The Wandering Inn_Volume 1

by Pirateaba

  Undead service workers. Ryoka instantly saw how useful it could be. It was a great idea in theory, but seeing it in practice was—unnerving. She kept glancing at his bones, wondering how they were even staying upright without muscles and skin. Were there magical, invisible threads animating him somehow?

  She ate more food, drank more blue juice. Ryoka’s head was spinning as she asked herself a thousand questions at once. When the Gnoll named Krshia introduced herself Ryoka tried to be polite as possible.

  She’d seen other species, of course, but they’d always been monsters. Perhaps she’d seen one or two of these…Gnolls in the cities, but never in person. And here were three—four new races if you counted the Goblins, sitting in the inn, talking, acting like people.

  At some point the smallest Goblin hopped up on the seat opposite Ryoka and slapped a chess board in front of her. Ryoka thought she looked familiar, but then the Goblin moved a chess piece and stared at her. Erin wandered by, offering chess tips and then the game and everything else blended into the nightmare.

  —-

  Ryoka looked like she was having a great time. Erin could tell. She was staring around the inn, chatting to Pawn and playing chess with Rags while other Goblins sat around her and Toren kept filling her cup. She seemed distracted, but then, the inn was more animated than Erin had ever seen it.

  “Captain Zevara, another plate of pasta? Or a drink?”

  The tall, surly-looking Drake glanced up and waved her hand at Erin.

  “I am fine. You are…Erin Solstice, aren’t you? We’ve met.”

  “WE have?”

  Erin blinked at Zevara and then remembered.

  “Oh. We have. After Klbkch—um, how are you?”

  Zevara ignored the question as she glanced around the inn.

  “I came here because I wanted to see this place for myself. I thought Relc was exaggerating as usual. For once he might have been telling the truth. Although he never mentioned you serving Goblins. Or the skeleton.”

  Erin glanced at Relc. The Drake avoided her gaze as Klbkch stared from the Drake to her.

  “He hasn’t been around as recently. Um. I hope you like it here?”

  “I didn’t come here for pleasure.”

  Zevara met Erin’s gaze.

  “These Goblins you’re sheltering, and the undead. They are an issue I intend to address, along with the death of the…thing that attacked my city.”

  “Um, okay?”

  “Zevara. Perhaps now is not the time?”

  Klbkch stared at Zevara until she nodded reluctantly. He looked at Erin.

  “These are matters of business. But in truth I and the others are here to celebrate the survival of the city. On that note, would you allow me to address the room?”

  “What? Oh, sure, go ahead.”

  Erin stood back. Klbkch nodded and stood up. She wondered how he would attract everyone’s attention with all the hubbub, but Kblkch simply raised his mug and waited. It took several minutes, but a tall, silent Antinium standing with one mug raised had a calming effect. Klbkch waited until everyone was silent and then spoke.

  “To all present, allow me to say a few words. These last few days have been marked by one of the most deadly assaults on Liscor in the last decade. Errors were made on the part of the Antinium and the Watch and for that I must apologize. Needless deaths were caused, but the city and its people remain safe now. The creature which attacked Liscor is dead and as some may have noticed, I have returned to life. It is not in the nature of the Antinium to celebrate, but I adhere to other species’ customs and invite you all to celebrate these events.”

  No one spoke. Erin wasn’t sure if she should clap. Klbkch nodded and went on as Ksmvr produced a bottle from somewhere and handed it to him.

  “I believe it is customary to make a toast on occasions such as this. For this occasion, my Hive has manufactured its own drink. Allow me to present you with rxlvn, an alcohol we intend to sell.”

  He presented a clear, glass bottle filled with some kind of black sloshing liquid to the room.

  “Allow me to offer you a drink that we might toast our survival, wellbeing, and the future.”

  No one moved. Relc stared at the bottle.

  “Klb, that looks like dirt water. Can we even drink that?”

  The Antinium nodded.

  “It is quite safe, I can assure you. It has been extensively tested and while the drink is strong, it is consumable by all present.”

