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Chapter 271: Holen
Violet stared at the seemingly quite average human standing before her, well maybe quivering might be the better descriptor as the man’s legs appeared to be in a constant wobble.
He was of average height, average build and average looks. The only slightly above average facet of this man was the he was seemingly the strongest individual in this small settlement. He had brown hair and brown eyes, wore simple yet mostly effective leather armour and wielded a sword and shield.
He had spoken up in relation to the fate of the attacking bandits, a word that Violet only recently learnt from Luna! Still she was awaiting the man to reply to her and it was begining to turn a touch awkward as he just stood there looking terrified and not speaking.
Luna eventually coughed into her hands gently and that seemed to snap the young man out of his stupor. He dropped into a low bow and spoke with a slightly shaky voice.
"I-I greet you honoured Lords, my name is Patrick. I-I thank you for your timely assistance in dealing with those bandits." He then paused, thoughts seeming to run through his head, eventually he firmed his shoulders and looked up slightly as he continued speaking.
"I am unable to offer any reward for your assistance other than my heartfelt thanks I am afraid. This town does not have much and I fear that anything we might have would be too insignificant to offer ones such as yourselfs."
The young man, Patrick, closed his eyes when he finished that last statement, as if afraid that what he said may be the cause of his death or something. That did confuse Violet but thankfully Luna was there to help pick up the conversation.
"Well met Patrick, as my companion said her name is Violet, my name is Luna. We require no reward as our help took no true strain from our side. We simply request to be allowed to stay the night within these walls and share in conversation. We are travelling you see and would appreciate any information that you could provide us with what lays further west of here."
By this point their conversation had attracted quite some attention. The few other guards looked at the two with a reserved sense of fear, appreciation and curiosity. The ragtag militia of the town held an even greater mix of emotions, even some revulsion which Violet easily saw with her sharp eyes. Still she did not act on anything upon Luna’s insistence, so she simply made note of those who looked at her as such and turned her attention back to Patrick.
"Ahh well that is something that we would be more than happy to provide, I can get you a room at the town inn. Free of charge for the saviours of our humble town." The man’s words rang loud for his last sentence, clearly aimed at the populace that was now observing the interaction between their guard captin and two strange and powerful beastfolk women.
His voice returned to a more reasonable level as he continued. "If you would please allow me a couple of minutes to organise my men I will be happy to lead you to the inn." Upon receiving quick nods from the two girls Patrick hurried over to the gathered guardsmen where he began to hurriedly give whispered orders to them, he likely intended for the orders to be given without the girls knowlage but that was an impossibility with their enhanced senses so they clearly heard every word that he spoke.
"Gather some men and go gather the bodies of those bandits, we can gather their equipment and dispose of the bodies so we don’t end up with a beast hoard seeking blood."
He then turned to the only woman guard and spoke softly to her. "Lyissa, can you go to the inn, get that old bastard to get a couple of room ready for them, and please try to ensure no idiots try to start anything with them, we don’t want more deaths tonight." Lyissa gave a curt nod and then dashed deeper into the town to carry out her orders.
Patrick then proceeded to dismiss the gathered malitia, giving words of thanks and reassurance that all was going to be okay. Shortly after he hesitantly returned to our companions.
"Apologies for the wait, please allow me to guide you." He gave a shallow bow once again to them and then gestured deeper into the town in the direction that Lyissa had previously ran off to.
Luna nodded and Patrick began to walk on, the lingering gaze of several townsfolk following the odd trio as they ventured into the town propper.
It was a simple town, wood and stone houses lined the main street that they walked down. Simple constructions that rarely exceeded a single story in height.
Whilst basic in build it was clear that the residents held some pride in their domiciles as colourful flowers and detailed carvings adorned the exterior of the homes.
They passed by some simple shops and eateries as they wandered deeper, all the while the citizens gazed curiously at the two beastkin walking within their walls. Also of note was that not a single beastkin was present within this town, at least not one that the girls had spotted, the populace seemed to be made entirely of humans.
As they walked Violet couldn’t help but question Patrick. "So is everyone here human? I don’t think iv spotted anyone of a different race since we entered here."
The guard seemed to tense slightly at her words but still answered nevertheless. "Yes, this town is entirely human. Most towns within the kingdom are to be honest, you only see the other races in the more metropolitan cities deeper into the country, even then they are rare."
Violet hummed at his answer before speaking up again. "Hmm how odd, the other city I visited had many different races. It will be interesting to learn more about this place. How did this town come to be?"
"Well we are one of the frontier towns, beyond these walls only the wilderness of the Great Plains lay, their are of course some bearskin enclaves scattered about within the plains. Am I correct in guessing that you originate from one of them?"
Violet was about to answer in the negative but Luna quickly grabbed her hand and gave the slightest of headshakes, seeing that Violet was going to stay silent she spoke.
"Yes, we are from one of the more remote settlements. But we have always wanted to explore, hence why we have ventured west." Patrick nodded amiably at her words, seemingly believing her words without question.
They continued on in silence for a few minutes after that, eventually arriving in front of a relatively grand building. Well grand when compared to the basic constructions of the rest of the town. It was a three story stone structure, one of the largest that they had seen within the town walls.
Outside of its doors hung a simple sign with a stylised issame of an ale mug. Stopping in front of the door leading into the building Patrick smiled at the two. "Well this is the only inn of the town, allow me to show you in and we should be able to get you some food and drink and organise a room for you to spend the night."
Saying so he pushed open the door and strode inside to a mostly quiet common room, with the exception of a loudly complaining man who was practically shouting at the guard Lyissa.
"Iv told you I ain havin no filthy beasties stayin in my inn! Don’t care none about who they may be, my inn my rules!" His gruff accent carried loud and clear over the hushed patrons of the bar as they gawked at the display.
Then they noticed the new arrivals and all heads turned to face the three of them, including the angry barkeep who’s eyes smoldered with vitriol as his gaze locked onto Luna and Violet.
A pregnant pause settled over the room, Violet and Luna already looking at the man with distaste, then the man spoke, or more accurately shouted.
"You filthy animals can get! I ain’t having no mutts stay in my inn, don’t care none bout what or who ya are ya hear me!"
Patrick stared at the barkeep in abstract horror, his gaze flickering between the idiotic man and the two extortionately powerful women that had a stormy look on their otherwise beautiful women. He was frozen in indecision, he logically knew that he should try to diffuse the situation, yet he honestly had no idea how.
Before he could even think of what to do however, a presence descended on the room. It was just as terrifyingly powerful as when last he had felt it, only now their was an undisguised malice woven into it’s overbearing might.