A ray of sunshine on her face pestered me as I returned from the land of dreams to reality. The sunlight was warm and comfortable, but the light part of it wouldn't go away no matter how much I roll around on the bed. I try to find a comfortable pose that doesn't involve having the sun glaring in my eyes, but fail to find a comfortable pose. I already know this is a losing battle, but I make a valiant effort to sleep more despite the light.
It doesn't last even five minutes before I sit up and take in the room I'm in. A remarkably large inn room - at least compared to what Stein offered his normal guests - with a large double bed, a table with a vase full of flowers on it surrounded by a couple of chairs. Wood paneled walls all around, with exception of a window positioned perfectly to ruin my sleep.
'To be fair, I did basically show up, demand to be given a room on short notice and made Rybrus pay for it.'
Leaving the warmth of the blankets was an ordeal. The surrounding air was much colder than my bed, and I couldn't help but want to bury myself beneath the warm sheets. 'Alas, there's stuff that needs doing.' I let out a wistful sigh, remembering the comfortable bed I'm leaving behind as I get out and inspect the only clothes I currently own. A frankly savagely damaged leather armor with a single pair of undergarments.
Both of those have been through some truly hellish conditions, and it was showing. The damage was extensive - and not only caused by my foes in combat but also due to lack of maintenance for the protective garment. On the other hand everything I've faced - the many things I had to overcome to be here today - was on full display. There was a small hole in the armor's sleeve where an arrow grazed me during the whole merc showdown. Several spots on the back were rend open - from when the father-torment exploded itself. Those two stood out to me the most due to everything that their memories meant.
To be honest the leather armor was borderline ruined, but at the moment it was all I had. With a sigh, I get inside it - mainly to protect my modesty - and head over to the inn's bath in order to clean myself and the armor to best of my ability.
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Like most inns, this one was built around a large central hall meant to accommodate the guests during breakfast, and any other meals they may have paid for. And true to this expectation I find a simple buffet of bread, cheese, butter and tea waiting for me downstairs - alongside Rybrus.
His first words were truly a sign of support and optimism.
"You look like shit."
I didn't really know what to say, so instead I scooped up a few pieces of bread and cheese alongside a cup of tea before sitting down at his table. "Wrong. I also feel like shit." I point out without lying. The accumulated stress of the past week-and-a-half long march with the mercs who at any point could have turned on me and Rybrus was still catching up to me. And I didn't even know what would happen when my brain decided to start processing the whole of the fiery battle before then. But at this point mental exhaustion was starting to feel like my new normal, so I didn't complain overmuch.
"I'll need to do some shopping, but... due to circumstances in Larton, I don't exactly have money." I expected him to start complaining yet again, but instead of that he shrugged. "Yeah, I figured. I've put some coin aside for just this. Oh, and, don't worry about no debts or whatever, the host will refund me the costs later."
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'Huh' was all I could think.
The rest of breakfast time was filled with idle chatter between the two of us, at the end of which Rybrus passed me a total of ten gold coins - even more than Stein gave me back home for this whole journey. I couldn't help but smile when I remembered how much he fussed when I was leaving. And knowing what I know today - about how dangerous the world is? He probably didn't fuss enough.
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The blacksmith looked at me like I was a lunatic - and I glared right back at him. My request was reasonable!
"Yes, wood was cut with it. Yes, it has dents from flint. Yes, you're gonna fix it. Yes, it HAS to be that sword." I insisted on my very first stop of the shopping spree. The air of the forge was dry and hot, but I didn't pay much attention to it.
"Lass, you realize how much work this is gonna be? It will be cheaper to buy a new one of the same quality!" He argued back but I simply raised my hand to stop him.
"Name your price. That sword belonged to my father, I'm not getting rid of it." With the mention of the family-heirloom nature of the weapon, it finally dawns on him that I'm really not letting it go and he slumps with an annoyed sigh.
"Fine, one and a half gold - and I'll sharpen those daggers of yours for free since I'm already ripping you off."
"Deal."
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The local leatherworker was much more understanding of my request - especially when I let her inspect all of the damage to my current set. Although, I can't say I've expected to be standing in the nude in front of her while she took every single measurement she could.
"You mentioned you'd like the leather to be dyed?" She asked idly while writing down notes based on the results of measuring.
"Yeah, base color black with blue for some smaller parts. You know, Hunter colors!" I smiled and received a tutted 'Kids these days' from the old lady.
"You know that dyes are expensive right? And you're asking for a whole set of armor and a few bits extra - like the scabbards you mentioned. It's probably going to be about two gold altogether."
"Mind if I leave the money with you?" My reply earned a raised eyebrow from her before her business sense took over.
"Of course not. I don't exactly have a lot of customers these days, so... about a week for the armor? And then a few days when you bring me the weapons."
"Deal." I was starting to like this word.
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The rest of the stops on my shopping spree were significantly more mundane as I only asked for custom jobs for the things that have kept me alive until today. That and clothing for small women was nowhere near as difficult to find as a correctly fitted suit of leather armor.
All in all, I was left with just about five and a half gold pieces, and I was happy to finally have some earthly possessions once more. And soap. Maybe I overdid it when I purchased three bars of it, but after being caked in sweat and mud for what felt like weeks, I really, REALLY wanted to have some on me.
With fresh clothes, and a generally positive outlook I turned to head towards my last stop of the day. The guard's barracks.
Unlike any of the villages I've been at before, this - Taran - was a proper town. The walls that surrounded it were tall and made out of stone, and I couldn't see a way how anyone could bring them down. Even it's many streets were all paved and you could find a guardsman at the corner of each of the major roads. Truly nothing like Ravensbrook.
The two man standing guard at the barrack's door promptly motioned for me to enter - they probably remembered my face from when I lead a group of about fifty men into Taran. That probably doesn't happen every day. I took the same few turns I did the day before and ended up exactly where I intended - the captain's office.
Three knocks later Rybrus opened the door and I entered to explain our half of the story to the man seated on the other side of the table in front of me. Or at least, what was visible of him behind all of that paperwork.