Emerald

The Village

Emerald

The pathway was beautiful and stretched a long way with no signs of a town. After a few hours of walking the sun starts to come up from behind the trees and a small town finally comes into view from the mountain ridge. I stop for a moment and look at the view in front of me, Ive already taken a masking pill so I start to walk toward the town. I have a bit of gold on me but I dont want many to see all of it so I take out a small amount and put it into another bag that I will use to pay for a room at a Inn.

As I enter the town I start to relax my shoulders to blend in more to the crowd around me. I look around at all the different shops on the streets and stop when I reach an Inn called The Drunken Willow. I walk inside to see a dirty pub with wooden chairs and tables. The barmaid is behind the counter poring drinks in a tiny dress that allows her cleavage to spill over.

I start to walk over to the counter beside the stairs to talk to the more modest young lady reading a book behind the counter top sitting in a chair. As I approach she sits the book down and stands up to talk to me. Hello Welcome to The Drunken Willow my name is Ella would you like a room? her voice was high but not annoying so kind of soft in way.

Yes actually thank you! My name is Emerald but my friends call me Em I saw as I watch her look down a list then pulling out a key. How long will you be staying with us Em? she asks looking up at me. Three days I reply with smile as she hands me a key. She hesitates before asking her last question Will you be expecting any visitors? she raises an eyebrow at me.

I look at her confused but when I caught on to what she was implying my cheeks instantly heat up and I shake my head No visitors. was all I could make out shocked at her forward question. In Mythrein sex was not normally spoke about in the open and only done after marriage especially among royalty. Any less would deem you impure and finding a husband would be near impossible.

She smiles widely at my innocent reaction and nods her head at me Okay noted she reply's cheekily. That will be 300 krona for three days. she replies with her hand out. I grab my smaller bag of gold from my side and pull out 3 shiny coins and hand them to her.

She moves from around the counter and starts up the stairs Follow me Ill show you to the room. She takes a few more steps and I start to follow after her. We walked down a long hallway and took a left and walked a little more then took a right and four doors down she stopped and motioned to the door.

I used the key and opened the door to a large room. I turn to face Ella and thanked her for showing me my room and watched as she started back down the stairs. I walk inside the room and sit my bag down on the bed. The rooms walls are a dark color that matches the bed frame and the comforter neatly folded on top is different shades of reds, blues and oranges that match the pillows.

The room is a lot smaller then Im used to but thats what I love about it. Next to the bed is one small dark wood dresser with two drawers. I open up my pack and start to place my clothes into the dresser with a smile on my face. Today I can go and start exploring the woods. I stand up from the bed with my cloak in my hand, as I walk to the door I pull my cloak over my shoulders and tie it around me.

I walk back the same way we came and found the stairs. At the end of the stairs Ella was sitting in her chair reading her book again. As I got closer she heard my footsteps and smiled up at me. Hey Em! she stands up and leans on the counter watching me walk down the stairs bemusedly as I try to not act like a princess straight out of a castle.

After I get to the bottom step and can see her properly I smile at her Hey Ella, I was just going out to explore a little bit she looks at me a little surprised and straightens her back up and hesitates before speaking. Em try to stay in town, if you want to explore the woods I get off in about an hour and I can take you, its not safe out there alone. she looked at me kind of worried so I nodded my head in agreement. Theres a beautiful lake about a mile down the path way then a couple miles in the wood I can show you later she offers. I would love that. Ill just grab some food at the pub and wait for you I reply with a nod and start heading for an empty table in the back.