Desert Rain (Preview)

Chapter 2

The city of Isten was large and vast. Several buildings were visible from the entrance and a few hastily made stands. They were tall and looked ancient, as if they had been there for centuries. Somehow, though they reminded him of home, even though the area was drastically different from where he was born.

Once they entered the city Kenta and Kei saw many people going about here and there, conversing or heading into the myriad of buildings. A few people who walked around the streets had more ragged clothes while most of the others had on plain clothes, with a few of them well dressed.

"This is the main inn. It's in one of the more popular areas in the city. People come all over to see visitors and try to beg or sell them goods. The inn is affordable from what I hear and pretty comfortable."

"It does appear to be pleasant," Kei stated as she and Kenta looked up at the five story tall building. It looked newer than most of the other buildings and it had four trees by the entrance that was full of leaves, casting a fair amount of shade.

"Yeah, but it might be out of our price range if we want to stay for a week and afford to eat," Tula commented. "But, I do have a way to earn more money if you two want to hear."

"We probably won't have to," Kenta said before looking at Kei. With a nod, she went into her side bag, while Kenta looked Tula in the eyes. "Tula, how much do you charge for bodyguarding?"

"Hm, about 600 Kres a month, not including meals," she said. "I can live reasonably off that much."

"Okay, and about this desert; how well do you know it?"

"I know almost all of it and I've been to half," The auburn haired woman said proudly. Kei seemed impressed by this, to which Kenta smiled.

"So if you were to try and go from here to someplace else without a map...?"

"I could take you, but I don't know if we'll be together that l-"

"Congratulations. You're hired," Kenta said, interrupting Tula before Kei pulled out ten large golden coins. She handed them to Tula, who looked them over.

"What are these?"

"Arels, the money we use in Lurion. That should cover five months salary according to current conversion rates."

"What?! Are these actual gold?"

"Yes," Kenta said. "You'll probably want to break that into smaller change though, we do have some on hand if you'd like."

"No, this is great," Tula said, snickering before putting it in her own bag. "Where did you two get all of these?"

"I'll tell you another time. For now you know you'll be working as my bodyguard?"

"Sure, but if I can ask, what am I bodyguarding you from?"

"Oh, just in case we run into trouble, and you said you know the area and we could really use you as a guide, too."

"Especially considering how someone forgot to purchase a map," Kei added, her tone more playful than chastising.

Kenta rolled his eyes and sighed.

"I'm only human, right?"

"You're an Ellon, though," Tula remarked, laughing.

Kenta looked a bit more sheepish. "I'm one fourth human. Anyway let's just go inside the inn, the heat is killing me."

"You're the boss." Tula grinned slyly before they all went inside the building. The inn was cooler, though not by much. At the front desk was a beautiful young lady, who had braided black hair and light brown eyes. The innkeeper smiled warmly at them before introducing herself and checking them in. The woman gave them a smile and then handed them a key each.