Chapter 8 Part 1

Not long after leaving Rach n Steve's Apothecary, Engilram asked the owner of a food stall about available places to stay. "excuse me good sir, do you know of a cheap Inn or Bed and Breakfast I could stay at?"

In a deep guttural voice, the merchant said, "it depends on what you're looking for sir. If you want amazing food and service but a less than satisfactory sleeping arrangement, go with the Karthein Inn. If you want a good bed but horrific food, go with the Haegan BnB. And finally, there is the Aspeytan Inn. Their food is horrible and bedding subpar. However, they pride themselves on their alcohol. The choice is yours."

"hmm. That's tough. I'll be here for four days. The church beds aren't the best, so I guess I could manage the beds in the Karthein Inn. Where is that one?" Engilram pondered.

Pointing to his left, the stall owner said, "fine choice sir. It's about a dozen streets down that way, then a left. You can't miss it then. Now then, would you like to buy a pastry? They are piping hot."

"oh, Pastry? Do you have anything sweet?" Engilram asked.

The merchant started listing off some of his products. "yes indeed sir, we have apricot Tholvian's. Rhubarb tartlets. Toffee apple pies. Mince pies. Will any of those do sir?"

Shocked, Engilram said, "Tholvian's? you managed to obtain such a delicacy from Tholvia?" after a momentary pause he continues, "I will take one apricot Tholvian and one mince pie."

"excellent choices. Few people get to try such a good pastry such as a Tholvian here in Stocaea. Your total is six copper coins please."

Engilram forks over the coin and puts his pastries in his bag. "thank you," he says.

Standing at the Karthein Inn door entrance, Engilram hears a female voice yell his name. "Engilram! Over here!" he turns his head to the sound.

(narrator) it's Kate! That spunky young business lady! And the adventurers are with her?

"hay guys! Why is Krenn covered in dirt?" Engilram said.

"buried puppies," Krenn said, lowering his head in sadness.

Thordis clarifies what Krenn means. "what he means is that he went back to where we killed the wolves and buried the corpses. The big fool now wants to prey for their souls."

"oh talking of the wolves, I think I know why they went feral." Engilram said.

"oh?" Mizubi said.

"I think it's human intervention. Once the alpha female was on her own, she kinda gave up. Sat down and accepted it." Engilram theorises.

"I had a similar theory myself." Thordis said.

"well, there isn't anything we can do about it right now. I didn't hear anything other than animals." Mizubi said.

"which means the one controlling them is immensely powerful. Let's say that the person is a day away. That would mean that they are at least high gold, early platinum class in terms of adventurer statistics. That is a serious threat. Even the best animal control spells limit the caster to visible range." Engilram explains.

Thordis' face grimaces with dread. "that's not good. If that is indeed the case. A completely anonymous villain can not only control animals, but to make them highly aggressive and walk away without the effects dissipating?"

Krenn growls with anger. "Krenn kill puppy contr-contro,"

"controller?" Mizubi said.

Krenn nods with a grunt. "yeah, controller."

"I think that's not feasible right now Krenn. This person is way more powerful than even Engilram." Thordis said.

"Krenn frustrated... Krenn train to get stronger than them." Krenn grunts.

"that's all well and good, however that won't help for the time being. Just go tell the guild about our current theory because that's all we can do. If the villain pops up before we are ready, then there would be no point unless the guild knows how to deal with the possible threat." Engilram said harshly.

"putting that aside. Engilram, you staying here?" Kate asked.

"going to. Why?" Engilram curiously asked.

"me too! What a coinkidink!" Kate yelled.

Engilram nervously laughed. "ha-ha what a coincidence indeed. Are you guys also going here?"

"we have been staying here for quite a while. We don't earn enough coin from the guild to afford anything better, so we settled for this place." Thordis said.

"you guys are much less of a drain than miss nosy over there." Engilram said.

"I love you too." Kate says sarcastically.

