Charlotte and Anastasia wanted to clear out of the inn and get away from the carnage they had left in their room. However, they were afraid to move Sam too much. Not even all that sure where they should go. They questioned Sam about the greenskins. He explained it was all a spell and that there were likely no monsters. They moved Sam onto one of the beds in the other room. He had fallen asleep almost as soon as he was put in the bed.
The inn was cleared out because of the attack on Rinne so thankfully no one had seen or heard the battle that took place there. Charlotte just moved the bodies to one side of the room and then locked the door. She broke the key into the lock to prevent anyone accidentally finding the bodies for now.
It was now late afternoon. Liza had said she would likely not be returning until after nightfall, so they still had a few more hours to go. Anastasia was sitting next to Sam’s bed holding his hand as he slept. Charlotte pulled another chair over and sat next to the princess.
“He is going to be fine, thanks to you.” Charlotte rested her hand on Anastasia’s back.
“He almost died because of me.” Anastasia gripped Sam’s hand tighter as she said that.
“No, he almost died because of those assholes in the other room.”
“Charlotte please, you are a lady!”
“Well, I am in fact not a lady anymore.”
Anastasia hung her head at that comment. It had been Charlotte’s decision to renounce her noble titles but for some reason the idea still bothers Anastasia.
“I am sorry, I didn't mean it like that.”
“Don’t be. If I had not, I would have been useless today. In exchange for saving you… it was a small price to pay.” Charlotte leaned in and pulled Anastasia tightly to her.
“You are right I suppose... your newfound power really saved the day.”
“No way, your magic was what won us the day, not to mention it saved Sam’s life. Nothing I can do would have done that.”
Anastasia could not help but feel guilty. Helping someone you put in danger should not be applauded.
“I did what I must, because I was the cause of it all.”
“What did I just say about the assholes in the other room?” Charlotte said squeezing Anastasia tighter
“What did I say about language!”
The two friends laughed at their exchange and stayed next to each other watching over the sleeping Sam.
After a while. People started to come back to the town. Charlotte went down to see what people were saying. It was now being reported the alarm was some prank by a bunch of kids. The guards were currently searching for them. Charlotte just shook her head at the idea. How would a bunch of kids make it look like hundreds of greenskins were attacking? Either way it was probably better no one wanted to investigate it more. She did not want the investigation leading to the three robed bodies she had stashed in her room.
Charlotte told the inn keeper she and her traveling companions were exhausted from the evacuation today and requested not to be disturbed. She also asked for food so she could take up stairs. Charlotte made her way back to the room and opened the door barely able to hold all the food. Anastasia’s head whipped over startled, but she relaxed as she saw it was Charlotte.
“Still not awake yet?” Charlotte questioned as she placed the food on the table.
“Not a peep.”
“Should we wake him to eat?”
Anastasia looked at the sleeping boy. He had done so much to protect her she could not bear the thought of robbing him of his well earned rest.
“I am not sure, let’s leave him for now. We will have some ready for when he wakes up.”
“I got an idea…Men are simple creatures. They mostly think with their stomachs or sometimes something a little lower.” Charlotte said with a chuckle. Anastasia blushed at the crude comment.
Charlotte grabbed a plate of the roast pig the inn keeper had been slow cooking before the attack. She took it over to Sam and slowly waved it under his nose trying to tempt him awake. Sam’s nose twitched ever so slightly, and Charlotte used her hand to fan more of the smell over to him. Sam’s eye fluttered open and he jumped slightly at the plate that was shoved in his face. Charlotte quickly retracted it.
“Good you are awake. You need to eat something. We have several options, take your pick.”
Sam winced as he sat up slightly in the bed. His eyes followed the plate in Charlotte's hands. He took an audible whiff before answering.
“I think what you have in your hand should work.”
“Great, I thought you would like it. It was freshly roasted today.” Charlotte sat in the chair next to the bed placing the food on the table next to her. She nodded for Anastasia to assist, and they both helped Sam get to a sitting position.
His face was still very pale, and his eyes had deep bags under them. Charlotte retrieved the plate and started to help Sam with the food, but he pulled back.
“I am not a baby. I can feed myself.”
Charlotte smiled at his youthful pride. “Of course, I am sorry.” Handing the plate to Sam.
Anastasia watched Sam eat his meal. Being injured really must work up an appetite because Sam was shoveling the food into his mouth. Anastasia was afraid he would choke so prepare a drink for him. After finishing his plate Sam eyes center on the table and the other two plates of food. Anastasia smiled and grabbed another plate and handed it to Sam.
“No, I don’t want to eat yours.”
