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The Same Morning...
“Sorry, we’re overbooked for today!”
“I’m really sorry, but we don’t have any more rooms!”
“It’s a busy day, lady. You should’ve been here a day earlier.”
“Sorry!”
“So sorry!”
“Ah, I’m afraid we don’t have room, so-”
The red and black-haired visitor interrupted Eleanor and hit the wooden counter with the palm of her hand, the strike echoing throughout the empty tavern. “Lady, PLEASE help me out here, I’ve been running around town all morning to find a place to sleep! I’ve been to so many different inns and taverns across the city, you HAVE to have something!”
“I’m really sorry, but… it’s early morning on the Solstice Festival, it's the single busiest day all year! All over the kingdom and even overseas, people are coming in to celebrate and-”
“Ughhh I know it’s the busiest day, that’s what all the inn owners said, but if others could find rooms, little ol’ me should be able to, right?!”
“Miss, they booked in advance… When did you first arrive in this city?”
“... Today… why?”
Eleanor felt a pang of sudden understanding. This girl was a rookie, not knowing the rules for travel and why you never, ever enter a city without knowing how many visitors would be there. She prepared herself to deliver what other inn owners failed.
“Well I’m sorry, but you can’t possibly find a room anywhere now.”
The girl gave up and slumped, resting her body on the cold, indifferent counter.
“I’m gonna sleep under a bridge somewhere and die of a mugging… Can I have a drink, lady…?”
“Miss, it’s too early in the morning! That isn’t a good idea, it’s just not!”
“Ah, bite me, I don’t have much to lose at this point…”
“Oh- Uh-”
Eleanor and the visitor turned their heads to see the third person who spoke. It was a girl with long brown hair, blue eyes, a green shirt and black pants. She had a unique sweetness in her voice and appearance.
“You could stay in my room, if you’d like!”
“... You… you aren’t joking?”
“Well um, why would I be joking?” The new lady chuckled nervously.
The visitor walked over, bowed, knelt before her, and then said with pure and utter defeat in her voice: “Thank you…”
“Haha, it’s no big deal! I had to buy a bigger room because all the others were taken. We have separate beds!”
Eleanor couldn’t help but smile at that kindness. The previously distraught but now hopeful adventurer got up, and reached her hand out. “Seriously, thank you. I was really considering sleeping under some bridge. I’m Elaine!”
The lady clasped Elaine’s hand and shook in turn, “Don’t worry about it. I’m Alexa! You seem tired. I can help you get up there and leave you the key, I have to run some errands!”
“Yeah… okay. I’d like that.”
YOU ARE READING
Solstice - A Prologue for Arson
Fantasi🎵 "That's when everything went wrong..." 🎵 Like any good story, this one starts with a city embroiled in festivity, an evening of celebration (or disaster?), and unlikely heroes coming together to save the day... Or doom it. There will be violence...