"I heard that the food in this place is great." Engilram said.

"that's why we stay here, because Krenn is a carnivore and Mizubi vegan. It's difficult to find a place to situate that, but the owner has menu options for all dietary needs. Allergens and all." Thordis said.

as the group enters through the door of the Karthein Inn, a waft of delicious smelling food rushed through the now open door, stretching the smell throughout the relative area. The enchanting smells would attract residents and tourists from afar, completely overwhelming the smell of the street food on the main road.

"wow, you guys weren't kidding when you said this place had some amazing food. It smells great in here." Engilram said.

(narrator) Just to clarify, Thordis went back to the guild to tell them the new information. You gotta get used to me forgetting things. It's gonna happen all the time.

Engilram separated from the other three who are taking a seat at a table, to book a room. He approaches the counter and asks, "excuse me, can I get a cheap room for one?"

"Be with you in a few minutes honey, we are very busy right now." A bubbly female voice says.

She comes exploding through the door to the kitchen with four heavily stacked plates and bowls of scrumptious looking gumbos and roasts. "Please wait there at the counter. I will be with you soon." she scampers past the counter and rushes over to the table that ordered the food.

"Hay barkeep, can we get a refill on our ale?" a person at a faraway table shouts.

"As soon as I serve the person at the counter. I can refill your Tisk ale." The bombastic barkeep says.

After rushing back over to the counter, now with an empty tray, she says. "Hello there. My name is Zoey Karthein, the owner of this lovely establishment you see here, Barkeep too. How may I help you today!" her energy bouncing off the walls, lifting the mood in the entire room with little effort. Her plump figure perfectly complementing her reddish-brown vintage apron dress and her curly brown locks.

Before Engilram could say anything Zoey said, "oh yes! I remember you asked for a room for one. Will food be included?"

"yes please." Engilram said.

"and how long are you expected to stay?" Zoey asked.

"four days max." Engilram replied.

"ok fantastic, single room for four days and food included that's two meals per day with drinks included. Your total is one-silver, a twenty-copper discount just for you sir." The gracious Inn owner said.

Engilram reaches into his bag and puts a silver on the counter. Zoey continues talking after the transaction. "your room will be ready for you in the hour. Come back then or sit down at the bar." "room two needs a clean within the hour guys. Get it ready please!" she shouts to the staff.

Engilram sits down at the table his newfound friends claimed, waiting for Thordis to return. Thirty minutes later, Thordis joins the four at the table, filling the last seat.

"sorry about that. The guild was asking a ton of questions. I think they are on edge about this information, almost like other people have also said the same thing." Thordis said.

"wait, other people?" Engilram said.

"the issue is popping up all over the area, up to a day away, apparently." Thordis said.

Zoey comes bustling towards the group of five with five plates and sets them all down in front of each person.

"what's this for Zoey? We didn't order anything." Thordis said.

Zoey replies quickly, barely giving enough time for Thordis to finish speaking. "I know, it's on the house. You four have been great patrons for quite some time now and considering you've only just returned to the capital, you must be starved."

"that's so nice of you Zoey, but why me also?" Engilram said.

"that's easy. Your friends told me how you essentially saved their lives today. This is a small thanks for keeping these fools alive, and don't argue with me, you three. You always come back almost dead and worse off than before. If you took easier jobs, you wouldn't need to stay at an inn." Zoey answered.

"seriously though Engilram, if you weren't there, we would be dead right now. If there is anything you need us to do, we'll do it. We owe you our lives after all." Mizubi said.

The rest of the group nod in agreement and Engilram ponders what to ask of them. "there is only one thing I ask, and this will clear your debt to me."

"go on." Thordis said.

"I will send you a letter in a few years and when you receive it, I want you to look out for three people who may come to the capital, whether it's school or adventuring. Please look after them. Their names will be in the letter." Engilram said.

"sure, no problem." Thordis said.