“Pfft! No, they’ll just get all th’ good stuff and leave me th’ scraps—or try an’ prig ’em off me if they’re good enough. But you, Kaijin—you’re a fiddler! The first fiddler I’ve seen around ’ere who actually talked to me! Not like some o’ those other arrogant, pompous sods from Ghaeldorund and beyond. ’Sides, if we ’appen to get in a pinch, then you can show off your ‘dangerous’ fiddlin’ skills, aye?”
“Magic is not a toy, nor should it be misused.”
“Never said that, mate, though it must be fun to make li’l sparklies come outta your ’ands, aye?”
Kaijin rolled his eyes.
Nester tapped his chin. “... Tellya what. If you ’elp me, I’ll share my room at th’ Cask an’ Iron. Other than that soddin’ annoyin’ innkeeper, th’ place’s got comfy rooms, good food an’ drinks, an’ cute, tall women.” He chuckled. “So, do we ’ave a deal or what?”
Kaijin paused to consider his options. He was beginning to smell horse piss on himself, which reminded him of the dreary conditions he’d endured. He looked at Nester, who bore a childlike, mischievous grin on his face. “I don’t know if I should trust him, Miele. What do you think?”
Miele responded with a soft screech and a single flap of her wings.
A surge of excitement filled Kaijin’s mind, and he cracked a smile. “Yes, I know you’ll keep me safe. You’re a good bat.” He regarded Nester again and his smile quickly faded. “All right. I’ll help you earn some coin. But no thievery, you hear?”
Nester’s face brightened, and he clapped his hands together once, startling the horses. “Wonderful! Well, then! Let’s be off. Th’ Cask an’ Iron is in th’ northern part of town—quite ritzy, I might add. I’ll tell you all about my li’l project when we get there.” He turned and walked out of the stables, with a happy skip to his steps.
* * *
Entering the Cask and Iron, Kaijin was overwhelmed by the scents of various types of wines and strong incense. The windows were decorated with colorful, cascading draperies, while plush, exotic rugs covered the wooden floor. Dim light from the sparse candles placed throughout the quiet, empty main room created an atmosphere so calm, it made Kaijin yawn sleepily.
“Looks like th’ innkeeper stepped out,” Nester whispered to Kaijin as they made their way to the stairs. “Good riddance, I say. Let’s hurry upstairs before—”
A door creaked shut behind them.
A set of footsteps padded across the wood floors from the backroom. A thin, middle-aged man poked his head through the doorway. He bore a deep scowl on his angular face as he regarded Nester and Kaijin with dark brown eyes.
Nester sighed as the man approached.
Kaijin studied the innkeeper’s immaculate attire. The sleeves of his tunic were trimmed in silver. A matching silver buckle molded in the shape of an abstract design accented the belt he wore around his small waist. His white pants were clean and crisp, devoid of a single speck of dirt.
“You think I not forget?” the innkeeper said to the brownie, placing his bronze hands on his hips. His voice rolled in a thick, exotic accent.
“’Ey, I’m paid up for three more days, yet!” Nester retorted. “Don’t go ’oundin’ me ’bout payin’!”
The innkeeper bent down and prodded his finger in Nester’s chest. “Your type are sticky-fingered cheats. I have my eye on you.”
Nester slapped the man’s hand away, glaring. “And ‘your type’ are a buncha greedy sods!”
The innkeeper stood and regarded Kaijin. “Do not trust these little people, sir. They pick your pockets faster than you blink!”
Kaijin nodded absently, remaining silent. He tried to place the man’s strange yet familiar-seeming dialect.
“All right,” Nester grumbled. “If you’re done patronizin’ us, can we be off to bed, now?”
“He pay?” The man thumbed at Kaijin.
Nester groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. “Soddin’ ’ells! Fine!” He grabbed five silver pieces from his coin pouch and presented it to the innkeeper forcefully. “’Ere!”
The innkeeper took the coins, carefully counted them and then looked at Nester. “I charge you double for trying to sneak him in.”
Nester’s eyes widened. “What!”
“Excuse me,” Kaijin said finally. “I don’t mean to cause any trouble here. I will find someplace else to sleep for the night. Please give Nester back his money. I will leave.” He headed for the door.
