The remainder of the ride was fairly uneventful. The road we took wasn’t very busy but we did pass by a few other travelers, all giving us curious looks. Moss and I chatted about the area, the best places to eat and stay while in Fernsworth and also in some of the surrounding bigger cities like Riverstrand. It was only about an hour's ride out but would have been at least a three hour walk. He was a part of the merchant guild of Faetearium and worked the area around the Berklow Forest. His family was in Riverstrand and ran the brick and mortar shop for The Whimsical Expanse Trading Co. they had there. He would be in Fernsworth for about 4 nights then move SW through some small towns near the base of the Amware slopes and then back to Riverstrand.
“So what is it that you do just Cricket?” Moss asked. It was a perfectly reasonable and innocent question. One that anyone would ask when in polite conversation. It was also a question that had been in the back of my mind since I got here. And It was just violently shoved front and center. I was not really sure how to answer Moss.
“I… uh… to be honest, now that I am here and not where I was… I have no idea.” I picked at the jerky he had given me.
“Fresh start eh?”
I was quiet for a bit, the memories of the Twilight flashing in my mind. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Well if it is a fresh start that your looking for Fernsworth is a good starting point but you will find more options in a place like Riverstrand or if ya are wanting to just go un-noticed completely, Faetierim, tis a ways away but… It's the capital and the largest city in the realm. No soul would look twice at ye there, folk of all kinds in the streets. Don’t get me wrong Fernsworth is a lovely town but not very big. It’ell do ya to get some rest in a warm bed with good food and restock but, it's the kinda town where everyone knows everyone else and knows all their business too. And well, no offense, someone like you.” He looked at me with a slight grin that crinkled the edges of his kind eyes, “Well lass, yu’ll be standing out in a town that small and everyone will want to know your business.”
I laughed. It had been a while since I had laughed and I genuinely laughed. I looked as the wagon turned a wind bend. “Well then, I spose I best prepare myself for some looks and more than a few questions.” There were a few farm houses on each side of the road and more off in the distance, and just beyond a small town. Moss shook the reins and the horses picked up the pace.
The closer we got the more folk we saw. Moss greeted several of them by name, and even stopped to chat with a few asking about their kids, or their crops. I received plenty of curious looks from passers-byers, and everytime someone asked about me he would simply say “Oh, she helped me with a broken wheel and needed a ride to the nearest town for supplies.” They were always polite, but they all took a step back or pulled their children in closer when they saw me.
We finally made it into town. It was quaint with only a few small taverns, a single inn, an alchemy shop, a general supply store, and a few other simple storefronts. Moss pulled up to the Waypoint Inn and Tavern, “Welcome to Fernsworth’s only Inn. The tavern here isn’t bad, good mead and warm meals. You will find most everything here in the town's center. I’ll be here a few days still so if ya need ena’thin let me know.”
“Actually while we are here I want to help you with a new wagon wheel setup.”
“Nah ya don’t have ta do that. I will get a new one when I get back to Riverstrand.'' He waved my offer off.
“Nope, I'm gonna take care of it while you are here. It is the least I can do.” I grabbed my haversack and his bag that he was jumping to try and reach and walked into the Inn before he could protest.
The Waypoint Inn was quaint just like the town. It was lit up from natural light beaming in through the front windows. The front desk was just beyond the entry way with the stairs just to the right heading to an open hall with several doors above you. A sitting room was just to the right of the stairs with a fireplace. Four navy blue plush chairs filled the space with a round table in the center and a bookshelf that took up the entire wall opposite the fireplace. Through a large archway to the left of the desk was the Tavern. It looked inviting with several tables with small lanterns in the center of each. A few patrons were scattered throughout and there was a lively discussion happening. A young woman sitting behind a front desk greeted you when you walked in the front door. She had a quill in one hand and was scribbling notes into a large records book when she looked up. “Welcome to the…” she trailed off midway through her greeting and her eyes went wide as I ducked through the entryway carrying the two bags. “You are the largest Catfolk I have ever seen!” Her hand flew to her mouth and her cheeks reddened. I chuckled “It's okay, I have come to realize I will be getting that a lot.”
Her eyes were downcast and the greeting was much quieter “Welcome to the Waypoint Inn and Tavern are you looking for room and board?”
I placed the bags down as Moss came in through the door and walked up next to me, he had to push up on his toes to see over the counter. “Ah, Ismina tis’ good to see ya. I see ya’ have met my new friend Cricket.”
Her cheeks flushed again, “Um, yes I was just offering her room and board. Would you like your normal room Moss?”
“Tha’ would be lovely yes. I'm only here for 4 days tho’. Running a touch behind with the bad weather that came through, and then a blasted broken wheel.”
She peered out the front windows. “I’m sorry to hear that, do you need me to set up some time with James to fix it?”
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“Nah. The wheels shot. I’m gonna need a completely new one when I get back to Riverstrand.”
I just looked at the man out of the corner of my eye, raising my eyebrows slightly. Ismina handed Moss his key “Thank you” then turned to me. “Well I’ll be around for a few days then. I do hope ta see ya’ before ya leave town.” He held his hand out to me and I shook it.
“I am sure we will bump into one another before then.” I replied. He then picked up his bag and made his way up the stairs.
Ismina was pretty, she stood average height for a human. She looked to be in her twenties with cream colored skin, mousey brown hair, and kind hazel eyes. “Well Miss Cricket, I do apologize for earlier. Welcome to The Waypoint Inn and Tavern. My name is Ismina.”
