A quiet scene in the tavern below, empty saved for Rond cleaning the bar stand. He hummed to himself, wiping it with a ragged cloth. The morning light barely shined through the window.

  “You’re up early” said Arlene stepping down off the worn wooden stairways. “Do you always work alone this early?”

  He turned slightly to her, his cheek shifted into a small smile before returning to his work. “Heh… not really” scoffed the burly owner. “Just… feels like it I suppose. Normally I’d get up an hour or two after sunrise. Tavern isn’t open till near noon anyway.”

  He tilted his head in a quick jerk motion to his right. “My family’s still asleep though… they won’t wake up for another hour.”

  Arlene relaxed her shoulder and walked over to one of the table, chairs flipped upside down resting on the carved wooden platform.

  “Shall I help with these?” she raised a finger, lazily pointing at them.

  “Oh of course! That’d be great.” He glanced back to see the Chosen One where she was. She was already setting them up as soon as he answered like she already expected it.

  He raised his free hand, pointing and waving. “Just tug them underneath.”

  She nodded and did the task exactly as asked.

  He moved to work behind the stand now, resupplying all the drinks and cups. Arlene however, paced like she was in a duel, almost all the tables were already set.

  “You know” he started without looking, still crouched at the counter. “You could just take your time.”

  “Take my time?” she murmured back and took a look behind her. “Oh… Old habits.”

  “I suppose I should’ve expected this from the Chosen One.”

  He raised a glass of water onto the stand. “Here” he called out before returning crouched.

  She strode lightly as a feather, no sounds of her armour clanking at all. “Thanks” as she took a seat, watching Rond work.

  “So uhh…” he gently rubbed his neck as his free hand rearranged the alcohols. “Where’s Wattyson?”

  “He’s still asleep. Hugging his staff.”

  “I see… huh? Hugging his staff?”

  “Yes. He did that for all the nights in Tamare so far… still insisted I should have the bed.”

  “Wait… he never slept in the bed?” he turned to her, the mixture of surprised and miffed. “I know I gave you a room with one bed since it’s the only one available but… I put a damn mattress in the room! He never slept in it?!”

  “That’s… actually I never knew there was a mattress. I don’t think he know.”

  “He must’ve! He slept here before!” He rubbed his forehead, somewhat scratching it to the point of vibrating. “So what he just slept hugging his staff on the ground?”

  “Oh he slept sitting against the wall.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged, bottom lip raised, then drank water in silence.

  He rubbed his temple, muttering out something she couldn’t hear well, but the content was probably related to Wattyson.

  “So when are you two leaving?” asked Rond, turning back to rearrange his counter.

  “Should be after Watty wake up. I… should go wake him up actually.”

  “Heh, you should. That guy sleep like a log.”

  A dehydrated voice cut through, yet in its monotone and gruff voice was familiar.

  “Speak for yourself, since when did you wake up this early? You slept till noon all the time.”

  “I guess you too can wake up early, Watty!”

  A loud click hit the floor. “Don’t call me that Rond.”

  “Ok weirdo.”

  Wattyson took a seat next to Arlene, his robe caught in between the stool as he tried to sit crossed legs. He still forced himself too despite the cloth contorted in strain.

  “So what’s the political leadership for Tamare? You guys decided yet?”

  Rond sighed as he cleaned the already pristine glasses.

  “Not set in stone yet. We’re leaning toward collective leadership style.” He chipped up afterward, “No worries though... we have until three weeks before needing to decide.”

  “Three weeks?” asked Arlene, leaning in closer. “That’s a lot of time. Why three weeks?”

  “Until the tax officials from the Kingdom come by, then we have to explain to them who represents the village now.”

  Her ear could pick up Wattyson’s quiet murmuring to himself cursing about taxes.

  “Kingdom of Basvasr?” asked Arlene, maybe she could give a heads up when the two arrived in Toulasi.

  “No. Tamare’s under Innversa.”

