B1 Chapter 8: Nightmare Bitch

It started to rain lightly as they walked.

She looked at him and said, “You know, I love the rain at night.”

“Why is that? This is how you catch your death of cold,” Modivar replied.

“I don’t know. It feels like the world’s crying, and it’s alone, but when you’re there, it’s not. You know what I mean?”

“I kind of get what you’re trying to say,” he said. “It’s like you get to be part of someone’s sadness, and being there helps because even though they’re sad, you get to share it with them.”

He wiped what might have been a tear from his face, or rain. She couldn’t tell exactly with the night sky only lit by the stars, partially clouded as the rain fell.

“We should get moving before it gets muddy.”

Gwendolyn chuffed. She didn’t like the rain.

She activated her armor skill and cast light, and the fully armored chunky horse walked behind them.

“That’s actually a really good use for the skill,” Belladonna muttered about the horse.

“Yes,” Modivar said. “If it keeps you dry. As long as this trip doesn’t take forever. Then you get soaked because your mana is all gone again.”

“We’re almost there, anyways,” Belladonna said, dragging him along.

There was a strange smell in the air, and the sound of what might have been laughter pressed over the noise of the rain and their footsteps.

They reached a run-down-looking inn that had lights on inside. The lights didn’t warm the place up, but the sound of the people inside did.

Belladonna pressed through the saloon doors and into the building.

“Hey, everybody. How’s it going?”

A cacophony of people answered. “Belladonna, you’re a little late. We saved you a seat,” a man at a table said.

Another man at the counter said, “Stew’s still on, if you want some.”

“Speaking of stew,” Belladonna said, “can you get a bowl for my new friend?”

“Yeah, that’s fine, but who’s the friend? I’m pretty sure the entire village is here.”

Looking around, everyone in the village might have been.

“The new guy,” she said. “I did my due diligence. He checks out.”

“Oh, that’s good.” A woman stood up from her seat and walked over. She had short red hair, a face full of too many freckles, a bright smile, and a bunch of crooked teeth. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. How did you get your shop so shiny? I tried everything. Lacquer, oil—which got me yelled at by my husband for making my house more fire-prone, but it did work a little bit—”

“Oh, I’m a wizard,” Modivar said, “so I used the scrub spell to scrub years worth of grime off—and probably, like, fifteen coats of paint.”

“Oh, can you do that for me?” she asked. “Sorry, I’m being rude. My name is Gertrude. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Modivar.”

“Oh. Like the announcement.”

He winced. “Yeah. Like the announcement.”

“Could you imagine the Last Light of Salvation, someone noble and powerful, taking residence in our village?”

“Yeah. Wouldn’t that be delightful,” he said, trying to pass on.

Luckily for him, Gwendolyn decided that was the moment to make her entrance.

The armored horse walked in, then released her armoring ability. The armor dissolved into light, and the very plump horse walked into the very crowded and very small saloon.

“What’s your horse doing in here?” the man at the bar said.

“Hey, you. Stop that. Be nice. She’s a person, too,” Belladonna said.

He looked at her, agape. “That’s a horse.”

“Horses can be people,” Belladonna said.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Gwendolyn chuffed in his direction, like “of course I’m a person. Are you?”

“Did that horse just sass me?”

“I told you, the horse is a person, Bruno. Her name is Gwendolyn, and she’s a delightfully intelligent princess. Stop questioning me, or I will poison you.”

“Fine. But if she causes any damage, it’s on you.”

“It’s fine. Stop being a grouch and go get us some stew. Three bowls of your finest, and whatever piss water you got.”

Modivar said, “No, I don’t drink.”

“Lightweight,” Belladonna said.

“No. I have a liver issue.”

“Oh. So just one, I guess,” Belladonna said.

Gwendolyn chuffed in protest.

“Two? You want one?”

Gwendolyn tapped her hoof on the ground in confirmation.

Modivar said, “Is it a good idea to get my horse drunk?”

Belladonna looked at him. “Probably not, but we’re going to do it anyways.”

He chuckled. “I guess I will be the sober one here. We’ll see how this goes.”