Now What?

I’ve been in my fair share of jails. They each had their own unique stink to them, usually from the drunks puking and pissing on themselves while inside. Garret’s lone jailcell had all those, and more! Now I had to deal with the stench of fear from my cellmates. There had been three other men in the cell before the guards tossed me in, and now those three were on the far edge of the cell, as far away from me as they could get.

Not that I cared, mind you. I liked the space they afforded me.

I sighed, crossing my arms and leaning my back against the wall. Curse my damn luck. I wasn’t even trying to do something illegal, this time, and here I was back in jail. It had been purely self-defense.

I glanced over at the desk nearby and saw my pack, sword, and pistol, all confiscated before I was thrown into this damn cell. One of the guards tried to take my hat, too, but a growl from me caused him to reconsider.

After an hour in this stinking pit, another guard entered the cell house. He was older than the others, and his armor looked cleaner and of higher quality. He had a thick beard and dark gray eyes, eyes that were staring at me now.

“So, you’re the Dragon everyone in town is talking about,” he said.

“Dragon?” I asked. What the hell was this guy talking about?

“Dragon. That’s what everyone in town is calling you, due to the smoke and fire your wand spits out. Sorry, I am Duncan Hale, Sheriff of Garret.”

“Nero,” I nodded in greeting. This guy is being especially friendly. I didn’t like it.

“Nero. Well, Nero, you’ve put me quite into a pickle.”

He’s in a pickle? Sorry, but I’m the one in the cage over here.

“It vas self-defense,” I told him. “The kid came after me with intent to kill. I jusht returned the favor, only fashter.”

“Yes, I know. Witnesses corroborate what you just told me,” he said.

“Then why am I shtill in thish cage?” I growled.

“It’s complicated. You know that boy you killed?” I nodded. “Did you know what his name was?” I shook my head. “His name was Dylan Garret.”

Shit. “You mean…?”

The sheriff nodded. “His great-grandfather founded this place. And his father is the most influential man in town. Very rich, and very powerful.”

“Damn,” I muttered.

“Damn is right,” Hale shrugged his shoulders. “So you realize my position?”

Frankly, I didn’t give a fuck about his position.

“So what? You gonna hang an innoshent lizard, sheriff?” I asked him.

“I don’t want to,” he said. “But that’s the situation we’re in.” He smirked. “Of course, if I were to be given some type of remuneration for the troubles I’m about to face, well then, that would be a different matter entirely.”

Ah. Of course. He’s looking for a bribe. I should’ve realized.

“There’s fifty gold in a pouch inside my pack,” I told him.

Hale smiled then walked over to the table where my pack had been placed. He started digging around in it until he pulled out the heavy bag of gold. The sheriff opened the pouch, then started counting each coin. Once satisfied, he closed up the bag and turned around to give me a pleased smile.

“You’re free to go,” he said simply.

I wanted to punch him.

I exited the jailhouse just as the sun was going down. To my utmost surprise, Dr. Longfoot was waiting for me.

“Ah, they finally let you out I see,” he said.

“Doc, what are you doing nere?” I asked him. I’d thought he’d be halfway across the world by now.

“I brought your money,” he said, lifting up a heavy bag of coins. “That was the arrangement, right?”

Well, I’ll be. Looks like you could still trust people nowadays, even in Hell. I grabbed the bag of gold and stuffed it in my pack without even counting it.

“Well, you had quite the exciting time, or so I hear,” Longfoot said. “I hear you used your wand on Dylan Garret when he tried to attack you?”

“Yes,” I told him. “But I really do not vant to talk about it.”

“Of course, of course,” he nodded. “Must have been quite trying.”

You got that right.

“Well, then, what’s the plan now?” He asked. “Where do we go from here?”

I raised an eyebrow, confused as to his wording. “Well, for one thing, ‘ve’ don’t go anywhere. You are gonna shtay in this town while I will go far, far away before thish Garret fella findsh me.”

“B-but I thought…”

“It’sh over, doc,” I told him. “Rou were my nostage, and now you are free.”

“I suppose that was the arrangement,” he said with a frown. “But what will you do now?”

“Rike I said, I’ll leave town. Maybe head north. Hopefully, find a town that’ll let me in.”

“Well, if you do head north then you might not find a very warm reception at Fayson,” the doc told me. “Jack Garret has many connections to that town as well. Your best bet will probably be Wayfaire.”

“Wayfaire. Got it. Thanks, doc.” I smiled and gave him a pat on the back, one which almost bowled him over. “Rou take care of yourself.”

“You, too!” he said with a wave. “And good luck, my friend!”

Good luck. Right. I doubt I’ll be seeing any of that down here in Hell. I waved good-bye to the doctor, then left town just as the sun had set over the horizon.

I camped out a few miles away and off the road for a bit. This area seemed much safer than the Wetlands did, as there was nothing but rolling hills and grassland as far as the eye could see. I did hear wolves howling in the distance, but they never came near enough to be a problem.

When morning arrived, I came upon a complication. As I was digging through my pack I realized that my food rations had severely dwindled. I only had enough dried fish for a day or two. I needed a resupply.

Checking the map, I found that I had two places where I could buy more food. Fayson to the north, and Darb Village to the west. Fayson was on the way to Wayfaire, but if Dr. Longfoot was right, then the Garret family had connections in that town. It would probably be best to take a detour and head to Darb.

And so I walked. It was quite a feeling, walking so far on nothing but bare feet. I eventually came to a fork in the road with a large wooden sign. It said west to Darb Village, and North to Fayson.

I went west.

It took another two days to get to Darb Village. Halfway there, it began to rain. A lot. I was suddenly thankful for my foresight in looting this coat and hat from the dead Captain Sorgenson. They kept much of the rain out and, with the exception of my feet, I was pretty dry by the time I reached the village.

From the outside, it seemed just like any other peaceful hamlet. Little did I know what I was getting into. If I had, I may have risked Garret’s wrath and just headed north to Fayson.