By some miracle, Justin stayed awake for the first watch, waiting for four to five hours before waking up Lila. Thankfully, she didn’t complain, and he fell into a fitful sleep.
When morning came, he felt as if he had been hit by a truck. They had walked some fifteen miles out of town, and that wasn’t counting the backtracking they had done.
Justin just wanted to sleep, but he knew they had a decision to make.
“If we keep going,” Lila said, “we can’t use the road. It seems those bandits went into the woods to the east. Right now, we’re west of the road. Therefore, if we go south a few miles, we should come back onto the road and avoid any nasty fights.”
“But how will we not lose our way?”
“Don’t you have your map?”
“Yes, of course. I’d forgotten.”
“We’ll use that. Make sure we’re heading due south until we’re well past that canyon. Then we’ll head east until we hit the road. Then we head south again, toward Silverton.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They packed up their camp and began the day’s journey. The walk was grueling, especially given Justin’s exhaustion. The hills were unforgiving, with their slopes and unpredictable terrain, but the two travelers pressed on, determined to avoid another encounter with the highwaymen.
To enliven their spirits, Lila began singing, despite the risk of being overheard. Justin had to admit, she had a sweet voice, somewhat thin and trilling, and striking chords in his heart. He couldn’t help but have a little extra pep in his step. He wondered if it was her Bardic Inspiration ability, and if she’d chosen to enhance their endurance attribute.
A quick look at his character revealed that yes, indeed, his endurance attribute was now 12. While the rest of the numbers were black, endurance was green, likely to show that it was being modified by Lila’s Bardic Inspiration.
But then, after silence, Lila’s voice took on darker tones as it spilled forth into a new song, weaving a tale of ancient love and loss. She sang of Elara, a radiant beauty whose presence enchanted Alden, a brave warrior. Alden promised Elara the Sapphire Star of Eyrth, a celestial gem of unmatched splendor. After a year-long quest, Alden returned triumphant with the Star, but their joy was short-lived. As they journeyed to Alden’s homeland, they were ambushed by ruthless highwaymen. Alden fought valiantly, but in the chaos, Elara unleashed the Star’s magic to save him, only for him to be struck down by a treacherous blow from one on the bandits he believed dead. With his last words, he claimed that though the Star was broken, he would always keep her safe.
Elara’s sorrow and determination echoed in Lila’s words as Elara continued on, guided by Alden’s love and the remnants of the Star’s power. She was ambushed by a cave troll in the Seraphim Range, and her prayer to the heavens was answered by a new star flaring to life in the sky above. With renewed strength, she vanquished the troll and found solace under the guiding star, now known as Elara’s Star. This celestial beacon, Alden's promise of protection, led her to a place of peace, where she lived out her days, forever marked by the love and sacrifice that defined her journey.
When Lila’s voice faded, it was nearly half an hour later, and Justin marveled at the picture that had been painted in his mind. It was almost as if he were watching a movie, but the melody of Lila’s voice had made it far more emotive.
A tear, unbidden, fell from his eye. “What was that song?”
“It’s called "The Star of Elara." A very old, very famous story from my homeland, and I took it and set it to a tune. When I first became a Bard, I couldn’t help myself. I just wanted to make everything musical. You can still see Elara's Star to this day. It's the brighest one in the night sky, and it points directly north. Useful if you ever lose your way.”
“You’ve got a gift for singing.”
Lila smiled. “Thank you. Some of it’s the class, but I’ve always been told I’m a good singer.”
“Well, is the story true? Is there really a Sapphire Star of Eryth somewhere to be found? Sounds like it could be a powerful amulet of protection.”
“Some go hunting for it,” Lila said. “I’ve no doubt it exists somewhere. But in these darker days, very few adventure for it in particular. My country, Daeloria, used to host an annual festival where Hunters of the Star would set out every year. Mostly an excuse for adventurers to go off and carouse, but some were truly trying to find it. The story is at least a thousand years old, and probably more. If it's been found, none has said anything about it.”
“I’m sure the Star is worth a fortune!”
“No doubt. But it’s probably better to set our eyes on more attainable goals. Like finishing this job.”
“Of course,” Justin said.
It grew quiet after that. Soon after the song ended, Justin felt his limbs grow tired. The going was slow, and it wasn’t until late afternoon before they got back on the Silver Road, weaving its way through the landscape. The pair quickened their pace, eager to reach the safety of the next settlement.
