulled away.

  “No. I’m fine.”

  “Oh come on. Don’t be like that. I just—well, it was just me being careless, alright? Let’s talk. Please?”

  Erin tried to walk faster, but her legs were already giving up. Relc easily kept pace with her. He was even able to walk backwards faster than her.

  “Look. I’m very sorry Miss Erin. Let me carry your bag. It must be quite heavy, and this way we can talk without one of us falling over.”

  Erin grudgingly slowed down. It was a tempting offer. Her legs were screaming to accept Relc’s generous offer and have him carry her as well. Her shoulder was already in another dimension of pain.

  “Fine.”

  She unslung the bag, wincing as blood returned to her arm. Relc lifted the bag with one hand and slung it over his shoulders. Then he kept pace with Erin as if nothing had happened.

  “So.”

  “So.”

  Relc scratched the spines on the back of his head, looked down, looked up, and sighed.

  “I really didn’t meant it. It’s just—Necromancers, y’know? They’re dangerous. And it’s best to kill them on sight. You ever seen a thousand zombies trying to eat anything in sight? Even if they’re low-level, even if they play nice, I could never trust a Necromancer.”

  “Especially not if they’re
human.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “But that’s what you think.”

  “…”

  Relc didn’t have anything to say to that. They both walked on in silence, faster now that the bag wasn’t weighing Erin down.

  “So. You bought food, huh? Making lots of pasta tonight?”

  “I’m going to sleep.”

  “Right, right. But uh, good to see you made it to the city. So how’d you like it?”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Good, good.”

  Relc was clearly casting around desperately for subject matter. He peeked into the bag. Erin could practically feel him salivating.

  “Sausages. Mm. But hey, why didn’t you buy any clothes? I thought all females loved clothes, Drake or Human.”

  Erin’s stomach twisted. She avoided his gaze and mumbled.

  “I didn’t have enough money.”

  “What, really?”

  Relc looked at her askance and peered into the bag he was carrying.

  “No. I mean, there’s food in here but that’s only a few silver coins at best. I’m sure you had more than that, right? How much did you spend?”

  Erin felt her face heating up. She looked at the ground.

  “A few gold coins. Some silver ones and copper ones.”

  He stopped. Erin didn’t. She heard him muttering to himself and then swearing. It sounded like swearing. He loped forwards and was next to her in an instant.

  “Really? What kind of rotscale sold you—why did you spend that much money?”

  She stared at the grass as she trampled it. It was tinted with a lovely deep orange color in the sun’s fading glow.

  “I just thought it was the right price, I guess. I didn’t want to argue.”

  Relc muttered under his breath and sighed in exasperation.

  “Well, I could go back to the market and ask around. But—I don’t suppose you caught the name of the store.”

  “I can’t read the language here.”

  Relc sighed again. Deeply.

  “Right, right. Well, if you remembered his face I could find who sold you all that, but I doubt anyone’d bear witness against him. And there’s not much for me to go on. I mean, he sold you overpriced goods but it was your fault as well. No offense meant Miss, but how’d you trade a gold coin for a sack or two of flour?”

  Erin couldn’t think of anything to say to that.

  “Sorry.”

  They walked on in silence. At last the inn was in sight. Erin trudged up the last incline, her legs screaming all the way. She paused at the door.

  “I can take the bag now.”

  Relc hesitated.

  “You sure? I can carry it in—”

  “I’m sure.”

  Erin accepted the bag and her legs wobbled. She opened the door with one hand.

  “Right. Thanks.”

  She wanted to close the door, but Relc held it open effortlessly. He scratched at the back of his neck awkwardly.

  “Look, I’m still really sorry about before. I didn’t mean—well, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

  Erin looked up at him. She just wanted to close her eyes. But he seemed sincere. So she mustered a bit of sincerity herself.

  “Thanks for helping. With the Goblins.”

  Relc gave her a wide, toothy grin.

  “It was nothing. They’re no threat to me, or anyone with a few levels in any warrior. But don’t worry about those pests. I said I’d make it up to you, didn’t I? I’ll do something about them.”

  Maybe it was an empty promise. But it made Erin smile a tiny bit.

  “Thanks. Good night.”

  Relc curled his tail up and flicked her a salute with both hand and tail at the same time.

  “Until later, Miss Erin.”

  Erin watched as he rapidly disappeared into the dark landscape. She vaguely envied the speed and effortless grace with which he moved. Then she closed the door.

  There wasn’t much light so Erin just put the bag in the kitchen and lay down on the floor of the common room.

  “I need to buy a pillow. And blankets. When I have the money for it.”

  So instead she just used the cloth bag she’d bought as a pillow. Erin tried to get comfortable on the hardwood floor, but the very nature of it was giving her a…hard time. Besides, her shoulders ached. Her legs still hurt from the long walk. And if it were only that which hurt, she would already be asleep.

