Chapter 17

The rest of the trip to the hunting camp was mostly uneventful. Since the Keeper had left, the wildlife had returned but seemed to avoid them altogether. After finding the main road that would take them to the camp, they passed through a large herd of kniphorn almost five hundred strong. The evolved beasts kept a one-hundred-yard bubble around them as they moved. They were slowly parting to give them the space to pass safely. On the edges, they could see the glowing horns of an elder shining as a warning for the unspoken treaty. Silas could almost feel the watchful eyes of the keeper leave him as they exited the herd.

Only one incident occurred when an evolved wild ice boar attacked Yuki directly. She made quick work of the fat little beast with a single stomp that left a broad, meaty blood stain on the road. Antony had stopped them from intervening to showcase her strength and let her be more a part of the team than just hauling. He told them the muskox were natural herd animals, and it was good for her spirit if she felt she was more of a defender. After the attack, he made sure Silas gave her praise and fed her to help grow their bond.

After midday, the hunting camp finally came into view. It was nestled in the basin of a large valley surrounded by four gigantic mountains. The golden mountains had streams flowing down from all directions, converging into a large river where the camp resided at its mouth.

The camp was only a camp in name, not in size or build. Silas was amazed when they drew close enough for structures to come fully into view. Large wooden bridges crisscrossed the river, with humble homes and buildings built atop—all with the same sturdy log cabin-style architecture. The structures themselves were completely sound and built for the harsh winters of the north. The twins said more than three hundred permanent residents lived there year-round, but it accommodated well over a thousand hunters, trappers, and traders in the warmer months.

Antony added that this time of year, the population was dwindling in preparation for the coming cold, so finding lodging for the night shouldn’t be an issue. They spoke to the guards at the entrance gate and were informed of several open establishments capable of accommodating their cart and muskox.

After leaving the gate and entering the town proper, Silas turned to the others from the driver's bench, “So what do we need to gather from here for the rest of our journey? Is there an inn you prefer to stay in for the night?”

Kara laughed and looked at Antony, “Actually, yes. The guard mentioned the Wet Dog Inn was available for the night, and I know my brother would be remiss if we didn’t go. Let’s head there and discuss what we need to gather before we leave.”

Antony’s eyes bulged as she mentioned the inn, “Seriously, sister? The Wet Dog? That’s a low blow. We could easily go to the Skinned Goat or the Drunken Eel and have a much better time.”

Kara gave him her best heartbroken look, “But you know they have my favorite rooms, dear brother. Do you not want me to recover from my ordeal? You know how much their hearths remind me of home as a child.”

Silas looked at them both with utter confusion while Antony stared daggers at his sister.

“Bah, fine,” he conceded with a frustrated wave of his hand. “But for the record, I know you’re manipulating my emotions, and I don’t like it. I’ll have to wear a disguise or something this time, though. Gods, I cannot believe we are going back there.” Antony started shuffling through his bag, mumbling curses under his breath.

Kara bounced over and kissed him on the forehead. Then, she climbed onto the driver’s bench with Silas and wrapped her arms around his. “Go straight; I’ll tell you when to turn,” she said excitedly.

“What was that about?” Silas finally asked.

“Oh, nothing really. My idiot brother slept with the innkeeper's daughter last time we were here, and she stalked him for two days, threatening to kill herself if he didn’t marry her. We finally had to get the guards to sedate her so we could leave,” she laughed, “I’m sure she has moved on by now. Crazy ones like that always do.”

Antony groaned and redoubled his efforts to create a disguise.

Silas chuckled, shaking his head. Five minutes later, they turned down a final street to find a swinging wooden sign depicting a drenched, shaking dog—the sounds of churning water ever-present on their trek through the town from the raging river below. The building looked like any other on the street—a large, two-story log cabin-style structure with an enclosed attached barn built into the first story. A boy who appeared to be ten or eleven years old came running out to greet them as they stopped. He wore simple brown and tan clothes with a hand-stitched patch of the inn on his chest.

“Good day. Are you planning to stay at the Wet Dog for the evening?” He asked.

Silas stepped down from the cart, “We are if you have rooms available. How much to stable for the night?”

“Fifteen silver for the night, and there should be plenty of room. You’ll have to talk with O’Henry about the other rates.” The excitement plane on the boy's face as he never took his eyes off the tortoise, hippo chimera. “Is that truly a muskox, sir? I have always wanted to care for one, but they are rare here.”

