“Is anyone else wondering if it was the viscount who sent him?”

“God Diolla, I hope not… Tiaznia arrived only two months ago, we all know what he’ll do if he finds out she’s returned.”

“So we kick her out again. Easy.”

“Was it easy? Really? I don’t recall it being that way at all, Chief Balon.” It was Colleen who had snapped the last statement to the police chief of their town. Her arms were folded stubbornly as she glared at the man in the dim light of the town hall.

The town hall had had almost all its benches cleared to make way for the semi-monthly dances they would hold for the villagers that was going to take place in two days time, but they had pulled free four to seat themselves while discussing what they were to do about the strange newcomer who had entered Aniselle that morning.

Luke stood behind Colleen, his hands on his hips and his expression somber as he listened to the debate, he took a long breath in the momentary quiet, drawing the fifteen pairs of eyes present to him.

“He says he wants to get out of here to Scarlem as soon as possible. I say we ensure exactly that. Get him out on the first cart or carriage that comes through- or better yet, one of us will take him. We can’t give the viscount a reason to come here and torment us again.”

Colleen nodded firmly in agreement. “This newcomer isn’t rude or belligerent, but he is suspicious as can be, and you know how interested Tiaznia gets with strange newcomers. If she starts sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong there’s no telling what might happen. What if this Mr. Robin is here to report if she is back in town? Or what if she aggravates him and he sends a formal letter to the viscount. He seemed the bookish type who would complain.”

There were murmurs of agreement.

“I’m not as certain as you are that Tiaznia will get involved with him,” Mrs. Louise Orville interrupted suddenly. She was a thin, elderly woman, with her gray hair pulled back in a bun with wisps of hair framing her long, thin wrinkled face. She wore a bright pink lipstick and liner around her brown sparkling eyes. Once upon a time she had been the infamous beauty of Aniselle, and while she looked her seventy-eight years, there was still a youthful sprightliness to her movements.

“What do you mean Mrs. Orville?” Colleen asked, her thin brows furrowing.

“Tiaznia has not been acting the way she used to back when we knew her. She isn’t running about everywhere causing mischief and eavesdropping any chance she gets.”

“Well she was barely a woman when we last saw her,” Mr. Eugene Cremont pointed out gruffly from his spot on the end of one of the benches to the right. His bald head gleaming in the faint light.

“She’s still a peri, she’s probably just learned to hide her tomfoolery better,” Chief Balon grumbled, making his gigantic gut jiggle.

Mrs. Orville’s lips pursed, her beautiful eyes wandering around the room thoughtfully. “I don’t believe that to be the case. Tiaznia’s spirit seems a little broken to me.”

The room quieted at this piece of insight.

“Well if she doesn’t cause a ruckus, then that’s all the better,” Mr. Cremont declared while nodding to himself.

Luke looked down at Colleen, he didn’t look as convinced, but… he decided not to share his concerns any further.

“We best get home before the hellion woman starts suspecting we’re talking about her again,” Chief Balon grumbled while stifling a yawn, his double chin trembling as he did so.

“Right… oh, has anyone spoken to Theo yet? He’ll want to know… even if it turns out there was nothing to worry about,” Mr. Cremont asked while rising from his seat, his hands finding his hips.

The room grew uncomfortably quiet.

“We don’t need to tell him anything unless it’s absolutely necessary.” Mr. Oscar, Aniselle’s doctor, while always in attendance for any community or town meetings, rarely ever spoke up, however whenever he did, everyone was inclined to agree.

That time was no different.

The small group of townspeople all looked to one another and nodded in agreement.

There was no point rocking the boat anymore than was absolutely necessary…

After all, their most pressing concern was getting the strange man out of Aniselle as quickly as possible.

***

Alvery woke up after his first night in Aniselle with a splitting headache, and his mouth dry with the bitter sweet taste of alcohol lingering at the back of his teeth.

His blurred gaze moved to the night table at the side of the bed where his glasses had been discarded the night before.

Once he had restored his sight with his spectacles slipped up the bridge of his nose, he noted the stained wine glass and empty bottle on the stand. His heart jumped to his throat as he patted his breast pocket frantically, but was instantly calmed when he felt the small bobble resting right where it was supposed to be.

I shouldn’t have been so careless… What if something had happened last night? What if that damn Gestov family showed up?

Rubbing his face wearily, Alvery pushed his hands through his hair.

“I need to get the Kir out of here and back to Scarlem as soon as possible,” he mumbled while easing himself off the bed.

