The Isekai of Alexandra Bloodthorn Willows Daughter

Book 2 – The County of Nordhutten

1. Markruben

The town of Markruben is a quiet little town, at least at the moment. As the market town for all the surrounding villages, it gets very busy every 40 days. But at other times it was quiet, and you could recognize its importance just by the Inn, which was way bigger than you would expect in such a small town, and the huge area of staples that were right at the town gate inside its walls. Those walls were in good condition, but not very impressive. Here, in between Nordhutten to the west and the Deadfields in the east, which sucked a lot of free Mana into its ground, was simply no need for better defenses.

The Deadfields were a big reason for the success of the Dukedom of Nordrand. While they were a huge part of just useless land, with their effect, they created an even bigger stretch of land with low, but not too low, Manadensety. A lot of land for farming, even with the colder temperatures of the north, brought in all those things you needed in mass and was cheaper than elsewhere, where you had to protect the farmers and their crops all the time.

So, it was no wonder that the Dukedom was the breadbasket of its Kingdom.

Markruben was one of the towns on this stretch of land. The wealth of its status as marked town is clearly to see in the cobbled streets, the residents of its Baron, a small Temple and its big Inn. Furthermore, you had a smith, and other craftsman, a general store, for all needs between the marked days, and a huge Windmill, that was seen easy from afar. In addition to that, there were just a few more houses inside the wall. Mostly Farmers, that had their fields in direct vicinity of the town. All in all, a quiet little town, sitting on the street to Nordhutten, with a diameter of less than 500 paces. The fairground on the other side of the street, easy to make out from getting trampled on each marked day, was nearly double its size.

It was late spring, and the last marked day had been 5 days ago. After a nice, clear day, the wind blew a comfortable, cool breeze from the north, and you could see and hear the citizens going after their normal evening business. From the east, the silhouette of a lone traveler on the road came into sight. The two men in chain mail at the gate noticed it, but were much too occupied with their own discussion to give it more than a glance.

They were bored and waiting for the evening's change of guard, so they could get back to their barracks or, for a beer, to the Ox and Beet, the Inn. It was a boring job, but better than the stress of a marked day. That traveler would be the first person, not living here, they would have seen all day.

As the person was perhaps 200 paces away, Orm said to Gerath, his fellow armsman:

Hey, look there, Gerath. That’s not one of the villagers.

A sword and the clothes look much better than what those farmers would wear if it weren't Temple Day.

By now, they could see the person quite clearly. He was wearing brown clothes with a hint of green, some kind of overcoat with a hood, and a sword at his belt. As he walked, the person pulled something shiny from under the coat and let it hang above it.

Oh! Just a Senti!

Said Gerath.

Has probably just visited some folks here. At least I have not heard about any Quests that were given to the Association from around here. As that would ever happen in this boring Barony.

Don't let the Captain or the Baron hear you! They find you just more work.

Orm answered laughing.

And I'd rather be bored, than stand watch where some stupid Beast thinks I make a good next meal. I take a marked day of stress before that.

By now, the traveler was a lot closer, and it was clear that he intended to come into town. Gerath, the younger of the two, had better sight and saw it first.

Oh, look it´s a lass. And just a Copper-Senti. That one was clearly not on a Quest.

And those cloths don´t look cheap, do you know of some of the wealthy farmers who have a daughter with the Association? Or perhaps one of the Knights? They like to send their young ones to the Association to get some experience.

Of course, there are plenty.

Answered Orm. He shut Gerath up with a hand signal. The women came close enough to hear them, and there was no point in angering someone who might have a powerful family behind her by gossiping right in front of her.

The woman showed them her badge, and he winked her straight through. Even as he couldn't make out her face under the hood clearly, that mantle was clearly silk, so the only problems she would make were problems for him if he angered her.

And her badge had the Tree of Life on it. Only idiots angered a healer.

After she was far enough away again, Gerath spoke again.