  But instead Erin lay in the silence, listening to her heart beat. She wanted to say something, to think something better. But there wasn’t anything. So she stared at the hazy shapes in the dark room. It took her a long time before her eyes closed.

  [Innkeeper Level 6!]

  This time she said nothing at all. She just cried for a bit before she fell asleep.

  1.15

  Erin woke up tired and bleary-eyed. She mechanically got up, and remembered that she’d forgotten to gather any blue fruits. She looked at the bag full of food she’d dragged all the way to the inn. It was too much work to make pasta or bread. So she ate one of the sausages instead.

  It was dried, too salty, and had lots of gristle. Even though Erin was starving, it was not the best thing she’d ever eaten. But she ate it anyways, chewing until she could swallow the greasy meal.

  Dully, Erin wondered how long it would take for her teeth to rot or her gums to start bleeding. Not too long now.

  It wasn’t a good day. But at least she had food. And if she didn’t have money, at least it was a new day.

  With her stomach full, Erin felt a little better. Ready to face the day, at least. She made a mental list of what to do. Gather blue fruit first. Then she’d make some pasta, some bread, and then she’d figure out how to—

  Knock. Knock.

  Erin jolted upright. Someone was at the door. Was it Pisces? Well, it was just another headache for the day. She’d deal with him and—

  Knockknockknockknockknockknock—

  It wasn’t Pisces. Erin got up and went over to the door. Whoever was there was seriously excited. Too energetic at this time of day.

  Erin yanked open the door.

  “Who the hell—oh. It’s you.”

  Relc grinned at Erin. He was holding something in one hand and his spear in the other.

  “Good morning, Miss Human! It’s me, your favorite Guardsman! And how are you doing this fine morning?”

  Erin blinked at him. It was far too early to have to stare at a giant lizard grinning at her with a mouth full of sharp teeth.

  “Hello Miss Erin! I’ve just taken care of you Goblin problem for you!”

  Relc raised his spear triumphantly. A bit of it fell to the ground. Erin blinked and stared at it. Red.

  She looked up and saw red blood dripping down the spear, running along Relc’s claw and onto the floor of her inn. Relc noticed that and pulled the spear back outside.

  “Sorry about that, Miss Erin. You see, I was just disposing of the Goblins. Call it an apology for yesterday. But now they’re gone the others should leave you alone, especially once I set these up around the inn.”

  Relc lifted the objects in his left hand. Erin looked at them and saw three melons. Green melons? No.

  Her eyes went back up to Relc’s grinning face. She stared at his bloody spear. He was talking, but the words were suddenly impossible to make out over the buzzing in Erin’s ears. She looked at his smile. She looked at the spear.

  She looked down and saw the heads.

  There were three of them in Relc’s claws. He’d grabbed them by their ears and the force was already tearing the dead flesh. Each one’s eyes were still open, their lifeless expressions twisted in fear. Blood still dripped from one, down into the eye sockets of another.

  Erin’s eyes wandered up and away from the heads. She stared out past Relc’s shoulder. It was a beautiful day outside. The sun was shining. The sky was blue. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

  She looked down at the heads.
They were still there. She looked up at Relc. He was still speaking, but stopped and looked at her in concern. He dropped the heads carelessly to the ground. Erin heard each one thump wetly on the floorboards of the inn.

  Relc raised his clawed hand and reached out for her. The same one he’d held the heads with.

  Erin threw up. She vomited up the sausages, choked, and threw up some more.

  “——————!”

  She felt a hand holding her, helping her upright. She pushed away at it, retched.

  “——? ——. ————!”

  Her head was spinning. Her ears were filled with a piercing high-pitched sound.

  “——————? ——?”

  Erin looked around. The heads were still there. She threw up again, but there was nothing left. But still, she threw up bile, and then retched and retched until she couldn’t breathe or think.

  “——!”

  At last, Erin stopped. She felt strong hands lifting her up and felt herself being sat in a chair in the inn. Relc’s anxious face peered at her, and she felt his hand on her temple. She stared through him at the heads. They were lying on the floor of the inn. Their eyes were open. Blood had dried on their faces.

  Erin took one deep breath. The world spun around her and she heard nothing. Just static. She felt numb, like she was in surgery. But underneath that numbness was something terrible.

  She looked at Relc. The Drake was fussing at her, trying to get her attention. She looked back at the heads. Then she began to scream.

  —-

  Erin walked outside with the three Goblin heads in her arms. They weren’t cold. They weren’t warm, either. They were just fleshy. Heavy, fleshy. And dead.

  She made sure not to drop them as she walked. She didn’t know where she was going, only that she had to find the bodies. She left the inn behind and began walking.

  Relc was gone. He’d left sometime earlier.

  She didn’t remember anything. Just flashes of her screaming at Relc to get out and hurling things. Screaming, crying, vomiting. And then the heads. Picking them up where they lay.

  Erin walked with them in her arms. Everything was going by too quickly. One moment she was inside, the next she was out, looking around for…for…