Taming the Beast Master

A Trip to Longsaddle

| Bronir | 

    A deep sigh escaped my mouth, for a glass of ale is what I have always needed to replenish my needs for the day. With a pint in hand, this should give me half an hour. Or less. I looked at my purse and found 10 gold pieces left. Ten measly gold - this should last me two weeks. 

    I mentally listed my expenses for the week. A stay in this tavern for a week should cost me 5 gold pieces, provided that I stay in the standard or a cheap room. Meals per day should cost me about a gold piece for the week, but I have got to skip lunch. I will need my arrows re-stocked - 1 gold piece. f**k. Three gold pieces left! I have got to check that message board near the counter. Maybe there is a posting for jobs around that I can probably do and earn that moolah. Nah, maybe later. I need to down this scrumptious drink first. 

    The Gilded Mare is not as packed as it used to be. I should know - I'm almost a regular here, as I hunt wild game for Berish, the innkeeper, and butchers. I usually see people of 3's and 4's on nearly every table. Probably because of the werewolf attacks, people tend to stay inside their homes. At the moment, I only see a red Tiefling guy who has been looking around and carries that huge ass bag at the far end corner of the inn, a sleeping giant-ish guy that seemed to have downed his drink and got drunk in his own table, a farmer who just finished his meal for the day and just left after he had given the innkeeper his payment, and a white hooded figure who just got in and seated at the bar and speaking to the innkeeper. She looks rich. Her cloak appeared to be made of rich velvet blue material. Yeah, it seemed to be. I wonder if it even kept her warm. 

    "Good day, fair lady. Now, what can I get ya?" Berish gave a warm greeting to what I just heard to be a lady in the blue cloak. I was too busy with my drink, so I never saw her come in, nor did I hear her footsteps as she entered the tavern. 

    "Good day, sir. May I have a plate of your finest berries and a glass of water?" she spoke softly. Her voice was entrancing. It was harmonious yet gentle. I have never heard a woman speak like that before. I grew up in a family of rough lads and lasses. 

    "Ah, keeping healthy, I presume? Gimme a few minutes to prep that for ya, lass," he winked and walked over to the kitchen to get one of his barmaid daughters to prepare the meal. The cloaked figure grabbed her purse from her belt. 

    I was curious about what she looked like. Time to go to that notice board and see. 

    I swayed as I stood up. I did not realize that I was already tipsy. I frivolously took a few steps and tried my best to head to that ol' message board, and I felt the alcohol was already affecting how I walked. I knew that I would fall out of balance, but someone caught my arm. The hold was so gentle that I barely felt the touch, but it kept me from falling. I stood back up and saw the girl's face under the cloak. 

    She WAS intensely fair, with softly peaked nose and slightly rosy cheeks. Her eyes were mint green, and it seemed like her skin glowed. Or maybe this is the ale. 

    "Thank you, m'lady, " I spoke. 

    "You look like you could use a little help heading to the board," then she slid her arm on the back of my waist and anchored my left arm above her shoulders. I now realize how tall she is. She's a few inches smaller than I am, but she's slim. I swayed a little more and took a little peek under her cloak, and I saw her white silk dress with blue/silver trimmings and embroidery at the ends. Gods, her breasts are heavenly. I can imagine a corset under her white dress. Damn, I need to get laid soon. 

    We both scanned the message board. A single posting of a missing elf noble was placed, one of which she took out - weird, and some other postings for a farm clearing job and another for crop harvest. I felt sober again, so I lifted my arm from her shoulders. A posting caught my attention. I took a page and stared at it.

"Job Available: Forest Game Clearing

Open for Mercenaries, bounty hunters, or anyone capable of game hunting. Bring own weapons. 

Reward: 100 gold pieces each 

For details, head to House of Ivy"

    House of Ivy. 

    "That's a tough one, lad. Ya don't want to be on that noble's bad side. It brings bad luck." Berish continued to wipe the mugs and plates as soon as he served the fruit platter to the beautiful woman, who is now seated in her spot at the bar.

    "What can ya tell me about the House of Ivy, Berish?" I spoke, struggling to maintain sobriety.

    "Lad, take a seat. Yer gon' fall again, and the fair lady is already eatin'," Berish spoke. 

    I took a seat beside the cloaked woman. She smells of fresh tulips and berries. Much like what she eats right now on her plate. 

    Berish, a human of medium build and flat belly in his early 50s, gestured for me to come closer, "Stories tell that the House of Ivy are werewolves." 

    I laughed out loud and got up from my seat at the bar. The tiefling looked up to me. I noticed his eyes following me in my peripheral as I headed back to the bar while taking my mug of ale back from my old seat and carried my bag just below my stool. I took a seat right beside the pleasant-smelling woman. 

    "Do you believe in these stories, ol' man?" I said as I slid my mug to Berish for a refill. He had a similar mug ready for me, as usual, and just replaced my empty one with another mug full.

    "Well, there are attacks, lad. Two days ago was the last one." 

    The cloaked woman stayed silent as she kept on eating her berries. She took the glass of water and downed it in one go. She is fun to watch. She moves elegantly, even how she placed the glass back to the counter did not make any sound. I noticed something else behind her loose long sleeves. Whenever she moved her arms, her skin appeared almost iridescent. 

    "How about you, m'lady?" I slurred as I drank half of the newly-refilled mug of ale. 

    She took a few seconds to respond. Then she turned to me slowly. 

    "I seek answers for my grandmother's sickness. She is dying of an illness that is unheard of," she spoke in a gentle manner, her voice somewhat shaking. Her eyes welled up in tears, which eventually dripped down her cheeks. 

    "Oh? How old is she? Maybe it is due to her old age," I rebutted. 

    "No. Our kind lives relatively longer than other humans. We sensed it was old magick causing it. That is why I was led here by our priestess." 

    She pushed her empty plate to the counter and gently pulled her hood down to reveal long pointy ears. I was right about her iridescent skin. She's an elf. A magical race. Her hair is silver, almost to the hue of her silk dress. The hair just above her ears was neatly braided and tucked behind her ears, and the rest of her natural waves flowed down to her waistline. Her jawline was not as sharp as the elves in the books, but she had high cheekbones. 

    She closed her eyes and carefully wiped her tears with her fingers as if nothing happened, then smiled at me.

    "Greetings. I am Tyrgwynn of Silverymoon. Good sir, is there a chance you could accompany me to the House of Ivy?"

    That smile. Now, I really want to get laid.