Hroth,

I hope this letter finds you breathing. I’ve sent a few over the last months, but from your responses I don’t think all of them are making it. That’s OK though. You warned me that you’d be gone a long time, and I really am prepared for that. I just felt like I needed to vent a bit, you know? I know you understand. Even if you never see this letter, just writing it helped.

Something happened the other day. Nothing major, just a little scrape with a few noble kids who were out on the town. One of them got into it with one of our guests and tried to really hurt him. He was handling it, but things got out of hand so I jumped in. I wasn’t even thinking and it barely crossed that I should stay out of it in my condition. My mind didn’t kick in until after I started moving. And you know what? I moved. I really moved. You should have seen me! I block a rapier strike with my bare hands and shoved around the duelist, and managed to keep it nonlethal too. I haven’t moved like that since that monster got me. It’s a far cry from when I first got these wounds, and even getting up the stairs left me shaking.

When I took this job I was worried that it was the end for me as an adventurer. I remember you telling me I had to just relax and take it easy, and let myself recover from the Forge Pass incident. I didn’t believe you. I know I nodded and tried to smile, but we both know you saw right through me. I thought I was accepting my retirement. I thought I was crippled forever, and that venom had undone everything for me.

I admit it. You were right. The healers were right. I was wrong. It’s been a few months, and for the first time I feel like I’m actually making progress. I’m not as fast as I was, and I don’t think I could have sustained it long, but I didn’t just give out when I tried to move. You remember when I first started walking again, and my legs gave out that one day just walking down the stairs? That really did shatter me. But this? It gave me hope. I feel like I can really do this. I feel like I can recover and get back out there. I feel like maybe this isn’t the end. Maybe that’s what you were trying to get me to understand. Or maybe I’m just reading into things that aren’t there.

The customer I was helping was a kid named Cedric. A bit older than some of the fresh faced idiots who stumble in talking big, but still just a kid, really. He’s a cleric of The Smith, and he seems like he’s got a good head on his shoulders. When he first walked in, I actually stumbled and forgot the greeting you taught me. Embarrassing, I know. The fight actually started because he was trying to calm down the nobles. I think he actually thought I was in danger and that he was trying to protect me. Really reminded me of why I started adventuring in the first place, when I saw him skip off to join the adventurer’s guild today. People like him need to be protected until they can stand on their own. Plus when push came to shove, he punched that arrogant bastard so hard he doubled over. I think you’d like him. At the very least, you’d find him entertaining.

I’ve been watching the place for you. Aldith is doing well, and I think she’s finally starting to ease up a little. She seems less serious these days. I think I almost saw her smile the other day. Almost. I’m not as good at this as you are, and I can’t connect to people as easily as you, but I’m trying.

I hope you’re doing well wherever you are. I’m keeping the place clean, and the fireplace lit for when you return.

Watch your back,

-Olric

_____

Olric,

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

I don’t have much time so I’ll keep it brief. This quest has gotten a lot darker and murkier than when I began, but I always had a feeling it would. I’ve gotten a few of your letters, but probably missed more, and I am sorry about that my friend. Just know that even if I’m not watching out for you, the Gods are.

This one seemed important though, so I wanted to send a response. It sounds like you did well. And I’m glad you’re finally starting to see what I see. You got hit hard at Forge Pass. Nobody’s disputing that. But don’t for a second forget who you are. You got hit hard, but you’re strong enough to get back up. The people you took that hit for wouldn’t have.

You’re strong and you survived. Strong people sometimes have to weather a blow that would have killed someone weaker. It comes with the territory. When they first dragged you back here, barely breathing with venom blasting you apart inside, I know how you felt. You felt like it wasn’t worth it. And that’s fine. You thought you’d lost everything you’d worked hard for, for a bunch of villagers you wouldn’t meet. I know you probably felt ashamed at thinking that; that’s OK too. Even the most righteous falter sometimes. And what matters is what you did, not that pang of regret you felt afterwards. People lived because of you.

But now you’re starting to see. You’re recovering, and you’re realizing all you lost was a few months. When I offered you the job of watching over the inn while I was gone, it wasn’t charity. I know you thought I was pitying you, but that wasn’t it. It never was. I wanted you to have a few months to be comfortable and recover. You earned it. What did you really lose? A few months of drinking good ale and eating good food instead of camping out on some mountain, fighting beasts and bandits with wet socks? Cry me a river. But what did you gain? The people with you at Forge Pass survived because of you. The villages that would have been killed by that horde survived because of you. They gave you the moniker Olric Steelskin. That’s a hero’s name if ever I heard one. One that’s fit to go down in legends and song. I’ll sing them myself if I have to.

You will recover. You will get back out there. You have to put in the work boy, and that’s what you’re doing now.

You’re strong, and you used that strength well. The Gods will reward you. And if they don’t, than people will.

I wish I could say this letter was just to reassure you, but there’s something more I need to add to your burdens. Raymond was injured. Not heavily, but enough to slow us down. We can’t afford that right now. Our quest has taken us to a barren plain, and most of it’s become open combat. Rogues like him aren’t suited to this. I need him fresh for when his skills are needed once more.

I’m rotating him out, and I’m sending him back to Almscliffe. I know you and him don’t get on, but remember, he is a member of my party, and he is an experienced adventurer. I expect him to be treated with the respect he’s due. He’s done a lot of good, even if he is a conniving little shit. Try not to beat him to death the second he gets on your nerves.

On the same note, he’s not injured nearly as badly as he’ll pretend. He’s a slacker to his core. Give him a week or two, then put him to work at the inn. I don’t care doing what, I just want him to work. If he refuses, THEN you can brawl with him to your heart’s content. Try not to enjoy it too much, and try to leave him at least a few unbroken bones.

I know you two don’t see eye to eye, but if you choose to, you can confide in him. He’s closer to your age than I am, and he’s been an adventurer a long time. He knows what you’re going through.

I like the sound of this Cedric lad. Try to keep him alive long enough for me to meet him.

Hit hard,

-Hroth

______

Olric held the parchment in his hands. It was yellowed, muddy and it looked like the envelope was lightly singed by some sort of fire. But it was here, and to him, it was worth a mountain of gold, and a valley of silver on top of that.

He couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he read the letter. He’d never doubted Hroth was still alive, but as his letters became more inconsistent, a nagging fear had started to worm it’s way into Olric’s mind. He felt that fear recede. His friend was alive.

He frowned as he read the last part. It wasn’t enough to ruin his good mood, but the news that Raymond, and that insufferable smirk he always wore, was about to become a fixture of his daily life did sour his mood slightly.

He pushed the thought aside, and let the grin take over his face once more. Good news is good news. Just enjoy it.

He hummed happily to himself as he wiped down the bar. Today was a good day.