‘Fairies, elves? Or are they aliens?’ He recognized some as elves, but most had a different skin pigment than Tybor’s, and in just about every hue you could imagine. He even recognized some of the people as Pookas, but no one had explained to him that there were all these other different beings.
Most of them were at least humanoid. A few had insect-like wings, like he’d heard of in stories about fairies. The little sprite creatures in the bioluminaire had wings, but none of them were six-foot-tall or more, like some of the ones he saw now.
He gawked at the others as they passed, especially the ones that had horns or spikes on their heads or other body parts; and was even more surprised that some had reptilian like tails and scaly skin. Some even had feathered wings and he didn’t think that was very fairy like at all. ‘Maybe they were some kind of angels?’
“Remember what Tybor said to do when we met strangers on the road?” Rowen reiterated, “Don’t do anything to call attention to ourselves. Remember, don’t stare and just keep moving forward.”
Staring was something Aidan just couldn’t help though, and people began staring back.
Following Rowen’s example they put their hoods up so no one could see the shape of their ears. “No reason to scare them with the sight of humans. It’s bad enough our skin’s human, but that happens to some elves or dwyver who are born that way,” Rowen added.
Aidan noticed that Rowen seemed as if he were already somewhat familiar with the town, strolling down the path as if he’d been here many times. Deep ruts of skitterdu tracks ran through the middle of the streets. Painted dark wooden buildings lined their sides.
Many had false fronts to make them appear larger than they were, but a few had multiple stories with shuttered windows, and even a few were bricked or had stone at the base and some had second story balconies.
However, the thing that made it look most like an old western town was the wide wooden walk with spindled columned railings. It made a porch like covering that connected the buildings, allowing travelers to stay off the road and out of the sun or other elements.
The clothing the people wore enchanted Aidan. The brightly colored mixed metallic-like materials were a complete contrast to the drab painted buildings and plain linens and leathery materials he’d seen most of the pookas and elves wear. The females wore colorful tightly laced bodice tops and ruffled skirts that came to their ankles in the back, yet open at the waist in the front to reveal tight leggings underneath. They also carried lace fans or parasols which they used to cover their cosmetically applied faces.
Aidan observed that the men wore much less clothing. Many were shirtless and branded with some kind of full body tattoo or wore only brocaded vests and tight pants or leggings with boots. Some wore one pieced outfits much like the ones Tybor wore, and fewer still were attired in ruffled linen like shirts reminiscent of what Aidan had seen in pirate movies.
A few wore capes or cloaks, and some wore long-tailed coats, making him think of trench coats. He couldn’t help but notice that many had belts with sheathed swords or guns of some sort on their sides or carried canes with pointed metallic tips that resembled spears, and it made him wonder if they would be in danger here.
“Quit staring man,” Rowen tried to discreetly whisper. “Remember we’re just travelers passing through.”
“Sorry,” Aidan whispered, “but I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Yeah I know,” Rowen chuckled. “It tripped me out the first time I saw them too. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. The Pixie Dust Inn is just at the end of this street. It ain’t much, but like Tybor said it will do.”
Aidan and Tat let Rowen take the lead and quickly followed him to the last set of buildings. A worn out gold calligraphed sign that read, “Pixie Dust Inn” swung freely from the middle of the covered walk finalizing their arrival at the dilapidated building.
The place seemed to be teeming with Fae. While it looked as if it had seen better days, it appeared to be having no problem procuring business.
“Welcome to the Pixie Dust,” a short, balding ancient looking male elf greeted them behind a very cluttered registration counter. “What can I do for you?”
“Merry meet,” Rowen replied remembering the formal greeting his amma taught him to give when he needed to be polite to someone he’d just met. “We were told to seek out a Miss Perry Winkle. This is her...” he stammered, “establishment, right?”
Both Aidan and Tat glanced at Rowen, wondering why he phrased it that way.
