by Eric Vall
“Alright then,” I said, my arms filled with our packages.
Carmedy opened the door for Rana and I to walk in and then followed behind us. The inside of the shop was neat and tidy. The floors were made of birch wood and were perfectly swept clean and free of any wet boot prints and slush from outside. The walls were lined with wooden shelves of glass bottles and containers of various shapes, sizes, and colors. There were tall clear skinny bottles with cork stoppers, wider green containers that resembled jam jars that had burlap wrapped over their tops and tied with string, small green vials that were the size of my pinky finger, and many others. Some contained liquids, or gelatinous substances while others contained sprigs of plants and flowers. There were also large wicker baskets of what looked like herbs and various flowers on the spotless counter at the far end of the room. The air was filled with a fragrant myriad of scents ranging from peppermint to ginger to aloe vera.
Carmedy looked around at the room, her green eyes wide with excitement. I had seen that look before, it was the exact same expression that she wore when she walked into a dessert shop.
“Is there anything that I can help you find?” a light airy female voice called out. A tall woman with rosy cheeks and long blond hair pulled into two braids that laid across either shoulder stepped out from behind a door that was behind the counter. She wore a crisp white apron and beneath it a light blue long-sleeved dress.
“Yes, I’m looking for a few things actually,” Carmedy said as she pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket with scrawled writing across it. “Two vials of valdaroot, one of wedenberry, and some potassium chloride if you have it.”
“We have plenty of valdaroot and wedenberry,” the blonde woman said chipperly. “As you might know, those two herbs are found only here on the glacial continents.”
The woman walked across the room to one of the shelves and inspected their contents for a few moments. She finally reached up to one of the higher shelves and pulled down two long green vials with a cork stopper. The vials were stuffed with long spindly brown roots with little white spots. Then the shopkeeper reached down to one of the bottom shelves and picked up one of the jar-shaped containers. Inside were several sprigs of tiny round red berries with spiky green leaves.
“Here you are,” the apothecary said happily as she handed the items to Carmedy.
“Perfect!” The feline smiled down at the containers.
“Now as for the potassium chloride,” the blonde woman said as she crossed the room and inspected a row of shelves that was eye level. “I believe we have one more jar left somewhere… ah, here it is!”
She reached out to grab one of the tiny pinky sized green vials. “Will that be all for you today?” the shopkeeper asked as she walked over to the counter and set down the vial.
“Yes, I believe so.” Carmedy looked down at her list. “I already got the carrots, and I already have some sodium thiopental…” the feline alchemist mumbled to herself. “Yep, that should do it.”
Carmedy walked over to the counter and put the items down as the apothecary tallied up our total. Once Carmedy had paid for her ingredients, the blonde woman placed each of the items in individual brown sacks and handed them to the feline.
“There you are,” the proprietor said with a bright smile. “Have a nice day.”
“Thanks, you too!” Carmedy waved as we left the shop.
“Hey, Carmedy, what was all that stuff about carrots and sodium tryo-, typo-, whatever it was?” Rana asked as we walked down the street. “Are you making some sort of medicinal soup or something?”
“No, silly!” Carmedy waved her hand. “The carrots are for a rapid healing ointment I’m working on.”
“How will carrots be useful for a rapid healing ointment?” I asked the black-haired cat. I enjoyed learning about the world of medicine and alchemy from Carmedy, and I loved seeing the joy that came to her when she talked about one of her favorite topics.
“Well carrots are rich in Vitamin A,” the petite woman explained, “and Vitamin A is a crucial vitamin that supports healthy wound healing. You see, in order for your body to heal properly and fight off nasty wound infections, it has to maintain healthy levels of vitamins and nutrients and stuff.”
“Interesting,” I said.
The alchemist prattled along excitedly. “There are various vitamins and nutrients that play a role in helping to heal wounds quickly, but Vitamin A is supposed to be one of the most effective ones. It works to stimulate the inflammatory response, and it sort of jumpstarts collagen synthesis which is necessary for the development of new skin and veins.”