I can't be sure with the hood, but I don't think I ever saw her at the marked in the last few years. Those lips and this pale white skin, I would remember. We should really go to the Inn later to see her without the hood.

Orm looked at his comrade.

Don't do anything stupid! That gal has clearly a wealthy background; have you seen, she wore silk, and the carvings of her Sword hilt and sheath were masterful. I don't think she is from around here. She had a healer badge, as you had seen, if you weren't more interested in the lips and her figure. Perhaps someone from around here needed her service or something like that.

Gerath just laughed and said,

Hey, I didn't say anything about her figure. So you noticed it too.

So, do we go to the Inn later?

Ok. But don't embarrass us.

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The Ox and Beet Inn was big, as already mentioned, and most of its ground floor was its taproom. A big, singular room with a small stage, a long bar, a big fireplace and lots of tables and chairs. Heavy old wooden beams held up a high ceiling and a stairway leading to the upper floors with the rooms.

At the moment, it was nearly empty. Just three patrons playing cards at the table, and the innkeeper leaning at one of the beams near them, taking part in their conversation. The three patrons were the Castelan of the Baron and, more or less, the mayor of the town. The Miller, who had not that much to do in the spring; and the Priestess of Nareida, the Goddess of the Harvest and Hearth. They played a round of Sword, Shield and Stave, while gossiping about town and region. Others would come to the Inn soon too, as the Innkeeper lowered his prices between marked days, but the big taproom always looked empty on those slow days.

As the door opened, they looked, just to see who was in early today, but to their surprise, it was none of the locals that stepped through the door.

A slim figure in a brown mantle with elaborate green embroidery and a hood stepped in and looked around. It was clearly a young woman, with a sword at her side and an Association badge around her neck. At least the Castelan and the Priestess, more knowledgeable about things outside their peaceful region, registered that the copper badge had a bronze rim, which was not seen frequently, as most Sentinels just go from copper to bronze. That alone aroused some curiosity.

The Innkeeper walked to the woman, spoke with her a moment, then called in the kitchen after one of his daughters. The three card players, who had forgotten their game by now, could just hear him saying that she should bring the new guest to the best room and make everything ready for a bath.

As the two young women left, the Innkeeper weighted some coins the woman must have given him. Then, after he disappeared in the kitchen for a moment, he came back to the players, who were mighty curious by now.

Who is she?

Asked Helga the priestess as soon as he was near them.

Don't know. She just introduced herself as Alexandra. She didn't mention any title, or so. She wanted my best room, a bath, food, and food and drink later. Didn't tarry a little bit as I told her the price.

Hamish said and showed them the coins in his hand.

Has anybody of you ever seen coins like that? The weight is right.

Interested, all three patrons looked at the two silver coins in his hand. Different coins were not unusual; everyone could mint them if the weight was right, and every awakened person with at least a little experience would notice a wrong alloy easily by touch. But those coins were clearly professionally minted, had a square hole in the middle, and had strange characters on them.

Perhaps from that Empire way down south.

The Castelan said.

I heard once from a trader of the Tung Clan who visited the Baron, that they still use an old tongue, and absolutely refuse to just speak Common.

Well, perhaps you are right. This lass at least speaks Common.

Hamish said.

Helga pointed at the coins and asked:

You told her your Marked Day prices; why?

Well, first, she is not from here, and secondly, have you seen her clothes? That was all silk; she can afford it.

Kara led the new guest up the stairs and did her best to keep her nosiness in check. Who was this woman? And what got her here in one of the most boring baronies in the County? She would really like to try to brush against her, but she knew that it was likely that the woman would feel that she tried to glimpse something from her Aura.

Kara had gotten her Class just this winter, and she was too far away to do anything with it without being able to touch her. This woman was a Sentinel, even if just a Copper one. She would have the knowledge to catch on to an attempt from her.

She opened the door to one of the two big rooms, which had even their own bath, and said,

This is our best room. I will prepare the bath, please ask if you have questions. How can I address you?

