“ATTENTION: All sympathizers and participants of the Free Draceni Movement shall be persecuted without question. TO: LOYAL CITIZENS of Melton. Reporting of seditious elements is worth: 5 Silver Artes for an actionable tip; 10 Silver Artes for an actionable arrest; 25 Silver Artes for a Rebel. Information on plots and conspiracies can be directed to your local Lionhunter’s office.”

- Flier on Statue of High King Eren Meltius in Harweald Townsquare

Sophie nervously glanced to her left and right, here an oppressive air of discontent hung heavy over the trio. The minotaur with a scowl etched across his face as Annalise looked ever more uncomfortable at spending time here no matter how much Sophie hugged her. Wary eyes loomed over the group as the odd companions wandered through the barely cobbled roads.Though the warm rays of the sun above shone brightly, they did little to lift the despondent mood that held the town in its grasp.

Unlike in Rumhol at least, the air here was clear and unfettered by excessive fog around them, colour still clung around in spite of the dour atmosphere. Behind the town wall’s lay a seemingly incoherent pattern of design. Many houses were made of wooden logs from foundation to roof all a warm earthy brown from the treated wood. Others had come off a bit more cheaply, thatched roofs on top of walls made out of wooden sticks and other bits. It was an eclectic if not serviceable style of design and Sophie couldn’t help but notice that there weren’t any buildings that seemed to stand out. There’s the stables, a warehouse and a dining hall? But why are they all so small? They look just like upscaled cabins. Indeed, in her eyes none of the buildings looked like they truly held any real importance and she furrowed her brow at the thought of more organised and grandiose Carradorian style of architecture, her nose only upturned ever so slightly.

Trying to suppress her increasingly snobby feeling, she turned her gaze to the people around them. Dozens of villagers and peasants traveled to and fro as their ratty clothing and tired backs blazed with the toils of hard labour. A few more well off merchants and burghers in their fancier tunics and more well maintained shoes traipsed haughtily around Harweald. Guards patrolled the streets with a mean eye, their heads often turned menacingly at the trio, though more often than not one senior guard or another would quickly reprimand his troop, nodding apologetically at the inquisitor.

Yet looking at the people further, she found that unlike in Eichafen, there was no joy in their movements, none of the focus or drive that powered the Carradorians even on the frontier. Here were people so browbeaten that most of the peasants seemed like shells of humanity, like cogs in a dwarven contraption. Adding to the unsettling populace were a series of strange wooden effigies, many in the shape of animals and other such critters with a large number looking like the rabbits she saw outside. Though the villagers mostly just ignored them and carried on their lives as usual, Sophie couldn’t help but feel uneasy as she felt the effigies were staring at her. Their sharp but beady twig eyes and gnarled misshapen wooden limbs clawing out at her.

Her skin crawled and she clutched onto Annalise a little tighter, the older girl giving her hands a small squeeze before focusing on the road. Poking her head over the ranger’s shoulders she saw how they had reached the town square, a sad looking little market place resting under a two story tall stone statue of some ancient warrior. Surrounding it villagers and merchants set up stalls and hawk their wares, the mood a far cry from the markets in Eichafen and the smells far from enticing.

Thankfully at the opposite end of the square stood a beacon of hope, a rustic looking three story building with old timber frames and log supports decades past its prime. Dingy looking windows watched over the square and a wooden caricature of a rabbit playing a lute stood proud above the entry between the windows. The Hare and Bard Inn, home for the next two days. Besides it a few other small stores and stalls selling pelts, meats, and clothing that the town needed also were present, each with different animals above their entryways from deers to eagles to sheep. Just beyond the square was a small local church, not unlike the bell and steeple structure that she often saw in her nightmares and beside it a square almost cube like stone structure with iron barred windows rested like an anchor in the earth. Its banners flying high above with depictions of lions and swords on all of them.

“Ranger, young elf.” Taurox interrupted her musings with a throaty whisper, “I will be heading to the church, there is some…discussions I need to have with the local church officials. Your minders will meet you inside The Hare and Bard.” He finished with a discreet gaze around them.

Annalise grunted her assent and Sophie quietly nodded.

“I’ll be back by the evening or the morrow at the latest. I’ll admit, my presence here instead of the knight complicates things as I’m not exactly an everyday sight here.” He sighed as his tone grew more accusatory, turning a judgemental set of eyes on Sophie.

