“Oh, it’s so good to see you.” Freida says and pulls Mari into yet another hug. “I worry every day that you don’t come back from one of your quests.”
Once inside, Erich makes his way upstairs, bringing the girl’s belongings into a room for each of them. Sanora has to hold back from banging her head on the table. After all the trouble they went through, they have to sleep in separate rooms now. A silent sigh escapes her lips.
“Sanora? You in there?” Mari’s voice pulls her back to reality.
“Huh? Sorry, what did you say?”
By now they are sitting at one of the tables in the hall on the ground floor. Sanora takes a proper look around. The hall is smaller than the ones in most inns she has been to, in exchange for having more rooms for people to stay in. The sound of chatter fills the air as about half of the tables are occupied by all sorts of people passing through the town.
“Tired from the journey? Well, I can’t blame you.” Frieda laughs. “Deepvalley is quite far from here, even by carriage. I’m rather surprised you came here with a nobleman. Is this one of your quests?”
“No. We just happened to run into them on the road and ended up helping them, so they took us four along. Speaking of which, where is Torkastra and Flux?” Mari looks around the hall.
“Good question. Haven’t seen them since we got off the carriage.” Sanora mumbles and scans the hall as well. But Torkastra and Flux aren’t among the many travelers at the other tables.
“More members of your party?” Frieda asks with a curious smile.
“Not party members per se. We met them on the road, and they helped us helping the nobleman. Actually, it was the other way around but it’s a long story. To sum it up, we were going in the same direction, so we decided to stick together for a bit.” Mari explains.
“So, it’s only the two of you in a party?” Frida raises an eyebrow.
“No. We’re usually in a party of five. Balmir is our leader, he’s reliable and smart. Serantis is our heavy frontliner, practically indestructible, and Mehena, with her eagle-eyes is our archer and scout.”
“Oh, and did they not come along?” Frieda asks slightly confused, a hint of suspicion glowing in her eyes.
“Uhh they…” Mari is starting to fumble as the words won’t come to her. She shoots a helpless glance to Sanora.
“They stayed behind because we aren’t really out on a quest. We’re on our way to meet someone in Southvalley I need to see. A scholar of sorts, very knowledgeable about the old war. Mari asked if she could tag along to see some of the old records herself.” With a smile, Sanora lies to Freida with a calmness that almost sends a shiver down Mari’s spine.
“Ah yes, she has always been overly invested in those old stories.” Frieda nods, satisfied with the answer. “So, how long will you be staying in town?”
“Two days, then we will move on to Southvalley.”
“Only two days?” Freida deflates. “But you only just arrived here.”
“I know, but we’re on a tight schedule. Since we’re basically acting as the guard of the noble we came with we’ll have to tag along.”
“I see, that’s a pity.” Frieda sighs, but soon after smiles again. “Then we’ll have to make the best of the two days we have.”
“We’ll sure have to.” A new voice joins in on the conversation, deep and gravelly. “Who knows when we’ll get to see our daughter next.” The man says as he brings two large trays filled with food to the table.
“Dad!” Mari gets up from her seat to greet her father with a jump attack hug.
‘Lotsa hugs in this family.’ Sanora think as she takes a mug off the tray to finally flush her brain with alcohol to drown out the idle chitchat between Mari and her father.
“-oh right, this is Sanora, our party’s frontliner.”
With a mention of her name, Sanora’s attention is pulled back to the conversation.
“Sanora. Nice to meet you.” The man extends his hand with a smile, and Sanora takes it, albeit a bit unwillingly. “I’m Markus Braustein, Mari’s father, which you probably heard by now.” He chuckles.
“Nice to meet you too. I’m Sanora… which you probably heard by now too.” Sanora forces a smile.
Markus laughs. “I see we’ll get along just fine. Thank you for keeping my child safe out there.”
“Oh, lately its Mari keeping me safe more than anything.” Sanora shakes her head. “She is an exceptional mage.”
“Hah, she sure is, our little prodigy.” Markus sits down. “So, tell me.” He looks at Mari.
“Tell you what?” She tilts her head.
“Everything of course, and don’t skimp on the details.” He points at Mari.
“Gods, where do I even start…”
============================================
A solid hour later Mari finally finishes a mostly censored story of the most recent events. Sanora has emptied a solid four mugs of ale by now, wishing she wasn’t as alcohol resistant as she is.
“-and that’s how we ended up tagging along the caravan on the road.”
The room has gone a lot more quiet by now, most of the people having either left or retreated to their quarters by now.
