The Wandering Inn_Volume 1

by Pirateaba

  “And that?”

  “Strength enchantments. Wait—stop asking questions!”

  The scales around Ilvriss’ face grew redder, and Erin saw his escort shifting their feet and twitching their tales. She heard a strangled noise and saw Olesm trying valiantly not to burst out laughing. He was having chest convulsions trying to hold it in.

  Ilvriss glared around and massaged his temples, seeming to wake up a bit more. He growled and stepped closer to Erin. She stepped back to avoid the fumes of his breath.

  “You stink. Have you been drinking? It’s not healthy, you know.”

  “I don’t—stop talking—I came here to—”

  “I should know. I’m an [Innkeeper].”

  “Shut up!”

  Ilvriss finally roared at Erin, and she did shut up, if only to wipe spit off her face. The Wall Lord breathed heavily for a few seconds, and then straightened.

  “I came here to discuss a mutually profitable arrangement, Human. You need not speak—no, be quiet! Simply listen. You are in possession of a powerful magical door that is enchanted with the [Teleport] spell.”

  “Yup.”

  Erin smiled as the Wall Lord nettled. She didn’t exactly dislike him—she thought he was a rude jerk, but he had helped her before and she mainly just enjoyed annoying him. Ilvriss purpled a bit, but he went on slowly.

  “I understand your magical door connects to the Human city of Celum, a hundred miles north of here. I wonder if it could be attuned to another location?”

  “You mean, another city? Sure. I was planning on getting it to link to Invrisil, but then there was that Goblin Lord business…why, do you want to take a trip somewhere?”

  Ilvriss nodded, and several of his adjutants murmured as he straightened.

  “I am in need of rapid transportation, Human. Obviously I am reluctant to ask your ki—I would like to make a trip to my home city, of Salazsar at all speed. How quickly can you connect your door to that location?”

  Erin blinked at the Wall Lord.

  “Salazsar? Oh…that’s one of the Walled Cities, right?”

  She’d assumed nothing could make Ilvriss more irate, but that off-hand remark seemed to drive his annoyance with her to another level. He opened his mouth, closed it, and then replied as his tail thrashed the ground angrily.

  “Salazsar is the premier Walled City, the hub of Drake civilization and an icon of the continent you ignorant—ape!”

  “Fine. No need to be rude about it. Okay, how far away is it?”

  Her cavalier attitude seemed to be stumping Ilvriss. He paused.

  “Does that matter?”

  Erin nodded.

  “Yeah. You see, my door can only go as far as Invrisil in terms of distance and even then, it’d only be able to transport one person at a time and it would take a day to recharge each time.”

  The news elicited a groan from the Drakes behind Ilvriss. The Wall Lord frowned.

  “Really? Is there no way of improving upon the enchantment?”

  “Nope. At least, Typhenous and Pisces didn’t think so. I could probably recharge it fast if I had mana stones, but that doesn’t mean I can make it go further.”

  Ilvriss glanced over his shoulder at one of his aides. The female Drake was doing calculations on an abacus, which intrigued Erin. She glanced up at the Wall Lord and nodded.

  “That would save us at least a week of travelling, Wall Lord, not to mention the dangers of the journey.”

  “Very well.”

  He grunted and turned back to Erin.

  “If the limit of your door is to Invrisil…that puts it at around four hundred miles…then I request it be linked to Pallass. That is a Walled City, Human.”

  “I knew that! I think. And I’d be okay with that, Mr. Rude Drake, but I can’t do it just like that.”

  Erin glared at Ilvriss. He glared back.

  “Why not?”

  “Because…I need to put an anchor at the place I want to go before my door can connect to it. So, sorry, but until I get someone to run all the way to Pallass or Invrisil, I can’t make the door connect anywhere else. I was going to get a Courier to do it, but then the Goblin Lord appeared and…”

  Erin shrugged helplessly. Ilvriss rubbed at his face and growled.

  “Ancestors preserve me. The door needs an anchor? Very well, I will employ the Courier in this city to take whatever this…anchor is. I assume it is not heavy, or at least, portable via a bag of holding?”