“Thank you Ismina and please just call me Cricket.”
“Absolutely Cricket. Do you know how long you will be in Fernsworth?”
“Not really, maybe a week or so. Just a basic room will be fine and I would love to just include my meals while I am here in the total cost. My travel plans were kind of… unknown to me until the last minute” I really needed to get my story straight especially in a place like this I am sure people will be asking questions.
“Oh, no problem at all we do have room and boarding available with 2 meals a day. Breakfast includes unlimited coffee or tea, lunch and dinner include a single serving of your choice of Mead, Wine or Beer with your meal. Its a silver a night.” Ismina said in a very polite manner.
“Sounds perfect.”
“Excellent! Now, since we don’t know the exact length of your stay we would ask for 3 silver upfront and the rest at check out.”
I pulled 3 silver from the pouch on my belt and slid it over to her. She took the silver and dropped it in a lock box on the desk. Then she turned around and took a silver key from the key rack behind her. She opened a cabinet next. Pulled out a stack of towels and sheets, placed the key on top of all of it, turned and placed it on the front counter.
“Breakfast is served in the Tavern from 6am -10pm, Lunch is available from 11am-3pm and Dinner is served from 5pm - 10pm. Your room is number 3, it is up the stairs and to the Left. The bath facilities are at the end of the hall. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“Yes actually. I am in need of a map of Mythstearia as well as a map of the general area. I am also hoping you could put me in touch with James? I would like to fix Moss’ wheel set up for him as a surprise thank you for the lift, but I don’t have my tools with me.”
“That is so thoughtful of you. James should be in his shop until sundown today and is usually there about 8 in the morning. If you take a right on the main street there.” She pointed out the front and motioned to the right. “His shop is about a quarter mile down the way. Let him know I sent you down to help fix Moss’ wagon wheel and he will get you what you need. The general supply store you passed on your way into town will have the maps you are looking for as well as any supplies you may need for while you are here or on the road. We are a small town but we get frequent travelers passing through”
“Thanks. Now the last thing. Does Fernsworth have a job board or adventurer’s guild hall I could pick some work up from while I am here?” I inquired as I looked around the Inn.
She gave a small laugh “Oh my, Fernsworth is far too small for an adventurer's guild. But we have a job board. Basic things, nothing too daring of course but things that the local folk can't handle themselves get posted until a traveling adventurer or group of adventurers comes along to help out. The town hall pays for most of the contracts but some are private.”
“Ismina, thank you for all of the help and the directions. Have a lovely rest of the day”
“You as well Cricket.”
I nodded my head, picked up my haversack, stack of towels and key and made my way up to my room.
I sighed as I closed the door and looked around. It was simple and clean, exactly what I was hoping for. There was a window with layers of thick navy curtains and sheer overlay in cream directly across from the door, a desk and Armour took up the right wall and a full sized bed was on the left with a pedestal holding a washing basin and pitcher in the corner. The bed was bare with a quilt folded at the foot of the bed in a paisley pattern in navy and cream. I didn’t have much beyond my haversack and weapons, some of which I didn’t think I should carry around town. I chuckled “Yeah, that wouldn’t draw any extra attention to me. A behemoth of a Catfolk walking around with a scary looking, unknown device strapped to her back” I took my rifle and sword and placed them in the Armour. I placed my hand over the handle of the cabinet and made a small gesture “Gh’las”. My hand glowed with a purple light and a glittery and semi-transparent padlock appeared before it shimmered out of sight. I looked at the bed with longing and disgust, the contradiction of feelings waring on my face. I wanted nothing more than to just lay down and drift into a long sleep, its all I have wanted for months. Drinking myself into oblivion seemed to at least get me to sleep, it was staying that way that proved to be the problem, regardless of what I ingested.
I shook my head drawing myself out of the memories from the last 5 years. I washed up, cleaned the blood off of my arm and changed my clothes setting the dirty ones in the basin to soak. I don’t think they had been washed since before I was locked up. I slipped on my jacket and shoes, checked the daggers on my belt and went downstairs.
The supplies I received when dumped here are important but not the most important. I made my way to the general supply store first. I picked up a few more rations, more daggers, a pair of gloves, candied nuts and a flask. They didn’t have a dimensional storage bag, but the clerk said I should be able to find one in Riverstrand.
I headed to the alchemy shop next. When I stepped through the door a bell chimed and the smell of black powder, herbs, spices and fire washed over me. I inhaled deeply, the scent was familiar and comforting. A small dome of salt and pepper hair bobbed behind the counter as random items went flying into the air around them and just hovered there. I could hear a male voice, he was older and talking to someone or something unseen or quite possibly just talking to themselves, “I know that blasted bottle is here somewhere.” The shelves and counters were strewn with various bottles and tinctures of liquids and powders. There were jars of herbs, spices, insects, and dried animal bits in glass cabinets. Behind the counter and floating objects, were bottles that had wax toppers, red tags, colored glass or all three. Those, more than likely, signified the more potent, hazardous, and costly items. Despite the bell the man didn’t seem to hear me come in so I made myself known, “Ello?”
He responded without ever looking up from behind the counter, “Yes, yes, yes, I know you're here. Now help me find the green beetle horn or you may not be getting what you came here for Cat.”