“Lords above.” Freida slumps, leaning back on her chair. “I’m starting to feel like I’d rather not know about all of that. To think you have been in such danger. I mean, a cave filled with giant spiders? Small ones are already scary enough.” She knits her eyebrows.
“And the big ones are every bit as creepy as you imagine.” Mari shudders at the thought. “Just thinking about it makes me feel exhausted again.”
“Do you really need to go back to this adventuring business? You could make plenty of money just working as a healer here.”
“I do.” Mari says firmly. “Its not about the money. The people there need me. If the plains go untended the villages will suffer from the roaming monsters, Way’s Crossing is no exception. And besides, its nothing a good night’s sleep can’t fix.” Mari grins.
“Don’t say that, you cant just sleep off everything.” Frieda frowns. “Just imagine what-“
Markus clears his throat, drawing his wife’s glare.
“Frieda, Mari had a long day. We still have time to talk tomorrow. She needs some sleep, and we need to get back to work.”
‘FINALLY’ Sanora cheers mentally as and end to the interrogation is in sight.
“Hmm I guess so.” Freida mumbles. “Lets continue this over breakfast then. I’ll make your favorite.” Freida hands the girls two keys. Your rooms are upstairs, they should be ready by now.”
“Thanks.” Mari says. Sanora just gives a drowsy nod and a smile as she takes the key.
“We’ll be down for breakfast tomorrow.” Mari gets up with everyone else following suit.
“You better be on time.” Frieda says with a smirk.
“Have a good night, Mari.” Markus says.
“You too.” Mari says.
“Good night. Thank you for the food.” Sanora says the first best stuff that comes to mind, not wanting to waste too much mental energy on those people. And with that they finally leave the table and head upstairs. But before they can even exchange a single word a young girl dashes at Mari. Sanora is only one thought away from drawing her sword, but manages to catch herself.
“Mariiiiii!” She leaps at Mari who catches her in a hug and spins the laughing girl around a few times.
“Johanna! Gods look at how tall you’ve gotten.” Mari says as she sets the girl down.
“Right?!” Johanna says as she does a spin. Her long hair is a shade lighter than the rest of the family’s, but her face makes her easily recognizable as one of the Brausteins.
“Finally you’re back! I’ve missed you so much you wouldn’t believe it.” Johanna beams.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
“Naww of course I would. I missed you too.” Mari pats her head. “Sanora, this is Johanna, my little sister. Johanna, this is Sanora, a member of my party.”
Johanna looks Sanora up and down. She just returns a nod and a kind smile, but Johanna gives a really odd look before ignoring her and returning to Mari.
‘That was… odd.’ Sanora thinks as she watches the sisters walk off while they catch up.
“-no fair that they got to talk with you while I had to work.”
“I see things haven’t changed. Always one important customer or another.” Mari lets out a wry laugh. “Who’s the ‘super important customer’ this time around?”
“Oh you know, just some mage from the capital and her company who arrived in town today.” Johanna rolls her eyes with a smirk.
“Theres another mage from the capital here?” Mari tilts her head as the joke sails right over it. Johanna and Sanora just shoot Mari an empty look until it finally clicks.
“Ah, you meant me.”
“Well, do you happen to see any other mages walking around here?”
“My, grown in height and sass huh.” Mari says.
“Someone needed pick up where you left.”
“Look at you, all bratty. I’m almost happy I’ll be leaving in two days.” But as Mari chuckles Johanna suddenly stops, remaining rooted in place.
“You’re only staying for two days?” She deflates.
‘There we go again.’ Sanora winces mentally at the prospect of going over the whole story again.
‘Why do we have to stay two whole days?’
============================================
Sanora has slept in a lot of places. From tents to a brothel to the quarters of a princess. But never has she had such a hard time falling asleep as in this inn. Ever since she set foot through the door, she has felt uneasy, as if she is on enemy territory. Even the spiders den felt more welcoming than this. Sure, they were out to kill them all, and almost succeeded too, but at least they didn’t do it because of prejudice. They were just giant spiders, and they just kill to survive. The Braustein family’s intolerance however comes from an entirely different place than the survival instinct of the spiders.
“At least in the spiders cave I didn’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not.” Sanora mumbles as she counts the boards that make up the roof for the fifteenth time. Keeping track of ever guest in the building has grown boring quite some time ago. Most people are asleep by now. The only ones still up are the Brausteins who are cleaning, and one couple who has been going at it in bed for quite some time now, which has made Sanora envious to no small degree. She could have easily snuck into Mari’s room by now, if it wasn’t for her little sister still being there and talking with Mari.
‘Seriously, does that girl ever grow tired?’