  He looked at Erin and she looked at Toren.

  “Do we have um, any shot glasses? Anything small?”

  They did, in fact. They were more like finger bowls and Erin wasn’t sure what was supposed to go in them. But they made good impromptu shot glasses, and soon each was filled with the fizzing, dark liquid.

  Everyone but the Antinium stared into their bowl apprehensively as Klbkch lifted his.

  “To life, triumph over the undead, and this inn.”

  He drank, tossing the black liquid down calmly. So did Pawn and Ksmvr. No one else did. Krshia was sniffing at the drink suspiciously and Relc tasted the drink with the tip of his tongue.

  “It is quite palatable.”

  Erin gulped. She saw Ryoka standing away from the group, frowning down into her drink. Well, it wasn’t as if she had to drink the entire thing. She sipped at the drink. Her eyes widened.

  “It’s good. Hey, this tastes good everyone!”

  They all looked at her. Erin downed the drink and smiled. That seemed to reassure the others. Rags and the Goblins drank their portions down and looked around for more. Krshia tossed hers down and growled happily and Relc and Zevara did the same. Selys and Ryoka drank only a small bit, and Pisces only sipped a few drops.

  “Hey it ain’t bad. Good job Klb.”

  Relc laughed at his friend as he tossed the shot glass on the table. The others made similar noises of agreement. Krshia inclined her head at the Antinium.

  “Perhaps I could find a market for your drink. It is agreeably strong. Gnolls, they would like this I think, yes?”

  Kblkch nodded. He was smiling, or doing that raised-mandibles thing.

  “It is rather potent in its current form. I regret that this is only a trial run, and the formula is not perfected yet. Perhaps we should have mitigated the effects of the drink with more paralytic agent.”

  Everyone stared at him. Erin opened her mouth.

  “Um. The what?”

  Ryoka felt the top of her mouth go numb. She tried to put down the half-full shot glass but it slipped out of her fingers. She bent to catch it but toppled over.

  Klbkch stared at the human girl as she flopped around on the ground, trying ineffectually to push herself up. He glanced around at the other non-Antinium as they began to sway, smile, or regurgitate.

  “Ah.”

  —-

  The three Antinium strode back through the plains, towards Liscor. Or rather, the secret entrance just outside of it. There was no need to bother the guards on the gate at this hour.

  And the striding aspect was similarly exaggerated, because two the Antinium were slower than the other. Pawn had to be half-carried by Ksmvr, unable to walk as he was.

  Klbkch amended his pace to let the other two catch up. He spoke without turning his head and the other two answered without looking. They had no need of visual interaction. Communication between their own kind did not require social niceties as with other races.

  “I regard this night as a positive outcome on the whole, even in light of the failure of the rxlvn. I will make our apologies tomorrow to the others.”

  Ksmvr and Pawn didn’t nod. They didn’t have to. But Ksmvr did raise his voice. His tone was uncertain as he addressed Klbkch.

  “With all due respect, would the drink not be considered a success, Prognugator? It was strong enough to affect even Relc.”

  “Drinking is meant to be a social activity. The effects were too strong. Also, refrain from addressing me as Prognugator. I assumed that role out of
necessity during the attack on Liscor. However, you will resume that position forthwith.”

  Pawn looked at Ksmvr as the Antinium stared at Klbkch’s back.

  “Am I then your superior? Your position—”

  “I am second only to the Queen. A new position will be created.”

  “I see. And the Individual known as Pawn?”

  “For now he will remain under my authority, not yours.”

  “I understand.”

  The three walked on. Klbkch voice was cold and impartial as he spoke again.

  “In the future, have the brewers reduce both alcohol content and soporific and paralytic agents in the drink. As I understand it, the act of drinking is meant to be pleasurable. Unconsciousness is the end result, not the goal.”

  “Understood.”

  “It will be done.”

  “Very well. I will report to the Queen. I will attempt to communicate with Erin Solstice at another time. Ksmvr, return Pawn to the Hive and await instructions in the morning.”