“Oy! Wait!” Nester rushed after Kaijin and grabbed a handful of his robes. “I still need you, Kaijin! A deal’s a deal, y’know! I’ll grit my teeth an’ bear ’avin’ to lose th’ money if it means a greater treasure awaitin’ at th’ end, aye?” He glared at the innkeeper from over his shoulder. “I can’t stand you Ankhram sods!”
Kaijin paused, reaching for the door handle to go outside.
The innkeeper huffed. “It is called business, little man. I can easily throw you out of my inn.”
“Try as you will. You’ll have to catch me, first!” Nester jeered.
Kaijin quirked his eyebrow at the innkeeper. “Ankhram? You are from Ankhram?”
The man’s eyes turned to Kaijin. “Yes, and contrary to what the little man says, I am quite reputable, as is anyone from Ankhram. We are a noble race.”
Kaijin moved away from the door. “How interesting. My mother—she was from Ankhram.... At least, that was what my father once told me when I was a boy.”
The man’s thick, jet-black beard shifted slightly upward as he made a wide smile. “Ah, then you would understand, yes? It is not often I meet travelers from the old country. Most are traders.”
“My father was a trader,” Kaijin said. “My mother stayed at home and took care of my brother and me.” He paused, feeling a lump forming in his throat as he remembered his family.
“Ankhram is very far from here. You have come a long way. How wonderful it is to speak to a fellow brother.”
“Well, actually, I’m not—ow!” Kaijin glared at Nester.
Nester innocently glanced toward the ceiling, then regarded Kaijin. “Oh! Sorry, mate—did I step on your foot? Didn’t see it there. Silly me.”
The innkeeper looked between the two, then approached Kaijin, handing him the silver pieces. “I will be lenient just this once because of this pleasant conversation. But business is business, and you will need to pay next time. But I will give you ... special rate.” His gaze briefly shifted to Nester. “Your price still remains, little man.”
Nester puffed out his chest. “’Ey, now! If it wasn’t for me bringin’ Kaijin here, you wouldn’t be chewin’ gums with your ‘fellow brother’!” He swiped the silver pieces from Kaijin’s hand.
The innkeeper made a sour face. “Perhaps you have point. Fine. In three days, you pay, and not a day later.”
Nester smiled wide. “That’s fine with me! Come on, Kaijin.”
Before Kaijin could speak, Nester grabbed his hand and pulled him upstairs.
* * *
Nester clicked open the last door down the short hallway and shuffled into the room. “Ah, ’ere we are.”
Kaijin peered inside. The tiny room was furnished for a single occupant—a stripped, wooden bunk; an engraved armoire that sat against the wall across from it; a small desk atop which several parchments were strewn; and a washtub in one corner. A makeshift hammock crafted from the linen bedding was strung in another corner next the room’s only window, which sat on the far wall. The ends of the hammock were nailed haphazardly to the adjacent drab walls.
“You’re paying double for this?” Kaijin asked, stepping into the room.
“Aye, can you believe it? ’E’s robbin’ me blind, I tell you! But what can I do? If I don’t play by ’is rules, ’e’ll kick me out. An’ there ain’t no other place to stay in this city. Anyway, I don’t mind th’ room so much. Th’ bed’s too soft for my tastes, though. You can ’ave it.”
Kaijin beamed at the sight of the bed. “Thank you, Nester. You don’t
know how grateful I am to be able to finally sleep in a bed again.”
“Sure I do.” Nester chuckled. He wriggled out of his leather jerkin, kicked off his boots, and then climbed into his hammock. “The more I think about it, the more I realize we’re not that different from one another, y’know?” After making himself comfortable, he pulled the woolen blanket over him.
“I doubt that.” Kaijin wandered over to the corner and peered at the washtub, which was half-filled with water.
Nester propped his hands behind his head and watched him. “It’s simple, really. No one likes me ’cause they think all brownies are nothin’ but priggers and lowlifes. Well, it ain’t true, y’know. We actually got a spot of dignity in our ’earts. I don’t like ’urtin’ people—well unless they intend to ’urt me first. Anyway, ’umans are stubborn. I’d just be wastin’ my breath tryin’ to convince ’em I’m not a bad person. As for you? Well, no one likes you ’cause you’re a fiddler—and fiddlers are s’posedly dangerous. No one likes us, mate—we’re outcasts! Ain’t that a soddin’ shame? ... Oh, th’ water got changed this mornin’.”
