Ava strolled through the tavern doors. It was a small room despite being packed with patrons of varying levels of sobriety. The air sweltered and smelled of stale sweat and sour ale, evoking memories of Crastius's tavern. Though admittedly the tavern in Spectermere was far more presentable. This place was coated in filth and grime.

Every table was centred around a small platform that showcased a female bard with a neckline so low it barely covered her breasts. She strummed a tune on a lute and gyrated to it. Her rouged lips mouthed a song, but the sound was drowned out by the drunken patrons who sang raucously along with her.

The innkeeper stood behind a bar at the far end watching the scene play out with a sly smile. Ava had a feeling that something untoward was happening between the innkeeper, the bard and her entranced audience. Still, she was not inclined to determine its nature or meddle in others’ affairs. Just get what you need and leave.

She weaved her way through the crowd and drew a few eyes as she passed. Hestrin watched her warily, the smirk fading from his face as she stopped before the bar.

“We’re full up and can’t take in no more,” he stated, flicking his head toward the door she came from.

Ava slipped a gold coin across the counter, thankful she had the wherewithal to slip Malgorn’s coin purses into the Magi’s Satchel as soon as she landed with Beast on the dwarven ship. She had no doubt the prince would have taken those too had he known about them.

“I am not here for a room, I need information,” she responded.

Hestrin slid the coin into his pocket. “Aye? And what’s it you looking to know?”

Ava lifted her sleeve to show the man the rune Minervin cast on her forearm. “I was told you have directions and a key to the cabin in the woods.”

The innkeeper cupped his upper arm and backed away in fright, “N-now hear here, I’m a good man and ain’t looking to do business with cursed folk. Be gone with you, creature!”

The crowd died down to a low murmur, but the bard continued to play a soft tune. The entire tavern tuned in to their conversation. She could hear the bard milling through the crowd as she strummed and had a feeling that whatever the bard was up to, they were now using her as a distraction. Ava grounded her jaw in a rage at being the center of yet another spectacle.

“Listen fool, just give me the information and I will be on my way!” she hissed between clenched teeth.

Hestrin seemed to want to bark something back but doubled over in pain as he clutched his arm and groaned from the effort to suppress it. Ava was never able to grasp the workings of magic, but usually spells that held command over others were considered profane and illegal to use. Panic consumed Ava’s mind and her heart raced. She stepped back from the bar and its agonised innkeeper. Surely, Minervin would never use such foul magic. If people thought I was the cause of it. I would be hunted down like an animal. She needed to leave and put some distance between her and this town.

“Fine!” Hestrin huffed between clenched teeth. He searched behind the bar and resurfaced with a dented tin lockbox, which he threw open and retrieved a piece of rough parchment and a rusted key. The innkeeper chucked them both at her.

“Directions and the key. There ain’t nothing there anyway. Now get lost and don’t come back!” he spat.

Of course, the fool looked inside the cabin. Her trepidation fading, Ava looked at the parchment and recognized Minervin’s writing. Hestrin was telling the truth with this at least.

She tossed another gold coin at the innkeeper, “I need provi…”

Hestrin flicked the coin back to her and grunted, “Get lost demonkin or I’ll throw you out meself!”

Ava ground her teeth. She was certain the innkeeper could try and fail miserably. But she knew that forcing the issue would not end in her favour. Cowards like him had people to do his dirty work for him. She had attracted too many curious eyes in any case. She turned on her heel, pocketed Minervin’s items and marched out of the inn.

The guard was waiting at the entrance, picking and fidgeting at his sleeve with a discomforted look on his face. He turned to her when she exited.

“I take it Hestrin didn’t furnish you with provisions?” he asked when he found her arms empty.

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“No, the imbecile.” Ava huffed. Her fingers itched to throw something. I should be used to this by now. How is it that I am disarmed so easily here than in Spectermere? Tears prickled at the back of her eyeballs.

The guard chuckled, “Aye, his mum was a good woman, she’d die twice over if she saw what he'd done to the family establishment. Come along then.” He pushed his horse into a trot.

Ava took a step toward him then hesitated, trying to determine the man’s intention. He did not seem suspicious, but why in Holden’s name was he being so helpful? “Where are we going?” she asked.

“To the barracks,” he stopped and snickered when she glared at him. “Oi now, it’s not like that, I’ve no time to worry meself over random passersby’s who aren’t in Hestrin’s purview. We just need to make a quick stop before I escort you out of town.”

Ava fell into step beside him, “I need to visit a merchant before I leave.”

