They followed the road from Katzburg for another six days, although at a much more manageable pace. Throughout this time tanai’s mental condition has visibly improved. Whether it was the distance from the fateful monument, time that passed since then, or something entirely different, Brandt couldn’t tell. What was evident was the tanai being much more like he was during their first days together – busy poking his nose into things every time there was an opportunity to do so.

The weather during the entire trip was as merciful as it could be during early spring, despite the looming peaks of the Erendens being a little closer every day. Every morning they were welcomed with, at worst, a slight drizzle, which quickly subsided. Otherwise, it was a little chilly and a little cloudy. The greenery through which they were traveling was also becoming more and more worthy of the name – sprouting leaves and buds.

Somewhat close to midday of the sixth day, they encountered the first village on their route, and a quite sizable one, comprised of about fifty houses clumped on on a shore of a quite large lake at the foot of the mountains themselves.

Anh wanted to stay a while and make notes about the local populace but was given only a brief time by his employer. Anh merrily wandered into the village, while Brandt decided to pawn off their stolen military goods in the form of horses and replace them with a fresh pair, which took him about a candle. The animals he brought were ordinary maargardian workhorses, stout, strong, but certainly not as noble as the sorrel military steed they stole. But they also were not branded by the stables of the Ordo, thus they would not draw any unwanted attention.

The road followed the shoreline of the lake on the side opposite the mountain, providing a splendid view of both the wall of mountains and of the fishing boats on the lake itself. Anh also noted a large barge slowly heading towards what looked like a major installation on the far opposite side of the lake.

Nearing the dusk, their muddy road merged to a larger one, and a candle later they arrived at the “Our Fatherland Inn”, where Brandt decided to stay for the night.

-* We are on the fringes * - announced Tow, when he witnessed the inn’s main building.

-* What was the giveaway? * - snickered Thernohh - * Us escaping into the woods, us not seeing a settlement for a week, or us at the great unknown to the west which spans on the other side of these topographical features over there? *

-* The last position of your listicle applies * - dryly replied Tow - * but also, look how tiny this inn is! *

Anyone used to the large inns built along the main roads of the Commonwealth, and Anh certainly belonged to this category, would consider the building before them as puny. Barely larger than a peasant’s hut, and built in the same manner, with an equally underwhelming stables to its left. A thick layer of fresh mud covered the entire area before the entry porch, in it, somewhere to their right, stood two lonely, tarp-covered carts. There were no people in sight.

Brandt immediately headed toward the gate of the stables. Once nearby, he took a long look at the muck below and sighed in resignation. He got off the horse and as he landed, despite being as agile as he could, he splattered mud around him and ended up at least ankle-deep in it. Anh floated toward him, and when he arrived, the hoomin nodded at the stables.

The interior was already quite dark, although weak remains of the bivlight still found a way inside. Despite this, Anh immediately invoked a lumehex, spooking a few horses already resting in two of the four wide stalls the building provided. Hoomin, blissfully ignoring the ruckus, maneuvered their horses to one of the free ones. In it, they found fresh hay and water for the animals. Handling them and undoing their luggage took them a little over a quanter. A significant portion of this time included arguing whether Anh should take all of his things at once. The tanai finally settled for just hanging off his belongings on the numerous wooden pegs on the walls of their stall. After all was done, they left for the inn’s doors.

-” Let me do the talking.” – Hoomin said before pushing the doors.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The interior was even tinier than the building and fairly cramped. Apart from several benches beside the wall, there were two tables inside. Each could sit, at most, six people and one was occupied by three men playing dice among a collection of empty tankards. The other table was free.

-*As if it is waiting for us* - commented Greoo

-*It better be. I’m hungry* - threw in Anh

The counter was on the opposite side of the main room, and behind it sat a skinny, old woman in a linen shirt and a white apron on top. As Anh and Brandt went in, she diverted her bored gaze from the playing men to the newcomers.

Brandt went towards her.

-” Greetings good citizen. My name bes Beorg Mac Keone ” – he exclaimed jovially, with a coarse voice and an accent reminiscent of far reaches of Sorres - “ Mine accomplice and mine seeketh a room to stay the night. Food and drink to satiate our hunger would be good too, yes they would! ”

-* LIAR! * - shouted Greoo -* LIAR! LIAR! LIAR! *

-* We noticed *- commented Thernohh impassionately -* and are utterly unfazed, considering his past behaviour * Although I personally admit it being a good performance *

-* This fake name of his. What is with this unusual infix? Title? Thing? *- mused Tow -* How do you write it? Domme, could you inquire? *

-* Ask yourself *- said Anh dismissively -* you didn’t have an issue before *

-* I would, but I don’t want to weird out our employer even further *- replied Tow while doing the best abstract notion of a shrug -* besides, it would be additionally awkward for the rest of the hoomin here *

-* We probably don’t want to draw attention as well *- added Birdekk

-* Fine, we just need a better opportunity to ask*- sighed Anh

The woman, without uttering a word, stood up and reached for a large iron key hanging on the wall behind her.

-” Zat will be drei shillingen. Today we zerve liver with onionz and potatoez ”

-” This will do! This will do very well! ” - Brandt continued his jovial performance. Upon hearing this, the barkeep put the key on the counter and pushed it towards the hoomin.

-” Room zwei.” - said the woman while pointing at the pair of doors on the wall to her left. Brandt didn’t respond. He just took the key and nodded at the tanai to follow him.

As could be expected, the room was as rudimentary as possible. It had two dark, simple beds beside the walls with stained pallets and tiny pillows, presumably for comfort. Apart from these, there was nothing more. Anh quivered a little after he witnessed how rough their accommodation was, Brandt just threw his bags on one of the beds.

-” Can I inquire about something? ” – said the tanai after he also landed the few pouches he decided to take from the stables.

-” Sure” – The hoomin sat on the bed and stretched a little.

-” This name you used. It is quite unusual. Especially the infix. ‘Mac’ was it?”

Brandt scratched his already very unshaven chin, a little troubled.

-” I came up with it just now.”

-* Liar! *- scoffed Greoo.

-” Really? “ - Anh raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

-” I’m a Nord, unusual in these lands. This name sounds foreign. So it fits.”

-* Liar! *- Greoo repeated herself -* He does not want us to know *

-* Any hypotheses why? *- said Thernohh -* Assuming you are correct. *

-* I just … know * Its hard to explain * his demeanor * the way he answered * its very hoomin kind of behavior when they don’t want to answer truthfully *

-* so * just a guess? * because his reasoning is sound *

-* you may to believe me * you may not * either way I’m feeling the hunger domme spoke of *

The smell of freshly cooked liver in heavy gravy with an unmistakeable undertone of onions started to fill the air.

-” I think our food is almost ready.” - Brandt stood up from the bed and adjusted his clothing – “Let’s go.”