Upto this moment my heart hadn't stopped thrumming.
I could feel its beat on my ears.
I knew it.
I am so close to the end of my rope, yet I can't afford to stop- fatigue be damned!
I have tried fate twice, I wouldn't be so lucky to come out unscathed on the third.
Or foolish enough to try.
My pace comes to a crawl as stress on my already tired body mounted- threatening to topple me over.
My brows are drenched with sweat, despite the freezing snow that pelts my head.
I have become complacent- the allure of rest had been so enticing that my normally cautious self had drifted along.
The questions I usually asked?
Dampened by the secure and safe feeling.
Complete stupidity!
How had the adventurer been slain?
Who,or rather what had killed him?
Be it a beast, that would turn its maw to devour me or otherwise.
Coming to realise;
I didn't notice any marks or injuries to hint to a struggle.
Not that I was looking for them in the first place either.
Apart from the snapped bow I stumbled upon, that is.
The one I had turned into a walking stick at some point to support my weary self.
Is there is a possibility the perpetrator was human?
Silencing someone who said something he shouldn't have?
Have I stumbled into the work of human hands, vile as it was?
Yes. Most probably.
And risked being 'silenced' myself!
~~~~
Seconds bled into minutes, then hours
By the time I realised it, it was already long past noon, close to dusk.
If I am on the right track, I should be walking into the town within the hour, hopefully.
The scenery had become much more open, less of the towering pines and more of the expansive snow.
I even saw some tracks a while back-carriage tracks.
I'm getting closer.
As if to confirm my words:-
I saw a plumes of smoke drifting at a distance.
In no time, my eyes lay upon a high rise wooden fence, a wall.
Guards patrolling on its raised palisade- No...more like mercenaries, judging from their behaviour.
The outpost was large- but not as expansive as Lum's barrow.
I froze, my mind lost within its grandiose view.
Caught between relief and dread.
What if the adventurer's killer was inside?
It took a while to gather my courage
Sweat running down my spine.
Step by step, I closed the distance trying to look 'natural'
Surprisingly, the guards didn't even bat an eye upon noticing my approaching figure.
I soldiered on, half expecting them to call out, ordering my immediate halt.
The order never came.
A relieved exhale escapes my mouth.
Inside, the town was smaller than it appeared:
It was a modest town, with just one wide street...lined with wooden cottages and cabins on its either side.
Smoke curling from their chimneys.
Cold wind drifted gently, carrying the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread.
"How can I help you?"
A sweet melodic voice roused me from my olfactory reverie.
It is then that I realised!
I had walked straight in- lost in sweet and sour aroma of freshly baked bread.
Realisation dawned upon my face as I fumbled trying to find words
"I ..uum ...I'm looking for a tavern."
I said, regaining my composure.
The young lady looks at me, puzzled.
"Yes, how may I serve you?"
Fuck!
Its just now that I notice the sign hanging above, crooked on one side
[Jivin' Crow Tavern]
It read.
I shift my vision back to the lady
"Is something wrong with you?" The young woman mutters, failing to supress her giggles.
My face flushes.
I just made a fool of myself.
"I mean eh... a healer's shop....Yes. Where can I find that ?"
Suppressing her giggles, she looks up .
Only to burst out laughing !
Something must really be wrong with this lady!
Amidst her laughter, she points at an open door- a curtain covering it.
Within the same tavern.
"You aren't from around this parts are you?" She asks, still giggling.
"Ma!" She yells "You have a customer!"
[Way to go Rain, smooth]
I snicker,walking off, shutting down my thoughts ....and the cringe embarassment.
~~~
The moment I walk in- my nose get hit by herbal scent, inadvently taking in a deep breath.
It was close to Lum's place, just more of medicinal tang to it- and cozier.
My eyes take a few seconds to get accustomed with its dim interior.
When my vision acclimatized, I find myself before an old woman...No ...not old ...middle aged.
The woman pay no attention to me, engrossed with pounding herbs within motar clutched on her thighs.
"Oh! Hello there son"
She greets
"Hi"
Getting up to her feet, She carefully places the motar on the floor, just beside her.
"In need of a healer?"
"Yes"
"Come" she says, gesturing me to a seat, adjacent to the wall.
The woman lights up a torch as I proceed to take a seat.
"I have wounds"
"Show me"
I take off my cloak...halfway through I pause.
I recall that I have no penny on me.
Noticing my hesitation, the woman gives me a questionning look.
[Here it comes]
I think, fumbling through my pack.
"I don't have anything on me right now....can I trade these?"
The woman gives me a puzzled look, her face softens the next moment.
"Don't worry son...Lemme see the wound"
I reveal them to her.
Her expressions told me all I needed to know....
Even if they showed just for a fraction of a second before reverting to her soft and concerned face- her brows rise.
But she says not a word.
Ahhh!
I flinch as the woman, wipes at the raw patch of flesh in my back.
The warm water laced with herbs burn as they wash away grime and dirt.
Just then, the young lady from earlier walks in.
She winces and moves close, to have a better look.
"Arrgh ...Wha....what happened to you?"
She exclaims, her voice trembling.
Noticing the new arrival the old woman speaks up.
"Meira! Who's serving the customers? Why can't you do what I ask of you?"
"Go back and man the counter!"
"Yes Ma."
The girl, Meira, leaves, begrudgingly.
I silently watch the exchange.
The woman, walks back to be, gives me a knowing look.
She dips a piece of cloth into a steaming bowl and wrings it.
I hold my breath as she carries on with cleaning, rubbing herb pastes all over my back.
She bandages the wound with clean fabric and goes on to attend to the numerous cuts marring my figure.
Apply this onto you shoulder before sleep and you'll be as good as new ...in a few days.
I reach for my pack, intent on completing our transaction.
I hear a sigh
,
"Don't....Son"
Our eyes meet, I see pity , and a pained look?
"You dont have to..." she pauses, "Meira?"
"Yes, Ma?"
"Why don't you serve hmm?..."
"Rain." I mutter, my voice gruff and weary
"Make, Rain something to eat, and ..."
The woman reaches into a drawer and fishes out a bunch of keys- hands them to Maira.
"And make him a place to rest."
I try to protest, she gives me a look.
I give in- after all I'm in need of a place to stay.
Maira, runs off, to do as her mother wished.
"Come with me, Rain" The woman speaks up after a long silence.
I follow along, my footing unsure,
She pauses, her mouth twitches, she walks a step or two then stops.
"You don't have to worry about it...the cost....It's on the house." She assures
"I know better than to question you son, Rest easy."
"We all have a past, some we wish not to remember."
I just awkwardly stood there, at a loss on how to respond.
Our eyes meet
I realise: I didn't have to