Any inn shall be of help

The three elves rode to the closest city, Revampirina. It was said it was a town ruled by vampires because of their need for blood and humans. They entered the city, walking on foot, leading the horses by the bridles. It was past midnight and all the shops and stalls were closed. The streets were like a ghost town. It was hot but the three of them had black coats over their shoulders. As soon as they reached to trees as if symbolizing the entrance to the city, standing tall, someone appeared in front of them.

Richard understood he was one of the nocturne creatures and he had to be one of those ones keeping the town safe from any troubles. It was a quiet place, surrounded by wide prairies of flowers. Casper felt he wouldn't find an inn that would keep them for the night.

The stranger eyed them up and down before standing side. "I believe you must be travellers. I wish to send you away for the moment since no inn would accept you. Now, humans really hate elves."

"We won't stay for much. We have our own tasks to finish quickly. It wasn't like it's our choice to be here."

The stranger shrugged and let them pass. "Have a good stay in Revampirina. I wish you luck."

"Any inn you would recommend us. We do not wish to knock on every door and then be shut away. Isn't it better to earn time?"

The stranger moved from the shade of the tree and then scanned the city with his super senses. "There is an inn where there is a slight chance you might find a human who will host you."

Richard thanked the man and walked to where the stranger pointed at. He thought about his appearance and sighed; he was a hybrid. They left hybrids to take of the city, a wise choice but sometimes a deadly one. Who would accept hybrids as their own? They belonged neither to the human world nor to the half part they shared with another race. Either way, it wasn't his problem. He didn't like humans either; they were perfect little liars.

They stopped in front of the Old Oak Inn, and stood there for a moment before pushing the gate and entering. One of them stayed outside keeping the bridles safe and the horses from being stolen. Since they were on a human territory or former human territory, Richard felt the need to be more cautious.

There was a hubbub of voices and it wasn't usual at this hour. It was more an hour for everyone to be asleep and only the innkeeper charged for the night would be awake. Richard walked cautiously, throwing glances around gauging the situation of the inn. It was quite noisy as if there was a party going on.

The innkeeper raised his head and measured both men with his eyes. A sigh came out of his mouth then returned to what he was doing, filling the tankards and the mugs with beer from a barrel that a worker kept filling continuously.

"We don't serve elves. You can go somewhere else," he said under his nose.

"We only have a few hours to spend. We do not mean to intrude."

"Such an irony you have here, dear elves," he emphasized the word elves as if it was a curse. "When our king wished for help, you refused him and now, you come to this land you refused to help and ask for the same thing. You can turn around and leave. We do not accept people like you. Since you did not help us, we aren't obligated to do the same."

"Then beer. Give us three mugs of beer!"

Richard pulled his pouch and took out three silvers then put it on the counter, displeased. He didn't wish to aggravate things more than they were. Sometimes, it was better to not engage in a fruitless conversation. The innkeeper tossed the coins in a pocket existing on his canvas apron and grinned. Richard watched him fill one mug and push it towards him on the counter, spilling the half.

There was a sign showing the prices of everything and there was clearly written the mug of beer was one silver coin. It was already expensive as it was.

"Wasn't it supposed to be three mugs?"

"For you, lad, I am charging you thrice the price. Take it or leave it."

Richard had no choice but to accept the rule and he handed six more silvers. As he was going out, barely holding the three mugs, he noticed the eyes that glared at them. Casper had his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike if someone attacked them. However, nothing happened and they reached Hermey with only a mug of beer.

"I sent you for a room and returned with a mug of beer," he raised an eyebrow.

"The humans do not accept us. They wish for us to leave this town as soon as possible. I am afraid we will have to look for someone who would be willing to take us or lend us a stable where to sleep."

"Those humans are clearly stupid. They have us here, instead of worshipping us and doing everything so we can give them a reward, they chase us. Shall I go and teach them a lesson? I believe they are in need of one."

"Calm down, Hermey. We are at fault here. When the human king asked for our king to help, we didn't heed it. It's only normal they would despise us. We closed our doors when someone was asking for help."

"It's their fault for being born weak. Why do they have to ask us? We are not obligated to help them."

"And they are not obligated to serve us. What you give you shall receive. This is the normal law of the world."

The three of them downed the beer quickly to ease the nerves. Richard didn't know what to do. He was in the human territory and there was no way of finding a lead to the messengers. It was foolish of both kings to send a single envoy for an important mission.