The Adventure of Hell's Gate

Chapter 2: The Party

The next morning, his travel through the woods came to an end as his boots met cobblestone road. Cedric looked down the hill at his destination, taking in the sight of the small farm village of Pinesgrove. Pinesgrove was indeed a small village, very similar to his own. Cobblestone pathways created walkways throughout the town, which supported many simple homes. A few buildings stood out to him, slightly larger than other ones. Perhaps a tavern, a Town Hall, maybe even a prison of sorts stared back at him, reminding him this was slightly larger than Whittphar. Cedric started down the hill and soon came to the farming fields. He looked upon damp cabbages, carrots, potatoes, and so many other types of food growing after the recent storm.

Not surprisingly, there was no wall to protect this small village. Walls were expensive, and it seemed Pinesgrove didn't deem one necessary. It did however have a main entrance, yet it was more ceremonial than functional. The twin pillars seemed to welcome any new travelers or any returning workers. Cedric easily stepped inwards, pulling his scarf up over his mouth and nose to guard from the stink of cattle. He passed several people in the street shopping and selling various items and food. One merchant grabbed his arm insistent on him buying a new hat to replace the frayed one he currently owned. Cedric politely pulled away and decided to head to what he assumed was the tavern, which was just a few blocks down. It's common knowledge to mercenaries that many rumors start in Taverns, so if he were to find any information on his lead, he would find it there.

Before long, he found his way to The Rusty Mug, which was not a visually pleasing building. The broken window outside hinted at a past quarrel, several bricks were broken or weathered, and there were even some scorch marks near the door-frame, yet he could hear laughter coming from inside. He repositioned the scarf around his nose and pushed open the doors.

The inside was surprisingly welcoming. There was a simple bar straight ahead overshadowed by three large barrels, which he could guess held the tavern's supply of ale. Five circular tables were scattered across the floor with several patrons laughing over a drink or arguing over a game of cards. The smell of spilled alcohol and unwashed bodies assaulted his senses, but not long after a strong breeze blew past Cedric and into the tavern.

A flash of red caught his attention. He turned to see a woman's hair engulfed in flame! Or, upon closer inspection, it was simply hair as deep red as the embers of an afternoon fire. The strong gust of wind must have given it its flame-like dance.

The woman was an interesting sight. In addition to her hair, her emerald green eyes were a tad frightening and her ghost white skin said much about the time she spent outside. She had slight angular features for a woman, but it suited her well. She was looking around the area in disgust, as if she had never been to a tavern like this.

She certainly didn't look like the usual type to come around here. She wore an exquisite red gown with a satin cloak around her shoulders. It was ridiculously rare material, meaning she either came from a wealthy family . . . or she stole it.

However, this woman didn't look to be a thief. Cedric briefly saw her coin purse out of the corner of his eye and saw that there was a singular cut down the middle. She had recently been robbed, but he could tell she hadn't noticed. Feeling a bit sorry for her, he approached the counter.

"Excuse me, Frank is it?" he noticed the name above the bar. He held up two fingers and sat down. The human bartender nodded, happy that this new customer saw his name above the bar. The nameplate was an idea from a regular, and after many months of nitpicking, he finally gave in to the request to get his name in his store. He seemed pleased with the results it was yielding, strangers knowing his name.

Within a few minutes Cedric held two mugs of ale in his hands. He slid one over to the woman and drank his silently for a while.

"What's that for?" she said, pointing to the mug in front of her. She eyed it suspiciously, as if he was going to poison her.