Riverstead was nothing like the brothers' home. Where their home was fewer than 100 huts, and just shy of three times that many residents. This town- and a town it was; it was far too large to be a simple village by the brothers' reckoning. It had walls, and was the size of their tribe's home, magnified ten times over.

They were awestruck, they had never seen so many people, it felt like the sum of their tribe was working just the fields outside the walls. To say nothing of the various pillars of smoke and foot traffic that told of more significant numbers.

Its entry was fortified, a triangle fortification that forced anyone coming through the entrance of the town to pass through two gates. On its points stood watchtowers from which guards spectated the incoming travelers wearily.

Major, for his part. Was unphased by the small town and its wooden walls that had impressed the brothers so.

They had traveled through the gate and immediately received an example in the ridiculous variety of humans. A trade caravan was ahead of them, and while they were sure at least some of them weren't humans, Major consistently pointed out each of the odd creatures as humans.

A tall man, about as tall as the brothers. But lanky with long ears that wouldn't have been unfit on a rabbit. He seemed to have bark growing on his exposed flesh.

Major pointed him out as being elven in heritage, but more human than not.

Another sported crimson skin and was missing the horns and facial hair that the residents of Riverstead wore. Furthermore, a prehensile tail came from her backside that swayed and danced about as she spoke with the first man.

The rest of the caravan’s members seemed to be of Elven ancestry. They stood tall and watchful with bows and spears. And the shorter red-skinned and tailed humans who milled about them, cheerfully chattering all the while, laden with bags.

They followed the caravan in, passing through the gates and being stopped at the second by a couple of guards. Both were tall for the natives of the town so far as the brothers could tell, But they were towered over by the trio.

The leading guard thumbs the hilt of his sword before clearing his throat and addressing them.

"Purpose for your visit?"

"Travelers, passing through." Major rumbled back.

The guard hummed back skeptically, looking the brothers up and down, his eyes lingering on their weapons.

"A silver for entry."

Major blinked, then scowled slightly before reaching into a coin pouch and producing a silver piece.

"Each." the guard spoke, now eyeing the brother's scales.

Major squinted at the card "It was three copper for a party of two last time I came through here."

The guard shrugged. "Times are tough."

Major sighed. "I see." and promptly reached into his coin pouch and fished out another two silver pieces.

The guard smiled, pocketed the two new pieces, and spoke. "Well, go on then."

Major nodded, gave a half-hearted 'Good day.' and continued past the gate, waving the brothers after him.

As they cleared the second gate, Major could be faintly heard mumbling. "Maybe I will start selling my skills again."

The brothers barely heard him, but 'barely' meant they had.

"Major, we don't need your money. We can manage."

"Oh, don't ya start that nonsense again. That ain't why I'm mumbling. If times really are tough, then I expect the local herbalist will be up-charging as severely as the guards. And I can't much tolerate people up-charging on needed healing supplements."

He rubbed his chin and spoke again. "Imma see if I can't speak to the old Anverth. He's the man to go to for that sort of thing here unless my memory fails me. Ya'll wander about, be careful of spending any money. I'll meet ya at the Inn later, I'll bring that paper and get you those recipes I promised." With a wave, the ogre began to talk off, mumbling about 'price gouging' all the while.

The brothers bid him a farewell, and then turned to each other. With a shrug, they began to listlessly wander into the town.

It didn't take long for them to realize they must be terribly unique in these parts, despite their tribe being only two day’s travel in good weather.

And while trade between the town and the tribe did occur, it usually happened with the traveling caravans such as the one they had entered with. It often wasn't worth the price of entry to the Drakon when they could simply wait on the outside for a Caravan to arrive. The caravans were more likely to give better trades for the regional furs the tribe traded. And wouldn't demand to buy them with the 'money' that was mostly useless to the tribe's hunter/gatherer society.

All this led into the cumulative effect of Drakon being rather rare sights in the town of Riverstead, and it showed in the wonder and fear the residents looked at the brothers with.

The brothers, for their part. Mostly replied in kind.

