- Shari -

Everything happens very fast.

The innkeeper fast confirms the corpses in our room on the second floor and is taking then a big bell and rings it loudly.

Soon I see some of the other residents stumble out of their rooms.

While this establishment is surely not high-class, there is a good number of rooms.

I think I counted five doors on the second floor and maybe two rooms on the ground level, yet I haven’t looked too close.

At least eight persons are gathering at the counter.

"Sorry to tell you that, but someone couldn’t play by the rules and so we have two corpses here. You know the drill. I have to call the guard, so you have at most one hour before they are coming. Whatever it is that you have, I don’t want to know. So just be done by then!" (innkeeper)

In a flash, most of the residents vanish from their position and enter their rooms instantly. I notice quite some rumbling inside.

Only two have a calm demeanor.

Some old man, with grey-white hair and beard, who all my prejudices tell me is a mage, and a cloaked figure, who is serenely heading back into the room it occupied.

The second one is surprising as I thought that this one actually looks suspicious and has something to hide.

Soon most of the residents are leaving with obvious bulges under their clothes, heavy bags, or sacs.

As for me, I get a little bit anxious about a body examination.

That wouldn’t end well for everyone involved.

And for sure I cannot just leave, as it was my doing.

After it has settled a bit the innkeeper turns to us.

"So! Has one of you the kindness to tell me why Rick and Gordo are lying dead in your room? Didn’t I ask you if you are in any trouble?" (innkeeper)

"It’s not like we know why these guys are attacking us in the middle of the night! Maybe they saw us yesterday on the market, where we paid quite a sum and got the wrong ideas." (Shari)

For a moment I considered telling her about the problem with Cid, to get some information regarding the darker side of this town, as she seems well informed.

Yet, after giving it some thought I assumed that we would then tomorrow have to look for another inn, as she's rather keen to avoid trouble.

"So you say they just wanted to rob you?" (innkeeper)

"That could be. I mean we have quite a sum of silver with us." (Shari)

"Are you dumb?! Voicing something like this here!" (innkeeper)

"Sorry, my mistake." (Shari)

I doubt that someone would directly want to follow the corpses, but maybe my attempt to pretend to be just an innocent girl was a bit too much.

"Urgh! I have no nerve for this. I need to go now to the guard! Keep yourself covered and raise no further commotions." (innkeeper)

There is not much to do now, so we head back to our room, as despite the corpses all our stuff is in there.

I need again to ingrain into Liqu that she is not allowed to devour the corpses, much to her dismay.

We enter our room and find the cloaked figure from before, crouched over the bodies.

"Hm, clean cut. A single quick slice. And the other… Interesting! Perfectly aimed. A very thin blade. Didn’t get stuck in the eyehole. Looks quite professional." (?)

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Okay, I’ve got three different kinds of mental goosebumps, which I quickly need to get rid of, before they become actual ones and ripple through my body.

First, how did I not notice her leaving her room and entering ours?

Yes, the voice sounds female.

Second, anyone who looks at a wound and can deduce that it looks professional has spent too much thought on the matter of cutting people.

And my third reason for goosebumps is the fact that she is this perceptive makes me anxious about where she will direct that ability next.

You know the minor issue I have in mind.

"Excuse us, but what are you doing in our room? Even rented it stays our privacy!" (Shari)

"I just looked at the work of an assassin I didn’t know. Which one of you did it?" (?)

I am getting sized by poisonous yellow-green eyes, which are all that is visible, yet enough to become unnerved.

"That’s none of your business! Please go now!" (Shari)

"I tend towards you. The other one gives less of a sharp atmosphere. Dangerous yes, but she doesn’t look like she's using blades. At least not like the type who uses them effectively. More like someone who enjoys it to play with her victims. Am I right?" (?)

"Yes, kinda." (Liqu)

"Liqu! Shut up!"

"Do you have a target in town? Do I know it?" (?)

"OUT! NOW!" (Shari)

That talk goes completely wrong!