Sanora rolls around in the bed to get into a more comfy position, but it does little to help. The smell of the freshly washed bedsheets creeps into her nose with every breath she takes. She cant quite put her finger on it, but for some reason even that makes her uneasy.
“Two days. Just two days of this torment then we’ll be out of here.” She tells herself before rolling over once more.
“… ah fuck this.” She takes the blanket and chucks it through the room before taking out her sleeping bad from her bag to use it as a blanket. She relishes in the familiar feeling and the scent of home, trying to tune out her surroundings and hopefully fall asleep somehow.
============================================
When Mari opens her eyes the first rays of dawn are already shining through the shutters. She groans and rolls over, grabbing for Sanora. But her arms fall empty. Confused she opens her eyes and blinks a few times before remembering where she is. She sits up, rubbing her tired eyes. She squints as she looks at the window.
“How long did I sleep? Ah shoot, breakfast.” Mari gets out of bed to get dressed. She tumbles around the room to gather her stuff with half lidded eyes. But she soon regrets her choice as she jams her toe into a chair. With a yelp she staggers back and falls square on her ass while holding her foot.
“Off to a great start.” She groans and grabs her staff to cast a quick heal on her toe to ease the pain. “Off to a great start.”
Once she has finished her first aid she gets dressed and leaves her room, heading downstairs. Its an odd feeling still remembering exactly which floorboards creak. Its not exactly weird, she grew up here after all. But ever since she left, she has made an effort to not think about this place a lot, and realizing how familiar it still is just feels weird to her. While this place is her home it also feels distant by now. Not quite strange, but not quite familiar anymore either. But soon her thoughts are blown away by a sweet smell beckoning her. She quickly makes her way down the stairs and into the hall. Luckily she hasn’t overslept as bad as she thought. Most of the guests are currently at the tables eating breakfast, the noise of talking and clattering cutlery is filling every corner of the room.
Mari skips the tables and goes straight for the kitchen where she peeks inside. Her eyes dart around the room searching for her target. A few seconds later she locks on. There it is, a plate filled with three large buns, the honey on top of the glistening in the light.
Mari swallows the saliva gathering in her mouth at the sight, but in her focus, she doesn’t notice the presence behind her.
“Sorry, but the kitchen is off limits to guest.”
Mari jumps when she hears her mother behind her.
“Gods you almost gave me a heart attack.”
“That’s what you get for trying to sneak into the kitchen.” Frieda chides.
“I wasn’t sneaking into the kitchen. I was just taking a look.” Mari avoids her gaze with a pout.
“Mari, I raised you. Do you really think I don’t know you? Go take a seat, I’ll be right out.”
“Alright. I’ll go wake up Sanora.”
“No need. She left a while ago, said she’ll be doing some shopping for the road.”
“She left already?”
“Yes, quite an early riser that girl. Very diligent I have to say. You should look for a boyfriend that capable too.”
“Yep. Definitely. I’ll be waiting at the table.” Mari quickly makes an exit, not wanting her mother to see her sour expression after hearing that.
She sits down at one of the few free tables, her good mood now thoroughly spoiled.
‘Boyfriend this boyfriend that. Ughh why cant she just let it rest for one damn day.’ Mari has always known that sooner or later things would catch up to her. She had her peace during her stay in Deepvalley, but the thought of her family’s beliefs has always been somewhere in the depths of her mind. Unless she just cuts of contact with them entirely and moves somewhere far away there is no way to keep her preferences hidden forever. Except for just staying alone her whole life, but Sanora has already firmly blasted that plan off the table. Deepvalley is a nice place, but still too close to Way’s Crossing. As is every other village and town in the Valley to begin with. But aside from the Valley the only other populated place is the north and the elven lands. But from what Mari knows about those places neither of them is particularly nice to live in for their own respective reasons.
‘I really gotta talk this through with Sanora, maybe she has an idea.’
“Why the gloomy face? Didn’t sleep well?” Her mothers voice pulls Mari from her thoughts.
“No, just got a lot on my mind is all.”
“Like what?” Frieda asks and sets down the plate Mari spotted earlier.
“Oh you know, just guild business and stuff. I don’t wanna bore you.” Mari waves it off, but Frieda is not convinced.
“Don’t say that. I’m your mother, you can talk to me if something bothers you.” She smiles at Mari.
‘Not this time…’
“No really, its just boring adventurer stuff. Probably nothing you haven’t heard at least ten times from the people passing through here.”
“That might be true.” Frieda sits down. “But I haven’t heard it from my daughter yet, so I’m all ears.”