  Klbkch strode away before the other two Antinium could respond.

  After a while, Pawn spoke.

  “Klbkch’s motives are unclear to me. But I suppose this means I will no longer be a worker.”

  Ksmvr’s voice was no longer hesitant. He replied impartially to Pawn.

  “That is what we were ordered. You will, of course, obey.”

  “Of course. I am loyal to the Hive. I have chosen.”

  “Yet you have expressed your dissatisfaction with me to Klbkch. I am your Prognugator.”

  “That is true. And you cut off my arms and leg.”

  “I did what was necessary for the Hive.”

  “Yes. You did.”

  “You also instigated Workers to leave the Hive against my orders.”

  “I suppose I did.”

  The two moved on in silence. After a while Ksmvr spoke.

  “Your affection for me is not necessary. However, for the good of the Hive we must work together.”

  “I serve the Hive. I am loyal to the Queen.”

  “Good.”

  “But I still hate you.”

  More silence.

  “It is suggested by other species that a period of bonding may occur by shared experiences.”

  “Indeed?”

  “I suggest this as an attempt to amend the distrust between us.”

  “I see.”

  “Do you have any suggestions in this regard?”

  Pawn was silent. His only leg dragged along the ground. He turned his head slightly to Ksmvr.

  “Tell me. Do you know how to play chess?”

  —-

  The next day, Selys woke up in a room on the second floor of The Wandering Inn, next to a wet, hairy carpet. That carpet turned out to be Krshia, and the two turned out to be sharing the same bed.

  Selys stared at Krshia in shock until the Gnoll opened her eyes. Krshia glared at the sun, and then blinked a few times at Selys.

  “Good morning, Selys.”

  “Um.”

  Selys squeaked. She stared in horror at Krshia and then looked down. Their clothes were missing. She thought she saw her dress hanging out the open window. That was important, but her eyes kept getting drawn back to the Gnoll sleeping next to her. Right next to her.

  “Um. Uh. Hi Krshia. You wouldn’t happen to know—did we um—did we—?”

  Krshia shrugged, and then sniffed hard. She shook her head.

  “Hr. Nothing happened.”

  Selys almost thought she heard the Gnoll mutter ‘pity’.

  “Oh. Good. I’m um—I’m just—I have to—”

  Selys rolled out of bed, fled the inn, and locked herself in her apartment for the rest of the day.

  —-

  Two hours after Selys fled, Relc found himself lying in the plains, completely naked. He stood up, looked for his clothing, and gave up. The naked Drake strolled through the southern gates of Liscor around the same time the Watch Captain was found passed out in one of the street gutters.

  —-

  Six hours before Relc caused a disturbance, Pisces woke up with light shining on his face. He waved his hands feebly and then sat up. What he’d thought was the sun turned out to be something else. He stared at the flickering magic and turned pale.

  —-

  Around an hour after everyone had vacated the inn, Erin slumped at a table, blearily watching Toren as he moved around the room, picking up plates and mugs and bringing them to the kitchen.

  “See that? That’s useful. Like a…dishwasher with legs. And a sword.”

  She wasn’t drunk. The Antinium’s alcohol had tasted bitterly dark with just a hint of something fruity, but it hadn’t done anything for Erin. It was the [Alcohol Immunity]. She wasn’t drunk.

  “If I had ten of him…I’d probably hate it. You know he stands in a corner? Very creepy. Veeeeery creepy.”

  She was just tired. Ryoka on the other hand was drunk. But she was still upright, which was quite impressive. Then again, everyone else had been upright as they staggered out of the inn. Only the Goblins had taken the shot and fallen right down. They were still lying on the floor, insensible. Rags was sprawled face-down on one of the tables, clutching a chess piece in one hand.

  Erin wasn’t sure why she was awake. She really wanted to sleep, but Ryoka was still awake. The other girl was clearly triyng to keep herself upright and Erin felt it was only courteous to do the same.