“Right,” Rana said slowly. “I understood some bits and pieces of that, but most of that totally went over my head.”
“Yes, you even lost me in a few places.” I chuckled.
“Okay, short version.” Carmedy tapped her chin. “I need carrots because they contain Vitamin A which helps the body heal.”
“Why didn’t you just say that?” Rana said with a laugh.
“Because that’s the boring version.” Carmedy giggled.
“So, what about the other item you purchased?” I questioned. “You mentioned something about sodium earlier?”
“Sodium thiopental,” Carmedy nodded her head with enthusiasm. “It’s a substance used to induce unconsciousness.”
“Uh, and what pray tell are you planning on doing with that?” Rana raised an eyebrow and sidestepped a man pushing a wooden cart through the snow.
“I’m working on something special,” the green-eyed cat said with a mischievous smile. “I’ve been doing some research and experimenting with a few things, and I’ve come to the conclusion that when sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride are combined, they can cause temporary paralysis.”
“How so?” the fox asked.
Carmedy wriggled her eyebrows. “Pancuronium bromide is used to cause muscle paralysis and respiratory arrest, and potassium chloride can even be used to stop the heart.”
“I am interested to see the finished product,” I said. I knew of magic spells that were capable of stopping the heart and temporarily paralyzing a victim, but I was unaware of any such chemicals that yielded the same effect. This world of modern medicine was still relatively new to me after all.
“Absolutely,” Carmedy said with a smile. “I figured it would come in handy during some of our fights if we could temporarily disable some of our enemies.”
“How is this concoction going to work?” I asked the feline. “Are you going to make it into one of your bundles that you use in your slingshot and launch it at our enemies?”
“I’m still trying to figure that part out,” Carmedy said thoughtfully. “Typically, the substances that I just mentioned have to be injected to have a potent effect. Simply having contact with the skin may not be effective enough, or even effective at all, come to think of it.”
“Well, you can’t just run up to the bad guys we’re fighting jabbing needles in their arms.” Rana chuckled. “I don’t think that would make for a very good battle strategy.”
“Yeah, I know.” Carmedy rubbed at her temples. “Taking it orally isn’t going to work either. I’m still working on it. I’ll figure it out soon though, don’t you worry!”
The petite woman spoke with the utmost confidence. “When it comes to medicine and such, there’s never been something that I couldn’t figure out the solution to.”
“That’s the spirit,” I said with a smile. “I’m sure you’ll discover the answer soon.
“Sorry to change the subject from Carmedy’s chemistry lesson, but aren’t those some of the king’s soldiers over there?” Rana paused in the street and subtly nodded ahead of us.
Carmedy and I turned to see who the fox was referring to. Several yards up the street were numerous soldiers weaving in and out of the thinning evening crowd. Each of the men was clad in a pristine and impressive armor, and every last one of them wore the familiar intricate bear’s helmet that the so
ldiers of Tamarisch and Tintagal were known to wear. The tops of the headpieces were each expertly carved to mimic a bear’s fur, and the gruesome mouth was opened wide so that the wearer could see out through the jaws.
We watched quietly as the soldiers walked through the crowd and spoke to the citizens. I couldn’t make out what the soldiers were saying because of the murmur of the crowd, but we didn’t have to hear to know what the topic of their discussion was. Many of the soldiers carried posters of Annalíse like the one we had seen earlier. The warriors would hold them up as they spoke to a citizen, and the person would shake their head, and then the soldier would move on to another person.
“High King Ainmere sure called out the cavalry,” Rana murmured as we continued on our way, and she glanced at one of the warriors who was questioning a young woman with a toddler.
“We’d better hurry back to the dungeon,” Carmedy sighed.
“We’ll have to stay at the inn,” I said as I nodded to the setting sun. “Traveling back in the middle of the night will be too hard for both of you. Besides, there is no way that the soldiers will know the princess is hiding in the dungeon.”
“True,” Carmedy said. “I was also really looking forward to a yummy hot meal, bath, and a comfy bed.”
