Torrel came back with a tray of food, some soups in clay bowls and wooden plates with a handful of extravagantly garnished dishes piled on them.

  "Here we are, a well earned dinner." He slid one of the aforementioned silver tankards Nidian's way, a smokey golden liquid mixed with hazy brown waves before him, black specks and flakes floating about in the area of the cup that wasn't covered in a cream colored foam.

  "It's Kordhan bark brew my friend, the look on your face says you've never seen it. It's just what you need. A smoked bark flavored mead with the very wood of a Vilahn tree. Helps ease spiritual stress and opens the mind to peace."

  "Sounds perfect." Nidian politely agreed and took a sip. Sure enough there was this ashy sting on his tongue as the thick liquid washed over it. The sweet bitterness of aged honey and the sparkling of the foam breaking up just left a calming sensation alone.

  "So Torrel, anything interesting happen while I was away?" Ae asked before peeling the skin off a strip of meat with her teeth, holding the rest by her head as she propped her legs up on another chair. The innkeeper took a sip of his drink, resting it between his hands at chest level as he relaxed into his seat. "Nothing that'd excite you. Oh! Malles did make a fantastic roast last night. That kid never ceases to amaze me."

  Ae cocked her head and waved her food around a bit, "Better than this?" She raised a brow, taunting the man.

  Torrel didn't take the bait, instead turning it on her, "Oh way better, why do you think I make sure he cooks when you're away? I don't want to share!" He smugly raised both brows as she narrowed her eyes.

  "You're the worst you know that?" She sassed back as the man sipped from his drink, the prideful smirk hiding behind his tankard.

  "Who's Malles?" Nidian chimed in, having silently awaited a chance to ask. Ae and Torrel both looked up, Ae gesturing for Torrel to pipe up. "Malles is a city kid like you. He's lived here for nearly 6 years now."

  Nidian set his empty cup down, Ae silently staring with surprise, a little impressed to. That stuff was no joke and the boy had just downed it like milk. "Why has he lived here? Why would someone willingly try to survive out in these parts?"

  Torrel sat up straight, leaning forward a bit. "Nidian my boy; he didn't. He was exiled. He was raised a noble's son. His passion for the culinary art didn't fit what the Kordish officials expected of him. His refusal to give it up got him tossed out. Ae here saved him from a group of thugs his first night. He wouldn't have lasted on his own. I know what they say about us. Non-believers, criminals, savages. In reality kid we're just free. Being handed everything for undying loyalty might be enough for some people. But not us Mavericks. We yearn to fulfill our lives with our passions, adventures. Haven't you ever felt restricted? Burdened with all those rules? Isn't there something you've wanted to do that they don't allow?"

  Nidian listened carefully, he felt like he'd normally argue his own points but the mead had stirred his thoughts into a soup. Nothing was setting into a mold for a sentence to be produced. But even through the mental fog that was rapidly setting in he understood the words being spoken at least. He did always feel burdened, and his face showed it. His knit brows as he put all his effort in to respond. "Yeah..." He slurred.

  He looked side to side, noticing that the two of them had become more of a beautifully blurred pastel painting than a recognizable image. "You alright kid?" Torrel asked, leaning forward to rest a hand on the boy's shoulder. Nidian tried to nod only to feel like it rolled forward a thousand times over. Everything spun for a minute before going black.

  What like mere minutes passed when he grunted deeply and rubbed his eyes as his vision faded back in. He saw the vague outline of a dresser and a chair against the far wall of the room he was in, the dark cedar wood complimenting the lighter maple furnishings. Dim candlelight from a wall sconce and daylight bleeding in from the thin window above the bed. His sore neck tilted his head forward to stare down the length of the bed toward the door in which Ae was standing with her arms and legs crossed in the usual manner, leaning against the frame.

  "Sleep well kiddo?" She codded.

  "What happened...did you guys poison me..?" Nidian groaned as he pressed his palm to his forehead trying to calm the immense throbbing pain.

  "Us?" She scoffed and walked over to the foot of the bed.

  "Nidian you're supposed to sip that stuff over the course of an hour, you downed it in seconds. You just went into a daze and not long after you passed out. You needed the sleep though so we moved you in here."

  His expression only got more puzzled, he couldn't remember what had happened really, fuzzy images and such, but more so he recalled distant but deep thoughts. A sort of meditated calm.

  "So I poisoned myself and you two didn't stop me?" He let his hands fall to his waist as he sat up, his hair in a rats nest of a mess.

  "Not my job to tell you how much you drink. Torrel wants to see you after you get cleaned up for the morning." She patted the rickety wooden bed post firmly and stood back up before walking toward the door.

  "What does he want?" Nidian called over as he gripped the sheets at his waist.

  Ae stopped and turned her head slightly, "Nothing bad, can't give you specifics he didn't give me though."

  She closed door behind her. As the doorknob clicked back into place Nidian swung his legs over the side of the bed. As he tried to stand he noticed his muscles felt a lot better, very soon after that also the fact he was cripplingly dizzy. He stumbled forward and caught himself against the dresser.

  "Never drinking that stuff again.." He mumbled to himself, dragging his fingers down his face firmly. It was officially two days since the event and the first since he wasn't dying or running away. The thought loomed of the monsters hitting the small hamlet he now resided in but he pushed it away.

