A barmaid walked over to the table carrying a tray filled with food and drinks.

“Sorry for the wait. A big caravan pulled in, and the master sent all the men out to help,” she said.

“Did you happen to get our room keys?” Voekeer asked.

“Yes, and it was just in time. There are so many people out there that I’m sure the master is going to start asking people to double up,” the barmaid replied.

“He’d do that?” Anna asked.

The woman laughed.

“He sure would, and he’d keep the coin you gave him for separate rooms too,” she replied.

“Why would he do that?” Anna asked.

“Because he keeps the strings on his coin purse tighter than a noble woman’s corset after the winter festival,” the barmaid replied.

“Oh,” Anna said.

“Anyway, if I were all of you, I’d jam this slop down my throat and get up to my room before the horde gets here. Unless you want to share a table that is,” she replied.

“Aye, sounds like a plan to me. That’s for the advice, lass,” Thokri said.

He passed her a few copper coins, which she stuffed into her dress, before thanking him and then passing out the food, drink, and keys. As soon as she finished, she scurried away, heading for another table.

Anna picked up the rough wooden spoon that was sticking out of the bowl, dipped it into the thick stew, and stirred it around before taking a bite.

It’s mostly vegetables with a few small chunks of meat and hardly any seasonings. The owner is definitely a cheap bastard.

She took a sip from her cup and found the wine to be as sour and watered down as Gregory had described it to be, so with one mighty gulp, she downed the whole cup.

“That bad?” Voekeer asked.

“Aye,” Anna replied.

He eyed his cup for a moment before taking a drink. He made a face and set the cup back down.

“It should be illegal to call this stuff wine,” he said.

“It probably is,” Elaine replied after taking a sip herself.

Anna started to shovel the bland stew into her mouth, swallowing it without chewing. Her friends started to wolf theirs down as well, though they were chewing, and within a few minutes, each member of the party had finished their meal and drank their wine. They gathered their belongings and headed for the stairs.

The moment they stepped away from their table, another group of travelers swooped in to claim it.

That barmaid wasn’t kidding, was she?

They walked up the ancient stairs, which creaked in a most concerning fashion, reaching the second floor and then splitting up, heading to their rooms. Hers was at the very end of the hallway and on the back side of the building.

She used the cheap iron key to unlock the equally cheap iron lock before turning the handle and pushing the door open. The room was smaller than she’d expected it to be and only contained a bed, table, and chair.

She closed the door behind her and walked over to the bed where she took off her pack and set it next to the bed. She undressed, placing her things onto her pack, before flopping on the bed and rolling over to look out the window at the night sky.

Today was better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better than today. I just know it.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

A woman’s frantic screaming woke her sometime later. She opened her eyes and looked back at the window. The stars still twinkled in the night sky. The woman’s panicked screams were suddenly cut off.

It’s none of my business, and even if I tried to help, I’d just make it worse.

She rolled over and closed her eyes again. An odd feeling grew in her chest as she lay there trying to fall asleep again. Her eyes flicked open, and she sat up on the bed.

“Dammit!” she said.

She got up and picked up her dress, pulling it over her head, before grabbing her belt and putting that on as well. She moved towards the door but then hesitated and went back to her pack.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Better take my sword.

As she put her arm through the baldric, she thought back to the few times she’d attempted to intimidate people in the past and sighed.

Unless I use my tentacles, everyone just calls me cute and tries to flirt with me.

With her sword at her hip, she left her room and headed down the stairs. The main room was empty save for the nightman who was sleeping in a chair near the door. He only stirred a little when she lifted the thick wooden bar from the door and set it aside. She exited the inn and walked around the side, heading towards the rear of the building.

Alright, it sounded like it came from right behind my window, but I doubt it really did.

The first thing she noticed when she walked around the back of the building was that a large number of wagons had been parked there.

Wow, she wasn’t kidding. This is a big caravan.

She walked over to the wagons and started to look around, searching for the woman who had screamed.

I wonder where the guards are. I mean, there are usually people guarding wagons full of goods, so where’d they go?

After wandering between the wagons for a few moments, she caught the scent of fresh blood in the air and followed it to its source. She walked away from the wagons and found an uncovered well with a wooden shoulder yoke and two buckets lying on the ground nearby. She walked over to the yoke and knelt down, putting her hands on the damp grass for a moment as she examined the area before standing back up.