“There’s an inn at the top of these hills,” Lila said. “In normal circumstances, travelers can reach it from Mistwatch with a single day of hard walking, and then get to Silverton the next day. As it stands, it seems the inn is the only safe place we can stay tonight.”
“How much will it cost? I only have a few coppers left.”
“Well, that’s hard to say. The room and two meals will be at least sixty coppers. Maybe you can try to talk it down a bit with that silver tongue of yours.”
“Certainly,” Justin said, feigning confidence. “Or perhaps you can sing for our supper.”
“Perhaps,” Lila said. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Thankfully, they made it to the top of the hills without incident. Once they crested the rise, the misty Wildwood spread before them, and down a few switchbacks stood a cozy-looking inn with yellow-lighted windows and a steeply thatched roof. Smoke curled out of the chimney, promising a warm fire. Such was Justin’s hunger that the savory smell of stew and freshly baked bread was palpable in the evening air.
As they approached, Justin noted the wooden placard swinging in the cool breeze. The Silver Vixen, it proclaimed in fanciful letters. Even from outside the door, he could note the mumble of voices beyond.
The pair entered. The inn’s atmosphere was a stark contrast to the Drunken Pixie back in Mistwatch. Instead of merriment and music, hushed conversations filled the room. The central topic soon became clear as they made their way to a table close to the bar.
“...brutally killed, right on the Silver Road!” one man proclaimed.
“He was a regular here, was he not?” a woman’s voice asked.
“A regular? Brennan was my brother!” another woman squawked.
“...highwaymen getting bolder by the day! By Arion, what’s Aranthia coming to?”
The innkeeper, a pot-bellied man with mutton chops, approached. “Evening. Were you two traveling on the Silver Road yesterday, from Mistwatch?”
While his tone was curious, Justin caught the concern on his face.
Justin hesitated, deciding honesty was the best policy. “Yes, we were.”
Whispers filled the room as more patrons turned their attention to the newcomers.
A stout woman with graying hair tied in a bun stood up. “Then you must’ve seen something! My brother was murdered. They left his body there on the road, the devils! Tell me you saw those responsible!”
Justin swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the room’s eyes on him. He would have to play this delicately. “We...we didn’t see the actual event. We heard voices and hid. I’m a courier, you see, new to the area. I was warned the road was dangerous, so I didn’t want to take any chances.”
The woman looked at him incredulously. “So, you saw nothing? Did nothing?”
“Well, not nothing,” Justin said, realizing he’d had to give her at least something, or it would look suspicious. “We saw them leaving after...after they did what they did. Being just the two of us, we didn’t want to get involved. We feared for our own lives. There were four of them, all well-armed with broadswords and leather armor.”
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Another man, with a mop of brown hair and an earnest face, narrowed his eyes. “If you were on that road around that time, you must’ve seen something more than that! Are you sure you didn’t recognize anyone?”
“They are new to the area,” another woman said. “Remember?”
Lila interjected, her voice firm. “We understand your pain and anger. It seems this man—Brennan—was well-liked. But we truly didn’t see anything beyond what we’ve just told you. Like any sensible person, we hid immediately. It all happened so fast.”
A tall figure stood up from the back of the room, dressed in a dark green robe embroidered with intricate patterns of silver vines. Over his shoulder, a quiver of black-feathered arrows was visible, complementing the long sword with an ornate hilt at his belt.
“Enough,” the stranger said, his voice deep and gravelly, commanding respect. “The blame lies with the highwaymen, not these travelers. Accusations won’t bring the dead back. They did what any of you would have done, and that’s a fact.”
The room was silent, save for the crackling of the fire.
The innkeeper cleared his throat and turned to Justin and Lila. “Apologies for the...interrogation. Emotions are high. Still, if you need a room, we have the space. I’ll give you a special discounted rate. Half off. Just for tonight. That’s thirty-six coppers for the room and two meals. Least I can do for the information, as little as it was.”
“There’s something more, now that I remember it,” Justin said, realizing giving any useful information might get them a free room. “They all slunk off into the woods by that canyon, heading east. We got past them by doubling back and heading west off the road. Lost a whole day’s progress because of it.”
“That would put them out by Raven’s Rock!” one man exclaimed.
“I don’t know this area too well,” Justin said. “Just thought that info might be useful.”
“We’re grateful for anything,” the innkeeper said.
“I’ll be reporting that to the Sheriff,” the woman said, the sister of the murdered man. “It’s something!”
Unfortunately, the innkeeper didn’t seem to have a mind to give them the room for free, but he had already left was already bringing back a couple of pints of lager. “Thanks again. I know it’s not much, but these drinks are on the house. Hopefully, justice will come of this.”