The beautiful carved and decorated horns that some of the folk had drew their eyes as inevitably as gold would draw a dragon's. And the occasional rare human who was unlike their dark or green-skinned counterparts.

This had allowed the brothers to start seeing the similarities even in very different looking humans. Most notably in their faces. While they came in all colors, facial hair, and clean-shaven; they were always these... strange flat things, and so expressive. The humans seemed to be easier to read than books.

And specific stories about them were being proven correct. The tribe educators had told them that humans had a strange and bizarre obsession with animals.

They were right, there were animals everywhere. Dogs huddled in alleys, half-starved. But for as many they saw in that condition, there were just as many healthy. Laying on porches or walking alongside their masters, tails wagging.

And every now and then, they could see humans throw scraps even the scrawny and mangy looking hounds, the ones that clearly weren't even theirs.

Not to mention the horses, which they had seen lined up in a strange horse house of some sort. That had been quite flighty as the brothers approached.

And then there were the cats, they walked along the roofs, and it felt like they couldn't go more than two dozen paces without seeing one.

The tribe could not have afforded to feed so many… unneeded animals, and most would have likely been food, rather than be fed.

They watched in quiet wonder as a young- or perhaps just particularly short human, crouched down and began making a clicking noise while holding out a bone of some sort.

The dog that the human had been tempting ventured from the porch it had been lazing upon and lolloped over to the small human and barked eagerly. And after a moment of seemingly friendly taunting, The human raising the bone just out of reach of the house. They finally dropped it for the dog to maul.

Bewildering.

The brothers continued their exploration. Supposedly they were supposed to meet Major at an Inn. Yet, any time they approached a human for directions they quickly walked away.

"Maybe there is some... greeting, we don't know about?" Asgar asked

Argus thought for a moment, then replied. "Surely, Major would have told us this?"

Asgar shrugged. "Maybe he does not know?"

His brother hummed thoughtfully. "No, that doesn't sound right. I'm pretty sure he'd know something like that."

Asgar nodded. "Maybe everyone is just busy?"

The brothers looked over the suddenly empty street.

"That makes sense."

"How do we find the 'Inn' then."

"I don't know."

Asgar looked puzzled. "Brother, can I ask you a question?"

"Yes."

"Do you know what an 'Inn' is?"

"...No."

"It sounds important."

"Yes, I'm pretty sure it's said with a capital 'I'"

"So a big building then?"

"Yes."

The brothers, not entirely confident. But with a vague sense of a plan, began to go looking for the most prominent building.

—-

"Please stop disturbing the townsfolk."

A half dozen guards had approached the brothers mid-search. Apparently, they were 'disturbing the peace' by knocking on the fanciest buildings they could find.

They had been 'fined' two copper for this, and the brothers suspected that this was one of the 'scams' Major had warned them about. But there were six guards, and it was easier to fork over the orangeish coins than pick a fight neither brother really wished to have.

On the bright side, the guards had finally pointed them towards the 'Inn' after warning that any other 'disturbances' would lead to a night in the 'cell.'

The brothers understood almost none of this beyond a vague idea that night in the 'cell' would not be pleasant.

And they felt their opinions of humans fall a bit in general if they were so 'disturbed' by giving out directions. But perhaps humans were just rather shy? There had been shy drakon at their tribe, maybe that was just normal for humans.

Their father had been quite stern with them as children when they'd tried to make Ingram- the smith's son, play outside with them. Ingram was particularly shy.

Perhaps the guards had been chastising them as their father had for bothering shy folk.

The brothers chewed these thoughts over as they approached the 'Inn' which- as the guards had informed them, apparently had two names. It was also known as 'The Mug and Cloak' which not only seemed needlessly confusing, but also seemed to be a worse name than 'The Inn' to the brothers.

Eventually, they found the building. It didn't list the word 'Inn' anywhere. It did, however, have a sign on which a picture of an overfull mug was painted. It swung slightly above the entrance.

"Where is the cloak?"

Argus squinted at the sign, which was missing any sort of image of any garment. much less a cloak like the name of the place suggested there should be. "Maybe they sell cloaks?"

"Did Major want to buy a cloak?"