  “Oh, it’s really small. But I already asked Hawk and he said—”

  “I don’t care what he said! He will begin his journey this day on my orders, threat of Goblins or not! I am a Lord of the Wall, not some [Innkeeper] with a few gold coins!”

  Ilvriss snapped at Erin. She raised her hands.

  “Well excuse me. It’s just my door that you want to use. What if I said no?”

  By now their discussion had attracted a few people who were watching with interest.. Ilvriss’ jaw worked silently as he glared at Erin.

  “You are in no position to refuse—”

  “My inn, my rules. I’ll let you use the door if you ask nicely.”

  Erin folded her arms and smirked. Ilvriss looked like he was swallowing his tongue. Olesm was doubled over and clutching at his stomach, much to the concern of the Drakes around him. When Ilvriss did find his voice, it was strangled with the effort of restraining himself.

  “I will send one of my people to the building you call an inn. Give them whatever instructions you need. And when the door is connected to Pallass, I expect to be the first person through. If not, I will ensure you regret it.”

  There was nothing to really say to that. Erin stuck out her tongue and Ilvriss recoiled as if it were a snake. He took a step back, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Then he turned and snapped at his escort.

  “Come. We’re returning to the Tailless Thief. At least there the innkeeper knows how to treat people above his station with respect. Swifttail, with me.”

  He beckoned and Olesm reluctantly trotted over. The [Tactician] glanced apologetically at Erin as Ilvriss began to walk off. Erin could hear the Wall Lord speaking loudly as he walked.

  “I appreciate you not gagging in front of the Human. I understand the reaction, but they do become hard to deal with.”

  He clapped Olesm on the shoulder and Erin scowled at Ilvriss’ back. She cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted at him.

  “Hey! You’re a jerk, you know that?”

  Her voice, amplified by her [Loud Voice] Skill, echoed down the street. Ilvriss froze mid-step and the people around Erin gaped at her. She looked around and shrugged.

  “What? Someone had to tell him.”

  Ilvriss stormed back down the street, furious. Erin waited until he was close and then spoke.

  “You’re also drunk and smelly, by the way. You shouldn’t wear so much cologne. It stinks.”

  “I should cut you down for your insolence. Were you in a Walled City, I could have you flogged for your tongue!”

  “Really? Well guess what? You’re not in one, and unless you want to walk the rest of the way back, you’d better be nice to me!”

  Erin shot back. Ilvriss rumbled in his chest.

  “I could confiscate that door—”

  “Try it! If you do I’ll hit you with another pan, you jerk! And I have Gold-rank adventurers in my inn! And evil Goblins! Lots of them! You won’t take my door alive! I’ll help you, but only because I don’t want you around, got that?”

  Erin shouted back at the Wall Lord. He looked ready to throttle her, and Olesm and another Drake had to hold Ilvriss back. She grinned at him, and privately thought she’d pushed her luck as far as she could. Erin turned.

  “Smell you later!”

  “Don’t walk away from me! I am a Lord of the Wall! You do not leave without my consent!”

  Ilvriss roared at her back. Erin turned and stuck her tongue out again.

  “Oh yeah? Watch me!”

&nbs
p; She began to walk away, faster this time. Ilvriss tore himself loose of his escort and charged after her.

  “You do not walk away from a Lord of the Wall. I depart, and you wait. Stop, I command you!”

  There was something incredibly sad about the way he tried to bar Erin’s path. She danced around him and he blocked her. And then Ilvriss pointed.

  “I said stop.”

  He used a Skill. It had to be one, because his aides, the people on the street, and Erin’s own feet immediately halted in place. She froze, and felt Ilvriss’ command holding her still. It lasted for all of two seconds, until Erin got mad.

  “You don’t order me around!”

  She felt a flicker in her chest, a…feeling. It was like when she’d used her own [Inn’s Aura] Skill, or resisted Magnolia’s charmed voice. Erin reached inside herself and pushed back. It was very hard, but she began to move her feet. Ilvriss gaped at her as Erin laboriously began to walk again.

  “How are you—stop! I command you!”

