Taming the Beast Master

Chapter 5: Was It All Just a Fantasy?

| Bronir |

I woke up with a start, my body drenched in sweat despite the cool morning air. The dream—it had felt so real. I found myself fully clothed, lying awkwardly across the bed in Tyrgwynn's room. My head was pounding slightly from the ale I had consumed, but my memories of what I thought had happened between us remained vivid.

"Good morning, my dear," Tyrgwynn's melodic voice came from the direction of the balcony. She stood there, fully dressed in her traveling clothes, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"I..." I stammered, trying to recall how exactly I had fallen asleep. "Did we...?"

"You brought food, we talked about our plans, and you fell asleep mid-conversation," she replied with a gentle laugh that somehow didn't quite reach her eyes. "The journey ahead and the ale from earlier must have exhausted you more than you realized."

Mr. Tickles flew over from the windowsill and perched on my shoulder, giving a series of soft squawks that translated to, 'You snored like a bear, master.'

I rubbed my face, trying to shake off the lingering sensations of the dream. "I'm sorry for imposing on your hospitality, m'lady."

"Not at all," she said, gathering her belongings. "We should head downstairs for breakfast soon. Our new companion Morgoth will be waiting, and we have much to discuss about our visit to the House of Ivy."

As she moved around the room, I caught glimpses of her arms—completely normal, fair elven skin without a trace of the silvery scales I thought I had seen. Had that been part of the dream too? I wasn't certain of anything anymore.

"Sir Bronir?" she called, breaking my train of thought. "Are you well enough to continue our journey today?"

"Yes, of course," I replied, standing up quickly and adjusting my rumpled clothes. "I'll just need to grab my gear from my room."

"Very well. I shall meet you downstairs in half an hour," she said with a polite nod.

As I headed to the door, I turned back one last time. "Tyrgwynn... thank you for your kindness."

Her smile seemed to hold secrets I couldn't begin to fathom. "It was my pleasure, brave hunter. Your company is... refreshing."

| Tyrgwynn |

As soon as Bronir left, I closed the door behind him and leaned against it with a sigh. Manipulating his dreams had been a necessary precaution—humans often become too attached when physical intimacy is involved, and I needed his focus on our mission, not on romantic entanglements.

'You enjoyed toying with him too much,' Myrnessa observed in my mind.

'I did what was necessary,' I replied silently. 'He will be more protective of me now, more invested in our success.'

'You're becoming too fond of these games, young one. Remember our purpose.'

I nodded, though no one could see the gesture. My grandmother's illness remained the priority, and these humans were merely helpful tools in achieving that goal. Yet I couldn't deny that their short, passionate lives fascinated me. They burned so brightly before fading away.

I finished packing my belongings and secured my magic components in the hidden pockets of my cloak. The journey to the House of Ivy would take most of the day, and I needed to be prepared for whatever we might encounter.

| Amon |

I woke from a restless sleep, my patron's voice still echoing in my mind.

"That duplicitous elf... she is more than she appears. Watch her carefully."

I sat up in bed, my skin feeling cold despite the comfortable room. Something was happening in this miserable town—something that might work to my advantage. If the elf woman was indeed hiding secrets, perhaps I could use that knowledge to bargain for what I truly needed.

The amulet around her neck—my patron wanted it desperately. But why? Its magical signature seemed ordinary enough when I observed her in the tavern. There must be more to it than meets the eye.

I gathered my belongings and headed downstairs. The common room was still quiet, with only a few early risers breaking their fast. In the corner, I spotted the enormous goliath from the night before. He seemed to be watching the staircase, waiting for someone.

Perfect. If we were all heading to the House of Ivy, I would have ample opportunity to study both the elf and whatever secrets that noble family was hiding.

| Morgoth |

I had been awake since before dawn, as was my custom. My people believe that greeting the first light of day prepares the soul for whatever challenges might come. And today, I sensed many challenges ahead.

The strange dreams that had plagued me all night were unusual. Images of silver dragons, whispered secrets, and a sense of ancient magic that seemed to permeate this entire region. My grandmother used to say that dreams were messages from the spirits, and I had learned to heed their warnings.

When the drunken hunter and the tiefling came down the stairs, followed shortly by the ethereal elf woman, I knew that my path had been chosen for me. We would journey together to the House of Ivy, each for our own reasons, but bound by something greater than coincidence.

That Bronir guy smelled weird - his stink is stuck in my nose. He was... WEIRD. My adoptive father warned me once about humans. Lousy-mouthed, drunk, egotistical, and greedy. Being a half-elf made him feel detached to humans. I remembered his story about his lousy father arriving at home one night and threw his elf mother's things out of the door simply because she did not fix her dinner. Because of his father's behavior, my father left their home and had to fend off for himself at a mere 15 years of age.

He's a great man, my father. He was able to trick a lot of people with selling good-looking cheap items for a higher price, and that helped him live a good life. When he picked me up from a trade, I was a shivering 7-year old boy sold off for slavery. My real mother was hunted and slain in front of my eyes by hill giants for my real father's bad hunting tricks, so I was left alone in the grasslands. A few mercenaries found me interesting and sold me for a few gold pieces. A goliath child can be laborers at a young age, so when my father wanted to have a man-servant, I was sold for 100 gold pieces. He gladly took it but instead of putting me in the wagon like a bag of meat, he held my blood-smeared filthy hands instead.

Okay, my head is trailing off. I should keep an eye on these little things. "Good morning," I greeted them in my deep voice. "I trust you all slept well?"

The hunter looked flushed and avoided eye contact with the elf woman, who merely smiled serenely. The tiefling grunted something noncommittal, his crimson eyes constantly scanning the room as if expecting danger.

As we broke fast together, I observed the strange dynamic between them. The hunter clearly felt something for the elf woman, while she maintained a polite distance. The tiefling kept to himself, though I caught him studying the elf's necklace more than once.

Whatever secrets they all carried, I would discover them soon enough. The mountains had taught me patience, and the spirits had granted me wisdom. Now I just needed the strength to face whatever awaited us at the House of Ivy.