Shrinking into her hood she mouthed a solemn sorry as the minotaur separated from them. After his temporary departure, the two made their way to the side of the inn. Between the inn and the next building there was a small opening in the wall led to a small stable and courtyard, a grimey boy jumping up at their approach and sprinted over to their left as he looked up with excitement.

“Customers?” He gave them a toothy grin.

Annalise nodded in reply and he stuck his hand out expectantly.

“That’d be 2 Copper for hitching the horse to the water trough, 5 for overnights. And uhh,” He scratched his head as if slightly uncertain, “7 for overnight with water and food.” He smiled haphazardly, shaking off what dirt had gathered on his tunic.

Annalise sighed and grabbed a handful of coins, dropping them into the boy’s outstretched palm. One, two, five, eight, ten, twelve, fifteen? Twenty?! Sophie counted and widened her eyes in shock, that was six extra for two day! Evidently the boy shared her surprise as he looked at the small stack with unbridled appreciation and enthusiasm. His excitable yet slightly hunched over posture immediately corrected as he stood straight at attention.

“I’ll treat this mount with the utmost respect madams!” He smiled happily before a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes, “Umm but the extra…”

“Keep it.” Annalise cut him off, the boy smiling even wider at her response.

“Feel free to head in! And thank you so much!”

“Mmhmm, Sophie?” She replied and turned around expectantly.

For a moment Sophie was confused before she quickly caught on and hopped off the horse. Then she held her arms out and caught Annalise, helping the ranger slide off the horse as she then unclasped the makeshift crutch attached to a saddlebag. With a grunt the older thanked her and nodded at the boy before limping towards the main entrance, her speed surprising Sophie as she went to catch up. Spotting the boy’s wide eyes as he watched the one legged ranger hobble away.

Laughter and song echoed from within as they got closer to the doorway. With a quick shuffle Sophie raced in front of Annalise and opened the doorway, earning herself a half hearted scowl from the ranger.

A warmly lit tavern hall awaited them with a large bar shaped in a u-shape at the center of the room, tables and chairs strewn about the place in an organised mess as a purple and blue frilly coloured bard danced merrily on stage strumming his lute. The barkeep and patrons kept an intrigued eye on him as two slightly less than modestly dressed tavern wenches carried drinks and food around the place, their chests showing a little more cleavage than Sophie was used to. So entertained the tavern was by this bard bobbing up and down that few noticed the duo’s arrival and fewer still cared as they turned their attention back to the singer.

“Oh hey ho and now we see,

The things that gave us such a fright,

Oh hey ho please leave us be,

Us poor who suffer in the night!”

The bard sang, his voice towing the line between soothing and gruff, a timbre that was most pleasing to her ear.

Sophie almost began bobbing alone at the little tune before she noticed the barkeep’s portly yet stern and bearded form turn towards the new arrivals with a raised brow. Sophie could feel his gazed burning through her hood as she helped her friend to the bar counter, Annalise raising two fingers before anyone even spoke.

“Two rooms, one for us and one for my te…” She trailed off and looked around. Sophie followed her eyes as all the ranger’s face seemed to drop after her cursory scan. “Sorry, one room.” The older girl finished in a softer, more mellow voice.

Turning to give Sophie a strange look and seeking confirmation, Sophie nodded at the barkeep as the man seemed to do a double take and stare at her even more. The gaze caused immense discomfort as Sophie fidgeted nervously on the spot before Annalise coughed to get the man’s attention.

“Sorry, your friend’s eyes...they just sparkle all funny like.” The portly barkeep apologized, “Right, one room for the two of ye?” Receiving a small nod in return Sophie could hear him hum to himself as his eyes looked over Annalise’s stump and crutch, “I reckon about 20 Cooper Artes for a night for the two of you.”

“Fair enough,” The ranger replied and dropped four slightly larger cooper coins on the table, the man happily scooping up the proceeds before reaching for a key and sliding it to them.

“First room to the left, up the stairs. Now is there anything I can get you?” He asked as the crowd cheered in the background.

Turning over to watch the proceedings, the bard had evidently finished the song and bowed gratefully to his patrons. The audience cheered as Sophie could hear the chants of “More!” radiating from the gathered crowd and her gaze met the bard’s as his traveled past her.

Looking behind her she found Annalise ordering a drink and the barkeep begrudgingly walking to fill a tankard. Annalise finally noticed Sophie was watching and shrugged.

“What? Just getting myself some mead, it's not like I’ll be doing much anyways.” She grumbled.

Sophie opened her mouth to object but found herself outmatched by a voice that boomed throughout the tavern.

