I spent most of the night tending to the wounded and helping around Everspring after the bandit attack. The chaos of the battle had subsided, but the aftermath was just as chaotic in its own way. I moved from person to person, applying the basic medical skills I'd picked up while at the healer's camp. It wasn't much, but it was something.

As the night wore on, I found myself working alongside Alic, Caden's brother. In between tending to the injured, we talked about the recent string of bandit attacks. Alic's face was grim as he explained that the bandits had grown bolder, likely sensing the village's vulnerability as it recovered from the war.

"Many of our soldiers haven't returned yet," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "We're stretched thin, and the bandits know it."

“I have an idea. We might be able to find some help. I need a little sleep, but after that, I will talk to someone, but they’re out in the woods to the north. Are the bandits living out there?”

“I don’t know. You should take some help with you. I can’t go. I have to stay and better organize our patrols. We need to put up a strong front in case the bandits return. Perhaps Caden can go with you. Doan needs to rest, but Mira might also be available. They all seem to like you, but they need rest, and so do you. Go home and get some sleep, Varix. You were a big help last night.”

“I wish I could have helped with the fighting.”

Alic puffed up his chest and approached me.

“Listen. Not all men or women are called upon to be fighters like me. Nor do they advance as quickly as I do. All that aside, you provided a vital service to this village. We are in your debt.”

I smiled thanks to his words, and because Caden was right about his brother. Alic was a little full of himself, but I couldn’t help but like him.

“Thanks for the advice about getting some sleep. I’m beat,” I admitted and yawned, which set off a yawn from Alic. He clasped my hand and shook it once, then broke off and went to yell at some of his soldiers.

I had a crazy idea to help the village, but I would need to consult with Lady Churl.

First things first.

My body ached, and my eyes felt like they were full of sand. I needed a break, even if just for a few hours.

I made my way back to my tavern. As I stepped inside, I couldn't help but smile. Thanks to all the work we'd put in yesterday, the main floor was starting to look better. There was still a long way to go, but it was progress. I glanced in the kitchen and smiled again. It was looking like an actual kitchen. I estimated it could handle a cook, a sous chef for prep work, and another to do dishes and clean the kitchen as needed.

Two employees. How was I going to put together the funds to pay for that? Maybe I could sell Morthisal’s staff. What’s the worst that could happen? It was just one of the most powerful magical artifacts in all the kingdom, capable of raising armies of the dead, and who knew what else.

I climbed the stairs, my feet heavy with exhaustion. I checked each room, making mental notes of what needed to be done.When I reached the last room on the left, I found the door stuck. Too tired to be gentle, I bashed it open with my shoulder. To my surprise, the room was in relatively good condition. As I stepped inside, I noticed the bed was made, with a beautiful handmade comforter spread across the top. It looked inviting, and I was seeing double from fatigue.

There was a vivid hand-painted picture of a man and woman in a thick brown frame on the wall. They were seated next to each other, clasping hands. He was quite portly, while she was much smaller. She wore her hair in a bun tucked under a green hat that matched her eyes. I stared and stared, because she looked familiar. Probably just my tired mind playing tricks on itself. I looked around the room again and realized where I was.

I didn’t know much about the previous owners, except that the man had died. It was claimed he had eaten himself to death. From the look of him, he had enjoyed food. I wondered if a heart attack had killed him.

This has been their room. That’s why it was in such nice condition. The bed could easily fit two. I pushed on the mattress and found it soft, but there was an indent on one side, probably where the man had slept.

The bed swam before my eyes.

I couldn’t help it. I lay down, just for a few minutes. I’d get up and go to the inn soon. I just needed to close my eyes for-

----------------------------------------

I awoke with a pounding headache, a dry mouth, and a ghost, although the last part was fleeting. Lady Ophelia Nightshade hovered just on the edge of my periphery and was gone in the blink of an eye.

God! I needed a gallon of water and a gallon of coffee. The order I drank them in didn’t matter. I lifted my hand and peered at my wrist. Nope. No smartwatch. It was who-the-hell-knows o’clock.

“Ophelia?”

No answer.

I dragged my ass out of the bed and looked outside. It was in the evening, based on the sun. It was dipping below the horizon, which meant I’d slept the entire day.

Bleary-eyed, I forced myself to get up, walk out of the room, and go down the stairs, carefully taking them one at a time due to the gloom. I’d only been here during the day and hadn’t considered needing lights. No light switch and convenient electricity.

The stairs creaked with each step. I grasped the handrail and realized it was a bit loose. More stuff to fix.

A rat squeaked and darted past my feet.

“Gah! Why did I think this tavern thing was a good idea?” I murmured.

I needed a cat.

Even though I'd slept the day away in the bed upstairs, I was in no hurry to sleep here tonight. It was frankly a little scary, and this was from a guy who had talked to actual ghosts.

I reached the main room and realized three people were sitting at the bar.

“Hey. How did you get in here? We’re not open yet.”

“Hello, dear,” Ophelia greeted me.

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Stepping into the room, they came into full view, and I realized who was there.

“Son of a…”

“Varix. Good to see you again,” Garin, the dead paladin, said.

The third figure turned his chair around dramatically, behaving as though I was supposed to know him. He was the smaller man, no taller than five feet, with dark brown skin. I’d spotted him the other day while out walking in Everspring. He wore loose-fitting black armor and carried a long, curved dagger and a pair of small crossbows across his back. His head was shaved bald. Most peculiar were his eyes. They were large and jet-black.

“So it is him.” The man spoke quickly, the words clipped.

“You all need to get out of here and go haunt someone else. This is my place of business. Now go. I mean it. Go on.” I shooed them toward the door.