The brothers thought of the giant ogre purchasing anything from the comparatively small humans and having it fit and shook their heads.

"Maybe he wants us to buy a cloak?"

"Why?"

Asgar thought, before snapping his fingers with a soft metallic tang, "So we can hide our scales, he said they were rather valuable."

The brothers shivered at the idea of being descaled so someone could use them as coins or make armor out of it.

"But why didn't he say so? didn't he say to be careful about purchasing things?"

"He did say he would meet us here, perhaps he intended to help us purchase them?"

"Ah... this makes sense." Argus nodded, satisfied with his brother's deduction.

They stood in silence before Asgar finally asked. "...Do we just wait outside for him? Or go in?"

Argus looked at his brother, and then at the 'Inn.' "We go in, of course, Major won't be around to adventure with us always. New frontiers brother. we took Oaths after all."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Right."

The brothers walked forward confidently, only partially feigning it.

They opened the door to the Inn.

"Why hello there, how can I help- Oh!" The Inn was warm and welcoming. It reminded them of Major’s cabin but clearly meant for many more people to live in. It was absolutely full of tables and chairs, around and on them sat two dozen humans of various breeds. Most commonly, the natives, but the red-skinned traders and their tall bark-covered guards, were also inside; most of which watched the brothers intently. A bar sat in the back of the room. Though neither brother could identify the odd piece of furniture. Or would have recognized the word 'bar' in this context, for that matter.

Behind the Bar stood a petite green-skinned human woman, with thinly cut mutton chops and a pair of short two-inch horns. A small bell hung from her leftmost horn.

There were also no cloaks, or again. Any other types of garments. Besides, of course, the ones they people inside were wearing, but the brothers doubted those were for sale.

The Innkeeper finally seemed to recover from her surprise.

"Well, uh. Hello there! what do you need?"

"...Cloaks?"

"Oh! Thank Soltris. You'll want to go to the tailor for that. He's down the street from here."

The brothers looked at the woman, then at each other.

"I think we were wrong."

Argus nodded gravely. "So, we just wait here for Major to come and clarify what he meant then?"

Asgar nodded, then turned to the Innkeeper. "We need to wait here for a friend of ours." then promptly took an empty seat and table.

"Uh... well..." She looked around, her friendly smile straining as a handful of customers chose to exit. Then looking back at the pair of Drakon. The BIG Drakon, with weapons, and covered in shiny scales that could probably turn arrows.

"...Ok."

—-

"Asgar?"

"Yes, Argus?"

"You have heard the saying, 'chewed things over'. Yes?"

"Yes, I have heard this saying at least once today."

"Why is this saying?"

"I think it is supposed to mean 'talking' about something."

"But that is not chewing."

"No, but talking is like chewing. Hence the comparison."

"Hm, this makes sense. I think I was misusing the saying."

Asgar nodded, he too, felt like he'd been misusing the saying. He hadn't been talking much at all.

In fact, it had become terribly quiet in the Inn. The only people inside now were the brothers, the Innkeeper, and one or two locals in the far corners of the Inn quietly eating.

Which the brothers suspected was pretty good timing, as the Innkeeper presently had her head resting into the bar. Occasionally she would look up and around and scowl at the empty room.

She had quickly gone from cheerful and full of energy to this lethargic state. Clearly, she needed rest. As she reminded the brothers of Ingrim when he had been up all night smithing, and the rest of the tribe for the matter when the sound of smithing kept them up all night.

Despite her apparent sleepiness, she was still a very courteous host. Continually asking the brothers if they'd like anything to eat or drink. The brothers politely refused, of course, they were already taking up one of her tables. They couldn't take her food too!

Maybe this is why the guards had been upset with them for disturbing people, if humans suddenly swung into this scowling sleepiness. It would make sense that it would be rather rude to disturb them.

Perhaps the Innkeeper should go rest if she was so tired. She must have a bed somewhere to sleep in, Argus decided to ask.

He broke the silence, speaking. "Where would you find a bed to use?"

The Innkeeper looked up from the bar, squinting at him and scowling. "Are you serious?"