“Yes, Perry is the proprietor, but she’s indisposed right now. However, I can help you if you’d like,” the man grinned, his eyes squinted giving him a very comical expression.
“Oh... uhmm... ok,” Rowen stuttered. “Well, I think we’ll just wait for her then.”
“Suit yourself,” the old man said, returning to some papers laying on the counter as Rowen signaled for Tat and Aidan to follow him to a group of chairs in the adjacent room.
The lounging area smelled of sour milk and an exotic floral scent; the vile combination made Tat sneeze as soon as they were seated. The heavy black velvet-like curtains that covered the windows and walls were coated in layers of dust, which didn’t help with the sneezing.
Rowen seemed nervous, almost as if he were afraid, jumping at every little sound which neither Aidan nor Tat found reassuring. Tok walked around in circles brushing against their feet, as if she weren’t at all certain that they should be there, she stared at the lizard fae leaning in the corner that tapped his cane on the ground then flicked his tongue at her as if sizing up his lunch.
There was a group of men in one smoke-filled corner passing around some strange looking pipe with a hose running into an odd vase looking thing. It didn’t take long to realize that was the origin of the sour smell. Some scantily clad women, or at least Aidan believed they could be women, hovered around giggling as the men talked.
“This is an inn, right?” Aidan directed the question at Rowen.
“Well, it has rooms, beds, and you can get a bath here,” Rowen sheepishly answered.
As realization seized Aidan his face became depleted of color and then suddenly flushed bright red, “Did Tybor send us to a whor–”
“Don’t.” Rowen cut him off quickly. “Don’t say that word man, it doesn’t mean what you think it does here and people will get very offended.”
The chatter hushed as everyone glanced momentarily in their direction, but Rowen smiled and waved, and the guests resumed their prior activities.
“Well, fine, is this a...” Aidan lowered his voice to a whisper. “A house of ill repute?”
“What’s a house of ill repute?” Tat innocently questioned at a normal audible level.
“If I said yes, it still doesn’t change the fact we can get a room and you a bath like you’re always going on about.” Aidan started to object when a beautifully robust elf woman approached them.
Miss Perry Winkle wore a very stunning metallic sleeveless pink dress that had dark branches with little red blooms embroidered on them. Her nearly luminous bluish skin shimmered with little gold glittery flecks and it was hard to tell if it was natural or if she covered it with some kind of cosmetic. Her pale blue face painted with a pattern that resembled a fan of lavender colored feathers surrounding her steel gray eyes caught Tats attention.
Her painted lips glistened from a brilliant purple shade and she wore a lighter hue on her cheeks to match which blended well with her long curly locks of sparkling violet. Tat was enamored by her, wishing she could be that beautiful.
“I was told you were looking for me?” She hid half her face as she spoke with a lace fan that coordinated with her dress.
“Miss Perry Winkle?” Rowen asked, and she nodded in response. “A mutual friend of ours... Tybor... said we should find you and get a room here at your inn. We’re just travelers. We only need the room, and can pay... uhm, we just need the room, not any services of any kind.” Rowen saw Aidan glaring. “Well
, maybe a bath would be fine,” he added.
“Tybor MonSeils? That ol’ son of a Shadderahn,” she lowered her fan and collapsed it, then crossed her arms before sighing. “Well, I guess I do owe him a favor, but one night – one night only. I do rent my rooms by the hour, so that’s all the business I’m willing to lose. He’s not going to be joining you, is he? Because if he is – that’s a deal breaker.”
“Uhm, no ma’am” Rowen quickly answered, even though he wasn’t entirely certain he was telling the truth or why it would be a deal breaker.
“Good, well, let’s get you three settled in. Better you up in a room and out of view than three human children sitting in my parlor. And be sure you keep that cat in your room, I don’t want it roaming around and getting into things. Tybor. I swear I don’t know what that elf was thinking!” She ranted while motioning for the counter attendant.
