The door to the Fisherman’s Inn creaked noisily as Riley pushed his way inside. The interior was largely empty, save for two old timers playing dominoes (or something that at least looked an awful lot like dominoes to Riley) near the hearth, and an old man smoking behind the counter. He watched Riley beneath a pair of bushy brows.
“Out,” he gruffly said. “I ain’t havin’ a Crow under my roof.”
“I’m not-” Riley huffed and grimaced behind his mask, an indignant shudder racing up his body. “I know this will sound ridiculous, but I’m not a worshipper of Aqar’Ghul.”
“He is a Warden,” Arubis said, emerging from behind him.
The owner gave Arubis a cautious glance, paying particular focus to her eyes. “I suppose... if one such as yourself vouches for him, then it’s fine. But he ain’t staying for free.”
“That tends to be how inns work, yes,” Riley said under his breath. He reached for one of the many pouches on his belt. He had scavenged an extra handful of dull electrum coins from the various shambling corpses on the trail. Not enough to really weigh his coinpurse down, but it was better than total poverty.
“Er... how much?” he asked.
“Four feathers for a night.”
Riley lifted four coins into view. On the front of each one was printed a tiny number 1, while the back of each was printed with a furrowed feather quill. He set four down before the stern innkeeper, who grumbled as he slid them under the counter.
He said nothing, just watched Riley and Arubis with a steely glare. Then, slowly, he fished out a key and tossed it onto the counter. “Fifth room on the upper floor.”
“Thanks,” Riley said, taking the key and promptly hurrying upstairs. Four coins for a night did not sound like much. But he had a distinct feeling that the price would raise significantly if he chose to stay for multiple nights.
The room itself was about what Riley expected. Scarcely large enough for three people to walk around in, with only one bed positioned by a snow-spackled window.
Riley cursed. “Should have asked for a second bed,” he muttered. “Stay here Arubis, I’ll pay for a room for you-”
“There is no need. Please do not worry yourself. I can render myself incorporeal when night comes.”
She did have a tendency to come and go at times, Riley noted. A woman who seemed to casually shift between being a human and a specter.
“If... you’re sure.” Riley still felt awkward about it, selfish in a way. It was in his nature to want to help people if it was possible, even if Arubis was fine with vanishing come nightfall.
“I am. It would be wasteful to give me a room. I shared the tree with you solely to keep you warm. But, otherwise, I need not sleep.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Mesquard scurried from his pocket and clambered to the top of the headboard. This is... only a very mild improvement over my ancestral homeland, the rodent mused, his gaze sweeping from one end of the room to the other.
“Seems like this place is kind of low end as far as inns go,” Riley replied. He took a seat on the bed and removed his mask. He shook his hair loose and breathed a sigh of relief at the chilly breeze that caressed his sweat-slick face. “But I am kind of curious about this town being in tact like this. Considering how wretched Fort Bane was and all.”
“Supply lines through the Empire have been in chaos for a while now, much of the military focusing their efforts on securing the inner core of imperial land,” Arubis explained, folding her hands together. “Small towns like this are isolated and remote, enough to avoid the worst of things for the time being. But Fort Bane was doubtless cut off from any military aid for many years, while madness took root and gnawed at the minds of those who remained.”
Riley frowned. “You figure the people there were good people, once?”
“It’s possible. But, on the other hand, they took great pleasure in the killing of wildmen who were likely no threat to them,” Arubis said. She gave him a faint shrug. “Do not worry too much, Riley. The Rot had taken root in them. Killing them was a mercy.”
“I don’t know if I can accept that. A lot of bad people have said they were doing ‘the right thing’ while killing folks. I’d rather not go that route, if I can help it.” He supposed he’d simply have to get used to killing people. That was just how life was in Kerberos. He sighed, deciding to change the subject. “So... what do we do now? Where do we go? I’ve just been winging it.”
“Well... The main thing is to venture westward, toward the heart of the empire,” Arubis said, leaning against one of the walls. “That is where the forces of Chaos will come in abundance, throwing their weight against the bulwark of civilization. Kill those who are the most heavily infused with the ruinous essence of Rot, War, Conquest, or Death. And, if you grow strong enough, you may even be able to best the Avatars of these forces.”
“Avatars?” he asked.
“The sources of these forces, given a tangible and physical form. To destroy them would be to strike a great blow against our enemy.”
“From the sound of things, this whole conflict has been going on for a long time. Nobody’s taken down these Avatars before now?” he asked, leaning forward.
Arubis frowned. “These Avatars are power personified. Demigods would perhaps be an apt term for them. Many Wardens have grown exceptionally strong over the years. But reaching that level of strength... I don’t know of any who have achieved such a feat.”
Riley closed his eyes. “Nothing can ever be easy, can it?”
“It is called the Path of Strife, Riley,” Arubis calmly told him.
“But... hypothetically, if someone was able to kill these four Avatars, could they kill this Chaos thing?” Arubis seemed to believe it was possible, though unlikely, that the Avatars could be bested. And presumably, their creator could go down the same way too. Riley was immortal now, from the sound of things, so he had all eternity to try. Not that the thought thrilled him.
A gentle laugh rose in Arubis’ throat. “I admire your optimism. But, for now, perhaps you should not let your ambitions outweigh your capabilities. If you can surmount the Avatars, then there is a possibility of besting their parent... but that destination is very far from where we stand now.”
“Right.” Still, the prospect never strayed too far from Riley’s mind. If he could put a stop to all this Chaos nonsense, perhaps he could enjoy a normal, relaxing afterlife. If there was a chance for that, he had to take it.
Still, a worry festered in the back of his mind. If all Wardens were immortal, and could do this in perpetuity, how had nobody bested the Avatars by now? Just how powerful were they? Moreover, he couldn't help but feel Arubis knew something that she wasn't keen on telling him...
“Well we’re gonna need a map, regardless. We were damn lucky there was a town visible from Fort Bane, but I’d rather not go blind from here.” Back in his old life, he was terrified to venture anywhere without a map open on his phone. And now the risk of getting randomly stabbed to death for going the wrong way was significantly higher.
“Of course,” Arubis replied. She made for the door, her footsteps as silent as ever. “Please, rest. I shall get one for you. I’m certain the local hunters will have a rather accurate one for the region drawn up. But, for the broader reaches of the Vergoll Empire, we likely won’t find an accurate map until we’re deeper inland.”
Riley was about to tell her that she didn’t need to get one on is behalf, but then he recalled the wary reactions he had gotten from the townsfolk. Whatever Aubis was, it seemed people trusted and liked her far more than they did him. “I’ll leave you to it, Arubis. Thank you.”
She chuckled, giving him a parting glance over her shoulder. “You are my Warden, Riley. Aiding you is my duty.”
Riley watched her go, and breathed a small sigh once he was (mostly) alone. He reclined on the bed, while Mesquard made himself comfortable in his perch. Lady Arubis is quite kind, is she not?
“Yeah... she sure is,” Riley replied, managing a weak smile.
With how grim his situation was, he had to take comfort wherever he could.