Argus nodded gravely, she seemed annoyed. He hoped she didn't think he was mocking her. "One does get tired after a long night and should know when to rest."

She seemed confused, before shaking her head. "This is an Inn."

"Yes, I know this."

"...Inns rent rooms."

She had to pay for her own room? "How much are rooms?" Argus asked with a rising brow.

She seemed to freeze for a minute, thinking for a moment. If she was struggling to remember room prices, she must be exhausted, maybe he could talk her into letting him watch the Inn for her so she could sleep in peace?

"For you, one gold."

...

"One gold?!"

She nodded, staring intently at him.

That was ridiculous, was she being scammed? But they were her rooms, weren't they? ...No, of course, they weren't. Otherwise, she'd surely be sleeping in one now.

Argus turned to his brother, switching from the merchant’s tongue and speaking in their tribe's native language. Which now felt oddly foreign over the week or so they'd spent speaking in nothing but Merchant's tongue.

"Brother, I think she's getting scammed."

"I thought that could only happen to us?"

"Unless Major was very wrong about the value of the gold pieces, that room must cost hundreds of meals."

"Maybe whoever buys it gets to keep it permanently?"

Argus suddenly felt very silly for jumping to conclusions and cleared his voice. Then spoke to the Innkeeper in the Merchant's tongue. "How long does one keep the room for one gold?"

"A day," she said in a firm tone of voice that made it clear it was absolutely out of her hands.

He turned to his brother again. "I was right, she is being scammed. She only gets it for a day."

Asgar hummed. "Maybe she is wealthy? She has been offering to give us food, and we're not exactly invited guests."

As the brothers discussed, a voice broke out, one of the residents rising from their table.

"Come now, Beatrice, that's hardly kind to charge them such rates."

The man who spoke had magnificent ram-like horns and a full beard. His skin was a hue of bronze with hardly a hint of green. He wore a white robe, and on his chest was the symbol of a yellow orb being circled by another.

If one looked closely, they would be able to see little specks of yellow lightly peppered over the robe as a whole.

"They cleared out my bar Sol! And they won't buy anything! They just sit there talking about chewing things!"

"This is an Inn. They are travelers. You cannot pick and choose who you offer sanctuary too."

"I damn well can if they're gonna run me out of business! They scared off everyone! Even the caravan folk- they were from Goldhome, Sol. They tip there!"

"Even still, a gold? You can't really expect them to be able to afford that."

The Innkeeper suddenly looked like she was at her wit's end. That's when the brothers stood as one, making the Innkeeper jump and suddenly look nervous, even the man in the strange robe eyed them wearily.

The brothers bowed their heads to the Innkeeper, as Argus put a pair of silver pieces on the table they were sitting at. "Our apologies, I believe we misunderstood the purpose of this place." and promptly about-faced, and going out the door.

"Oh." The Innkeeper spoke softly.

—-

Now outside Argus was caught between feeling guilty and fuming.

"She tried to 'scam' us," He mumbled hotly.

"Apparently, we were making her quite upset," Asgar replied.

"Why?"

His brother shrugged. "I do not really understand, either. But we did make her upset, and it was her home."

Argus deflated somewhat. "I know... but... she seemed kind, What did we do?"

A voice interrupted their discussion. "Nothing. Intentionally, anyway."

The brothers started, then turned as the robed man the Innkeeper had called Sol approached them.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you really not know?"

The brothers shook their heads, now staring at him.

The robed man chuckled. "Ha, I thought myself reasonable. And yet I find I also judged too hastily."

He cleared his throat. "My apologies, it just seems rather obvious from my point of view, it is... endearing that you are unaware, I suppose. But I will stop beating around the bush."

He took a moment, seemingly chewing over his words. Finally bringing both of his hands together and pointing at the brothers with his index fingers. "You are... terrifying."

"What?" Argus asked.

"You are absolutely terrifying." He repeated,

"What do you mean, why?" Argus looked down at himself, almost as if he were looking for whatever the man saw that he didn't.

"You are a giant, bulky..." He seemed to be choosing his words very carefully. "-person, covered in scales that shine like armor. You have a mouth that I suspect I could fit my entire head into, and visible talons on your hands and feet."

