The bed's rough. But it's much softer than what me and Aric have been sleeping on over the past few days.
I wake to sunlight peeking through the curtains that don't fully cover the windows, dust hangs in the air like mist illuminated by the beams of light.
I turn to the bed Aric stayed in. Though he's not there anymore
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stretch as I sit up. My sword leans against the wall where I left it. I don't know why it felt necessary to keep it close, it's not like I'm going to be attacked.
I stand up and put on some clothes, sounds of village life stirring around me as I get ready and pack my things together. Chickens clucking, buckets full of water sloshing around, a hammer slamming a nail into a plank of wood.
By the time I trudge into the kitchen, Aric is seemingly deep in conversation with the old woman from yesterday. Whose name we found to be Mirra.
He's chopping vegetables with far too much enthusiasm for somebody who seemingly barely slept. He also seems to be in possession of a small bag of something.
Aric: "There he is! Morning Kareth. We've got some stew going."
Kareth: "Did you even sleep?"
Aric: "Like a rock. Don't worry though I'm well rested."
Mirra chuckles and hands me a cup of something. It's hot to the touch and smells somewhat bitter
Mirra: "You two remind me of travelers from old stories they made when I was your age. A silent one and a talkative one. Always a pair like that."
Kareth: Well those stories always ended up in somebody dying. Or the books Aric had back at the cabin were just a particularly bad set
Aric: "Hopefully with a better ending though."
Kareth: Seems like he was thinking the same thing
Mirra doesn't respond, just smiles.
After having some breakfast we spend the next few hours wandering the village. It's not big, just a handful of houses and other buildings. A community square like area, a smithy, a few stores selling clothes, meat or other foods.
It's the kind of place where you forget about how big the world might be, while the world forgets about you.
Some kids are running through the streets with sticks and wooden swords. Nearly hitting people as they dash by.
Aric stops off at every other store, sometimes buying some things with the money Mirra gave us for helping her with chores. He's even stopped off just to help people with random things. Despite insisting that we have to rush through the village.
Aric: "Hey look, a sparring ring!"
I turn and see a small fenced off area with the outline of a fighting ring. Two teens clumsily swinging wooden swords at each other.
Kareth: Their footwork is off.
My body seems to move and speak before I can really think
Kareth: "Lower your stance. And lead in with your shoulder not your wrist!"
They blink at me before returning to sparring, taking my advice.
And old man nearby who was watching waves at me
Old Man: "Hey! You speak like somebody who's been trained. Are you ex-military? Mercenary? Maybe Red Order or something?"
His voice is aged, but not raspy like Mirra's
Kareth: "Don't know."
Old Man: "It's not the kind of thing people usually just forget."
Kareth: "Guess I'm not most people."
Old Man: "You hold yourself like a man who's seen many battles regardless of memory."
Kareth: "Maybe."
Aric scribbles something in his journal again. Quickly closing it before I have the chance to see what's in it.
Kareth: I'm just not going to question it right now.
He stretches, lagging behind me slightly before catching up.
Aric: "We should probably finish grabbing the stuff we need and head off around lunch time. The villagers said there's an old road through the eastern woods, it even has a bridge across the river."
Kareth: "And you trust them?"
Aric: "We have no reason not to. And besides. If it is true it leads right onto the Esmourne trade routes."
Kareth: "Whatever. But it's your fault if we get lost or get into any bullshit."
Aric grins
Aric: "You'd blame me if that happened regardless of what we did."
After a few more stops we prepare to leave, saying goodbye to Mirra and thanking her for letting us sleep in her spare room before we leave. Mira hands us a charm, made of red string and some kind of red flower. Claiming it's for good luck on our travels. Of course Aric thanks her profusely before we leave.
The gates swing as we leave. This might be the last warm place we see for a while. I don't know why that thought lingers.