  Ryoka blinked several times and frowned. She was swaying in her seat. The other girl was muttering, her voice slurred.

  “We have to talk. This is—crucial. Something about people? If we’re all here, what does that mean?”

  “I don’t know? I didn’t know there were people.”

  Ryoka frowned at her, and then nodded with difficulty.

  “When you got here. That was important? When you…got here. Something about that.”

  She put a hand to her head and frowned hard. Erin shrugged. She was drifting off on a sea of clouds. That’s what the table felt like. She closed her eyes, and then jerked upright. Ryoka nearly fell out of her seat.

  Erin decided she had to be the voice of reason.

  “It’s too late for this. We should sleep.”

  Ryoka thought about this. After a moment she nodded.

  “Tomorrow. But we must talk.”

  “Yes. But after we sleep.”

  The two agreed. They nodded so much they nearly fell asleep.

  “Upstairs is a bed. You can have one.”

  Erin wandered over to her kitchen. Ryoka frowned at her and then looked at the door.

  “You don’t lock the doors?”

  “Should I?”

  “Yes.”

  Erin didn’t see the point. She wavered. It was such a long way to the doors. But then Toren walked over and bolted it. She smiled. She was saved! She could go to sleep.

  “There. Locked.”

  Ryoka looked at the doors, squinting. Then she nodded, apparently satisfied. Without another word she stumbled towards the stairs. Erin heard her bumping into things on the way up.

  Time for bed. Erin was exhausted. She stumbled towards her bedding, too tired to even think about undressing or brushing her teeth. She rolled into her blankets and stared at the roof.

  So tired. So exhausted. So much money made from her guests! But all that was a backdrop to the most important thing. It had lit her up, given her wings as she’d served her guests. It was important, the only thing that mattered.

  Erin whispered it up to the ceiling.

  “I’m not alone.”

  She smiled, and drifted off to sleep with that wonderful feeling still in her chest.

  Happiness.

  —-

  Erin had about half an hour of sleep before the door to her inn exploded inwards. As she ran out of the kitchen she saw Pisces standing in the doorway, hands wreathed in crackling lightning. His face was pale.

  Ryoka stood poised on the stairway, ready to leap down on the mag
e. But she stopped. Something was glowing in the dark inn, and not just the magic coiling around the mage’s hands.

  A spark of light flickered and hovered around Pisces’ head. A dancing firefly made of colors and shapes. They spelled out words and meaning Ryoka couldn’t read, but she recognized them. She recognized the spell. She sat down on the stairway, legs suddenly out of energy.

  Erin blinked at the burnt wood of her doorway. Oh. She’d locked it. She looked at Pisces and opened her mouth to yell, but hesitated.

  “Pisces, what…?”

  The mage’s face was pale as he stared at Erin. He said only two words.

  “They’re alive.”

  2.03

  “Who’s ‘they’?”

  “Pisces didn’t say. He only said that if Ceria was alive there could be others.”

  “And she’s alive?”

  “Yes! The message-spell-thingy said she needed help. She’s somewhere in the Ruins, down deep.”

  “And with Relc and Klbkch you think you can save them, right?”

  “Yeah!”

  “Forget it.”

  Erin paused.

  “…What?”

  Zevara held a wet washcloth to her head and scowled at Erin over her desk.

  “I said no. I’m not sending two of my best guardsmen into that place without a good reason. You want to save those damn adventurers? Do it yourself.”

  “But we need them! Relc and Klbkch—they’re Senior Guardsmen. They can fight.”

  “They’re Senior Guardsmen.”

  Zevara agreed as she absently massaged her temples.

  “But they’re under no obligation to help non-citizens. Which is what you are. Moreover, I won’t risk losing Klbkch again. Not after last time.”

  Erin opened her mouth to protest, and the Captain of the Watch stared pointedly at her.

  “Not again.”

  Erin closed her mouth and frowned stubbornly.

  “I’ll just ask them to help on their own time, then.”

  “I’ll forbid them to help you. They’re valuable assets to the city.”