201 Side Story Chapter 7

Despite the mid-winter conditions, half a day's walk with no rest left Riftan drenched in sweat. The relentless, dry wind had also caked him with dust. He would not be surprised if he were mistaken for a vagrant. Pausing at the inn's entrance, he did his best to brush himself off.

The dirt was not the worst thing. What was he to do about the stench of the viscous monster blood that clung to his robes? There was only one inn in the walled village of Golden Sand, and its owner was particularly fastidious. Riftan furrowed his brow. The last thing he wanted to do was bathe in the inn's yard in front of the maidservants' prying eyes.

"What are you standing there for, Calypse?"

Riftan looked in the direction of the slurred voice. A bald man was smirking out at him from the wide-open window.

"I heard you hit it big in Devon. What happened to those good looks? You look terrible."