“I find it easier to act like I should have for all those years.” She said, as if trying to explain.
“I am so proud of you right now. I can't even describe it. You didn't even hesitate.”
She pushed back part of the hood and looked back at me, smiling.
“I recommend we go to the Inn first mistress and get you comfortable, then I will take care of the shopping.” I stayed in the role in case anyone took notice of us.
“It's better if I accompany you, less likely to get cheated,” she said, mimicking my intent.
We walked down the main street of the town. The main road was built of cobbled stone. Wooden shops and stores lined this section of town. Branching off from the main road were less well-maintained paths of crushed rocks that lead down streets towards more residential houses. It gave me a real medieval vibe to the place.
Even the wonderful smell of outhouses.
I saw a leather shop, but it looked like it was just a storefront, otherwise the smell would have been worse. Next to it was a weapons dealer, but I could not make out what they had in stock. There were no window displays, as most of the shops still had their wooden shutters covering them and were not open.
“What time do the shops open?” I asked.
“I am not sure, probably not long, though. We can ask the Inn.”
I nodded as we continued down the street.
The Inn was the largest building in town, calling itself the Witch's Haunt.
“I thought the term witch was derogatory?” I asked.
“This inn was built by a powerful matriarch many years ago. She retired from the politics of the south, somewhere in Casting’s harbor and wanted to get away. Rumor was it was a play on words, and it stuck. You can see the original building in all the stone, the wattle and daub extensions are more recent, I think. Though it might still be the original glass, as my mother told me she was powerful in the fire element.”
“Nice,” I said, studying the structure as we approached. It had two doors in the center that opened apart from each other for a wider entry. To each side of the door, it had glass bow style windows that looked like they sat tables on the other side. Two chimneys stuck out of the wooden roof over the gray stone central building. On each side of the main were the wattle and daub constructed extensions Tyla mentioned. Small wooden shutters closing each of the windows and several pipes billowing smoke vented out to the flat roof on top.
We walked into the inn, and my nose picked up the smell of cooking. My mouth watered. I was so sick of the jerky and fruits, I wanted to drop everything we planned and get food first.
“Master, can we eat first?” Tyla leaned over and whispered the question to me.
“I was thinking the same thing. Yes,” I whispered back to a smiling Tyla.
“Can I help ya?” A young woman with red hair came out from the door to what I assume was the kitchen.
Tyla stepped forward. “Yes, I need a single room for me and my… companion. We would also like breakfast and meals for the few days we will be staying.”
The young woman glanced at Tyla, then studied me, her eyes staying on me a few seconds longer than was usually proper. “If ya pay in advance for seven days, I can make it a large copper. No refunds if ya leave early, though. Baths and all meals included.”
“Lovely,” Tyla said and waited.
Taking this as my cue, I reached into the coin bag in my shirt and pulled out a large and small copper for a tip. “Here you go. Miss?”
“Tasnia,” she said. “Tasnia Baird. This is my father's inn. He handles the afternoon crowds.” She held out her hand to take the coins. Her accent was odd to me. The translation magic almost made it normal but some of her words sounded odd, like an Irish accent.
I put my hand out with the freshly retrieved coins, but as our hands touched, it was like a static shock went through me. Both of our eyes widened, and I saw a red hue come over her skin. Subtle but visible.
“What was that?” she asked as she pulled her hand back, the coins in her hand.
“Not sure,” I said, shaking my hands. “Felt weird, though.”
“Is everything alright?” Tyla asked.
“Yes, some kind of shock when I touched her.” Without another word, I stepped back. Tasnia did not seem to notice the color on her skin shifting. I held my face in an impressive expression.
She is a Chosen.
“What was that?” Tyla whispered when we sat down at a table built into the window where we could watch the town wake up as we ate.
I looked over my shoulder to make sure that Tasnia had gone back to the kitchen to get our food. “She is a fire mage. She lit up to me for about a minute.”
Tyla glanced at the kitchen door, as though she could see the red-headed young woman through the wall. “She is about my age. With all the troubles she may have missed the testers. They usually come to all the small towns to see if any of the women have an affinity just once a year. She probably doesn't even know yet. Powers rarely develop on their own until our early twenties, without training and focus. The testing stone is how we identify them early enough.”
“How does that work when they are untrained?”
“Usually violently, if she is a fire elemental, or mage as you call them, then the next day she gets furious could be the day this inn burns down.”
I nodded, not sure what to say to that.
“We should…” Tyla stopped as Tasnia came back out to our table with bowls of soup on a tray with hunks of homemade bread. My mouth watered.
“Here ya go,” Tasnia said, her eyes glancing at Tyla, then lingering on me for a moment. “It's only breakfast porridge in tha mornings here, but I have tha bread, some butter, and honey ta help. Ya want wine or beer with that?”
“Wine, please,” Tyla answered and looked up at me.
“Er, do you have anything without alcohol? Ever heard of coffee?”
Tasnia looked at me as if I was mad. “That's too expensive. I could bring ya some hot tea. Ya don't want to drink tha water that hasn't been boiled.”
