quest of dreams

Marchants & mercenary's

     The day went by quickly with the sisters only making it into the closest town at dusk. The streets were being lite by the local guards and most of the stalls were packing up. This made carlia weary

     " I'm finding us an inn. We can have dinner then go to bed there"
     Moud whines " But we just got here! It'll be boring to just stop at an inn!"
     " Ok.. how about we find one of the remaining carts and buy you a toy. Will you go to bed then?... I have to sell the furs we've gotten but it'll get you to relax."
     " But we worked so haaaard on them!" She protests again wiggling her little legs

     Carlia sighed as she drove further still annoyed now by her sisters persistence on not sleeping. She simply started to ignore her as she looked around only seeing one cart still open. It was a large canvas caravan cart it looked closed but a man's voice was still calling out for patrons

      " Oh hello~ who is this I see? A small party only two not three? Welcome  to my tavern of wonders many things that'll make you-"
     " Ok man. Cut the rymes you're not a bard." Carlia interrupts the man rather quickly not wanting to hear a nursery rhyme before she had a very long nap. "Just.. just get to the damn point"
     The man's eyes that glowed behind the shadows furrowed " Well your awfully rude... But! I'm here to sell not be dramatic. So what do you want? I have potions lotions and tonics, the words rhyme already so don't attack me, I also have blessing dolls, shrunken heads and several varieties of strange and exotic meats"

     Carlia looked around at the meats he vanna-ed to and cringed. The colors were off some being blue others sickly grays and one just looking as if it was dipped in some black ink

     " No thank you on the meat..do you buy? I have furs to sell " she held up the furs they looked nice
     " No I'm sorry. But I do allow favors.." He smiles an almost silvery smile showing his razor like teeth " So. What do you say?"

     Carlia pulls her hand back glaring at the man with fear and concern in her eyes. She then wordlessly left, her young sister whining not understanding the implication the man had given them. All carlia could think of now is how creepy the man was.

     She sighs as she simply gets themselves a room, The thought danced in her head though, of the man's offer. What favors and what rewards would be had once they were complete. She scanned the room making sure there was nothing on the floor to wake her little sister. She stands and carefully sneaks out of their room going back out, surprised to see the cart still there

     " Um.. sir are you still there? " She stands and looks around where the man was only for a clawed hand to reach out and grabs her shirt collar, yanking her closer making her shriek

     " Well, well, well~  the bunny is back to play." The face of a tire slips out of the darkness "Now.. wish to hear the favor?"
     Carla nods slowly " y-yeah... Sure but how much are you gonna pay?"
     " If you succeed then I'll tell you.. there's a man that stole from me. He's hiding in a cave near this town so I wish for you to retrieve my stolen items.. it's a bottle in the shape of a giants heart. It has my prized moon shine in it" he explains with a smile " oh.. if you can bring me his hand, the reward will be so much sweeter~"
     "Is that it? I'll get it for you.. please let me go so I can" she accepts hoping for the money
     " One more thing" he shows her a beautiful golden blade " I know you have no weapon.. it'll be hard to get the hand with out one... Consider this on the house for accepting my request."

     Carlia nods and takes the blade once she was released from his grasp. She let out a deep sigh, she never had to kill someone before and she hoped she wouldn't have to. She walked using the directions the tiger man gave her.

     She walked the forest for what felt like hours till she finally found the cave, it was a shallow mont with a fire going and a scruffy looking man inside drinking something from a crudely made cup. She stayed hidden hoping the man would drink himself to sleep soon enough.

     The man does soon fall asleep having wiggled his way to his bed to pass out. Carlia used this opportunity to sneak over slowly to the camp. She reached out to the bottle slowly, biting her lip being scared of waking the intoxicated man.

      Before her out stretched hand could grab the bottle, a knife nearly missed her slicing away the fur on her wrist. She looked up to see the man standing close to her now. He kicked her stomach making her roll away from the bottle and him. The man walked over to her again and yanked her up by her ears

     " I knew the coward would send a merc.. didn't think he'd send a she." He takes another blade from a sheath on his hip putting it to her neck "Now what do you have to say for yourself, little rabbit?"

     Carlia struggled softly whining. She was angry at herself and fearful of the man. She could feel the knife getting pressed into her neck slowly. She didn't want to die so she used the knife that was given to her plunging it into the man's stomach. He groaned and steps back, having the knife slowly slip out of him. He looked down to see the blood coming from him making him grow angry.

     " Dirty little bitch." he charged at her with his blade
     She screams and rolls backwards away from his attempted stabbing "What!? You were gonna slit my throat you fucking nutter!"

     She charged back at him knowing she would die if he staied alive. She closed her eyes as she struggles to get her knife into him again. This time stabbing him in the neck. She pulled away herself and turned to throw up, but she could only dry heave having nothing in her stomach. The man falls over behind her holding his neck to no avail. The length of the blade cutting away his larynx and food pipe.

     " Holy shit.. I killed a man... I killed a man...oh my gods..." She shakes as she fell back onto her ass covering her face with the heel of her hands on her eyes since her fingers were covered in blood " mother.. father forgive me" she stands after a moment.

     Carlia turns walking back to the man to cut off his hand, he was dead so he wouldn't need it. After she had his hand she grabbed the bottle and walked back. Turning around to loot what ever coins and food the man left around. Once she looted what she could she walked back heading straight to the cart.

     She slammed the heavy thick bottle down on the carts shelf with the hand " PAY UP FUCKER!" she growled looking tired and like she had a horrific night
     " Oh? You did good.. here. " He gives her a small bag of toys and a beautiful locker " your rewards~"
     " Is this it?... I HAD TO KILL A MAN JUST TO STAY ALIVE AND THIS IS ALL YOU CAN GIVE ME FOR GETTING YOUR STUPID BOTTLE BACK!?" she shouts at him then steps back raising her hands " no.. I'll take them and one of the dolls for my sister.
     The merchant smiles " yes of course killer~" he hands her a beautiful doll that held no face" it's a blessings doll. It'll bring her good luck. "

     Carlia takes all of her rewards and walks back to the inn. She went to her and flopped down on the bed tiredly slowly falling asleep just to be woken up moments later with her sister looking excited

     " Wake up wake up! It's morning! I want to buy us a tent so we don't have to sleep in stinky taverns and inns anymore!" She bounced excitedly
     " Alright.. alright." Carlia sits up, her body still being dog tired. "Let's get moving.. oh.." she hands her sister the doll her hands now looking muddy with the old blood " I finally got that toy for you. "

     Moud squeals and takes the doll rushing out of the room dancing with her new toy. Carlia smiles sadly, watching her sister play knowing she'd have to never tell her the taint that follows that accursed toy.

     After the two have had their lunch, and asked around to know if anyone has seen their parents only to fail to find them in the village, they packed their things to leave once more. While getting on the mule Carlia noticed that the mysterious cart was gone but it was missing it's wheel trails from were it once was. She tried to move the fear it gave her to the back of her mind as they set off again. Moud in the cart giggling and Carlia riding them off to the sunset.