They arrived at the outskirts of Eldebourg about midday. The castle of the same name loomed over the city like a bad omen. Its windows dark and no flags or banners proclaiming the identity of the ruler. The city was no better. The houses stood tightly together like a flock of sheep seeking shelter amongst themselves. The walls empty without any sentries.

Only a handful of people were about, doing their business or errants. Some with their heads bowed down and some with content smiles on their faces, which almost made them look like they were in the throes of some manic fit. Still, it was surprising how healthy and well-fed they looked.

“Everyone looks off”, remarked Imila, as they were past the first farm buildings. “Especially those smiling ones.”

“That’s what black magic does to people”, Veduca replied somber. “It may not directly touch their bodies, but it eats up their souls. Often in vastly different ways despite being the same spell.”

“You sound like you’ve got some experiences”, the innkeeper said and looked at her distrustful.

“With the Divine Lord and his henchmen around, is it any wonder?”, she asked jokingly.

“True”, Imila remarked, but Veduca felt that she didn’t really buy her excuse. “Come to think of it, why are you and your giant mute of a bodyguard out for the Divine Lord’s blood?”

“Revenge”, she answered hesitant.

“What kind of revenge?”, the innkeeper urged. “I told you how that bastard took all I deemed worth living for. What did he do to you?”

“He… uhm…”, she began, but trailed off.

Helpless, she turned to Lodwin, who didn’t look like he wanted to even think about what had happened to him and his comrades. It wasn’t her place to disclose any of it to that woman, but she felt like Imila wouldn’t accept her staying silent.

“The Divine Lord killed people close to Lodwin”, she finally said.

“This explains his reason, but what’s yours”, the innkeeper asked and frowned at her. “Your dress looks ridiculously expensive, but you’re no noblewoman. Judging by the way you move and talk, you seem more like a tavern wench to me. And if the mute giant is your bodyguard, then why do you bother with his quest for revenge? Or is he your owner and you his prised possession?”

“What?! Why are you thinking so bad of us?”, she asked, shocked and miserable.

At the same time, she placed her hand on Lodwin’s right, as she had seen him twitch with it towards his sword. The way his jaw tensed, she could almost hear his teeth grind on each other. Imila didn’t know how thin the ice was she was dancing on, so foolhardy.

“I don’t know what you were thinking, why I joined you two”, the woman continued, with clear distaste in her voice and on her face. “I only needed someone to travel with to protect me against bandits. Luckily, we didn’t meet any. Anyway, since we’re so close to Castle Eldebourg, we separate. Farewell.”

Without waiting for another response, Imila left them and entered the city.

“I can’t believe it!”, Veduca said, exasperated after her shock had mellowed down. “What did we ever do to her?”

Don’t know, Lodwin replied. Don’t think too much about it.

“I guess I should just let it slide”, she said, downtrodden.

Let’s move into the city and head to the castle, he signed.

“Don’t think this is the right way to go about this”, she replied, thoughtful. “There are no guards or sentries round here, Lod. I don’t think the Divine Lord or one of his henchmen would make it so easy for us to enter.”

Perhaps he doesn’t know that I’m coming for him, he replied with a few precise gestures.

“Then why is he here?”

Coincidence.

“Really? I doubt that it’s a coincidence.”

What else could it be?

“You killed a few of his henchmen. Perhaps he felt or saw who did it?”

At this, Lodwin frowned and seemed to consider her words.

“Please, you also need to rest up a bit”, she continued with a gentle smile. “After all, we walked quite a bit.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Fine, he finally signed and took a deep breath.

“Thank you, Lod”, she replied, and walked with him into the city.

Even close up, Eldebourg felt more like a cemetery than a city of its size should feel like. What also struck Veduca as odd was the surprisingly huge amount of young children, who looked equally healthy and well feed. But unlike a huge part of the adults, they didn’t laugh or play with each other, as they only kept to their parents. But there were also even more people with expressions of empty happiness, who walked amongst the downtrodden like malignant spectres despite their content expression. Veduca couldn’t believe what she saw was real.

“Hey!”, shouted someone behind them.

Lodwin and Veduca turned around in unison. Behind them stood two women, both blond, but one with her hair braided and the other wearing it loose. They clearly belonged to the group of content, beguiled looking inhabitants.

“Are you two new here?”, the one with braided hair asked as if she was dreaming while hiding a knife somewhere, ready to use at a second's notice.

“Are you two seeking eternal health?”, the other asked, equally disturbing in her demeanour and tone.

“We’re just traveling through here”, Veduca replied with a tense smile.

“Why?”, asked the first one, visibly upset at the notion of leaving the town at all.

“Because we want to visit all the major towns of the kingdom”, she replied hasty, while trying to assess both women’s intentions. “And learn about the gifts the Divine Lord has made to them.”