“Me too,” Rana sighed. “Also, I heard this inn has something spectacular in the basement.”
“Oh?” I asked.
“Yep,” Rana said as she wiggled her eyebrows. “It has a natural hot spring bath.”
“Yay!” Carmedy gasped. “Let’s get going!”
“Wait!” Rana laughed as the cat-girl grabbed both of our hands and started to drag us. “The inn is that way, silly.”
“Oh! Then let’s go this way!” Carmedy laughed, and then we let her pull us down the icy street toward the inn.
Chapter 11
The sign hung over the door read Steaming Spring Inn, and the building was much larger than I expected. Most of the structures in the small city were made of square cut gray stone, but the inn Carmedy pulled us toward was crafted from large river stones set between thick cut wood timbers and joined with smoothly polished cement. It was two stories tall but looked to have over twenty chimneys poking out of the wood-shingled roof.
“Ohhh, can you smell the cooking stew?” the cat-girl sighed as she reached toward the door.
“It does smell great,” Rana said, but then the cat-girl alchemist pushed open the thick wooden door, and the three of us gasped with surprise when the full-flavored smell of the food hit us in the nose.
We walked into a wide tavern filled with quaint wooden tables and dining patrons. Twin fireplaces squatted on opposite sides of the great room, and a long bar cut across the far side. A minstrel played on a lute in the far corner, and a group of dwarves stomped out a fun dance on a cleared spot in front of the musician. The place looked to be almost at maximum customer capacity, and I only saw a few stools free at the bar.
“Ahhh ‘ello there!” a man called to us from a pedestal by the front door. He looked human but was also extremely short, and I wondered if he might have been a half-dwarf. “What ‘an I do ya for?”
“We’d like two rooms, please,” Rana said as she cut in front of Carmedy.
“Ohhh apologies, miss. We’re almost sold out at the moment because of the trade fair.”
“Trade fair?” Carmedy asked.
“Aye, little lady,” the half-dwarf answered with a wide smile. “Starts day after the ‘morrow. Lots of people be coming to town to trade their wares. We do it every year about this time.”
“So you don’t have any rooms?” Rana groaned.
“Didn’t say ‘dat, miss.” He laughed. “We got one, but it’s our nicest, and most can’t afford it.”
“When you say ‘nicest,’ it makes me think that it’s going to cost us a bunch,” Rana said as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Dat it does, dearie,” he said. “It’s fifty gold a night, but--”
“Fifty gold!” Rana groaned. “That’s way too much--”
“--but ya haven’t let me finished telling ya about it!” The man laughed again. “It is a most spectacular room, and besides, your man there has some fancy armor. I’m guessing he’s got more than fifty gold he can spend on the experience of a lifetime.”
“Ohhh,” Carmedy gasped as her eyes opened. “The experience of a lifetime?”
“I am intrigued,” I said. “Tell us more about this room, innkeep.”
“Imagine, if ya will, sir,” he began as he waved his hand through the air. “Your own private suite, with an area for lounging and a separate area for sleeping.”
“So, it’s two rooms,” Rana scoffed. “I still don’t think it’s worth that much--”
“The one room for lounging has three different couches and a pit for a fire in the middle. The fire will keep ya warm, but also enchant your pretty eyes when you look at it.”
“Okay, so it has a fire--” Rana started.
“The bedroom has the biggest gosh darn bed that you ever did see,” the man continued, “and we have our most luxurious sheets and pillows stuffed with soft down feathers from artisan geese raised just for the purpose of providing the best in head cradling pillow stuffing goodness.”
“Ohhh my!” Carmedy’s eyes had grown impossibly large.
“It’s just a pillow, kitty cat.” Rana sighed. “Still, I don’t think that--”
“But I still haven’t gotten to the best part!” the man continued. “The room has a private bathroom with running water in the toilet and sink.”
“I-- wait, what did you say?” Rana asked.
“The toilet is made of fine porcelain and will cradle your bum and dispose of your waste with the gentle trickling of a mountain spring,” the man said with a wide smile.