“The inn has more, please.” Anastasia offered the plate to him, taking the empty one. He at least ate this plate slower.
Once Sam had his fill, he looked awkwardly at the two women flanking his bed.
“You know it is weird with you just staring at me. Go eat or something.”
“We did not mean to make you uncomfortable. We will give you your space.” Anastasia began to get up and move to the larger table. She spun around quickly, unable to hold it in any longer.
“Thank you for saving us.”
“Ya whatever… I only did it because Finn would have been pissed at me if you died.”
“Why you did it does not matter, you saved my life again. Thank you.” Anastasia went over to the table and started eating the plate that was left.
Sam looked over to Charlotte looking her up and down.
“So how did it feel?”
Charlotte knew exactly what Sam was asking. She smiled from ear to ear.
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“It felt amazing. I mean I figured it would be great, but this was on a whole other level of amazing.”
“I remember my first time too. I spent the whole day leaping from rooftop to rooftop at full speed.”
“Wow I never even thought of trying that. We will have to try that together some time.” Charlotte said, smiling widely.
“Finn says I cannot do it anymore. We must keep the ability quiet… you know. That way the nobles don’t hunt us down for the technique” Sam looked down, a pained expression on his face. He quickly recovered, throwing a compliment to Charlotte.
“You were a beast by the way. Those guys were super strong, but you were able to go toe to toe with them. Especially the boss.”
“I am not sure how I feel about being called a beast, but I was not that special. I just saw a few gaps in his bladework is all.”
“Shit to even see his blade at all is an accomplishment.”
Charlotte was not able to hide the proud expression she wore on her face. She bowed her head slightly
“I am grateful for your help today. Gods know what they would have done to us, if you had not come back when you did.”
“Like I told her. I was just doing what Finn wanted me to do.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself. I am going to get some more food. Would you like anything?”
“Another plate of pork please.” Sam said bashfully
“Sure thing. I will be right back.”
Charlotte left the room before returning a few minutes later with fresh plates.
Finn and Liza made it back to town to find it in a bit of an uproar. They spoke to a few of the people on the street and it sounded like some kids had played a prank on the guards causing the whole town to evacuate. Liza and Finn shared a worried expression and rushed to the inn. They headed straight for the room Anastasia had been using and found it sealed with the lock broken. Finn slammed into the door shattering it into pieces.
The sight before him terrified him. There was blood over most of the room. Bodies piled up to one side. Finn ran to the bodies and checked their identities. Liza had followed Finn into the room, her hand on her sword. Seeing there was no immediate danger, she started analyzing the room to figure out what happened. They both then heard a creak behind them and drew their weapons with murderous intent written on their faces.
They were greeted by Charlotte standing in the door frame with a relieved look on her face.
“I locked this for a reason.” Unable to prevent her mouth from smiling at seeing Liza and Finn again.
“Lady Charlotte.” Liza ran over and hugged Charlotte. The usually reserved Liza showing so much emotion made Charlotte feel uncomfortable.
“It’s just Charlotte.”
Liza could not help but laugh as she held Charlotte tighter. Finn rushed over and Charlotte met his worried expression with a calm reassuring one.
“She is safe in the other room with Sam.”
Finn did not say anything and rushed to the other room throwing the door open. He found Anastasia there holding the short sword for the first time. It was the one the Guild master had given her back in Waldon. Her expression was a mix of fear and determination at first, before the relief washed over her. She dropped the sword and rushed to Fin. Anastasia practically jumped into his arms. All her past worries about him did not seem to matter at this moment.
Finn held Anastasia tightly, bringing a hand up to pat the back of her head gently.
“Do not worry Anna. I will never leave your side again.”
Anastasia thought it was an odd thing to say from a man she had only known for a few days. That thought caused her to realize she was hugging that man. Her brain told her to stop it was not proper, but she only held on tighter.
Finn looked at Sam who was unable to look back, his eyes downcast. Finn looked the boy over and could see he was weakened and was in some pain.
“Thank you, Sam, for keeping her safe.”
Sam said nothing and nodded his head. Finn pulled Anastasia off him and looked at them both.
“Tell me what happened.”
Liza and Charlotte came back to the room and the group went over the events in Rinne. Including the fake large scale greenskin attack. The three men and the battle that took place between them. Liza had regained her composure from her earlier outburst at seeing Charlotte again. She only let her emotions show a little at the parts of the story about Charlotte using the strengthening magic the first time.
“You all did an amazing job. Those three sounded like powerful opponents. Has anyone had a chance to look over the other room yet?” Finn was rubbing his beard.