After all, I’ve been through, for sure I won’t join the assassin’s guild and this looks far too much like an employment interview.

But fortunately, she leaves without another word.

What a creep!

And that’s coming from a flesh-devouring slime.

Duh, I really need to stop going against myself with my references.

But really, she was wrong.

I’m for sure no assassin.

It’s not like I can do much about the fact that this body can’t have any slips in usage.

And I felt very bad after the killing, yet I have my puke avoidance training and I am not able to feel physically sick.

It’s not my fault that I can murder people like a professional!

After some time the guard is entering.

All heavily armed people in tight armor.

I can see our innkeeper talk to someone I assume to be the boss of them.

"Gareth, I just for you came to report this, so please don’t make too much of a fuss in my inn." (innkeeper)

"Marsha, we both know that doing anything different than calling us would mean contributing to a crime, and like this leading to your imprisonment." (Gareth)

"It wasn’t even a crime! They died while they tried to rob us. So the killing was in accordance with the law." (innkeeper/Marsha)

"That is my job to decide. Stay back!" (Gareth)

"No reason to go full guard captain on me." (Marsha)

Eventually, he spots us.

Not much to do about this as my plan was to talk myself out of this situation.

"So who are you to get in this kind of situation?" (Gareth)

"My name is Shari and this is Liqu. We just came yesterday into this town and promptly get attacked during our second night." (Shari)

"However, it seems you retaliated, and this rather hard." (Gareth)

"It’s not like we could just ask them nicely to leave." (Shari)

"You should watch your mouth, girl. You could offend the wrong people." (Gareth)

Like the local gangster boss?

"They just came in and we defended our lives! I just got lucky with my dagger!" (Shari)

"My reports are supporting your claim, but I need to investigate thoroughly. By the way, what can you tell me what happened?" (Gareth)

Oh no!

Why he had to ask Liqu?

Just why?

"Wait you are asking me?" (Liqu)

"Yes, who else? You were there, so tell me your opinion." (Gareth)

"Yes, yes, okay! Those men came into our room! I was so scared! I don’t know what to do! This all is too much for me!" (Liqu)

It’s over!

Yes, I said she should show more feelings when she answers.

But from all the ways how she could have said that even in her monotonous speech:

She chooses to be cheery while showing that gleeful smile!

And stop looking this expectant at me, waiting for confirmation!

This scrutinizing gaze he has now can mean absolutely everything but certainly nothing good for us.

I never imagined that it is possible to furrow your brow this much.

"Fine. We are done then. Just go to that guard there and make your testimony. You both are no known criminals, while the dead ones are. So there is not much I can do against your… suspicious demeanor." (Gareth)

That wasn’t even narrow, stupid slime!

Liqu! Learn about emotions!

Stupid!

It takes some time and I need to show my dagger for confirmation.

As everything looks like self-defense and we have nothing illicit in our room, after a while, the guards depart.

A body examination was apparently not necessary, as there were no indications of us having anything to do with smuggling.

And maybe I threw Jacob in front of me, as a bailsman, when I gave my testimony.

The upcoming peace is fine, as the stress was hard on me.

Well, it's not like I could break out in a sweat.

So I can close the door and relax a bit.

The only one who stays agitated is Liqu.

"Wait! You killed them and they let you go? Just like this? No one goes after you?" (Liqu)

"It is okay. We have done nothing wrong. They attacked us first and we only defended. So there is nothing to blame us for and we can just leave." (Shari)

"That was so often the case, but they always blamed me!" (Liqu)

I have the feeling that life was unfair to Liqu before in these matters.

"That’s what the disguise is for." (Shari)

"Still, this is unfair!" (Liqu)

"You don’t need to like it. Just know that both of us benefit when we won’t get discovered. Fine?" (Shari)

"Fine. You know better, how to interact with them." (Liqu)

One of her good points is that she is receptive to the things I tell her.

I appreciate this.

.

.

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"Interesting!" (?)