Aidan plopped on the end of the single person bed and yanked the boots off, falling backwards to the instant relief the bed offered. His bare feet had blisters from the unforgiving leather and wooden soles and needed to breathe. For a moment he felt guilty about taking the only bed but was too worn out to give it another thought. The tiny room wasn’t built to shelter three people, but the porter promised he would bring a cot in later.
Rowen turned up the shutters on the bioluminaire in the darkened room since the single window didn’t offer much light from the fading sunset. Taking a seat on a small padded chair, he propped his pack up on the footrest, deciding to poke around in it.
Tok decided to occupy a tiny area on the window ledge and Tatyana was left right where she decided she should be, leaning up against the barren dusty back wall, slowly slumping to the floor. She had already decided that Aidan should get the bed, Rowen the cot, and she would take the floor.
“So, we have until tomorrow, then what?” Aidan questioned Rowen figuring he was the one to ask at this point. “Is Tybor going to be back by then?”
“I have no idea what that elf has planned,” Rowen annoyingly dismissed that part of the question, “but we have got to secure passage to Graymark.”
Tat wanted to add that things would seem better after they got a good night’s rest, but instead bit her lower lip, still angry at Aidan. Why should she bother with giving her opinion? She was determined that her only position in this leg of the journey was to help Aidan as he needed it, even if she couldn’t stand him right now. Even if he was turning out to be a person she didn’t really like, it was still her fault that he was here in the first place. And the best thing she should do right now was just keep quiet and to herself.
Neither Aidan nor Rowen seemed to notice how distant Tat was being and continued contemplating their next move. A faint knock on the door suddenly interrupted them. Tatyana opened the door to a small plainly dressed dark haired and olive-skinned elven girl. “Your bath is ready miss.”
“My bath?”
“Yes miss. I will be your attendant.”
“I didn’t ask for a bath.”
“The bath is for Aidan” Rowen reminded Tat.
“Oh. Right,” Tat blushed with embarrassment, totally forgetting about that part. She opened the door wider to point to Aidan.
“Your bath is ready sir,” the attendant corrected herself speaking to Aidan now. “If you will just follow me.”
“Well go on dude, follow her!” Rowen giggled while shoving Aidan off the bed towards the girl. Aidan leered at Rowen but sheepishly followed the attendant.
Tat thought of how submissive and demure the girl seemed, wondering if things would be different if she presented herself that way. Maybe then she could fulfill her obligation to him without all this confrontation.
While Aidan bathed, Rowen guessed at Aidan’s sizes and obtained a few outfits of clothes for him with the help of the counter clerk. Tat took the opportunity to calm herself a bit and laid out the dinner using the nightstand and footrest as a small makeshift table.
It wasn’t much longer after Rowen returned that they heard Aidan halfway down the hall telling the elven girl that he didn’t require any further assistance getting dressed. He nearly slammed the door to keep her out once he made it back to the room.
“Enjoy your bath?” Rowen teased.
“Oh! Just shut up,” Aidan quipped while adjusting his short linen like robe, “these people obviously have no sense of privacy.”
“Well, maybe this will cheer you up,” Rowen pointed to the clothes he’d laid out in display on the bed.
There were three tunic style shirts, a green one, a blue one with a v-neck style to it, and a dark red one with longer sleeves. Aidan grabbed a tunic and held it up for examination. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple grass colored tunic made from simple fibers. They didn’t feel too scratchy, and he was thankful for that.
There were also two pairs of brownish pants, or perhaps leggings would be a better term for them and a few pair of flimsy stocking things that he guessed were to be used like socks. Then he noticed three long strips of some gauzy material.
“What exactly am I supposed to do with these?” he questioned picking up the gauze.
“Uhm, well...” Rowen thought how to word it, “that’s what passes for underwear here man.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Nope, that’s why I just go freestyle.”
Tatyana gave them both strange looks, and noticing her, Rowen asked her politely if she minded stepping out into the hall so that Aidan could get changed. Embarrassed again, she nodded and hurried out the door.
