When hearing or even thinking of a tropical village, the images that come to mind are of something beautiful. Bright, sandy, outdoorsy, with palm trees and color. People always prepared to be on the water, fish, the smell of salt lingering in the air… But this town, upon approaching, was… Nothing like that.

The walls at its entrance made themselves no secret. They stood tall and broad, stoic with its treated wood planks. They were discolored with wear, but that made them no less unyielding.

It was quite a walk inland, atop a short slope that had been lined with rocks, torches, and a man-made ditch on either side. Around the bottoms of the wall were rows upon rows of heavy sacks, which, at first glance, seemed to be a method of keeping the wall upright.

The gates, unlike the wall itself, were dark iron. They were rusted, and the bars allowed them to see in, to what lay beyond the great wall, including the heavy doors that sat ajar just on the inside of them. Shielded bulbs of light were hung from the wall, feet above Carver, and even Alice’s Father’s height. Passing under them, Yale noted the fact that they were surprisingly well kept, even despite the fact that the outsides were frosted with long-dried droplets of water, and caked with sea-salt.

Alice’s father pushed the gates open with ease, allowing his daughter as well as the strangers to enter before he closed it again, signalled by a long creak as it was pushed to.

On the other side was a methodically built town. Each home, with sealed off walls of brick, were built up on thick foundations of stone and wood. There were only a few, but they were all quite large, some even with numerous entry points.

Quickly thrown together kiosk-like structures were empty, scattered at random throughout the focal point of the town which every building had been built to face. There was nothing of note that seemed to make it so, but there were a few large tables with attached chairs and benches, and spots that had been dug out for often used fire pits, judging by the amount of ash both in and around them as well as the stacks of lumber within close proximity of each.

It was homey. It was small enough there was no doubt it was a kind of place where everyone would have known everyone, but something was off about it, and Yale seemed to have taken notice as they passed through. Narrowed gray eyes glanced at the few kiosks within range as they passed. Nothing resembling currency on them, at least not the typically accepted dimes used throughout the majority of Arantis, but for many, it seemed whatever goods they were trading were still left right in the open.

Either a sign of trust to leave their wares unattended, or something else- and Yale was leaning toward the latter, given the fact that the four of them seemed to be the only life currently moving through the village.

Yale may have been on edge, but Carver hadn’t taken notice of the odd air over the village. He traipsed through with ease, hands slipped in his still damp pockets as he admired not the surroundings, but the young woman who had shot steps ahead of their trio upon entering this place to begin with. She made her way to a larger building, skipping every other step to get to the front door which she left wide open as she dashed inside and carelessly cast aside the hatchet she’d been wielding.

Though a sigh left Alice’s father, he said nothing, only stepped to the doors and made a motion for the boys to follow inside while he held it much like he had the gates.

Upon entering they were met with yet another young woman, who earned Carver’s ever fleeting attention with ease. She didn’t seem to notice though, her eyes toward the man that had let the door fall closed again.

“Vald!” She said through a breath of relief, hands clasping as she skidded to a quick halt in front of him. “Are you alright? Was she there?”

“No,” a calming hand gestured outward, settling on her shoulder. “She wasn’t there. I’m fine, Alice and I are fine.”

Though she seemed to hesitate on that answer, the young woman gave a cautious nod. Only then did she let her attention fall away from Vald.

“Ines,” he nudged the shoulder he’d used to comfort her. “Would you mind getting these boys something else to wear? They’re both soaked, and the salt’s going to feel awful when it dries if we don’t get their clothes clean.”

Concern was still more than clear on her light-touched face, yet Ines questioned nothing more. She swallowed back her worries, easing herself by brushing a few strands of her chestnut hair behind her ear, then turned to go do as requested.

“Come with me,” Vald motioned with two fingers for the pair to follow once again.

The entryway to the home was a short rectangular hall. The walls inside differed vastly from the more practical outer ones. These seemed to opt for a little aesthetic, coated with white, floral paper and intricately carved trim. Little bits and baubles lay strewn about a few tables placed with the intent to decorate, between three archways. The one farthest from them was where they were headed, but passing by, on the left, a dining room could be seen, and on the right, another hallway, and a staircase.

The room they entered had a long window spanning across the outer wall. In the center of it were a pair of glass double doors, on the either side of which were tied back pale orange curtains much like what was withheld across the other panes.

While there was a fireplace, Yale would bet that it had never been used. But the three long couches that bordered the wall opposite it definitely appeared the opposite. Pillows, books, blankets and the like were strewn about, giving it a surprisingly cozy feel- or perhaps that was just stemming from the fact that neither Carver nor Yale had really been welcomed into a house in quite some time. And there was never any argument that life on the sea was far different.

Vald plopped on the center of one of the couches, looking up toward the boys as he let out a heavy sigh. “Not to be rude,” he started, glancing down the cushions, then back at them. “But if you wouldn’t mind, would you stand until you change your clothes?” The living area had seen more than enough salt water for numerous reasons. “Alice is already determined to ruin these couches with dirt, don’t need to go adding another thing to scrub up…” He trailed off, offering a smile of thanks to the two who nodded to accept the request made.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

He bent forward as he more closely examined them. His elbows rested on his knees, and he said “I think I forgot to really introduce myself; my name is Valdmar, but you can call me Vald. My daughter, Alice,” he made a motion off toward the archway, “I’m sure she also didn’t introduce herself.”

“No,” Yale shook his head. “She only came asking about ‘The Hag’?”

“Right…” Vald nodded. “I’m guessing that’s why you boys washed up here, isn’t it? We heard the commotion, didn’t think there was actually a ship out there. Just figured that Ross was having a fit again.”

“Ross,” Yale stated despite the fact that his reiteration of the name was a question.

