We had spent the rest of the day navigating the forest as we made our way to Willowshire under Dave’s direction. Raven had walked beside me, her face etched with disapproval at the side quest we had taken. It had flashed up in my menu for a brief moment once we, I had agreed to help Dave an dVera by escorting them to the nearby town. It was the least we could to, both of them seemingly terrified by whatever it was that had killed the merchant.
I had decided it made sense for me to pull the cart given that Dave was able to pull it, albeit slowly and Vera and Raven were both half my size. That didn’t mean that the journey to Willowshire had been easy, the train was horrendous to say the least with the bumps, shrubs, plantlike, weeds and everything else that littered the ground proving to be nothing more than monumental pain in the ass when it came to pulling the damn thing.
I had recommended maybe throwing a few of the lesser valuable items in the cart but Dave had looked at me like I had three heads so I figured I just needed to dig deep and get to Willowshire. Besides when we got there they may actually be an opportunity to get some rest, in a proper bed. Or even better find somewhere to have a drink, boy what I would have given to be able to kick back relax and enjoy an ice cold beer. Especially when I was hot, sweaty and tired. My shirt clung to me uncomfortably and my shoes continued to rub on my feet like crazy, my thoughts continued to switch between the ice cold beer and getting new clothes over and over. It was what motivated me to get to Willowshire sooner rather than later.
Vera and Dave had taken it upon themselves to settle in the cart as I dragged it, at first I felt inclined to protest but once they were actually in the cart theiy didn’t seem to add much weight to the cart so I let it slide.
“Not much farther now,” Dave said, “Just past those trees there should be an opening, then you will be able to see the town.”
“Are you sure this time,” I said as I strained. My shoulders were burning and the knuckles at the base of my fingers were raw from gripping the cart and dragging it all this way. I was starting to question my own decision to help Vera and Dave.
“That rock formation was deceiving,” Dave said, “How was I meant to know we were going around in circles.”
“Because we had passed it three times,” I said with a sigh, foot steps crunching the dry soil and fallen leaves that littered the ground.
I didn’t appreciate the nervous laughter that fell from Vera and judging by Raven’s pursed lips neither did she. She picked up the pace and walked ahead of us, her feet slapping on the ground as she stomped forward, it was like having a stroppy teenager with us.
We continued past the trees like Dave had said and to my surprise he was right, ahead of us I could see a cobbled stone path, it was covered in dry soil from the forest but it was a path all the same. It felt strange to see something normal like a path here, it reminded me of home more than it probably should have and I felt a lump forming in my throat. There were actually going to be people here, more people than I had seen in a long time and I kind of looked forward to that. I wondered if subconsciously this was on e of the reasons why I had accepted dates side quest, because even though I appreciated Raven’s company, even when she was being moody, I kind of missed having a conversation with other people. Normal conversation that didn’t involve saving the kingdom, those days seemed like so long ago.
“Looks like you were right,” I said, I nodded forward at the path.
“And to think you were doubting me.” Dave said, “Keep following the path, we are on the right track, the village should be just ahead.”
Vera clapped her hands in delight as Raven continued to walk ahead of us, albeit a little slower than a moment ago.
“Keep you wits about you Raven, we still have no idea what to expect here.” Raven gave me a fleeting glance over her shoulder before waving my warning away with a flippant hand.
Luckily for us we had made it this far without any trouble or sign of whatever had taken out the merchant.
“Welcome to Willowshire,” Dave said as I took in the sight of the town.
The sight brought me more joy than I thought it would, ahead of us, built within the midst of the forest was a village, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
“Woah,” I said under my breathe as I took in the welcome sight. The smell of pine seemed to intensify from what I was used to, giving it a kind of roasted smell that was alluring in itself. The houses were like something pulled out of victorian England, houses built from timber but finished with an off white render, steep roofs that formed neat triangles were decorated with autumn coloured tiles. Presumingly to blend in with the trees in the autumn season. Against the luscious green backdrop it made them stand out, the houses were beautiful. The cobbled street snaked through the centre and up a steepening hill, the houses placed on either side of different sizes.
At the top of the path and what I assumed was the end of the village sat a larger building, like a clock tower minus the clock, its spire twisting and reaching high into the trees that encased the outer edges of the town.
“Isn’t she beautiful,” Dave said as if he was speaking about a person and not a town.
“It is so nice to be back, we haven’t been here since we came for a holiday, how long ago was that Dave?” Vera hopped of the cart and stood next to me pointing out atyhe the different buildings. “Now if I remember right there is a bakery over there, just behind that is the armoury and if you go right across to the other side there is a tavern.”
My knees almost buckled underneath me with the confirmation that a tavern was here, I could practically taste the sweet beer.
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“Are you ok dear?” Vera asked, placing a hand tenderly on my arm as I lowered the cart. My back clicked more times than it probably should have but the relief on the pressure in my shoulders was indescribable.
“I’m fine,” I said as I clicked by back and let out a sigh of relief. “It’s just I didn’t think taverns existed here.”
“What would give you that idea?” Vera said with a puzzled expression, she looked at me as though I had three heads. “We are a civilised society,”
“Well most of us are,” Dave balked as he stepped on the other side of me and patted me on the back. “You have been a great help, why dont you have a wander around while we go and sell what we can, one eI have some coin I can pay you for escorting us and then you can be on your merry way. Just try not to get into any trouble in the meantime.”
“I have no idea what you mean,” I laughed.
“I was talking to you,” Dave said, his gaze reaching beyond me to raven who was stood, arms folded and unimpressed with us standing around.
Raven huffed, sighed, waved her hand in discontent and set off down the path towards Willowshire.
