Book 3 Ch 3: The Found Village

After Michael finished proselytizing to the men that had tried to rob him he made his way to the Human Stable. He stepped inside to find that while it was busier than it had been in the past, it wasn’t so full that he was worried about getting a room. Perhaps he was lucky and the off-putting name of the inn and tavern had saved him the trouble. He didn’t see Ollie, which didn’t surprise him given the other man’s plans at the Rose. He walked up to the aelven proprietor who smiled just a bit too wide as she looked at him with eyes a single shade off from black.

“Welcome human, are you looking for feed today or just a kennel to sleep in?”

Michael shook his head: this was the kind of thing he was sure a number of humans back on Earth would likely pay for.

“Both Aethersan, and can you drop the act? I healed your Aunt earlier today.”

“You’re no fun, but okay. Mutton, bread, and greenroot okay?”

“That would be great, thank you.”

She nodded and slipped back to the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with a freshly heated plate and a mug of ale that she didn’t make him pay for. He tucked into his meal and watched as various people came in and out. A few times he was interrupted for a quick healing, but he didn’t mind. He finished sealing a terrible sore on a man’s leg and told him to thank the divine instead of him before getting a room key and heading up to get some early sleep.

Ollie stumbled into the room reeking of all things sinful a few hours later and fell asleep sprawled out across the well worn rug in the center of the room.

Michael left him there to sleep while he went into town for some breakfast and to pick up his equipment from Gurndan. After he returned, he was surprised to find Ollie awake, clean, and ready to go.

“I’m going to be honest, I was expecting to dump cold water on you this morning.”

“And you were probably looking forward to it too.”

Michael smiled and shrugged, not hiding it.

“Couldn’t sleep very well, got too used to being in a tent.”

Michael nodded sympathetically. “I understand that. I was struggling with how soft the bed was a bit too.”

They gathered their things and made their way out of Southwind.

“We’re going to have to choose to go through Broan or try to slide around the border of the Lake of Beasts to get to Old Hume,” said Michael.

“What’s Broan’s stance on takers?” asked Ollie, using his staff to scratch his back.

“Enslaved on sight according to what I was able to ask about over the last few days.”

“Did you have time between the prayers and shilling the divine?”

“I somehow found some time.”

“So the question is if we want to deal with people or monsters. Fuckin a.”

“If we go around the lake we should be able to avoid having to bribe or talk our way through border crossings into both Broan and Old Hume. Broan’s roads would probably be quicker though.”

“What if you just walk across the lake?” asked Ollie.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“What?”

“Come on, all the blessings you’ve gotten so far and you can’t even walk on water yet? The gods are slacking.”

Michael just sighed in response.