Death's Priestess

Chapter 5- The Tavern

I rode until the sun touched the trees and the sky turned a soft hue of orange. The trees towered above me as their leaves browned and fell. Shadow crunched on the dead leaves littering the ground sending small animals running. It was nearing winter and the frosty breath in front of me proved that fact. All I had to keep me warm was a thin cotton shirt, leather riding pants, and a worn hooded cloak. The wind blew, sending shivers throughout my body chilling my bones. As I neared a crossroad I saw a sign and let out a sigh of relief. A town was close and it was not in the Ackford's Duchy. I headed down the dusty road looking for an inn.

"Momma?" Alessia asked. I looked down at her and gave her the go-ahead look. "What's that?" I looked to where she motioned and saw people in a field.

"They're finishing up the harvest for the year and preparing for the coming winter," I explained.

"Winter?" she wondered. As I explained what the four seasons were, an old building came into view. 'Buddock's Tavern' the sign read. It was a two-story building that was radiating heat from the inside. I could taste the roasted vegetables and smoked meat in the air. I dismounted and tied Shadow's reins loosely on a post. He was a good horse and I knew he wouldn't head off on his own. The only problem left was the 8 pound, fire-breathing, baby dragon. I couldn't leave her outside in the cold, but how would I explain the beast that rode on my shoulder. Without the wings she just looked like a rare lizard, you could never tell what animal Nobel's would buy. Opting for the quickest option I grabbed the bread cloth and wrapped it around her torso. It would keep the wings relatively hidden and give her a little warmth. The door opened with a loud creak and all the heads turned to look. I tucked my head down low, hiding my face in the shadows of my hood.

"Haven't seen you around before little Missy," an older man said.

"I'm just traveling," I said shortly, trying to get away from the conversation.

"It's dangerous for a little girl like you to be traveling by your lonesome," he continued standing up.

"Enough George, stop pestering the girl," a woman shouted coming from the kitchen. "Here Miss, have something to eat."

"I don't have any money," I frowned, searching through my bag. When I looked up to face the woman she almost dropped the plate and stumbled backward.

"Oh my," she gasped. I quickly grabbed my hood and pulled it over my head to cover my face.

"I'm sorry," I whimpered. She took in my thin body covered in cuts and bruises. The only thing showing in her face was sadness.

"It's alright my dear, come and eat," she cooed.

"Thank you," I said sitting down. She placed the plate filled with roasted potatoes and some sort of stew with freshly baked bread on the side.

"You're running from your husband ain't ya," the woman guessed sitting down across from me.

"Please don't tell anyone," I cried.

"I ain't going to do anything of the sort, everyone here is running from something," she smiled.

"Thank you," I repeated. "Um, do you have any milk?"

"Of course dear," she said. She left the room and returned moments later with a tanker full of fresh white, bubbly milk. I tipped it slightly so it would slowly drip into Alessia's mouth. The woman was called back to the kitchen and I started settling down. The meat was tough and chewy and the broth tasted like water. The potatoes were slightly charred and the bread burnt on one end. Yet after all those days in that dungeon it tasted like a meal made for a king.

"That's quite a rare creature you got there missy," a man said sitting down across from me. "Only a Nobel could afford something like that." He pulled me up from the chair and I hung from his hands my feet just barely touching the ground. The gash in my leg was ripped open as it was scrapped against the table. Two other men stood up looking in my direction, they slowly started moving toward me. I flinched as one grabbed my waist only to be gently pulled away from the man who lifted me.