Scarlet Blade

Part I: The Paladin

"Annalise, would you be a dear and see if the innkeeper can spare a few chairs? These pews simply aren't enough for everyone to sit nowadays." Priestess Marianne called out from across the room, where she was laying out a feast for an army on the offering table.

"Yes Ma'am. Anything else you would like me to do while I'm out? I saw quite a few more refugees pass through today, perhaps see if Lacey can knit some more blankets for us?" I asked, lighting the last candle. The cathedral wasn't meant to operate at such late hours, the brass candle holders mounted  on the walls were meant to be used as decor, but were functional in case of emergency.

"Good call, it does get rather cold in here at night. Please go out the back door, though, we aren't opening to the public until ten sharp, and last time I checked a bit of a mob has formed out there. Don't want them forcing themselves in."

"Alright, I'll be as inconspicuous as possible." It felt a bit inhumane, shutting the public out of a place open to all for sanctuary, but to be fair they weren't acting human, more like wild animals.

"That's my girl, clever as always." She brought me my cloak, ruffling my hair a bit before draping the hood over my head, "Be careful out there."

"I will." I promised, slipping out the door.

The crisp autumn air hit me as I stepped outside, the cool breeze carried a faint scent of apple pie. I immediately regretted not bringing a pair of mittens as the wooden door slammed behind me, leaving me locked out.
The wary travelers did not deter the spirits of the locals, it was our annual festival of fallen leaves, a time where the town gathered to celebrate the end of a successful harvest. Being it was my favorite holiday, I found it difficult to stay serious for long. I hummed along to the fiddler's upbeat tune and practically skipped down the muddy dirt road to the Mountainside Pines inn.

The inn had an antique glow to it, the large, stone and brick building was the main attraction of our small town. It's rustic interior made it the perfect place to lounge by the fireplace and read a book, all while enjoying the best ale around. Simply, it was cozy; that is, most of the time. Tonight every corner of the inn was crawling with drunks, folk songs echoed throughout hit the main dining room, and the cedar tables were covered in a sticky film left my spilt drinks.

I had found the source of the mouthwatering apple pie scent, of corse it was none other than  Lacey's. A hardworking woman, Lacey not only baked for her lovely children, (and anyone else in town, if they remembered their manners!) but was also the inn's barmaid.

The chances of me getting extra chairs were slim, I had never seen the inn so packed, even in festival of fallen leaves' past. Drunken patrons  filled every seat of the dinning hall, some even napped on the floor and tables. Lacey wasn't one to allow this to happen, but under the circumstances I suppose it made sense to just leave them be, with the inn booked for weeks and the cathedral quickly filling, there was no other place for them to go.

I couldn't make my way through, nor could I see  Lacey. I found a place against the wall and listened to the patrons while I waited for her to make her way towards the section.

"I hear it's spread to Tarren Mill."

"What a shame, their apples always did make a nice cider."

"Personally I prefer the ones here now, much safer!"

"They don't even import grain from Androhal here, I'd like to see the scourge try and get us."

I took a deep breath, our town has always welcomed visitors from near and far, but the wave of them that had hit us the past week were rude, "We grow our own crops, yes, but they aren't unlimited." I meant to mumble to myself, but it came out louder than expected.