She sighed as she walked away from the tavern.

Well, that could have gone better, but at least I helped him find his brother. Still though, I wonder if it was really okay to just leave him with that shitbird like that? I mean, he ran off on the kid once before, so he’ll probably do it again. Maybe I should go back, get him, and bring him to an orphanage or something?

She shook her head.

No, no, it’s not my business. I was just helping out, and he belongs with his family!

She picked up the pace, wanting to put some distance between herself and the tavern. After a few minutes, the smell of the distillery filled the air again, and she paused.

I know! I should get a few bottles! Everyone would love a strong drink when we’re out on the road!

With her new task in mind, she rushed to the old distillery and pushed open the large bronze doors. Heat, along with an even more pungent aroma, rushed past her as she stepped inside. The space she found herself in was completely open with large brewing vessels lining the walls and a huge copper distiller in the rear of the room. Dozens of men were there doing a variety of things. One of them noticed her and walked over.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“I’d like to buy a few bottles of whiskey!” she replied.

“I’m afraid we don’t sell to the public,” he said

“Oh, sorry,” she replied.

“It’s fine, happens all the time. Let me go and get you a list of places that sell our goods,” he said.

“Okay,” she replied.

He walked away, heading into a small room nestled in between several of the brewing vessels before returning a few moments later carrying a small piece of paper. He handed it to her, and she looked it over.

“Thanks,” she said.

“No problem,” he replied.

She walked out of the distillery and then looked down at the paper again.

I’ve never heard of a Provisionorium before. Sounds kind of funny, so I think I’ll go there.

The paper she’d received from the brewery worker had the addresses of each business on it as well. Usually having the address to a place did her no good in a new place, but as luck would have it, she’d passed over the street the Provisionorium was located on, all be it on the far end, so she knew approximately where she was going.

At least, I think I do, but it wouldn’t be the first time two streets had the same name in a city I visited.

Unfortunately for her, the street was on the other side of the city, so she started off.

As crowded as the city was, she had no trouble slipping past the throngs of humanity.

It always had been easier to just do things on my own, but it does get lonely.

She reached the street and then began to search for the Provisionorium. It wasn’t hard to find having a large brightly colored sign hanging over the door depicting the sort of goods one would take with them on a long journey, and a penis.

I really hope that’s for good luck.

She pushed open the door and a bell chimed. The inside of the shop smelled of new leather and spices and was filled with shelves that were stuffed to the brim with everything one could possibly want if they were going on any sort of expedition.

She started to peruse the shelves, looking at all the doodads and whatnots before finding a shelf filled with odd cloth-covered squares. She picked one up and sniffed it. It smelled of wax paper and perhaps a hint of meat. She turned it over a few times and found the word ‘Pemmican’ stenciled onto the cloth on one of the sides.

She turned to the shopkeeper who was sitting on a stool behind a short counter near the back of the shop and held up the bundle.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Rations. It’s made from dried meat that’s ground up and mixed with rendered fat. The stuff keeps for years, but it’s pretty tasteless,” he replied.

She glanced at the Pemmican for a moment and then took a few more of the bundles before moving on. She picked through the rest of the shop but didn’t find anything of any interest, so she went to the counter at the back and set the ration bricks down.

“I heard you sell spirits here,” she said.

“We do,” The shopkeeper replied.

“I want something strong and cheap,” she said.

He laughed.

“How strong we talking?” he asked.

“I’m drinking with a dwarf,” she replied.

“I have just the thing,” he said.

He walked to a shelf behind the counter that was covered in glass bottles and grabbed one before walking back over and placing it next to her rations.

“Anything else?” he asked.

She looked around for a moment and spotted a display filled with charms and necklaces. She gave it a quick once over and smirked when she spotted one that was shaped like an erect phallus. It had been cast out of bronze and was, at least by her own limited experience, an incredibly accurate representation of the real thing.

Well, except for the wings!

“I’ll take that, too!” she said.

“In need of some luck, eh?” he asked.