“Other than trying to secure it, no.” Charlotte said succinctly
Finn jerked his head to one side and Liza stood up and went to the other room. Anastasia had seen Finn do this many times and felt she needed to speak up.
“You know it is rude to give commands like that. You can use your words.”
“Liza does not like words all that much. Besides, she likes it when I am commanding.”
Liza had not yet left the room and stopped and stood in the doorway. Finn looked over his shoulder. Liza's face was hard to read for most, but Finn could tell, this was her annoyed face. He saw it a lot. Finn sighed “Liza would you please proceed to the other room and investigate the various oddities there in. This will help us to determine what those gentlemen’s motivations were and who they may be working for.”
Liza rolled her eyes and left the room.
“See the head jerk was way faster.”
“Liza, please. Would have worked too. Idiot.” Liza shouted from the hall.
Anastasia had a self-satisfied smile that she had proved her point. Finn just sighed, shaking his head.
“Anna, I need to go over what we found in the capital. It is a lot and could be difficult to hear.” Finn spoke calmly and directly.
“As I have told you I do not want to shy away from realities.” Anastasia steeled herself to hear Finn’s story.
Finn outlined what he had found out. About Victor seeming to be the master mind as far as they can tell. The slave collars and their seemingly impossible powers. The fact that both Nydia and Tashanna wore one and that their lives were in very real danger. Lastly, that Tashanna has a plan to free everyone, but it all relies on Anastasia to pull it off. Finn made it clear that they could just run. He would take her from this country, and she would never have to risk her life playing the games of nobles again.
Anastasia had been struggling to hear what Finn had been telling her. Her face clearly showed panic and fear for her family’s and friend’s safety. It all vanished and was replaced with anger at Finn’s final suggestion.
“You think I would run from this. My sister is asking for my help. I could never abandon her and run away to save myself.”
Finn hung his head and in only a voice he could hear. “I had hoped.” Before responding directly.
“I have given you a lot to think about. I only offered you an option, it is your choice on what you do. Think it over carefully.”
“You pretend there is a choice here, there isn’t. I will go to the capital to help even if I go alone.”
For the first time Finn had a truly worried look on his face as he answered.
“There is always a choice. If we must go to the capital, let's go and end Victor’s life. It ensures he cannot hurt anyone else. There is no way to know if Tashanna’s plan will work.”
Anastasia’s resolve did not yield to Finn’s plea.
“Don’t be a coward. I am willing to live with the outcome of Tashanna’s gamble. I will not trade lives because I fear the unknown.”
Finn’s face was twisted in annoyance, but he gave in. “Fine we leave at first light. Once we meet back up with our inside woman, we will get an update on what is going on and decide on the next step. Get your rest. The hard part is going to be starting soon.” Finn turned to leave the room
Finn entered the other room to find Liza inspecting the drawings one of the robed men had been making on the floor. Looking over her shoulder Finn could not make out what it was exactly but it looked like a magic circle.
“I have never seen anything like this. Most of the runes are unknown to me. The spell runes that I do know… don’t make sense next to each other.” Liza was taking some notes on the circle.
“So, we know nothing?” Finn said, sounding defeated.
“Not exactly, we just know less than we would like. We know they possess strengthening magic. We know they wanted the princess alive for something. We know they are powerful magic users of unknown magic. This circle and the scale of the illusion they used are evidence of that.”
“So, are they working for Victor? Lilly did tell me they had never seen the magic he was using.”
Liza sighed “The coincidence of two different plots that both involved unknown magic, happening at the same time seems unlikely.”
Finn could tell from Liza’s face she had doubts “You have But face.”
“From what I have heard about Victor he is just a child pulling the wings off flies. He does not have a master plan. From what they have found he is just following whatever random sick thought enters his mind that day.” Liza shook her head running her fingers over the dried ink on the floor
“The move in this room reeks of a plan. Large scale illusion magic could not be thrown together on a whim. Someone read our moves and knew we would be in this town. They wanted something done and wanted it done so badly they could not wait, so risked doing it in this room.”
“We have been in the woods or marshland most of the time and no one made a move on us. Plus, we never even picked up on anyone following.” Finn stated what Liza already knew.
Liza stood up and came close to Fin. “I don’t know how they did it. They knew we would come here, they attacked as soon as we separated. Whoever is watching us is very good.”
“Ok, be on your toes… Oh and keep this from her for now. She is under enough pressure.”
“I don’t think that is fair. She is trying to face this world. Keeping things from her is what they would do”
Finn glared at Liza. Her face is as unchanging as ever. Nothing more was said between the pair.