Kaijin peered at his reflection in the water. His short, thick red hair stuck up haphazardly like wildfire. His tanned face had lost its boyish charm and good looks—replaced with a weathered, tired face that looked haunted. Damn, how did I let myself get like this?
He began taking off his once-flamboyant noble robes, which were dirtied and frayed at the hems from the many days’ travel. Keeping his back to Nester, Kaijin glanced over his shoulder. “So what’s this ‘help’ you need from me?”
Nester rocked himself in the hammock as he thought. “Well, you see, contrary to what you’ve probably ’eard about me, I’m an explorer—an ... an obtainer of rare antiquities. Aye, that’s it. My Uncle Nickle’s a merchant, you see, but th’ poor sod’s gettin’ on in years. ’E wants me to take over th’ family business, but I ain’t got nothin’ valuable to sell. So, I’m ’opin’ to find a trinket or two to get th’ business started again.”
Kaijin scoffed. “By stealing?”
“Nay! I ain’t a prigger—I’m an explorer!”
“I fail to see the difference in your words.”
“I swear on my pa’s grave I ain’t priggin’ no one for somethin’ like this! It’s too easy to do that, anyway. Uncle Nickle ran ’is business sellin’ stuff ’e found on ’is adventures. Well, ’e did have fast fingers, too, but ’e really loved th’ thrill of explorin’. Anyway, priggin’ ain’t bad if no one knows you’re doin’ it—that’s what my pa used to say.”
Kaijin’s head was starting to throb. He rubbed his temples. “Look, just get to the point, will you?”
“Well, I was gonna do some explorin’ outside o’ town,” Nester said. “There’s this place about a day’s travel southwest that I’ve been wantin’ to visit since I came to Faywald a week ago. Some ruins are supposedly there that were once used by th’ foresty blokes a long, long time ago.”
Kaijin was about to get into the tub when he paused. “What’s so special about some ruins?”
“Th’ foresty blokes are an odd bunch, they are, but I’ve ’eard they sometimes tend to ’oard a few trinkets. That’s where you come in. I need you to ’elp me search th’ ruins and ’opefully find somethin’ worthwhile.”
“Forget it. I’m not a thief, and I don’t intend to pillage some ruins in the middle of nowhere.”
“‘Explorer’!” Nester corrected. “We’re doin’ explorin’! Besides, you said you’d ’elp. A deal’s a deal, aye?” He rolled on his side and closed his eyes. “Now, I’m gonna catch me a few winks. Tomorrow’s a big day, y’know. We’re gonna find us some treas—ah, that is, find somethin’ amazin’ in those ruins for my Uncle Nickle’s business, aye!”
Kaijin sighed and got into the tub. Letting the cool water settle over him, Kaijin half-listened to the brownie’s ramblings and began meditating on the day’s events, instead. He stared down at the partially submerged charm hanging around his neck. Steam rose from the fire symbol, which glowed faintly, its light reflecting beautifully off the water’s surface. The charm felt warm against his skin, and soon the water warmed to a soothing temperature. He sighed. How is it that I’ve been spared from death for this long?
“You will never understand me, Kaijin Sora,” the fiery voice responded.
“Like hells I won’t,” Kaijin said aloud, frowning.
“Eh? You say somethin’, mate?”
Kaijin blinked, pulled from his trance. He looked up at Nester, who was gazing at him sleepily. “N–No, sorry, I was just thinking to myself.”
“Well think quieter, will you?” Nester rolled back over and closed his eyes.
Kaijin resumed his bath. He sensed Miele’s presence nearby. He spied the faint flutter of shadows outside the window. “I’m fine, Miele,” he assured her. “Go play. Enjoy the night. But stay near the inn.” He felt a pleasant pang in his mind moments later, and the shadows were gone.
After a relaxing bath, Kaijin washed his dirty clothes in the tub and hung them out the window to dry. Afterwards, he finally lay on the bed, not caring that it was stripped of its linens. The featherbed cradled him, and the charm around his neck maintained a steady heat as it pulsated against his chest, soothing his body. He immediately fell asleep despite the memories that still haunted him.
III
“Rise an’ shine, mate!” Nester’s strident voice broke Kaijin’s peaceful respite.
As Kaijin slowly opened his eyes, he was momentarily blinded by the morning sunlight. His eyes adjusted, and he gazed upon the brownie’s grinning face.
“C’mon.” Nester leaned over the bed, watching him. “We’ll never get out there at this rate. Oy! Get up, will you?”
