Amongst Others

I located the "Barge Inn" just where the guard had stated it would be.  The establishment seemed sort of run down and a little shabby.  It was filled with Furgar, Bastog, Elves and Men.  Only a few even looked up to glance at me as I walked in.  There was a jovial and rather rotund Furgar male behind the bar.  "Welcome to the Barge Inn!  The name's Happypaw.  Most just call me happy.  What can I get for ya, stranger?"

He was very welcoming and his voice was pleasant on the ears.  "I need a room for the night to start with."  I wasn't quite certain how I was going to pay for said room.  Perhaps I could barter with him.

"The cost is 10 copper a night."  Happy stated with a gentle smile.

"Okay.  Well, I'm don't really have any coins of this place.  I have traveled here from the Furgar Village.  I do have a few items that perhaps I could barter with."  My voice shook a little as I realized that I may not have what it would take to rent the room.

"You seem in rough shape.  I used to have a Furgar trader who would stay here when he was picking up items for the village and bartering off items from your people.  He would sometimes bring me small trinkets in exchange for room and board.  What was his name?  He said he was married to a Bastog..."  Happy rubbed his chin in contemplation.  "If I could remember his name, maybe you know him...  Hmm... I think his mate was named "Rose".  Well, anyway, what have you got to trade?"

I searched in my pack.  I found my old ossiette which was carved from the long bone of an elk with an intricate scene depicting the group of adventurers that brought the twin tribe back together all those years ago.  "I have this hand carved flute I can offer."

"A Furgar ossiette!  I used to play one of those."  Happy took it into his paws.  "This is beautifully carved.  I know this would be worth more than 10 copper pieces.  I will accept this trinket as payment.  I'm happy to give you room and board for three nights on this payment.  You can have the room at the top of the stairs just to the left.  You will find a bed, wash basin and a small nightstand.  Breakfast is served at dawn.  If you need anything, just let me know.  And welcome to the city!"  He slid a key across the bar to me.

"Thank you, Happy.  For now I'm going to go settle myself in.  Then perhaps I could find some food?"  I smiled coyly.

"I will bring something up to your room."  He smiled and turned around and moved toward a door in the rear.

I wandered up to my room, and used the small brass key on the flimsy lock.  That wouldn't really hold anyone out.  Good thing I didn't have anything too precious.  I sat down on the bed.  It wasn't super cozy, but at least it wasn't the ground.  I unrolled by bedroll on top of it to make it a little softer.  It didn't help much, but every little bit I could get at that point.

Shortly, there was a knock on the door.  "Come in," I announced.

Happy walked in with a tray of food.  It looked alright, but nothing special.  There as a glass of water on the tray as well.  "I know it's not much, but it will fill ya up for sure.  See you around dawn!"

"Thanks again, for everything."  I smiled and took the tray.  I placed it on the nightstand as Happy exited the room and shut the door.  I ate and then settled myself down on my bed.  Sleep came quickly, and dreams filled my mind.

The first thing I dreamed was of being back home, with Aunt Morning Glory cooking a lovely meal and reminiscing about the old days.  I already missed her.  She was wonderful.  Took care of me when she could.  She was much like a second mother.

The next dream that came was not as pleasant.  I was surrounded by skeletons, and there were necromancers chanting and casting spells.  I had somehow summoned a bubble shield around myself to protect me, but I felt it was failing and I would surely succumb to the dark spectre.  I gathered all of my strength and pushed the energy out as hard as I could in all directions.  The skeletons shattered and the necromancers fell over.  There was a loud "BANG" as the bubble burst, and I woke with a start.

"Get up you drunken fool!" someone outside of my door shouted.  Then I heard scraping on the door as if someone was being picked up using my door as a crutch.  They must have been wearing armor.  I heard them stumble down the hall.  It took me some time to fall back to sleep.  All I could think about was how poor that lock on my door was.

Sleep did find me again.  The dreams for the rest of the night were much more pleasing.  The last one was even a flying dream.  I dreamed I had wings, granted by the Fur Lord himself.  I flew over the most beautiful vistas.  The sky was so blue and there was not a cloud in sight.  Then, the sun came directly into my view.  It grew obnoxiously bright.  I woke only to find that dawn had broken and the light was shining on me through a small window near the roof in my room.  Had the night really gone by that quickly?  Well, only one thing to do.  Get up, get breakfast then check out the city.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Morning came and I woke.  I felt much better now that I had rested.  I was ready to face the new day.  Fuzzy was already up making something to eat for us.  I was very hungry.  I felt like I hadn't ate in days.  Maybe a side effect?  Who knew?  The fight had really drained me on many levels.  I was certain I'd be back to normal in a few days.

"I don't know a whole lot about magic, however I understand that spell casting can be draining on you."  Fuzzy noted.  "You will need to practice I to be able to build up stamina to be able to do things like you did last night without passing out.  Once you get to the city, you should also try to find someone who can tutor you in the arts.  That would be easier than trying to learn it alone."

"I'm sure I will be able to find someone to teach me.  Right after I find a place to stay." I chuckled.  We packed up and set out for another day of sojourn.  Wandering across the plains was mostly pleasant.  The sounds of insects, the smells of the wild flowers and the colors everywhere.

We passed the hours with menial conversation about whatever happened to come to mind.  Fuzzy explained how he would never settle down.  He was a wanderlust, and never wanted to be tied down to any one thing, place or person.  It was a bit much for me, honestly.  This trek was enough of a journey   I wasn't sure I'd ever want to wander again.  I was pretty sure once I got to the city, I would stay there, come hell or high water.  I was starting to feel like this is what my father would have had to have experienced to trade between  men and the tribe.  He would have had to take a journey like this several times.  I was glad that I had not chosen to follow in his footsteps so to speak.

Hour after hour drudged along and the sun sailed across the sky like a glimmering boat on a bluest ocean.  The occasional cloud would drift by with every intention of breaking up the azure hue.  Eventually the golden disk became tired and rested itself on the horizon.  It was about that time that a set of large gates came into view.  This must be it!  The city of men!

"This is where I must part."  Fuzzy said, soulfully.  "I am not really welcome in the cities of men anymore.  And before you ask, no I'm not really interested in talking about what happened either."

"Then I guess this is good-bye."  I felt rather upset even though we hadn't really known each other all that long.  But even I knew, no one can tie down a wanderlust.

"Well, for now anyway.  Perhaps our paths may cross again.  You never know."  He smiled.  He hugged me hard and gave me a parting kiss.  I hoped that one day we would meet again.  He then turned and wandered off.  I watched him until I could no longer see him walking off into the distance.  Night had crashed down upon me.  Nothing left to do but get to the city.

So I made my way to the gates.  At this time of night, they were closed and there was a guard on either side.  As I approached, one spoke.  "State your business, dog."

I wasn't quite sure what to say.  "Well, I've been wandering for several days and I would like to stay at the inn."

"Great, just what this city needs, another mongrel." The second guard scoffed.

"That's enough, Rutter.  You can disrespect people when you are off duty.  While you wear that uniform, you are to keep your personal opinions, personal."  The first guard sound very stern.

"Yes, Lieutenant "  Guard Rutter replied.

"The inn is just inside and up the street.  You will need to stick to the foreign quarter for now.  You can see the city registrar in the morning if you need access to any other place in the city."  The Lieutenant wasn't overly friendly, but at least he didn't make any comments.

This was going to be interesting.  If a guard felt so free to state his detest of me so openly, how would others in the city react?  I started to get a small twinge of regret for leaving the village.  Well, I was here now so not much else to do.  The gates were opened and I entered the city of men for the first time.