July, Saturday 5th, 1961, 10:00. Springtrove, North Georgina Kingdom, United Countries of Faeldris.
I stepped out of the train and looked around the station. It was a quaint and small concrete platform with a standard overhang to fight off the beating of the sun and the common rain falls. The amount of people getting off wasn’t much as there was a bigger town to go to further up the rails. The weight of my suitcase was reassuring.
I secured my hat to shade my eyes and headed to the ticket counter. The goblin behind the counter was sitting in a tall stool as he read the local newspaper. His large bulbous eyes staring through a demure small set of glasses. Massive green pointed ears flopped about at the side of his head as he slowly became aware of me standing there.
His voice was whiny and high, “Hello sir, how may I be of service to you today?”
“I’m going to be in town for a little while and would like to know where someone can get a longer term stay. Then if you have a map of the area I could buy I would appreciate it.” I pulled out my small coin purse as he rattled off a quick price for the map. A few ceramic pieces.
“You’ll want to check the Mosey On Inn. They have affordable prices and provide one meal a day to guests.” He unfurled the map and pointed at a building on it. “It’s right there. Would you like to hear about any of our tourist attractions?”
I placed a single extra copper piece on the counter and slid it to him, “I’ll be all business while I’m here so I won’t have time to see the sights. Here, have an ale on me.”
“Thank you kindly sir. Have a blessed day.” After waiting just a single moment he flipped the local newspaper up in front of his face and started to read again.
I looked at my watch and thought about my day. First it was time to go and get settled into a room. I stood on the curb smoking as I waved down a taxicab to head where I needed to go. The hulking metal monstrosity of the auto car purred up to me as the man stopped. The crystal sign above it dimmed as I stepped into the vehicle.
Looking at my driver I saw another of us rare humans. His hair was short and his face had the youthful curse of acne still. His buck toothed grin was warm and welcoming. With a little bit of a lisp he spoke, “Welcome to Springtrove stranger! Where are you headed today?”
“I need to go to the Mosey On Inn.” I settled my suitcase on the seat next to me and rolled down a window to blow smoke outside of it. “I’ll need another ride in about an hour. If you want a good tip I’ll wait for you out front when I’m ready.”
“Gosh that is mighty kind of you sir. I’d be more than happy to help you around town.” He shifted the beastly vehicle into drive as I leaned back taking the last drag of my cigarette before I put it out in the ashtray. I gazed at my driver a little longer.
“What’s your name kid? Don’t see many of us humans nowadays.” It stroked my chin, thankful that I didn’t have the five o clock shadow I would develop by the time I went to bed.
“Jeremy is the name, driving is my game,” Jeremy chuckled to himself as he turned down a street. “I come from a long line of humans. My seven brothers are all looking for some wives throughout all of Faeldris. Our dad says it's our mission to bring humans back to the lands. Any lady would be good for me.” He glanced at the rearview mirror as he looked at me. “How about you stranger? Who do I have the pleasure of guiding through town?”
“John Smith, Attorney.” I started stretching my hands and rolling my neck loosening up. “I’m in town checking some stuff out. I’m like you, my parents had me and my twin sister. Then my younger brother.”
“I don’t really share the values of my parents. I got my eye on this wonderful half elf. She is just a dream come true. I actually got a date later tonight. Pretty exciting,” I could see Jeremy’s lips curl and his cheeks dimple.
“I wish you the best of luck, just remember women love to be wooed.” Thoughts of all the failed relationships I had over the last few years through law school and internship passed through my mind.
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We lapsed into silence as the young man brought me to the Mosey On Inn. I threw a silver piece at him with a couple of coppers for a tip. I stepped out and looked at the three story building looming above me. A warm sign with immaculate letters spelled the name of the place out. The double doors with their tinted glass ushered me inside.
Entering the building I looked around and soaked in the atmosphere. A few chairs sat around small tables in a random pattern. I could see one man eating a steaming breakfast. His rotund gut threatened to spill out of his clothes. There was a bar, lines of bottles on the back wall showing that the variety of cocktails they served was open and ready for business. A small door led to the back where I could hear the clatter of a kitchen being cleaned. The reception desk stood off to the right as an ancient woman looked at me through owlish glasses.
I could tell she had some sort of dwarvish heritage thanks to her stocky build and flat toothed smile. She must have opted to shave everyday as she was missing the customary beard. Though her gray hair was intricately braided with trinkets and beads telling the story of her life. I hadn’t taken Dwarven Culture 101 so there was no way for me to decipher what it all meant.
“Good morning miss, I’m looking to stay a couple weeks in town. Do you have any openings at the moment?” I put on my most charming smile and made sure not to lean down and insult her by lowering myself to her height.
