The Renegade: Oblivion

Ch. 10: A Maiden's Honor

"Good morning, Snow- I mean, Frostbite. I... I made you breakfast."

Aspect gently prodded Frostbite's side until her eyes flicked open. She sat up and looked around, as if she didn't remember where they were.

"Hm? Oh." The pretty Blacklai Fox looked him up and down sleepily, then took a freshly grilled cheese sandwich from him. "Thanks, 'Spect."

Aspect shrugged and leaned back in the lush grass. "No problem."

They had traveled all night, and stopped to rest in the forest bordering the valley before they reached the plains at dawn. Now it was sunhigh, and Aspect was itching to get moving, but he wanted Frostbite to get her rest first.

Suddenly Frostbite paused her chewing and cleared her throat. "I've been thinking... I may or may not have... lied about where we're going. I know Dragonscale is south, but that's it." She looked at Aspect sheepishly. "Sorry about that."

Aspect flicked his ears back worriedly. "Then have we been wrong this whole time?"

"No! No, it's not like that," Frostbite glanced at her paws. "Listen. I know someone who might be able to tell us how to get there."

The black fox set aside his own sandwich and leaned forward expectantly. "Who's that, then?"

"A few leagues from here is a village called Xaisuki. It's more of a lodge than anything, and not many people live there. But there's an inn there, and the owner is a friend of Kojo's. He knows about me. His name is Romotan." Frostbite swallowed the last of her sandwich with a little more confidence. "Since so many people pass through there, he's bound to know something about being able to get to Dragonscale. I figure we can ask him and try our luck."

Aspect blinked slowly. "...Won't people recognize you?"

She shrugged after a moment's pause. "Nah. I doubt it. It's been a few years since I've been there last, so I think I'll be fine."

"Just wear your helmet, in case something does happen," He urged her.

"So we can go?"

"It's not like we have any other choice," Aspect confessed.

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Not much time had passed before they reached the edge of the woods. In front of them were the vast plains, reaching away as far as the eye could see. Just barely on the horizon Aspect could see humps resembling mountains, but he couldn't know for sure.

Beside them was a river, and it cascaded away and cut a path through the farmland, fading away out of sight in the distance. Not far off were a few buildings in a central area.

"Remember what I told you," Aspect whispered hastily to his partner as they approached the village. "Don't go flaunting yourself off to everyone. The gods know Isu could be searching for us right now."

Frostbite groaned. "Don't remind me, you black puffball. Besides, I can defend myself."

Before he could reply, they stopped in front of a long building. Outside was a sign that read: "Setting Sun Inn".

"Looks like this is it." Frostbite hopped off and tied her horse to a fencepost, then went inside before Aspect could stop her.

"Frostbite, wait!" He hissed, scampering up to the sliding door and thrusting it open.

Inside there was a sizable seating area, and a counter-bar with stools in front of it. Behind the bar was an old, fat gray rat, wiping off the shelves.

From beside Aspect, Frostbite hissed, "Romotan!"