“What kind of tea?”
“Breakfast tea, it comes from tha south as well and isn't always in stock, but we have a little left.”
“Tea would be good. Thank you, miss.”
Tasnia smiled. “Just Tasnia, or Tas as most people call me here. Comin' right out.”
She walked away. Without thinking, I glanced at her shapely backside, catching myself and putting my eyes back on Tyla, who was smiling.
“She is pretty. I love her green eyes, not as grayish green as yours, but pretty,” she said.
I rolled the eyes in question. “Don't get your hopes up, but she is beautiful, yes.”
“Do you think her boobs are bigger? It's hard to tell by her dress.” She smirked at me as she pressed hers together.
“Okay, stop making fun of me. Yes, I am a guy and yes, I stared at her butt and saw her boobs. I did the same to you when we met. It's a species imperative and I can't control it sometimes. I think yours are slightly smaller but perkier. Her pale skin is beautiful, but your tan skin is what I prefer. That satisfy you? Or you want more?”
“Yes, Master!” she said excitedly, barely keeping her voice down.
I could see the humor on her face and hear it in her voice.
Tas came back and served Tyla her wine and gave me my tea. It smelled like English breakfast tea. It wasn't coffee, but it would do.
“Your rooms will be ready in a couple of hours. Ya want a bath? We only have the one but it's open for now.”
“Please!” Tyla said. “We will take a bath after breakfast.”
“Only one at a time. But if ya want an attendant, I can help ya miss since I run the bath in the day. I'll get tha cook to watch tha counter, and my father should be down soon.”
Tyla nodded. “Yes, please. After breakfast. Do you want to go first then?” She said, looking at me.
“No, go ahead. I will take mine after.”
Tas smiled an
d left while I took my first sip of tea, looking forward to the new version of caffeine once more.
20
The Bairds
I was sitting and enjoying my tea, relishing the caffeine that came with it but still dreaming of coffee.
“Are you one of the new guests?” A voice came from behind me.
I turned towards the large man. His hair red but had some gray in it. A beard adorned his heavy face, and his body was massive, though a gut was pushing out of his belt, showing he may have softened recently. His muscled arms and the way he stood, though, that put me on guard. That was a killer's stance if I ever saw one.
“Yes Sir. Are you Tasnia's father?”
The man nodded. “Yes, I saw her leading the other young woman to the baths. She looks… familiar to me and I was hoping to get your names.”
I stamped down on the alarm that flooded through me. “I don't know what you mean?”
“I have seen her here before. I think she is someone important.”
I shifted my legs to put myself in a better position to leave the seat quickly. Trying to prepare without setting him off.
“None of that son, I don't mean you any harm.”
He was a killer, or at least trained, if he noticed that movement. So, I relaxed as best I could. “What do you want?”
The man sat down at the table across from me, putting both hands out and flattening them against the table in a non-threatening manner.
“That's Tyla Russel, isn't it?”
“I could waste your time and deny it, but I won't. I will just warn you I will protect her… violently, if you threaten us.”
“I would normally smack a young pup like you for such words, but your eyes speak to experience beyond your age.”
I just glared at him.
“Good.” He nodded. “My name is Roman Baird, and I know Tyla's mother and served her grandmother in my youth. Her mother and my wife were friends… long ago. Tas's mother was close to most of the nobles. Not Chosen herself, but from a long line of them. With the changes we are hearing out of the north… I… worry for my daughter. Please tell me if you are running from them?”
“If we were?”
He let out a breath. “The rumors are they are turning all the Chosen into demented sex slaves to the Demi's. I know Tyla, or at-least I knew her mother before… She joined him. I don't know you though and that is my problem.”
“What are you asking?”
“I… don't know,” He deflated. The killer in him turning off and the father turning on. “I want to send my daughter away before they get her. I have been around enough to know some of the early signs of being Chosen.”
“What signs?” I asked, curious.
“I was part of the personal guard for Tyla's grandmother. The young women who would become Chosen all showed certain signs before their test day at nineteen. The guards all knew what to look for, so we would inform the Matriarch. Who would prepare them as soon as possible without them knowing? They kept it secret from the young women, but it was never really a surprise who would be Chosen or not.
“In Tasnia's case… periodically she would do things like grab a pot from the fire without gloves, never recognizing it being scalding hot. I don't think she ever thought about it, but I noticed it. Other things as well.”
I would not tell him about my abilities, but that was useful information to have. “Have you told her?”
“No, I… don't want to take any actions until I set a course. If you know what I mean. I just don't know what will happen if I move too quickly.”
“We are going to be here for a few days, at least while we wait to meet up with someone else. If at the end of that time, you feel you can trust us, you and your daughter can come with us.”
“That's the problem. I can't go. Promised Tas' mother, I would look after the place when she died. I don't think that Seir will give two shits about an old, retired war horse like me, but I can't risk her being here when they come. That is why I want to get to know you. If you are protecting Tyla, you might be worthy enough to get Tas out as well.”
