The lights of the town flickered, as if beckoning on the horizon, Delilah let her eyes settle on the gathering gloom around them. Straining her ears for anything that lurked beyond her vision, her eyes slid to her stoic companion alongside her. As always, he gave no inclination to his thoughts, even still it offered the young Tiefling comfort.

She lightly pulled on the reins of her horse, the second set of hooves belonging to Mavrik's steed slowing and matching their tentative trot, as they entered the town. Timidly she adjusted her hood further over her face, a feeble attempt to hide her charcoal horns, pulling her tattered red scarf firmly over her nose. Breathing in the comfort of the heavy crimson material that now obscured her stormy skin.

The sleepy town barely stirred at their presence, modest small homes and shops lined the coble stoned street, as Mavrik slid off of his horse with ease. Plated armour clanking slightly as his heavy boots landed firmly. Delilah stayed for a moment, leaning forward she whispered in her horse's salt and peppered ear.

"Good riding today Maple, let's find you some dinner" with that Delilah swung herself down, smiling lightly as Maple pressed a velvet nose to her forehead, almost knocking her hood down.

"Easy girl, you'd think I'd never fed you" she cooed under her breath. Taking both horses' reins, she nodded to Mavrik and guided the animals towards a small shed, that had been fitted out as temporary stables.

By now Mavrik had vanished into the neighbouring tavern, Delilah sighed softly as she set to work, taking some of the heavier parts of the horse's gear off.

"You know the drill, we can't risk not being ready for a quick get away" she chatted to the horses in barely more than a whisper, as she filled a pail of water for each of them, and kicked a bale of hay over.

Delilah gently ran a hand along the larger horse's nose, he was a dark Clydesdale, stubborn as a mule and built for the hard journey they were on.

"I don't know how you lug that mopey sack of steel around" she cooed with a small bubble of laughter, as the horse seemingly snickered in response.

"Glenn, don't say such things!" she chided playfully, weaving her fingers through the shorter horses' mane. Maple was the newest member of their group, the mild mannered horse had been found by them, wandering aimlessly after her rider had died on the road. Shaking her head and dismissing the thoughts, as she fussed over the two horses for a moment more, before turning and making her way into the tavern.

Her eyes landed on the imposing form of her companion, clad in armour sat at the bar sipping at an ale, while he spoke with a gentleman. Large kite shaped shield resting against the side of the bar at his side, as he rested his elbows on the counter, helmet still concealing his face.

"Get those stubborn beasts settled?"

Delilah bit back a grin at Mavrik's gruff tone, there was a reason why she often was the one to handle the horses. Glancing at the owner, who was now making his way back around the counter, as she perched precariously on a stall at his side.

"Yes, they'll be fine for the night. Glenn would like to discuss his work load though" She couldn't help but tease, hardly able to bite back a snicker, as Mavrik simply raised an eyebrow over his pitcher at her.

"So, I hear you're chasing the town's ghost stories and monsters"

It was more of a statement rather than a question, the bar tender's face seemed dubious, but he still pushed a drink across the counter towards Delilah.

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She gently refused the alcoholic drink with a shake of her head, eyeing the barkeep for a moment, unsure what Mavrik had disclosed. The barkeep shrugged, taking the drink and knocking it back.

"I suppose you've heard right" Letting her eyes fall to her hands awkwardly, feeling the heat of the man's gaze, as if his eyes were trying to peel into the layers that obscured her face. Resisting the urge to adjust her hood, people rarely took kindly to devil kin, and the knowledge of that had panic rising in her throat. Delilah wished the ground would swallow her, until a cool presence broke the spiral.

Her eyes met Mavrik's colourless gaze, that seemed to command one word 'breathe'. They hadn't known each other for more than a few months, but Mavrik had never encouraged Delilah to hide herself. The young woman took a silent breath, blinking a thanks to Mavrik who she knew would some how know, despite her eyes being shrouded in shadows.

"So the town well, you mentioned earlier that people believed it grants wishes?" Mavrik spoke in a level tone, but there was a new iciness, pulling the bar keeps prying eyes back to him. Delilah listened intently, as the bar keep straightened and cleared his throat.

"Ah, ahem yes. Folks say they throw a coin in, wish for something and it comes true... All poppycock if you ask me, I bet its all just a ploy from the local lord Featherington, ya know? To make the town people poorer" The bar keep leaned forward, beady eyes looking a little wild.

Delilah frowned, trying to make sense of the farfetched statement "But, hasn't there been disappearances?"

"People vanish from time to time, but that happens everywhere. There's bad people out there that hide behind made up monsters" The way he spoke made Delilah clench her jaw, the man seemed to be speaking from experience, and the young tiefling wasn't sure what to make of that observation. She shot a glance to Mavrik, but if he had any feelings on these revelations he didn't allude to them. Instead he drained his drink, and laid a few gold pieces next to his empty mug.

"Thank you for your time."

Delilah nodded, offering a small wave to the barkeep, before following Mavrik up the stairs to where the tavern doubled as an inn.

Her companion pushed open the door to their room, stepping in she looked around at the simple furnishing. Two single beds took majority of the space, along with a small narrow wardrobe and a bedside table. Hearing the door click shut, she strode towards a lamp that sat on the side table between the beds, smiling softly as she clicked her fingers and the wick ignited. For a moment she dwelled on the conversation about the well, what was going on? Could something really grant wishes? The idea seemed so silly, perhaps the ramblings of the barkeeper was less of a reach. She ran her fingers over the flame, watching it split like a forked tongue around her fingers in reaction to her touch.

With a content huff, Delilah pulled at her hood and scarf, letting both settle around her shoulders and shaking out her braided raven black hair. Running her fingers through it, and fishing out any stubborn strands. The bed was a welcome change to the dusty bed roll, even with its rough fabric and slight lumps in the mattress. She cast a glance over her shoulder, as she heard the bed on the other side of the room groan, as Mavrik sat and began to remove his heavy plate. Wordlessly Delilah approached, lightly heaving at the chest plate of the armour, as she assisted the man. Small things like this had become a mutual routine, it had even become an unspoken decision to stay in the same tavern room together over the months. Delilah had no complaints, it felt safer knowing they could watch each other's backs, and no different to when they made camp on the road.

She returned to her bed, sliding under the covers as she absently toyed with her scarf. Tracing the rough stitching of her attempted repairs, and new holes of the fraying fabric.

"Thank you" She murmured, feeling no need to elaborate, he had stood as an unmoveable force keeping her tethered, just as he always did. Mavrik offered no tell as to whether he had even heard her soft gratitude. The silence enveloped them for a moment as he settled in, checking over his equipment and reorganising a few things, before beginning to sharpen a slender, glimmering sword. She sank deeper into the blankets, closing her eyes, the sounds of Mavrik preparing for the next day lulling her to closer to sleep.

"Good night, Delilah."

Not realising she had started to drift off, until his soft words echoed in her skull, and she heard his exhale extinguishing the candle light. Tomorrow, she would find her answers to what was at the bottom of a wishing well, dreams filled with strange musing and mash ups of creatures that Mavrik had told her about on their travels. Trying to picture what they would look like, and if they would dwell in the stone pit, clawing at golden tokens and granting wishes.