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “Innversa?” her voice raised, as if in shock.

  “What about it?” asked Wattyson, shifting to her while his robe was becoming more tangled.

  “That’s so far west!”

  “Yeah,” chuckled Rond. “They don’t really care how the village go, so long as we pay our tithe and affirm we’re under Innversa. They send people to help us if we send the words”

  He paused as he set the twice pristine glasses down. “Though problem is the distance. The capital and us are quiet far… words reach slowly to one another.”

  “You don’t have a crystal communicator in the village?”

  “No… well we used to but last one busted for...” his two fingers scratching hastily on his head, “I think since few months ago? The Elder never really requested for a new one and… things are working fine since you ended the Dark Lord two years ago.”

  He faced Arlene, bowing slightly. “Thank you for that.”

  Her cheeks grew slightly pink, sat upright suddenly, and flustered from the sudden gesture before settling into a weary smile. “I’m just fulfilling a prophecy… but you’re welcome.”

  “So now that this weirdo is awake,” he eyed Wattyson who was trying to untangle the mess ultimately contrived by himself. “You’ll be leaving to?” he trailed off.

  “Toulasi. We’re going there for… some sightseeing. This recluse hasn’t seen much of the world so I thought of bringing him all around.”

  She smiled blankly, though internally embarrassed due to the real reason was because of financial issue.

  “If you’re in a hurry, maybe help him unmess himself.” He eyed Wattyson.

  “I can handle it,” barked Wattyson all gruff, before tumbling himself into the floor. His robe was freed. “See.”

  Wattyson dragged himself before regaining his stand, using his staff as a support. “I’ll go get Horse,” he stated nonchalantly, his expression as monotone as his voice. He left as quiet as he entered the conversation. The front door seemingly made no ringing despite a bell on top.

  The two ignored it.

  “Oh by the way,” she got off her seat. Her hands gently moved to her leather bags, taking out a neatly folded paper. “Could you hand this to a girl named Lini? She has a small pigtail with flower bowties tied to them?”

  She swung her arm up and down. “Usually carry a tree uhh.. sword now.”

  Rond laughed though briefly. “Yeah I know her… what’s the letter about?”

  “Oh just… about my days with her. And some tips on how to become a knight or adventurer.”

  He tugged the letter neatly into his shirt pocket. “I’ll give it to her with great care… though why not just give to her directly?”

  “I don’t think we’ll meet in time. It’s still pretty early no?”

  “That’s true…” he tapped the counter playfully. “Don’t worry… I’ll give her your regards.”

  She softened her expression, a smile reaching from ear to ear. “Thanks! I hope things go well for you, and good luck with the mound…”

  “Don’t worry” he pressed his hand into his chest. “I… I’ll take it to the grave me. And remember them for what they were. Wattyson drilled them into me yesterday on how to keep secret.”

  That got her a giggle. “He does huh… he walks around like a closed off secret tome or something.”

  “Heh, you bet.” His face settled and relaxed. His eyes were softened as he lessened up. “Good luck. I hope you remember them too. You wore her headband after all.”

  Her head moved slowly, nodding as her eyes closed before opening back up. “I will. Thank you for all you’ve done, Rond.”

  The bell tolled as the door opened, and the faint morning light glowed onto her skin.

  There weren’t many people outside. Houses were silent still. The cold breeze brushed against her exposed skin. The village was asleep still.

  The village square was the same. The fountain seemed still yet the flora moved with the winds. She sat down, rested on the fountain foundation. The cold stone made her jolted up a bit. It was freezing, yet she let herself settle into it.

  She contemplated the day in Tamare. The unexpected Mound tragedy and the day of letting herself be normal… even for few moments. It was… surreal. She stared at her gloved palm, never leaving it.

  A loud neigh startled her from her zen. It startled her?

  She gazed upward, seeing Horse striding along the dirt beside the cobbled road. Why wasn’t it walking on the paved one? To the right of Horse was Wattyson striding on the actual road. She could see his free hand twitching from the cold, yet his gripped staff hand remained still.