  He took a deep breath in and looked at the mirror on the wall, seeing his grimed up face. It was just now dawning on him in full, he was in a maverick town. Passing through was normal but staying might end up causing complications. For anyone who didn't live on Daemora might not understand their delicate ways of life. But a resident of one of the sacred cities wasn't particularly welcome in the maverick towns beyond the walls in the wilds of the Daemorian highlands, and vice versa. He took another heavy breath. It was so refreshing to encounter the scent of moist cedar over the smouldering ashes in the air of prior days. He left the room and walked along the narrow hall, a railing between him and the drop to the dining where Torrel was cleaning cups at his bar.

  "Good morning city boy", Torrel called out to him. Nidian quickly took a look around the thankfully vacant dining area. It wasn't something he just wanted announced.

  "Uh..good morning sir, Ae said you wanted to see me..?" He nervously asked as he made his way down the stairs and over to the counter.

  "Aye that I did lad, and don't look so jumpy, no one cares you're from the city, here in Nomad's Haven we value kinship be it Kordish or Maverick, no man has no haven as we say." He recited almost religiously.

  "You can tell I'm paranoid that easily?" Nidian raised a brow.

  "Anyone could kid, you make it painfully obvious. No wonder Ae finds it so fun to tease you." Torrel remarked honestly.

  "Guess I'd be foolish to try and deny it...Wait- what makes you say that?" He tossed a perplexed gaze Torrel's way.

  "She told me how easy it was to make you jump. She and I had a while to catch up last night after you knocked yourself out."

  Nidian wasn't sure how to respond, a normal thing for him in social scenarios he wasn't prepared for. What did you want to see me for?" He shifted a bit, just trying to get to the point. He wasn't sure what to expect but he wanted to get it over with to ease the tingling sensation the anxiety caused.

  Torrel chuckled in his throat and smiled, setting the tankard upside down on the wooden surface of the counter. He dried his hands on the rag before setting it down. He leaned on the counter with arms outstretched across the edge to hold himself up.

  "Well there's the small detail about the cost of your stay. But I know you aren't exactly in the place to pay me for the food and room and I'm sure Ae forced you into coming here. In fact after I informed you two that the cities closed their gates she got me to agree to let you stay in said room free of charge for an extended time. In return though you'll just run the occasional errand and help around the inn as a courtesy to the hospitality. That sound fair to you?"

  "That- is a very generous offer, but I should try for Krygar anyway. Its imperative."

  Torrel nodded his head and looked down a moment, "I understand you want to do your part to spread the word kid but trust me, you aren't getting in."

  Nidian gazed down at the floor. He needed to warn the Kordhan about the destruction of Hoharo, but then again he wanted help finding Neiraan. If he couldn't get the ear of the cities his friend would have the next best solution. And despite the dangers of trusting Ae she obviously had the skills to track someone down. The debate to ask for her was neck and neck.

  Torrel walked over and put his hand on Nidian, "Ae told me how eager you are, and I admire your determination. But it's best to wait till you can actually get inside."

  Nidian nodded and looked up with unsure eyes, "Thank you sir...I just don't know why they would shut their gates without notice.. Even with a Maverick threat I wouldn't think they'd lock their own out."

  A satchel came speeding at him suddenly. He almost dropped it, saving his catch in a rather graceful style before staring at Torrel, wondering why it was thrown at him.

  "Won't know till we get a courier in and out. That is a pack full of essential herbs for our cleric. We've run low on a few elixirs lately and due to the recent wave of sicknesses sweeping over the valley. We have had dire need for more materials. The alchemist here hasn't turned up much and with Hoharo gone our access to resources just got far more difficult. Ae managed to dig something up, and now you can run it to him on the corner of town, down the road and up the hill so Ae can sleep in." He answered before Nidian could ask.

  "Sleep in? She was in my room this morning?" Nidian looked overhead at the second floor a moment.

  "She popped in to check on you, she was worried you had poisoned yourself drinking so much. She just had gotten back from collecting those herbs all night. Woman never takes a break." He chuckled again before setting his hands on his hips looking up at her room's door.

  "Funny, she told me that wasn't her problem. She seems genuine sometimes but honestly is kind of a jerk for the most part." Nidian quietly admitted.

  Torrel grinned ear to ear, "Boy don't I know it. Like sticking your hand in the hive, you might get honey or ya might get stung."

  "Do you know Ae's history? Why she acts that way? I know I shouldn't pry but the Kordhan doesn't exactly paint her in a good light. Other than being wanted for cannibalism and being super blunt I know nothing about her." Nidian queried.

  The ginger gave a comforting smile and nodded, "A little bit. Not my place to share. But I can tell you she's got a big heart. And she's far from guilty of the crimes the Kordhan blame her for. You shouldn't be afraid of Ae unless you've done something wrong."

  "Good to know, I appreciate it. I'm going to go ahead and get on this errand thing for you. Might do me some good to get some fresh air." Nidian thought aloud as he turned for the door.

  "Alright, don't get into any trouble now, if anyone bothers you tell em Torrel has you on a job." He called out to the boy as he left the inn into the bright light of day. His eyes had to adjust to the flooding amount of glow, slowly the beauty of the small town set in his field of view, and sure enough up on the hill was a massive temple built out of beautifully carved stone, towers of stained glass between the many main support columns. There was a handful of people about, talking, running bags of material, chopping wood. Everyone was at work, a few kids played in the center of town outside the tavern where the large brick plaza was set. It was nothing like the stories that were told to him about life outside, it was almost...dare say the same. It felt like home. Everything he had ever learned seemed to be falling apart. Friendly Mavericks, civilized towns, Ae supposedly wasn't the blood thirsty cannibal they said she was. It made him wonder what else they twisted.

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