Silas smiled and pulled twenty silvers from his pouch, “She is, and her name is Yuki. There’s an extra five silver in there for you if you take extra good care of her for us.”

The boy's excitement intensified, “Only the best for Miss. Yuki, sir. I’ll take her in right away. My name is Thomas, and if you need anything, please call me.”

Silas laughed and handed him the coins, “I am Silas, and I will. Thank you, Thomas.”

The three entered the inn to find a mostly empty establishment. Antler sheds, various skins, and mounts lined the walls around the bar. An eight-foot-tall hearth built on the opposite wall was decorated with multiple axes and old hunting equipment, giving the place a classic hunting lodge feel. A few tables were full of lazing guests having quiet conversations over half-eaten plates of food. Most of the tables were free, but it was still early enough in the day that most local patrons would still be working.

Kara took the lead and led them to the bar to inquire about their rooms. An older, skinny man dressed like Thomas came out from the kitchen to greet them as they approached, “Welcome. Are you three interested in some Vulupine stew? Freshly made and full of hearty flavors with plenty of mana left inside. Or perhaps some ale to quill the weary aches of your travels?”

Kara smiled, “That sounds lovely, thank you. We also need rooms for the night. Do you have three available? We have already stabled our animal with the stableboy, Thomas.”

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“Wonderful. You can have rooms three, four and eleven. The total is forty silvers for the rooms, the meals, and ale now plus supper later. Upon your request, the rooms include a hot bath, but we ask you to give thirty minutes' notice for the hot water. If that suits you, we will bring your belongings to your rooms, and I will have your food ready immediately.”

Antony stepped forward. He had a thin blanket wrapped around his face and was wearing one of Kara’s sand-colored tunics, which made Silas restrain a smile at the sight of him. “Say, where is the owner of this establishment? We were here a few years back, and I seem to remember a portly man running this inn. Is he still around?”

The innkeeper gave him a melancholy look. “I am sorry to give you the bad news, sir, but Mr. Douglas died last winter. His daughter sold it to me shortly after, and I have been running it since.”

“Is she around still?”

Confusion was evident on his face, and he continued, “While she occasionally stops in, it is rare. If you would like me to call on her so you can pay your respects…”

“No!” Antony interrupted. “I mean, I would hate to bring up such a terrible loss to her. Maybe on our return trip.”

The innkeeper nodded and returned to the kitchen. Antony ripped off the face covering, “Well, that’s one bit of good news. Who’s hungry?”

Kara and Silas chuckled as they followed him to a table.

The meal was terrific. The stew was full of deep, rich flavors, perfectly seasoned, and paired with hearty, buttery bread. The ale was more of a mulled wine than an ale, but it perfectly complemented the meal. Overall, this was precisely what one would want in the depths of a frozen winter. A thought came to Silas as he scraped the last bits of stew with the bread: “What is a Vulupine, anyway?”

Kara was the first to answer, “A Vulupine is another evolved beast from this region. It looks like a cross between a red fox and a rabbit. It is roughly the size of a cougar and shaped like a fox, but it has large ears that extend over three feet. It is swift and uses a teleportation ability called blink that sends it a short distance away in any direction it pleases. It has a very dense magic core, and its meat is saturated with mana. When cooked properly, it can boost one's regeneration over time. They are scarce to find anywhere except this portion of the north; even then, catching one is even more difficult. This is truly a treat to be able to have this meal.”

“Their price is high, so if we come across any, we should try our best to capture it to sell before we return to Holmberg,” Antony added through a mouthful of bread.

Silas nodded in understanding before changing the subject, “Do we need any specific supplies before we leave?”

“Well, with our journey here being so swift, we don’t need much honesty,” Kara said. “We should get some lanterns or torches because there are pockets of the caverns that have wards against spells that are strong enough to block even our mage lights. Other than that, we just need some basic food supplies and possibly cold weather gear in case of a storm, but it is doubtful we will need those. I will make a list and give it to the stableboy Thomas. He should be able to get everything for us without any issues.”

“Perfect. Then, I will take the innkeeper’s offer of a hot bath and head to my room for a bit. Would either of you like me to request one for your rooms as well?” Silas asked.

Kara nodded as she continued writing the list, “Yes, please. Extra hot if you would.”

Antony burped under his hand, “Please and thank you.”

Silas stopped by the bar, told the man they were ready, and tipped him a silver for each before heading to his room.