The women walked to the windows, which looked out on the town square. On the way, she let down her hood for the first time, and Kara was surprised because she had green hair that was very shiny and was bound together in a simple plaid. Did she dye it? Kara had heard that some people did that with alchemical dyes. But they were expensive.

My name is Alexandra, but you can just say Alex!

Her voice had an uncommon tone to it; she didn't know what it was. It was almost like there was a slight echo. Kara suddenly realized that she was staring at the woman, who, luckily, looked out of the window and took her backpack from her back. She could see now that her mantle had a big representation of the Tree of Life embroiled on its back. She made her way to the little bathroom in this room.

She opened the faucet, which was connected to the tank on the roof, and took one of the Heatstones from a small closet and put it in the wooden tub.

While waiting for the tub to fill up, she activated the stone, and held her hand in the water to know when the temperature would be good. After a short while, she heard the woman walk up behind her.

It will just take a short time to get hot enough. My father bought good Heatstones.

She said that and turned around a bit so she could see her. And she nearly lost her balance because she was startled. The woman was right behind her, leaning her sword against the wall next to the tub, and was completely naked. While Kara stared with her cheeks getting red, she just smiled and stepped gracefully into the tub. Kara first noticed how long her legs were, and as she shamefully tried to concentrate on the woman's face, she saw her eyes for the first time.

Don´t worry, I´m just happy it is not a cold river for once!

Said the woman and slipped into the water, but Kara didn´t register her words.

Those eyes were so green, not like normal green eyes. She thought about jewels if she looked into them, and they were so big, there was nearly no white in them.

I think you should stop the water, or we have a problem.

Kara got pulled out of her staring by her words. Shit, the tub was nearly full. She closed the faucet quickly.

Sorry! Sorry! I was just, I mean, I

She stammered and tried to find her bearings.

Don´t worry nothing happened.

It's the eyes, am I right? Don't worry, they are perfectly normal, for me, I mean.

The woman untied the band of braided grass, that had held her hair together, and then curved her body back until her hair was in the water completely. The woman started to untangle her hair with long fingers, and Kara stood up fast, blushing. She turned around to get to a closet and to not stare anymore, as the women's breasts were trust high out of the water because of her position.

Do you have something for washing my hair? I fear my soap gone out.

Yes of course!

Luckily, that was in the closet she was pretending to look through, so she took a small pot out of it, and tried to give it to her.

Would you be so nice and help me wash my hair, and perhaps braid it afterward? I have some really exhausting weeks behind me, and it would help me so much to relax.

Kara thought about it, and her noisiness won over her bashfulness about the woman's lack of regard for her nakedness.

I can do that, but I must give my father notice, so he knows why I don´t come back to help in the kitchen.

Ok! I will simply enjoy the water until you come back.

Kara got out fast, closing the door behind her, and hurried down the stairs.

Kara came back downstairs and walked fast to her father who was still talking with the patrons.

Is everything okay? Is she satisfied with the room?

He asked her.

Yes, at least I think so.

It's just that she asked me if I could help her wash and braid her hair. Is it okay if I do? I know my mother needs help in the kitchen, but I said I would ask.

Her father looked at her and answered:

If you have no problem with it. I´m sure your mother will get it done and your sister is still there to help. Are you good? You seem nervous.

It's just her eyes; they are so different. Like nothing that I have ever seen. Her iris is huge and of a green which I have never seen before.

At these words the older Priestess looked at her with keen interest and asked:

Huge? With nearly no white to see? I didn't look close enough, as she was here; do her arms and legs seem to be longer than you would expect?

Kara nodded, and Helga just looked absolutely bewildered.

What is it? Just say it, I would like to know before I send my daughter back to her!

Hamish asked brashly.

I'm not sure; I read the description a long time ago, and they were described as larger.

Description of whom? Come on, what is she?

Hamish, if I'm not wrong, then we have a real Elf here in your Inn!

After that, all present looked at the old Priestess with big eyes and open mouths.