Her heart was racing as if she’d been running, but she didn’t understand why. She couldn’t help herself. Her mind kept flashing thoughts of what Aidan looked like without the robe. Her cheeks flushed from further embarrassment.
What in Shadderah was making her think of such a thing? She wasn’t even sure if she could stand him at this point, why would she think of him like that! Moments later, Rowen opened the door and told her it was safe to come back in, asking her what she thought of Aidan’s new clothes.
“Oh, uhm,” she mumbled, cheeks flushing more. “You did well guessing his size. They look like they were made to fit,” she replied, remembering her manners and trying her best to not give away the thoughts she just had.
“Well,” Rowen decided this might be a good time to bring up some related news, “I hope they all fit, because we don’t have money to buy more or get them tailored. I think Tybor underestimated how much he left us because after paying for the room and the bath, that took the last of it.”
“But how will we get passage on the skitterdu now?” Tat blurted out what they were all thinking.
“I guess we’ll just have to wait until Tybor gets back and hope he has more coin,” Rowen reasoned.
“And when is he coming back?” Aidan adjusted his tunic.
“He said he’d meet up with us before we left, so I’m sure he won’t be long.” Rowen tried reassuring them. “Or at least I hope he won’t be.”
Chapter Nine
The Pits
“I
don’t think I’ve ever been this tired in my entire life,” Aidan complained, dropping his scrub brush into the barrel of filthy water. Nearly a month had passed since they’d arrived, and their patience were wearing thin, especially Aidan’s.
“I know you’re tired,” Tat stopped cleaning the underbelly of the slogbotton for just a moment to address him. “But we’ve almost got enough saved for the trip. Just a few more shifts and we’ll be able to leave these pits, then hopefully we’ll never have to do this again.”
“Once we get out of this place, I don’t even want to think of one of these filthy stinking creatures again,” he grumbled then wiped away the sweat from his brow that was threatening to drip into his eyes.
The slogbotton stomped his huge trunk-like leg next to Aidan as if in protest, causing the barrel to dump out its contents, splashing Aidan’s apron full of muck.
Slogbotton were generally docile creatures that were easily d
omesticated. Their massive size made them ideal for towing large amounts of cargo since they moved quickly at a decent pace.
Upon seeing a slogbotton an Otherworlder would most likely think they were seeing a humongous tortoise without a shell or possibly some breed of elephant, just darker skinned and slightly larger.
They’re also a little hairier than elephants and without tusks or the signature flappy ears and long noses. Instead, their heads are more like birds, short and round with a small black beak attached to a thick stretched neck. They have no visible ears and a small row of spikes run from the back of their heads to the end of their short tails.
The spikes made Rowen’s job of harnessing, then re-harnessing after Aidan and Tat washed the monstrous creatures down, near impossible. Aidan decided that some good ol’ fashioned American ingenuity was needed after having to help Rowen for the second day of this punishing chore.
Splicing several harnesses together he fabricated one that would fit the beasts better and make the task much easier. Since they were paid a bonus by the number of creatures they washed this increased their timing on each animal as well.
The job, usually done with a crew minimum of five, had been the only one hiring. After stretching the food as far as they could and slumming it with tents in the alley behind the Pixie Dust, they had no other option but to take it.
It was a loathsome task that challenged them in every way imaginable. Not only was it extremely messy, the stench was almost unbearable. It didn’t help that it was now mid-Spring. In this part of the Breahs this time of the season was unbelievably warm, making the disgusting odor even worse. Any other job would have been preferable, but the Fates simply hadn’t deemed it so.
They worked tirelessly from just before sunup until sunset every day. Tat found it particularly hard because one of the conditions of them being hired was that Tok could not be on the grounds anywhere of the skitterdu station. So, she sat her furry friend down and had a long heart to heart with her and it was as if Tok fully understood and they had made a mutual agreement. Aidan assured her it was more that Tok didn’t want to be anywhere near the filthy place to begin with.
The Fateless: Errata Page 10