Striding over to the window, Alvery stared up at the cloudy sky and grimaced.

The feeling that things weren’t going to get any easier for him was settling heavier in his gut.

“I’m sticking to the plan, and doing everything right.”

Alvery tried to remind himself that he was doing all he could to ensure his freedom, but more than ever, it was beginning to feel futile…

His stomach rumbled loudly.

Looking down, Alvery grimaced when he observed his protruding gut.

He had never been overweight before, but the past year had stolen everything from him… including his health.

This is why I can’t give up yet. This is why I have to keep going. If I get caught again I’m as good as dead.

Alvery glared at his stomach, but was distracted by the wine droplets on his white button down.

“Of course.”

Turning to his briefcase that sat on the chair by the desk that had his books and papers strewn over its narrow surface, he stepped over and from the bottom of the bag pulled out a rumpled light gray button down that had charcoal and chalk dust sprinkled through its creases.

Removing his stained white shirt and replacing it with his grimy gray one, Alvery resolved to ask the innkeeper if there was a tailor in town he could buy a new shirt from… and perhaps a wash basin he might use for his other clothes.

Tucking in the shirt, Alvery pulled his suspenders back over his shoulders, then began rolling up his sleeves. Once he had that completed, he made sure to retrieve the bobble from his white shirt pocket, and store it once again in the pocket over his heart.

With the final step checked and completed, he left the room and descended down to the main floor, already thinking how after breakfast he would set out to locate the post office.

Upon reaching the tavern on the main floor, Alvery was surprised to see that the space was once again empty, though there were a few dirtied plates and cups that sat at the tables waiting to be cleared.

Must be later in the day than I realized. He looked around the room for a clock, but didn’t find one before he was interrupted.

“Ah, Mr. Robin! Good afternoon!” Colleen poked her head through a swinging doorway that was situated to the left of the wall behind the bar. “Would you care for some lunch?”

“That would be greatly appreciated if it isn’t an imposition,” Alvery informed her wild sidling closer to one of the bar stools.

“Not at all! I have lamb stew and a bit of brown bread, will that do?”

“Yes, thanks,” he bobbed his head.

Colleen smiled brightly at him before disappearing again.

It was perhaps only a few seconds later that a large crash could be heard within the kitchen.

Alvery began to rise from his seat, when he heard a very loud and colorful curse word, followed by a surprising bellow that had to have been from Colleen.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“LUKE! WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT STACKING THE POTS AND PANS SO HIGH!”

“IT WASN’T ME, IT WAS DEVON!”

Alvery sat back down. It sounded as though everything was fine more or less…

“Hi there.”

Alvery was nearly startled off his bar stool when he realized someone had come while he was distracted, and seated themselves directly beside him.

Clutching his chest, Alvery turned wide eyed to look at whoever had crept up on him.

He found himself staring into the very direct gaze of a young woman. She looked to be in her early twenties, but unlike other women her age, she did not dress herself up in lace and frills. No, she wore a cream button down shirt, a brown corset, wide legged linen pants, and her feet… were bare.

Alvery blinked at her honey colored eyes and chestnut hair that had streaks of auburn, and while taking stock of her face, he then he noticed the silver hoop earring.

A peri.

He resisted the urge to clutch his breast pocket to ensure his bobble was still where it ought to be.

“Hello? Are you alright? Apologies for frightening you.” She leaned an elbow on the bar and tilted her head, her startling honey colored eyes peering through him easily. “Where are you from? You walked into Aniselle from the crossroads right?”

Alvery felt his stomach lurch. How in Kir’s void did she know that?

“I live just outside the town over the hill, I saw you walking yesterday.”

It was as though she’d read his mind!

Alvery remembered hearing that the God the peris worshiped was believed to bestow divine gifts to his people… but that was just malarky like the other more widely accepted religions in his opinion. Even though right in that moment he wondered if mind reading was one of those gifts…

“My name’s Tiaznia, but most people call me Tia. Or peri girl. Or ‘the annoying one’. Or ‘the one that probably stole my wallet’. Or the ‘troublesome twit’. Or-”

“I get it,” Alvery interrupted her idle rambling that she performed while gazing around her surroundings in an almost bored manner.

“So?”

“So what?” Alvery asked, his tone starting to rise.

What was this woman after?!

Tia’s arm dropped away from her head as she stared at him with a laugh lurking around the corners of her mouth, her eyes dancing. “Where are you from? Everyone is suspicious of you. I haven’t seen them so worked up since I came back to Aniselle.”

