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The many-paned windows of the Wheatsheaf Inn gave off a warm glow which spilled gently out into the evening's dusky light. Its heavy oak door swung open with a groan as Seamus and Kara stepped inside. The scent of roasting meat and wine being mulled hit him immediately, along with the cozy hum of conversation and the crackle of a roaring fire. Seamus took a moment to absorb the scene—the packed tables, the firelight dancing off the dark beams overhead, and the way the noise of the inn seemed to wrap around him, pulling him into its warm embrace.
Kara led the way through the crowd with ease. She moved swiftly, her eyes briefly scanning the room before she settled on an empty table tucked away near the back. Seamus followed, feeling slightly out of place in the bustling, close-knit environment, but the warmth of the inn soon lulled him in.
They sat down, and within moments, two mugs of ale thudded onto the table in front of them. The innkeeper, a burly blonde youth with a twinkle in his eye, offered a quick nod. "That one’s on the house for the new guy," he said with a wink, clapping Seamus on the shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.
Seamus grinned, raising his mug. "Friendly place," he said, taking a sip. The ale was stronger than anything he was used to—dark, smoky, and with a kick that made him cough slightly.
Kara leaned back, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her mug. "It grows on you," she said with a small smile. "Hearthhaven’s got its rough edges, but it’s become a true home, for those of us who can hold our drink at least.”
Seamus chuckled, but he let the words sink in. Home. It wasn’t the first time she’d spoken about Hearthhaven with that same sense of belonging. He could tell it was more than just a safe and convenient place to stay. "You’ve been here long?"
Kara shrugged, taking a sip of her ale before answering. "Couple of years, maybe." She glanced around the inn, her gaze lingering briefly on the other patrons—guild members swapping stories, the occasional burst of laughter from a nearby table, the soft murmur of conversation. "Didn’t plan on staying as long as I have, though."
Seamus raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
She smiled, though it was tinged with something else—something distant. "Got pulled into this place, The Hollows, unannounced. Was exploring some caves up in the mountains near where I lived. I was hunting for something… though I can’t remember what it was now. But whatever it was, I ventured too deep." She tapped her fingers against the side of her mug, a rhythmic, absent gesture. "One wrong turn, and the next thing I knew, I wasn’t in the mountains anymore."
Seamus sat forward slightly. "Just like that?"
"Just like that," she echoed, her voice quiet but steady. "The Hollows doesn’t care if you’re looking for it or not. No, it finds you. And once you’re in…" She trailed off, her gaze far away for a moment before she brought it back to him, a smile settling. "You make do. Hearthhaven’s not a bad place to wind up, all things considered."
"Could be worse," Seamus agreed, though he couldn’t shake the reminder of how terrifying, how totally absurd it had been to find himself up there, in those vast tunnels. Had it only been yesterday? "So, you’ve been exploring ever since?"
Kara nodded. "I guess you could say that. I’ve always been more comfortable out there than in here," she said, gesturing loosely toward the inn. "The wilds have their own rhythm, their own rules. You learn to move with them, or you don’t move at all."
Seamus watched her, noting the way she spoke—she was someone who knew the value of silence, of careful observation and a choice word. She was different from the people he’d known in his old life, where every interaction rang hollow like a performance, a scramble to keep up appearances. Kara was content with saying only what needed to be said, and nothing more.
A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment, broken only by the soft clinking of mugs on neighboring tables, the creak of the heavy door as a gust of cold air shot into the room, quickly engulfed into the crackling warmth of the fire. Seamus took another sip of the ale, letting the warmth spread through him.
The door creaked open behind them, and Seamus glanced over his shoulder out of instinct. A man stepped inside, tall and broad-shouldered, an impressive, polished longbow slung across his back, catching the light. His presence seemed to alter the energy in the room—conversations quieted slightly, and a few glances flicked his way.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Kara noticed too. Seamus saw her posture shift, just a fraction, as she turned her head to follow his gaze. The man’s eyes swept the room before locking onto Kara. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he strode over to their table with an easy confidence that made Seamus sit up a little straighter.
"Well, look who’s holding court tonight," the man said, his voice low but carrying enough weight to turn a few heads nearby. He stopped at their table, his smirk deepening. "Kara, still playing tour guide, I see."
