Winter Shadows of the Vale

𝖜𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖘𝖕𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌

𝖜𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖘𝖕𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 (𝖓) 𝖆𝖓 𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖇𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖋𝖚𝖑 𝖘𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌

Winter heals quickly and is able to move out of the hospital bed and over to the inn. The plan ends up being to stay there for another two days before they head off. 

"You sure you want to leave? We can hold this room for more than two days." Duran spoke as Winter stumbled into the room from the bathroom.

Hobbling over to the bed, she sits down with a sigh, "I'm sure. My leg doesn't hurt terribly, the nurse just said to try and keep some pressure off of it."

Duran scoffs, "I heard the nurse, I'm more worried about it getting worse if we don't take care of it."

Winter chuckles, "I think I'll survive. Isn't that what you say?"

The man turns to her, "You're different."

"Am I?" She questioned, falling back onto her back and looking over to him with a wild curiosity. His eyes wander everywhere other than her eyes, "Yes."

Her eyes crinkle slightly as she gives him a wide smile, "Now how about you help me back up and we can go and eat?"

He laughs but gets up and makes his way over, "Come on."

Duran walks over to her as she sits up. His arm goes underneath her right arm and wraps around her waist to pick her up. She's embarrassed for sure, but she wouldn't make it very far without his help. He lifts her onto her feet easily, "I could probably throw you."

Winter snorts, "That's a bit excessive."

They start to walk towards the door, "Maybe not throw you far, but I could toss you."

She shakes her head and chuckles once more, "Sure. May we go now?"

"Of course, Princess."

She groans, "The nickname, again?"

He just shrugs, locks the door behind them, and helps her walk down the hallway to reach the main entrance where the food is being served.

Stepping up to a table Winter sits down in one of the booth chairs, "I'll go and get the food. Stay put."

"Not like I could run anywhere anyway." Duran chuckles as he heads off to the main keeper to order two meals.

Winter leans back into the plush seat and sighs, "Hello there."

Her eyes jot up quickly to see a man standing there, "Hello?"

The man was shorter than some, maybe an inch or two taller than Winter herself. His hair was a light brown and extremely greasy, all of his was really greasy actually. He had a smile on his face, but Winter could tell it was hiding something disgusting.

"May I?" He points to the seat across from her.

Winter shrugs, "My friend is getting dinner, you can sit here for now."

He nods and takes the seat, "What brings a pretty lady like you here?"

Holding back a gag she smiles, "Traveling back home from doing business off in Hillway."

"Yes, they do have a beautiful and extensive market there, now where are you heading?"

Winter panics, she doesn't know much about the towns past this point, "A small town a few miles North."

"What's the name?" She jolts when a hand touches her un-wounded thigh under the table. 

Kicking his hand off she settles back but it returns to the same place, "I don't think where I'm going is anyone else's business."