Gained 6 XP (Current: 30/200)
Justin wondered for a moment why he’d gained experience until he realized that he’d navigated quite a prickly conversation. He’d balanced giving just enough information to satisfy them, while not giving too much to make people suspicious of them. And he’d also defended their decision not to get involved, even convincing that Ranger in the corner to side with them.
He took a swig of the cool lager, feeling it was well-earned.
“Well,” Lila said, “If you hand me eighteen coppers, I can go settle up with the innkeeper. I’m heading to bed. It’s been a long couple of days.”
Lila left to do just that, letting him know before she turned in that they were in room six, handing him a spare key.
Justin looked over in the corner, where the green-cloaked man was now smoking a pipe. Justin gave a grateful nod, which the man acknowledged and returned.
Justin wasn’t going to stay long, not really relishing the thought of conversation when the stranger sidled over to his table. The man was tall and lean, with weathered skin that spoke of years in the sun and wind. His hazel eyes were sharp, always observing, and his dark hair was streaked with gray. He had a trimmed beard, and scars ran down his left cheek, hinting at past battles. To Justin, he was quite imposing.
The stranger took a moment to look Justin over, sizing him up. “You handled yourself well tonight. Few can navigate the emotions of a room with such . . . precision.”
Justin raised an eyebrow. “Thanks for standing up for us.”
The man chuckled. “Well, we Rangers have a way of seeing the bigger picture. Like you, I’m a stranger to these parts.”
“I appreciate it,” Justin replied.
The Ranger leaned in, his voice lowering. “The name’s Eldrin.”
“Justin.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’ve been tracking these highwaymen for a while. Hells below, they’ve become bolder with each passing moon.”
Justin nodded. “From what we experienced, it’s clear they’re not just ordinary bandits.”
“You’re right. They’re organized, have a leader, and worse, they’re growing in number.”
“Why are they allowed to exist like this? Seems like someone should have taken them out by now.”
“Well, you’re right. But we live in strange times. The Mayor of Silverton has his hands full preparing for the upcoming Autumn Festival. He has a vested interest in keeping any hint of danger away from the public ear to ensure merchants and visitors still come. As for the Sheriff...let’s just say his loyalties lie with those who line his pockets the most.”
Justin frowned. “You’re saying the bandits are paying him off?”
“Gods, no! I’m saying he couldn’t give a flying fig unless someone were to light a fire under his arse. Trust me, that fire is not forthcoming. A lot of money flows out of Silverton. And money has the power to corrupt.”
“I can see that.”
“Point being, the roads will remain dangerous as long as those bandits are out there. Now, I’ve been planning to take them out for quite some time, but doing so alone would be risky, even for someone of my experience. You and your friend, with your sharp minds and instincts, could be valuable allies. I perceive that you both have a class.”
Justin wondered how he knew that, and also wondered why he wouldn’t have a class. Did not everyone have a class, or had he gotten that wrong? Perhaps Rangers had some keen sense of insight not available to others.
Justin hesitated, taking a deep breath. “Look, Eldrin. I appreciate the confidence, but I’m a Level 1 Socialite. My skills involve persuasion and navigating social scenarios, not battle. Lila’s just a Level 1 Bard. Are you sure we’re the help you’re looking for?”
Eldrin regarded him, seeming to size him up. “I get the sense you had a class reset. Where’d you do your time, if I might ask?”
“Ironhold.”
Eldrin’s eyebrows arched. “That so? Which block?”
Justin tried to think of something on the fly. “Block A.”
“I see.” He gave a thoughtful hum, tapping his pipe on the table. Justin was one hundred percent sure the man knew he was lying. From the way Eldrin was acting, it was as if he had done time there. But thankfully, he didn’t make an issue of it “Well, resets happen, even to good folks. And once you’ve had as many years as I under your belt, you learn that level isn’t always a measure of potential. You navigated tonight with aplomb. With the right guidance and strategy, even a Level 1 can make a significant difference. And Lila might be a Bard, but I can tell she has the heart and spirit of a fighter. With my experience and your combined potential, we could bring these highwaymen to justice.”
Justin looked into Eldrin’s eyes, trying to gauge the depth of his belief. He thought of the parcel he was supposed to deliver.
“There will almost certainly be a reward,” Eldrin went on. “I’m keeping my eyes on the quest board over yonder. With the information you shared tonight, it’s only a matter of time before something becomes available.”
