135 Rest Area (2/2)

\”Someone put her in a wagon so she can sleep it off,\” I said with a shake of my head.

\”No need for that,\” Ashley interrupted. \”Shanks hooked us up at a nice inn nearby. Enough rooms for our entire mercenary group.\”

Shanks, who'd been watching all this from the side-lines, made his presence felt by rising up to his full nine-foot height.

\”Owned by an old acquaintance of mine named Zephyra. She'll take good care of your crew, boss,\” he said jovially.

\”Much appreciated, Shanks,\” I said, keeping my eyes fixed on Varda. \”We're going to need it.\”

\”I don't suppose you'd mind if I tagged along for now?\” Shanks asked. \”I've already unloaded my shipment so I've got nothing else to do but wait for Samhain to end.\”

There was that word again, and for the life of me, I couldn't understand why hearing it now just gave me the chills.

\”You're welcome to join us, Shanks,\” I said. \”We could use the muscle.\”

Shanks raised his burly arms into the shape of an X. \”Sorry, boss. I'm a pacifist… Best I can do is give you discount on potions and other things you might need.\”

As he said this, Shanks patted the bag slung around his shoulder. I guessed that it was probably a bag of holding like the one Luca was carrying.

\”The more the merrier then,\” I finished.

We were making preparations to head over to the inn Shanks got us when Luca caught sight of the two bodies Thor's group was lifting into the wagon.

\”That must have been some crazy barfight,\” Luca said solemnly.

\”One of the kobolds is missing…\” I said. \”Didn't find his body with the other two.\”

Luca placed a hand on my shoulder. \”Did you avenger them properly?\”

I raised my bandaged arm to his eye level. \”What do you think?\”

The inn Shanks led us to was a three-story stone building that had seen better days. Fay graffiti had been painted over much of its front walls and part of the craved designs had been weathered off.

I looked up at the sign and read, \”The Nowhere Inn.\”

I assumed that's what it said as the sign was missing a few letters.

As we'd paid to leave most of our wagons in the merchant guild's parking lot—a whopping thirty Leprechauns—we didn't have much with us except for the packs we each carried. Hopefully, that meant enough room for all my soldiers.

\”Thor,\” I called.

The kobold dashed to my side.

\”Yes, Comma—um, boss,\” he said, lowering his head apologetically for the verbal snafu.

\”Put some bodies on either side of the street. I want them looking out for Thom's group as well as unwanted guests,\” I ordered.

\”Alright, boss,\” he began to salute me, thought better of it, and then walked away while shaking his head.

\”Well, Shanks,\” I said, glancing over to our troll guide. \”After you.\”

The interior of the Nowhere Inn was a homely common room that didn't give off the same rundown feel like the outside. Sure, the paint on the walls was peeling in some places and the upholstery scattered around the room needed a good scrubbing, but the fireplace in the far corner was warm and inviting, and the smell wafting out of a door in the corner was that of cooked bacon.

Somehow, it reminded me of home, and if we were going to be in this godforsaken city for longer than a night, I wouldn't mind a base like this one to operate from.

To the right of the entrance was a wooden counter. A beautiful woman with long, flowing silver hair sat behind it. She had a faraway look on a face that seemed to be winking in and out of view almost as if her skin was nothing more than a mirage.

\”Zephyra,\” Shanks called jovially.

The silver-haired woman blinked like she'd just woken up from a waking dream. Then her gaze moved over to us.

\”Hello, Shanks,\” she said in a wispy voice. \”It's been a while since your last visit.\”

Zephyra's gaze focused on Aura before finally landing on me.

\”And you bring important guests with you,\” she said.

\”You know who we are?\” I asked surprised.

\”Whether I want them or not, the wind carries all secrets back to me,\” she said cryptically. Then she nodded toward the fireplace. \”Also, your friends have been waiting for your arrival for quite some time.\”

\”My… friends,\” I followed her gaze, and only then did I notice the shadows lounging next to the fireplace.

One of these shadows was grinning back at me. It was Thom, and by the knowing smile he sent my way, I guessed he had a lot to tell me.