Ophelia stared at me impassively. Garin crossed his arms over his chest. The other weird-looking dude stared, unblinking, his eyes so big they seemingly took in the entire room without him having to move his head.

“I don’t have time for this,” I said and went to the kitchen.

“Morth, darling, I mean Varix. Have you met Zyn since he joined us? Do you recognize him at all?“

“Nope. Never seen that jabroni in my life."

In the kitchen I found water in a bucket and took a tentative sip. It was tepid, but it was good enough for government work.

I drank my fill, wiped the back of my mouth, and pondered walking over to The Whistling Kettle to see if they were open. I needed a strong shot of coffee if I was to be of any use tonight.

“Varix, darling. Come talk to us. You wouldn’t want to make me beg,” Ophelia simpered.

I stuck my head in the doorway. “What?”

“He is strange,” the little bald-headed guy, Zyn said.

“He’s not himself. Truly. His body was assigned to another, then he disguised himself as yet another,” Garin put in.

"I disguised myself as myself. This is what I look like on my world."

Zyn didn't look convinced. He hopped off his chair and, in a blink, appeared next to me.

"Here we go again," I sighed.

Before I could react, he slid his hand out, and it passed through me.

He took it well, stoically. Didn't blink his huge black eyes. He just turned and, in another blink, was back in his seat.

"Told ya," Garin said.

"So what's your deal, Zyn?"

He regarded me, but didn't speak.

"He's a Durethian, darling," Ophelia said. "Natural born assassins. Your former self employed them-"

"Enslaved."

Ophelia looked at Zyn. "I'll give you that one. But don't act like the Durethians weren't complicit. You bound yourselves to him first."

"And were betrayed," Zyn shot back.

"Dark lord's gonna dark lord, am I right?" I offered.

Garin burst out laughing. "You're much funnier than your predecessor."

I tucked a hand and gave him a mock bow. Garin laughed again, and slapped the bar, except his hand passed through.

"You see, darling," Ophelia said as she turned her attention to me again, "Zyn was one of your best assassins."

"Not one of. The best," Zyn said sharply.

"Is that right? Tell me, Zyn. How did your last assassination work out for you?"

Zyn crossed his arms.

Garin jerked his thumb at the others. "These two can be quite quarrelsome."

"I guess I have a question about your kinky little threesome, here. Why are you here? Do you all have something in common?"

"Oh, aye," Garin said and pointed at Ophelia. "She killed me."

"I thought you said Morthisal killed you?"

"He did, but it was with my help." Ophelia glanced at Garin and smirked.

"And Zyn?" I asked.

"I killed her." He pointed at Ophelia.

"Be honest, Zyn. We met our mutual demise at the hands of each other."

"Under the guidance of Morthisal." Zyn met my eyes.

"Don't look at me," I protested.

"I was there when it happened," Garin said.

"Hold on. You're saying you were all in the same place, trying to kill each other, and you took each other out?"

"We were all trying to kill you, darling," Ophelia said languidly. "The other you. Morthisal was ever resourceful. One does not live that long with as many enemies without being skilled at evading assassins."

"And wives with poisoned blades," Zyn added. "I was going to kill her first, and then you. Morthisal."

"And this happened when?"

"Roughly thirty years ago, I'd guess," Garin said.

"Wow. Just, wow."

"I like this word 'wow,'" Ophelia said.

"It covers a lot of ground, that's for sure. So let me ask you a question. You're all bound to this tavern?"

"It appears we are bound to you," Zyn said.

"Are you able to help me? I need to get a message to someone out in the forest. Will you be able to protect me?"

"We can offer guidance but not take action directly."

"So all you can do is sit around and talk?" I said.

I sighed as Garin, Zyn, and Ophelia continued their banter, their ghostly voices echoing through the empty tavern. Despite their squabbling, they did offer a glimmer of hope.

"Listen," Garin said, his partially translucent form leaning against the bar. Don't ask how that's even possible because I have no clue. "We may not be able to physically help, but we can accompany you. We can scout ahead, warn you of any danger."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? That would be a big help."

Ophelia nodded, her ethereal hair flowing around her. "Of course, darling. It's not like we have anything better to do."

I couldn't argue with that logic. "Alright, I appreciate the offer. I really need to talk to this friend of mine. She might know where I can find some help for the village. There is concern that the bandit raids will continue as they grow bolder."

Zyn's huge dark eyes blinked once, almost like a snake's nictating membrane, and he gave a curt nod. "Very well. We shall join you on this endeavor."

"Really?"

"Sure thing, lad. What else do we have to do?" Garin shrugged.

I retrieved my bow and quiver from behind the bar and slung them over my shoulder. There was one more item I needed to bring with me. I retrieved it from the cooler, and shoved it in my bag.

As I stepped out of the tavern, I hesitated. Part of me wished I could ask Mira, Doan, or Caden to come with me to offer their protection and support. But how could I explain my connection to Churl? They wouldn't understand. Churl might also slip and call me Lord Morthisal, and that would be a disaster.

No, this was something I had to do on my own. I glanced at my spectral entourage. Well, not entirely on my own.

I set out from the village with my ghostly comrades in tow. As I passed by the guards at the gate, one of them called out to me.

"Varix! Hold up a moment."

I turned, recognizing the guard from the night before. "Yes?"

He approached, a grateful smile on his face. "I just wanted to thank you for assisting the injured last night. You were a big help."

I was a little flattered that the guard had recognized and thanked me. "I was happy to help."

The guard's expression turned serious. "Listen, be careful out there. You know about the bandits. Keep your eyes open, alright?"

I nodded, my grip tightening on my bow. "I will. Thank you for the warning."

Bandits, ghosts, and a mysterious friends in the woods - what had I gotten myself into?