  He pushed again, but Erin was ready and pushed back. Her feet kept moving and Erin began running away. It was very hard to resist Ilvriss’ command and she decided she’d had enough. Time to go back to the inn. Unfortunately, Ilvriss didn’t know when to quit.

  “Halt! I will not be disobeyed!”

  The street was frozen as the Wall Lord chased after the Human girl. She ran, making rude gestures at Ilvriss as he unsteadily staggered and shouted at her. Olesm, halted in mid-stride, could only stare at Ilvriss’ back as the two disappeared down the street. It was over a minute before his limbs could move again.

  On the whole he reflected, that had not been one of Ilvriss’ finest moments. But he also had to admit, it had been incredibly funny. Olesm giggled to himself as Ilvriss’ aides debated going after him in hushed voices. He was in a good mood today. Or maybe he’d just had too much to drink already.

  It was probably the latter.

  —-

  “Why would a Lord of the Wall want to speak with Erin Solstice? It is curious how many famous and powerful people she attracts, is it not?”

  Krshia shook her head as she refilled Lyonette’s cup. The Human girl sat tensely in her seat across from the Gnoll and nodded.

  “It is. But Erin’s…special. I think she can handle him.”

  “True. But I hope whatever he wants does not lead to another incident. Erin Solstice is adept at causing those as well.”

  Krshia shook her head as she sipped at her tea. She picked up a cube of meat and popped it into her mouth, and then offered Lyonette the bowl. The girl eyed it and reluctantly took a cube. She bit into it and her face changed.

  “This is good!”

  “You think so? Truly?”

  “Yes! I mean, I don’t eat raw meat because it leads to disease. Not that I’m saying this meat is bad, but us Humans—”

  “Yes, I know of your customs.”

  Krshia smiled, interrupting Lyonette’s babbling. She nodded at the bowl.

  “Be at ease. We Gnolls know how to prepare such food. We ensure it is clean and prepared correctly. You need not have any if you are uncomfortable.”

  “No—I’ll have some more.”

  Lyonette helped herself to another cube, making Krshia smile. That mattered to the young woman. She shifted.

  “I wonder if I could make it. Or take some for Mrsha? I’d like her to have her people’s food to eat. Erin makes great food, but the taste of home…”

  “Hmm. It is not good to transport such food, but I could teach you the recipe. And you could bring Mrsha here more often. It would be good to teach her more of our ways. Although she was born to a tribe that lived in the wilderness…she may know more than I do of some things.”

  Krshia sipped at her tea and Lyonette nodded. The girl paused as she sipped from her cup. It was hard to forget how she’d been raised—she was acutely aware of her posture and the way she held her teacup. She felt as though she were back in court, sipping tea with nobility. Only, there was no such thing as a Gnoll [Lady]. That was a pity.

  How strange life could be. Lyonette looked at Krshia, and remembered the sensation of being grabbed by a huge paw, staring into the Gnoll’s eyes and seeing huge fangs as a stall burned behind her. She was ashamed of that. But now she was sitting in said Gnoll’s apartment. The same place where her nephew had lived. Where Brunkr had…

  Lyonette’s eyes moved around the room and Krshia noticed. The [Shopkeeper] lowered her cup.

  “There is little of Brunkr here, I am sorry to say. His shield and sword remain, but he arrived here as a warrior, not meaning to stay long. I have only my memories to remind me of what he was.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry. I was just—”

  “I take no offense, Lyonette. Actually, it is that I wished to talk with you about.”

  Krshia put down her tea cup and Lyonette felt her heart begin to beat faster. The Gnoll sighed, and in the privacy of her own home, she slumped. She seemed tired, old, and sad all at once. When she looked at Lyonette, there was loss in her brown eyes.

  “I still wonder if I could have known. If I had paid more attention, if I had not been blind to that traitorous Regrika Blackpaw’s true nature—she is no true Gnoll. And she will be hunted. But if I had only had the foresight to question instead of being blind—would he be alive?”

  Lyonette sat still, not knowing what to say. Krshia shook her head.

  “These are useless thoughts of course. What is done is done. Only justice and mourning remain. But I am plagued by them. Yet I would not burden you with my grief, Lyonette. No. I wanted to call you here to thank you, instead.”