Mari looks at her mother who is smiling at her warmly, waiting to hear all about what’s troubling Mari. And for a moment she’s considering just telling her everything. Just seize the moment and flood her mother with a long confession of how she’s been feeling all her life, let out all those repressed feelings and fears. Because somewhere deep down Mari feels hopeful that maybe, just maybe her family might see past their prejudice, and if only for their daughter.
“Hey, mom.”
Frieda sits there patiently, giving Mari time to form the words.
“There’s something I kind of need to tell you. But to be honest I’m a bit scared that it’ll change the way you see me.”
“I see.” Frieda nods. “I cant promise I wont be surprised or shaken, but one thing I can promise you is that no matter what it is, you’re my daughter, and I’ll always love you.” She puts a hand on Mari’s shoulder, gently squeezing it.
“Really?” Mari looks at her mother with wet eyes.
“Of course. We’re a family.” Frieda says with a warm smile only a mother can make.
“Yeah… ok. I just need some time to think this through, but ill tell you before we leave.”
“Take all the time you need sweetheart. Now, speaking of sweet, you should eat your breakfast before your sister steals one of the sweetbreads.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Mari chuckles.
‘I hope Sanora’s gonna be back soon. I really don’t want to do this alone.’
============================================
“ACHOO!”
“Don’t tell me you’re catching a cold.” Tor raises an eyebrow at Sanora.
“Nah, just the dust.” Sanora waves her off.
============================================
After finishing her breakfast, and with nothing better to do Mari looks around the inn. It hasn’t really changed since she left, and seeing the walls she grew up in reminds of days long gone. Simpler days, without constant worry gnawing at her. What she wouldn’t give to run through these halls again with nothing on her mind besides playing tag with her brother. Or sneak to the kitchen at night with her sister, avoiding all the creaky floorboards just to eat some sweets. She can’t even remember the last time she was running without someone’s life being in danger. But the pleasant childhood memories make an abrupt end when she passes a certain broom closet. From there on out every memory is tinted.
“I wonder how she’s doing these days.”
“How who’s doing?”
Mari’s hair stands and in the blink of an eye she turns around and punches her bother right in his stomach. He doubles over and leans on the wall holding his stomach.
“Good gods Erich don’t do that!” She yells.
“Yeah, lesson learned.” Her brother presses out. “You know, I remember you a lot less aggressive than that.” His face is twisted in pain as he speaks.
“I’m sorry, fighting for you life in the wilds makes you jumpy over time.”
“I can feel that.” He laughs wryly. “Good punch.”
Mari sighs. “I’m sorry, really. Lemme see that.” Mari walks up to him and pull up his shirt. “Doesn’t look too bad, you’ll survive.”
“So no healing magic for me?”
“You can’t afford me.” Mari smirks at him, letting go of his shirt.
“I don’t get a family discount?”
“Already took that into account. Still out of your price range, sorry.”
“Sure you are.” Erich rolls his eyes.
“Next time just don’t sneak up on me. I’m serious.”
“I hear you.” Erich says and takes a deep breath.
Mari looks at him as he stands there, his eyes wandering around the hallway.
“So? What do you need?”
“Can’t I just want to spent some time with my lovely sister while she’s here?”
All he gets in response is a silent, dry stare.
“Alright alright I might have some questions for you. But that’s it, I swear.”
“Well, if its just that. What do you want to know?”
“Right so, this Sanora you’re travelling with-“
“Is way out of your league. Forget about it.”
“I didn’t even finish!” Erich protests.
“Right, sorry. What do you want to know about her?”
“Well…” Erich starts, but goes silent again.
“…how out of my league?” He asks sheepishly.
“The last person she was with was the child of a city’s lord and Sanora ended things. That’s how out of your league.”
Erich just stands there, mouth hanging open.
“You’re kidding me.”
“I’m not kidding you. And that aside, you don’t know the first thing about her. Trust me, she is not the right one for you Erich.” ‘And that aside, she is mine.’
Erich just stands there, a frown on his face as he thinks things over before nodding to himself.
“I guess you’re right. Thanks big sis, you helped me out a lot. I’ll leave you to brood in peace now.” And with that he’s off like an arrow before Mari can get another word in. Something tells her her bother is up to something. But whatever it is, it wont matter. In three days from now they’ll be long gone anyways, and everyone will know the truth too.
“The truth…” Mari’s throat tightens at the mere thought. But she has already made up her mind. She’d rather tell them now than live with this anxiety for who knows how many years to come. And even if the worst comes to pass, she has Sanora by her side. And she knows she’ll always will.