David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb by T.C. Crawford (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

Chapter IX

The men relaxed the grip on their swords and pointed David and Erin in the direction of the Inn. David and Erin thanked the men and set off towards the Inn, silently digesting what the guard had just told them.

Apparently, word had spread that General Krauss had taken over the city of Eldergate, but he was being portrayed as the hero instead of the traitorous filth that he really was. They knew the General had betrayed the King, but was the King truly dead? What of Tyrius and the rest of the Elders? They had more questions now than when they had started and were no closer to finding the answers they were looking for.

As they walked down the street, they looked around at the village that surrounded them. It was rather small and sparsely populated compared to the sprawling metropolis of Eldergate. There was only one main road, a dirt path mostly, bordered by a couple dozen buildings, most of which looked like houses. Each was a single story, apart from the massive town hall in the center of the town and the two-story Inn.

The main street circled around the town-hall and was lined with the Inn, a metal works station linked to a small shop, a pub, and a farmer’s market. The pub seemed to be the most popular place in town, as it sounded like the whole town was there with the amount of cheers and laughter coming from the open doors. West Post wasn’t much to look at after witnessing the beauty and splendor of Eldergate.

When they reached the Inn, they noticed a sign hanging above the door that read The Beggar’s Flagon. They decided to go check into the rooms the soldiers had offered them. They walked through the door and were greeted by an elderly man with a long beard and a clouded over right eye. He was standing at a wooden counter near the entryway waiting for guests to check in and out of rooms.

“Refugees from Eldergate, I suspect?” asked the man after seeing the two young customers enter the building. “Will ye be needing a room?” he asked in a raspy, drawn out voice.

“Yes, we have come a long way and were told we could stay here for the night.” said Erin.

“It’s a gold piece for a room and that’ll get you a week of stay, plus nightly meals. Or, if you prefer to pay daily, it’s five copper coins a night, or a silver piece if you want a meal” said the innkeeper.

Erin looked at David in disbelief. A single gold piece in Eldergate wouldn’t get them half a night in the dingiest Inn in all the city, let alone a hot meal!

She quickly handed the innkeeper a handful of copper coins from her pouch, counting out ten pieces in all. That would cover a room for each of them for the night.

“Right this way.” said the man, waving his hand and walking towards the back of the building.

He led them up a flight of creaking stairs and down an old wooden corridor before unlocking a door on the right.

“Here you are. Enjoy your stay.” said the man, wearing a toothless grin.

They looked at the small room that was more equivalent to a shack and peered inside. There was only one small bed, a mirror and dresser in the corner, and a small curtained window in the back of the room.

“Um, excuse me sir” said Erin to the innkeeper, “But I paid you for two rooms, not one.”

“Hmm? Oh, my mistake, my mistake young lass. I thought you were a couple and were paying for one room and a meal for the night!” he let out a raspy cackle that they assumed was a laugh before opening another room on the opposite side of the hallway.

“There you are, enjoy your stay!” said the old man, before slowly hobbling back the way they came.

They each set down their belongings in their respective rooms before meeting back in the hallway.

“What do you think about checking out the pub and getting a bite to eat? We may find someone there who knows this Orin guy that we’re looking for.” suggested David. Erin agreed so they made their way down the stairs and out onto the mostly empty streets.

The pub was across the way from the Inn, but as they made their way across the street, they could already hear the clamor inside and exchanged looks of caution before entering.

It sounded like a drunken rally.

They heard a shout followed by a loud crash and a thunderous laughter broke out just as they entered the room. At once they were greeted with a thick, smokey haze that layered the room. Once their eyes adjusted to the smoke, they saw two men, obviously drunk, sprawled across the ground with a large man standing above them.

He was a massive bald man with elaborate swirling tattoos decorating the parts of his face that weren’t covered by his thick, brown beard. His large, muscular arms protruded from his sleeveless tunic and were folded impatiently across his chest He looked as if he could tear down the building with his bare hands, not to mention his stone cold glare that he had rested on the two drunks at his feet.

Strapped on his back was a massive double-sided axe that looked as if it had seen its share of battle, numerous small chips and dings noticeably layered down the face of the blade. David also noticed two small throwing axes hanging at his hip that had leather wrapped grips and small dangling tassels that fell from the bottom.

He was the most intimidating man that either of them had ever seen.

“And don’t come back until yer sober!” the man shouted. “Now give me an ale…no, make that two!” he said with a grin, walking back up to the bar as the men scrambled out of the double door into the