“More you ask! More you shall receive!” The bard bellowed to much fanfare, perhaps the only real joy Sophie had noticed in this depressing little town, “A ballard I shall sing! A tale for the heroes of our time! A piece that I shall dedicate to the ravishing beauty who has joined us.” He lowered his voice to a sultry tone.

Sophie could see the exact moment Annalise began paying attention to the ongoings behind Sophie and how at the bard’s words, her face had morphed from one of exhaustion tinged with melancholy, to one of surprise and shock with drops of fascination. Looking over her shoulder she saw the bard gesturing to the ranger as the rest of the tavern’s patrons followed his movements. Suddenly bombarded by the curious onlookers who tried to not quite discreetly wiggle and shuffle about in order to take a look at said beauty. The crowd dissected the bard’s words and Sophie could hear the faint mumbles directed at them.

“Oh…she is quite a looker.”

“Looks like a capable one that lass.”

“Shame that cloaked fellow is in the way.”

“Who are they?”

“Reckon they are visitors?”

“She single?”

Not able to withstand the withering barrage of attention thrown their way Sophie quickly turned back to Annalise and tried to tune out the comments as an embarrassing scarlet burned her face. Annalise for her part looked gobsmacked and just cautiously turned back to face the bar as the bard began strumming his lute and singing again.

“Shining stars ~ in the skies, please bless us all with your light.

Shining stars ~ in the skies, hold me in your heart tonight.

Shining star ~ of the sky, lend me your ear for the night.

Shining star…”

The bard sang and the tavern roared their approval.

A thunk landed in front of them and just like that a pint of mead was delivered. Though Annalise was was mortified, Sophie could tell that as the song rolled on the ranger’s expression softened with it even if she did twitch slightly in discomfort.

Annalise moved to take a small sip to calm herself and Sophie took the chance to lay a reassuring hand on the older girl. Though Annalise initially flinched from the touch, she eventually let Sophie rest her hand on her, neither acknowledging nor shying away from the contact. Progress! Sophie thought with a small smile as the other girl gulped down a swig.

Turning their attention back to the stage they watched the bard preform a brilliant flourish with his instrument. Spinning as he strummed in a display of skill and song, mesmerising the crowd. A hint of a radiant smile crawled onto his face when he turned to the duo, Sophie growing more uncomfortable whilst Annalise politely smiled back.

A dull throbbing began clawing its way throughout Sophie’s head. The feeling of something pressing down on her naught but subtle tingles and she shifted nervously in her seat. She fought to focus her mind on the source, her energy waning with every moment before her eyes landed on the bard. Specifically the way in which he pranced and danced on stage, how he would occasionally wave his hands around in exaggerated patterns. Like a spell!? Horrified at the thought, Sophie turned to share her discoveries and found her friend getting more relaxed and comfortable, her shoulders slumping down as she leaned against the bar.

Having noticed this new development she tried to discreetly swing her head around the tavern and found many others also suitably more relaxed than expected. People swaying happily or just enjoying the music. It seemed almost normal and Sophie was now uncertain about her conjecture. Yet, being unwilling to draw more attention to themselves she turned and tugged her friend’s sleeve, gesturing for them to go.

“Huh?” Annalise asked as she almost seemed to snap out of something.

Go, Sophie mouthed at her before realising it was a little weird to just tell someone to go, sleepy, she added.

Annalise blinked back her surprise and stared strangely at Sophie for a moment.

Go! Sleepy! Sophie mouthed at her friend again, tugging more intensely at her sleeve.

“You’re tired?” Annalise asked, a half amused frown on her face.

Yes, tired, go, Sophie furiously nodded.

With a sigh the ranger quickly downed the rest of the mead and seemed to shake her head at herself. “Alright, alright. First room to the left upstairs yeah?” Annalise jangled the key around.

Relieved, Sophie nodded her affirmation and helped a somewhat reluctant ranger off the barstools and hobbled her way upstairs. Taking one final look behind her, she spied the barkeep’s surprise at their sudden departure but he merely nodded. Customers could do what they wanted after all, Sophie understood. But what sent a shiver down her spine was when he met the bard’s gaze. In the tiniest of moments, the man was smiling and cheerful, but the second their eyes locked she could see a scowl burn in his eyes before quickly vanishing just as fast.

So fast in fact that Sophie doubted her own perception, probably just the imagination, she reassured herself as they headed up. But, with the knots tightening around her stomach once again she couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort and a tinge of something else. Trouble.