“Best catch upto her, I wouldn’t leave her unsupervised around here. She doesn’t fit in.” Dave raised his eyebrows as he picked up the cart to set off walking into town with.
Vera gave me a polite wave. “See you later Silas, thanks again for all your help.”
“You don’t need to thank me for doing what was right I said, I’ll see you both later,” I said as I turned to run after Raven, “Hey wait up,” I said as I called out after her. My mind focused again on what Dave had said about Raven that she didn’t fit in, what had he meant by that. Raven continued her walk at pace, she was clearly pissed off and at this moment in time I was guessing that there wasn’t too much that I could do about it.
“Come on Raven slow down, I know you didn’t want to head here but we shouldn’t be here long.”
She continued to ignore me and paced ahead just a couple of yards ahead of me as I tried to keep up. I could understand her not being over the moon with the detour but I couldn’t understand why she was being this off with me. When she didn’t slow up I decided to let her walk it of and keep us as best as I could as we approached the town. It was picturesque, you could take a snapshot of it from where I stood and put it on a postcard. A place like this back home would be a tourist hotspot.
Before we knew we were walking amidst the town folk and it was a breathe of fresh air to see other humans, going about their daily life. Everyone was dressed funny, their attire like I had been transported back in time to a medieval world, for some reason I imagined people to be wearing clothes like me or Sy would wear but they didn’t.
Some for long tunics, some old and musty some of vibrant colours and clearly better material. Others wore leathers, strapped tightly to their bodies causing me to question how they actually breathed.
“Raven,” I called out, “Come on you can’t stay mad at me forever, let me make it unto you, as soon as we have coin I will get you something nice, chocolate or candy, there must be something that you want.” Raven turned as she marched forward and if looks could kill, hers would have buried me six feet in a grave, but given Raven’s nature it would likely be a shallow one.
A man stepped from the side, more in a stumble than anything, his body clad from head to toe in dull metal armour, his head covered with a helmet, the visor down. I say a man, in the moment it could have been a woman, a horse, ogre anything for all I knew. A full blown medieval knight walking around a village in the middle of the day and no one bats an eye lid. Just when I think this world cannot get any crazier.
“Raven watch out.” I said, my voice raised.
It was too late though the knight continued to stumble backwards into the path of Raven who clattered straight into his legs, sending both tumbling to the floor.
“What in the blazes!” The knights voice was deep and well spoken with an English accent, one you would expect with a medieval knight. There was a slight slur to his speech as he rolled around like an upturned turtle as he tried to regain his footing.
Raven scurried on the ground and got to her feet with noble agility before raise=ing her hand to the hilt of one of her scythe’s.
“No, no no,” I said as I rushed forwards, placing a hand on raven’s shoulder. So much for staying out of trouble. "Raven relax it was an accident.”
Her shoulder was tense, she was looking for a fight and for a moment I couldn’t rule out that she hadn’t done this intentionally. With a puff, Raven vanished as she recalled into my shadow, probably not the worst idea she ever had, leaving em alone with the fallen knight. I rushed forward and leaned down to help the knight back to his feet, grabbing hold of his arm, he was really heavy, the metal ice cold against my hands.
“What is the meaning of this,” he slurred, hiccuping in the process. “Unhand, me at once.” He swung out his arm, although not intentionally his gloved hand caught my chin and lower lip, the sharp sting was followed by the taste of iron in my mouth.
“Hey I am just trying to help you up, relax,” I said my voice deepening as my temper paired, I bit down on my resolve to calm myself. The last thing I wanted was to get into a fight as soon as we stepped foot in a new town. I scanned the area around us, a couple of people were looking at us to see what the commotion was about, the rest were going about their daily business.
A woman tutted as she walked past, raising her head in the air like she had caught a whiff of a bad smell. “I’d leave him if I was, you, the man is nothing but a drunkard that if he knew better would leave a town where he is not welcome.”
The knight continued to stagger around as he very uncouthly got back to his feet, his armour clattering and chiming as he swaggered about on the spot. “good lady,” he started with another hiccup, “I’ll have you know that you are right, I am drunk. How very observant of you, but in the morning when I am sober, you will still be ugly.”
She scoffed, tutted again and scuttled off down the street.
I let out a nervous laugh, it was a good come back after the woman had been rude to him but decided to intervene non the less.
“Ok, that’s enough of that I said,” Helping the knight get his balance back. He swayed from side to side and I was paranoid he was just going to fall over again.
“Was it you?” he said, an accusatory tone to his voice. He raised a hand and point a finger at me, unable to keep his hand still. “Did you trip me up?”
“No,” I said, “I was just passing by, you seemed to trip over the cobbled roads.”
His dark beading eyes scanned me through his visor and there was an awkward silence for a moment, interrupted by yet another hiccup, “hmmph,” he said. “Very well,” and with that he turned and went to walk away but stumbled forward. I rushed forward and helped keep him balanced again.
“Touch me again without invitation and you will lose those hands of yours. You have no idea who I am do you.”
"Sorry,” I said, “I just didn’t want to see you fall over again.” He was drunk but my own patience was wearing thin with him now, he may have been drunk but he was coming across as more than a little obnoxious.
“Don’t let it happen again,” he said in-between another hiccup and he set off, down the road, stumbling from side to side, tripping and stumbling but somehow managing to stay standing.
“jeez, what an asshole.” I said under my breath. “You can come out now,”
Raven didn’t re-apear, so I assumed she was still cooling off, so I set off down through the centre of town. I wanted to have a good look around and the sooner that Gary and Vera could sell their wares, the sooner I could have some coin to trade myself. My attention drifting to the the tavern that Gary had already told me about.