He gave a nod toward the wall, a bulletin board filled with quests, bounties, and various odd jobs. Justin was familiar with seeing similar things in games he’d played.
A reward would be nice, but then he recalled the fear he had felt hiding from the highwaymen, the weight of the room’s eyes on him, and the hopelessness of the woman who had lost her brother. It was by no means an easy decision.
But at last, he decided. The parcel could wait.
“Well, I can’t speak for Lila. But if she’s in, I’m in.”
“Glad to hear it. Let me know in the morning. Sleep on it.”
Eldrin left the table, heading upstairs to his room. Justin headed that way a few minutes later.
----------------------------------------
Justin turned the key in the brass handle. As he walked into the room, closed the door, and dropped off his things, to his surprise, Lila was lounging in a large copper tub in the middle of the room, surrounded by a veil of steam.
Startled, he spun away, his face flushing a deep shade of red. “Lila! Sorry, I didn’t know—”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t be sorry. It’s just a bath.”
He looked up, taking her in and finding her watching him with amusement. The tub was right in the middle of the tiny room, a small bed in the corner under a tiny round window. A candle burned low on the nightstand. He really couldn’t see anything, and perhaps that was for the best.
“I...guess I’ll just leave you to it, then.” He turned to go.
“Hold on,” Lila said. “You really are embarrassed, aren’t you?”
“No, of course not. I’ve seen lots of women naked, and not even on accident.”
She smiled, seeing through the lie. “Well, I suppose customs are different here in Aranthia than wherever you came from.” She frowned. “Where are you from, anyway?”
His cheeks still aflame, Justin replied, “Far from here.”
She smirked, raising an eyebrow. “My, your cheeks are red as beets, courier boy. Like what you see?”
“I—um—well, I spoke to that Ranger downstairs. His name’s Eldrin. He has an interesting idea that involves us.”
Immediately, her playful demeanor shifted to one of seriousness. “What idea?”
Justin quickly recapped Eldrin’s proposition to go after the highwaymen at Raven’s Rock.
“Sounds risky. Are you sure that’s smart? We barely escaped them last time, remember? Both of us are just Level 1s. And we don’t even know this Eldrin. How can we trust him?”
“He reminds me of someone I know.”
“Who?”
“Aragorn, son of Arathorn.”
“Ara-corn? What kind of name is that?”
“Never mind. Lila, how do you expect to level up if you never take risks?”
Lila’s green eyes narrowed. “Careful with your words.” Without another word, she stood, letting the water cascade off her form as she reached for a nearby towel. Justin gawked for a moment before turning his gaze away.
She noticed him observing the bathwater. “Planning on a soak?”
Justin shook his head. “No thanks. Seems a little too...familiar.”
“A strange culture you come from,” she said. "I won't even charge you for it."
“You seem strangely eager to see a fat man naked. Are you trying to rob me or something?”
Lila smirked. “No. I just don’t want to smell you while falling asleep tonight..”
Justin considered it. “Well, if you mean it. Sure. Just don't look."
"On my honor as a Bard," she said with a smirk. Justin wasn't sure how much that honor was worth, but she dutifully faced away.
Once Justin was sure she would keep her word, he took the fastest bath of his life. He dressed in a change of clothes he’d picked up from the market the previous day.
“All done,” he said.
“We should catch some shuteye. We have a long walk ahead of us tomorrow.”
She blew out the candle and rolled over in bed.
As Justin took up his position on the floor, he tried his best to analyze Lila’s flirtation. Was it flirtation? She seemed to be particularly brazen, more so than women where he came from. Was it really a difference of culture, or something else entirely?
He refused to believe it was flirting. If his flashbacks to high school were any indication, it was probably just a way to tease him mercilessly for her own amusement. Back in real life, he would have never considered a woman like Lila to be interested in him.
And yet, he couldn’t deny feeling certain things looking at her. Certainly, the image would be burned into his brain for a long time.
He’d read once, in medieval times, that heavier people were seen as more attractive because it indicated wealth and status. Maybe it worked the same way here?
He had nothing else, but maybe it meant he did have a shot.
He cleared his throat. “Think about Eldrin’s offer. We might do some real good and get some experience to boot.”
It was a moment before she answered. “I’ll think about it. But don’t hold out your hope. We have a job to do, remember? One that’s practically guaranteed not to kill us.”
Justin realized she had a point, but all the same, he hoped she'd agree with him.
He didn't have the chance to think about it much longer, becauase he fell right asleep.