“Oh I have a lovely suite that would be perfect for such a young man. It gets a free meal and laundry services. We have a deal with a dry cleaner that gives us quite the deal. It's three silver a night.” She pulled out a thick tome that flipped automatically to a fresh clean page. A fountain pen seemingly appeared in her hand. “What’s your name, young man?”
“John Smith,” I said as I watched her write blocky thick letters.
“What a strange name, you humans always have bizarre choices.” She grumbled a little as she took down my name. “We will need a deposit of ten silver and then you can pay up the rest of your fee when you are ready to leave our Inn.” She pulled out a rune stone and set it before me. “I’ll need you to place your hand on the stone and swear you will give us honest business and won’t leave without settling your debt.”
I placed my hand on the swearing stone that dwarves could make thanks to their ancestral magic and swore that I would do no harm to the Inn, and would not leave without paying my bill. I felt a swirl of icy magic flow up my arm before flowing down to my wrist and wrapping around it like a second watch.
“Very good, we thank you for your patronage. Here is your key, you are on the third floor to the left. What meal would you like to have today?” Her round thick glasses made her eyes look giant as she gazed at me.
“I’ll be out for lunch, but I’ll need dinner. I’ll settle for breakfast tomorrow.” I grabbed my suitcase and the thick heavy key that hummed with magic. I spotted a free newspaper and snatched one to go and read for the next few minutes and see what was going on in town.
I was grateful I was used to stairs as I climbed to the third floor and found one of the two doors. Matching the number on the key to the suite I stepped inside and took a look around. One great bed lay against the far wall with three bay windows. A small room stood with a standing shower, sink, and toilet. A large dresser with a vanity stood across from the bed. A small audio crystal sat near the bed ready to be tuned for an alarm.
I set down my suitcase and unpacked everything I would need for sleep and the morning. It was time to look into the local news.
“Local store is undergoing maintenance and will be closed for a few weeks as the shelves are rearranged. The Tinglepots are going to enjoy a nice retirement, no doubt the store was worth a lot of money. They declined all attempts for interviews. Rumor is that they will be leaving our lovely town and heading to a smaller city. We at Spring’s News will keep you up to date on this sad news.”
“Mayor Everpetal is up for reelection this year. Her great strides in renovating the orphanage has increased the quality of life for our poor little tykes that can’t be raised by parents of their own. As always we encourage you to consider adoption in the coming months so that these young ones will be able to grow to their fullest potential.”
“Sheriff Skullbreaker has great news! There is going to be a new addition to our force with the addition of Deputy King. This reformed hellhound will be instrumental in catching fleeing criminals and tracking down any missing children. The Sheriff is accepting any donations of food and will be spending his Sundays training the wonderful beast.”
Pretty simple news for the city so I tucked the paper away and headed out. It was about time that I should meet with Jeremy and head around town. I wanted to take a look at all the businesses that Grizzlebats owned. I needed a price comparison to the local stores that still held out against the aggressive buyouts that the wizard was doing.
I straightened out my tie and stepped outside into the sun. Jeremy was waiting for me in the cool air of his vehicle. I stepped inside and called out to the young boy. “I’m curious about all the businesses owned by that wizard Grizzlebats the Magnificent. What do you think about them?”
“Best prices in town, though his employees aren’t the friendliest of people. It kinda makes it difficult to want to head to a malt shop and share a nice drink with a lovely lady.” Jeremy snaked through the streets, there were no crystal lights and it seemed that the small town was mostly an honorary system.
“This town has seemed really friendly, I’m surprised he could find anyone that has a bad attitude.” I felt a curiosity grow in my mind.
“He hired a plethora of Hobgoblins. They’re from out of town and used to be miners and live in these houses that Grizzlebats bought. They often will take over an entire bar. I don’t have to worry about that as I’m not a fan of those places.” Jeremy pulled up to a tailor’s shop. “This is the first business we have to visit. This used to be owned by such a lovely seamstress. Suddenly she decided to retire and has been quietly spending her days on the edge of town in her house.”
I handed the map to him, “You want to circle every store that has been bought by Grizzlebats for me. I’m a fan of good prices, and I can tolerate a few rude people.”
Jeremy was able to scribble some things down and smiled over his shoulder at me. “I’ll keep an eye out for you on the side of the road if you ever need a ride. You have a good day John.”
“Thanks Jeremy, have a good day.”
I stepped out into the sunshine and looked at the store. The sign looked new above it all, “Grizzlebats Emporium of Fine Cloth.”
Time to see what this is about.