“I make no promises, I don't know you either… yet. But I will consider it.”
“Fair, I will pay you, though. I am assuming you were a bodyguard as well. You have the look, and Tyla with you gives me hope.”
That explains his willingness to trust me. He thinks I am a kindred spirit, I guess. In a way, he was not wrong, he just did not have the right specifics.
“Something like that. It's complicated though, and I can't really explain. If what you hope comes to pass, and we let her come with us, I will protect her till my dying breath. That I can give my word on. Do you understand?”
He smiled, “You got a spine kid, or an old soul. Because no one who hasn't killed to protect another should have that look in their eyes. I understand. Do you need anything while you're in town?”
“Supplies, we have a couple of items, but we need basic armor. I need to get a sword or something more than a knife and supplies to get us down to Riven Hold at least. I actually think farther than that, I have a feeling it will not stay free much longer either.”
“You take my daughter with you and promise to get her safely away. I will give you one of my swords. My first one. It's of a fine make and has a lot of experience behind it. Given to me by Tyla's grandmother when I became one of her protectors as a matter of fact.”
“If we come to terms after a day or two, I will accept. You should also tell her your suspicions.”
A sound to my right got me to turn as a beautiful and freshly clean Tyla walked out of the door in a robe. Tasnia was right behind her. They were whispering softly before they saw the two of us sitting together.
Tasnia jerked. “Father! What are ya doing?”
Tas's father laughed at her reaction and glanced over at me. “Just talking to the bo—” He caught himself. “Young man here. Having a polite conversation since it's so slow I got nothing better to do. Anyway, your room is ready, you can take your stuff up and get settled, the bath will be clean and ready for you when you come down.” He tossed a room key with a number '12' on it to me.
“Thank you, Sir,” I said formally. “My name is Derrick, by the way, or Derk, if you prefer.”
We shook hands. He reached for my wrist and clasped rather than my hand. I had to adjust quickly, and he looked at me oddly because of it.
“I will be by ta wash your clothes while ya bathe. Just ring the bell when ya are in tha bath,” Tasnia said.
“Thank you,” I said and stood, looking to Tyla. “Let's go get settled.”
We left the father and daughter who began whispering behind us in a heated exchange. I could tell Tyla wanted to speak to me as well.
“What was her father talking to you about?” Tyla asked in a whisper just as the door closed.
I placed our gear in the corner, grabbing the few sets of clothes I salvaged or saved since I got here. Piling them up on the small bed. The room was just four walls with a small table two people could eat at. No glass in the windows, but it had a wooden shutter which was open to let in the light. Several candles adorned the room in brass fixtures on the walls and a chamber pot was in the corner.
“I am going to miss plumbing, I think.”
“That word did not translate.”
“Hmm? Yes, sorry, distracted for a second. It was nothing. Though that reminds me. Why are Tasnia's words coming out weird to me rather than translated?”
She sighed in frustration because I never answered her question. “Sometimes when you first meet someone, you hear what you expect to hear rather than what is being said. It is common with the other species, but I did not notice her having an accent. And no, I do not know why or how that is. But please master, may I know the answer to my question?”
“Hmm, I guess her looks made me think of an Irish bar wench from my world. That might have done it. Never heard an accent with her father, which is why I thought about it. I wonder if it will go away now that I
know or⸺”
“Master!” Tyla hissed in the loudest whisper she could manage.
I laughed. “Sorry, but that's for teasing me earlier. Fine, he knew who you were and wanted to send Tasnia with us.”
“So, she was right!” Tyla said, mostly to herself.
“Your turn. Spill.”
“Spill what?”
“The… never-mind. What did you two talk about?”
“She did not know who I was, but she suspected we were running from the north and that I was a Chosen. Her dad has been acting strangely lately and talking to all the travelers that have passed through. She did not know why.”
“Because he knows she is also Chosen and wants to get her out of here.”
“How… would he know that?”
I explained to her what Roman said to me about the signs and that they kept it from the younger generations.
“Why would they do that?” Tyla asked.
“No idea, but in my world, young women tend to talk and ruin the surprise. Young men too, for that matter, so they probably waited until maturity before they told you all the secrets.”
“How come I never noticed them?”
“No idea. Probably just played them off as weird but normal. Humans are weird that way,” she said, giving her a shrug of my arms. “Anything else from your talk with Tas?”
“She is extremely sweet when you get past her gruff exterior. She gets approached by the men in town constantly, so she is usually on guard.”
“That sounds like most men I know.”
“None of them in town are really her age and they pester her a lot, but her father keeps them back. It has gotten worse since the Chosen in this town left for the north.”
“So, they were captured or killed like you thought?”
“I am afraid so. One of them was like a mother to Tasnia.”
I winced. “If she mentions it, I will give her my condolences. You will be alright by yourself up here while I bathe?”
“Yes, I finally feel at least a little safer, though I don't want to be apart from you. I think that is more the bond than my fears now… Oh, she was very interested in you, and asked a lot of questions about us and you specifically.”
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