Vald nodded. “The hag, as Alice calls her.” With that, he took in a deep breath of preparation, pulling back to straighten up so he could continue. “Ross is… Well I dunno ‘bout any specifics, but what we do know is that she’s pretty unpleasant. She lives in the ocean down there. No one is allowed to come and go or they’ll get the same treatment your ship did.” Through the glass doors, Vald was able to look out toward the exact ocean he spoke of.

“Soooo she does this a lot?” Carver gathered, earning a somewhat incredulous look from Yale as it had seemed more than obvious with Alice’s initial familiarity. Speaking of, he leaned back just a bit to glance in the direction she had supposedly gone off in. Curious, the way she so angrily opted out of speaking to them even with her greeting on the beach.

“Yes,” Vald confirmed. “Been a real problem for us all, but we can’t do anything about it, not anymore.” His shoulders slumped, voice lowering as he glanced off toward the windows once again. His brooding was cut short by the shuffling of footsteps into the room again.

The woman that had greeted them at the entrance had returned with folded outfits in either hand. She had to study for just a moment, but confirmed which belonged to which and held them out.

“I had to get you some of Vald’s clothes,” she nodded back toward the man while her eyes remained on Carver. “I don’t think you would have fit in any of Reiner’s.”

That left Vald to give a slight laugh, shaking his head as he anchored his hands on his knees to help him push to his feet. With a slight grunt, he stretched himself, then nodded to Ines. “Will you show them a place to change? Do we have any open bedrooms left ‘round here?”

She handed off the second pair of clothing to Yale as she thought for a moment. “Yes, I think so. If not with us, I know there’s rooms somewhere to put them up in.”

“Good,” Vald said through a breath. “Don’t think I’ve got it in me to start carrying stones up here again.”

Though Yale clearly had questions in mind, he kept quiet as Ines motioned for the two of them to follow.

“It isn’t much,” Vald said as he trailed behind the three of them. “We don’t have a whole lot to spare, but we aren’t going to leave anyone to fend for themselves around here. Hopefully it’s enough.”

With his eyes on their surroundings, noting the path they were taking to their new lodging, Yale shook his head. “It’s already more than we’re used to. Ships aren’t the most homey.” Especially not with the company he and Carver held. Their crew wasn’t the most pleasant, after all, the exact opposite actually. It was kind of funny in the darkest of ways that, in one fell swoop, one beast had managed to take down a crew that, for years, numerous countries had been hunting.

“I’ll take the smell’ve this place over the ship any day,” Carver said back to them, one hand on his hip as he took in a breath. “And if you’ve got running water? Home sweet home.”

“Didn’t really peg you for the showering type,” Yale commented more to himself than Carver, though it seemed to grab his attention regardless as he slowed and set his free arm around Yale’s shoulders.

“I wouldn’t be so pretty if I didn’t take care of myself,” he said, winking down to the smaller blond in his grasp.

Through narrowed eyes, Yale studied his face- a prominent, clean shaven jawline and sharp green eyes, in the center of which was the key sign of anyone that harbored Sihr in their blood- magic. The bright green tint that sprinkled into the darker around it. Carver was no mage, though. He was muscle, and Yale was feeling that clear as day with the thick arm at his shoulders.

“Yeah, okay, I’ll give you that,” he told him, turning his attention back toward Ines to refrain from further examining the gruff, unshowered majesty that was his current companion. “Pretty face doesn’t mean you smell great though, so get your damn arm off me.”

While he’d been amused by their antics, Vald saw his chance to intervene as Carver withdrew. “There’s a bathroom attached to every room. Should be in the clear on that one.”

“So’s this place like a hotel or something, then?” Carver asked, flashing a smile down to Ines as she pushed open a door and stepped inside, waiting for them to follow.

“In a way,” Vald answered as they gathered inward to what more resembled a whole apartment than a bedroom. It was all contained to one area aside from the bathroom which could be accessed through an open door that lay opposite a small kitchen. A double bed made up with some pleasant orange comforters and sheets was pushed comfortably into the corner right next to the bathroom door, and next to it sat a small nightstand.

“In a way?” Yale questioned only half-mindedly as he began to look over the small dwelling.

“We try to condense our living spaces as much as possible,” Ines answered as she crossed her arms beneath her breast, shoulders pushing forward in an almost coy manner. “Ross’ floods destroyed so much that we just try to keep it small so it’s easier to rebuild when we need to.”

“Not to mention there’s not a lot of us left around. Families that’re here, mostly just live together. Like ours with Ines’,” he motioned down to the woman. “Her ‘n her husband live just down the hall. Mine’s the first room on the hall, Alice’s is right next to mine. The third was Reiner’s…” He trailed off momentarily, shaking the smallest hint of sorrow from his voice as he continued on. “There’s a few others, too.”

Ines let Vald finish, waiting just a second as she took note of the brief falter in his tone. She said nothing regarding it though, instead adding “all the homes are like this.”

Carver, completely enthused by the home, accepted that answer without question and started deeper inward with joy. He stripped off his drenched quarter sleeve shirt and traded it out for a tunic before looking toward the others. He wasn’t at all opposed to stripping down to nothing in the presence of others, but that didn’t mean it was always appreciated.

Thanks to his glance, once again, Yale’s questions were put on hold as Ines gave a small wave and a muttered apology to push past Vald and head out.

He took in a deep breath and held it, knowing that it was also his cue to get going. “I’ll be down in the living room if you guys end up gettin’ too antsy to rest. Lots of questions and all that, I know, but…” Once more he trailed off and ended with a shrug. Though he didn’t want to, Yale nodded to accept this, and as Vald left, he pushed the door closed and looked to the outfit he’d been given, then to Carver who was already on his way to being fully redressed.