“Is that so?”, the one with the loose hair, asked, somewhat malicious.

“There’s no need to leave Eldebourg once you’re here a few days”, the other said in an insistent tone. “Besides, all the other major cities harbour the same gift as ours!”

“That’s after all the greatest gift of all!”, the other chimed in. “He has gifted all of us the same gift, so everyone can enjoy their life without worrying about sickness or hunger!”

“I’m not so sure about that”, remarked Veduca, reluctant. “Can outsiders such as us hope to even be worth if a glimmer of his generosity?”

“You will feel better within hours!”, said the one with the braided hair, enthusiastic. “There’s no need to leave this haven and cross the miserable countryside to be hit with sickness once more before you arrive at another save haven!”

They started to laugh and left Veduca and Lodwin without another word. Lodwin, who looked as confused as Veduca felt, moved her along towards an inn. While the decor still spoke of merriment and better times, the people sitting in it looked downtrodden and at the end of their wit. Luckily, there was no sign of inhabitants like those two women. Still, some lifted their head from their meals and looked at them with tense apprehension. Veduca didn’t felt welcome.

“Welcome to the Merry Boar”, a young man greeted them. “May I offer you a table at the side?”

“Y-yes, thank you”, she replied uncertain and followed him with Lodwin to a nice table beside a window to the street in front of the large inn.

“I recommend the trout meunière or our very own specialty perpetual stew”, the man said dispassionately. “Naturally, we also have different dishes to offer if you like. We also have some fine wines. White or red, sweet or dry, have your pick.”

“Do you want the trout?”, she asked Lodwin, who declined with a short gesture. “One stew for my companion and one trout for me. I take a sweet white wine, my companion a dry red one. And some water for both of us.”

“Understood, do you need anything else, Milady?”

“Uhm… are there any rooms free?”

“Plenty, Milady”, the young man said. “One bed, two?”

“A cheap one”, she replied with an embarrassed smile.

“I’ll see what I can manage. Anything else?”

“No, not at the moment, thank you.”

With that, he nodded and headed to the kitchen.

Veduca and Lodwin sat for some time in utter silence. The only sounds present were the clicking of cutlery and the very subdued sporadic conversations, which usually lasted only a few seconds and were nothing more than a few murmurs. While the streets had appeared strange yet still echoed a normal life, the inn seemed darker than a funeral.

“I do wonder what kind of advantage it brings to keep the people utterly healthy but killing some regularly”, mused Veduca quiet. “Harvesting souls doesn’t seem to be the main goal, if it even is one.”

Lodwin shrugged and looked out of the narrow window. The street was the main one of the city and opened up to a huge marketplace on which people sold many different goods, from fabrics over food to even a few crafters selling their handiwork.

After a few more minutes, the young man who had taken their order reappeared with a large serving tray on his shoulder. With eloquent ease, he manoeuvred the heavy plate with the food on it towards their table and spread everything on it in between Lodwin and Veduca. Lastly, he handed her a small ornate key.

“The room for you and your companion is number twelve, Milady”, he said monotone. “Supper is at seven in the evening, breakfast at seven in the morning and lunch between twelve and two in the afternoon. Please enjoy your stay and your meal.”

“Thank you”, she replied with a warm smile, as the trout in front of her looked way better than she had anticipated.

Suddenly, a strange emotion flickered over the man’s face. A mix between caution and reluctance, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know if he should or shouldn’t.

“Is something the matter?”, she asked friendly, while Lodwin was already eating the stew with a wooden spoon and the cut bread that the waiter had brought along in a large casket.

“I… I’m sorry, Milady”, he said and bowed slightly. “I shall not keep you any further from your lunch.”

“What if I ask you about what goes on in your mind?”, she asked sweetly. “Maybe it’s important to me and my companion. My name is Veduca, by the way.”

“My name’s Liano”, he replied, while his cheeks became tinted by a rosy shimmer. “Nice to meet you, Milady. As for your request… It surly isn’t my place to tell you this, Milady. But you and your companion should pay for the food and leave Eldebourg once you’ve eaten. I don’t know what you heard, but perfect health isn’t worth the dangers of being taken random at night and killed.”

“Killed you say?”

“I’ve spoken too much already. Forgive me, Milady, but I’ve to leave your side as I need to attend the other guests.”

“That’s quite alright, Liano”, she replied. “But my companion and I will stay.”

At this, Liano frowned at her and left a moment later as the chime above the entrance sounded.

Veduca looked after him forlorn. But the moment she turned to Lodwin, she immediately noted his displeased expression.

“I didn’t use my abilities”, she hastily said. “If I had, he would’ve been more forthcoming. I also distinctly remember telling you that I don’t like using those kinds of spells either.”

At this, his expression softened, and he continued to eat. Veduca felt teased, sighed and took her knife to the fish.