Chapter 9
We quickly reached the inn and secured rooms for the night, I decided to help Billy unhook the cart from his buffalo mecha. While we were doing so Billy started a conversation.
"So Iriel was it?" I nodded to the quiry "Yeah, I decided since I don't know my own name why not make one up while I try to remember?" The older man nodded and smiled.
"Probably for the best, you don't want someone starting to call you by some weird title like the Dark Slinger," he said I paused in the middle of my work and leaned down so I could look him in the eyes. "You think someone would actually do that?" I questioned the old man with slight concern he chuckled and nodded, "If you make a habit of saving people like you did me, and didn't say your name? Yes they would. The Shanes were just a couple of do gooders until people started spreading the word," I groaned in exasperation because I knew that if I saw some in trouble I would help to the best of my ability.
We finished getting his cart settled for the night, in silence. Afterwards we walked back together making small talk until we reached the inns interior. It had a homely feel to it, with wooden tables filled with patrons who were all enjoying a drink and bowl of soup. Taking in a deep inhale I could smell the wonderful smell of the broth. Quickly approaching the counter I looked at the menu that was displayed on the screen above the bar. Taking out a gold I handed it to the barmaid that was on the other side of the counter. "A bowl of whatever that smell is!" I said. She smiled at my comment and gave me my change and disappeared from site I sat down at the bar to wait for my food. A snort from my right made me turn to a rough looking character. He was wearing a black hood and a scraggly beard with grey running through it his one eye was a milky white due to a long scar running from his eyebrow to to his chin he had a knowledge smirk on his face, as he took a sip from a glass of water. Giving the obvious master a nod I turned to the bartender and gave her a smile and thank you as she slid the bowl of soup over the counter. Avoiding eye contact I quickly unstrapped the helmet from my head and sat it next to me, and started digging into the soup. A gasp drew my attention to the bartender as she looked at me half pittingly and half in morbid fascination I gave her a smile and nodded, "could I also get a warm wet cloth for my face?" She nodded and I handed her two of the half golds she disappeared.
"Nasty scars, where you get them?" Turning to the older man I let out a self deprecating laugh "got surprised by a wild hound and my only slug got knocked off target, this guy…" I scratched under Kilowatt's chin. "was kind enough to save me," the man looked at Kilowatt, and nodded slowly the slug looked right back to the old man. Their impromptu staring contest ended when the bartender came back.
"Here ya go," she said handing my a steaming older cloth, smiling I thanked her then gently began wipping the old blood from the deep cuts on my face. After I was done with my face I cleaned out my helmet where the small amount of blood that had goten on it were, finished my soup strapped my helmet back on, thanked the barmaid the slowly walked up to my room.
Reaching the door with the big number six on it I took my key and unlocked it. The inside was like a small hotel room with a walk-in shower, a small toilet, and a counter with a sink, the bedroom had a small tv, and a bed that looked like it was for two, I made a beeline for the shower already taking off my helmet.