“Alright, that’s everything!” Arthur patted the dust off the side of the overpacked bag, he needed to buy an upgrade to his inventory soon, going around with this much weight was not going to cut it anymore.
Alex smirked at the sight of Arthur’s bag, he had fewer items than Arthur by selling those he wouldn’t use to the NPCs and had his inventory carry the few items he did have. The two head out of the room and head to the innkeeper to say their goodbyes.
“Ah! Before we do head down the road we need to stop by the butcher.” Alex pointed toward the building with meat hanging on hooks by its stall.
They walked over to the bulky man managing the stall, he put his large meat cleaver down on the cutting board and looked at the two. Alex browsed through the options of meat they had before them and ultimately decided to buy dried jerky for the trip.
“Should last a few days, I hope.” Alex joked.
“You hope?” Arthur questioned.
“Yeaa, who knows if you’re going to eat up all our food on the first day just cause you feel sad.” Alex chuckled at his own words and passed the jerky to Arthur, “You carry it, you’re the bagman.”
“Funny.”
“I know I am.” Alex smiled and looked up at the darkening sky, coming back from the forest earlier today stole some needed time, perhaps it would have been better to rest up at the inn for today.
“–Like I said, you will be compensated!” A loud voice caught their attention.
In the direction of the voice was a person who seemed like a merchant with their fancy blue linen hose arguing with a coachman seated on his cart.
“I will not head out at such a time! You don’t even have guards!” The coachman yelled.
“We must head for Silverdale immediately! Accept my money and let us be on our way!” The merchant was overbearing, flaunting his wealth as he pulled out a full pouch, the coins inside clinked as they rubbed against one another.
“It’s still a no!”
“Ugh, why must you people be so difficult!?” The merchant rubbed their forehead and leaned against a large sack on his side, it was tightly sealed from the top with an overly complicated knot. The merchant’s eyes wandered around and locked on the two gawking at their little argument.
“Ah! You! Yes you, come over here!” He ushered for the two to come to the cart, “You fine gentlemen don’t happen to be heading for Silverdale by any chance?”
Alex nodded, “We are–”
“Good, Sir coachman let us head for Silverdale now that I have acquainted myself with our new guards.” The merchant smiled and fished out some coins in his pouch and handed it to the two.
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“But I never said–”
“Silence! You will come, from the looks of it you already have everything you require and we really must be going now,” He hopped on the cart and looked down at Alex and Arthur, “Put that sack in the back, will you? And be careful, It is very important.”
Alex sighed, “Alright. Arthur help me out?”
The two load the heavy sack on the cart, the unknown contents inside pressed against their hands through the fabric with a soft warmth.
“Come on, Come on! The gods might die of age by the time you’re done!” The merchant shot a glare at them both and yelled, rounding every word spoken with his fancy tone.
The guy was irritating Arthur, never in his life did he think someone could be so pushy and overbearing.
After the two got on the sides of the cart the coachman grabbed the reins of the horses and the cart started to move with the hooves of the horses clacking on the road beneath.
***
Under the cover of night, the wagon softly strode across the gravelly road, the lantern next to Arthur clattered every time the cart shook and it dimly lit up the dried jerky he held in his hand.
“So how long will it take for us to get there?” Arthur asked, to which the coachman responded.
“3 Days if all goes well.”
“What is Silverdale like?” Arthur asked out of curiosity, he was bored since there was nothing to do in the cart but wait, he counted the times the cart shook as a small game but easily forgot as his mind drifted to different thoughts.
“The city is absolutely marvellous I say! It is the finest work humanity has ever blessed upon this world! And it is the perfect place for a fine gentleman such as myself to conduct business.” The merchant chipped in and started to brag about all the things he had done in the city, from small deals to work related to influential figures of the city.
Alex looked up from his panel as he was looking through his stat menu, “Sounds pretty good, so what do you sell? Merchants usually have a wide variety of items while you on the other hand have only a sack.”
“That is not for you to know!” The merchant snapped back.
The cart stopped and loud neighs came from the horses.
Alex got up and headed to the coachman, “Good job, you spooked the horses with your yelling.”
“I don’t think he did,” The coachman calmly said but his eyes carefully scanned the dark meadow surrounding them, “Something is here.”
The merchant shooed the two, “Now go on, you two do your thing!”
Arthur sighed and got off the cart, staying close to the cart with his back pressed against it.
It was so dark, he couldn’t see the tip of his sword held in front of him. He couldn’t imagine what it’d be like if there weren’t lanterns on the cart.
The wind passed through the meadows, bringing the cold temperature of the night along and giving Arthur goosebumps. Aside from the normal weather and the abnormally dark night, nothing seemed wrong.
Until a pair of red pupils appeared from between the tall grass. It was incredibly quiet, Arthur couldn’t even hear it move in the grass.
It let out a deep growl as it got closer, its face became visible in the light.
It seemed like a large wolf with jet-black hair, except for its head having almost no hair and it was more like its skull was on the outside, there were empty pockets in the place where its eyes should have been but strangely small fiery red glowing orbs were floating in their place.
It snarled as it bared its teeth at Arthur, and soon all around the cart were eyes glowing within the grass.