Kara’s expression remained neutral, though her fingers tightened slightly around her mug. "Vex," she said, her tone even. "Didn’t expect to see you here."
Vex glanced at Seamus, eyes narrowing slightly before his smirk returned. "The new guy, huh? Heard you put together a little sword today." He tilted his head, his gaze sharp as he sized Seamus up. "Not bad I’ve heard, for a greenhorn."
Seamus nodded, unsure how to respond. "Thanks," he said simply.
Vex pulled out a chair and sat down without invitation, leaning back as though he owned the place. "Kara taking you under her wing, then? Showing you how to creep around the dangers of the Hearthlands?"
Kara’s jaw tightened slightly, but her voice remained calm. "Seamus is getting to know the place, sure.”
"Right," Vex drawled, his eyes flicking between them, moustache twitching. "Well, if you want to see the real Hollows, do let me know." He leaned back in his chair, the longbow shifting slightly on his back as he moved. "Best way to handle things down there? Keep your distance, sure. But you face whatever crosses you path head on,” he slurred. “And you take them out, one shot, clean and quick."
Seamus glanced at Kara, sensing the unspoken tension. She hadn’t said much, but it was clear from the way she held herself that Vex was goading her. It wasn’t about their varying use of the bow or their combat techniques—something deeper than that was lurking in the air between them.
Kara shifted in her seat, her voice level but cool. "Distance may work for some things," she said. "But not everything can be dealt with from across a field."
Vex smirked again, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Well, it’s a hell of a lot cleaner. Fewer surprises. Remember those?"
Seamus felt the weight of their conversation stagnate over the table, but he wasn’t sure how to read it. There was no genuine hostility between them, but it was clear that something had happened, something to do a difference of opinion on archery. It was strange, the thought of a dispute arising from such a niche subject would have been laughable even a couple of hours ago. But now, down here. Well, it was a matter of life and death.
Before the tension could stretch any further, Vex pushed back his chair and stood, his movements sharp and deliberate. "Beric’s looking for you both," he said, his tone clipped. "Might want to check in with him tomorrow. Word is he’s planning something." He glanced at Seamus one last time, his smirk returning briefly. "Good luck with your new toy, smith."
And with that, he turned and walked away, his longbow shifting with the movement as he made his way to the bar. The tension he left behind seemed to cling to the air for a few moments longer, before the warmth of the inn slowly returned, conversations resuming at their usual pace.
Seamus exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. "Seems like an easy going guy," he said, trying to keep his tone light.
Kara shook her head, though the tension had eased from her shoulders. "Vex is... complicated," she said after a pause. "He’s one of the best archers in the Hearthlands, but he’s rigid. He doesn’t hold stock in anyone else’s methods but his own. Keeps his distance from people too, not just his targets."
Seamus nodded, registering the implication. Vex wasn’t just a solitary fighter—he was someone who didn’t believe in relying on others full stop. Kara, on the other hand - while obviously independent, self-reliant – clearly found value in the connections she made, even if she was a little guarded at times. Seamus had to assume that, why else would she be here with him, a total rookie?
They lapsed into a companionable silence after that, the warmth of the fire and the gentle hum of the inn lulling Seamus deeper into a comforting torpor. More at ease than he’d felt in days. Months, maybe. He wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring, but for the first time in a long while, he wasn’t dreading it.
After some time, Seamus stifled a yawn, rubbing his eyes as the weight of the day started to catch up with him. "God, I should really find a place to sleep," he said, stretching slightly in his chair.
Kara nodded toward the bar. "R a room here," she said. "The inn’s quiet. Not a bad place to rest up before things get... busier." She paused, then added, “and you can get Toby back when you’ve got some coin. He’s a good guy.”
Seamus thanked her, rising from the table and making his way over to the innkeeper, a little unsteady on his feet. A few moments later, he was headed up the narrow staircase, the sound of the inn fading behind him as he reached the quiet of a hallway lined with doors.
He slipped into the second room on the right, the bed small but comfortable, the window cracked open slightly to let in some of the cool evening air. As he lay back, staring up at the dark, gnarled beams overhead, Seamus couldn’t help but submit to the waves of peace crashing through him, and he soon drifted off.