“Aye? You won’t find one open at this hour, they close at sundown. But if you come t’morrow, you might find one willing to serve you.” The way he emphasized the word might, told Ava that the probability was slim.

“You didn’t happen to see anything strange in there, did you?” he asked, cocking his head toward the inn.

“I did not see anything, no. Though, I am pretty sure that the fool and his bard are pickpocketing his patrons somehow.”

The guard groaned loudly. “Well, everyone who frequents Snake Tongue Inn knows what they’re getting into. Guess it was too much to hope that Hestrin would do something besides petty thievery in town.”

What did that mean? Ava decided not to pry, this village’s business was its own and did not involve her. They walked in silent contemplation for a few paces before the guard started up again.

“There’s been a rumour coming from the docks that the bastard prince returned from a trip across the ocean with a funny-looking elf girl in tow. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it, would you?” he queried with a raised eyebrow.

Ava’s heart skipped at the sudden change in topic. She instinctively pulled her hood further down her face and mentally kicked herself at how suspicious the reaction made her look. “No, I do not know anything about that.”

“Uh-huh,” the guard replied unconvinced. “Well, here we are. Wait here a second and take care of Betsy.” He hopped off his horse and tossed her the reins, marching up the stairs and disappearing into the dimly lit building.

Ava dithered about whether she should take the opportunity to leave this confounded town behind in a trail of dust. But she had never ridden a horse before. She would probably do it wrong and get kicked off. Beast would probably scare the creature too, not to mention how she would manage to keep the animal fed.

Betsy nudged her on the shoulder and said, “I’m thirsty.”

She led the horse to the water trough and let her drink when the guard burst from the building again with a small sack in hand. He gave it to her and took the reins, securing Betsy to a post.

“What is this?” she asked warily.

“Ain’t nothing much, just sourdough bread, dry meats, and some cheese. It’ll get you through a day, maybe two if you ration. Nobody’s going to say that the people from Snake Town ain’t good folk. Plus, I don’t want you expiring before the prince has caught up with you.”

“I-I don’t know what you are talking about,” Ava blustered.

“Sure, sure.” He waved away her excuses. “I hear His Grace has a good head on his shoulders but has singular focus when it comes to getting what he wants. Folks reckon he’ll succeed the throne ‘stead of his brother. Never expected I’d be visited by royalty before in my lifetime, but then again, frogmen, ashwights, plagues – strange-looking elf girls. They’re all just rumours. You watch yourself out there in those woods.” He turned at the edge of the town and left her there.

Ava ambled into the woods checking the contents of the sack. It was, as he said, possibly two days’ worth of food, one if Beast was not successful with his hunt. As much as she was grateful for it she wondered if this was her life now, relying on the pity of others to survive.

She suppressed the helpless feeling that bubbled up. No, I will not allow this to break me. She saw too many in Spectermere fall into that hole and never dig themselves back out. They ended up as soulless objects to be used and abused by people like Crastius. I just need proper rest and a plan to move forward.

Ava lurched forward as something stung her, wincing at the sharp, burning pain it caused. She reached over her shoulder and pulled at the implement lodged in her back. A dart. Judging by the musty smell coming from the sharp point, it was laced with hemlock.

She hid quickly behind a tree and glanced out to see who shot her. Three men rushed to surround her and from what she could make out, their faces were unfamiliar. Her heart beat painfully in her chest and her hand gripped her satchel in blind panic. The Frost Spirit would not allow them to take it from her. Ava steadied herself with a hand on the tree’s trunk, fighting off the effects of the sedative. Her vision swirled. She needed to escape her pursuers before she lost consciousness.

She ran, dodging through trees as her vision blurred and darkened.

“Fern’s Breath, she’s fast!” she heard one say.

Then a second dart pierced into her shoulder.

Ava cursed and stumbled. Her legs were growing weak and numb. She abandoned her plan and jumped up onto the nearest branch. She moved up and up, to the next tree and then next.

She stopped when her legs and arms no longer had the strength to carry her weight anymore. She reclined along the branch she landed on, balancing her weight along it and hoped it would be enough to keep her from falling when she passed out.

The four men stopped at the base of the tree and looked up at her breathlessly.

“Gods! D’ya think we can climb it?” one asked.

Ava tried blinking the fog from her eyes, her hammering heart sending the sedative coursing through her body with each frantic beat. Each time it got harder and harder to keep herself alert.

“Go see if Hestrin has a ladder!” the other barked back at him. “And mind his brother!” On her final blink, she saw him signal the third to start climbing.