When he opened the door, he was surprised to see a large room with a huge bed covered in furs. There was a large fireplace roaring with a table and four chairs nearby. On the opposite side sat a large, chest-high tub built six feet around that would easily accommodate several people at once. The most surprising aspect was the plumbing directly above the tub, with a toilet and sink sitting behind an open door next to it. “Of all the years I have traveled, here of all places has indoor plumbing, but Holmberg still uses shit pots,” he laughed. He walked over and tested out the bed. It was surprisingly comfortable, like everything else in this town, making him quickly understand why so many people stay year-round. ‘With amenities like this at a simple inn, no wonder they stay here rather than places like Holmberg,’ shaking his head in thought.

Thirty minutes later, a knock came at the door, followed by a muffled voice: “Your bath is ready, sir. Just turn on the faucet above the tub, and it will fill to your liking. The soap is on the ledge next to the towels. Enjoy.”

Silas started filling the tub and washed his clothes in the sink while waiting. After he was finished, he set them by the fire to dry just as the tub finished filling.

He climbed in the steaming hot water. At first, it was almost too hot, but after a moment, he acclimated, and the days of rough travel melted away from his aching muscles. He sat in relaxing silence for several minutes. Just before he was about to doze off, another knock came at the door. He groaned, but before he could answer, Kara barged in, wearing nothing but a towel.

“My water went cold already. Apparently, they no longer know the meaning of ‘extra hot.’ Avert your eyes, you pervert, and move over.”

Surprised at the entrance, he quickly closed his eyes just as she dropped her towel. He heard her climb the steps and lightly splash into the water.

“There. You can open your eyes now.” She breathed deeply, “Gods, they must have mixed up your room with mine. This water is perfect.”

Unsure how to respond, he paused for a second before finally blurting out the first thought that came to mind, “I’m glad you like it.” He winced as soon as it left his mouth. She laughed in return. Relief washed over him, and he continued, “So what is the plan for tomorrow? How long will this leg of the trip take us?”

Kara smiled at him, “Well, we should leave at first light. It will take us three days to reach the ruins from here if we don’t encounter any issues. It will be a great time for training while we move with all the wildlife returning. Most hunters have left for the season, so there should be very little competition. Once we reach the ruins, we must decide how to continue. The path will be too small for your muskox, but once we reach the underground tunnels, they will open up, and we will want her around. It will be a day underground traversing the tunnel system before we reach the chamber where we took the stone. So, all in all, roughly five days of travel depending on how much we rest or how hard we push. Since we are not under any time constraints, I think taking it slow will be fine. It will give us time to work on your sword strike.”

“Hmm. Xavi will have us covered with Yuki and his storage, though I hate doing that to her so often. I think it’s a great idea to go slow and take our time but not too long. I’m very excited about the prospect of more items that might tell me more about what I am. Did you ask Antony about getting information on the status of Holmberg?”

She reached over the side to pick up the soap and handed it to him, “Would you mind getting my back, please?”

Surprised, he took the soap as she turned her back to him before continuing, “I did. If anyone can get information, it’s him. He will let us know what he found in the morning.”

As the conversation began to lull, Silas began to panic. He had never had an issue speaking with women, especially not one he had been traveling with for days, but around her, his mind went blank. Before he could think of anything to say, another knock came from the door, followed by a muffled voice saving his embarrassment.

“Sir, supper is ready. Would you like me to bring it in or leave it by the door?”

Without hesitation, he replied, “You may leave it at the door. And please leave the meal for room four by the door as well. Thank you.”

Kara gave him a sly smile over her shoulder.

“What? I figured if we shared a bath, we could share a meal. I enjoy your company too much to pass up the opportunity.” Smiling back.

“By the way, I meant to thank you for your words this morning. They meant a lot to me, sharing what you did. I wouldn’t have guessed that about you, but I appreciate your trust. I have thought a lot about what you said, and it really has helped me cope and get over my anxiety. It will be some time before I am whole again and stop looking over my shoulder in the wilderness, but it eased my mind knowing I’m not alone,” Kara turned to face him. “It’s hard for me to trust but you make it easy. Thank you for not judging my weakness.”

Silas looked at her in confusion, “What weakness? You had a god-killing, ancient monster mistake you for me and abduct you for it. Then, not only did you survive, but you also fought back and gave us a trail to follow you in the process. I see only incredible strength in that act, not weakness.”

This time, it was her turn to be shocked. The smile finally returned to her face, and without another word, she kissed him.