  “You… could just ride on Horse to get here, you know?”

  “Don’t know how to ride a horse.”

  “You rode with me when we left the Red Grove.”

  “As passenger.”

  She paced to Horse, caressing its hair. “And how are you holding up?”

  It shook its head, swaying its hair freely with the winds before letting out a loud whicker then into a snort.

  “I guess it’s really cold…” she raised her palm, placing it gently onto Horse’s neck. She whispered then faint glow emanating from her hand, seeping into its neck.

  It nickered again as it trotted showing its full side to her.

  Her foot pressed down on the leather covered iron stirrup, her hands held onto the cantle as she mounted Horse. Her arm then extended to Wattyson, “Alright get on, Watty.”

  He nodded as he let go of the staff that seemingly fell into that black hole of his. Wondering if he would teach her that one day.

  The two were now mounted and ready.

  “Shall we head out?” she asked glancing back to the rattled passenger sitting sideway.

  “Mmhmm.. Let’s go” said the rattling man as he hugged himself, hands fiercely gripping onto both his sleeves. His lower robe was swaying, possibly from his legs vibrating from the temperature.

  “How are you this freezing? You’re wearing full thick robe!”

  “The exposed hole of my robe funneled the cold air in” he explained despite the constant trembling in his voice. “You’ll understand once you get out of that armour.”

  Arlene sighed, shooking her head and faced forward, choosing to focus on steering Horse as they trotted southward, leaving Tamare.

  The journey out was silence, only broke by the occasional sneeze from Wattyson. Tamare village, its sprawling centers were dots in the distance now. Fully visible from the full sunrise.

  Arlene rolled her eyes, a playful demeanor in her voice. “You can just ask me if you want cold resistance you know? I did it to Horse and he’s fine!”

  “I can handle it. Being cold is just a state of mind.”

  “I.. ughh” she glanced backward, the road ahead was empty anyway in the full morning glow. “What if… I teleport us there?”

  Wattyson sat in silence, still rattling though less now. It took a few moments before it registered. “You can… teleport us there?”

  “Yep! I have such capability” proudly stated.

  “Then why didn’t you teleport us to Tamare?”

  “Well duh!” she returned her gaze forward, “I don’t know where Tamare is! I can only teleport to places I’ve been to.”

  “What like… from memory?”

  “I wish… only places I attuned to the local mana winds.” She took a quick breath before returning to him. “Well? Do you want me to?”

  “Well, do you want to travel from here to Toulasi?”

  “Of course! I want to see the world after all!”

  “Then we don’t need to teleport…” he quickly raised a finger as if to stop something. “I don’t need cold resistance chanted on me either.”

  She turned back, smiling and whistling. “Okay! Just so you know, the trip will take two full days.”

  “I’m sorry what? We didn’t pack for supplies, how are we going to rest for the night?”

  “I packed some tents and camp meals into the saddle bag, don’t worry.”

  “You did?” He didn’t notice it when he went to fetch horse. He glanced over to the saddle bag beneath his legs and one behind him. They were both normal size? He expected a fully stuffed bags, somewhat became round from it. Did a double check and yet it was still… a normal sized bags?

  “I obviously can’t check right now but… is it really in there?”

  “Of course! I neatly packed them!”

  “Since when?! They don’t even look like they were touched!”

  “Since just before I finally found you in the Red Grove! I already double checked last night!”

  “Last night? You went to sleep before me.”

  “I woke up again for a bit.”

  “That’s…” he groaned, settling back to his rattling state. “Alright… fine.”

  “That’s the reality of traveling, Watty. I hope there’re some landmarks along the way though.” She raised her finger, waving it around. “Do you still want to teleport?”

  Wattyson let out a long sigh. “No… we keep going. I’ll endure this damn cold.”

  She let out, “Hehe. Alright, suit yourself.”