The brothers stared at him, perplexed. "Yes, this is true."

He tapped his foot before sighing and speaking. "I suppose you still don't quite get it, perhaps it's a good thing. and I apologize if what I'm about to say hurts you... but you look like monsters, predators, killers."

The brothers looked at each other, blinked, studying each other. Noting the various parts he mentioned. Then looking at him, who stood two heads shorter than either of them, Then observing his own rounded nubby fingers. The boots that hid his feet, which they could only assume were also without claws. And his teeth were weirdly flat. Only four seemed to have any kinda point to them, and that was likely the orcish blood in him.

It was now that the differences between him and the orcs they had fought were most apparent. While the orcs also had rounded fingers, they had been muscled, far more than any human they'd seen. Even the guard had a series of flat teeth. The orcs had terrible pointed things that likely were used for rending flesh.

The soft brown of this man's eyes was easy to read. They seemed to emit empathy, caution, and yet, to some degree, fear. The orcs eyes had quite literally glowed with bloodlust.

"I see." Argus finally spoke. He seemed to deflate even more, and even his Oath seemed like it was mournful. It was meant to be a light and inspire hope, not fear.

Sol looked somewhat ashamed. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you. My kind varies depending on where you are, in both appearance and culture. Perhaps somewhere they would gladly welcome you with open arms. But here? You will struggle if you intend to stay long."

Asgar patted Argus on the back, before turning to Sol and saying. "Thank you for telling us. We were prepared to be scammed, lied to, all manner of things. But Major didn't warn us that they'd fear us."

"Is this 'Major' one of you?"

Asgar shook his head. "No, an ogre, with some mixed heritage."

"Ah, I suspect he didn't know then."

Asgar nodded.

Sol stepped from one foot to the other awkwardly before clearing his throat. "Since I doubt you can afford the Inn, I have a home. I live with my mother, but she’s open-minded. Probably more so than me. You'd be welcome."

Asgar hadn't really thought of where they would sleep till the fiasco of the Inn, and a small part suggested he was perhaps relying on Major too much.

"We may have to take you up on that offer... Sol, correct?"

"Yes, and you are?"

"Asgar and this is Argus."

"A pleasure to meet you both though I wish it would have been better circumstances."

The brothers responded with a nod for courtesy.

"If you wish to come to my home now, you may. if not, you can find me in the Sanctum of Light."

"Sanctum of Light?"

"It is a shrine to Soltris, Goddess of Suns and Stars. It's her who is worshipped primarily here."

"I have not heard this name before."

"Have you not? I'm surprised, her handiwork is present in the sky day and night. who do you worship?"

"Tavig, The platinum Dragon."

"Ahh... Yes, that makes sense. I've heard of him."

"Tell me of this 'Soltris.' if you would."

"Gladly! She is the Goddess of travelers, 'She who guides' the 'Mother of stars,' The light. She Guides all travelers. From the impoverished pilgrim to the wealthy merchant. As I'm sure you know, we are on a road and river that both see traffic to bigger cities. We're a resting place for many caravan trails. As such. Her blessings are felt strongly here."

"I was unaware Riverstead was so trade-focused actually. Though I suppose that explains the ample caravans my people have traded with."

"You're from the area, then?"

"Close enough to be worth traveling here for."

The vagueness of the answer appeared to confuse Sol. "I see."

"Do you think the Innkeeper will take a message to deliver to Major when he arrives? I do not wish to disturb her place of business anymore then I have."

"Ah, I'm sure she will if I ask here, what would you like said to him?"

"Just to tell him where we are, I expect we'll want to go to your home if that offer still stands."

"It does give me a moment to deliver that to her. And then I'll walk you there."

Sol stepped back inside the Inn, quickly delivering the message with additional directions to his residence. And not without a small amount of pushing on Beatrice's conscience to ensure she did not forget it when the ogre arrived. Though he was sure, it wasn't entirely needed, as ogres were only minimally less scary then drakon.