“Huh,” Rana said as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, I guess that is kinda fun, but I still don’t know if--”
“But that’s not all,” he continued as he raised his hands. “Our inn is known across the land as having the best hot spring baths, but…” He paused dramatically, and the three of us leaned toward him so that we could hear him whisper. “This room has its own private hot spring and washing area. Ya won’t have to be bathing with the rest of the folk staying here.”
“Oh. My. Gosh.” Carmedy clapped her hands together and then turned to me. “Can we get it, Master? Can we? Please? This sounds like so much fun.”
“Uhhh, yeah, I guess I’m sold,” Rana agreed. “I’d like to spend the night there. I could sleep on the couch or--”
“Here is your money, innkeep,” I said as I pulled the required gold from my void pocket and set it on the counter in front of him.
“Excellent decision, good sir,” he said as he bowed his head and swept the gold into a pocket of his apron. “You also have a choice of taking your evening meal in your magnificent room or dining up here with the rest of us common folk, but before you decide, let me show you how splendid of a decision you made.”
“Very well,” I said, and then we followed him as he walked down the nearest hallway.
“Ugh, I still feel like we are getting scammed,” Rana whispered to me as we walked. “No room can be worth fifty a night.”
“We have plenty of money, and we need a warm place to stay tonight,” I replied.
“Yeah, I know.” She sighed. “I just don’t like being taken advantage of.”
“It’s going to be wonderful, Rana, you’ll see!” Carmedy giggled. “I’m so excited.”
“All I’m saying is that you should be ready for disappointment,” Rana hissed softly. “The world is filled with hustlers and thieves, and people will say or do anything to take your gold.”
The innkeeper led us to a narrow stairwell that led down into the basement. There was only one small lantern on the curved wall, and it seemed like we were descending into a dark dungeon. For a moment, I actually wondered if perhaps Rana was correct, but then we exited the stairwell into a long stone passageway that w
as better lit. The corridor was surprisingly warm, and we passed a man and woman wearing bathrobes and softly giggling to each other.
“Here we are, my lord and ladies,” the innkeep said as he gestured to the last room in the hallway. “This is our most magnificent suite. My dear, would you like to do the honors?”
The innkeep produced a sparkling gold key from one of the many pockets in his apron and held it out to Carmedy. The cat-girl’s eyes opened wide with joy at the offered key, and she slowly reached her paws out so that she could carefully pluck it from his fingers. Then she turned to the door, inserted the key in the lock, and opened the door.
The three of us stepped into the room, and we all gasped in unison.
The innkeeper had actually undersold the room.
The space was wide, open, and well-lit with a dozen oil lamps. Each wall was a polished granite with hints of gold, silver, and red sparkles in the stone. The couches looked to be made of the finest leather and were placed on top of a massive bear-skin rug. The firepit in the middle of the room was already burning a pleasant smelling cedar log, and the smoke drifted up into a metal hood that ensured that the air in the room wasn’t foggy. There was also a fine dining room table and eight chairs set against the corner, and two large doors were slightly opened at the far side of the room.
“Wow,” Rana said. “Okay. Uhhh. I’m actually impressed.”
“I knew ya would be, miss,” the innkeep said with a wink and a smile. “They all are.”
“You have delivered on your promise, innkeep,” I said.
“Thank you, my lord,” he laughed, “but then again, you seem like the kind of man who punishes lies with more than a harsh word. I didn’t want to disappoint you. The room is this way if you’d care to look.”
“I wanna see the bed!” Carmedy cried merrily as she sprang across the grand room, jumped a couch, and then dove through the door the innkeeper pointed at. I could hear her let out a gasp of joy, and Rana and I quickly followed her.
The room was a good sixty feet wide with a four poster bed large enough to fit Carmedy, Rana, Morrigan, Annalíse, and me with plenty of room to spare. There was another bearskin rug, but this one’s fur was a pristine white, and large oaken wardrobes were placed in each corner for clothes. There was also a small breakfast table with four chairs and another fireplace that already had a nice flame going.