  “Thank me? But why—”

  “For making him a [Knight].”

  Krshia spoke plainly, and Lyonette’s heart constricted with fear. The Gnoll looked at her, not accusingly or with suspicion, rather, with certainty.

  “I know you are a [Princess], Lyonette. And I know you gave your blessing to Brunkr to make him a [Knight].”

  “How—how do you…?”

  The Gnoll snorted.

  “I have ears. Brunkr is not good at keeping secrets. As for the rest…it is enough that I know.”

  Lyonette was frozen in place. Krshia shifted, watching her carefully.

  “Mistake me not. I do not seek to profit from this knowledge. I have no other motive than to give my thanks.”

  “But I didn’t do anything.”

  Lyonette whispered. Krshia shook her head again.

  “No. You did much. True, he only had the class for a matter of days. But becoming a [Knight] was Brunkr’s dream. It was thought that he would never achieve it, since Gnolls have no [Lords] or other noble classes that could bestow such a class. But you gave it to him, and I must think it made him happy in his last days. For that small gift, I thank you.”

  She bowed her head and Lyonette burst into tears. For a few minutes there was just her snuffling and Krshia offering her a handkerchief, wiping at her own eyes. Silence. Words unspoken. Lyonette managed a few words after she had finished.

  “I don’t deserve thanks. All I did—”

  “Water.”

  Krshia raised her hand as if catching raindrops and tossed it away. She sighed.

  “You have done much to offend. Much it is true. But that is the past and you have changed. The debt has been paid, and while I might hold a grudge—no. My nephew’s life is worth more than mere hatred. I forgive, Lyonette. And I thank you for changing. Not least for taking care of Mrsha.”

  “What else was I supposed to do?”

  Laughing, crying. Krshia smiled and Lyonette grew calmer over time. At last, the two sat, drinking and returning to something like normal conversation. But now the secret was out, Lyonette felt compelled to speak.

  “The reason why I ran away—it may seem silly to you, but I really felt like I had to. I was wrong—stupid, arrogant—but if my family knew where I was, I’m sure they’d send someone after me. They might be looking already, but they have no idea where I am an
d I’m not exactly a First Princess or high-level, so…”

  “I understand. I shall say nothing of it if you do not wish me to.”

  “Thank you.”

  After a while, Krshia spoke again.

  “It is curious how you were able to make Brunkr a [Knight], though. He said you spoke only a few words and he gained the class that night. Is it truly so easy?”

  Lyonette hesitated. But now was not the time to keep royal secrets. She nodded.

  “It’s…well, it’s not supposed to be that simple, you understand. But in practice you can make someone a [Knight] with only a few words. It’s usually a matter of ceremony because it’s so important, but if you’re in a hurry you can skip all that. At least…I can. I think [Lords] have to work harder at it, you know, have a crest, induct the person into their service and so on.”

  “But a [Princess] is able to do the same more easily? Because your class is superior?”

  “Maybe…well, no. I think Mother explained it once. You see, a [Princess] has a different role from a [Lord]. They have their own households, vassals, and so on, so they can support quite a lot of [Knights] depending on how rich and powerful they are. Whereas even a high-level [Princess] has a limit on the amount of [Knights] she can appoint. Mine are personal protectors, you see, so I can choose them quickly and as I please, whereas a [Lord]…”

  “Must set up such circumstances. So I see. That is fascinating.”

  Krshia nodded. Lyonette smiled and went on.

  “It’s a feature of royal classes. Obviously a [King] can appoint a lot more classes, like [King’s Champion], specialized knighthood orders and so on. I can’t do any of that—the only other thing I can do is royally appoint some business I like.”

  Krshia had been chewing at her raw meat. Now she paused and gulped.

  “Royally appoint? I am not familiar with this.”

  “It’s simple. I can bestow a royal class on someone. Like…say you’re a [Gardener], right? If I want, I could make that person a [Royal Gardener]. Although that’s rare and I can probably only do that for one person. Father has a [Royal Chamberlain], but it’s not common to do. Although it does help!”

  “I imagine it would. Such a class…hrr. Am I right in thinking it offers better Skills, or perhaps more unique ones?”