“Who isn’t,” she replied.

“True,” he said.

He took the pendant from the display and handed it to her. It was large and made from solid bronze with a bronze chain threaded through a loop that had been cast into the phallus in between the wings. She undid the simple clasp and put it around her neck before fastening it and allowing the pendant to fall between her breasts.

Guess I got a hard cock between my boobs now.

“How much do I owe you?” she asked.

“Four silver,” he replied.

She took out the coins and handed them to him.

“Would you like a bag?” he asked.

“Sure,” Anna replied.

He took a burlap sack from under the counter and stuffed her rations and the bottle of booze into the sack before handing it to her. She took the bag and thanked him before leaving the shop.

Everyone else is probably out doing stuff still, so there’s no point in going back to the inn, so I guess it’s time to explore more!

She slipped back into the crowd and headed in the direction she hadn’t been before. She reached the city wall and turned to the east, walking around the street that ran parallel to the inside of the wall.

When she reached the eastern gate, she turned down the main road and headed towards the center of the city. When she was around halfway there, the crowd thickened, and the sound of music and cheering could be heard.

I wonder what’s happening over there?

She followed the sound of music into the crowd and pushed her way to the front where she found a large group of people in frilly dresses dancing and singing while playing instruments.

Uh, are those men or women? I mean, they’re wearing dresses, and they’re kind of thin with long hair, but they don’t really look like women, and their all kind of flat.

She watched for a while, enjoying the music while trying to determine the gender of the performers.

After a few minutes, they finished their performance. Oddly, instead of clapping, the crowd rushed forward, carrying her along with them.

When they neared the performers, people in the crowd started to toss copper coins at them and then held out their hands. The performers would then utter a prayer and kiss their hand. The people behind her were reaching over her shoulders trying to get to the performers, and when she tried to push past them, they didn’t budge.

She ended up just pulling a coin out herself and tossing it, holding her own hand out in the hopes that when the performers came over to her, they would also pray for and kiss the people behind her which would mean they would leave, allowing her to escape without having to use force.

One of the performers came over to her. They were young with long black hair, dark eyes, and fine features, though she still wasn’t quite sure what gender this person was.

This has got to be a woman, right?

They started to pray in a soft voice before reaching out and taking her hand. They brought her hand up to their lips and kissed the back of it before letting go. She nodded with her head towards the arms reaching over her shoulders and then gave the performer a pleading look. They seemed to understand and started to pray for the people crowding her, causing them to leave one by one eventually freeing her. She smiled thankfully at the performer who gave her a wink before she slipped away.

Alright, that’s the last time I push to the front of a crowd by myself. If the others had been there, I wouldn’t have had to spend a copper on a blessing that won’t work.

She sighed and then started off towards the center of town again. When she was around three-quarters of the way there, she turned down one of the side roads and started to look around.

She noticed her reflection in a rather large window and gave herself a once over, her gaze drawn to the phallic pendant that hung between her breasts. She smirked at it and then looked down. Her eyes went wide when she saw that it was glowing with a soft golden light.

What the fuck?! When did you get a blessing?

She froze and turned around, rushing back towards the crossroads where the performers had been.

It had to be that!

When she arrived, she found that the crowd had dispersed, and the performers were nowhere to be seen. She buzzed around the crossroads looking for any sign of them but coming up empty-handed. She ended up spotting someone who’d she’d seen in the crowd and walked over to him.

“Excuse me, could you tell me where the street performers who were here went?” she asked.

“Street performers? Oh, you must mean the followers of Thisos,” he replied.

“Were they wearing dresses and praying for people?” Anna asked.

“That’s them,” he replied.

“So, do you know where they went?” Anna asked.

He shook his head no.

“I couldn’t say,” he replied.

“Well, thanks anyway,” Anna said.

“Wish I could have been more help,” he replied.

“It’s fine,” she said.

They parted ways, and she started to head back to the inn.

Barika should be able to tell me what kind of blessing this thing has if she’s not too busy.