From there, it was a short walk to Sol's home. It was a simple wooden home that sat squat. The brothers' heads brushed against the doorframe, and they suspected Major would not be able to fit when he arrived. There was a metal heater in the room on the right. And a table in its center, they could softly hear the sounds of cooking coming from a doorway to the left.

Upon entering, they listened to a feminine voice softly call out. "Is that you, Sol?"

"Yes, mother, it's me. I brought guests!"

"Oh, friends of yours? Are they staying for dinner?"

"Yes, and the night. The inn won't serve them."

A middle-aged woman with the tell tale sideburns of Riverstead, though missing the more distinct horns, rounded the corner. "What? That's terrible- oh my!"

Asgar and Argus waved awkwardly, now attempting to somehow become less 'scary', if anything it only resulted in them seeming tense. Which most would have argued made them more frightening.

But Sol's mother seemed unphased. "Drakon! It's been a long time since I've met your kind. And silver! The ones I met were the most beautiful shade of blue. Do you know them? I expect not, you're an entirely different color. Well, not entirely, silver is a sort of bluish, I suppose. But where are my manners? Sit, sit! I know how much drakon like their meat. Sol!" She fished out a handful of copper pieces from a pot a put them in his hand. "Go and fetch some meat from the butcher, spend it all. I can tell just by looking at them that they haven't eaten all day." Asgar attempted to interrupt the hurricane of words spewing from the woman and raised his hand. "Ma'am, we don't wish to impose-" "None of that now, I haven't even finished talking. It's impolite to refuse a host's generosity as I'm sure you know quite well, young man. And even ruder still to interrupt someone. You'll break their thought process all up, and you'll get them totally lost. Now where was I? Oh right, blue drakon! But you're not blue, Why did I bring them up? I suppose silver is sort of bluish... I said that, didn't I? Sol? Are you still here? Go go go."

She shooed her son out of the house and turned. "Right then, how old are you? You're quite tall even for drakon! I think! Maybe I just met a particularly short drakon, I never asked. They still seemed quite tall to me, but then you're even taller. Perhaps the tallest folk I've ever seen. And about the same height too... are you brothers? Twins? Can drakon be twins? I thought they laid eggs, can you get twins from eggs? I always wanted twins, you know. Was hoping for a boy and a girl. Was going to name them Sol and Tris. Tris like Soltris, you see. And Sol like... well Soltris too, I suppose. I've always been very religious, you see, and I felt I should honor Soltris for all she did for me. I was a cleric of hers when I was younger Like Sol is now. I'm so proud of him! I plan on having him take his pilgrimage soon, you see. I've just about saved up for it. I met his father on mine. Everyone always assumes the pilgrimages are these boring trips down old dirt roads. But that's only if you are boring. They can be absolutely delightful. And I must recommend them even if you don't follow Soltris. She watches out for all travelers, no matter their faith. She's great like that. You should try praying to her. I do all the time, and it makes me feel great! But not as good as when I pray on the road. You are travelers, right? I haven't seen you around, so I assume you're not natives. I think I'd remember two shiny folks like yourselves. You are much shinier than the blue ones I met now that I think about it. I can just about see my reflection in you. Is that normal? Do you polish your own scales? What do you use to do that? My, now that I'm looking, you are missing quite a few scales, aren't you? What happened? Are you okay? I don't know any healing magic, I'm afraid. Still, I can probably clobber old Anverth into making something for you if you're in any pain. Was it bandits? You should always inform the guard about bandits, particularly if you fought them and won. There are bounties, you see. You seem like you won- you're alive after all!"

The brothers stared at her and sniffed the air. They could faintly smell... burning.

"Oh no! my bread! I'll be right back to chat with you dears in just a moment. But I've got to go make sure the food doesn't burn. Toodles!"

The woman ran off into the kitchen, seemingly terribly excited about... well everything really.

Argus spoke. "She seemed nice."

Asgar nodded. "I liked her."

—-

In a dense forest a beaten and tired orc rested. He had finally killed with the Greataxe. It had taken some time to find a solitary traveler, and he dared not fight a group in the state he was in.

As he lay against a tree, a voice spoke.

"You, are you to be my champion?"