Kaijin groaned, shaking off the remainder of sleep. He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. He felt the steady warmth of his necklace pressed against his bare chest.
“That’s a mighty fine necklace you got there.” Nester sounded awed. “Quite a beauty. It looks just like fire. I feel as though I’ve seen somethin’ like that somewhere before....”
Kaijin glimpsed Nester’s hand extending toward the charm and promptly grabbed the brownie’s hand. He muttered sleepily, “It’s just a worthless trinket. Nothing someone like you would find interest in, I’m certain.” He shoved Nester’s hand away.
Nester’s belly groaned, interrupting his response. “We’ll continue this later. I’m starvin’! Y’know, th’ innkeeper’s wife makes th’ finest poached eggs this side of Aransiya ’as ever seen!” He went to his side of the room, slipped on his jerkin and belt pouches, grabbed his satchel, and bolted out the door.
After Nester left, Kaijin slid out of bed and retrieved his clean, dry clothes from the windowsill. As he got dressed, he sensed Miele’s presence nearby. He peered out the window. The cool, crisp morning air kissed his face. He rubbed his damaged earlobes, which itched as they began to heal. The sensation triggered memories of the previous day’s incident.
Miele flew inside and landed atop his haversack on the floor. Screeching happily, she nudged her tiny nose against the leather flap.
Smiling, Kaijin approached her and knelt down. “Hungry, are you?” He retrieved the honeystick jar from the bag, opened it, and pulled out a single treat. He stroked her tawny fur while he watched her savor the honeystick. “You’re making me hungry, now. Why don’t you enjoy your snack outside?” He returned to the window, and Miele followed, carrying the honeystick in her mouth. She flew outside and up toward the inn’s rooftop. Kaijin put on his shoes, grabbed his haversack and headed downstairs for breakfast.
He maneuvered through the crowded inn, looking for a place to sit. He spotted Nester, who sat alone in a corner at a large round table. Kaijin shuffled over and took an empty seat adjacent to him. Kaijin arched his eyebrow, noticing the numerous dishes on the table and the sheer amount of food that piled each of them.
Nester stuffed a poached egg into his mouth. His cheeks bulged as he
chewed.
“Don’t tell me you’re really going to eat all this.” Kaijin gestured to the untouched dishes.
Nester swallowed. “An’ why not? Y’think just ’cause I’m small, my appetite’s gotta be, too?”
“Well ... yes, actually.”
Nester waved him off. “Bah! You ’umans an’ your soddin’ stereotypes. S’gonna be a long trip y’know. I may not ’ave another meal like this for a few days, yet!”
Kaijin shook his head at him. This was a bad idea. He quickly gestured to one of the passing serving wenches. “One bowl of apple porridge, please. And some cinnamon tea with honey.”
Nester wolfed down another egg, then picked up a piece of rye toast. “Apple porridge? This is one of th’ few places in Faywald that offer th’ grandest meals, an’ all you get is soddin’ porridge?”
Kaijin blinked. “What’s wrong with porridge?”
“It’s commoner food. If you’re gonna stay in a place like this, you gotta act like th’ ritzy blokes.”
“Strange. No one told me that.” Kaijin skeptically eyed the brownie.
“You ’aven’t been around ritzy blokes much, I take it.”
“No, I haven’t. And I’ve always liked apple porridge since I was a boy.”
Nester’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Aye? Well you don’t look like a boy to me. It’s ’igh time you start eatin’ like a man!”
“Look, Nester. Don’t criticize my eating habits.”
“Why? You criticized mine. Gotta make things even, y’know.”
Kaijin rolled his eyes.
Nester smirked at him mischievously, then began smearing globs of honey on the toast.
Silence lingered between them as Kaijin leaned his elbows on the table and watched the rest of the patrons. Compared to those folk, he looked like the refugees on the streets.
The serving wench returned and set a bowl of steaming porridge and a small cup of tea before Kaijin.
Kaijin eyed his meal before dipping his spoon into the porridge and stirring in the sliced apples that sat atop the mix. It smelled heavenly, sparking memories of home. He took a modest taste from his spoon. It was rather bland—nothing like how his mother used to make it. There was no cinnamon, and the apples did not complement the overall taste of the porridge like he’d expected. He ate it anyway, taking Nester’s advice that it might be the only meal he would have for a while.
Enflamed (Book 2) Page 3