So, a woman was getting water when three people, probably men, came up to her. It looks like she tried to walk away, but one of them grabbed her. I’m guessing that’s when she screamed, and then he punched her, knocking her out. She was dragged a few feet before being picked up and carried off that way.

She followed the tracks that led her to the edge of a copse of trees that was nestled between two freshly plowed fields. A soft orange glow filtered through the budding foliage. She slipped into the thicket, heading for the source of the glow. She found three men standing over the still form of a slender woman.

Well, that explains why there weren’t any guards.

All three men were wearing similar workman’s clothing, were carrying small lanterns, and had clubs hanging from their belts.

“So, what now?” one of the men asked.

“Now we bury her,” another replied.

“How? We don’t got any shovels!” the first man said.

“Then go get ‘em from the wagons!” the second man replied.

“How abouts you go and get them? You’re the one that wacked her!” the first man said.

“What was I supposed to do? She started scream’n!” the second man replied.

“You should have just let her go,” Anna said.

The men jumped and turned to face her, shining their lanterns on her.

“Who’s there?” the second man asked.

“Anna,” she replied.

She casually walked out of the brush and over to the woman where she crouched down and put fingers on the woman’s neck, checking for a pulse.

“What are you doing?” the third man asked.

“She’s alive,” Anna replied.

“What? How?” the second man asked.

“Are you simple or something?” she asked.

“Fuck you, bitch!” he replied.

“No, thanks. I’m not into livestock,” Anna said.

His face twisted in rage, and he lunged at her.

Good boy. Now I have a reason!

She pulled her sword and stabbed him through the heart with one fluid motion. The man dropped his lantern and reached for the sword blade sticking out of his chest before going limp. The other men froze, gawking at the corpse of their friend. She stared in shock as well. Not because he was dead. She’d intended for that to happen. No, she was shocked by the trail of blood that was flowing up her blade.

She watched as it flowed up the hilt and into the cracked black gem embedded there. As the blood disappeared into the gem, smokey black shadows started to form around it. The man’s body began to wither and darken as the sword drank his lifeblood. A few moments later, it resembled a corpse that had been left in the hot dry sun for months.

“Blood,” a voice rasped.

She pulled her sword from the desiccated body and let it fall to the ground before holding it up and looking it over.

“Did you just talk?” she asked.

“Blood!” the sword replied.

The remaining men tried to flee but were caught by her tentacles after a few steps. The eldritch appendages coiled around them before pushing into the men’s mouths to muffle their cries.

“You know, I was going to let you jackasses live, but I’ve changed my mind. I mean, what kind of people decide to bury an innocent woman alive because their friend tells them to?” she asked.

The men squirmed and tried to plead with her, but it was to no avail. She stabbed one of the men in the heart with her sword and watched as it drained the blood from his body, pulling it free when nothing but a lifeless husk remained.

The final man squirmed and let out a muffled scream. She looked into his eyes for a moment before plunging her blade into his chest. The sword sucked him dry in a matter of seconds. She pulled it free of his corpse and looked down at the blade, surprised to find that it was whole again.

Hold the fuck on! It can fix itself?!

She marveled at the blemish-free sword for a moment before sheathing it.

“Blood!” the sword said.

“Hush now!” Anna replied.

“Blood!” the sword said.

“You’ve had enough! Now be quiet! I don’t want to explain you to everyone yet!” she replied.

The sword fell silent.

So, it can understand me then.

She gently picked the woman up and started to walk towards the inn. Her tentacles cleared a spot on the ground and then dug deeply into the ground, tossing the men’s bodies into the hole before covering them up. Then they started to disturb the ground all around the grave in an attempt to conceal it.

They’ll have to dig up half the thicket to find them.

She walked back to the well, placed the woman on the ground near the fallen yoke and buckets, and then turned back to the inn.

“HELP! SHE’S HURT! SOMEONE HELP PLEASE!” she shouted.

Less than a minute later, the rear door to the inn swung open, and a man with a lantern rushed out. He swung the lantern around, searching the area before it settled on her. He came running over and crouched down near the woman, putting his free hand on her chest.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I heard a scream, came out to see what it was, and I found her lying here,” she replied.

“Where’s the nightman?” he asked.

“Sleeping in a chair,” Anna replied.

“Fucking whoreson!” the man said.

He stood back up and rushed back to the inn, turning before he entered.

“I’ll be right back! Stay with her!” he said.

“I will!” she replied.

He rushed inside and slammed the door behind him.