Alvery felt his palms grow sweaty. “Is… Is it common for this town to become so suspicious of strangers just passing through, minding their own business?”

“Nope,” Tia replied bluntly while glancing at the swinging door that led back to the kitchen area. “I have to go now, but I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

She stood from the bar stool and looked around the room.

Even though all Alvery could see was her back, he sensed an air of melancholy around the strange peri woman…

“I’m leaving today or tomorrow. As soon as possible, so you won’t see me again. Best of luck to you,” he heard himself say while also glancing at the swinging door. It was easy to guess that Tia wasn’t welcome in the establishment.

Wait…

“Did you make that ruckus in the kitchen?” Alvery asked with sudden clarity.

Tia looked over her shoulder at him, and for a moment it looked as though she were fighting off a smile, but in the next breath she looked completely innocent.

“How would I have caused that? I’ve been out here with you the whole time. Goodbye, Mr. Robin! I’ll see you soon.” Tia was nearly skipping to the back door of the inn, and Alvery was just opening his mouth to ask how she knew the last name he was traveling with, when the kitchen door burst open again.

“Terribly sorry for the wait, Mr. Robin!” Colleen bustled out, her cheeks pink, and a wooden bowl filled with thickened stock and juicy chunks of lamb piping hot in her hands.

Alvery turned mesmerized toward the meal.

“Not a problem. Everything alright?” he heard himself asking as the innkeeper set the bowl down and then drew out a cloth napkin and utensils from her apron.

“Oh, yes, yes. My son gets distracted and forgets how to keep the kitchen proper. You know how young folk can be.” She waved her hand with a small laugh.

Alvery looked toward the back door that Tia had disappeared through moments ago.

Colleen followed his gaze, and her expression momentarily stiffened, though it was back to its usual friendly countenance by the time her guest looked back to her.

“I suppose I remember being similar in my youth,” Alvery picked up the cutlery, his eyes lowering to his bowl gratefully. Hopefully the food would ward off the unpleasant effects of a day long hangover.

“Oh? Do you have any little ones waiting for you in Scarlem?” Colleen asked with a warm smile.

The mouthwatering stew that Alvery had ladled onto his spoon froze on its way to his mouth.

He swallowed.

He knew he should lie and say yes. Obviously sharing more about himself would make people feel more at ease around him… but…

He had always been terrible at lying.

He just could never remember the details of the lie, or he would make up too many details and prattle on.

“No I…” he cleared his throat. “I don’t have any children.”

He risked a glance at Colleen who was listening earnestly.

“I see! Do you have a sweetheart then? Or are you already married?”

“Er… I…”

“Muuuum! I told Cyrus we were going to go fishing today! I can’t-” A young man with black hair, and bright green eyes that were identical to Colleen’s thrust his head through the kitchen door, and Alvery nearly let out a sigh of relief.

“Devon!” Colleen whirled around and stared at her son. “You’re in charge of the dinner dishes tonight, and that’s the end of it, and don’t go running to your father to try and change my mind.”

The young man finished stepping through the doorway revealing his great height. “But there were some fat bass in the river! Wouldn’t you like to save on the butcher’s bill this week? The summer patrons aren’t coming for another two weeks.”

“You learning to be considerate toward the other people you share your house with is more important to me right now. What if one of those pots had hit me in the head? What if I broke a bone or was bedridden? Then you’d be the one cooking, cleaning, and– Did you just roll your eyes at me?!”

Alvery began to eat as quickly as possible.

He didn’t care if it gave him heartburn.

He had the dreadful premonition that the shouting match was only just beginning as Devon’s expression grew defiant, and Colleen’s arms crossed over her chest.

Sure enough, by the time Alvery had scraped his bowl clean, Colleen was shouting for Devon’s father to join them in the argument, and Devon was threatening to leave to go fishing regardless of what either of them said, though Alvery noticed the young man’s feet hadn’t budged an inch.

He left the inn hurriedly, and made his way out of the narrow alley the inn’s entrance was located, and onto one of Aniselle’s main roads.

So far, his day was off to an unusual start, but at the very least the sun was wrestling its way through the clouds above and was touching its pale rays down throughout the town. A promising touch to the day ahead in Alvery’s mind, and so he turned left and set a brisk pace. Perhaps it was because of the tasty stew in his belly, or perhaps it was because he had finally gotten to sleep in a real bed again, but Alvery’s hopefulness was rekindling once more without much of a struggle.

He permitted himself to release a small half smile.

Now to find my next ride out of here…